Chapter 208: Minister Shi, I Still Have a Heavy Task to Entrust to You

"I wonder what Your Majesty has summoned me for? Please speak plainly!" Shi Hongzhao's voice was loud, his tone carrying a hint of impatience as he asked Liu Chengyou directly.

Having been ordered into the palace for an audience with the sovereign, Shi Hongzhao found the Son of Heaven's attitude today somewhat bewildering compared to how he had been treated previously. Liu Chengyou sat on the dragon bed without speaking, expressionless, simply examining Shi Hongzhao with an aloof, condescending gaze that made him quite uncomfortable.

Liu Chengyou glanced at the tea in his cup—barely half a cup's time had passed before he grew impatient. Shi Hongzhao's temperament seemed not to have improved in the slightest; before him, he still displayed arrogance.

"I have some things here that I wish to show you, Minister Shi." Liu Chengyou finally spoke, gesturing to Fan Zhi, the Secretariat Drafter attending at his side.

Fan Zhi held a stack of memorials in both hands, stepping forward to present them before Shi Hongzhao.

Seeing this, the impatience on Shi Hongzhao's rugged face somewhat dissipated, replaced by suspicion. He glanced at Liu Chengyou on the throne, then took the memorials and opened them.

Then, Shi Hongzhao's expression changed at a visibly discernible speed, and he nearly erupted: "These are all slander and fabrication, rumors spread by petty men! Your Majesty must not lightly believe them!"

Flustered and rising to his feet, his emotions agitated, Shi Hongzhao's sturdy beard trembled as he glared at Liu Chengyou: "Your Majesty must not heed slanderous words! Those who submitted these memorials are all treacherous sycophants—they should all be arrested and executed by the harshest punishment!"

"Chancellor Shi, before His Majesty, you must not lose decorum." Seeing Fan Zhi nearby, he spoke up to remind him in a clear voice.

Shi Hongzhao didn't so much as glance at Fan Zhi, still agitated, his eyes like copper bells as he said to Liu Chengyou: "If Your Majesty examines matters with keen discernment, you must not lightly believe the slander of petty men and chill the hearts of the loyal!"

Heaven knows where Shi Hongzhao found the nerve to say such things.

Over a dozen memorials, all impeaching Shi Hongzhao. Deceiving the sovereign, embezzling for personal gain, killing the innocent wantonly... in short, every crime Shi Hongzhao had committed was mentioned. They also advised Liu Chengyou to seize and punish him, to discipline military discipline and uphold national law—no wonder Shi Hongzhao was jumping about so frantically.

Liu Chengyou maintained a composed demeanor, letting Shi Hongzhao have his outburst before speaking unhurriedly: "As for you, Minister Shi, I naturally believe in you. But as the saying goes, 'three men make a tiger.' If one man spoke of it, I would absolutely not believe it—I would even seize him and charge him with the crime of defaming a great minister."

"Your Majesty, why not—" Liu Chengyou was only halfway through his words when Shi Hongzhao couldn't help but interrupt.

"Let me finish!" Liu Chengyou raised a hand, his tone extremely stern, his gaze cold as he looked at him: "But when so many people submit memorials at the same time, I cannot help but think more deeply. When I previously questioned Su Fengji, he also mentioned you, Minister Shi—"

"Your Majesty!" Shi Hongzhao spoke up again, impatiently: "Su Fengji is a guilty minister and treacherous sycophant—how can his words be believed! These literati have venomous hearts, deluding the sovereign and disrupting governance—they deserve death!"

"These memorials—why have the names of those who submitted them been blotted out, their identities concealed? Obviously they are all petty men who cannot face the light, shooting cold arrows at me in secret! If not, would they dare confront me face to face?" Shi Hongzhao's expression and tone were both fierce as he stared at Liu Chengyou.

Shi Hongzhao was insolent, repeatedly interrupting his speech. Liu Chengyou seemed angered as well, speaking rapidly: "The Western Capital's meritorious officials—"

The words had barely left his mouth when Liu Chengyou realized the problem, immediately correcting himself, saying in a deep voice: "Minister Shi, allow me to finish speaking!"

Shi Hongzhao's eyes lit up, seizing the opportunity, and said hurriedly: "Your Majesty, is it those former-dynasty old officials of the Western Capital? Hmph, then I understand—it's clearly because when I was previously ordered to rectify matters, they bore grudges against me, deliberately lodging false accusations to take revenge!"

At this, Liu Chengyou fell silent. Shi Hongzhao's voice of self-defense still faintly echoed through the empty hall. Liu Chengyou paced a few steps, sighed, and said to Shi Hongzhao: "As for the impeachment words in those memorials, I naturally don't put much stock in them. You, Minister Shi, are a founding minister of the Great Han, a meritorious founder of the dynasty—a marshal in the military, a chancellor at court, assisting me while bearing heavy responsibilities. How could you violate laws and discipline, committing such deeds that harm the state and plague the people?"

As Liu Chengyou said this, he watched Shi Hongzhao's expression—and indeed, a hint of unnaturalness appeared on it.

