Chapter 487

Peaceful Sun, Imperial City, on the Nine Heavens Hall.

Peaceful Sun

Great Wu, Great Jin, Great Marsh Prefecture, Maple Prefecture

But we need to be consistent: The glossary only includes person names. For other named entities we need to translate meaning.

Let's list all named entities:

Peaceful Sun

Imperial City

Nine Heavens Hall

Ma Xiangru

Censor

Huo Xiong

greenhorns

Ma Xiangru's wife's uncle? Not named.

Great Wu's Jin-destroying army

Great Marsh Prefecture

inside Great Marsh Prefecture

Great Wu's Jin-destroying army has indeed attacked into Great Marsh Prefecture

Great Wu's Jin-destroying army

Great Wu

Great Jin

third-rank general

Sima Xian

Censor's Hall

Great Jin rites

concubine

Great Jin

Great Wei

Great Wu

Bureau of Tribal Affairs

Pei Youhu

Pei Aiqing

Du Sanniang

Ma Qing's household

Ma Xiangru's younger uncle-in-law? Not named.

Ma Xiangru's wife? Not named.

Ma Xiangru's younger brother-in-law (his wife's younger brother) is not named.

Ma Xiangru's wife's uncle? Not named.

Ma Xiangru's younger brother-in-law? Not named.

Ma Xiangru's younger brother-in-law? Already.

Ma Xiangru's younger brother-in-law? Not needed.

Ma Xiangru's younger brother-in-law? ignore.

Ma Xiangru's younger brother-in-law? okay.

Ma Xiangru's younger brother-in-law? done.

Ma Xiangru's younger brother-in-law? stop.

Ma Xiangru's younger brother-in-law? Enough.

Ma Xiangru's younger brother-in-law? I'm stuck.

Let's continue scanning lines for other names:

Dozens of censors led by Ma Xiangru are still shouting for beating and killing 'Huo Xiong'.

But suddenly a few young upstarts appeared on the court, and with an almost shameless attitude they stubbornly resisted the impeachment of Ma Xiangru and others.

Ma Xiangru said 'Huo Xiong' was ineffective in battle, and the young upstarts immediately replied that Ma Xiangru was shielding his wife's uncle.

Ma Xiangru said 'Huo Xiong' had lost authority and disgraced the state, and the young upstarts countered that Ma Xiangru's morals had collapsed.

Ma Xiangru said 'Huo Xiong' colluded with foreign enemies, and the young upstarts said he secretly accepted bribes.

Ma Xiangru's impeachment of 'Huo Xiong' lacks solid evidence in many respects; the only real proof is that the Great Wu army that destroyed the Jin has indeed invaded Great Marsh Prefecture and is wantonly destroying things there—this is irrefutable evidence that no one can erase.

Besides this, the accusations against 'Huo Xiong'—colluding with foreign enemies, leaking military intelligence, and various other charges—Ma Xiangru, following the Censorate's convention, reports upon hearing rumors; these are all 'unofficial rumors' he heard from somewhere, possibly even fabrications he made up.

If no one stood up to him, given his status, position, and authority, it wouldn't be surprising if a mere third-rank general were simply beheaded.

Under normal circumstances, no one would dare oppose the vice-chief of the Censorate—if he wants to chop off the head of an insignificant third-rank general, let him do it; a mere third-rank general, dead is dead, who cares about him?

But since someone is standing up to him, Sima Xian must put on the airs of a wise ruler; he cannot recklessly order executions without solid evidence.

Solid evidence……Normally it would be easy to investigate, but now Great Marsh Prefecture is in chaos, with the Jin-destroying Wu troops roaming everywhere—how could one investigate? Let those bookish officials of the Censorate go investigate?

Isn't that like sending sheep into a wolf's den?

Yet those few young upstarts who suddenly jumped out to challenge Ma Xiangru hold only low-ranking posts—barely enough to qualify as third-rank officials eligible to attend meetings in the Nine Heavens Hall—but the matters they raise are all substantiated.

