Chapter 202: Cast into Prison

Under Liu Chengyou's inaction—even deliberate indulgence—the turmoil in the Eastern Capital grew ever more intense. As if sensing the Son of Heaven's intent, Shi Hongzhao indeed extended his hand toward others, including ministers of the court.

Shi Hongzhao wasn't foolish enough to arrest everyone, but carrying out some "targeted" strikes and retaliation wasn't difficult, especially against the civil officials he detested.

On the court of the Great Han, there was a chain of contempt. Martial men like Shi Hongzhao despised civil officials; civil officials like Yang Bin and Wang Zhang despised Confucian scholars; and Confucian scholars seemed to despise everyone.

Take Shi Hongzhao—he seemed to harbor a deep-rooted prejudice and contempt for civil officials. Or perhaps it stemmed from inferiority. Though this was an age when the literary path was not flourishing and scholars held low status, not all martial men flaunted ignorance as a point of pride. Especially one who had reached Shi Hongzhao's position, who deeply resented others mocking him as a boor, laughing at his shallow knowledge...

He had once said to others: "These literati are insufferable—they look down on us, call us common soldiers. Infuriating, infuriating!"

This time, Shi Hongzhao had found his opportunity, and naturally seized upon it to make a fuss, doing things as "satisfyingly" as possible. After all, stirring up trouble in the Western Capital faced far less resistance than in the Eastern Capital, and with Liu Chengyou's tacit approval, he even had justification.

The peak of this turmoil came when Shi Hongzhao set his sights on Su Fengji. Toward a petty man like Su Fengji, who constantly stirred up trouble at court, threw his weight around, and sowed discord, Shi Hongzhao had always harbored disgust.

In the Western Capital, if one spoke of the biggest landowner, the largest estates, and the most brazen behavior, Su Fengji's people still ranked first. Thus, in the process of inspecting the retained estates, the two men, Shi and Su, came into conflict.

Shi Hongzhao sent troops to seize and search an estate of Su Fengji's on the outskirts of Luoyang. Su Fengji's retainers and estate servants were arrogant enough to resist with weapons in hand, and were directly overwhelmed—several dozen of Su Fengji's followers were killed.

By the time Su Fengji heard the news and rushed over, it was already too late. He flew into a rage. He engaged in a fierce argument with Shi Hongzhao, but how could a single mouth prevail against a martial man's blade? If Shi Hongzhao's head hadn't retained a shred of clarity, he would likely have seized Su Fengji on the spot. Even so, the two directly dragged their dispute before Liu Chengyou.

"Your Majesty, Shi Hongzhao acts perversely, arbitrarily arresting court officials, imposing private punishments, plundering the people's wealth, and treating human life like grass..."

This was the first time Liu Chengyou had seen Su Fengji so beside himself—as if Shi Hongzhao had stepped on his tail. He had completely torn off all pretense, impeaching and attacking Shi Hongzhao before the throne.

Turning his gaze to Shi Hongzhao, he saw the man's face dark with fury as well. Shi Hongzhao clasped his hands toward Liu Chengyou: "Your Majesty, after investigation, your servant has verified that Su Fengji, in Luoyang, has been massively encroaching upon farmland. His retainers and household servants run rampant, breaking the law and forcing people into slavery. Previously, he even dared to send men to the government's civilian settlements to seize settlers for his private farming. The tenant farmers on his estates are all bound in shackles. If he oppresses the people so cruelly, how can he serve as chancellor and stand in the court? I beg Your Majesty to strip him of his office and bring him to justice!"

"Utter nonsense!" Hearing Shi Hongzhao's words, Su Fengji grew even angrier, and immediately said to Liu Chengyou: "Your Majesty must not listen to Shi Hongzhao's slander. According to what your servant has learned, Shi Hongzhao acts under the false authority of royal command, does as he pleases, frames the loyal and good, abuses harsh laws, and lines his own pockets. He has thrown the Western Capital into panic, with grievances and complaints everywhere. This man is a great menace to the court and a calamity to the state. I beg Your Majesty to remove him."

