The emperor would rather have a

Chapter 224 Impeachment at the Court Assembly
After a night, the light drizzle finally stopped.

The sky was still dark, the last stars had not yet faded, and the air was filled with the cool, damp scent of rain.

Li Yi had already gotten up early, quickly washed up, ate a few simple meals, and then left the mansion with his entourage.

The streets were puddled with water after the rain, and the horses' hooves made a crisp clattering sound as they trod across them.

Today is the last court session before the emperor personally leads the expedition, and it is also the grand court session held in advance. Many important matters and edicts will be finalized.

As is customary, all officials serving in the capital must attend the grand court assembly on the first and fifteenth days of each lunar month.

Regardless of whether they were civil or military officials, all were required to arrive at the palace gates before 3:45 AM. Once the time arrived, they would enter the palace in order through the left and right side gates, and finally be guided into the court by the Imperial Censor.

However, unlike usual court sessions, today Li Yi's entourage included a man named Zuo Congqin dressed in a Taoist robe.

The reason for this was that Li Yi planned to present the emperor with the cement preparation techniques, alcohol distillation equipment, and construction specifications of Longjin Street in the last few days before leaving the capital.

This was also the intention behind Li Yi's special visit to Zuo Congtan last night—he wanted to attribute these remarkable "miraculous methods" to this recluse.

"Master, are you upset that I disturbed your peaceful slumber?"

Li Yi rode alongside Zuo Congtan. Seeing the helplessness in Zuo Congtan's eyes, Li Yi chuckled inwardly, but maintained a warm and friendly demeanor on the surface.

Zuo Congtan sighed and said with a wry smile, "General, what you discussed last night... I am not one to offer up treasures and seek credit, nor do I have any interest in high office. You can offer up such merit yourself, General. Why drag me into this mess?"

Li Yi sensed the resistance in his words, but his smile deepened: "Daoist, you are mistaken. This is a great achievement, a good deed that benefits the country and its people. How can you call it muddy water?"

“Cement is strong enough to build cities and roads, benefiting generations to come. Alcohol purification can save the lives of wounded soldiers, a merit beyond measure. The Longjin Street Market plan is a model for urban transformation, benefiting both the people and businesses. Today, I offer this not only for the country, but also for the millions of ordinary people. Daoist Master, please do not refuse.”

Upon hearing this, Zuo Congtan shook his head and remained silent for a moment before saying, "General, General, your verbal skills are truly no less than those on the battlefield... Enough! I'm already on your side. Even if not for myself, I have to think of Ling'er. Can I really jump off?"

After saying that, he looked up at the towering palace walls, their outlines growing ever more somber before dawn, and sighed resignedly.

"Alas! This is exactly what it means to be forced into a situation! I only hope that the emperor will not ask too many questions. I just want to live a quiet and secluded life and do not want to get involved in any trouble. As for this credit... if the general says it is mine, then so be it."

The crisp sound of horses' hooves echoed as the group traversed the empty streets, heading towards the imperial city, where the lights were gradually illuminating and the palace gates were about to open.

……

Inside the Chongyuan Hall, the golden bells and jade chimes resonated with lingering sounds.

The emperor, with his crown and robes hanging low, sat high on his throne, receiving the thunderous congratulations from his civil and military officials.

After the Imperial Censor in the palace announced the start of the ceremony and the officials stood in order, the emperor did not waste any words and directly gestured for his attendant to step forward.

The attending imperial scribe unfolded a pre-prepared sheet of bright yellow silk and read aloud: "Imperial Edict: I will personally lead the royal army to conquer Huainan and pacify the southern border. The capital city is the foundation of the nation and cannot be without a high-ranking official in charge for even a day. Therefore, I hereby decree:"
Xiang Xun, the Commissioner of the Southern Court of Xuanhui, was appointed as the Chief Garrison Commander of Tokyo, in charge of all affairs in the capital region and overseeing the transport of grain and provisions; Wang Pu, the Deputy Commissioner of the Privy Council, was appointed as the Deputy Garrison Commander, assisting in military and political affairs and advising on matters concerning the garrison; Chai Gui, the Commissioner of the Imperial City, was appointed as the Inspector General of the Capital, responsible for investigating illegal activities, apprehending injustices, and ensuring the safety of the capital.