"However!" Another turn of phrase, Liu Chengyou continued: "Since people have submitted memorials, as the Son of Heaven, I must handle matters impartially and cannot show favoritism. On this matter, there naturally must be some explanation."

"I summoned you, Minister Shi, not to question your crimes, but merely to conduct a routine inquiry, going through the motions..."

Seeing Liu Chengyou's tone soften, Shi Hongzhao also breathed a sigh of relief. To be honest, despite his fierce reaction just now, when Liu Chengyou grew serious, he did feel somewhat uneasy inside. As for what he had done, how could he not have a clue in his heart? A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as Shi Hongzhao clasped his hands and said: "Your Majesty is wise!"

"Fan Zhi."

"Your servant is here!" Fan Zhi raised his sleeve in response.

"Take these memorials down and burn them for me!" Liu Chengyou ordered.

"Yes!"

"By the way, we return to the capital the day after tomorrow." Seating Shi Hongzhao again, the atmosphere seemed much improved. Liu Chengyou maintained his "respect" for Shi Hongzhao, speaking in a consultative tone: "Minister Shi, I have a matter to entrust to you..."

Such a familiar feeling—a trace of oddness slid through his heart, but he didn't think much of it. Shi Hongzhao assented: "Please give your orders, Your Majesty!"

"Li Congmin, the Western Capital's Defender, has submitted a memorial saying his old illness has recurred, that he can no longer bear the burden of governance, and requesting to retire!" Liu Chengyou explained: "I have already approved by imperial rescript, agreeing to let him retire in his current post!"

"The Great Han values both capitals equally. Luoyang is the center of the realm, controlling the strategic lands of the Yi and Luo rivers—I cannot but send a capable minister to guard it. After much consideration, I wish to appoint you, Minister Shi, as the Western Capital's Defender, to guard Luoyang for me and control the eight passes!"

If it were according to Shi Hongzhao's true wishes, he naturally would not be willing. Though Luoyang was not bad, and the Defender post held great power, how could it compare to the wealth and comfort of the Eastern Capital? Being commander of the imperial guard and a chancellor at court—these were things Luoyang could not offer.

But at this moment, under Liu Chengyou's somewhat amused gaze, Shi Hongzhao opened his mouth several times, and finally clasped his hands in submission: "Your servant obeys."

"Minister Shi is truly a pillar of the Great Han!" Liu Chengyou's expression fully relaxed: "I shall immediately issue the edict—your previous posts remain unchanged, with the additional appointment of Western Capital Defender, the title of Grand Tutor, and enfeoffment as Duke of Zheng!"

This favor and reward was quite substantial. Shi Hongzhao's mood improved somewhat as he rose and bowed: "I thank Your Majesty!"

"I know you, Minister Shi, have a fierce and stern nature, but governing affairs is not like commanding troops—you must pay attention to methods and approaches, and never act with excessive haste in anything. Let the people rest, and do not disturb them!"

Liu Chengyou gave a few more simple instructions before dismissing him.

Shi Hongzhao left the palace with a face nearly frozen cold—after all, this counted as being "exiled" from the court, so how could he feel good about it?

The murderous aura in his eyes nearly turned tangible. Shi Hongzhao had thoroughly come to hate those "petty men" who had submitted memorials impeaching him. Now that he was to be a Defender, one could well imagine what fate awaited those meritorious officials and bureaucrats of the Western Capital during the days of Shi Hongzhao's governance.

This was likely one of the reasons Liu Chengyou had chosen him to guard Luoyang—he himself could only suppress the region temporarily, but Shi Hongzhao was different. Rather than saying he was sent to govern Luoyang, it was more accurate to say he was sent to govern the powerful clans.

And besides—once he left Kaifeng, even if he still bore the title of "Chief Commander of the Imperial Guard's Cavalry and Infantry," what of it? This was what Liu Chengyou cared most about at the moment.

On Liu Chengyou's side, after Shi Hongzhao withdrew, Fan Zhi immediately drafted the appointment edict and presented it to Liu Chengyou for review. The prose was concise, a plain essay without ornate embellishment, reading very smoothly.

Liu Chengyou read through it once, glanced sideways, and asked: "Fan Zhi, what do you think I should do with Su Fengji?"

Fan Zhi was momentarily stunned at these words—the Son of Heaven held Shi Hongzhao's appointment document in his hand, yet what came out of his mouth was a question about Su Fengji?

But he reacted quickly, answering without hesitation and with a cautious demeanor: "In your servant's humble opinion, he should be convicted and sentenced according to the law to uphold national justice. However, if Your Majesty considers his merit as a founding follower, you might alternatively grant a separate pardon or reduce his punishment!"

"With Su Fengji's crimes, he could still be pardoned?" Liu Chengyou said flatly.

Fan Zhi said nothing more—he had already offered his suggestions from both angles.

Liu Chengyou didn't expand on the topic either. He personally affixed his seal to the edict and handed it to Fan Zhi: "Send someone out of the palace to promulgate the edict!"

"Yes!"

On the twenty-fifth, the weather was fine, and the imperial procession set out normally on its return eastward.