Chapter 226

Hai Rui stepped forward and discovered that Wang Bengu had already written his resignation.

"My lord Wang, what is this?"

Wang Bengu gritted his teeth and whispered.

"My lord Hai, this time, I fear we have submitted the wrong Memorial to the throne."

What Hai Rui could see through, Wang Bengu naturally understood as well.

But when Wang Bengu thought of the black hand hidden behind this, Wang Bengu was afraid.

At the time of Wang Zhi's execution.

Wang Bengu felt not the slightest fear.

The reason was none other.

Because Wang Bengu knew that at that time, standing behind him were the scholars of the world.

It was the entire court of scholar-officials!

With these people as backing.

Even the Son of Heaven, Wang Bengu did not fear.

But at this moment.

Wang Bengu was afraid.

When he truly stood opposite the entire court of scholar-officials.

That imperial censor and my lord Wang, famous throughout the world for his "uprightness," was afraid.

What the Son of Heaven holds in his grasp is merely life and death.

But the things clutched in the hands of the scholar-officials are far too many.

They are the writers of history, they are the controllers of most of the world's fields, they are the meridians of the court.

To oppose the Son of Heaven.

Wang Bengu could at least leave a few lines in the history books.

But offending this entire court of scholar-officials.

Wang Bengu did not need to think to conclude that not only would he leave not a single character in the history books.

Even his family, for five generations, should not have anyone harbor any delusions regarding the imperial examinations.

Because no renowned master would accept his descendants.

All the changes his half-life of effort brought to his family would turn to bubbles in an instant.

Looking at Wang Bengu, whose face showed fear.

Hai Rui, who had originally been full of anger, suddenly calmed down.

Gazing at Wang Bengu, whose mind was made up.

Hai Rui bowed deeply.

"My lord Wang, everyone has their own aspirations; since my lord has already formed the intention to withdraw, Hai Rui will certainly not force you."

Wang Bengu looked at Hai Rui with a face full of shock and asked.

"Hai Rui, do you not fear disaster befalling your family?"

Hai Rui looked at Wang Bengu with a serious expression and said solemnly.

"Hai Rui has no heir!"

Amidst Wang Bengu's face of astonishment, Hai Rui strode back to the writing desk.

He raised his brush and wrote a Memorial to the throne.

At the moment the Memorial was finished.

Hai Rui's face was already filled with the indifference of facing death without fear.

When he saw the official gazette.

Hai Rui had already understood Jiajing's layout.

He understood why Ameng attacked the borders several times, yet Jiajing still insisted on strictly enforcing the sea ban in the southeast.

He understood even more clearly what he truly should do at this moment!

At this time, Hai Rui's heart held only pity.

Pitiful the people of Great Ming.

Suffering greatly from the hardships of the sea ban.

How could no one know the immense benefits of the sea?

Everyone knows, yet no one speaks!

The Imperial Capital.

Western Garden.

The number of examination candidates in the Imperial Capital grew ever greater, and the clamor in the court for executing Chen Hong rose wave after wave.

Those like Yan Maoqing, who had originally happily accepted the Ministries of War and Personnel, also realized what a scorching position they had sat themselves in.

Just as the court and the country believed the sea ban would surely reappear in Great Ming.

Chen Hong, holding a memorial, walked slowly into the Western Garden.

"Reporting to my master: Imperial Censor Hai Rui petitions for a strict investigation into the case of the great families of the southeast secretly colluding with the great Japanese, Wang Zhi!"

Hearing Chen Hong's words.

Jiajing, who had originally closed his eyes, suddenly opened them.

Eyes bloodshot, he stared fixedly at Chen Hong and squeezed out a single word from his mouth.

"Approved!"

"Draft the edict: Hai Rui is promoted to Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate!"

"Bestow the Imperial Sword of Execution!"

"For all involved in this case, those below Third Rank are to be executed first and reported later!"

Chen Hong's heart trembled slightly.

"Yes!"

"Lu Bing!"

"Your subject is present."

"If Hai Rui falters, I will hold you personally responsible!"

Lu Bing's body shuddered; he prostrated himself on the ground and said,

"Your subject accepts the edict!"

Hai Rui is a divine sword of the Great Ming, one that only the virtuous may wield.

And everything Jiajing had done before.

Was all to awaken this divine sword.

Now, it is time for this sword to be drawn from its sheath.

With Jiajing's approval and the arrival of the Imperial Sword, the great families throughout the southeast could not help but pause in surprise.

Just this?

Even Hu Zongxian, upon learning this news,

Could not help but be stunned.

Jiajing had created such a grand spectacle in the court.

Even risking the slander of being a foolish monarch.

Yet the one he ultimately chose was Hai Rui, a mere provincial graduate?

Relying solely on his reputation as the "Pen Rack Mountain"?

Although Hai Rui had made a name for himself across the realm as the "Pen Rack Mountain,"

officials renowned for their uprightness like Hai Rui were already numerous in the Great Ming.

Wang Bengu, for instance, was one of them.

It was only after Jiajing heard Zhu Youjian recount Hai Rui's life story that he gained the confidence to entrust such a great responsibility to Hai Rui.

Jiajing firmly believed.

This divine sword would not disappoint him.