A son who doesn't resemble his father? Love you, old man, see you at Xuanwu Gate!

Chapter 184 Legal Decree
In the Xuanshi Palace.

The aroma of wine, meat, vegetables, and fruits fills the air.

All the princes, dukes, marquises, and members of the imperial clan were in the hall, and perhaps because they had gotten up early, they all seemed to have poor appetites.

The great victories in Hexi and Daidi have overwhelmed everyone's senses. What a dramatic reversal of fortune!
Despite the unprecedented good fortune of being born in the Han Dynasty, many princes and nobles could not be happy; their forced smiles were more like cries.

If I had to describe it, everyone felt like they were sitting on pins and needles, like they had a thorn in their back, like they had a fishbone stuck in their throat. They couldn't even swallow food, let alone have any saliva left in their mouths.

As General Li Ju was brought into the main hall, Liu Ju was on his throne chewing on a flatbread made from the new wheat harvested in Guanzhong this year. The crust was slightly charred and crispy, while the inside was dry, delicate, and fragrant.

"Gongsun Hong."

"Your subject is here," Gongsun Hong replied.

"They're here for you; you're here to preside over the court meeting."

"This……"

"Ok?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Gongsun Hong received the decree, turned his back to the throne and looked at the princes and dukes, and said in a deep voice, "Let's discuss the matter."

As always, Imperial Censor Zhang Tang responded, "General Qiangnu has stirred up public opinion, interfered with court affairs, stationed troops in the capital, and plotted a rebellion. I request that General Qiangnu be stripped of his post!"

The princes were all taken aback.

It wasn't that I was surprised by Zhang Tang's actions, but rather by the weakness of his attack.

Is there something to be hesitant about?
"Do any of you princes and nobles have any objections?"

Gongsun Hong's old eyes swept over the princes and dukes, and seeing that no one responded, he stepped aside and left his seat.

"As requested by the Imperial Censor!"

The decree was issued.

Li Ju, kneeling in the center of the hall, paused for a moment, as if he had thought of something. His despair was replaced by a glimmer of hope. He took off his helmet, and Jiang Bo walked over and pulled off the blue ribbon inside.

Li Ju's official rank and title were thus revoked.

Gongsun Hong looked at the former official under the Prime Minister's office and said, "Minister of Justice."

"Your humble servant is here." Bian Tong stepped forward.

"What should be the punishment for commoners committing rebellion?"

"Behead them, exterminate their entire clan!"

Without hesitation, Bian Tong answered, and before Gongsun Hong could request permission, the imperial order was issued again: "Dispose of him according to the law!"

The prince was dumbfounded.

Is this some kind of relay?

When the palace guards entered the hall, Zhong Dafu Er Kuan hurriedly stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, I beg you to reconsider."

"How should I reconsider?" Liu Ju asked indifferently, savoring the sweetness of the new wheat. "Your Majesty," Er Kuan replied respectfully, "Li Ju is related to many of our civil and military officials. To say nothing of others, General Li Guang, who led the eastern expedition against the Xiongnu, and his deputy Li Gan are both close relatives of Li Ju. If his entire clan is executed for treason, Li Ju, his sons, and their families will all be among them. I fear there may be unrest at the front."

According to the laws of the Han Dynasty, everyone in the Li family had the right to kill them. However, the actual situation must also be considered. If Li Guang and Li Gan were leading troops abroad, and their families were executed, including their parents, wives, and children, they would also be among those to be executed. It was very likely that they would not return to the country to face death, but would instead lead their troops to abandon the country.

Many princes and nobles nodded in agreement.

The words of the senior official were wise and experienced in governing the country.

Seeing this, Er Kuan continued, "In this eastern expedition, General Li Gan made great contributions. Although the General of the Valiant Cavalry did not appear, he greatly intimidated the left wing of the Xiongnu, rendering their Left Wise King unable to act. The Marquis of Champion's achievements in Hexi, the General's achievements in Dai, and the contributions of Li Guang and his son Li Gan also contributed to the court. However, due to a moment of confusion by his clansmen, they committed a heinous crime, leading to their implication and execution. Their merits and demerits cannot offset each other. I believe..."

"Zhong Dafu".

Liu Ju interrupted his absurd ramblings, "Explain to me, where is the merit of the Li family father and son in the conquest of Hexi and the conquest of Dai?"