The duties of inspecting, training, and defending the city's guards and the troops stationed at the Palace Guards will not be separately assigned. All responsibilities will be overseen by Zhang Mei, who will temporarily hold the position of Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Palace and concurrently serve as the Grand Inspector of the Inner Palace, thus ensuring the safety of Tokyo under a single authority.

"Han Tong, Commander of the Imperial Guards, is hereby ordered to lead 5,000 elite cavalry and infantry troops north immediately to garrison Yedu. He shall also concurrently serve as the Commander of the Northern Frontier of Yedu, overseeing the military defenses of Yedu and the surrounding prefectures of Bo, Bei, Wei, Chan, and more than ten other prefectures. You must ensure that military preparedness is strengthened, passes are strictly guarded, and enemy movements are monitored. If the Khitans or the pseudo-Han invade the border, you are permitted to act as you see fit, but you must ensure the safety of the borders and the people, and there must be no mistakes!"

All of the above arrangements were reasonable, and the appointments were appropriate, so the officials naturally had no objections.

However, when the edict was read to Li Yi, it was somewhat unexpected.

"I hereby appoint Li Yi, the Commander of the Palace Cavalry, as the Commander of the Imperial Guard's Cavalry and Infantry, in charge of all matters concerning the Imperial Guard's garrison, deployment, and security. All generals accompanying the expedition shall be subject to your command in all matters concerning the movement and protection of the expeditionary force. I expect you to be diligent day and night, and to devote your utmost loyalty and wisdom to ensure the safety of the Emperor and the well-being of the royal army."

Many ministers subconsciously raised their heads, their gazes falling on the tall figure in the procession, their eyes flashing with surprise, doubt, and deep thought.

After all, since the emperor ascended the throne, he has personally led two military campaigns, and no one has ever served as the commander-in-chief of the accompanying armies.

In the past, when the emperor personally led expeditions, he was the supreme commander and directly issued orders to the various units of the central army, thus eliminating the need for relaying imperial edicts.

Now, the emperor has forcibly inserted a temporary post with the title of "commander of the army and troops"... Isn't this just pointless?

Despite their astonishment, none of the courtiers dared to voice their doubts.

Because among the officials, both high and low, who attend court assemblies, those truly qualified to participate in core decision-making can be counted on one hand.

Several key central officials, such as Fan Zhi, Wang Pu, and Wei Renpu, all remained calm at this moment, clearly already aware of the situation and having not objected.

Even they are not speaking, so how can others possibly offer their opinions?

Furthermore, Li Yi was the emperor's brother-in-law, a genuine member of the imperial family.

The emperor trusted his brother-in-law and entrusted him with the important tasks of escorting him and overseeing the military command of the army, which is perfectly understandable from a personal perspective.

Why should outsiders interfere? Wouldn't they just be asking for trouble?

More importantly, the emperor's brother-in-law was indeed no mediocre person.

He distinguished himself in the Battle of Gaoping, then defeated the Liao army in the Battle of Xinkou, and was ordered to reorganize the Imperial Guard and recover the four prefectures of Longyou... His abilities are evident to all.

In this way, although the emperor's appointment of Li Yi may have been seen as nepotism in private, it was still a meritocratic act in public!
Whether from a public or private perspective, the emperor's actions were justifiable.

"Your subject Li Yi kowtows to thank Your Majesty for your divine grace!" Li Yi stepped out of the ranks of military officials, walked to the foot of the imperial steps, and prostrated himself on the ground as if pushing down a mountain of gold and a jade pillar.

Chai Rong nodded slightly, and after urging Li Yi to rise, he said in a gentle voice, "I am well aware of your loyalty, courage, and talent. I entrust this extraordinary task to you, and I hope you will not fail my expectations."

"Your subject will surely give his life to repay Your Majesty's grace!" Li Yi bowed again before returning to his place in the ranks.

After the appointments and edicts concerning the southern expedition and matters in the capital were read out, the solemn atmosphere in the hall dissipated somewhat, and the court assembly entered the routine reporting session.

As for matters that were not his concern, Li Yi naturally adhered to the duties of a military general. He kept his eyes downcast and his gaze introspective, standing solemnly among the ranks of military officials, seemingly oblivious to the discussions around him.

However, just as the court session was about to end, an unexpected incident occurred—more than a dozen ministers, led by Zhang Zhao, the Minister of War and Duke of Wuyuan, jointly impeached Zhao Shouwei, the Right Remonstrance Official.

Seeing such a grand impeachment process, even Li Yi couldn't help but feel a little curious.

