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

Chapter 23
Outside Chengming Hall, dark clouds rolled and thunder rumbled. The already solemn hall suddenly became suffocatingly somber after His Majesty forcefully implemented the salt and iron monopoly policy.

As newly appointed Grand Minister of Agriculture, Dongguo Xianyang and Kong Jin were quite relaxed, standing at the end of the left-hand court row.

However, officials from both dynasties felt an indescribable discomfort, and several officials from both sides even vomited.

Merchants who became officials, and even more unprecedentedly, served as central government officials, felt it was dirty.

Dongguo Xianyang and Kong Jin secretly noted down the names of these "colleagues".

With things having come to this point, being delirious wouldn't save them from death. Some high-ranking officials, marquises, and members of the imperial family who profited from salt and iron began to devise ways to deal with the situation. There were government orders from above and countermeasures from below, and that was all there was to it.

Having proven his prestige and amassed a fortune in salt and iron profits, Liu Che was clearly in high spirits and sat down on the throne.

However, the Han Dynasty court was never a one-man show for the emperor. Emperor Gaozu was not, Emperor Hui was not, Emperor Wen was not, Emperor Jing was not, and Emperor Che was certainly not.

Gongsun Hong, who had originally intended to cause trouble for Liu Che, glanced discreetly at the court officials on the right after the emperor finished his domineering performance.

Zhang Tang seemed to have mustered his courage, walked into the center of the hall, bowed respectfully, and said, "Your Majesty, I have a report to make."

Liu Che answered calmly, "Speak."

"Your Majesty, I have learned that the Grand Master Zhuang Zhu has been in contact with the rebel king Liu An."

As the small stone fell into the secluded spring, everyone perked up and looked in unison at the old prime minister who was dozing off on the embroidered stool.

Three years have passed. Gongsun Hong has been in the position of Prime Minister for three years. In these three years, Your Majesty has had everything go smoothly. Whatever Your Majesty wants to do, you can do and accomplish. Whatever Your Majesty does not want to do, you cannot do and cannot accomplish. "The change in the court and the establishment of the Central Court" was something Your Majesty wanted to do, but the Prime Minister watched as it happened.

Throughout the court and among the common people, the name "Clay-Sculpted Prime Minister" spread like wildfire.

There was a conflict between Your Majesty and the Prime Minister a few months ago. Rumors circulated that the Crown Prince's Palace Ministers were without a Prime Minister, and the Prime Minister was asked to resign in protest. As a result, Marquis Wuqiang Zhuang Qingzhai suffered a stroke and the youngest son of Lord Wanshi, Shi Qing, hanged himself. Rumors then circulated in the palace that the Crown Prince's Palace Ministers were still undecided. Your Majesty rejected the Prime Minister's resignation and the matter was resolved.

Only then did the court officials realize the strength of the prime minister, who was old and held a high position.

An eighty-year-old man, still the Chancellor of the Han Dynasty, could be so enraged that even the Emperor would have to consider whether he could withstand it.

At this moment, the Han Dynasty's prime minister, whose lifespan was nearing its end, led his most favored soldiers... and his disciple, and launched a fierce attack on His Majesty.

"Having dealings with rebel kings is not a crime, and I cannot kill them all," Liu Che said without batting an eye.

The officials and nobles all turned their heads in disapproval.

In order to completely dismantle the states of Huainan and Hengshan, His Majesty ordered that all accusations and entanglements be permitted. The royal families of the two states were directly wiped out, and tens of thousands of marquises, officials of two thousand piculs of grain, local heroes and their families were implicated. Among them, many were killed by the wind. Now, to say that associating with the rebel king is not a crime, is it not a loss of conscience?
“Your Majesty is unaware that, according to evidence obtained by Commandant Sima An from the Prince of Huainan’s residence, every time you issue a new decree, Zhuang Zhu always provides these top-secret documents to Liu An beforehand. Liu An then immediately gathers his men to devise countermeasures. Once the decree is issued, Liu An either outwardly complies but inwardly defies it, or he profits from it. Zhuang Zhu also gets a share of the spoils. For over a decade, before your wisdom has even had a chance to benefit the people of the Huainan kingdoms, Zhuang Zhu and Liu An have already made a fortune.” Zhang Tang presented the evidence of Zhuang Zhu’s crimes and distributed it to the dukes, marquises, and members of the imperial clan.

