Do You Know?: I, the Little Cabinet Elder, Regent of the World.

Chapter 44 I am a Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) of the second year of the Jiayou era! (7k words updated today, please vote!)
He only said two sentences and was instantly defeated!

A high-ranking official of the third rank, could be defeated in an instant?
Chen Ting was somewhat incredulous. He tried to answer several times, but couldn't find the words. He felt powerless and didn't know what to say.

Jiang Zhao's few words seemed to suggest that whatever he said would be pale and powerless.

"Hahaha!" Zhao Zhen laughed loudly upon hearing this.

"What a fine Jiang Lang of Huaizuo, what a fine Hanlin Compiler."

"Whether Huang Jing is a hero or not, I don't know. However, Jiang Zhao is indeed a hero."

"Throughout my life, I have always admired heroes and valiant men."

With a single word, he defeated a high-ranking official of the third rank, and even Emperor Zhao Zhen couldn't help but take notice and feel a sense of appreciation for his talent.

Just then, Right Censor-in-Chief Feng Yuan stepped forward and angrily rebuked, "The one who submits the memorial is guilty of the same crime as the one who writes it. Jiang Zichuan, don't try to argue your way out of this!"

"Huang Jing is a Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, and where is Han Zhang, the Minister of Rites? Why are you cowering and hiding behind your students?" As one of the highest peaks of the Imperial Censorate, Feng Yuan's stern shout echoed throughout the hall.

Chen Ting was instantly defeated, and he had no choice but to come out and question them.

Many officials are becoming increasingly humble.

The second-in-command of the Censorate, a second-rank official, has been removed from office!
This is already one of the highest levels of existence below the Grand Secretary!

At the same time, Zhao Zhen glanced at Han Zhang and Liu Hang out of the corner of his eye.

Both of them remained calm and composed, revealing nothing unusual.

Perhaps realizing his apprentice's abilities, Han Zhang did not step forward even when Feng Yuan provoked him.

Zhao Zhen couldn't help but look at the capable young man.

As expected of master and disciple, how similar they are to Han Qing in his youth.

However, it needs to be even more powerful.

He debuted at a peak level!
"Why implicate the innocent, Lord Feng? Lord Han's loyalty to the country is known to all. Don't drag a loyal minister into this mess." Jiang Zhao saw through Feng Yuan's intentions at a glance and immediately exposed him without hesitation.

Once Han Zhang leaves the game, Liu Hang will also leave.

If Liu Hang catches him and beats him up, and pulls off a "Tian Ji horse racing" move, he'll probably have a hard time arguing back.

"Completely innocent?" Feng Yuan sneered. His intention was to muddy the waters, and he had no regard for morality or ethics.

"If I remember correctly, when Han Zhang was in charge of Dingzhou, he arrested Jiao Yong, a general under Di Qing, on the grounds of 'lax military discipline,' and retired loyal officials were framed for it. Does such a person deserve to be called loyal?" Feng Yuan's voice resounded throughout the hall.

Many military generals took notice of him.

Feng Yuan scolded, "You two, master and disciple, one gave Di Qing a poem, the other framed a loyal official. One played the good cop, the other the bad cop, you sang it so well!"

Jiang Zhao frowned slightly.

What Feng Yuan said was indeed something that happened.

Han Zhang was truly exceptional in governing the country and managing people's livelihoods; even looking at the history books of the Great Zhou Dynasty, he was a capable man.

However, Han Zhang also suffered from the common flaw of scholars: he looked down on military generals, believing that they only possessed bravery but lacked wisdom and strategy, and that only those who were called out in name at Donghua Gate were true men.
Even though Jiang Zhao was present, Han Zhang didn't utter this "famous saying," which doesn't change the fact that Han Zhang did indeed harbor some prejudices.

Whether Jiao Yong was truly lax in his military discipline was something even Jiang Zhao wasn't entirely sure about.

However, he was indeed punished!

This kind of contempt for military generals is not uncommon among civil officials.

Jiang Zhao's expression darkened.

He was not the kind of person who looked down on military generals.

Civil and military officials each performed their duties and were indispensable.

However, one's perspective is determined by one's position, and one should still defend the teacher when necessary.

"What, does Lord Feng mean by wanting to exonerate Jiao Yong?"

Jiang Zhao sneered and pointed, "Judging from your expression of shock and anger, anyone who didn't know better would think you were a military officer!"

"Sir, you have no evidence whatsoever, yet you try to exonerate the military officer with your silver tongue. If you are so indignant, why not join the army?"

Jiang Zhao said with a sneer, "You are a second-rank official. Even if you are demoted from a civil to a military position, you are still a second-rank military general!"

"Even so, he will not lose his title of marquis."

Mocking voices echoed throughout the hall.

Feng Yuan's expression changed slightly as he noticed that many civil officials were looking at him.

Realizing he had misspoke, he quickly retorted, "When did I ever say I wanted to be granted a title? Don't spout nonsense!"

"Stop making excuses! Tell us about your accomplices and your backers!"

"If you have the ability and the responsibility, then speak up honestly!" came another stern rebuke.

Chen Ting!

Jiang Zhao glanced at the two high-ranking officials who had stepped forward one after the other, and sneered: "I entered the capital on May 27th to take up the post of Hanlin Compiler. It has been less than a month since then. How can you say I am an accomplice?"

"Jiang is neither a hero nor has any accomplices."

A loud voice echoed throughout the hall. Jiang Zhao turned around abruptly and bowed to the Emperor: "I was born in the second year of the Baoyuan era. At that time, the Emperor was wise and the world was at peace. The people lived and worked in peace and contentment. I also had a carefree childhood and grew up safely."

