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

However, they didn't want to get involved in the matter.

Firstly, this is an internal power struggle among the military officers, and they are eager for it to escalate further. As long as it doesn't affect the overall situation of the imperial court, they are happy to watch the show.

Secondly, they knew that Emperor Jingsheng was plotting to seize military power, and that it involved a power struggle with the retired emperor, so they avoided it at all costs.

Although some of them might hope that Emperor Jingsheng could successfully seize military power and then implement new policies.

But while there is hope, it is impossible to get them to risk their lives and take sides.

After bowing and being told to rise, Emperor Jingsheng, with a stern face, handed the case files and memorials in his hand to Gong Dingzi, the Grand Secretary of the Hall of Preserving Harmony, and said coldly:

"This was presented by Marquis Jingwu. Read it aloud to everyone!"

Gong Dingzi took the case files and memorials from Xia Shouzhong and first glanced at Emperor Jingsheng's gloomy face.

He then lowered his head to look at the case files and memorials in his hands, and the more he looked, the more alarmed he became, his face completely changing color.

Seeing that everyone in the hall was waiting for him, he then began to read the memorial aloud in a deep voice:

"I have been appointed by imperial decree as the military governor of the Ba Shang camp, and will use the imperial sword to reorganize military affairs and investigate illegal activities."

"Unexpectedly, it was discovered that Hu Mei, the Deputy Military Governor and Marquis of Linchuan, and Lu Ju, the Marquis of Zhongqin, among others, despite receiving imperial favor and holding the position of military governor, had broken the law and disrupted discipline, eroded the foundation of the nation, and even colluded with foreign countries to endanger the country."

"I considered the matter to be of great importance, and thus intended to arrest and interrogate them with the imperial sword. However, they were cornered and acted arrogantly and rebelliously, defying the majesty of Heaven, and gathered troops to resist me."

"I had no choice but to act decisively and, with the authority granted to me by Your Majesty, executed Marquis Mingzheng and captured Marquis Zhongqin and his accomplices! The conclusive evidence of their crimes is now presented to me."

As soon as Gong Dingzi finished speaking, the Duke of Cheng's expression changed, and he said coldly:

"If you want to find fault, you can always find a pretext!"

Jia Jing's accusation of colluding with foreign powers and plotting to endanger the country weighed heavily on his mind, but he did not believe that Jia Jing could find conclusive evidence in such a short time.

Such confidential matters could never be known by outsiders.

Emperor Jingsheng remained silent, but gestured for Gong Dingzi to continue reading.

Xia Shouzhong, who was standing nearby, brought Emperor Jingsheng another cup of tea to help him calm down.

Gong Dingzi continued reading:

"The three major crimes committed by the disgraced Marquis of Linchuan, the Marquis of Zhongqin, and others!"

"First crime: Embezzling military funds and pocketing the money. An investigation revealed that the military camp at Ba Shang was supposed to have 100,000 soldiers, but when I personally entered the camp, I only found more than 40,000."

"According to the confessions of Zhongqin Hou and others, there were actually more than 49,000 soldiers, but more than 50,000 were falsely claimed. They ordered their confidants to forge military registers and embezzle military pay. Over the years, the total amount of embezzled military pay exceeded 800,000 taels of silver."

"Attached are the testimonies of Marquis Lu Ju, General Huang Bin, and others, as well as account books and military registers, as evidence."

At this moment, cold sweat had already broken out on the foreheads of the Duke of Cheng, the Marquis of Nanxiong, the Marquis of Yongjia, and others.

Emperor Jingsheng asked in a cold voice:

"Falsely claiming half the troop strength and embezzling over 800,000 taels of silver—good! That's more money than my own imperial treasury!"

"Now that the imperial treasury is empty, you're buying up land and building houses! That's how the money comes in! You're really doing a great job!"

"You all keep mentioning Emperor Taizu and Emperor Chengzu, but do you know how Emperor Taizu dealt with corrupt officials?"

The Duke of Cheng and others remained silent.

Emperor Jingsheng snorted coldly:

"I'm here to tell you! According to the Great Han Law established by Emperor Taizu, those who embezzle less than one string of cash will be punished with seventy strokes of the cane; those who embezzle eighty strings of cash will be hanged; and those who embezzle more than one thousand taels of cash will be executed by slow slicing, their entire clan exterminated, and their skin peeled off and stuffed with straw!"

