My father is a Confucian sage, but the system forces me to be a crude warrior

Chapter 424 The Dog Emperor Deserves to Die!

[Huang: Zeng Anmin is unwilling to join the Heavenly Dao Alliance, but I think Bai Ziqing is of noble character, strong, and most importantly, young, so I want to invite him.]

[He said: Hmm, this person's style is very similar to mine, and I also think he's quite good.]

[Nan: I met him when the Holy Dynasty sent envoys; he was truly a chosen one of heaven.]

[Huang: Most importantly, during this time I was in the capital of the Holy Dynasty, many people said that Zeng Anmin had followed him through many major cases, so he must be a man of exceptional strategy.]

[He said: This humble Taoist thinks so too.]

……

Zeng Anmin grinned as he looked at the three of them.

I didn't know what to say for a while.

Exceptional strategic skills?
Do you... really think so?
Zeng Anmin was at a loss for words.

[Hey, what does Bei say? Now it's just a matter of you giving your opinion.]

Zeng Anmin hesitated for a moment.

Then he wrote:

[North: Bai Ziqing is from the Bai family, a powerful clan related to the Holy Dynasty. If he learns about the Heavenly Dao Alliance, there's no guarantee he won't leak it to his family.]

His reminder brought everyone to their senses.

The entire chat group fell silent.

After a long time.

[He said: Then let's test his character first.]

[Ara: Alright, I can stay in the capital for a few more days anyway.]

[He said: Yes, and Bai Ziqing has an excellent relationship with me. He also happens to have a good relationship with Zeng Anmin. Perhaps I can use his relationship to try and bring Zeng Anmin into the Heavenly Dao Alliance.]

[Ara: Good idea.]

……

After talking with the people from the Heavenly Dao Alliance.

Zeng Anmin then rested.

The next day.

Imperial City Guard, Southern Provincial Capital.

"Greetings, sir!"

The grapes looked at Zeng Anmin with resolute eyes.

Zeng Anmin sat in his chair, gazing at them calmly.

Sima Nan stood in front of the left column.

"Ah."

"I will be going to the palace to meet the Emperor shortly. You will all wait here."

Zeng Anmin's voice rose:

"The merits made by our Southern Capital Academy in this Western Flow Disaster Relief Campaign will surely be bestowed upon you all without fail."

"Sima Nan."

"Here!" Sima Nan's body jolted.

"Let's go to the palace to meet the emperor."

"Yes!"

…………

The sound of a horse-drawn carriage slowly rose into the air.

Zeng Anmin sat in the carriage, while the coachman drove it from the front.

Sima Nan sat in front of him.

"Have the compensation payments been made for the fallen soldiers?"

"It's arranged." Sima Nan's expression was serious: "Each household will receive a uniform 1,500 taels, distributed according to the highest standards set by my Imperial City Guard."

“Yes.” Zeng Anmin nodded seriously.

He wasn't surprised by this number.

The Imperial City Guard's recruitment standard is an eighth-rank military officer.

For every martial artist who can reach the eighth rank, the expenses incurred by their family from the first day of training to the time they reach that rank are at least one thousand taels.

Many families had to pool the resources of their entire clan to support such an eighth-rank official.

"What about at Dongfang's home?"

Zeng Anmin gently lifted the curtain and looked out the window with a deep gaze.

“The East…” Sima Nan hesitated for a moment, then sighed and said:
"not yet."

"Hmm?" Zeng Anmin's gaze suddenly sharpened as he looked at Sima Nan.

It resembles a giant worm that could devour people at any moment.

The air instantly solidified here.

Sima Nan felt that even his breathing had become difficult.

He said with difficulty, "The Dongfang family only has one daughter. When he was alive, he was a high-ranking official in the Imperial City, and all his uncles and elders respected him."

"But now that he's dead, if we rashly send this money to their homes, those uncles and elders might suffer the consequences."

Hear his words.

Zeng Anmin slowly released the oppressive aura emanating from him.

He nodded lightly.

"Who taught you this?"

He didn't believe Sima Nan could think of this.

"That's what Miss Sai said on the way back from Xiliu."

Sima Nan answered honestly.

The first snow of the season?
A look of surprise flashed across Zeng Anmin's face, then he nodded and said:
"What did she say?"

"She said that after returning to the capital, she would investigate the qualifications of the Eastern Daughter."

"If possible, we can take her as our disciple. If her aptitude is not good enough, we can still recruit her into the Xuanzhen Division as an outer disciple."

Hear these words.

"Good."

Zeng Anmin felt a slight warmth in his heart.

Sai Chuxue's actions did indeed help him to appease the people.

It's simply unacceptable that he didn't offer any thanks when his subordinates died.

It will damage his reputation.

But by doing this, Sai Chuxue essentially shut down all the outsiders' opinions.

"Grandpa, Second Grandpa, we've arrived."

A respectful voice came from outside the carriage.

"it is good."

Zeng Anmin and Sima Nan got off the carriage at the same time.

It was time for the officials to attend court.