"Villain! Slandering me with blood on your mouth!" Shi Hongzhao seemed to have been struck at a sensitive spot. He rolled up his official robe, bared his fist, and faced Su Fengji, his eyes nearly spitting fire.

"How bold, Shi Hongzhao—so arrogant even before His Majesty; one can imagine how rampant you are in ordinary times." Seeing Shi Hongzhao's movement, Su Fengji wisely retreated two steps, habitually hiding behind Liu Chengyou's authority, and challenged him: "Surely you don't intend to resort to violence here in the hall?"

"You think I wouldn't dare?" Shi Hongzhao roared.

"Enough!" At this moment, Liu Chengyou, who had been silently listening to the two argue with a dark face, finally could bear it no longer. He bellowed: "Do either of you still have this emperor in your eyes!"

Liu Chengyou's sudden outburst startled both men. Su Fengji's eyes darted sideways; seeing Liu Chengyou enraged, a hint of secret glee curled at the corner of his mouth. He quickly bowed, putting on a humble and fearful posture, and begged forgiveness: "Your servant has been presumptuous. I beg Your Majesty's pardon."

Shi Hongzhao seemed to have calmed down as well. He exchanged a glance with Liu Chengyou, was cowed by that cold gaze, rolled down his sleeves, and with a dark face, also begged forgiveness: "I beg Your Majesty's pardon."

The hall gradually fell silent, so quiet that a dropped needle could be heard. Liu Chengyou expressionlessly scrutinized the two men, Shi and Su. His eyes were as calm as an ancient well, while his mind coolly deliberated how to handle this matter—should he seize upon the opportunity, or smooth things over?

Smooth things over? That thought was extinguished almost the instant it arose in Liu Chengyou's mind.

Shi Hongzhao sinking his teeth into Su Fengji was an unexpected delight, and the two of them tearing at each other was a double blessing.

Liu Chengyou had long harbored the intention to deal with Su Fengji; he simply hadn't decided when to make his move.

From the very beginning, Liu Chengyou's impression of Su Fengji had never been good. Before the founding of the Great Han, the man had shown some restraint, but after becoming chancellor upon the dynasty's establishment, his deeds had been utterly worthy of the name "treacherous villain and power-wielding chancellor." Selling offices and titles, throwing the court into chaos, showing no regard for the sovereign, violating prohibitions, living in extravagance and dissipation, indulging lawlessness...

Even when Liu Chengyou had previously sent men to court him, it had been against his will—he wanted an ally to counter Yang Bin. But in truth, even without Liu Chengyou's involvement, the disputes and conflicts between Yang and Su were already fierce enough. Moreover, Su Fengji had often borrowed Liu Chengyou's authority to oppose Yang Bin.

By now, Su Fengji had truly become a cancer on the court of the Great Han. This man, once successful, grew arrogant, and his deeds were simply too brazen.

To a certain extent, Liu Chengyou, from the bottom of his heart, detested Su Fengji even more than Yang Bin. Of course, when it came to conflict, the tension between Liu Chengyou and Yang Bin was more severe—that was a struggle over imperial authority, which, though it could be suppressed temporarily, could ultimately never be reconciled.

"Minister Su, what do you have to say regarding the crimes Minister Shi has charged you with?" After a moment, when the two men, Shi and Su, had involuntarily begun to grow tense, Liu Chengyou finally spoke, addressing Su Fengji.

"These are all Shi Hongzhao's slanders..." The denial slipped out, but when he noticed Liu Chengyou's cold gaze, Su Fengji's voice involuntarily faltered. That indifferent look made his heart uneasy.

His lips seemed dry. Su Fengji swallowed.

Taking a deep breath, Liu Chengyou casually picked up a stack of memorials from the imperial desk, weighed them in his hand, and looking down at Su Fengji from above, said coldly: "These are the memorials I have received since ascending the throne regarding your violations of law and discipline. In just over a month, there are more than twenty of them!"

