Chapter 135: The Donglin Faction's Counterattack (Begging for Tips!)

Zhu Youxiao suddenly grew interested—he hadn't expected Wei Zhongxian to stir the pot at a time like this.

He looked at Cui Chengxiu and said, "Then tell me, my dear minister, whom do you consider suitable?"

Upon hearing Zhu Youxiao's words, Cui Chengxiu spoke up directly: "Your Majesty, the Censorate is the headquarters of those who formed this faction. There are also many officials in the court who have colluded with them."

As he spoke, Cui Chengxiu glanced at Zhao Nanxing, his meaning unmistakable.

Zhao Nanxing glared back in fury, silently marking this man in his heart.

Cui Chengxiu, however, was unconcerned and continued: "Therefore, Your Majesty, I believe this case should be investigated by the Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard. They are both people Your Majesty trusts deeply, so this approach would naturally be the most fitting.

Some men from the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review can be attached to assist, and the Censorate can also send people to supervise."

This Cui Chengxiu actually had no bottom line at all. The words he spoke truly showed he had no shame whatsoever!

Of course, that was how it appeared in the eyes of the civil officials. Because in the common values of the civil officials, whether it was the Eastern Depot or the Embroidered Uniform Guard, they were the Emperor's hounds, tools the Emperor used to oppress the realm—not tools to govern the realm.

The Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard were the embodiment of the Emperor's selfish desires. The Emperor should have a public heart, abolish the Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and use civil officials devoted to the public good to govern the realm.

That was why civil officials held the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot in great contempt. We all rose through the ranks by studying the words of the sages and devoting ourselves to the realm.

What were the Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard? They rose through the ranks by currying favor with the Emperor.

So civil officials looked down on them—the Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard were merely the Emperor's household slaves.

And now Cui Chengxiu was licking the boots of household slaves—he truly had no shame at all!

In their hearts, the civil officials had essentially cursed out eighteen generations of Cui Chengxiu's ancestors.

Zhu Youxiao now understood clearly—this Cui Chengxiu had indeed colluded with Wei Zhongxian, though he himself didn't know how the two of them had come to collude.

Cui Chengxiu had spoken on Wei Zhongxian's behalf from start to finish. Although he had mentioned the Embroidered Uniform Guard, even a fool knew the Embroidered Uniform Guard couldn't possibly get involved in this case.

All the prisoners were currently in the Eastern Depot, and from start to finish it had been Wei Zhongxian handling this matter. So the situation was very clear—it meant the Eastern Depot needed to investigate this case, meaning Wei Zhongxian would be in charge.

Zhu Youxiao was silent for a moment.

No one in the court spoke either.

Zhu Youxiao said softly, "I wonder what opinions all my dear ministers have?"

The moment these words were spoken, the court fell into dead silence—everyone knew His Majesty was about to make his move.

If His Majesty disagreed and didn't want to do this, he could simply reject it outright; he wouldn't ask in this manner.

In the court, at that instant, everyone was thinking to themselves, most pondering their own interests.

Right now everyone in the court had different interests and demands—how to avoid harming oneself while gaining even more benefits had become the question on everyone's mind.

The spearhead was now pointed at the Donglin Faction. Whether it was Liu Yijing's people who had spoken first or Wei Zhongxian's people speaking now, all of them wanted to drive the Donglin Faction to its death.

Especially Cui Chengxiu, who was directly trying to turn this case into a major one—clearly ruthless and vicious!

So after Zhu Youxiao asked this question, the court fell into silence.

But this silence didn't last long—one person stepped forward. It was none other than Censor Zhang Yingdao, who had just impeached Zhao Nanxing.

Upon seeing Zhang Yingdao, countless hearts sank, and a sense of foreboding arose.

Especially the few members of the Donglin Faction—they felt things were about to take a turn for the worse.

Apart from the Donglin Faction members, the others also looked at Zhang Yingdao with strange expressions.

Even Chief Grand Secretary Liu Yijing, standing at the very top, had a strange look on his face, and even a hint of displeasure.

He looked as if he wanted to tear Zhang Yingdao apart.

Zhu Youxiao naturally noticed this as well. He glanced at Liu Yijing, then at Han Kuang standing below, and a smile inadvertently curled at the corner of his mouth.

You all wanted to scheme—well now, you've all schemed yourselves straight into a pit.

As for the stares of these people, Zhang Yingdao seemed not to notice at all. He stepped forward and spoke directly: "I report to Your Majesty—I believe this matter is acceptable. If no one in the Censorate is willing to go, I volunteer for the task."

This time no one looked at Zhang Yingdao anymore—everyone's gaze fell upon Liu Yijing.

This man is your student—he just attacked Zhao Nanxing on your behalf. Was this also arranged by you?

Does this mean the Chief Grand Secretary of the Grand Secretariat has united with Wei Zhongxian of the Eastern Depot?

At this, many people became displeased.

Even if you, Liu Yijing, wanted to kick the Donglin Faction while they were down, you couldn't unite with Wei Zhongxian of the Eastern Depot.

Your matter with the Donglin Faction was an internal contradiction—but once you united with Wei Zhongxian of the Eastern Depot, it became a contradiction between enemy and self.

Internal contradictions we can allow you to resolve yourselves, but contradictions between enemy and self—we will inevitably stick our hands in.

Many people held this view, so their looks toward Zhang Yingdao and Liu Yijing became somewhat strange.

