Yongli Ming Dynasty

Chapter 91: Direct Minister
Qu Shisi's face became solemn, he bowed and spoke loudly.

"Ding Kuichu, as the Prime Minister of the country, did not think about serving the court, but instead harbored resentment and intended to rebel. This is a heinous crime that cannot be redeemed by death."

"I request that Ding Kuichu be executed to clarify the laws and disciplines of the country and to deter the scoundrels at home and abroad." Qu Shisi's cold voice resounded throughout the hall.
The ministers below were shocked when they saw Qu Shisi, who was full of murderous intent, and their eyes flashed with a trace of awe. This Qu Shisi was indeed the second assistant. He was so decisive and murderous.

Qu Shisi clearly wanted to directly prove Ding Kuichu's guilt and make sure that he died without a burial place.

Lu Daqi's expression changed slightly, as if he wanted to speak. The ministers below were still shocked, but Lu Daqi had been in the officialdom for a long time, and he had experienced countless court disputes. He reviewed the series of events that happened today and immediately found something wrong.
Although everything today seems reasonable, it happened too fast.
They impeached Wang Kun in the morning, searched his house in the afternoon, and found letters of treason in the evening.

Is Wang Kun a fool? After reading such a big thing and such an important letter, he didn't burn it immediately, but kept it in the dark room.
But he couldn't say this doubt. Although Wang Kun's behavior was unreasonable, the letters were definitely written by Ding Kuichu and others.

Lu Daqi looked at Qu Shisi with a vigilant look, and then looked at His Royal Highness the Regent who was looking gloomy above him.
Lu Daqi was about to speak, but his eyes swept over Su Guansheng on the side. Thinking of Su Guansheng's statement just now, a trace of doubt rose in his heart. After hesitating for a while, he finally did not move.

Several ministers remained silent, and the ministers did not dare to speak.
After Qu Shisi's speech, there was silence in the room. Just when everyone thought the matter had been settled, an unexpected figure suddenly appeared.
Su Guansheng looked at the silent Lu Daqi and others in front of him, and thought of the note that Li Guoyong handed to him when he just entered the mansion.

Although he didn't know what His Highness's intention was, since His Highness had given the order, he had to do it for His Highness no matter what it was.

Su Guansheng's face turned serious, and he spoke in a cold voice

"I think what Mr. Qu said is inappropriate."

"Ding Kuichu is the Prime Minister of the country. Although there are letters found now, they only have signatures but no seals. It is hard to guarantee that someone deliberately framed him."

"Ding Kuichu is the Prime Minister, and his position is very important. If he handles this matter carelessly, it will surely cause fear among both Chinese and foreigners. I ask Your Highness to temporarily calm down your anger and send capable personnel from the three courts to investigate this matter and then deal with it."

After Su Guansheng finished speaking, he bowed to the emperor. When the ministers below heard this, they were slightly surprised. Su Guansheng was a real member of the emperor's party. His Highness was furious now. Shouldn't Su Guansheng follow suit and shout at Ding Kuichu to be beaten and killed?

Su Guansheng had a great grudge against Ding Kuichu. When Su Guansheng entered the court, he was almost killed outside the city by the Guangdong Army sent by Ding Kuichu. Why did he start to speak for Ding Kuichu now?

After hearing Su Guansheng's words, some ministers began to calm down and felt that what Su Guansheng said was indeed reasonable.

How could they deal with the Prime Minister of the dynasty just based on a few letters without any beginning or end?

But the eyes of the people looking at Su Guansheng became more and more strange, and they couldn't help but wonder in their hearts, is this Su Guansheng really a loyal and honest minister? Was it because they were too prejudiced against his background in the past, and thus wronged the honest minister?

Thoughts kept flashing through the minds of the ministers below, and the Regent's face suddenly darkened as he stared at Su Guansheng below with an icy expression.

"Lord Su, do you know what you are talking about?"

The ministers below saw the fierce look on His Royal Highness the Regent's face, and their hearts suddenly jumped. They thought that Su Guansheng might really be a loyal minister who would stick to his principles.

When the ministers thought about what happened to Su Guansheng outside Zhaoqing City that day, they became more and more certain of Su Guansheng's character.
If it weren't for this kind of stubborn character, which normal person would dare to confront tens of thousands of Guangdong troops and refuse to retreat based on an imperial edict?
Although the ministers felt a little admiration in their hearts, no one dared to speak. Instead, they lowered their heads, fearing that they would be noticed by His Highness the Regent.

There are indeed few loyal and honest officials, but even though Su Guansheng is dead, there are still others who will come after him, so they will not wade into this muddy water.
Su Guansheng, who was standing below, did not change his expression when he heard His Highness's threatening words. He straightened his face and spoke loudly:

"Your Highness has been very kind to me. Even if I die, I will never be able to repay your kindness. But it is precisely because of this that I dare not sit idly by."

"A ruler should not raise an army out of anger, nor should he make decisions out of anger. Ding Kuichu is the Prime Minister of a country, and he is not an ordinary person. If it is discovered that this matter is wrong in the future, how will the court face the world? At that time, rumors will surely spread in the court, and the treacherous villains in the court will surely take the opportunity to slander Your Highness."

"Even if Your Highness wants to punish me today, I would like to ask Your Highness to calm down and not let this matter bring disgrace to Your Highness's reputation."

