Shen Yicheng would never forget this day. He swore that he would never forget this day.
Of course, he had also never imagined that Xiao Ruxun would still be able to escape from such an inescapable net.
And then, he had used such a malicious declaration to slander him.
"Since ancient times, ministers have taken on the ruler's salary and shouldered the ruler's worries. This is the foundation of a minister. In the Sui and Tang Dynasties, when the imperial examinations had just begun, scholars found it difficult to do so. They wanted to serve the country but had no way to do so, and there were many who harbored talent but were not recognized.
"Ever since the Song Dynasty, the imperial examinations have flourished, and scholars from humble backgrounds have become farmers in the morning and the Son of Heaven's Hall in the evening, using their writings to become officials and displaying their ambitions. This is a change that has not been seen in a thousand years, a rare opportunity bestowed by the ruler.
"Shen Yicheng lived on the shores of the Eastern Sea. After passing the imperial examinations and becoming an official, he was bestowed with the favor of the ruler. His duty was to support the country and uphold the words of the Sage, a duty of loyalty. Alas, his greed was unquenchable, and he dared to mobilize his troops in the middle of the night. He marched straight into the Imperial Palace and rashly slaughtered the loyal and good, forcing the ruler to abdicate.
The former Grand Secretary Zhao Gongzhigao and the former Minister of Punishments Song Gongyingchang both died here. In the forbidden palace, the resting place of the Son of Heaven, blood flowed like rivers and corpses piled up like mountains, making it unbearable to read …
Today, this Xiao was lucky enough to escape, and I will not let this traitor go. Although my soldiers are weak, my rations are few, and my men are incompetent, I will not allow traitors who betray their master to run amok in the capital! Those who force the Son of Heaven to abdicate and those who oppress the common people, I swear that I will put them to death … "
Shen Yi didn't read to the end because he couldn't take it anymore. His anger had already burned away his rationality, and he directly tore the document into pieces. Panting heavily, he glared at the people in front of him with bloodshot eyes like a ferocious tiger.
"Who can explain why Xiao Ruxun was able to escape from the capital?"
Shen Yicheng's deep voice rang out.
His voice wasn't loud, but everyone was well aware of how much anger was hidden in his deep voice.
No one dared to reply.
"If it was just this declaration, this old man could very well believe that this was a remnant of the Xiao clan making a final struggle! He would not care! But! But! Zhenjiang Prefecture has been occupied by the rebels, the Jinghang Canal has been cut off, and the grain can't be transported north. Is this the last struggle of the Xiao family? "
Shen Yicheng scanned the crowd of officials before locking his gaze on the pale-faced Xu Zuo.
"Xu Butang, didn't you solemnly swear to this old man that thief Xiao had already burned himself to death?"
When Xu Zuo heard Shen Yicheng call out his name, he was shocked. His body trembled and he fell to his knees.
"Grand Secretary, this lowly official … this lowly official really surrounded them. Moreover, I surrounded them tightly. That thief Xiao threw himself into the fire and burned himself. This … this is something that everyone saw!"
"You're so sure that those people are Thief Xiao and his remaining forces?"
Shen Yicheng suddenly asked.
Xu Zuo was shocked.
"At that time … at that time … I …"
Xu Zuo stammered for a while, unable to say anything.
In truth, he wanted to say it, but he didn't dare to, because the one praising him was Shen Yicheng, and the one praising him for his ability was Shen Yicheng himself. In other words, whether or not Shen Yicheng believed it in the depths of his heart, his confidence in announcing Xiao Ruxun's death came from this place.
He didn't really believe that Xiao Ruxun could escape. He was more willing to believe that Xiao Ruxun was dead, more willing to believe that Xiao Ruxun had been burned to death and could no longer resist.
But now, Xiao Ruxun had appeared out of nowhere and seized Zhenjiang Prefecture, cutting off the route to the Jinghang Canal and stopping the grain shipments. The capital was in danger of running out of food.
This was the intelligence report from Yangzhou Prefecture, so it couldn't be wrong.
Traveling six hundred li by air during the day and traveling by water at night was the fastest method the Yangzhou Prefecture could think of to send news, and it took four days for the news to arrive.
It should have been effective.
And this matter had taken place when Shen Yicheng had announced to the world that Xiao Ruxun was a traitor and that Xiao Ruxun was dead!
Before the world's doubts about the capital had been dispelled, and when the Jinghang Canal had been cut off, a deluge of inquiries and memorials had been sent to the capital.
Who else in the world could do this? Who else would dare to do this?
Besides Xiao Ruxun, who else could it be?
Who else could it be?
Xu Zuo couldn't stop trembling and couldn't say a word.
Shen Yicheng took in a deep breath.
"Drag him out and execute him!"
Xu Zuo raised his head in shock to look at Shen Yicheng.
The others also stared in fear at Shen Yicheng.
They didn't dare to believe that Shen Yicheng had so easily killed a minister.
This … was there still law …?
Oh, right, just a while ago, they had personally destroyed the prestige of the law.
The Imperial Bodyguard experts at Shen Yicheng's side only listened to Shen Yicheng's orders. With Shen Yicheng's order, Xu Zuo had no chance of survival, and the Imperial Bodyguard had immediately moved.
Thus, amidst Xu Zuo's ghostly wails and howls for mercy, everyone waited for a bloody head to appear.
Shen Yicheng looked at the head with loathing.
"You were stupid and made me stupid with you. Truly deserving of death."
After saying this, Shen Yicheng waved his hand, and the head was taken out of the office.
The other officials trembled in fear, fearing that Shen Yicheng would kill again.
"Xia Qing!"
Shen Yicheng called Tycoon Xiao's name.
Tycoon Xiao himself was also uneasy. He felt that Shen Yicheng's mood was not quite right, but he didn't dare to say anything. After being called out by Shen Yicheng, his heart was beating like a drum, and he braced himself to walk out.
"I'm here!"
Shen Yicheng sat back in his seat.
"Xia Qing, what do you think is going on? That traitor Xiao … really didn't die and escaped? "
Tycoon Xiao thought for a moment and slowly said, "Grand Secretary, I think that the Daming Navy was small to begin with. In the battle of Korea in the 21st and 22nd years of Wanli, Daming rushed to make hundreds of warships. After the war, most of these warships belonged to the Guangdong Navy and were under the command of Chen Zhao, the admiral of the Guangdong Navy. A small number of these warships stayed in Burma and were under the command of that traitor Xiao. The Daming Navy probably only has the ability to cut off the Jinghang Canal and capture Zhenjiang Prefecture."
Shen Yicheng nodded.
"Then, Xia Qing, who do you think did this? Was it Chen Lin, or that traitor Xiao? Or someone else? Who would have the guts to do this? "
Tycoon Xiao swallowed.
"Grand Secretary, Chen Lin is a minister of Daming and loyal to the court. How could he do such a thing? If I'm not wrong, it must be the Burma Navy who did this. However, whether that traitor Xiao is still alive, whether this was ordered by that traitor Xiao, or whether it was a desperate counterattack by the loyal traitor Xiao who stayed behind in Burma, we don't know."
Shen Yicheng nodded slightly.
"Yes, Xia Qing's words are reasonable. We still don't know whether this was done by that traitor Xiao or the remnants of that traitor Xiao left in Burma. If this is just a desperate counterattack by the remnants of that traitor Xiao, there is still a great chance for things to turn around."
Tycoon Xiao breathed a sigh of relief.
"Is there still no other news from Yangzhou Prefecture?"
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