Even the several Grand Secretaries of the Grand Secretariat who cooperated with Liu Yijing wore the same expression.

Han Kuang, who came from the Donglin Faction, had an especially ugly expression on his face. He had agreed to cooperate with Liu Yijing, but Liu Yijing had never told him about such a matter!

If Liu Yijing had told him about this, then he would never have agreed under any circumstances.

Now it seemed he had been played by Liu Yijing, and at the same time Han Kuang didn't understand—how could Liu Yijing dare to do such a thing?

Liu Yijing's expression was not very pleasant. He had never imagined things would turn out like this. Where exactly had the problem arisen?

He couldn't help but look at Zhang Yingdao, but Liu Yijing discovered that his own student wasn't looking at him.

At this moment, Liu Yijing realized things had taken a bad turn. He himself seemed to have been schemed against too!

His gaze swept across the faces of many ministers, and Liu Yijing wanted to find out who had schemed against him. In the end, he found that no one met his eyes.

Even those who did meet his gaze, like Zhao Nanxing and Gao Panlong, simply glared at him with fury.

Even Han Kuang, standing below, looked at him with an unfathomable expression. Liu Yijing now felt he was truly wronged.

He felt he should step forward and say something, but he didn't know how to say it.

Liu Yijing was just about to speak when Zhu Youxiao unexpectedly spoke up.

Zhu Youxiao looked at Zhang Yingdao and said slowly, "As a Censor, you have already done what you ought to do. Discussing policy is not something you should do. In consideration of the fact that you volunteered yourself, I will not pursue the matter against you."

"How this matter will ultimately be handled is not something you can participate in. Even if it does end up being done this way, who the Censorate sends out now is a decision for Left Censor-in-Chief Yu, my dear minister—not something you should express an opinion on. Withdraw."

Zhu Youxiao's words were very heavy—essentially representing that Zhang Yingdao's future in the Censorate was finished from here on.

In fact, what Zhu Youxiao said did make sense.

A Censor was only a seventh-rank official. If no one was to be impeached, then he would not even have the qualification to stand in this great hall. Once the impeachment was done, his task was finished; other matters were not something he should participate in.

Discussing matters of state was such a major affair—how could a mere seventh-rank Censor be qualified to voice an opinion?

Although Zhang Yingdao had also made preparations, claiming that he had come to plead for a mission, everyone could see through the little trick he was playing.

So Zhu Youxiao rebuked him, and Zhang Yingdao had no choice but to slink away from the great hall.

Although Zhu Youxiao had driven Zhang Yingdao away, the atmosphere in the great hall remained extremely strange.

Liu Yijing's expression in particular turned very ugly, because by driving Zhang Yingdao away like this, Zhu Youxiao had made it impossible to bring the matter up again—which meant there was simply no opportunity for him to clear his name.

Nor could he directly step forward and tell everyone, "This was not instigated by me."

Even if he said so, someone would have to believe him.

So this loss, Liu Yijing was forced to swallow.

Zhu Youxiao did not look at Liu Yijing either. Instead, his gaze swept across the faces of the other ministers in the great hall, and he slowly spoke: "This is a major matter. I wonder what opinions all my beloved ministers have? Speak freely, no need for restraint."

After the commotion Zhang Yingdao had just stirred up, the atmosphere in the great hall had already become very grave.

At this moment, Sun Shenxing, the Minister of Rites, gently opened his eyes. After sweeping his gaze across the hall below, he shot a meaningful glance at one person, then slowly narrowed his eyes again, as if he had done nothing at all.

One should know that ever since the commotion had started, Sun Shenxing had kept his eyes narrowed the whole time, as if the matter had nothing to do with him.

Gao Panlong, on the other hand, was anxious to the point of distress, shooting Sun Shenxing several meaningful glances.

But Sun Shenxing had his eyes closed—he could not see anything at all, let alone show any reaction. It seemed that everything had nothing to do with him. Whether it was Zhang Yingdao attacking Zhao Yingxing, or Cui Chengxiu directly coming up with something ruthless, Sun Shenxing showed not the slightest reaction.

Now Sun Shenxing had finally reacted—but it was merely a single meaningful glance.

A man stepped out from the crowd. After bowing respectfully to Zhu Youxiao, he spoke directly: "Your Majesty, your minister believes this matter should have a conclusion by now. Ever since the case broke out, the court has been in a state of panic from top to bottom, and officials all feel endangered. This truly cannot be a long-term solution."

Everyone looked at the speaker, and their expressions once again turned serious.

For this person to step forward at such a moment proved that the matter had already reached the highest levels.

Because the man who stepped forward was called Wang Guozhen—he had placed 120th in the third tier of the jinshi list in the palace examination of the yimao year, the twenty-third year of Wanli.

Wang Guozhen's ranking was indeed nothing impressive—he had barely scraped through—but his official career had gone quite well.

He had originally been the Vice Magistrate of Shuntian Prefecture. Just recently, he had been promoted to Right Assistant Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, stationed at Tongzhou, overseeing grain storage and recruiting troops for training.

This man was Xu Guangqi's direct superior. The failure of Xu Guangqi's troop training was basically due to this man.

A large reason Wang Guozhen had been able to reach where he was today was that he had a fellow graduate from the same year—the tanhua (third-place graduate) of that year—whose name was Sun Shenxing.

The one ranked just after Wang Guozhen, that is, the 121st jinshi, was named Sun Chengzong.