Chương 71: Lu Zhi is released, the show begins

Inside the Jiade Hall, the waiting ministers had almost turned into "waiting-for-husband stones," each with a weary expression and a belly full of resentment.

Finally, when they heard the eunuch announce, "His Majesty has arrived—", everyone perked up and quickly straightened their clothes.

Liu Hong slowly walked in, plopped down on the throne, and looked down at his ministers, whose faces were filled with anxiety and exhaustion. He felt inexplicably relieved.

His face immediately conveyed "I'm very displeased, get to the point," and he skipped even the basic pleasantries, speaking directly:

"Speak, what's the matter with such a grand commotion? Hurry up, I'm busy."

Everyone quickly bowed in greeting.

Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun exchanged a glance and stepped forward first.

Huangfu Song clasped his hands in a fist salute, his voice booming, carrying the straightforwardness characteristic of a soldier:

"Your Majesty! We have come here to plead for justice for Lu Zhi, the former General of the Northern Army!"

Zhu Jun then added, his tone excited: "Your Majesty is wise! When Lu Zhi besieged Zhang Jiao in Guangzong, he was by no means the 'high walls were not used for battle, and the morale of the army was not low' that the eunuch Zuo Feng falsely accused him of!"

On the contrary, General Lu's camp stretched for a hundred miles, creating a formidable force that trapped Zhang Jiao's main force within Guangzong City!

During this period, he fought more than ten battles, large and small, repeatedly defeating the enemy army and capturing tens of thousands of heads! This is truly a remarkable military achievement!

Huangfu Song stepped forward, his emotions even more fervent:

"That Zuo Feng, as the military supervisor, did not think about sharing the country's burdens, but instead took the opportunity to extort bribes from General Lu!"

General Lu was honest and upright, and he firmly refused. The eunuch held a grudge and, after returning to the capital, fabricated charges against him and deliberately framed him!

Such acts of eunuchs abusing power and framing loyal officials are an outrage against both Heaven and man! Your Majesty, please investigate thoroughly!

"Lu Zhi is a pillar of the nation, a rare military talent! If he is punished because of the slander of such petty people, wouldn't that chill the hearts of the soldiers on the front lines and make loyal ministers and generals feel disgusted?"

Zhu Jun concluded earnestly, "I hope Your Majesty will remember his great service, pardon his crimes, and restore his official position. Only in this way can Your Majesty's wisdom be demonstrated and the court's fairness be shown!"

As Liu Hong listened to the two veterans' heartfelt accounts, especially their mention of Lu Zhi's early achievements and Zuo Feng's despicable act of soliciting bribes, his cynical expression softened somewhat.

He did have some impression of Lu Zhi; he was capable, but his temper was too straightforward.

It was indeed a bit... unethical of me to dismiss him based on Zuo Feng's one-sided story.

Liu Hong stroked his chin and thought for a moment, then decided that this deal was worthwhile: Now that the Yellow Turban Rebellion has been quelled, pardoning Lu Zhi would not only appease the military and show that he is open to good advice, but also gain a capable minister and, incidentally, curb the arrogance of the eunuchs.

So Liu Hong nodded readily:

"What you two ministers say is quite right. Lu Zhi has indeed rendered great service to the country, and I was mistaken about what happened before."

"Zhang Rang!"

"This servant is here."

"Draft an edict to release Lu Zhi and reinstate him to his original position... Hmm, let him return to the Ministry of Personnel as Minister."

Liu Hong gave him a respectable but sinecure, which was both a sign of favor and prevented him from taking command of the military.

"Your Majesty is wise!"

Huangfu Song, Zhu Jun, and the others breathed a sigh of relief and quickly expressed their gratitude, as their main objective for this trip had been achieved.

After dealing with Lu Zhi's matter, the atmosphere in the hall seemed to ease somewhat.

Liu Hong casually picked up a piece of jujube cake from the pastry plate on the imperial desk and began to eat it as if no one else was around, but his gaze swept over the group of aristocratic civil officials led by Yuan Wei, thinking to himself:

"Alright, we've finished giving the generals the sweet treats. Now it's time to deal with these cunning old foxes who have come with ill intentions."

He swallowed the jujube cake, took a sip of tea to smooth his throat, and then spoke leisurely, his tone carrying a hint of languid knowingness:

"Lu Zhi's matter is resolved, so... Minister Yuan, Minister Yang, and all my esteemed ministers, what brings you all here in such a grand manner? Are you here to plead for someone else as well?"

