I, Kangxi, am here to overthrow the Qing and restore the Ming!

See you in the picture!

Ao Bai's move was not a land exchange at all; he clearly intended to use the land exchange to uproot the Suksaha faction that opposed him!

Sunahai, Zhu Changzuo, and Wang Denglian are all staunch allies of Suksaha and the main force opposing the land grabbing.

Hong Xiguan's eyes narrowed.

Good grief, he just unleashed his ultimate move to wipe out the entire field!

If you were to kill these three people, Suksaha would truly be left without any troops. How could I possibly continue this drama then?

He knew he could no longer play dumb.

I have to step forward and say a few words.

"Lord Ao, isn't this... a bit too much?"

Hong Xiguan said weakly, "Sunahai and the others were just following the rules, what crime have they committed? Could we... first dismiss them from their posts and investigate them, and then discuss it later?"

He didn't directly say "don't kill," but instead said "dismiss him and investigate him." This was a concession, but also a test.

But Ao Bai was already blinded by rage.

"Your Majesty! Evil must be eradicated completely! If these three are not executed, the land enclosure program cannot proceed! The resentment of the Bordered Yellow Banner cannot be quelled!"

Ao Bai stepped forward, staring intently at Hong Xiguan, his imposing manner suggesting that he was the emperor.

"Please issue the imperial decree, Your Majesty! Kill them!"

Inside the Hall of Supreme Harmony, there was a deathly silence.

All eyes were focused on the young emperor on the dragon throne, awaiting the imperial edict that would decide his fate.

However, Hong Xiguan just gripped the armrests of the dragon throne tightly, his face pale and his eyes darting around, as if he had been terrified by Ao Bai's words, "Please issue an order, Your Majesty! Kill him!"

But in reality, at this moment, Hong Xiguan's heart was beating faster than a war drum, not because of fear, but because of excitement.

"Kill! Kill them quickly!"

You bunch of Manchu lackeys, you always look down on the world and treat the Han people like pigs and dogs. Now look what's happened, dogs fighting each other, a mess of fur! It would be better if you were all dead!

Hong Xiguan's inner self was already applauding wildly, but on the surface, he acted flawlessly.

I would never do such a dirty job as killing ministers. If I were to issue such an order, wouldn't the tens of thousands of Manchu bannermen of the Plain White Banner dig up my ancestral graves?

This blame must be pinned on Ao Bai and sealed off!

Therefore, faced with Ao Bai's spittle that was almost spraying onto his face, Hong Xiguan chose the strongest defense: feigning death.

He just huddled in the dragon throne, head down, without saying a word, like a wronged little wife.

This silence made Ao Bai completely lose patience.

"Since His Majesty remains silent, that means he tacitly approves!"

Ao Bai sneered, turned around abruptly, and shouted loudly towards the outside of the hall:

"Someone come here!"

Splash!

A clanging sound of armor rang out, and a squad of fully armed guards from the Bordered Yellow Banner rushed into the main hall, exuding a murderous aura.

"Sunahai, Zhu Changzuo, and Wang Denglian have disregarded orders and obstructed land acquisition; their crimes are heinous!"

Ao Bai waved his hand, like a judge ordering executions: "Seize them! Execute them immediately!"

Suksaha's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets as he pointed at Ao Bai, his finger trembling.

"Ao Bai! You...you've forged an imperial edict! The Emperor hasn't issued a decree yet! This is a coup! This is rebellion!"

However, no matter how much he shouted, Hong Xiguan on the dragon throne remained huddled there, even lowering his head further, as if tacitly accepting what was happening.

Su Zhongtang, stop shouting!

You're next!

Soon, screams came from outside the hall.

Sunahai, Zhu Changzuo, and Wang Denglian, three important court officials, were strangled to death outside the Hall of Supreme Harmony. The cruelty of the method was appalling.

The smell of blood drifted into the main hall on the wind. Suksaha smelled it, his legs went weak, and he collapsed to the ground, his face ashen.

He knew he had lost, lost everything.

……

The deaths of the three ministers did not quell Ao Bai's anger; instead, they ignited his growing ambition.

