CHAPTER 331: CHAPTER 331: RIOTERS (PART 4)

"You fool!"

"Jiang Shaohua had just left the Capital City when I, the Prime Minister, entered the palace to lodge a complaint. And the reason I used was so absurd and nonsensical. Do you think the officials at court are idiots? Or that the Emperor is young and ignorant? That the Empress Dowager in the harem is old and easily deceived?"

Prime Minister Wang rarely showed anger, but he pointed at the astonished Zuo Yue and berated him: "In recent days, there have been consecutive memorials from counties suffering from locust plagues submitted to the court, numbering over a dozen. The Emperor has been so troubled by this that he hasn’t been able to eat for several days."

"Famine victims fleeing to the Capital City need to be properly settled to display the Emperor’s benevolence and demonstrate the power of the Emperor."

"You claim absurdities, telling lies, not only failing to frame Nanyang County Princess but instead making her famous. You will further place me, the Prime Minister, in an awkward position!"

"As a City Gate Officer, your responsibility is to guard the city gates. Do your job, and don’t meddle in matters that don’t concern you. Immediately return, release the hungry people from the prison, and send them to the Capital City Government office so they can be settled there swiftly."

"Hurry! If you ruin things, I’ll have your hide!"

His final sentence burst out like raging flames.

Zuo Yue, having been scolded, was thoroughly ashamed and repeatedly agreed, retreating sullenly.

Prime Minister Wang grew increasingly furious as he thought. The foolish idiot was cursed for a full incense-burning time.

He indeed wanted to deal with Jiang Shaohua. However, he could never employ such crude and ridiculous methods. At present, Jiang Shaohua is favored by the Emperor and protected by Grand Empress Dowager Zheng. Ordinary means cannot touch her. He must patiently wait for the right opportunity and plan carefully for a sure strike.

What idiotic thought came up with the idea about rebellious people and riots, where two hundred yellow and emaciated commoners attacked the city gate intending to rebel?

An hour later, the pig-headed Zuo Yue returned!

"Why have you returned?" Prime Minister Wang coldly questioned.

Zuo Yue, looking panicked and flustered, quickly whispered: "Prime Minister, it’s terrible! Many of the starving people imprisoned were killed by my men."

Prime Minister Wang: "..."

Prime Minister Wang looked at Zuo Yue in disbelief.

That gaze was akin to looking at a pig with wings.

Zuo Yue dared not meet Prime Minister Wang’s eyes: "It’s all my fault. When I left, I said they were rebellious rioters. My soldiers are unruly sorts. They thought it was no big deal to kill a few, thinking it would earn them merits. After imprisoning them, they acted..."

"How many were killed?" Prime Minister Wang felt the blood rush to his temples, gritting his teeth to squeeze out four words.

Zuo Yue swallowed difficultly and whispered: "Fifty were killed."

If they were truly rebels, killing that many would be insignificant and could indeed count as military merit. But these were famine victims, and killing fifty innocent civilians was a grave crime punishable by death under Da Liang Law!

Prime Minister Wang, inflamed with anger, slapped Zuo Yue: "You idiot!"

Zuo Yue, a military general, trained in martial arts for decades, hardly felt the slap from Prime Minister Wang as it didn’t affect him. He didn’t move and humbly pleaded: "Prime Minister, I know my fault! I only wanted to vent Prime Minister’s anger, and in a moment of fervor came up with such a foolish plan. I really didn’t expect to cause such trouble."

"I beg the Prime Minister to save me."

No matter how things turned out, the mess had to be cleaned up.

Prime Minister Wang exhaled a deep breath and quickly made a decision: "Having killed so many, trying to cover it up is no longer possible. It needs to be dealt with swiftly with a plausible explanation. The previous one can’t be used. Thus, you should say these famine victims committed murder, robbery for grain, and even engaged in cannibalism during their journey. In the process of apprehending them, they resisted fiercely, so they had to be killed."

The Prime Minister was truly resourceful, coming up with a grave accusation in the blink of an eye.

Zuo Yue agreed sincerely, bowing to accept the order: "Yes, I will take care of it immediately."

Prime Minister Wang’s eyes flashed with cold light as he spoke indifferently: "From those starving people, select a few who are weak and old, and apply torture for interrogation. Establish an ironclad case, then I will report to the Emperor."

"Yes!"

...

This case of "rebels" proceeded unexpectedly smoothly.

Even before the torture devices were applied, several weak and elderly men tearfully confessed. The murder and robbery for grain existed; cannibalism was present too, even claiming they had eaten adult women. Otherwise, how could they have made it to the Capital City without food?

Even Zuo Yue hadn’t anticipated that he wouldn’t need to "arrange" anything, as these famine victims turned out to be rebels! For a while, Zuo Yue felt a peculiar sense of happiness and joy.

That evening, Prime Minister Wang took a thick dossier into Zhaohai Palace.

The young Emperor Taihe, troubled recently by continuous locust disaster memorials, had a corner of his mouth blistered. His voice was somewhat hoarse when he spoke: "Prime Minister Wang coming to the palace so late, has something happened again?"

Prime Minister Wang sighed deeply, presented the dossier on the imperial desk, and bowed in apology: "Your servant is incompetent. The northern locust plague is severe, relief is insufficient, and disaster victims are widespread, resulting in such a tragic incident in broad daylight. Your servant truly lacks the face to face the Emperor."

Emperor Taihe’s heart sank as he picked up the dossier, flipping through it quickly. His heart grew colder as he read, and his handsome face quietly paled.

Born and raised in luxury, he was familiar with the flourishing Capital City.

Murder, robbery for grain, cannibalism, and starvation across the land were scenes recorded in historical accounts of a country’s downfall. Was this newly ascended Emperor facing a realm beset by warfare and locust disasters intertwining into national chaos?

Emperor Taihe’s voice was dry: "Prime Minister, is everything written in this dossier true?"

Prime Minister Wang sighed deeply: "Absolutely true."

Emperor Taihe looked at Prime Minister Wang and slowly spoke: "This case involves dozens of lives and the dignity of hundreds of people. It’s not that I don’t trust Prime Minister Wang, but it must be approached with extra caution."

In the end, it’s still a matter of insufficient trust.

Had it been Emperor Taikang, he would not have doubted and would have directly entrusted Prime Minister Wang with complete authority.

Prime Minister Wang’s heart felt a chill, and he respectfully replied: "Given the gravity of the matter, I request that the Emperor appoint someone to the prison to re-examine the case."

Emperor Taihe briefly nodded and then instructed Eunuch Ge to convey the decree, summoning Duke An and Minister Dai to enter the palace.

Prime Minister Wang inwardly scoffed.

Logically, this matter should quietly be handed over to the Ministry of Justice for re-examination, and appointing Minister Dai for this task is appropriate. Why is the Emperor including Duke An in this?

The young Emperor hasn’t learned much yet, but he has learned how to balance the court, relying on Grand Empress Dowager’s faction to suppress this Prime Minister.

Duke An and Minister Dai went to the jail overnight and reviewed the case again.

The next day, the two senior officials came with a thick stack of dossiers. The earlier part was mostly the same, with only the latter parts differing somewhat. Those rebels claimed to have been caught outside the city gate, and the general insisted they were instigated by Nanyang County Princess.

"How does this matter involve Shao Hua?" Emperor Taihe frowned.