He remained standing still, but his eyes darted around out of the corner of his eye, and his ears were perked up, ready to watch the "show" closely, just for fun.

"...Your Majesty, we hereby impeach Zhao Shouwei, the Right Remonstrator, for disregarding human relations, neglecting personal morality, and making presumptuous remarks about state affairs. His conduct is perverse and he is unfit to serve Your Majesty!" As the impeachment articles were read aloud one by one, coupled with the hushed discussions among the officials, Li Yi finally understood some of the ins and outs.

It turns out that this Right Remonstrance Official, Zhao Shouwei, was neither someone who studied diligently for years and passed the imperial examinations, nor was he a noble son who benefited from the merits and favors of his father and grandfather... He actually obtained his official position by 'asking' for it himself!
It is said that this person was originally an unknown villager in the countryside, who somehow learned some rudimentary literary classics.

Just last year, he walked to Bianliang (Kaifeng) in Tokyo as a commoner, emulating the ancients by "submitting a memorial to the emperor" to offer advice and suggestions.

Just then, the emperor was eager to find talented people and opened up channels for advice. After reading the memorial, he felt that although the words were rough, they had some unique insights, especially in certain matters concerning people's livelihood, which were quite incisive about the current problems.

Perhaps moved by the insights of these "grassroots" people, and coupled with the emperor's unconventional approach to personnel selection, he directly issued an edict to promote Zhao Shouwei from a commoner to the rank of Right Remonstrator, a position of the eighth rank!
Although this position is not of high rank, it belongs to the category of remonstrance officials in the Secretariat, and is responsible for offering advice and suggestions, as well as recommending talented individuals. It is a prestigious and important position.

However, after Zhao Shouwei obtained the official position, instead of being cautious in his words and deeds and diligent in serving the king to repay the emperor's favor, he made an even bigger joke and scandal.

The incident began a few days ago when Zhao Shouwei's wife, Wang, who lived far away in the countryside, traveled all the way to the capital to tearfully accuse her husband, Zhao Shouwei, of divorcing her without any reason.

He further stated that he intended to marry a "good match" in the bustling city of Tokyo!
The laws of the Later Zhou Dynasty followed the Tang system and had extremely strict regulations on "divorce," requiring that the divorce meet the "seven grounds for divorce" and be subject to the "three grounds for not divorcing."

A husband may never unilaterally divorce his wife without sufficient reason and official permission.

Regardless of whether his wife was at fault, Zhao Shouwei's actions have seriously violated laws, regulations, and ethical norms.

His behavior inevitably gives people the impression that he is arrogant after gaining power, abandons his wife and children, and is obsessed with vanity and extravagance.

A self-made man who obtained his official position by submitting a memorial to the emperor, committing such an immoral and unrighteous act as soon as he entered the court, is this not the greatest farce in the world?

In addition, reliable sources have reported that Zhao Shouwei made outrageous remarks in private, criticizing the emperor's southern expedition.

He said, "The southern campaign is a drain on the people and resources. It would be better to invest these funds in the people's livelihood, emulating the reigns of Emperors Wen and Jing in the early Han Dynasty, allowing the people to rest and recuperate. We should not hastily start wars and exhaust our resources, lest we repeat the mistakes of the previous dynasty..."

Upon hearing this charge, the atmosphere in the entire hall became even more solemn.

The emperor's determination to launch a southern expedition is as firm as a rock, and this is known both inside and outside the court; it is one of the core national policies at present.

The army is being mobilized, and provisions are being transported; the emperor will soon personally lead the expedition.

At this critical moment, how dare a mere Right Remonstrance Official spread such alarmist rumors behind my back... Isn't he courting death?!
"Zhao Shouwei?" Li Yi quickly searched his memory and had a vague impression of this person.

He remembered that when he was looking through historical materials from the Five Dynasties period in his previous life, the documents seemed to mention this person a few times, but the records of his life and deeds were only briefly mentioned and not detailed. His specific deeds were just mentioned in passing.

At that time, as a mere bystander, he focused his attention on the momentous events and did not pay special attention to these insignificant figures hidden in the folds of history, nor did he bother to investigate or delve into their backgrounds.

However, at this moment, the vague records in the history books of the past are probably referring to the impeachment that is happening right now.

“I know I’m guilty, I know I’m guilty…” Zhao Shouwei had already stepped forward and knelt on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly to beg for forgiveness and mercy.

