Do You Know?: I, the Little Cabinet Elder, Regent of the World

By the end, his face was flushed and his eyes were clear.

"Jiang, Jiang—"

The deputy commander of the Liangzhe Road military forces was greatly shocked. He stammered a couple of times and then quickly knelt down: "This humble official was blind to your greatness and begs for your forgiveness, Your Excellency!"

With that, he bowed deeply.

Jiang Zhao stood to one side, hands behind his back.

"Zhonghuai," Jiang Zhao called softly.

Gu Tingye understood, and the next moment he took out a bright yellow brocade cover embroidered with dragons from his sleeve and shouted: "The imperial edict is here!"

In an instant, more than 30,000 people bowed down in unison.

Gu Tingye held the imperial edict and slowly read it aloud:

I have received the Mandate of Heaven to rule the world.

Jiang Zhao, a Grand Secretary of the Wenyuan Pavilion and Vice Chancellor, was specially appointed as Imperial Commissioner, granted the sword of Prince Huan, and given the authority to manage the military, political and criminal affairs of the two capitals and fourteen routes. He was authorized to act expediently against any disobedience and to execute first and report later!

This proclamation is hereby issued to the world, so that all may know fear!

So be it.

"I will obey Your Majesty's decree without hesitation and thank you for your guidance!"

More than 30,000 people bowed in unison.

Among them, the deputy commander of the Liangzhe Road military forces had a flushed face and read aloud with particular volume.

"Recently, the seven imperial envoys of Liangzhe Road were burned, which may be suspected of treason."

"I have come here to take command of five thousand soldiers in Qiantang."

"Deputy Chief Steward, is there any doubt?" Jiang Zhao asked.

"No no!"

The deputy commander of the Liangzhe Road military forces hurriedly replied, "Whatever Your Excellency commands, I will do."

Jiang Zhao glanced at it and said indifferently, "Get up."

It was already dusk, so it was not incomprehensible that the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Liangzhe Road Army would have a drink.

"Thank you, Your Excellency!" The Deputy Commander of the Liangzhe Road Military Forces breathed a sigh of relief and quickly bowed again.

Jiang Zhao nodded and waved his hand, saying, "Let's set up camp here."

"promise!"

Chapter 226 I'm going to take this to the Cabinet!

Hangzhou, Qiantang River.

As dawn breaks, the bonfire burns ever brighter.

"Boom-"

"Boom-"

"Boom-"

The drumbeats were like thunder, their sound shaking the entire field.

Thirty thousand elite soldiers, clad in armor, lined up in battle formation, long swords drawn, crossbows drawn, a chilling atmosphere filling the sky.

Strong winds would occasionally sweep through the camp, causing the banners to flutter wildly.

Occasionally, a startled crow will take flight, its flight slicing through the silent sky.

Led by Jiang Zhao, nearly ten principal officials stood in a row.

"General Zhongwu and Vice Minister Wang led 5,000 troops to march on Chun'an County."

Jiang Zhao, with his sword on his back, ordered: "Arrest anyone connected to the magistrate of Chun'an County, as a suspect. Arrest all members of the magistrate's family within three generations. Arrest all officials of Chun'an County who have been appointed to their rank."

"Furthermore, the burning of the imperial envoy's inn will certainly warrant an investigation. Ge Lian's grave will also require an exhumation and autopsy to determine whether he died from poison."

Chun'an County, the starting point of the wrongful conviction, is involved in the death of Ge Lian and is also the site of the burning of the imperial envoy.

Based on this alone, the magistrate of Chun'an County was certain to have his entire family wiped out.

Chun'an County is destined to be a key area for investigation, as both exhuming corpses and apprehending suspects are necessary procedures.

However, even so, Jiang Zhao had no intention of personally going to the county to investigate.

Ultimately, from the moment the "burning of the imperial envoy" occurred, the truth of the Yang Wu case became irrelevant, as did whether there was any inside story behind the imperial envoy's death.

Whether it's the truth behind Yang Wu's case or the inside story of burning the imperial envoy, they are essentially related to the truth and lean towards solving the case.

This is something that the Court of Judicial Review and the Ministry of Justice should do, not something that the Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet should do.

For Jiang Zhao, there was only one truly important point—the imperial envoy was dead!

The imperial envoy is dead; that is a fact.

Therefore, Liangzhe Road was subjected to authoritarian trials and political repression.

When Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet inspect the provinces with the imperial sword, their main task is to judge the Liangzhe region from a macro perspective. As for meticulous case handling or revealing the truth, these are merely secondary tasks.

"Yes, sir." Yao Si and Wang Anshi bowed in unison.

"Zichun and Prefect Wang led 10,000 troops and arrested every official of Hangzhou Prefecture, from top to bottom, without exception. They also arrested the entire clan of the Hangzhou Prefectural Magistrate," Jiang Zhao continued.

Regardless of whether there is a serious crime or not, they must be arrested with swift and decisive action to deter others.