Su Guansheng had a determined look on his face. After he finished speaking, he bowed to His Highness above.
The ministers below looked at Su Guansheng with a determined look. Even though they looked down on him for his background as a student of the Imperial Academy, they couldn't help but secretly sigh in their hearts that he had great character.
Although Su Guansheng was born as a student of the Imperial Academy, his integrity is not without merit.
Lu Daqi looked at Su Guansheng who was unable to bow down, and his heart moved slightly. Then his eyes moved away from His Highness, and then he looked straight at Qu Shisi who had been silent since just now, with a trace of inquiry in his eyes.

His Highness seemed to see the determination on Su Guansheng's face, and his expression eased a little. He snorted coldly, but did not continue to speak angrily.
Qu Shisi looked at Su Guansheng who couldn't stand the long bow and could only remain silent.
How could he not know that he could not use this matter to deal with Ding Kuichu in such an unclear way?
However, the military situation was too urgent at this time, and the opportunity was too good. He could not help but want to take the blame for the future, take the opportunity to get rid of Ding Kuichu, and then quickly gather the army in the court to fight against the Qing army that was about to march south. However, Su Guansheng intervened at this time, and he could no longer say anything.

Because if he still suggested getting rid of Ding Kuichu at this time, I am afraid that people inside and outside the court would immediately think that he was joining forces with the clique to attack dissidents and frame Ding Kuichu and others.

By then, everyone in the court will be in danger, and there will probably be another chaos.
There was silence in the hall for a while, and the anger on the face of His Royal Highness the Regent finally began to disappear. He spoke in a cold voice:
"What Lord Su said makes sense, please stand up."

Seeing that His Highness had finally regained his composure, everyone felt relieved. Just now, His Highness had rushed to the Imperial Prison with a sword and killed Ding Kuichu directly, so they were not surprised.

"It's easy to verify this matter, why do we need to send more people from the Third Division?"

"Didn't those people say that the King of Tang was crossing the sea to Guangzhou? All the officials in the court are here now. Does anyone know any news about the King of Tang?"

"I don't know"

The ministers immediately answered upon hearing this, and shook their heads subconsciously.
Not to mention that they don't know the whereabouts of the Tang King, even if they do know, they can't tell.
It would be fine if Ding Kuichu and others were not plotting a rebellion. But if they were found to be so bold and daring that they intended to rebel, how would they deal with it? They might even be labeled as traitors.
No one else knows the whereabouts of the Tang King, how do you know? If you don't join the rebellion, who will?

His Highness the Regent saw all the ministers shaking their heads and looked at Lu Daqi below.

"Mr. Lu came from Fujian Province and knows many people from Fujian Province. Mr. Lu knows the whereabouts of the Tang King."

"Since I entered Guangdong, I have not received any news from Fujian Province, and I am not aware of the Emperor Tang's crossing of the sea."

Lu Daqi hesitated for a moment, thought about it carefully, and found that he had indeed not received any news from the King of Tang. Then he spoke in a deep voice.

"The Imperial Guards don't know, and neither do the ministers in the court. This means that no one in the court knows where the King of Tang is. This makes the matter easier to handle."

"First, detain Ding Kuichu and others, and immediately send people to Guangzhou to investigate the whereabouts of the Tang King."

"If we find the trace of the King of Tang, it means that Ding Kuichu is plotting rebellion. If we don't find the trace of the King of Tang, it means that someone in the court wants to frame the Prime Minister."

"What do you think?"

His Royal Highness the Regent looked at the ministers below and spoke in a cold voice

The ministers below all nodded slightly when they heard this, thinking that this was indeed a good idea.

The King of Tang is the brother of the late emperor. If such a person enters Guangdong, it is absolutely impossible to hide it. Even if it can be hidden from one or two people, it is impossible to hide it from all the ministers in the court.
At this time, no one in the court had received the news that the King of Tang had crossed the sea. In other words, as long as someone was sent to see whether the King of Tang had really arrived in Guangzhou, the truth of the letter could be verified.
"Your Highness is wise"

Qu Shisi and other ministers looked at each other, nodded slightly, and then led the ministers to salute and receive the order.
"Well, if that's the case, send someone to Guangzhou to investigate."

"Don't say I'm biased. This matter will be led by Zhu Zhijian, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Revenue, and Liu Xiangke, the deputy director of the Inspection Office, to Guangzhou to investigate."

His Royal Highness the Regent snorted coldly, seeming to still be angry.
The ministers below nodded again after hearing this. Zhu Zhijian was a capable general under Ding Kuichu. With him as their leader, they would not frame Ding Kuichu.
Liu Xiangke had a long-standing grudge against Wang Kun, and he personally impeached Wang Kun. Naturally, he would not allow Zhu Zhijian to protect Ding Kuichu. This arrangement was indeed extremely fair.

Seeing that His Highness's arrangement was impartial, Lu Daqi looked at Qu Shisi with even more suspicion.

Since it's not His Highness, then the only person in the court who has the motivation and ability to do this is Qu Shisi!
All the ministers looked at Zhu Zhijian at this time, and Zhu Zhijian's heart skipped a beat. He immediately stepped out.
Zhu Lang looked at Zhu Zhijian who was standing out from the line to receive orders, and a hint of sternness flashed in his eyes. He did not deal with Ding Kuichu for the time being, but he was not going to let him go.

He wanted to kill Ding Kuichu openly in front of the world, and make sure no one in the court could say anything!
At this point, the matter has finally come to a conclusion.

It was already midnight when everyone thought they could go home and calm down, but the regent's face darkened again and he told them another equally frightening story.
(End of this chapter)