Take control of Wei Zhongxian at the start and confiscate 100 million from him!

Chapter 62 Facts don't lie, and evidence doesn't change color.

Qian Qianyi remained kneeling on the ground, his hands gripping the imperial tablet tightly, his knuckles completely white and veins bulging. He could feel the theoretical system he had just meticulously constructed peeling away and collapsing layer by layer in the face of the emperor's rage.

Because Zhu Youjian struck the most vital spot—

They are indeed using the rules of their ancestors to do things that contradict their original intentions.

This accusation is almost impossible to refute.

The other ministers kneeling on the ground also fell into a deep silence.

The impassioned plea that was so grand just moments ago now sounds so hypocritical and pale.

Most of them knew perfectly well that the emperor was right; they had indeed exploited loopholes in the system and turned sacred laws into their own protective shield.

But to admit this is tantamount to admitting that all their eloquent speeches were merely defenses of their own vested interests.

This realization instilled in them a deep sense of shame and fear.

Zhu Youjian watched all this quietly, without any joy of victory in his eyes.

Although the outburst of anger just now overwhelmed the opponent in terms of momentum, it was not enough to completely end the battle. An old fox like Qian Qianyi would soon reorganize a counterattack.

Moreover, verbal arguments alone can never completely solve the problem.

Because in the world of language, black can be described as white, and white can be described as black. Anything can be interpreted from different angles and packaged with different theoretical frameworks.

But the truth doesn't lie.

Evidence will not change color!

Zhu Youjian stood at the top of the nine steps, looking down at the kneeling officials below.

This position gave him a commanding perspective and an unprecedented sense of authority.

He raised his right hand and gestured towards the outside of the hall.

Wang Chengen immediately understood.

"pass--"

Wang Chengen's sharp voice ripped through the misty atmosphere of the hall like a bolt of lightning.

"Bring the eight prisoners, including Zhou Yanru and Feng Quan, as well as Shanxi merchants Fan Yongdou and Wang Dengku, into the palace!"

The shout was like a thunderclap, instantly shattering the suffocating atmosphere.

Everyone was stunned.

Zhou Yanru and Feng Quan?

Who else?
Shanxi merchants?

The suspect, no, the merchant who was not tried by the three judicial departments, was directly escorted to the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
This is an unprecedented act!
This is a complete subversion of the rules of the court assembly!

In the history of the Ming Dynasty, how sacred was the Hall of Supreme Harmony?

The sacred site where the emperor and his ministers discussed state affairs was the center of the entire empire's political power.

Apart from the emperor himself and strictly selected court officials, no one else was allowed to set foot here.

Even the most important criminal cases would only be tried in the courts of the Three Judicial Offices, and the results would then be reported to the emperor.

There has never been a precedent of bringing unconvicted criminals directly to the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

This is not only a violation of procedure, but also a challenge to the dignity of the entire imperial court.

Qian Qianyi suddenly raised his head and stared intently at Zhu Youjian, his eyes filled with shock, anger, and a deep sense of fear.

The emperor is about to completely break off all pretense of civility.

He was no longer prepared to engage in any polite debate with anyone; instead, he wanted to end the fight in a brutal and savage manner.

"His Majesty!"

Qian Qianyi's voice trembled slightly, but he still tried to maintain his last shred of dignity.

"The Hall of Supreme Harmony is a sacred site of the nation; how can an imperial prisoner be allowed to trespass upon it? This act violates ancestral rules and damages the dignity of the nation!"

Zhu Youjian didn't even look at him, but coldly said:

"Minister Qian, didn't you just say that I have violated the ancestral laws? Well then, today I will show you who is truly violating them!"

At that moment, a chaotic commotion arose outside the hall. The sounds of people in shackles dragging along, filled with despair and fear.

The iron chains dragged on the stone floor, making a harsh scraping sound, each sound like a knife scraping against everyone's heart.

All eyes were fixed on the entrance to the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

Behind the tall, vermilion door frame, some shadowy figures could be vaguely seen, and as the footsteps drew closer, the figures became clearer and clearer.

The first to appear was a troop of Imperial Guards.

They were dressed in bright armor, marched in orderly formation, and looked imposing, but what was even more striking were the men they were holding captive in the middle.