Li Yi's gaze swept across his face, and he immediately felt that this person's appearance... well, it wouldn't be considered ugly, at most he was just plain and unadorned.

Wearing a blue official robe, he showed no air of authority befitting an important official. Instead, his rough, sun-tanned skin made him look more like a constable serving as a laborer in the county government.

Li Yi shook his head slightly, inwardly scoffing: How could a mere Tom, Dick, or Harry who has read a few books possibly navigate the officialdom of governing the country?
Zhao Shouwei really brought this upon himself!

The emperor's extraordinary promotion of him from humble beginnings was an immense stroke of good fortune. Yet, he failed to cherish it, forgetting his roots and abandoning his wife who had shared his hardships, thus bringing shame upon the emperor.

Even more foolish was his audacity in criticizing national policies; one could almost foresee the fate of this "unorthodox sage."

As expected, on the throne, the emperor's originally calm and composed face gradually became covered with a layer of frost as the impeachment document was read aloud.

Zhang Zhao bowed and said, "Your Majesty has the heart to select the extraordinary and the talented. From commoners who submit memorials to the emperor to those who speak out, you do not select them based on their rank or origin. This is the magnanimity of a wise ruler."

"In the early Tang Dynasty, Liu Ji and Ma Zhou started from humble beginnings and were promoted to prime minister by Emperor Taizong. Later, Zhu Pu and Liu Can were in lower-ranking positions, but Emperor Zhaozong also gave them important positions. However, the country prospered when Emperor Taizong used them, but it perished when Emperor Zhaozong used them. Such is how difficult it is to understand scholars."

"Your Majesty, I dare to suggest that you preserve the old laws and appoint people accordingly, taking Liu and Ma as examples and Zhu and Liu as warnings. That would be a good idea."

These words carried a strong sense of direct remonstrance, subtly advising the emperor to be cautious in appointing officials.

Zhang Zhao was over sixty years old and had lived through the five dynasties of Liang, Tang, Jin, Han, and Zhou. He was a highly respected veteran official, and his seniority was not much less than that of Feng Dao. It was reasonable for him to say these things.

Moreover, his wording was extremely subtle, subtly praising the emperor in his words and actions.

Unlike when Feng Dao advised Chai Rong against taking the risk of a personal campaign, he directly used the phrases "Your Majesty should not follow the example of Emperor Taizong" and "Your Majesty is not yet Mount Tai," which almost embarrassed the newly enthroned emperor.

“Your words are reasonable. Although Zhao Shouwei is guilty, I have also failed to observe him properly.” Chai Rong nodded slightly.

These words not only responded to Zhang Zhao's advice but also demonstrated his magnanimity—showing that the emperor listened and was willing to admit his mistakes in personnel selection.

After speaking, Chai Rong's gaze finally fell on Zhao Shouwei, who was trembling like a leaf and pale as a ghost, below the steps.

He did not immediately lash out. After a brief and suffocating silence, he finally spoke: "Zhao Shouwei, the Right Remonstrator, is morally corrupt and presumptuously criticizes state affairs. His actions are despicable, and his intentions are worthy of condemnation!"

"Remove him from his post as Right Remonstrator, strip him of his official rank, reduce him to a commoner! He shall also be given one hundred strokes of the cane and be exiled to Shamen Island immediately, never to return!"

The emperor's voice was not loud, but it was like the clash of metal, carrying a chilling coldness.

It was already a great mercy that Zhao Shouwei was not sentenced to death on the spot, but after being beaten with a hundred lashes, it was uncertain whether he would be able to make it to Shamen Island alive!
Once the imperial decree has been issued, there is no room for doubt.

The guards waiting outside the hall responded and entered. Two burly men stepped forward and, without saying a word, grabbed Zhao Shouwei, who was already paralyzed with fear on the ground and unable to even beg for mercy.

The guards' hands were like iron clamps, dragging him mercilessly from the hall as if he were a bag of useless garbage.

Zhang Zhao and other ministers who impeached him silently returned to their posts.

But their faces showed no joy, only solemnity. Zhao Shouwei's fate serves as a warning to all those who suddenly rise to high positions and become arrogant and complacent.

Li Yi stood solemnly in the class, his expression calm and composed, but deep down, his heart was also in turmoil.

In this imperial court, one step is heaven, one step is hell... The emperor's heart is unfathomable, and one must walk on thin ice!

(End of this chapter)