On the wide official road, one magnificent carriage after another passed by.

Zeng Anmin and Sima Nan, dressed in the uniforms of the Imperial City Guard, formed a striking sight among the officials.

Before long, the two arrived at the palace.

After searching them, they were allowed to enter.

"Please wait here, both of you. We will enter the palace when His Majesty summons us." A young eunuch smiled at the two of them and then walked into the main hall.

"Thank you for your trouble." Zeng Anmin nodded and stood outside the hall with Sima Nan.

In front of the Golden Palace is an extremely wide and straight road.

A sentry every five steps, a guard every ten steps.

"Greetings, sir."

Today, the guards of the Golden Palace are the officials from the Southern Imperial Guard and the Imperial Sword Guard.

When the grapevines saw Zeng Anmin, they bowed respectfully.

"No gift."

Zeng Anmin did not reject these etiquettes.

Once you achieve a higher social status, you'll inevitably encounter these things, even if you initially reject them.

He stood with his arms crossed in front of the hall, peering into the Golden Palace.

"Long live Your Majesty!!"

Inside the Golden Palace, officials paid homage to Emperor Jianhong.

Hearing this unified and orderly sound.

Zeng Anmin didn't know why, but a burning passion slowly rose in his heart.

"Whoo~"

He adjusted his breathing, trying to banish these thoughts from his mind.

"You haven't been here before?"

Zeng Anmin glanced at Sima Nan.

At this moment, Sima Nan's simple and honest face showed some restraint.

"No." Sima Nan honestly shook his head, then looked longingly into the Golden Palace and sighed:
"The opportunity to meet the Emperor is not many for us fifth-rank military officers. Although our Imperial City Guard is directly under His Majesty, only the Four Great Commanders can see His Majesty at any time."

"Tsk."

Zeng Anmin smacked his lips.

He could not understand Sima Nan's longing to meet Emperor Jianhong face to face.

What's so good about seeing the Emperor?
You have no idea of ​​the intrigue and power struggles within this grand hall.

If I had seen it, I definitely wouldn't think that way.

"Then you must work hard and strive to surpass me and become the new Tidu."

Zeng Anmin patted Sima Nan on the shoulder with a smile.

This terrified Sima Nan.

"Cough cough~" Sima Nan coughed several times in a row, his face turning slightly red:

"I dare not... I have absolutely no intention of overstepping my bounds."

A burly man, standing nine feet tall, was now as flustered as a child. Zeng Anmin was about to make a few more teasing remarks when he heard a high-pitched, shrill voice rang out:

"Zeng Anmin, the deputy commander in charge of disaster relief in Xuanxi, accompanied by Sima Nan, the chief military officer of the Imperial City's Southern Commandery, enters the palace!!!"

Come on.

"Walk."

Zeng Anmin's expression turned solemn, and then he led Sima Nan slowly toward the main hall.

"Pap~"

Zeng Anmin stepped into the main hall.

As his footsteps sounded.

The entire hall fell silent.

"Shh!"

All the officials' eyes turned to him.

These gazes were filled with curiosity and scrutiny.

Everyone wanted to know what this kid, who killed the second-rank patriarch of Xuanlun Manor using a Confucian sage's magical artifact, looked like now.

Zeng Anmin's expression remained unchanged, extremely calm.

Sima Nan, standing behind him, was unusually reserved.

Any official who steps out in this hall is a figure whose every stomp shakes the heavens.

As a mere minor official, he naturally dared not act recklessly.

The two then arrived before the saint.

Zeng Anmin's voice was calm and steady, resounding throughout the entire hall:
"Your humble servant Zeng Anmin greets Your Majesty. May Your Majesty live ten thousand years!"

A standard bow.

This young man is twenty years old.

His voice sounded like that of someone who had experienced many ups and downs in life.

Emperor Jianhong sat on the dragon throne, his gaze calmly fixed on Zeng Anmin, a smile appearing on his face as he asked:
"The minister's disaster relief efforts have brought about the recovery of Xiliu, which is a great achievement. How can he be called a traitor?"

"I was ordered to provide disaster relief, but I was tricked by traitors and failed to take proper precautions, which resulted in the deaths of the chief official Sun Chuanfang, the supervisor Dongfang Sheng, 150 supervisors, and nearly 1,000 laborers."

Zeng Anmin slowly raised his head, then bowed again:
"Although I have saved millions of disaster victims, I still feel guilty and beg Your Majesty to punish me!"

This is a standard format.

There wasn't a single fool in the entire hall.

Those who can sit in their positions are almost all the cream of the crop in this country.

Meritorious officials should first speak ill of themselves before the emperor.

Ministers who have made mistakes should first speak of their merits before the emperor.

This is a principle that all subjects should understand.

Having lived in this world for so long, Zeng Anmin naturally understands the importance of adapting to local customs.

His contributions to disaster relief cannot be ignored.

If Emperor Jianhong dares to punish him for this offense, which could be serious or minor, tomorrow an official will come to the palace to scold him.

Historians will also record his indiscriminate behavior.

