Chapter 260

Upon hearing Li Guangdi's memorial, Jing Sheng Di likewise did not rush to make a decision.

Instead, he swept his gaze over the Jingnan Wuxun Yong Jia Marquis Zhu Zu, Nan Xiong Marquis Zhao Yong and others in the hall, seeing only a few with heads bowed, faces grim, yet showing no intention to step forward to plead for the Ji An Marquis.

Jing Sheng Di snorted coldly in his heart, for he knew the Jingnan Wuxun had been running about these past few days pleading for the Ji An Marquis.

From the Long Shou Palace came word as well: high‑ranking martial merits of the court should be treated leniently; for crimes less than the ten heinous offenses, they should be allowed to offset guilt with vermilion charter iron tablets, leaving a net open on one side.

But now is not the past; Jing Sheng Di holds military power, his throne is secure—how could he allow the Long Shou Palace to interfere with his decision?

Looking at Li Guangdi, His Highness, Jing Sheng Di's face grew dark, and he asked:

"Does Lu Heng have anything to say?"

Li Guangdi said:

"Your Majesty! Lu Heng admits guilt! Yet he begs the court to consider his ancestors' merits and allow him to offset his crime with the family vermilion charter iron tablet, sparing his life!"

Jing Sheng Di fell silent for a moment, and the hall was utterly quiet.

"Lu Heng's forefather was the Ji An Marquis who followed Cheng Zu in the Jingnan campaign and indeed had merit."

"But his crime is too great. If he had merely failed to hold his position and retreated through lack of ability, I could still spare his life."

"But he not only sold off front‑line grain supplies, he also abandoned the city and fled at a critical moment, becoming a deserter and disregarding the lives of tens of thousands of his soldiers and civilians."

"If it weren't for Zi Jie sensing the danger and rushing troops to the scene in time, Yu Lin Cheng would by now have become a haunt, and even the outcome of the northwestern war would be affected."

"If I were to pardon such grave crimes, how could I thereafter enforce military discipline or restrain the officials?"

"If everyone learned to flee the battlefield like him, there would be no need to guard the frontiers at all!"

Jing Sheng Di said this, his tone growing ever harsher, a cold light flashing in his eyes, and he shouted sternly:

"Take him to Caishi Kou, select a day for execution, to warn others!"

As soon as Jing Sheng Di spoke these words, the civil and military officials in the court all changed countenance.

Many not only lamented that Jing Sheng Di's nature grew ever more cruel and stingy, but also feared that serving as an official in his reign would be no easy task!

Li Guangdi, however, kept his composure; having already foreseen the Ji An Marquis's fate, he immediately bowed and said, "I obey the edict!"

Afterwards, the Minister of Works, the Minister of Rites and others successively came forward to present matters; Jing Sheng Di consecutively decided seven important court affairs, and this regular audience was drawing to a close.

For, according to the rule set by Jing Sheng Di, each court assembly discusses only eight items!

Jing Sheng Di lifted the teacup on the imperial desk, took a small sip, glanced at the assembled officials, and slowly said:

"Today we will discuss one more matter; is there any memorial to present?"

As his words fell, several lower‑ranking censors in the hall stirred, eager to speak.

They usually find it difficult to present matters face‑to‑face with Jing Sheng Di; the only chance is this regular audience held once every five days, so none want to miss the opportunity to perform.

In the end, it was the censor Sun Jiachen who stepped forward first, holding a jade tablet, quickly moving his feet, and walking out from the ranks of civil officials.

Sun Jiachen was about forty, dark‑complexioned, gaunt, with a pair of eyes like nails that made anyone who met his gaze feel uneasy.

He was the Director of the Imperial Stables and a Left Vice Censor‑in‑Chief of the Censorate (rank three), famed for his frankness, and his figure was never absent from impeaching officials at each regular audience.

Sun Jiachen took his place in the hall, bowed, and then spoke in a hard, straight voice, loudly:

"I, Sun Jiachen, have a memorial of impeachment."