Hearing Liu Chengyou's words, Su Fengji's heart jumped. In his shock, he quickly recovered and responded: "It must be petty men making trouble, slandering your servant. Your Majesty must not believe those false words!"

Su Fengji's answer was almost as if he still tried to fool Liu Chengyou like a fool.

"Su Fengji!" Liu Chengyou roared angrily: "Do you take me for someone who can be deceived?"

Liu Chengyou's sudden thunderous interrogation completely stunned Su Fengji, who stammered in reply: "Your servant... your servant would not dare."

"Selling offices and titles—is that false? The prefect of Ruzhou, openly priced at five thousand strings of cash—is that false?"

"Indulging household servants to run rampant, break the law, and oppress the innocent—false?"

"Expanding your residence beyond regulations—false? Violating court prohibitions—false?"

"Enclosing land and harming the people, forcibly seizing settlers, clashing with the authorities—false?"

"..."

"These matters, one by one—do you want to see them yourself? Must I point them out to you one by one?" Liu Chengyou slammed the memorials onto the imperial desk, staring coldly at Su Fengji.

"Your servant... your servant... your servant..." Su Fengji's legs went weak, and he knelt directly.

After stammering "your servant" for a long while, he finally managed to utter the words "guilty as charged."

At this moment, Shi Hongzhao opportunely added another cut: "Your Majesty, from Su Fengji's estate, your servant seized some armor and weapons, and his household servants were also carrying sharp implements. If he has been secretly amassing arms, I fear he harbors treacherous intentions and has other designs."

Su Fengji looked at Shi Hongzhao, his eyes nearly splitting with rage. Other crimes, no matter how grave, he was confident he could talk his way out of—but Shi Hongzhao's words were nearly aimed at putting him to death. Secretly amassing armor and weapons was far more sensitive than treating human life like grass.

"I would never dare—your servant would never dare harbor treacherous intentions!" Forgetting everything else, Su Fengji hurriedly begged for forgiveness, saying: "Your servant's loyalty to Your Majesty and to the Great Han is witnessed by heaven and earth. Your Majesty must not listen to Shi Hongzhao's slanderous words!"

Liu Chengyou, as if provoked, refused to listen to his explanations at all. He angrily ordered toward the outside: "Someone, seize this villain, throw him in prison, and keep him under strict guard!"

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty, forgive me! Your Majesty, spare my life!" Su Fengji was utterly panicked now. As he was dragged out, he kept wailing piteously.

Unfortunately, Liu Chengyou remained unmoved.

"Seizing this villain—Your Majesty is wise." Shi Hongzhao, standing by, revealed a satisfied expression, and for the first time, offered Liu Chengyou flattery.

Liu Chengyou seemed to snap back to himself. He sighed, and said to Shi Hongzhao with a somewhat listless air: "Minister Shi, you have worked hard on official business these past days."

"To serve Your Majesty and the court, I dare not speak of hardship!" Shi Hongzhao's demeanor was now as docile as a lamb.

Liu Chengyou pondered for a moment, then said to Shi Hongzhao: "Since Su Fengji has been imprisoned, the properties he established in the Western Capital and the grain and wealth he amassed—let Minister Shi seize and confiscate them all. His lawbreaking partisans and household slaves are to be taken into custody, not a single one allowed to escape!"

"Yes!" Shi Hongzhao raised his voice, excitedly accepting the order and departing. This man truly had little self-awareness.

Liu Chengyou watched his retreating figure. What Shi Hongzhao did not know was that the look Liu Chengyou cast at his back was equally cold.

After he withdrew, Liu Chengyou's expression gradually returned to calm, his gaze softening. He slowly sat back behind the imperial desk, picked up one of the memorials from before, and continued reading. The arrest of a chancellor seemed to have no effect on him whatsoever.

And the memorial in his hand—it was hardly an impeachment of Su Fengji, merely a political report forwarded from the Eastern Capital.

"Someone, summon the Commissioner of the Wude Office!" After a moment, Liu Chengyou's clear, cold voice rang through the hall.