Chapter 53

The aura of the Emperor drifted out, and everyone in the entire court suddenly felt the pressure multiply!

Ying Zheng swept a glance at the officials, his gaze pausing slightly on Ying Ying Zi Ye before moving away.

"In the commanderies of Great Qin, are there common people starving to death?"

Once these words were spoken, the officials stopped talking.

Seeing this, Ying Zheng knew that what Ying Zi Ye said should not be false.

Since the destruction of the six states, his focus on court matters had shifted to longevity.

Therefore, Great Qin's intelligence had paid less attention to the common people.

He read massive amounts of memorials every day.

But none of them reported that Great Qin's common people were starving to death.

He knew that someone had intercepted this news.

Ying Zheng was suddenly furious: "Such gall! Such a major matter, and you dare to hide it from me!"

When the Emperor is angry, the wind and clouds change color!

The officials were terrified and spoke one after another to show their innocence.

"Your Majesty, it has nothing to do with us!"

"It is Zhao Gao! All news in this regard was intercepted by him!"

"Your Majesty, it was all done by people of Zhao Gao's faction!"

"This matter has nothing to do with us! Please examine clearly, Your Majesty!"

Almost all the officials pointed to Zhao Gao's faction.

However, the facts were indeed so; these things were all done by Zhao Gao.

Every time someone submitted a memorial regarding the common people of Great Qin starving to death, it was intercepted by Zhao Gao.

He claimed it was to share the burden of state affairs for His Majesty, and that it was better not to let His Majesty know about troublesome matters.

Because in recent years, His Majesty's health had been weakening, and he was focused on researching longevity.

So he really had not discovered this problem.

This finger-pointing by the officials scared the dozen or so remaining officials of Zhao Gao's faction out of their wits.

"Your Majesty, spare our lives! It was all done by Zhao Gao; it has nothing to do with us!"

"Yes, Your Majesty, we are not familiar with Zhao Gao!"

"Begging Your Majesty for mercy!"

"Begging Your Majesty to examine clearly!"

Among these dozen people were remonstrance officials, the Grand Servant, the Minister of Agriculture, and other officials.

Ying Zheng's eyes were like lightning, looking coldly at those dozen people.

Even if they were officials of Zhao Gao's faction, so what?

Now Zhao Gao is gone.

As long as they behave themselves, Ying Zheng is not willing to kill.

But if they have shit on their bodies, then go accompany Zhao Gao!

Daring not to report such a severe matter is a heinous crime!

"General Zhang Han!"

"This general is here!"

General Zhang Han walked out and bowed with cupped hands.

"Drag them out and execute them!"

"Understood!"

General Zhang Han received the order, raised his hand, and summoned a large group of guards.

They carried those dozen officials out.

No matter how they begged for mercy, it was of no use at all.

Soon, a dozen screams came from outside the great hall.

It scared the officials inside the hall until their faces turned pale.

Is the Ninth Prince a devil?

Zhao Gao and Li Si both lost their heads because of him.

Prince Hu Hai was also demoted to a commoner because of him.

Alchemists like Lu Sheng were also torn apart by chariots and cut at the waist because of him!

Now even the last claws of Zhao Gao in the court have all been cleared away.

"Rise."

"Now, is there anyone who wishes to remonstrate?"

"I want to know how the common people of Great Qin are starving to death!"

"Why was such a serious matter hidden and not reported?"

With a dozen officials dead, Ying Zheng remained indifferent and looked at the officials lightly.

His thoughts had always been on military affairs and longevity; he admitted that he had neglected the common people.

At this moment—

Among the full court of officials, standing in the very corner, there was an official trembling all over.

The memorial he held in his hand was almost squeezed out of shape.

This memorial should have been submitted several months ago.

But it happened that Qin Shi Huang went on an inspection tour, and the memorial was intercepted by Zhao Gao.

He had also been warned not to submit such a memorial.

He had no opportunity at all!

Now Zhao Gao's party had been completely cleared away.

And hearing that His Majesty wanted to know about the affairs of the common people of Great Qin.

He immediately rushed out a few steps in excitement.

With a thud, he knelt on the ground and wailed.

"This subject, Zheng Min, Governor of Sishui Commandery, has a memorial to submit!"

All the officials looked toward this Governor.

Some officials seemed to think of something, and their expressions changed slightly.

Seeing the memorial, Ying Zheng looked over.

In the vast morning court hall, this person was not at all outstanding.

One could even say he was quite down-and-out.

His official uniform was worn out and tattered, and there were even... patches in many places.

Such a person was actually a Governor of a commandery!

Compared to the luxurious official uniforms of the other officials in the hall, it formed a sharp contrast.

Seeing someone submitting a memorial, and wearing such tattered official robes.

His eyes could not help but narrow, and he spoke with majesty: "Governor Zheng, rise and speak!"

Zheng Min stood up tremblingly.

With a slightly tearful voice, he said: "Your Majesty, now the common people of our Great Qin are lacking food everywhere."

"The common people are starving, and it has reached a precarious point!"

"The common people of my Sishui Commandery can only dig for grass roots and eat tree bark to satisfy their hunger; I do not know how many common people starve to death every day!"

"If this continues, it will only be a matter of time before they start trading children to eat; and it is not just my Sishui Commandery; the other commanderies are probably no better off."

Once these words were spoken, the officials in the entire court began to whisper.

Ying Zheng's brows furrowed deeply; he did not expect the common people of Great Qin to have reached this point.

Is there a famine starting across the country?

Ying Zheng scolded angrily: "Is this the court you manage?"

"I entrusted the affairs of the world to you to manage together; is this how you repay me?"

"Come up with a solution, otherwise you will be in a very miserable state."

The officials looked at each other, and for a time, no one spoke. ===== CHAPTER 55 =====