Chapter 203

The officials stared at each other, and the sound of their whispered discussion surged like a tide.

Nobody expected Zhang Tang to betray Chen Wenjin, and then Huo Guang actually managed to return from desperation, even holding the key evidence.

And clearly the mastermind behind all this was the emperor, who had been sitting calmly on the throne.

At this moment, Su Wu's eyes reddened, his heart filled with myriad feelings—would this day finally dawn?

He looked at Huo Guang, his eyes full of relief and gratitude, his voice trembling as he said: "Huo, Attendant-in-Ordinary, you have suffered greatly! Your return today is a blessing for our Han and for the court!"

Chen Wenjin and Li Xiangtian, among others, were struck as if by lightning, their faces instantly turning ashen as paper.

Chen Wenjin's body trembled slightly as he forced composure, saying: "Your Majesty, this must be forged evidence by Huo Guang, an attempt to smear us and absolve himself!"

While speaking, he glanced around at the officials with his peripheral vision, trying to gather support.

But those officials who had once thrown Huo Guang under the bus out of fear of Chen Wenjin's faction's power now turned ashen, beads of sweat appearing on their foreheads, their eyes revealing a hint of panic.

Now the situation clearly seems off.

They also feared that Huo Guang's return was to settle old scores.

A flicker of fear crossed Chen Wenjin's eyes, but he quickly forced composure, snorting coldly: "Hmph, this Huo Guang has no regard for life or death; an exile daring to return must be seeking a desperate struggle, vainly trying to overturn the verdict."

Li Xiangtian chimed in from the side: "Chancellor, don't worry; he's just a guilty official—what waves could he raise? Your Majesty will surely punish his reckless audacity."

Though they said so, their hands unconsciously clenched, their hearts faintly uneasy, fearing that Huo Guang's return would ruin the situation they had meticulously arranged.

At this moment, Huo Guang stepped forward, stood firm, and clasped his hands.

He performed a deep bow before the exalted Liu Ju, his voice loud and firm: "Your Majesty! I, Huo Guang, favored by you, have escaped death. Today I will surely expose the crimes of the treacherous Chen Wenjin faction before all!"

His words rang like a great bell in the hall, instantly drawing everyone's gaze.

"Your Majesty, ladies and gentlemen, the Chen Wenjin faction has wrought chaos in the court, their crimes piled high."

First, forming cliques for personal gain. Chen Wenjin and Li Xiangtian, together with several dozen others, colluded in court, excluded dissenters; anyone who did not obey them was suppressed. According to my investigation, as many as thirty-two officials were involved in the clique, half of the key posts in court were infiltrated by them, and most court orders were used for their private interests.

Second, corruption and perverting justice. They accepted bribes from merchants, opening wide the doors of convenience for them. In just the past year, Chen Wenjin alone received enormous bribes from the salt and iron trade, causing state tax revenues to plummet while the people suffered greatly from high salt and iron prices.

Third, framing the loyal. Wei Qing, Zhang Qian, Su Wu and others, who devoted themselves to the state, were maliciously framed by Chen Wenjin and his associates, who sought to put them to death.

Your Majesty, the evidence is now solid; the crimes of Chen Wenjin's faction are too numerous to record. I earnestly beg Your Majesty to punish them severely, restore clarity to the court, and give justice to General Su Wu and me.

Huo Guang finished speaking and knelt again.

At this moment, Zhang Tang and Su Wu et al. also stepped forward and knelt side by side with Huo Guang:

Your Majesty, every word Huo Guang spoke is true; I implore Your Majesty to discern clearly.

Liu Ju's face darkened; looking at the evidence presented by Huo Guang, he let out a cold snort and said:

Chen Wenjin, Li Xiangtian, I trusted you so much, yet you have done such a state‑ruining, people‑harming deed! Guards, immediately apprehend all personnel involved in Chen Wenjin's faction, investigate thoroughly, and let none escape!

Liu Ju's voice echoed through the court, carrying an unquestionable majesty.

Chen Wenjin fell to his knees with a thump, kowtowing like pounding garlic, and shouted, 'Your Majesty, I am innocent! This is all Huo Guang's plot; he is deliberately seeking revenge…'

However, Liu Ju would not listen to his defense, waved his hand and interrupted: 'Enough! I have tolerated you for too long. Now the evidence is solid, yet you dare to quibble! Seize all personnel involved in Chen Wenjin's faction and hold them for judgment!'

Following Liu Ju's order, the palace guards who had been waiting outside the hall filed in and surrounded Chen Wenjin, Li Xiangtian and the other treacherous courtiers.