"What? Weren't you just spouting off about laws and regulations? Now you've forgotten the Great Han Law! How ridiculous!"

Emperor Jingsheng sneered and said:

"Keep reading!"

Gong Dingzi turned to a page and continued reading:

"The second crime is to resell military rations and weapons, thereby undermining the foundation of the army and aiding the enemy to harm oneself."

"They abused their power to embezzle military rations from the Ever-Normal Granary and sell them to unscrupulous merchants in the capital. Past accounts revealed that they had cumulatively resold over 100,000 shi (a unit of dry measure) of grain, wheat, and beans."

"This has led to the depletion of food supplies at the Ba Shang camp, which would endanger the capital should an emergency arise!"

"The newly manufactured armor, bows and arrows, and muskets in the armory were sold in batches to merchants in the nine border regions under the pretext of being scrapped."

"The seized documents show that there were more than 500 sets of armor, more than a dozen crossbows, more than 300 muskets, three cannons, and 5,000 catties of gunpowder, which ultimately ended up in the hands of the puppet Qing dynasty. This is a serious crime of aiding the enemy! Attached are account books, documents, and testimonies."

At this moment, the Wu Xun of the Jingnan Campaign had all changed color. How could Jia Jing, that brat, have investigated such a secret matter in such a short time and even have evidence?

Unbeknownst to them, Jia Jing had already ordered people to secretly investigate for many days, waiting only for the testimonies of Zhongqin Hou and others to arrive so that he could immediately obtain crucial evidence and solidify the charges.

Emperor Jingsheng sneered again:

"Duke Cheng, didn't you just say that Marquis Linchuan had rendered meritorious service to the court? Emperor Chengzu strictly forbids the private sale of military and national weapons such as bows, crossbows, and firearms to the puppet Qing dynasty; violators will be executed without pardon!"

"Is this how you, the meritorious official who brought peace to the country, rendered service to the court? Is this how you showed loyalty to Emperor Chengzu? I think you'd better stop mentioning Emperor Chengzu all the time. I'm ashamed for him!"

Zhang Tingyu and the others exchanged glances. The way Emperor Jingsheng was cursing today seemed somewhat similar to how that brat Jia Jing had cursed the Duke of Zhao that day.

His words were sharp and incisive, each one like a knife, showing no mercy whatsoever!

Emperor Jingsheng, however, disregarded what others thought and continued:

"Keep reading!"

Gong Dingzi turned the page again, and after just one glance, he couldn't hide the shock on his face, his eyes filled with anger and astonishment.

How...how...how dare I?

The first two charges seem serious, but in reality, which of the nine border generals and local garrison commanders hasn't done them?

In particular, regarding the issue of receiving salaries without working, Gong Dingzi said that there were more than nine out of ten such cases.

However, if the next charge is proven true, then Marquis Linchuan and the others will truly deserve to die!

This is a capital offense that even a death warrant cannot prevent, and it is one of the ten heinous crimes.

No wonder the emperor looked so angry and was so furious. This was utterly reckless and a blatant attempt to undermine the imperial power!

After glancing at the military merits of the Jingnan Campaign, Gong Dingzi slowly exhaled and recited each word clearly:

"The third crime is colluding with foreign powers and selling military intelligence for treacherous purposes. This is a crime for which even ten thousand deaths are insufficient to atone."

"Betrayed the border troop movements. A few years ago, when the court was waging war in Liaodong, he secretly reported the deployment map and dates of some of the Liaodong army's forces, and drew up Liaodong defense maps and detailed maps of the garrison of each camp, causing our army to suffer several defeats, lose many soldiers and generals, kill countless civilians, and further damage Your Majesty's prestige after ascending the throne."

"The Marquis of Zhongqin confessed to having seven letters with the secret agents of the Qing dynasty. The handwriting and seal on the letters were indeed his own. The servant who delivered the letters was also captured and confessed without hesitation."

"There is also a box of pearls gifted by the Qing dynasty, which serves as irrefutable evidence. This crime constitutes 'treason,' making him a true traitor..."

"Absolutely impossible!" Upon hearing this, Marquis Yongjia's expression changed drastically, and he loudly interrupted Gong Dingzi.

The Wu Xun members of the Jingnan faction in the hall were all filled with fear and disbelief.

Who would dare admit to this crime?

Treason and collusion with the enemy are crimes for which even the confiscation of property and the extermination of one's clan are insufficient to atone for them.