Chapter 193: Zhang Tingyu Is a Treacherous Minister!

After Jing Sheng Di finished speaking, he could not continue the meal and ordered Xia Shouzhong, who was beside him, saying:

"Go summon several cabinet ministers and Wang Ziteng to the Qian Qing Gong; I have matters to discuss with them."

Lately the court has been full of clamor, and now that the good news has arrived, I want to see what they have to say!

Especially that scoundrel Xu Qianxue, who is in charge of the Censorate and the upright officials, he is hypocritical; this time I will give him a taste of something fierce.

Xia Shouzhong took the order and left.

Jing Sheng Di suppressed the joy on his face, rose, and headed to the front hall; just as he stepped out of the hall, he said to Zhou Huang Hou:

"The frontline reports and the Tartar trophies have not yet arrived, so now I cannot yet confer honors on Zi Jie."

"Over there, arrange some rewards for the Jia Family; Zi Jie has merited in the northwest campaign, the court must not treat him lightly!"

Zhou Huang Hou heard this and smiled gently, saying:

"I understand; I have heard the Jia Family has many daughters, I will have people send some jewelry, headpieces, and palace brocades shortly."

"Also, Siam recently offered some fine tea as tribute; I will have some sent to the Jia Family as well."

The Empress's bestowal of items to the families of meritorious officials both reflects the emperor's magnanimous grace and serves as an important means of maintaining lord‑subject ethics and upholding ritual order.

Such gifts are usually valuable and highly symbolic items, covering clothing, ornaments, daily utensils, and other categories.

Moreover, the contents differ markedly according to the recipient's status and achievements.

Bestowing gold, jade, jewelry, headpieces, and brocades on the families of meritorious officials shows care and reinforces hierarchical order among women.

It is, besides official titles, the most honored form of reward for internal relatives.

【7】 "Hmm! Zi Tong may decide," Jing Sheng Di nodded, and amid the inner guards, proceeded toward the main hall of Qian Qing Gong.

"Mm! Zitong, you decide." Jing Sheng Di nodded his head, under the escort of the inner eunuchs, heading toward the main hall of Qian Qing Gong.

The main hall of Qian Qing Gong.

At this moment, the cabinet ministers and Wang Ziteng were already waiting in the hall for Jing Sheng Di, and everyone wore a hint of puzzlement.

They did not know what great matter had arisen that caused Jing Sheng Di to summon them now.

The Grand Scholar of the Eastern Hall and Left Censorate Inspector Xu Qianxue wore a trace of delight, his eyes flashing.

He wondered whether Jing Sheng Di was being swayed by court and public opinion, intending to negotiate peace or to curb the authority of the young Jia Jing.

These days the Censorate, Hanlin Academy, and Guozijian have submitted many memorials advising on this, many inspectors even submitting one each day; perhaps His Majesty's enlightened heart has changed?

Wang Ziteng's expression was indifferent, his gaze somewhat grim; these days had not been favorable to him.

Sure enough, as he expected, since Jia Jing went to the front, the court sought stability, and the Jingying reorganization was set aside.

His several memorials proposing plans to reorganize Jingying sank without a trace, leaving no news, making his plan to raise troops and achieve merit difficult to implement.

The others—Zhang Tingyu, Gong Dingzi, Li Guangdi, Chen Tingjing and the like— wore a look of solemnity.

They were somewhat worried about the northwest campaign; Yu Lin Cheng had sent urgent reports in recent days, and Jing Sheng Di's urgent summons suggested perhaps Yu Lin Cheng had been captured by the Northern Yuan?

If so, this northwest war would indeed be difficult!

While everyone's thoughts diverged, Jing Sheng Di, surrounded by Xia Shouzhong and the inner guards, arrived at the main hall of Qian Qing Gong.

"Your servant has seen His Majesty!" the assembled officials hurriedly bowed and paid their respects!

Jing Sheng Di sat on the dragon throne in silence, looked down at the ministers, and said in a deep voice:

"Rise, you officials!"

After the ministers clasped their hands in thanks, Jing Sheng Di slowly began:

"Just now, the Imperial City Office received an urgent military dispatch via carrier pigeon from Jia Zi Jie in the northwest; the Northern Yuan army has been assaulting Yu Lin Wei Cheng for more than twenty days."

"Yesterday morning, they breached the south gate of Yu Lin Wei Cheng; the situation is critical..."