Knowing that the situation was hopeless, Suksaha had no choice but to resort to his last resort to save his life—retreating to advance.

The next day, Suksaha submitted a memorial requesting to resign from his position as regent and go to guard the Xiaoling Mausoleum of Emperor Shunzhi.

In his memorial, he wrote in a mournful and sorrowful tone, saying things like "I am old and senile and do not wish to see the court deteriorate day by day." His words implied that Aobai was seizing power and that he was unwilling to go along with him.

If this tactic were used on an ordinary powerful minister, he might have been let off the hook for the sake of his reputation.

But who is Ao Bai?

The number one Baturu in Manchuria! He believed in eliminating all traces of his enemies!

"Trying to run? Not so easy!"

Ao Bai grinned maliciously and, together with the opportunist Ebilun, fabricated charges against him overnight.

There will be a meeting the next day.

A memorial listing twenty-four major crimes committed by Suksaha was thrown in front of Hong Xiguan.

"Holding ulterior motives," "disrespecting the young ruler," "forming cliques for personal gain," "plotting rebellion"... each of these is a capital offense.

Finally, Ao Bai's proposed solution consisted of only eight characters:

"Execute him by slow slicing, and confiscate his family property!"

This is an attempt to wipe out the entire family!

Hong Xiguan held the memorial, his hand trembling slightly.

Looking at Ao Bai kneeling below, and then at Sukesaha beside him who had closed his eyes in despair, a sudden inspiration flashed through his mind.

Hey, here's my chance!

Ao Bai is currently riding high on his momentum. If I were to confront him head-on, I would be courting death. It would be better to... take this opportunity to see just how many people in the court are truly human and how many are treacherous, and let all of Ao Bai's cronies come out!

Hong Xiguan raised his head, feigning a troubled expression:

"Lord Ao, this...Lord Su is, after all, a regent minister. Twenty-four major crimes...if this gets out...I'm afraid I'll find it difficult to convince the people!"

"How about... we let all the officials in the court express their opinions? If everyone thinks that Minister Su deserves to die, then I will have nothing more to say."

This tactic is called "luring the snake out of its hole."

Ao Bai was delighted upon hearing this.

Stance?

I now wield immense power; who dares to utter a single word against me?

"Very well! Since His Majesty wants to see public opinion, then let everyone have their say!"

Ao Bai turned around, his gaze sharp as a knife, sweeping across the entire scene.

"Fellow colleagues! Suksaha's crimes are heinous, and everyone has the right to kill him! What do you think?"

The moment the words were spoken, the hall instantly transformed into a stage for Ao Bai's personality cult.

The first to jump out was Asiha, the Minister of Personnel.

"I second that request! Suksaha's forming of cliques and engaging in corrupt practices is an unforgivable crime! I request his execution!"

Immediately afterward, the Minister of War, Gachuha, also stepped forward, his voice booming: "I second that! This traitor controls the government and sows discord among the troops; he should be executed!"

Then, one by one, familiar or unfamiliar faces stepped forward.

"Your humble servant, Tai Bitu, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, seconds this proposal!"

"Your humble servant, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, Korkun, seconded this proposal!"

"Your humble servant, Minister of Works Ji Shi, seconded this proposal!"

"Your subject, Commander-in-Chief of the Bordered Yellow Banner, Nemo, seconded this proposal!"

"Your subject, Duke Banburshan, seconds this proposal!"

Even Tong Bao, the Nine Gates Commander in charge of the capital's defense, stood up with a fawning expression and kicked the ship.

In just a quarter of an hour, more than half of the civil and military officials stood behind Ao Bai!

The six ministers, vice ministers, commanders of the Eight Banners, commanders of the Nine Gates... from the central government to the local level, from civil officials to military generals, all of them were infiltrated by Ao Bai like a sieve!

Sitting high above, Hong Xiguan looked down at the dark mass of "Ao Dang" and felt a chill run down his spine and his scalp tingle.

Good guy!

I knew Ao Bai was powerful before, but this... this is too outrageous!

This is hardly the Qing Dynasty's imperial court! This is clearly Ao Bai's private gathering! I, the emperor, am nothing but a mascot!