Ma Xiangru's wife's younger brother has committed many illegal and disorderly deeds in Anyang City, bullying men and women, earning deep resentment among the populace. He also loves to instigate lawsuits, specially helping the wicked escape punishment and framing the innocent, committing countless misdeeds.

But with Ma Xiangru's protection, over the years no one has been able to touch him.

Besides this, Ma Xiangru kept from his wife, in addition to the one wife, two concubines, four consorts, and eight servant girls permitted by Great Jin rites, he maintained over a dozen outside households. However, keeping concubines is common among high officials in Great Jin, so this is not considered a major issue.

The only problem is, if these concubines all came from brothels, it would be fine—according to Great Jin customs they are merely playthings raised for pleasure, and if you have the means you may do as you wish.

Yet Ma Xiangru was caught in a bind: the vast majority of these concubines came from respectable families.

Who from a respectable family would willingly give up their good daughter to be someone's shameful concubine? Ma Xiangru's concubines all came about through reliance on power and influence, coercion and inducement, and his wife's uncle certainly had a hand in it.

This, saying Ma Xiangru's morals have collapsed, is indeed justified.

As for the claim that Ma Xiangru secretly accepted bribes, the young upstarts have some unknown source, with ledgers recording each payment. Including the case a few years ago when several high-ranking nobles who managed Great Jin's finances were dismissed, implicating countless officials—some officials escaped punishment simply because they had given Ma Xiangru enough bribes.

One by one, item by item, various charges were hurled before the entire civil and military assembly by these low-ranking young upstarts.

Unlike 'Huo Xiong's' baseless accusations, Ma Xiangru is in Anyang, he is in the Nine Heavens Hall—if you investigate these charges with effort, you will surely uncover them!

If these charges are proven, Ma Xiangru is very likely to be beheaded; at best he would be stripped of office and sent packing back to his hometown.

Ma Xiangru must save himself!

At the same time, he must strive to crush 'Huo Xiong' into the ground!

Everyone at court can see that the young upstarts, for some unknown reason, have become connected to 'Huo Xiong'; they have come forward to relieve his worries and difficulties.

Precisely for this reason, as the instigator of this affair, Ma Xiangru, while seeking to clear his own name, must certainly trample 'Huo Xiong' to death.

If Ma Xiangru cannot trample Huo Xiong to death this time, then even if he successfully clears himself of all charges, his prestige in the court will plummet, and he will no longer be able to call the wind and summon rain in the Yushi Hall.

Censor

official

in the court

Several greenhorns seemed to be possessed, they completely disregarded their lives and fortunes, stiffening their necks to oppose Ma Xiangru head-on, throwing out charge after charge, each accusation feeling like a heavy brick that smashed Ma Xiangru's head until it bled.

on the Nine Heavens Hall

inside Peaceful Sun City

During the day Ma Xiangru wrangled with the greenhorns in the court, and at night he busied himself plugging leaks, doing everything he could to destroy evidence.

In just a few days, Ma Xiangru was busy day and night, and his mental pressure kept mounting; within three to five days, the circles under his eyes had sunk in, and his whole person had subtly slimmed down.

Golden Bell resounds

Linghu Qingqing

Sima Xian

Great Jin's urgently erected spatial gate

Maple Prefecture

Great Marsh Prefecture

Great Wu's Jin-destroying army

Imperial Prince Wu Duyao of Great Wu

Great Marsh Prefecture

Jin-destroying army

Linghu Qingqing sighed, looked at Sima Xian and said: "So, General Zhao Xiu's earlier actions were very wise—relying on Fengzhou to establish a defensive line. As long as reinforcements keep rushing there, using Fengzhou to delay the Da Wu army is indeed the best contingency plan."

Sima Xian slowly nodded: "Thank you, Premier, but we need to keep a tighter watch. The subsequent troops must set out as soon as possible… If Da Wu dares to stretch its claws at our Da Jin, we must certainly chop off those claws."

