The prince is more stable

Chapter 971 Deflecting and Clearing One's Name
The times have changed.

When the red-coated cannon roared and blasted open the city gate with just one shell, it meant that there was no longer an impregnable city in the world.

Any fortified city or fortification will be reduced to dust by cannon fire.

From then on, the so-called battles of siege and defense of cities will be completely transformed. They will no longer be fought with human lives, nor will they involve desperately climbing around the city walls while putting up a fierce resistance.

It was almost a powerful weapon for protecting the country, but when it was used to quell a rebellion in Xiayi, even Di Zi, the general in charge of suppressing the rebellion, felt it was absurd to use a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

The city gates were blasted open, and the will to resist of the rioters inside the city vanished instantly.

The rioters were ignorant, but not stupid.

They knew very well that this chaotic peasant uprising had come to an end, and that the rioters in the city with their farm tools were no match for the imperial guards.

If anyone foolishly tries to resist the Imperial Guards with farm tools, those ravenous Imperial Guards outside the city will be overjoyed and chop him to pieces, each taking a part to report to their superiors as a reward.

Several knights galloped around the city walls, shouting out Di Zi's ultimatum.

In less than half an hour, a group of ragged, haggard-looking rioters walked out of the city gate in a line.

The imperial guards outside the city immediately stepped forward and ordered them to squat down with their hands on their heads in the open space outside the city.

An hour later, all the rebels who had occupied Xiayi County left the city and obediently squatted on the open ground outside the city, waiting with despair for the court to pronounce their final fate.

Di Zi immediately ordered the rioters to be kept under guard and ordered the army to enter the city to search and investigate, distinguishing between the rioters and the original residents of the city, questioning the leaders of the rioters, and verifying the main culprits who instigated the riots.

The uprising in Xiayi County was quickly quelled. Di Zi showed no joy on his face. This was not something to be proud of at all. Suppressing these rioters was as easy as sweeping away chickens and dogs. Di Zi felt no sense of accomplishment.

Zhao Xiaoqian's decree was to "quell the peasant uprising," meaning there was no need to indiscriminately kill the rioters, as most of them were just ignorant country folk, and the court didn't need to bother with them too much.

However, basic follow-up work still needs to be done after the uprising is quelled, such as counting the number of rioters, their names, household registrations, and whether they committed crimes such as arson, murder, and looting during their occupation of Xiayi County.

If everything is innocent and one was simply dragged into this without realizing it, then send someone to invite the village head and clan from the place of household registration, take the person back, and sternly warn them not to participate in such disruptive activities again.

If anyone commits a crime while occupying the county seat, they will be dealt with according to the law.

The cleanup work continued throughout the night. By the early morning of the next day, the uprising in Xiayi County had been basically resolved. Di Zi reported the victory to the court and ordered the army to set off for Chuqiu County.

…………

Bian Jing, Yanfu Palace.

Zhao Xiaoqian sat calmly in the Wende Hall, while Zeng Chongxing, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, stood before him with a pale face.

The peasant uprising in Xiayi County was a major event that shocked the imperial court. At this time, Zhong Jianzhong was leading the royal army to conquer Western Xia, and the whole country was eagerly awaiting the outcome of this war of annihilation.

At this time, a peasant uprising broke out within the territory of the Song Dynasty, and the person responsible for the uprising was naturally inextricably linked to the Nanjing Garrison.

Li Huai, who remained in Nanjing, was once a disciple of Zeng Chongxing. Li Huai's current position was also due to Zeng Chongxing's tireless efforts in recommending him over the years.

Therefore, Zeng Chongxing stood in front of Zhao Xiaoqian at this moment.

The Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel was equivalent to a deputy prime minister, but Zeng Chongxing's presence in the Hall of State Affairs was not strong, and Zhao Xiaoqian sometimes almost forgot that he existed.

If it weren't for the incident in Nanjing, where Zhao Xiaoqian inquired about Li Huai's resume, Zeng Chongxing probably still wouldn't have come to his attention.