Ten people were dressed in prison uniforms, their hands were tied behind their backs, and their feet were shackled with heavy chains.

Zhou Yanru and Feng Quan were practically dragged in by the Imperial Guards. The other eight men were also disheveled, pale-faced, and filled with fear and despair in their eyes. Several of them had obvious wounds on their bodies.

Even so, their appearance and demeanor still reveal that these people were once wealthy merchants who wielded great influence in the business world.

The man in the lead was about fifty years old. Although he was in a sorry state, his former wealth and prestige were still evident. He was Fan Yongdou, the richest merchant in Shanxi.

Following closely behind him were all household names in the business world, each representing enormous wealth and a vast business network.

But now they are all prisoners.

The Imperial Guards escorted the ten men to the center of the main hall. Zhou Yanru and Feng Quan collapsed, trembling. Fan Yongdou and the others gasped at the sight before them.

All the civil and military officials knelt on the ground, while the emperor stood on a high platform. The whole scene was solemn, dignified, and extremely majestic.

"Kneel down!"

The leading Imperial Guard general shouted sternly.

Fan Yongdou and the others trembled and knelt down, the shackles striking the ground with a crisp sound.

Zhu Youjian looked down at the ten people, ignoring Zhou Yanru and Feng Quan.

"Fan Yongdou."

His voice was not loud, but it carried clearly throughout the entire hall.

"I ask you, do you know your crime?"

Fan Yongdou trembled all over, but still tried to make a last-ditch effort: "Your Majesty, this humble subject knows not what crime I have committed."

"You don't know?"

Zhu Youjian sneered, then made a gesture to Wang Chengen.

Wang Chengen immediately took out a file from his bosom, unfolded it, and read aloud:

"Fan Yongdou outwardly ran businesses dealing in silk, tea, and cloth, but in reality, he secretly colluded with the Jianzhou Jurchens to smuggle contraband such as ironware, grain, and intelligence. The profits were partly used to bribe border generals and partly to buy off court officials."

"According to investigations, from the fourth year of the Wanli reign to the seventh year of the Tianqi reign, Fan Yongdou provided the Jianzhou Jurchens with refined iron, grain, gunpowder, and a large amount of military intelligence through various channels."

"At the same time, Fan Yongdou also used his business network to establish a vast spy network for the Jianzhou Jurchens within the Great Wall, covering the nine key border towns and constantly monitoring the military movements of our Ming Dynasty."

With each sentence he read, Fan Yongdou's face grew paler, until finally he collapsed to the ground like a lump of mud.

Wang Chengen continued reading:
"Even worse, Fan Yongdou and others used their connections in the court to obtain advance information on the court's military movements on multiple occasions, and promptly passed this confidential intelligence to the Jianzhou Jurchens, resulting in our border troops being ambushed multiple times and suffering heavy losses."

"In the seventh year of the Tianqi reign alone, due to the leaking of military intelligence by Fan Yongdou and others, our border troops suffered over three thousand casualties and lost countless warhorses and weapons."

Upon hearing this, everyone present felt a deep chill.

More than three thousand lives lost!

Those are not just cold numbers, but three thousand vibrant lives, three thousand heroes who sacrificed their lives for their country!
And these lives were lost because of the betrayal of these unscrupulous merchants!
Zhu Youjian's voice grew even colder:

"Fan Yongdou, do you still dare to say you're unaware of your crimes?"

Fan Yongdou collapsed to the ground, his lips trembling, unable to speak.

Zhu Youjian turned to Qian Qianyi, his gaze sharp as a knife:

"Minister Qian, you just said I violated the laws of our ancestors. Then let me ask you, how many procedures are involved in the process of a traitor like Fan Yongdou, who colludes with the enemy and betrays the country? How long does it take? And how many innocent soldiers die during this process because of leaked military intelligence?"

Qian Qianyi opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but found that he couldn't utter a single word.

When a nation faces a life-or-death threat, is procedure more important or outcome?
When countless loyal and brave soldiers are losing their lives because of the betrayal of traitors, should we adhere to those lengthy legal procedures, or should we eliminate the traitors as quickly as possible?
(End of this chapter)