Becoming a literary master starting from the story of Minglan

Chapter 444 Exclusion
While the Sheng family and the Lüliang Mountain group were busy with their "huge" work.

The imperial court was also rife with intrigue, as an invisible yet far more intense storm swept in like a cold wave, trapping the newly appointed Grand Secretary Xiao Qinyan in the center of the vortex.

Because Sheng Changquan was preparing for the imperial examinations, he was unaware that Xiao Ge Lao, who had previously benefited from the success of the Shen and Sun families, had already tasted the consequences.

……

In fact, Hsiao Chin-yen was successful.

Despite his humble origins, he seized the opportunity presented by the rivalry between Shen Shouzhen, the Minister of Revenue, and Sun Zhixing, the Minister of Rites, to ruthlessly seize the opportunity. Furthermore, with swift and decisive action, he precisely grasped the fatal weakness of Yu Zhenghao, the only son of Grand Secretary Yu—the batch of military equipment smuggled out of the country under the guise of "scrap iron" but actually flowing into the enemy state of Daliang!

A single piece of evidence forced Yu, a veteran minister of two dynasties, to resign due to illness in order to protect his only son's bloodline and his family's century-old reputation. He also earnestly recommended Xiao Qinyan to join the cabinet and fill the vacant position of Grand Secretary.

Wearing a scarlet robe and a jade belt, he held the highest position among the officials.

When Xiao Qinyan first stepped into the cabinet office, which symbolized the highest authority of the empire, what stirred in his heart was more than just ambition.
That was a meteoric rise from humble beginnings to stardom!

However, before this euphoria could subside, the cold reality poured over him like a bucket of ice water, chilling him to the bone.

The jade belts worn by the cabinet ministers seemed to be forged from cold iron, heavy and icy, far from the imagined power and glory.

Inside the duty room, the fragrance of aloeswood wafted through the air, yet it could not dispel the invisible chill and alienation.

Grand Secretary Han Zhang was a veteran of two reigns and a leader of the Qingliu faction.

His hair and beard were as white as an ancient pine tree covered in frost and snow. He lowered his eyes to read the book, like an old monk in deep meditation, not even bothering to lift his eyelids.

Second Grand Secretary Qian Muzhi, the embodiment of the powerful Jiangnan clan in the imperial court, was having a low conversation with another Grand Secretary, Shen Duan, the representative of the meritorious military group. Out of the corner of his eye, he occasionally glanced at Xiao Qinyan, who was sitting alone in the corner. His gaze was devoid of warmth, only scrutiny and an almost indifferent rejection.

Xiao Qinyan frowned as he looked at the mountain of documents related to the Grand Canal transport on his desk.

This was one of the key tasks he was in charge of after joining the cabinet, and he intended to use it to establish his authority.

He picked up his pen to make a review, but found that this seemingly ordinary report on the loss of grain was actually the result of a complex web of vested interests, and that every step he took was like walking on thin ice.

He needed to compare old files, to obtain detailed data from the Ministry of Revenue, and even more so, he needed the slightest support from his colleagues.

however--

“Your Excellency,” the Director of the Personnel Department bowed before his desk, his face impeccably respectful, “you wish to access the archives of the Canal Transport Department from the fifth to the eighth year of the Tiansheng era? Oh dear, this… is truly unfortunate!”

He spread his hands with a troubled expression: "A few days ago, the warehouse accidentally caught fire, and the flames spread to the side room where old files are stored... Of the relevant files, less than one-tenth is still intact! I have ordered them to speed up the sorting, but it will take time..."

A cold glint flashed in Xiao Qinyan's eyes.

Leaking water?

Why did the fire break out when he desperately needed it?

He suppressed the surging anger in his heart and said in a low voice, "Very well, I require the detailed accounts of the Ministry of Revenue's Canal Transport Department for the past three years. They must be presented before the end of the day!"

"Yes, yes, yes! This humble official will immediately expedite the process and will do his utmost!"

The physician bowed repeatedly and quickly retreated, heading towards the desk of the Second Grand Secretary Qian Muzhi, where he whispered a request for instructions.

Qian Muzhi held his teacup, nodded slightly, and a hint of coldness was playing on his lips.

This "urging" was like a stone sinking into the sea.

Even as the evening drum sounded and the court session ended, Xiao Qinyan's desk remained empty. The clerks sent to inquire always returned with replies such as "We are working on it now," "It involves the Military Equipment Bureau and requires the Grand Secretary's personal approval," and "Grand Secretary Qian is also making arrangements; please wait a moment, Grand Secretary Xiao."

Invisible barriers kept him out of the information of the core of power.

The real blow came when discussions arose about relief funds for the drought in the north.

The proposal put forward by the Second Grand Secretary Qian Muzhi clearly favored several major northern provinces where his allies from the Jiangnan faction were located.

