I, the most powerful minister of the Tang Dynasty, have been exposed by the heavens.

Li Shimin received unanimous "bad reviews" from his senior officials, which finally made him feel a little better.

But their anger intensified, turning instead towards Emperor Li Longji, who was still on the screen and hadn't yet escaped.

"Listen! Listen to all of you! Lu Wuming, a veteran official who has served four dynasties, is 137 years old! He risked his life to storm the palace and offer his remonstrance, every word stained with blood and tears! His words are all invaluable advice!"

"But what did that unworthy descendant, Li Longji, listen to? What did he see?"

"He's surrounded by parasites like Yang Guozhong, yet he holds a national treasure like Lu Wuming in his hands and doesn't use him! Foolish! Incompetent! I...I am simply..."

Li Shimin was so angry that he spun around twice on the spot.

Thinking of my own hard work and dedication to governing the country, and of the flourishing state of the Zhenguan era.

Comparing this to the scene of utter chaos and the king's desperate attempt to escape shown on the screen, a profound sense of absurdity and rage surged through him.

He stopped abruptly, pointed at Li Longji's hesitant face on the sky, and almost roared:

"How on earth did Li Longji ascend to the throne?! Is his mind filled only with songs, dances, and the drunken revelry of his concubine?!"

"How could the throne of my Great Tang Dynasty have fallen into the hands of such spineless, ignorant, and treacherous good-for-nothings?!"

"And this prime minister! Yang Guozhong? He doesn't even deserve to be called 'Guozhong' (meaning 'loyal to the country')! What kind of country is he loyal to? He's clearly a 'traitor to the country'! A 'parasite on the country'!"

"Look at Lu Wuming! That's what a prime minister is! That's what a pillar of the state is!"

"Fearless in the face of danger, and daring to speak frankly and offer honest advice!"

"This is the spirit and character that our Great Tang Dynasty should possess!"

Li Shimin was heartbroken and launched into a furious tirade.

The courtiers in the palace listened with a sense of unease, and were also secretly awed.

……

Above the sky.

Li Longji was speechless after Lu Wuming's final question, "a sinner for all time," his face turning red and white in turns.

Lu Wuming's string of words just now, such as "Sanlang back then" and "full of vigor," were like whips, making his face burn with pain.

Yes, back then...

Back then, Li Longji also stormed into the palace with a sword and forcefully took back the throne from Empress Wei.

Why now... do you have the idea of ​​escaping Chang'an?

Lu Wuming looked at Li Longji and continued.

"Our Great Tang Dynasty is a celestial empire, where all nations pay tribute!"

"How could we possibly avoid the rebels' advance? How could we possibly flee Chang'an because of the rebels?"

"This is utterly absurd!"

However, at that very moment, a voice suddenly rang out again.

"Lu Wuming!"

It's Yang Guozhong.

This Prime Minister Yang was almost knocked unconscious by the rebuke just now, but he has finally recovered.

He grew angrier the more he thought about it. Ever since his sister became a concubine and he became prime minister, who in the court didn't have a smile on their face when they saw him?

That old coffin-head dared to point his finger at him and curse him!

When has he ever suffered such humiliation?

Seeing the emperor's speechless expression, Yang Guozhong felt even more reassured; His Majesty still needed him!

Most of the people in this hall were his men.

Why should he fear an old man who has been retired for decades?

With confidence, one can stand tall again.

Yang Guozhong straightened his sleeves, stepped forward, and raised his voice so high that it drowned out the oppressive atmosphere in the hall.

"Lu Wuming! You keep claiming to be acting for the Tang Dynasty, yet you rely on your seniority and, in front of all the officials, repeatedly denounce His Majesty as a 'traitor for all time'!"

"What are you really up to? Are you showing contempt for the Emperor?!"

The more he talked, the more convinced he felt he was in the right, and his tone rose even higher.

"Does he think he can be so arrogant and disrespectful to his ruler just because he's older and more senior?"

Swish!

All eyes were on Lu Wuming.

But the white-haired old man remained calm and unhurried, even managing a faint, almost mocking smile at the corner of his mouth.

