“Very well, as the Grand Secretary suggests.”
Yuwen Yi remained silent for a long time. Seated high on the dragon throne, he observed the demeanor of his court officials. Civil and military officers stood in opposition, some advocating for war, others for peace, each presenting their own arguments.
However, the civil officials were correct on one point: this sudden border conflict was indeed suspicious.
He could, of course, directly order a general to lead troops and conquer Huaicheng. But if he did so, Linyuan would surely mobilize its forces to resist with all its might. While he did not fear war between the two nations, he could not truly allow Ji Jinmo to lead troops into battle.
Therefore, he decreed, “General Wen, I bestow upon you half of the Tiger Tally. I order you to assemble fifty thousand troops and proceed immediately to Weicheng to resist the Linyuan army!”
“This minister accepts the decree!”
General Wen offered no objections, receiving the decree and expressing his gratitude.
…
When troops are mobilized, provisions must go first.
It was not the armies, but the grain and fodder that Linyuan and Dali moved first.
Before Qin Qiancheng went to Jiyang Army to muster troops, he ordered his副将 to hold the line while he personally escorted carts of grain and fodder to the border.
…
In the Lin Yuan court, Ji Hong had just taken his seat on the dragon throne. Before the grand eunuch could announce, "Speak if you have matters, retire if you have none," the officials, unable to contain their indignation, stepped forward in unison to impeach the Regent, Ji Jinmo. "Your ministers impeach Ji Jinmo, the Regent, for abusing his power, disregarding human lives, ignoring the laws of the state, and plotting treason!"
Ji Hong looked at the officials kneeling to impeach Ji Jinmo. His gaze swept over his imperial uncle, who stood ramrod straight, as steady as an old dog, his hands behind his back. After hearing last night that he had dragged Lady Liu, wife of Yin Ping of the Southern Dynasty, back to the Southern Residence and imprisoned her in the dungeon, Ji Hong had already anticipated this situation.
However, these people were truly audacious. The preceding accusations were one thing, but the final charge of treason? Did he need them to impeach him? Wasn't it common knowledge that his elder uncle harbored ambitions for the throne?
Ji Hong thought to himself, completely unfazed by the surging momentum of the officials' impeachment. He even pondered how he would face Zou Yun'er later.
After all, he had issued the decree for the marriage to Nan Yuan'er yesterday, and Yun'er would likely hear whispers of it today. Worry could harm her health, and she was currently pregnant; she could not endure such distress.
Ji Hong remained silent. The officials knelt, and the military officers stood behind Ji Jinmo, glaring at the civil officials who dared to impeach their prince. Among the military officers, a portly man with large ears and a height of two meters showed no respect for the civil officials. His voice was loud and his words coarse, as if he were shouting in the marketplace like a ruffian. He cursed loudly, "Spit on your dog-pissing words! You old bastards who are so full of yourselves and have nothing better to do, you dare to impeach the Prince? Bah! If you don't come up with something coherent today, don't blame us rough folk for not being polite!"
"You are insolent!"
Ji Hong was startled by his roar, which rivaled that of a ferocious lioness. Seeing his ruffian-like demeanor, his brows furrowed in anger.
He was genuinely angry!
Although this man had grown up on the streets and developed this unruly personality, he had been brought back and integrated into the Duke's manor by the old Duke over a decade ago. He had been an official for several years now, yet his personality hadn't changed at all. Previously, to temper his stubborn temper, he had been sent to Qinghai. Now that he had just returned to the capital, his old ways had resurfaced?
Had he not only failed to restrain himself in Qinghai all these years, but had actually become worse?
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger!"
Big Head knelt, uttering words of appeasement, but his face showed no sign of admitting fault. This made Ji Hong wish he could take off his shoe and throw his imperial boot at that face of his, which was as round as a full moon on the sixteenth day of the month!
What is a "sixteenth-day-of-the-month-round face"?
The fifteenth of the moon is round, and the sixteenth is even rounder!
A round face on the sixteenth!
Ji Hong glanced around, unable to find a suitable weapon. He could only glare at him and scold, "Shen Ziling, what, do you miss the winds of Qinghai? Do you want to go back and feel the breeze!"
"Your subject does not, Your subject is not. Your Majesty, please do not speak nonsense!"
Big Head shook his head rapidly. The winds of Qinghai were laden with sand, and when they blew on the face, it felt like being scraped by a file. Moreover, the temperature difference between day and night was extreme. One would wear padded clothes in the morning and thin clothes at noon. It was as cold as deep winter and as hot as scorching summer. In the first few months after arriving in Qinghai, he suffered from acclimatization and indigestion, losing over ten catties.
Hearing his words, Ji Hong's forehead smoked with anger. He roared to the imperial guards outside the hall, "Guards, seize this scoundrel and administer twenty heavy blows. After the punishment, tie him outside the palace. No one is to give him food or drink. Release him tomorrow before the morning court!"
"Yes!"
The imperial guards entered the hall and began to drag him out.
As Shen Ziling was being dragged away, he pleaded, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I was wrong! You can beat me and tie me up, but can you at least let the guards give me some food? Your Majesty, I didn't have breakfast before the morning court today, and I'll starve to death! Your Majesty, can you at least give me a plate of pastries while you beat me, Your Majesty~~~"
"Your Majesty~~~"
Shen Ziling's pleas were incessant, but not a single plea was to the point. Every few sentences, he would mention food. This was not like a minister of the state; it was like a disaster victim from a famine-stricken family.
Ji Hong finally found a suitable object. He grabbed a decoration from the screen and threw it at Shen Ziling.
"Give him thirty blows and tie him up for two full days!"
"Yes!"
Begging for the opposite was the most fatal.
Shen Ziling almost cried out. Two guards were needed to drag the two-meter-tall胖子 out.
Ji Jinmo remained silent for two seconds, ultimately choosing not to speak on his behalf. The military officers covered their faces, their expressions filled with shame, wishing they could disassociate themselves from this fellow.
It was too damn embarrassing!
With this interruption, the肃杀之气 that the civil officials had gathered was suddenly dissipated, and the atmosphere became somewhat stagnant. Ji Hong took a breath on the dragon throne. Shen Ziling's screams drifted in with the wind. However, whether it was due to his robust spirit or his thick skin, his cries grew louder and louder, showing no sign of the gasping weakness of someone being beaten. If not for the sound of the planks hitting flesh, which was clearly not a false show, everyone would have thought that each blow was landing on a stool.
The military officers covered their faces, the civil officials clicked their tongues. Ji Jinmo and Ji Hong exchanged a look. The old Duke's lifelong reputation would be ruined by this unfilial descendant. Fortunately, the old Duke had passed away peacefully; otherwise, he would have been angered to death by him.
"Right, what were you impeaching him for?"
After calming his anger, Ji Hong turned and asked the officials who had impeached Ji Jinmo, as if he had truly been angered to the point of amnesia. The officials looked at each other, then at him, and then shouted in unison again, "Your ministers impeach Ji Jinmo, the Regent, for abusing his power..."
Ji Jinmo strode forward and grabbed the official who was impeaching him. Although the official was a scholar, his build was not weak. However, Ji Jinmo still treated him like a chick, lifting him by the collar, his feet off the ground. The officials watched as the voices of impeachment abruptly ceased.
"What are you impeaching me for?"
Ji Jinmo looked at the impeaching official, asking with a smile.