Chapter 1342: Give You Two Years, Otherwise Bring Your Head

Emperor Jian Shi, unwilling to listen to Xie Changling's reasoning, simply summoned several officials from the Zhengshitang and convened an impromptu small court meeting to discuss how to handle Marquis Pingjiang.

During the meeting, someone mentioned the new booklets appearing on the market and presented one to Emperor Jian Shi for his review.

"The story in the booklet uses a pseudonym, but anyone familiar with Marquis Pingjiang's life can see at a glance that the booklet is written based on Marquis Pingjiang as the prototype. The booklet is unfinished, stopping at a critical point. I am also curious: does the protagonist in the booklet rebel, or remain loyal to the court and to Your Majesty for a lifetime?"

Words meant to strike at the heart!

If Chen Chen Guanfu were present, he would surely raise the tablet in his hand and smash it at the other person, smashing him to death!

This is a mortal grudge!

Emperor Jian Shi flipped through the booklet; the more he read, the tighter his brows furrowed, and the more his inner rage burned.

"Your Majesty, this old minister believes this matter requires caution. Setting aside who wrote the booklet and what their purpose truly is, the mere fact that it was disseminated and promoted widely on the market without permission, casting aspersions on a high-ranking court official and manufacturing public opinion, warrants severe punishment."

"Such conduct cannot be allowed to go unchecked. If others follow suit in the future, writing booklets to slander whoever they dislike whenever they see something they cannot stand, would it not lead to chaos? This old minister earnestly requests Your Majesty to issue an edict to investigate this matter strictly, so that no one with ulterior motives can take advantage of the situation."

"Everyone says Marquis Pingjiang has treacherous intentions; I have calculated carefully, and I have heard this for at least ten years. For ten years, although Marquis Pingjiang has committed unlawful acts, he can barely be described as diligent and hardworking, guarding the northwest gateway for the court and preventing Xiliang from moving south to harm the local areas."

"Marquis Pingjiang nurtures enemies to bolster his own importance. If we do not punish him, are we supposed to praise him? A mere Guo Guo Dachun has been fighting for so many years and still hasn't managed to crush him; everyone knows the reasons behind this. As for Xiliang, I will not comment. In short, everyone has their own ledger in their hearts."

"Marquis Pingjiang has embezzled on a massive scale in the northwest; this is an indisputable fact. If the court does not punish him severely, where does that leave the national laws? Where does that leave the court?"

"Even if we must settle accounts with Marquis Pingjiang, we must proceed gradually and not act too hastily."

"The northwest is not yet peaceful; Marquis Pingjiang is still needed. It would be better to tolerate him for a while."

"Absurd! Traitors and rebels; if we do not execute them now, when shall we? Do you all belong to Marquis Pingjiang's faction?"

"Unable to provide a reason, you simply throw baseless accusations. Look at you; where is the demeanor of a high-ranking state official? You are nothing but a street ruffian. Your Majesty, please punish this scoundrel severely."

"I will beat you to death; you are clearly a traitor and rebel."

"Come on, who is afraid of whom?"

In an instant, the small court meeting turned into a vegetable market, with personnel from both sides joining the battlefield to fight. They used every trick in the book, determined to put the other party to death.

Xie Changling sat steadily, continuing to review the various investigation reports regarding the northwest submitted by his subordinates.

"Your Majesty, the northwest is in peril; we cannot launch a massive military campaign!"

He presented the documents, hoping Emperor Jian Shi would make a decision based on reason rather than emotion. He was not a woman, swayed by emotions all day long, loving one moment and hating the next; how absurd!

Emperor Jian Shi was too lazy to look at those courtiers fighting without any dignity; he opened the documents and began to read them carefully.

On the contrary, the Grand Eunuch Wang De became extremely anxious.

How outrageous! They are actually fighting right before Your Majesty, and Prime Minister Xie does not do anything to stop them.

It would not matter if someone got hurt, but what if they damage the precious ornaments inside the Daodadian? Any single ornament in the Daodadian, if taken out, would be worth a fortune.