His voice was distinctive—rough and slightly hoarse, yet resonant and penetrating in tone.

Jing Sheng Di needed not lift his eyes; hearing that familiar voice made his brows furrow and gave him a headache.

At every regular audience, Sun Jiachen's loud voice is sure to be heard—either he is impeaching this person or that.

Jing Sheng Di both praised his forthright nature, yet felt somewhat helpless about his inflexibility and his repeated blunt remonstrances.

His gaze tightened slightly, and Jing Sheng Di asked in a deep voice:

"Sun Qing, who are you moving to impeach this time?"

"Your Majesty, I move to impeach General Nian Gengyao of Pingliao."

As Sun Jiacheng spoke, a buzzing sound rose in the hall.

General Nian Gengyao of Pingliao is no ordinary man; not only does he come from a distinguished lineage, he himself is a regular second‑rank, first‑class marquis.

In recent years he has guarded the frontier passes with outstanding merit, commands a hundred‑thousand‑strong army in Liaodong, and is truly a high‑ranking minister of the court.

The crucial point is that he is also a trusted martial officer personally promoted by Jing Sheng Di.

It could even be said that before Jia Jing rose, Nian Gengyao was the martial general most trusted and relied upon by Jing Sheng Di.

Impeaching him is no small matter.

Nian Xiyao, Nian Gengyao's brother and Assistant Minister of Works, was also in the hall at this moment; upon hearing Sun Jiacheng impeach his younger brother, his complexion darkened slightly.

Jing Sheng Di's face turned black in an instant; he gave Sun Jiacheng a cold glance, unable to hide his suspicion of the latter's motives.

These days the civil officials in the court have not ceased submitting impeachment memorials against frontier military generals.

Especially after he overruled all opposition to confer upon Jia Jing the title of First Rank Duke of Jing, the whole realm of civil officials erupted in heated criticism and endless debate.

Jing Sheng Di knew this was a civil‑military clash; he intended to suppress the impeachment memorials, hoping that after this sensitive period passed, things would calm down!

Unexpectedly, at today's regular court council, in front of so many court officials, Sun Jiacheng again stepped forward to impeach Nian Gengyao.

This is rather oblivious to propriety, or perhaps even malicious!

Since his own rise, there have been only a few trusted martial confidants, and now they have all become thorns in the side of the civil officials.

Jing Sheng Di forced his displeasure aside and rigidly uttered a single word:

"Speak."

Sun Jiacheng drew a document from his sleeve, unfolded it, and began to read.

His voice cut like a blade through bamboo, crackling, sentence after sentence, leaving no one a chance to interject:

"Nian Gengyao in Liaodong is extravagant and debauched, squandering the state treasury. His cavalry convoy alone spends over twenty thousand silver pieces each day."

"Just the cooks, laborers, and purchasers attending his meals number more than a thousand. They do nothing else but transport fresh vegetables for his convoy."

He paused, lifted his head, swept his gaze over the ministers in the hall, and finally rested it on the imperial throne.

Your Majesty, do you know where those vegetables are shipped from? From Dengzhou, Shandong.

Dengzhou is near the sea, with fresh fish and shrimp and seasonal vegetables. Nian Gengyao had people set up a special procurement point in Dengzhou and hired a fleet of several hundred people.

Each day, the fresh vegetables, seafood, and fruit from Dengzhou are shipped by sea to Liaodong.

If the fleet encounters wind and waves en route, making the vegetables unfresh, they are all thrown away and the next shipment is sent.

Just this item alone costs no less than one hundred thousand taels of silver each month.

Sun Jiachen put down the memorial, and his voice suddenly rose half a degree:

Your Majesty! The soldiers of the Liaodong border army eat only coarse grain and pickled vegetables every day. One person, Nian Gengyao, spends enough silver each day to feed three thousand soldiers!

The court's finances are now depleted; even you, Your Majesty, practice frugality, yet he indulges in such extravagance. If not severely punished, how can he win the people's obedience? How can he command the army?

As soon as Sun Jiachen's words fell, the hall erupted in an uproar.