The powerful officials, led by Yuan Wei, exchanged glances.

Yuan Wei took a deep breath, straightened his clothes, and stepped forward.

Not only did he speak, but he also deliberately raised his voice by eight octaves, as if he wanted everyone outside the hall to hear him:

"Your Majesty! Your subject has a memorial to present! It concerns the very foundation of the state, and I must speak out! Yesterday, Your Majesty bestowed honors upon Liu Ce, which we believe was utterly inappropriate!"

Liu Hong held the jujube cake in his hand, raised an eyebrow, and gave a half-smile:

"Oh? Minister Yuan, what's wrong? That brat Liu Ce first wiped out Cheng Yuanzhi and Zhang Niujiao, then he went to Changshe and burned Bo Cai down."

Then he went to Xiaquyang and killed Zhang Bao. After returning to Guangzong, he sent Zhang Liang and Zhang Jiao away together. He almost single-handedly suppressed the rampaging Yellow Turban rebels.

I will grant him the title of Marquis of Champion, appoint him as General of Chariots and Cavalry, and send him to Youzhou as governor to block the southward invasion of the Xianbei and Wuhuan, and also keep an eye on Jizhou, which has just finished a war...

This reward is perfectly reasonable, so why is it inappropriate? Tell me, I'm listening.

As he spoke, he slowly took another bite of the jujube cake, his manner as if he were listening to gossip in the streets.

Seeing that Yuan Wei had taken the lead, Yang Ci quickly followed suit, coughed twice, stroked his beard, and adopted the posture of a concerned and devoted old minister.

"Your Majesty, please calm down. Minister Yuan did not mean that Liu Ce had no merit."

However... However, Liu Ce was born into a collateral branch of the imperial clan and had not been well-known before. The sudden bestowal of such great honors—Marquis of Ten Thousand Households, General of the Cavalry, and Governor of Youzhou!

This... this is truly unprecedented, and it may shake the imperial court and draw the attention of the entire nation! Furthermore, the General of the Cavalry holds a rank second only to the Three Dukes, which is extremely prestigious.

Historically, such appointments should not be lightly granted to anyone other than a respected elder from a prominent family or a pillar of the state who has made great contributions to the country.

Liu Ce is still young. Although he has achieved some minor victories, his experience and prestige are still shallow. Suddenly being given such a high position and wielding the real power of Governor of Youzhou, I fear he will find it difficult to command respect and maintain order!

He emphasized the phrases "Governor of Youzhou" and "unable to control the situation" particularly.

"Unable to control the situation?"

Liu Hong interrupted him, tossing the remaining half of the jujube cake back onto the plate with a "thud," patting the crumbs off his hands, leaning forward, and looking at Yang Ci with a mocking gaze:

"Minister Yang, I seem to remember that around this time last year, you were also in this hall, asking me for a real position as a captain in the Fifth Battalion of the Northern Army for your nephew named Yang Ping (a fabricated name)."

What did you say to me? You said he was "a young hero, well-versed in military strategy, skilled in archery and horsemanship, and capable of undertaking great responsibilities"?

Yang Ci's expression changed instantly.

Liu Hong didn't give him a chance to react and continued speaking slowly and deliberately:

"I later heard from the Imperial Guards that your nephew, this 'young hero,' was so scared when he tried riding a horse at the training ground that he clung to the horse's neck and dared not let go, and was almost thrown off! He couldn't even ride the horse steadily!"

While Liu Ce was leading his troops on the front lines, beheading Yellow Turbans and cutting melons and vegetables, was your nephew still in the back garden of your mansion, playing cricket fighting with the maids and reciting sentimental poems about romance and nature?

Hmm? Minister Yang, aren't you worried that your nephew won't be able to 'control' a mere captain?

puff--" In the ranks of military officers, someone couldn't help but let out a very low sneer, which they quickly suppressed.

Yang Ci's face instantly turned a deep purplish-red, his lips trembling. He wanted to refute but couldn't find the words, because what Liu Hong said... was true!

He could only bury his head even lower, wishing he could disappear into a crack in the ground, muttering incoherently:

"Your Majesty... I... Your Majesty, that's not what I meant. That... those are two different things..."