Chapter 413 Incompetent Fury
Chapter 413 Incompetent Fury
early morning.
When the sky in the east began to turn pale, Lu Zhi, the Shaoqing of Dali Temple, had already walked out of his house and headed towards the streets selling breakfast near his home.
It has been a long time since Zhao Duan brought down Zhou Cheng.
In that case, Lu Zhi, who was promoted by the empress because of the recommendation of Zhao Duan, was promoted from a judge in the Dali Temple to a Shaoqing in just a few months.
However, even though his status had changed dramatically, Lu Zhi's life remained simple. He still lived in an old house and still liked to walk to the yamen. Even the restaurants he ate were small shops on the street.
"Mr. Lu, you're here? Or the old three?"
Inside the steamed bun shop, the owner saw Lu Zhi coming in and greeted him with a smile.
Lu Zhi nodded, perhaps because it was too cold, and added:
"Reheat another dime of wine."
Having said that, he sat down at a table in the corner, rolled up his sleeves and listened to the people around him chatting - this was his channel to obtain public opinion.
Most of the people who come to this shop in the morning are peddlers and hawkers. When something happens at the lower levels of the city, these people are always the most informed.
"Have you heard that Duke Cao from the north returned to the capital yesterday? When he entered the city, he kidnapped a man and said he went straight to the palace."
"Looks like a wanted criminal?"
"What? A wanted criminal needs to be arrested by a Duke himself? I heard that Duke Cao has a son in the army..."
This kind of shop is a small shop on the ground floor, where all kinds of gossips gather.
People of any era love to hear gossip about big shots.
Things like "Secret History of the Palace" have never ceased to exist.
Which concubine the emperor slept with and which concubine was cheating on him, whether true or false, were the topics that the people talked about most.
The story of how Duke Cao's son defiled his comrade's wife, was killed in retaliation, and then covered up the truth sounds like a wild history.
Lu Zhi listened while eating and frowned slightly, but he didn't care much about it. He thought it was just another rumor made up by some people.
What surprised him was that in such a small shop, several customers were talking about this matter.
Lu Zhi shook his head.
After breakfast, he piled a few copper coins on the corner of the table, then lifted the thick cloth curtain to block the wind and came to the Dali Temple.
Early in the morning, before the government office opened, many officials in the Dali Temple were chatting about interesting officialdom stories, and they all mentioned the gossip they had heard about Duke Cao.
However, these people were much more cautious, and all mentioned it briefly in a "criticizing" tone, roughly:
"Another person is spreading rumors and slandering the Duke" and so on.
The main character is a timid and gossipy person.
Lu Zhi changed into his official robe, entered the duty room and glanced at all the officials. They all fell silent and went about their business quietly.
I was afraid of being caught and criticized by this honest boss who was difficult to serve.
"Just do your own thing and don't gossip."
Lu Zhi said this casually, and suddenly he heard someone beating a drum outside the yamen.
Soon, an old official came running from the courtyard holding a petition:
"Master Shaoqing, please take a look. There is a complaint from a military dependent... Oh, please take a look anyway."
Lu Zhi picked up the petition in confusion, and after looking around, his face suddenly became solemn.
The person who filed the lawsuit claimed to be a relative of Lang Shiba in prison and accused him of being an injustice in a past case.
Could it be true? Lu Zhi could not help but frown. You must know that the yamen’s drum of complaint is not beaten randomly.
Once the knock is made, regardless of whether the person is right or wrong, they will be given a beating to deter others. The purpose is to prevent false accusations and trouble making, and to increase the cost of the lawsuit. If the false accusation is proven, severe punishment will be imposed.
"Open the court. I will interrogate the case myself!" Lu Zhi said.
……
Opposite the Dali Temple, in a tea shop.
Chen Hong, the old censor who had been on a diplomatic mission to Taicang Prefecture with Zhao Duan, ordered a pot of tea and a plate of melon seeds early in the morning and ate them slowly by himself.
"Click, click."
When Censor Chen was cracking melon seeds, his two inlaid silver teeth were particularly eye-catching.
When the melon seed shells on the table piled up into a small mountain, Chen Hong heard the sound of people leaving the Dali Temple across the street.