Jing Sheng Di paused halfway through his words, paused, and lifted the tea cup at hand to take a sip.

His eyes, however, fixed on the reactions of the ministers below.

As Jing Sheng Di spoke, the ministers in the hall all shivered, and a roar of astonishment erupted.

What? Yu Lin Cheng has fallen??

Zhang Tingyu, Li Guangdi and the other ministers wore grave expressions; with Yu Lin Cheng fallen, could the Northern Yuan cavalry not rush straight into Guanzhong?

Not to mention the countless casualties among border troops and civilians, the northwest campaign alone is already hard to fight!

Could it be that the court truly erred in its decision, and that originally negotiating peace with the Northern Yuan and Hun Xie would have been beneficial to the state?

How did that Ji An Marquis defend his city?

Wasn't he repeatedly ordered to hold the city tightly? How could the Northern Yuan forces have breached it so quickly?

Chen Tingjing's eyes turned black, and he nearly fainted to the ground.

These days, he had been working day and night to gather supplies for the northwest, nearly exhausting himself to death.

He did not expect that just as the provisions set out, the front had already suffered defeat!

Xu Qianxue felt ecstatic inside, but showed no expression, instead a hint of sorrow, and quickly rose to proclaim loudly:

"With Yu Lin Cheng fallen, the soldiers and civilians inside will inevitably suffer heavy casualties; pitifully, our Da Han subjects die because of some martial men's selfish haste for personal glory."

"If those martial officials had not corrupted the enlightened heart, the court would have dispatched envoys to negotiate peace with the Northern Yuan and Hun Xie long ago, and such tragedy would not have occurred."

In his words, Xu Qianxue blamed Jia Jing, Niu Jizong and other hawks for their ill intent.

It seemed as if the fault of Yu Lin Cheng's fall lay in those martial men's selfish refusal to negotiate peace.

Of course, he also did not forget to single out Jing Sheng Di, stating that the emperor's warlike stance was manipulated by treacherous ministers.

Wang Ziteng, holding a jade tablet, his expression stern, likewise rose to proclaim:

"Your Majesty! With Yu Lin Cheng lost, the Northern Yuan cavalry can descend along the unsettled Henan, pressing straight toward Yan'an, threatening Xi'an."

"If the court does not yet send envoys to negotiate peace, the entire northwest Guanzhong region will be ravaged by the Northern Yuan; then the northwest will fall into chaos, even affecting the strength of our Da Han Empire."

"I implore Your Majesty to decide promptly, recall Jia Jing and Niu Jizong, and dispatch peace‑seeking officials swiftly to the northwest to negotiate with the Northern Yuan."

Wang Ziteng did not place the blame for this Yu Lin Cheng defeat on Jia Jing, because he knew the city's fall could not be blamed on Jia Jing.

After all, Jia Jing had only been recruiting for a few days; whether he arrived at Yu Lin Cheng yesterday was unknown, so one could not fault him for not rushing to rescue!

But Wang Ziteng still raised the fall of Yu Lin Cheng to a crisis level affecting the Da Han Empire's national strength.

Hope that Jing Sheng Di can negotiate peace early, so that he may have the chance to quickly reorganize the Jingying, achieve merit and rise.

Zhang Tingyu, who always believed that many words are not as good as staying silent, did not remain silent this time; unexpectedly stepping forward, he spoke loudly:

"Your Majesty! If Yu Lin Cheng falls, I actually believe that at this time we absolutely must not negotiate peace!"

"First, the court has already issued the edict ordering Marquis Jingwu to wage war in the northwest; there is no reason for orders to change from morning to evening."

"Second, border troops and civilians have tragically died under the blades of the Northern Yuan; this grudge must be avenged, otherwise we will lose the hearts and minds of the northwest's people and army."

"Third, Marquis Jingwu and his men have already arrived in the northwest, the Ba Shang army and supplies are also already on the road, and the court has already made all-around preparations for the northwest war; there is no reason to withdraw the army without fighting a single battle."

"Fourth, I believe that with Marquis Jingwu's abilities, they will surely be able to defeat the enemy and win; Your Majesty might as well give them a bit more time."

"At this critical moment, the court above and below should even more firmly hold to the will to wage war; only with united effort can we get through……"

"Zhang Tingyu is a traitorous minister! Please, Your Majesty, see clearly!" Xu Qianxue did not wait for Zhang Tingyu to finish speaking, then jumped out and loudly denounced him.