He intended to shout out to stop the fighting, but seeing that the Emperor did not seem to care, he did not force himself to step forward, lest he incur annoyance.

Emperor Jian Shi closed the documents. "Prime Minister Xie, do you have any suggestions?"

"This minister believes we could dispatch a high-ranking civil official to the northwest to lead civil administration and proceed gradually."

"We have dispatched people before, but the results were not good."

"This minister believes that the personnel dispatched previously were too gentle in their methods, and their official authority was insufficient to suppress the demons and monsters below. For this dispatch, we should select a high-ranking official to go."

"Oh, do you have a candidate?"

Down below, the fighting was intense, while the ruler and his minister discussed and were about to finalize the strategy for the northwest.

"This minister believes that Prime Minister Yu, who has already retired, is the most suitable person to govern the northwest. Prime Minister Yu lacks neither methods nor official authority; he will surely be able to suppress those demons and monsters in the northwest."

Yu Yu Zhaoan, sitting at home, saw his peaceful retirement life about to come to an end. He knew Xie Changling had no good intentions, always dumping messy situations on him.

He was not a professional garbage collector.

Wang Wang Qiren is too oppressive!

At this moment, Yu Yu Zhaoan did not yet know that fate was about to take a turn; he was currently living a boring 'retirement' life at home. Even after adding three, four, five, or six beautiful concubines to the backyard, he still felt empty, lonely, and cold!

Emperor Jian Shi frowned.

He truly could not accept it.

Every time he tried to move against Marquis Pingjiang, the timing was never right.

If he waited like this forever, there would never be a suitable time.

The fault lies only in the court's lack of talent; there has been a generational gap in talent.

Blame the late Emperor for killing too ruthlessly and violently. So many fierce generals were killed off, leaving no successors. Only Marquis Pingjiang remained to rule as king and become the Great General; the entire world relied on him for warfare.

Absurd!

Emperor Jian Shi was furious and desperate.

He stared fixedly at Xie Changling. "Two years! I give you only two years. If you cannot accomplish this, do not continue as Prime Minister."

Xie Changling knew that Emperor Jian Shi's patience had run out; this was the last time he would make excuses for Marquis Pingjiang. Next time, he would have to either bring Marquis Pingjiang back to Jingcheng to retire or kill him directly. There would be no third option.

He could only bow and say, "Yes!"

Emperor Jian Shi's expression finally softened a little.

A roar erupted: "Enough! Do you really think my Taiji Palace is a vegetable market? You are all the backbone of the court, the pillars of the nation. Look at what you have done; what is the difference between you and street ruffians?"

Once the Emperor displayed his power, the courtiers obediently stood in two rows, waiting for his reprimand.

After venting his anger, Emperor Jian Shi gave an order: "Go and summon Yu Yu Zhaoan; I have urgent matters to ask him."

The eunuch bowed and accepted the order, hurriedly arranging for someone to invite Yu Yu Zhaoan to the palace.

After that, Emperor Jian Shi began discussing the strategy for the northwest with the courtiers, specifically how to proceed gradually. Marquis Pingjiang could not be replaced temporarily, but he could not be left unattended either. Both the military and civil lines must be set in motion.

Upon learning he had been summoned by the Emperor, Yu Yu Zhaoan's heart raced with excitement and his hands trembled; his luck had turned, and the Emperor intended to reinstate him.

Hahaha...

He knew it; power would ultimately return to his hands.

A great man cannot be without power for a single day!

He washed, changed clothes, put on a simple casual robe, and followed the palace attendants into the imperial palace.

He wanted to leave a good impression on the Emperor — although he had retired, he still lived simply, never for a moment forgetting his concern for the country and its people. Even his daily meals were reduced by a third. All to save grain, so that when winter came he could distribute food and porridge to relieve the suffering common folk.

He is a loyal minister!

Your Majesty surely will not chill the heart of a loyal minister.

He was willing to continue serving as Right Chancellor, sharing the burdens of the court and Your Majesty!

Can only say he's dreaming quite prettily!

How could Xie Changling tolerate him being an eyesore in court! He must be sent far away — off to the northwest to eat sand.