The imperial envoy, acting on behalf of Heaven, was the embodiment of the monarch and an extension of imperial power.

Since the heinous act of burning the imperial envoy has occurred, it is imperative to issue a stern warning.

Otherwise, wouldn't that encourage others to follow suit?

"Yes, sir." Wang Shao and Wang Gui bowed in succession.

"The rest of the men will accompany me to the administrative offices of Liangzhe Road," Jiang Zhao said calmly.

In fact, the seat of Liangzhe Road was in Hangzhou, less than ten miles away from the seat of Hangzhou Prefecture.

However, there is a significant difference between a prefecture and a circuit, and it also involves the powerful regional officials.

The administrative center of Liangzhe Circuit was responsible for controlling all military and political affairs in Liangzhe Circuit, and was personally overseen by a Grand Secretary of the Cabinet.

"Yes, sir." The remaining people bowed in unison.

The general marching plan has been finalized, and Jiang Zhao nodded.

"Hey~!"

Suddenly, Jiang Zhao drew his sword and thrust it skyward: "Let's march!"

At a single command, dozens of generals and officers relayed the order.

"Leave!"

"Leave!"

Thirty thousand elite soldiers set out on their march.

The administrative center of Liangzhe Circuit was the Pacification Commissioner's Office.

"clatter--"

"clatter--"

The sound of marching footsteps rose and fell, the clashing of armor and the clash of weapons growing ever louder.

Even the earth trembled as if it were an earthquake.

The Office of the Pacification Commissioner.

Led by the Pacification Commissioner Chen Ji, more than thirty officials from the Pacification Office gathered here.

At the head of the table, Chen Ji was about to say something.

Just then, the earth trembled and shook.

"coming!"

Chen Ji was startled and suddenly stood up, his eyes filled with unspeakable fear.

The remaining dozens of people all looked worried and at a loss.

"I wonder who will be in charge of this thorough investigation?" A glimmer of hope flashed in Chen Ji's eyes as he clasped his hands together and prayed silently.

Whether the emperor intends to impose a severe punishment or a lenient one can glean some insight simply from thoroughly investigating the official ranks of the presiding officials of Liangzhe Circuit.

Just like the "impersonating an imperial envoy" case during the reign of Emperor Taizong, which was investigated by a high-ranking official of the second rank, the case involved the continuous extermination of ethnic minorities and was a typical example of severe punishment.

According to conventional wisdom, the upper limit of the Imperial Censorate is the Left or Right Vice Censor-in-Chief, which are of the second rank, or the Minister of Justice.

Once a high-ranking official of the second rank is dispatched to investigate, it almost certainly means that the imperial court will impose a severe punishment.

I wonder who the Emperor has assigned to conduct this imperial investigation?

If it is a second-rank official who is personally investigating, it means that the regional governor is also subject to severe punishment, at least a significant demotion, or even losing his or her post.

If it is a third-rank official who is personally investigating, it means that the higher authorities do not intend to seriously investigate the regional officials. Counties and prefectures may be affected, but for regional officials, it is estimated that they will only be demoted.

"Hopefully, it's a third-rank official!" Chen Ji sighed, his face covered in cold sweat, and sat down again.

In just a moment, his legs went weak and his heart pounded.

The remaining officials did similar things.

The sheer fear of facing trial is enough to make one unable to move.

In their panic, they could only hope for the best.

The marching pace grew heavier and heavier.

More than a thousand guards from the Pacification Commissioner's Office, armed with spears, stood ready for battle.

until

"Shut up!"

"Who dares to trespass on this important territory?" a lieutenant asked loudly.

There was a hint of tension and fear in his voice.

There was no way around it, there were just too many people on the other side!

"drive!"

With one hand holding the reins and the other pulling out six official documents from the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of Justice, the Censorate, the Kaifeng Prefecture, the Privy Council, and the Grand Secretariat, Gu Tingye shouted, "The imperial envoy of Liangzhe Circuit has been burned! The court has ordered a thorough investigation. You shall all immediately lay down your weapons and surrender!"

"Anyone who dares to resist will be executed!"

"promise!"

The lieutenant nodded hurriedly and loudly ordered, "Discard your helmets and armor!"

He was just going through the motions.

Are you really expecting a thousand people to deal with tens of thousands?

"Zhonghuai, send a thousand men into the Pacification Commission and arrest everyone in the Commission," Jiang Zhao said, holding the reins.

The primary tasks of the imperial inspection of Liangzhe Circuit were nothing more than two things:

First, he gained control of the military power in the Liangzhe region.

Second, control the government of Liangzhe Road.

Once they had control of both military and political power, the Kipchak mission was at least 70% complete.

Next came sentencing and appeasement of the people.

"Yes, sir." Gu Tingye clasped his hands in a salute and gave the order.

Before long, more than a thousand people abandoned their swords and rushed into the yamen.

The Office of the Pacification Commissioner.

"Da da da!"