“Mr. Shennian, please don’t stand on ceremony. Please sit down and let’s talk,” Zhao Xiaoqian said with a gentle smile.

Zeng Chongxing sat down nervously, his expression growing increasingly uneasy.

When news of the peasant uprising in Xiayi County arrived, Zeng Chongxing knew immediately that something terrible was about to happen.

Xiayi County was under the jurisdiction of Nanjing, and the Nanjing garrison commander was none other than his student, Li Huai. Given the seriousness of the matter, the imperial court would inevitably investigate and hold those responsible accountable after suppressing the rebellion.

It can be said that none of the officials in Nanjing could escape, and Li Huai was the first to be implicated.

If something happens in a county under Nanjing's jurisdiction, the first person to be held accountable is naturally the Nanjing garrison commander; otherwise, who else would they be?
Zeng Chongxing was unaware of what was actually happening in Nanjing. When Li Huai's memorial was sent to the Bianjing court, placing the blame for the peasant uprising on Liu Zening, an official of the Censorate, Zeng Chongxing became increasingly aware that something was seriously wrong.

Li Huaiyuan was a high-ranking official in Nanjing, but he was not familiar with the newly enthroned emperor.

But Zeng Chongxing was different; he worked in the government office every day and was very familiar with the officials.

He knew that the emperor was not a foolish ruler who could be easily fooled. If Li Huai took the initiative to assume responsibility and plead guilty in his memorial, the emperor might not think too much about it.

However, Li Huai insisted on shifting all the blame onto Liu Zening, which complicated matters and aroused the emperor's suspicion.

It has to be said that Li Huai made a foolish move.

He mistakenly believed that the emperor would believe his one-sided account, and that turning the tables would divert the emperor's attention and anger towards the Censorate.

But what he didn't know was that this emperor of the Song Dynasty was seasoned on the battlefield; he was clear-headed and ruthless. In the six months since his ascension to the throne, he had dismissed, punished, or even beheaded hundreds of officials. No emperor in the history of the Song Dynasty had ever been so tough on his subjects, except for Zhao Xiaoqian.

When Li Huai sent the memorial to the court blaming the Censorate, Zeng Chongxing's heart sank to the bottom. He wanted to point at his former disciple and curse him to his face, calling him self-righteous and extremely stupid.

The imperial army to quell the rebellion was dispatched, and the two chief officials of the Censorate also went to Nanjing in person. The officials in charge of the Imperial City Guard also went there in person. The situation was getting more and more serious. The situation had developed to this point and was no longer under the control of Li Huai, the garrison commander of Nanjing. Li Huai had pushed himself into the fire pit.

Zeng Chongxing was extremely anxious and at a loss, because he knew very well that once Li Huai fell from power, he, as his former mentor who had spared no effort in promoting him to the position of vice prime minister over the years, would also bear joint responsibility.

Zeng Chongxing really wanted to send Li Huai a secret letter. Whether it was a reprimand or a scolding, he ultimately wanted to be Li Huai's teacher again and tell him how to deal with the situation correctly and how to save himself.

But as soon as Zeng Chongxing had this thought, he was shocked to realize that he was being watched.

From the Hall of State Affairs to his own residence, he always felt that countless eyes were watching him; without a doubt, they were the eyes and ears of the Imperial City Guard.

Under these circumstances, Zeng Chongxing dared not act rashly. If the secret letter were sent out and intercepted by the Imperial City Guard, Zeng Chongxing would be guilty of two crimes.

He waited anxiously for news from Nanjing. Just today, while he was absentmindedly carrying out his duties in the Hall of State Affairs, a palace servant suddenly announced that the Emperor had summoned him.

At this moment, Zeng Chongxing sat in front of Zhao Xiaoqian, his heart suddenly racing. Looking at the emperor's calm and gentle face, he couldn't discern any emotion at all, and Zeng Chongxing felt increasingly uncertain.