Seeing this, Huo Guang felt the stone in his heart finally drop; he knelt again and proclaimed loudly, 'Your Majesty is sagacious! I am willing to serve Your Majesty with the devotion of a dog or horse, to purge the court and revive the might of the Great Han!'

Su Wu and the other officials all knelt, shouting 'Your Majesty is sagacious!' The court was filled with solemn reverence.

After a long while, Liu Ju slowly descended from the throne, approached Su Wu and the others, and said, 'My loyal subjects, you have suffered greatly!'

Everyone was instantly moved to tears.

Liu Ju came before Huo Guang, personally helped him up, and nodded, saying, 'Well done, very good!'

Then he patted Zhang Tang on the shoulder and helped the excited Zhang Tang to his feet.

And Huo Guang's eyes reddened; he again fell to his knees with a thump, his voice trembling slightly from excitement:

Your Majesty, I am able to stand here today entirely thanks to Your Majesty's sagacity. When I was exiled, my heart was filled with despair, thinking I would never again have a chance to serve Your Majesty and be loyal to the Great Han. It was Your Majesty who secretly sent people to rescue me, gave me a mission, and had me gather the evidence against Chen Wenjin and his associates.

Along this journey I have endured wind and dew, faced many hardships, yet never felt the slightest retreat, for I kept Your Majesty's trust and instructions firmly in mind. Each piece of evidence I collected was like sweeping away the gloom from Your Majesty's court and removing a malignant tumor from the Great Han.

Now the treacherous courtiers are about to meet their punishment; although I have endured hardship, I feel it was all worth it. Your Majesty's grace I cannot repay; I can only offer my life, to spill my liver and brains upon the ground!

As Huo Guang spoke, he heavily kowtowed several times, his forehead striking the floor with a dull thud.

Liu Ju gave a slight nod, his eyes full of approval, saying, 'Huo Guang, your loyalty brings me great comfort. I had long sensed the turmoil in the court, but the treacherous ministers were so cunning that it was hard to eradicate them at once. Fortunately, with you and Zhang Tang—one civil, one military—working together, the crimes of this faction have been fully exposed to the world.'

Liu Ju turned his gaze toward Zhang Tang, his eyes showing appreciation.

Zhang Tang, face flushed with excitement, stepped forward, knelt and said, 'Your Majesty, I merely followed Your Majesty's orders. Pretending to ally with Chen Wenjin, that fawning attitude I myself find repulsive. But as long as I can relieve Your Majesty's worries and rid the court of harm, I would not shun even ten thousand deaths. Seeing Your Majesty's wise decision today, the court will soon regain clarity; my heart is glad, and all my efforts have been rewarded.'

Zhang Tang's words were sincere, his eyes full of loyalty to Liu Ju.

The officials, hearing the words of Huo Guang and Zhang Tang, realized Liu Ju's careful planning, and their eyes filled with astonishment and admiration.

Su Wu first stared, then his eyes moistened, his heart filled with mixed feelings.

He stepped forward, knelt on one knee, his voice tinged with sobbing, saying, 'Your Majesty, I, Su Wu, truly had eyes but failed to see Mount Tai; I did not know that Your Majesty had already laid out such a thorough plan. Though I was wronged and resentful, I did not know that You, in secret, were arranging everything merely to purge the court of treachery.'

Your Majesty's sagacity, enduring humiliation and bearing burdens for the sake of the Great Han's realm and altars, is truly a model for us ministers. I, Su Wu, am willing to go through fire and water for Your Majesty, and shrink from nothing!

Su Wu was full of remorse.

Those officials who had been suppressed by Chen Wenjin's faction in court, or who had chosen silence out of fear of power, now knelt one after another and shouted:

Your Majesty is sagacious! You have poured your heart and blood into the court, yet we failed to perceive Your Majesty's deep intentions, which is truly our fault. From now on we will certainly take Your Majesty as our lord and devote all our strength to the prosperity and flourishing of the Great Han.

Their voices rose and fell, echoing through the court.

Liu Ju slowly raised his hand, and everyone rose to their feet.

The officials continued to discuss without cease.

Your Majesty, we consider ourselves clever, yet we failed to see through the treacherous ministers, nor did we comprehend Your Majesty's painstaking efforts. Compared to Your Majesty, we are truly ashamed. Henceforth we will certainly think more, ponder more, follow Your Majesty's steps, and serve the Great Han.

Your Majesty's move is indeed brilliant; under Your Majesty's leadership the court will surely regain its vigor. We too must strive and advance, adding bricks and tiles to this prosperous age.

After the truth was known, the entire court saw the officials' gazes toward Liu Ju no longer filled with doubt and confusion, but with firmness and reverence.