Based on detailed disaster information and historical data, Hsiao Chin-yen proposed a more balanced and favorable revision plan for the severely affected areas. His arguments were clear and well-reasoned.

“Grand Secretary Xiao has just entered the central government, and he is deeply concerned about the common people. His sincere heart is as clear as the sun and moon.” Qian Muzhi stroked his well-trimmed short beard, his smile as gentle as a spring breeze, but his words were sharp and witty. “However, disaster relief is like putting out a fire, and the most important thing is to be quick.”

"The plan we have proposed is based on years of experience and has been agreed upon by various departments. If we make hasty changes, I'm afraid the procedures will be too complicated, delaying the opportunity and causing the starving disaster victims to suffer for another day! What do you think, Your Excellency?"

He turned his gaze to Han Zhang, whose word was law.

Grand Secretary Han Zhang slightly raised his eyelids. His eyes, which had seen through the vicissitudes of life and were murky yet unfathomable, lingered for a moment on Xiao Qinyan's earnest amendment, then swept over Qian Muzhi's seemingly sincere face, and finally landed on the expressionless Shen Duan.

Shen Duan's eyes were indifferent, seemingly not particularly concerned about how the disaster relief funds were specifically divided, as long as the needs of the northern military garrisons were not embezzled.

Han Zhang understood perfectly. His voice was calm and even, yet carried an undeniable authority: "Vice Minister Qian is quite right. Disaster relief is urgent, and we should prioritize stability and speed. Grand Secretary Xiao is new to the cabinet and still needs time to familiarize himself with the administration. Let's proceed as originally planned."

With a single, casual remark, Xiao Qinyan's hard work was trampled into dust.

Han Zhang originally had no objection to Xiao Qinyan, and even quite admired him. However, what Xiao Qinyan did after joining the cabinet this time made him feel disgusted!
Although the officialdom is like a battlefield, and no means are too much to use, Han Zhang himself had no children, only a daughter who had long since married far away from his hometown.

It can be said that Xiao Qinyan's scheme posed no threat to him whatsoever. However, his actions were extremely despised by Han Zhang, who considered himself a gentleman. That is why he adopted such an attitude.

Meanwhile, Shen Duan nodded almost imperceptibly, echoing the Grand Secretary's "considering the overall situation."

Looking at his draft amendment, which Han Zhang had casually tossed aside on the corner of the desk like a piece of waste paper, Xiao Qinyan felt a chilling sense of powerlessness instantly grip him, almost suffocating him.

Cabinet vote?

He didn't even have the chance to initiate the voting process!

His vote, in the face of deeply entrenched factional interests and tacit exclusion, was as light as a feather and carried no weight.

At this time, Grand Secretary Xiao believed that the reason he was being ostracized was because he had no powerful backing!
An even more fatal blow followed.

When Grand Secretary Xiao's carefully prepared memorial on "cleaning up the long-standing malpractices of the Military Equipment Bureau" was completed in the Office of Transmission, it had not yet been formally placed on the cabinet's deliberation table.

The next morning at court, Li Dongyang, the Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, known for his "iron face," stepped forward proudly, holding his jade tablet, and his voice resounded throughout the Zichen Hall: "Your Majesty! I impeach Xiao Qinyan, the Grand Secretary of the Inner Cabinet!"

A booming voice echoed between the beams and pillars of the hall, each word like a poisoned dagger: "Xiao Qinyan is cunning and ruthless, and will stop at nothing to achieve his goals! His path to the cabinet was filled with framing and infighting! Grand Secretary Yu has a lifetime of integrity and retired in his later years. How can the hidden truths of his actions be completely concealed from the public? This is his first crime!"

His gaze was like lightning, piercing directly at Xiao Qinyan, whose expression had suddenly changed below the steps.

"I have also heard rumors that when Xiao Qinyan was serving in Jiangnan in his early years, he had close ties with certain wealthy merchants involved in arms smuggling! This is his second crime!"

Upon hearing this, a suppressed gasp filled the hall.

"Now that he has just entered the cabinet, he is already eager to interfere in the affairs of the Ordnance Bureau. His treacherous intentions must be investigated! This is his third crime! I implore Your Majesty to take a clear look and thoroughly investigate Xiao Qinyan's person and deeds, so as to prevent the nation's vital instruments from falling into the hands of such a villainous and treacherous person!" The last sentence was even more of a scathing critique!

Three charges, each one scathing!

The first blow targets his "original sin" of having an illegitimate foundation for entering the cabinet; the second blow exposes any possible stains in his past, implying that he is inextricably linked to arms smuggling; and the third blow distorts his legitimate political proposals into accusations of harboring malicious intentions!
On the dragon throne, the emperor's face was calm and composed, but his sharp, hawk-like gaze swept across Xiao Qinyan's pale face, then over the several grand secretaries in the front row, and finally lingered on Li Dongyang for a moment.