The evidence was so detailed and the logic so perfect that everyone, disregarding the impoliteness of being before the Emperor, exclaimed in admiration. Whenever this happened, Zhang Tang felt as if his very bones were melting.

The Zhang family was a family of criminal law practitioners. Zhang Tang's father was once the county magistrate in charge of justice in Chang'an County. One day when he was young, Zhang's father went out and left Zhang Tang to look after the house. When Zhang's father returned, he found that the meat he had bought had been stolen by rats, so he gave Zhang Tang a severe beating.

Zhang Tang was very angry, so he searched for the rat hole in the house and found the rat that stole the meat and the stolen meat.

"The rat was caught red-handed." Zhang Tang actually imitated his father, sitting in the middle of the main room, starting by torturing and interrogating the rat, recording the interrogation process, announcing the verdict, and finally concluding the case in court, dismembering and killing the rat. The whole procedure was carried out step by step, just like a seasoned clerk. I was greatly shocked and praised him highly.

The recognition and praise from adults leave a deep impression on teenagers and even children, making them cherish and pursue it throughout their lives.

Although his father had passed away many years ago, Zhang Tang's perfect convictions in every case during his official career still made him feel incredibly proud.

The process is clear: when Zhuang Zhu was delivering the imperial edict to Huainan, he established a friendship with the rebel king. After returning to Chang'an, he maintained top-secret correspondence with Liu Ling, the daughter of Liu An and also the Princess of the Great Han Dynasty, and gained numerous benefits.

Liu Ling's "hospitality" was well-known among the powerful and influential people of Chang'an, and Zhuang Zhu was one of them.

Some officials felt something was amiss. Zhuang Zhu's frugality was well-known throughout the court. If it was really as the document stated, then where did the money that Liu An and Liu Ling gave to Zhuang Zhu go?
Liu Che looked at Zhuang Zhu with a cold gaze that chilled people to the bone. There were some things he couldn't understand. Why was it that Huainan Kingdom always responded so well to the imperial decrees? Even in some economic reforms, Huainan Kingdom could anticipate them in advance and frantically hoard goods, as if someone had told the King of Huainan his ideas.

It turns out that a trusted advisor had leaked the information.

Zhuang Zhu didn't explain, but sighed softly. He had sent all that money back to his hometown.

Zhuang Fuji was once a literary attendant of King Liu Bi of Wu. He was famous for his literary skills. When Liu Bi plotted a rebellion, Zhuang Fuji advised him against it but was not heeded. He then left the state of Wu and later joined the service of King Xiao of Liang, Liu Wu. He was treated very well by King Xiao of Liang. After King Xiao of Liang died, the state of Liang was divided into five, and many of the literary attendants were taken in by Zhuang Fuji as his retainers.

It's important to understand that maintaining a group of scholars and retainers is no simple matter. It involves all sorts of refined social activities and the expenses are greater than maintaining an army. The extent of Zhuang family's wealth can be seen from the fact that Liu Ju maintained a personal guard.

This is where the money goes.

But for his father's sake, Zhuang Zhu felt it was worthwhile. Today's calamity was foreseeable. Zhuang Zhu had no regrets or resentment, only the willingness to accept defeat. He calmly stepped out of the court and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, I confess my guilt!"

"Throw him into the Court of Justice prison and behead him as a warning to the public!" Emperor Wu of Han was furious and issued the decree.

Betrayed by someone you've known for over a decade, no one can quell their anger. Furthermore, Zhuang Zhu is a trusted minister of the emperor, frequenting the palace, yet he secretly associates with princes. If such a person isn't executed, it will be impossible to control if everyone does the same.

Let us drink from this golden cup, for even the sharpest blade will not spare us!
Zhuang Zhu was escorted out of the main hall by the palace guards.

The second-in-command of the Central Court was gone just like that. The dukes, marquises, and members of the imperial family were not pitied at all; they were all killed quickly and decisively.

Soon, including Liu Che, they felt a chill spreading through the hall.

Zhang Tang did not back down!
(End of this chapter)