From passing the imperial examination at the county level in the seventh year of the Qingli era, to becoming a provincial graduate in the first year of the Zhihe era, and finally achieving the highest rank in the imperial examination this February, and taking office as a compiler in the Hanlin Academy on May 27th, every step of my journey has been thanks to the Emperor's favor.

"I am a newly appointed scholar in the second year of the Jiayou era, and a protégé of the Emperor. If we speak of a mentor, Your Majesty is my mentor!"

"If we're talking about a powerful backer, Your Majesty is my powerful backer!"

"If we're talking about allies, I can only be one of Your Majesty's allies!"

"What Imperial Censor Feng and Vice Minister Chen just said was not a discussion of the way of a loyal minister. I humbly request Your Majesty to order the two of them to retract their words!"

After saying this, Jiang Zhao's eyes turned red and tears streamed down her face. She bent down and kowtowed heavily.

It sold out in seconds again?
There are more experts? The elders all looked surprised and doubtful.

If someone says your teacher has problems, you would say the emperor was your teacher.

If someone says you have accomplices, you would say the emperor is your accomplice.

If others say you have powerful backers, you should say that the emperor is your true backer.
How are we supposed to answer that?
Not to mention the Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet, even Emperor Zhao Zhen on his throne was stunned.

How could this be related to me?

Also, isn't this level of debate a bit too much?

He was surrounded by a third-rank official and pursued by a second-rank censor.

As a result, when the two high-ranking officials pressed them for answers, they were both silenced without exception.

In the main hall, Feng Yuan, the Left Censor-in-Chief, and Chen Ting, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, were both stunned, their minds blank.

Done!

Grand Secretary Liu Hang closed his eyes and sighed.

Neither a second-rank official nor a third-rank official could force Jiang Zhao into a trap; he was already doomed to lose.

The difference lies in the fact that either they were deposed by the king, or they were defeated by the powerful Han Zhang in a political struggle some time later.

Because the Grand Chancellor was biased, he was unwilling to abdicate, and it was just a risky gamble in the first place.

Unexpectedly, this was a miscalculation!
Who would have thought that a young man who had only been an official for less than a month could actually play in the top-tier tournament?
It’s not unfair to lose!

This plot was not unusual, but what was unusual was that it provoked the king's anger.

If those who enter the game cannot withstand the emperor's wrath and the questioning from several waves of Liu's faction officials, they will inevitably collapse.

As it turned out, fate played a trick on him, and Jiang Zichuan was able to hold on and even fight back.

In fact, given his political acumen, if he were to step in now, he could barely maintain the situation.

But since the plan has already failed, why take the initiative to get involved and end up in an embarrassing situation?
Of course, he didn't actually lose completely.

He's someone who'll retire sooner or later; this is just a temporary struggle for him.

Whether it's a complete defeat or not remains to be seen in the battle between the two kings!

A temporary win or loss is nothing.

At the same time, Han Zhang smiled with satisfaction.

The initial outcome of this political struggle has already been determined.

Neither he nor Liu Hang participated in the competition.

If he doesn't step down, Liu Hang can't step down either, otherwise it would be an admission of guilt!
The Chuigong Hall, which had been arguing heatedly and shouting reprimands just moments before, fell silent for a full thirty or forty breaths.

The officials were astonished, and even the emperor was watching closely!
After a long while, Zhao Zhen came to his senses and looked at the two men calmly: "Feng Yuan, Chen Ting, Jiang Qing insists that you two take back what you said. Will you take it back or not?"

By this time, seven-tenths of his anger had subsided.

The moment the Right Vice Censor-in-Chief jumped out, he already knew most of the news.

If Chen Ting's decision to step forward might be due to loyalty, then the decision of Feng Yuan, a second-rank official and Right Vice Censor-in-Chief, carries a completely different significance.

Since both of them tried to drag Jiang Zhao into the mess, it means that Jiang Zhao was the one who was attacked.

Just as Jiang Zhao said, he had been an official for "less than a month," so where would he have any enemies?

He's nothing more than a political enemy!
As for why Liu Hang didn't participate, it was simply to lose in a more dignified way.

He believed that Liu Hang would also have the awareness of a loser.

The next step was to determine whether the matter was related to the two kings.

"I will never take it back!"

"I will not take it back!"

"Your Majesty, what happened today is unprecedented not only in our Great Zhou Dynasty since the founding emperor, but also in all dynasties!"

This Jiang Zichuan is clearly a smooth talker and a treacherous villain disguised as a loyal subject. I hope Your Majesty will not be deceived by the people behind him.

"That Huang Jing must be arrested immediately, and this Jiang Zichuan must also be arrested immediately. Everyone connected to Huang Jing must be arrested, and everyone connected to Jiang Zichuan must also be arrested. Without exception, they must all be investigated!" Feng Yuan said sternly.

Judging from his words and deeds, without exception, he always put the emperor first, and was truly a loyal minister.

"If everyone is investigating, then who will be investigating?" Zhao Zhen asked.

"I am willing to investigate!" Feng Yuan said immediately.

Zhao Zhen remained noncommittal, then looked at Jiang Zhao: "What does Minister Jiang have to say?"

Jiang Zhao looked at the two men with a mocking expression and slowly said, "I believe that heroes should investigate heroes, and good men should investigate good men."

"Oh?" Zhao Zhen placed his hands on the imperial desk and nodded: "That's right, let heroes investigate heroes, let good men investigate good men."

"Didn't you say you were my accomplice? I will neither admit it nor deny it."

Zhao Zhen truly cherished the talent of this young man.

"In that case, you go, Li Qi goes, one to the Censorate, one to the Ministry of Justice, one to the Court of Judicial Review, and one to the Imperial Guard."

"Investigate thoroughly into Huang Jing's backers and accomplices!"

After speaking, Zhao Zhen waved his hand.

"Let's leave the court!"

"The court session is over—"

(End of this chapter)