He slowly turned his head, his insightful eyes landing on Yang Guozhong's face.

"Prime Minister Yang," Lu Wuming began, his voice calm yet icy, "you're in such a hurry to jump out... are you afraid I'll say something against you?"

Yang Guozhong's heart skipped a beat, but with the die already cast, he could only brace himself.

"I act with integrity and uprightness, and my heart is solely for His Majesty and for the Tang Dynasty! What is there to fear? If you have any advice, please speak freely! I am all ears!"

"Well said, what a fine example of 'upright and honest'."

Lu Wuming nodded, his eyes filled with even more mockery.

"Since Prime Minister Yang asked me to speak, then I will have a good talk with you today."

He no longer looked at Yang Guozhong's forced composure, but instead turned to Li Longji on the dragon throne, as if speaking to all the civil and military officials in the hall.

"Your Majesty, gentlemen. Some people sit in the prime minister's seat, but they do not do what a prime minister should do."

"On the contrary, they're like termites, slowly gnawing away at the pillars and beams of the Tang Dynasty!"

"You're talking nonsense!" Yang Guozhong's expression changed.

Lu Wuming completely ignored him and slowly pulled out a blue-covered account book that looked quite old from the wide sleeves of his old robe.

The booklet wasn't thick, and the edges were frayed, but he held it in his withered hands.

He opened the booklet, cleared his throat, and began to read.

The voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear, striking the silent hall floor with resounding thuds.

"In the sixth year of the Tianbao era, he conspired with An Lushan to frame former Prime Minister Li Linfu for treason and collusion with the enemy. In order to eliminate dissidents, promote his cronies, and corrupt the system of selecting officials... In the same year, he accepted a bribe of 30,000 taels of silver from Xianyu Zhongtong, the military governor of Jiannan."

Yang Guozhong's eyelids twitched suddenly.

Lu Wuming didn't even lift his eyelids, and continued reading:

"In the tenth year of the Tianbao era, in order to claim merit on the border, he instigated His Majesty to send troops to Nanzhao. The army lost 100,000 men, but he falsely reported a great victory, deceiving the emperor. In order to replenish the army, he forcibly conscripted laborers, resulting in starving corpses on the roads south of the Lu River, and the people's resentment was boiling."

A faint hissing sound began to rise from inside the hall.

Some officials began to avoid eye contact.

"In the thirteenth year of the Tianbao era, another campaign was launched against Nanzhao, resulting in the loss of over 100,000 soldiers. The battle reports were still full of 'victorious songs.' Meanwhile, in the same year, 72 boxes of treasures and antiques were found in the Prime Minister's treasury, the origin of which... is unknown."

Lu Wuming's voice remained steady as he spoke calmly.

"As for why An Lushan was bound to rebel, Prime Minister Yang, you know the answer best."

"It was you who repeatedly asserted before His Majesty that he would rebel; it was you who sent men to search his residence in Chang'an, arrest his retainers, and relentlessly pursue him!"

"To say he was 'forced into rebellion' is an understatement; it's more accurate to say he was 'forced into rebellion' by you!"

Upon reading this, Lu Wuming finally raised his head and closed the account book.

"There's also this 'alteration method,' which uses old grain and silk to offset the value of goods in the national treasury, creating a facade of peace and prosperity while actually exploiting local areas and enriching themselves..."

"Prime Minister Yang, would you like me to tell you the locations of your several storerooms, and what's inside them?"

"Stain! This is all stain! Utter stain!!"

Yang Guozhong could no longer hold back. He jumped up and down, screaming, his finger trembling as he pointed at Lu Wuming, then hurriedly turned to Li Longji:

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty, please be discerning! This old scoundrel is spewing false accusations! He has fabricated evidence to frame loyal officials! My loyalty is as clear as the sun and moon, Your Majesty!"

"Framed? Forged?"

Lu Wuming scoffed, weighing the account book in his hand in his hand, his gaze as if he were looking at a mediocre actor:

"Yang Guozhong, do you really think you can hide the dirty deeds and filth you've done from everyone?"

"Do you think all these civil and military officials are blind and deaf?"