Erkuan paused, then said, "Your Majesty, if the Li family father and son had not restrained the left wing of the Xiongnu, the Xiongnu Chanyu's main force might have provided support to the right wing, attacking from both sides. The Marquis of Champion would have suffered heavy losses."

"If the Li family (father and son) had not been able to contain the Xiongnu's left flank, the main forces of the Xiongnu Chanyu and the Left Wise King could have marched to Dai and broken through the trap set by the Grand General and General Cheng, causing Dai to fall into enemy hands. Our Han Dynasty would then be in grave danger."

"Is it possible that, even without opening the eastern front, the Xiongnu Chanyu's main force supporting the right flank would have been routed by the Champion Marquis?"

Liu Ju looked at him indifferently and said, "Is it possible that if Li Gan had not achieved his merits, and if there had been no so-called deterrence from Li Guang, the main force of the Xiongnu Left Wise King and the main force of the Chanyu would have marched south together and been completely annihilated in the Dai region by the Great General? At that time, the Xiongnu would have lost the Chanyu, the Left Wise King, and the Right Wise King, and the pack of wolves would be leaderless. If our Great Han Dynasty sent another army, we could end the Xiongnu clan?"

Er Kuan paused for a moment, then said, “What Your Majesty says is absolutely right. However, it is a virtue of a military strategist to declare defeat before the battle even begins. Without Li Guang and his son Li Gan, the outcome would have been uncertain. But with Li Guang and his son Li Gan, our Han Dynasty has won every battle.”

In any situation, things could turn out either way. The reality is that the existence of Li Guang and Li Gan influenced the Xiongnu's decision-making. With the Li family father and son in place, the generals and guards won easily.

"According to the Grand Master of the Palace, are the merits of Li Guang and Li Gan superior to those of the General of the Army and the General of the Guards?"

"I have no such intention. All great victories are due to the bravery of the soldiers. The soldiers under the General and the General of the Guards are the ones who have achieved victory. Battle merits are earned through fighting, not by stealing."

Er Kuan shook his head repeatedly, but said, "However, the two battles fought by the General and the General of the Guards to defeat the Xiongnu tribe, avenge Emperor Gao's humiliation at Pingcheng, wipe away the shame, and enhance our national prestige are not solely due to the General and the General of the Guards. It is also due to Your Majesty's more than ten years of continuous battles against the Xiongnu, your discerning eye, the countless bloodshed of our Han soldiers who were fearless in the face of death, the concerted efforts of many princes and dukes of our court, and the united efforts of the millions of people of our Han Dynasty. In my opinion, it is the achievement of all the subjects of the world."

The century-long feud between the Han and the Xiongnu was wiped away in a single day.

It is Your Majesty's merit, the soldiers' merit, the princes' merit, and the common people's merit. Then, is there any merit from the Grand General and the General of the Guards?

Even if it were a feat that would last for ten thousand generations, it would have been divided among the tens of millions of emperors, ministers, and common people of the Han Dynasty.

The achievements of Hexi and Daidi are not the work of one or a few people, but the achievement of everyone.

Among them were Li Guang and his son Li Gan.

Great merit in court should not discourage meritorious generals.

Gongsun Hong and Zhang Tang, taking this rare Confucian official in the court seriously, used the virtues of ruler and subject to the people to erase the immortal military achievements of the Grand General and the General of the Guards, as well as the supreme martial prowess and virtue of the emperor, with a single sentence.

With such a great achievement for all ages, no subject would want to miss out on a share of the spoils. Er Kuan transformed the martial prowess of the Emperor, the General, and the Guardian into benefits, intending to distribute them to everyone. By binding everyone together with these benefits, he created a powerful force that would compel the Emperor to submit.

This is a tactic used by the strategists, but the Confucians employ it with ease.

Everything he says is "correct," and he doesn't even bother to refute it, otherwise he would offend everyone.

As a disciple of the great Confucian scholar Ouyang Sheng and Kong Anguo, the eleventh-generation descendant of Confucius, he stood up to save the day when countless others were on the verge of collapse.

Er Kuan stood with a smile and bowed. Confucianism is not limited to Gongyang and Guliang schools, but what the Supreme Lord wants to destroy is the entire Confucian school. He worships the Supreme Lord in the name of the Sage Teacher and orders all Confucian scholars to "redeem the Supreme Lord"!
(End of this chapter)