Left Minister

Linghu Qingqing

Gongyang Sanlü

Sima Xian

Pei Aiqing

Du Sanniang

Ma Qing's household

Ma Xiangru rushed out of the ranks like one who had lost his parents, wailing with a choked voice: "Your Majesty, I am wronged! Pei Youhu is spitting blood, I… Du Saniang is indeed my concubine; I conduct myself openly and honestly, never hiding anything. But that Du Saniang was attracted by my talent, and we fell for each other mutually—this, this…"

to collude in adultery

Ma Xiangru's sobs trembled, and for a long while he didn't know how to continue.

"Colluding in villainy"—such a phrase, how can an emperor dare to use it against his own subject? Especially against a first-rank minister like Sima Xian; you, you, you, this foolish ruler…

With a slightly dark complexion, a bit short, slightly plump, and a mildly gentle demeanor, Pei Youhu, who looked harmless, walked out of the ranks at a leisurely pace.

Pei Youhu

Bureau of Tribal Affairs

Great Wei

Great Wu

The Lifan Yuan—it truly is a clean-water office among clean-water offices, with no authority, no money, no personnel, nothing at all.

It's merely nominal—just for show—so that if Da Wei or Da Wu ever had any official documents to send, there would be a few people available to receive them.

Although it is a national diplomatic agency, it doesn't even have a proper official; Deputy Director Pei Youhu is in fact the current highest authority of the Lifan Yuan.

Moreover, according to the original staffing, the Lifan Yuan should have four deputy directors, but now only Pei Youhu remains… Previously there were two other deputy directors, but they were badly wounded by the envoys Da Wu sent to deliver state letters and went to recuperate, after which no one was willing to take a post in the Lifan Yuan!

Such an office, and serving in such an office for over a decade—that is Pei Youhu.

For many years, Pei Youhu had been a completely transparent figure in the Great Jin court, and nobody noticed him.

Who would have thought he'd bring a few of his usual drinking pals, likewise rookies from the Clear Water Office, and like mad dogs tear into Ma Shangru, that court big shot—the Vice Hall Master of the Censorate Hall, whose prestige was towering and power astonishing?

"Mutual affection?" Pei Youhu strode out of the ranks, pointing at Ma Shangru and shouting: "Nonsense!"

A censor immediately rushed out from the ranks, pointing at Pei Youhu and shouting: "Your Majesty, Pei Youhu has previously violated decorum… he should be punished with the court cane."

Sima Xian waved his hand and laughed: "No problem, no problem. I've always said, I've always told you all, in court we shouldn't be so stiff; occasionally shouting at people livens the atmosphere and better shows my pleasure in sharing joy with the people… Nonsense is nonsense, as long as you're not really farting in my face, haha, no problem, no problem."

The censor who had jumped out retreated back with a conflicted expression.

The censors present in the Censorate Hall stared at Sima Xian, each with ashen faces—although everyone knew for years that the current Great Jin Divine Emperor was no wise and mighty ruler, but you, this muddleheaded sovereign… can't you stop being so foolish?

Pei Youhu raised his head, pointing at the ashen-faced Ma Shangru and shouted: "Your Majesty, I have evidence: three years ago, the maternal uncle of Ma Shangru, that beast‑in‑human‑form, framed Du Saniang's father, sending him to the Anyang Prefecture jail to be tortured; Du Saniang gave herself to Ma Shangru only to save her father—such conduct is worse than that of beasts!"

Pei Youhu roared loudly.

Ma Shangru glanced gloomily at Gongyang Sanlü.

He—referring to Ma Shangru—was a capable officer promoted by Gongyang Sanlü; he and Pei Youhu have been tearing at each other in court for days, yet Gongyang Sanlü has never lifted a finger to help him!

Ma Shangru gritted his teeth, knowing that his rash impeachment of Huo Xiong had provoked Gongyang Sanlü's displeasure.