"Nonsense." Emperor Jianhong laughed and scolded Zeng Anmin.

"Do you really think I'm a foolish emperor?"

"Your subject dares not," Zeng Anmin said, bowing his head.

"Then why speak excessively?"

"I am guilty."

……

Emperor Jianhong shook his head: "Sun Chuanfang, the death of Dongfang Sheng was all due to Xuanlun Manor."

“The Governor-General of Xiliu, An Jiuyuan, also wrote to me about this.”

"I have seen all of these."

"You can blame everyone else, but you're the only one who can't be blamed."

At this point, Emperor Jianhong's expression turned wistful:
"It was your audacity to lead two hundred men to storm Xuanlun Manor, the number one power in the martial world, that made my heart leap into my throat for a long time!"

Emperor Jianhong's voice was tinged with reproach:
"You are a trusted and indispensable minister whom I value! If anything happens to you because of Xuanlun Manor, what will become of the future emperor of my Great Holy Dynasty?"

"Never put yourself in danger again, understand?"

Emperor Jianhong's words echoed throughout the hall.

All the ministers looked at each other in bewilderment.

Isn't this more than just favoritism, Your Majesty?
Aren't you blatantly telling us that if we dare to touch this kid, you'll skin us alive?

The officials stared at each other, unsure of what to say...

Hear these words.

Zeng Anmin's resolve was already wavering.

The Emperor Jianhong before me is someone who cares about me in every way.

Is he really the person I suspected who wanted to kill me at every turn?
"Your Majesty's kindness is truly undeserved!"

"Let's not talk about that." Emperor Jianhong waved his hand, looking at Zeng Anmin with great interest:
"I have heard that even the second-rank patriarch of Xuanlun Manor was defeated by you."

"Could you please explain this to me in detail?"

"Actually, it's not just me; all the officials in the palace are very curious about this."

……

coming.

Zeng Anmin's heart sank slightly.

This is the most difficult hurdle.

On his way back to the capital from Xiliu, he was already thinking about what to say to everyone.

"His Majesty."

Zeng Anmin slowly raised his head:
"In fact, Guan Tiansheng, the second-rank patriarch of Xuanlun Manor, had already died long before I led people into Xuanlun Manor."

As these words were spoken.

The entire hall fell silent!

Then someone realized: "Zeng Tidu means that you didn't kill that second-rank patriarch?!"

"How did you know that?!"

"This……"

"How strange..."

"........."

Inside the main hall, voices of conversation and doubt instantly filled the air.

"oh?!"

A barely perceptible glint flashed in Emperor Jianhong's eyes.

His face showed astonishment and confusion:
"What is the meaning of this, Minister Zeng?"

Zeng Anmin secretly glanced at Emperor Jianhong.

He knew, of course, that he could not look up at the emperor in the main hall.

But he really wanted to know what Emperor Jianhong's expression was at that moment.

Although it was only one glance.

But Zeng Anmin clearly saw the astonishment and bewilderment on Emperor Jianhong's face.

There was nothing else unusual about it.

Did I really guess wrong?
Zeng Anmin's heart wavered once again.

But now is not the time to think about this.

He took a deep breath: "Your Majesty."

"The treasures of Confucianism were truly bestowed upon us."

"It is true that I used the treasure of the Confucian sage to secretly ambush the second-rank patriarch of Xuanlun Manor."

At this point, he looked directly at Emperor Jianhong.

This time, there was no more pretense; they began to unleash their ultimate weapon:
"But it is also true that I used grain from the Ganges River to falsely accuse the people of Xuanlun Manor of rebellion!!"

As soon as this sentence came out.

His gaze never left Emperor Jianhong's face.

He could see every change in Jianhong Emperor's expression with extreme care.

From the very beginning, before entering the hall.

He held onto this idea!

He was going to reveal all the earth-shattering secrets hidden within the Western Stream at this very moment, right here in this grand hall!

Emperor Jianhong's expression froze for a moment.

Then, in an instant, she was stunned, then shocked, and finally angry.

He narrowed his eyes, his face cold, and stared directly at Zeng Anmin:
"Zeng Anmin, what do you mean by that?!"

Seeing this change in his expression.

Zeng Anmin instantly understood.

Emperor Jianhong was indeed in the know!

That dog emperor!!

Damn it!!
"Your Majesty." Zeng Anmin took a deep breath:

"At the Xiliu Ganges ferry crossing, the second-rank patriarch, along with Shen Qiu, a second-rank array master from the Xuanzhen Division, killed all the officials transporting grain."

"And Dongfang Sheng and Sun Chuanfang didn't die on the Ganges, but at the Ganges Ferry!!"

"The severe drought in Xiliu, the earth-shaking disaster in Xiliu, and the millions of disaster victims in Xiliu are all due to these two people!"

"We implore Your Majesty to make the right decision!!!"

His voice was hoarse.

The officials in the entire hall were all stunned.

Everyone stared blankly at Zeng Anmin.

Only Sima Nan, his face flushed, clenched his fists, and looked at him with adoration!

(End of this chapter)