Dream of the Red Chamber: Start by gaining Zhao Yun's martial prowess, and be ennobled in a sin

As the officials were talking, the gates of the Zhang residence finally opened.

The sound of the door hinges turning was exceptionally clear in the quiet alley, and everyone's eyes turned in that direction at the same time.

Zhang Tingyu walked out of the door, wearing a dark blue casual robe, not an official robe, with a black gauze hat on his head and a jade belt recently bestowed upon him by Emperor Jingsheng around his waist.

He was surrounded by dozens of Imperial City Guards, each one spirited, fully armored, with swords at their waists, their faces solemn as they surveyed the surroundings with sharp eyes.

There was also an inconspicuous old servant in blue robes carrying a document box wrapped in blue cloth, following closely behind.

Zhang Tingyu stood outside the threshold, the sunlight spreading across his face and clearly illuminating his features.

He was over fifty years old, and his beard and hair were mostly whiter than last month. His expression was haggard and solemn.

But its back remained straight, like an old pine tree that had been battered by the wind for a long time, its trunk full of cracks, yet it never fell down.

Zhang Tingyu glanced at the sea of ​​officials in the alley, his expression grave and his gaze sharp as a knife.

Although he had known for a month that if he took on the two tasks of investigating the factional case and the Beijing inspection, his reputation, which he had built up over the decades, would be ruined in an instant!

After all, these two things were extremely offensive. Last month, more than 200 former party officials were arrested or killed, and their homes were ransacked. The stakes involved are obvious.

Not to mention that the impeachment petitions in the cabinet could be piled up to a small mountain, his former fellow townsmen, classmates, and relatives have gradually kept their distance from him!

Normally, the area in front of the mansion is frequented by high-ranking officials such as the heads of the Six Ministries, the Three Dukes and the Nine Ministers, who chat and laugh. But now, it is surrounded by a group of upright civil officials with unfriendly expressions!

Zhang Tingyu had been cautious his whole life, but he never expected that in his old age he would be cursed as a "treacherous minister and cruel official" by officials and scholars. Even now, he has to take dozens of Imperial City Guards sent by Emperor Jingsheng with him every time he goes out, in case of any unforeseen circumstances!

He understood all of this and was mentally prepared for it!

Since he chose loyalty to the emperor over loyalty to the scholars of the world, he has no way out!

He was a Confucian official; when the retired emperor was in power, he was only a fourth-rank official.

It was the current emperor who, over the course of ten years, gradually promoted him to the positions of Vice Minister of the Six Ministries, Minister of Personnel, and Second Grand Secretary, allowing him to realize his political ambitions.

Thunder and rain, all are the Emperor's grace!

Now that he has chosen to help Emperor Jingsheng revive the Han Dynasty, he has no room to waver!

He has considered and weighed the options very thoroughly!

Given the current dire situation in the Han Dynasty, it is absolutely impossible not to implement new policies and rectify official corruption!

Moreover, the court finally had an ambitious and wise ruler like Emperor Jingsheng, as well as an invincible general like Jia Jing, which gave the dying Han Dynasty a breather and bought time to deal with internal troubles.

Therefore, it is their duty to withstand the pressure and assist the Holy Emperor in creating a new golden age for the Han Dynasty!

At the center of the storm, he either went further, surpassing all his colleagues in courtesy and being granted the honor of being enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple, thus successfully extending the life of the Han Dynasty by three hundred years and becoming a minister of restoration who is praised throughout history.

They would either be shattered to pieces, their families destroyed, and be branded as "outcasts" by the gentry and scholars of the land, condemned by all, and left with a lasting infamy, repeating the tragic fate of reformers like Shang Yang and Wang Anshi!

In this game of chess where the rise and fall of the Han Dynasty and the survival of hundreds of millions of people are at stake, he cannot be all things to all people. Only by personally engaging in the game can he possibly win against fate!

The only thing that gave him some comfort was that the Zhang family still had his younger brother, Zhang Tinglu, in the officialdom. As long as he didn't get involved, kept his distance from him, and placed bets separately, even if he failed, he could at least leave the Zhang family a way out.

Just as Zhang Tingyu was lost in thought, a soft cough came from the alley in front of the Zhang residence. Kong Ying, who carried the hopes of all the officials, took a step forward.

He stood exactly five steps in front of Zhang Tingyu, cupped his hands in greeting, and said loudly, "Grand Secretary Zhang."

Zhang Tingyu gave him a gloomy look, roughly understanding the situation, nodded slightly, and said in a hoarse voice, "Lord Kong, esteemed officials."

Kong Ying's gaze fell directly on Zhang Tingyu's face, and she said loudly:

"Your Excellency, we are not here to block your way today. We simply wish to ask you a few questions."

Zhang Tingyu remained silent for a moment, then handed the jade tablet in his hand to the old servant behind him. He stood with his hands behind his back and said indifferently, "Lord Kong, please speak."

Kong Yingdao:

"Your Excellency, you presided over the capital inspection and handled the case of Xu Zhuo and others. Within a month, more than two hundred officials of the court were arrested by the Imperial City Guard and imprisoned. To this day, the fate of many is unknown. There is much discussion in the court and among the people. Everyone is in danger and cannot eat or sleep in peace."

"Is this the kind of behavior a virtuous minister should engage in, using factionalism as a pretext to abuse power, persecute loyal officials, and create numerous unjust imprisonments?"

"Furthermore, ancestral rules state that those who speak out are not guilty. How can they cooperate with the Imperial City Guard's henchmen to arrest loyal ministers who offer advice? Isn't this utterly depraved?"

"Grand Secretary Zhang was once a virtuous and upright minister praised by both the court and the public. What has happened to him now? We don't understand!"

"Lord Kong is right!"

"Lord Kong is truly a role model for us all!" The surrounding officials echoed in unison.

Zhang Tingyu said expressionlessly:

"Firstly, the Imperial City Guard did not arrest people randomly; they arrested those who secretly formed cliques, harbored treacherous intentions, and criticized the new policies."

"The second point is that those who speak out are not guilty, which is a testament to the Emperor's benevolence, but it is not an excuse for officials to coerce His Majesty! Xu Zhuo and a few others have committed serious crimes by disobeying their superiors, spreading rumors that the new policies harm the people, and slandering the Emperor. These crimes do not fall under the category of 'those who speak out are not guilty'!"