A palace servant served tea, and Zhao Xiaoqian picked up the cup and said with a smile, "This is a tea that I created myself. Later, my father sold it and made quite a profit. I heard that it was even sold to Liao and Japan. It may also be available in Western Xia. Mr. Shennian, you have heard of it, haven't you?"

Zeng Chongxing cautiously replied, "I have indeed heard that Your Majesty is intelligent and wise, and your thoughts are beyond the reach of ordinary people like us. I admire you very much."

Zhao Xiaoqian simply smiled at Zeng Chongxing's deliberate flattery.

He enjoys being flattered, but only if the flattery is genuine.

In this area, Cai Jing's performance was undoubtedly far superior to Zeng Chongxing's. The emotional value provided by the latter made me, the emperor, so delighted, I truly didn't know how to spoil him enough...

So Zhao Xiaoqian changed the subject and slowly said, "I heard that Mr. Shennian was once the supervisor of the Imperial Academy. He must have had many students all over the world over the years, right?"

Zeng Chongxing's heart skipped a beat, and his face grew even paler.

He knew very well that this was not a topic for casual conversation among officials.

"I did serve as a judge for a few years, teaching my students the classics and the meaning of sages. Some of them passed the imperial examinations, while others failed. These students were merely there to help the country select talent. I dare not presume to be a teacher."

Zhao Xiaoqian smiled. Zeng Chongxing's words were perfectly measured and watertight.

He probably understood why he had been summoned today, and he knew even more clearly that his disciple Li Huai was probably doomed. So, he first tried to downplay the relationship between teacher and disciple, laying the groundwork for the court to investigate and absolve himself of responsibility in the future.

Therefore, which of the people who can enter the Council of State is not a cunning old fox?
"Mr. Shennian, there is no need to be modest. Many of your students later passed the imperial examinations and became Jinshi, some served as officials, and some even became high-ranking officials. This shows that you are exceptionally good at teaching and educating people."

Zeng Chongxing looked bitter. He had tried his best to distance himself from the situation, but the emperor was desperately trying to drag him into this teacher-student relationship. It seemed that after Li Huai's downfall, the emperor would most likely not let him go.

In fact, it is impossible to deny that Li Huai's meteoric rise over the years was largely due to the support of his mentor. Now that Li Huai has caused such a disaster, how can he possibly exonerate himself?

"Your Majesty, I am unworthy of such praise. When I was teaching my students, the principles I taught were the words of sages and the doctrines of the classics, and I did not overstep any bounds. As for their careers, political achievements, and personal conduct, I could not control those."

Zhao Xiaoqian's lips twitched slightly.

That old fox is still putting up a stubborn resistance and shirking responsibility.

The two never mentioned Li Huai in their conversation, but their topics revolved entirely around him. To an uninformed outsider, it was completely baffling, like two high monks exchanging esoteric words. Only the two of them knew what they were talking about.

As the emperor and his ministers were scheming against each other, Zheng Chunhe rushed into the hall and whispered, "Your Majesty, Zhao Xi of the Imperial City Guard has sent an urgent report..."

Zhao Xiaoqian didn't raise his eyebrows, and said calmly, "Speak."

Zheng Chunhe glanced cautiously at Zeng Chongxing beside him and said, "Zhao Xi reported that Liu Zening has been found. He is currently delirious with a high fever, and the Imperial City Guard has already sent him to Bianjing."

As soon as he finished speaking, it was like a thunderbolt striking Zeng Chongxing's head.

Zeng Chongxing's right hand trembled, and the exquisite teacup he was holding slipped from his grasp and fell to the ground, shattering into pieces.

Zeng Chongxing looked terrified and hurriedly got up to apologize.

Zhao Xiaoqian glanced at the broken teacup on the ground and laughed, "It's alright, it's just a teacup. So what if it's broken? I have countless exquisite and intact teacups under my rule. I won't miss this one."

"Since it's broken, it should be swept away and sent to where it belongs."

Zeng Chongxing trembled; he understood what the official meant.

He wasn't talking about a teacup at all.

(End of this chapter)