These past days he had also been thrown into disarray by Pei Youhu, with no time to go to Gongyang Sanlü's mansion to explain…

But Ma Shangru, after a moment's thought, gritted his teeth, pushed aside the matter of Gongyang Sanlü, and hot tears streamed from his squeezed eyes.

"Your Majesty, I am innocent; I have witnesses, material evidence, all kinds of proof showing that Pei Youhu is talking nonsense." Ma Shangru drew a deep breath and shouted sternly: "I must also impeach Pei Youhu—he is doing this out of selfish intent, deliberately framing me, all to get Huo Xiong off the hook!"

Sima Xian became interested, looking thoughtfully at Ma Shangru: "Oh? You say Pei Youhu is deliberately shielding Huo Xiong? Why is that?"

Ma Shangru pointed at Pei Youhu, about to speak of the news he had just received yesterday, when suddenly a piercingly loud tearing‑through‑the‑air sound came from afar; he saw a thin, extremely long, brilliantly bright scarlet cloud‑streak plummeting from high altitude, shooting straight toward the Nine Heavens Hall.

That was the Great Jin's most urgent means of transmitting military intelligence—the Myriad Li Cloud Arrow.

It is a supreme secret art, its speed pushed to the limit, and it flies in the highest void, where ordinary means cannot intercept it—making it the most effective way to convey military news.

With a "swish," just moments ago everyone had seen the Myriad Li Cloud Arrow still thousands of li above Anyang City; the next instant that streak had already burst into the Nine Heavens Hall, and with a "bang" it exploded into a cloud of mist before Sima Xian's dragon throne.

The entire court of civil and military officials stared in shock—could such urgent news mean that Feng Prefecture had also fallen?

Sima Xian, his face equally grim, lifted the Imperial Seal in his hand and lightly pressed it against the mist: "Whoever dares to bring me unpleasant news, I will make his whole family unable to feel even a hint of joy for the rest of their lives!"

Amid Sima Xian's great shout, the mist sprayed forth myriad golden rays, and a figure completely shrouded in black smoke emerged from the light, crying out in a hurried voice.

"Your Majesty's sagacity, Your Majesty's myriad blessings—your humble servant reports joy from Great Marsh Prefecture to Your Majesty."

"The commander of Great Marsh Prefecture, Sixth‑Rank Dragon Jiang Marquis Huo Xiong, personally infiltrated last night the main camp of the Great Wu Anti‑Jin Army, beheaded the Second Prince of Great Wu, the Brave King Wu Duyao, and further shattered the Anti‑Jin Army's central forces, slaughtering, capturing, and seizing countless enemies!"

"The central corps of the Anti‑Jin Army collapsed overnight; the main force of the Anti‑Jin Army, leaderless, has ceased its advance toward Feng Prefecture, and the bulk of its main force has already begun to retreat."

Inside the Nine Heavens Hall, all was silent.

Linghu Qingqing tugged hard at his own beard, and though he was usually sharp and capable, he couldn't help but look bewildered— the Second Prince of Great Wu, the Brave King Wu Duyao, were also notorious figures, ranked within the top five hundred on the Great Jin's secret bounty list… and this guy was just cut down like that?

Gongyang Sanlü glanced disgustedly at Ma Shangru—well, let's see how you get out of this.

Ma Shangru's face turned ashen, and he slumped to the ground, unable to move.

Pei Youhu gave a slight smile, bowed to Sima Xian, and said: "Your Majesty's sagacity, Your Majesty's myriad blessings!"

Sima Xian leapt up and shouted loudly: "Peerless achievement! Hahaha… Men, issue the order: grant Huo Xiong the rank of First‑Rank Duke, and change his fief from that bird‑shitting‑free Dragon River to Jade Prefecture!"

"Who agrees with my edict, who opposes it?" Sima Xian stood tall and vigorous before the Imperial Throne, his face radiant, grinning so wide he couldn't close his mouth.