"It's time."
Chen Hong sighed softly, clapped her hands to brush off the crumbs on her hands, stood up and walked out of the teahouse, and stepped into the Dali Temple.
He claimed that he heard people discussing the affairs of the Cao State, so he came to the Dali Temple to find someone to inquire about the matter, and as a result, he "accidentally" learned about the recent lawsuit.
Chen Hong was "horrified" and "filled with righteous indignation". He left immediately and his face was red when he returned to the Censorate.
After writing an impeachment memorial, Censor Chen rushed to the palace amid the strange looks of his colleagues, and used his privilege as a censor to attack Duke Anguo Cao Mao.
...Inside the Shenji Camp.
When Young Master Tang Ping entered the barracks for roll call, the other military officers all looked surprised.
The commander Shi Meng, who was of burly build but with a delicate mind, was stunned for a moment, looked at Tang Ping in confusion, and said:
"Didn't I give you several days off? The Duke finally came back to Beijing to stay for a few days in a year. Why did you come here instead of staying at home with him?"
Tang Ping closed the door of the barracks, turned around and smiled at his comrades, and said:
"The rest of the generals in the army haven't had their holidays yet and can't go home to see their parents. Why am I special?"
Shi Meng smiled bitterly and shook his head. He was not surprised by the character of this young master. He thought that if only Lord Zhao could be three times as dedicated as he was.
As a deputy commander, it is considered diligent to visit the military camp once a month.
Tang Ping sat in the barracks and quietly finished the morning meeting.
After many of his colleagues had dispersed, Tang Ping stood up and walked back to his barracks, then summoned the group of young officers headed by him in the Shenji Camp.
"What happened?"
A group of young military officers were confused and asked questions as soon as they entered the door.
Tang Ping asked everyone to sit down at the table, and then, with a heavy heart, he told the truth about how "Northern Blood Knife" killed people in Jubei City that year.
A group of young and vigorous officers felt the same way when they heard it. Their blood boiled and they instantly sympathized with Lang Shiba of that year.
Upon learning that the prince had saved Lang Shiba, but was now captured by Cao Mao, thrown into prison, and prepared to be beheaded, an officer clenched his fist, slammed the table, and stood up:
"Too deceiving!"
Another calmer one frowned and asked, "Brother Tang, is this true?"
Tang Ping looked at him indignantly:
"I learned this from my father, what do you think?"
Everyone also knew that Duke Tang and Duke Cao were at odds with each other, so they closed the door and spoke without restraint, and a burst of cursing broke out immediately.
Finally someone said:
"Brother, you told us this. What do you want to do? Just tell us straight away."
Tang Ping looked around at his group of younger brothers and said seriously:
"I have never met the Northern Blood Blade, but I cannot stand this kind of thing. I need you to spread the truth, at least let the three armies of the Beijing camp know. My second sister said that if enough soldiers sign a petition, His Majesty may be able to give him a lighter sentence."
"Leave it to us. Beidi Blood Knife is a real man. It would be too unfair to die at the hands of such a man!"
The officers were either excited or guessed that this was Duke Tang's intention. They all shared the same hatred and took the order and left.
On that day, the news that Cao Mao's son had attacked military subordinates spread quickly throughout the Beijing camp.
It soon spread to the imperial guards in the city, moving countless soldiers who had suffered from bullying by their superiors, and a restless mood quietly fermented.
……
……
In the afternoon, at Duke Cao’s residence.
"boom!"
Cao Mao, with gray hair on his temples and deep wrinkles on his face, slammed his hand hard on the table, causing the cups and plates to rattle.
The old man, like a hungry tiger, stared at his adopted son who was standing inside the house and reporting:
"Can you say that again!?"
Cao Ke Di stood respectfully, bowed his head slightly, and said:
"Rumors about you framing the Northern Blood Knife are spreading all over the streets. The censors from the Censorate heard the news and have reportedly come to the palace to impeach you, but I think your Majesty got the better of them.
But... from what I have seen, the rumors among the people are fierce and getting more and more intense. If they continue, I am afraid that more and more officials will pay attention to this matter, and then... Your Majesty will not be able to ignore it. "
Cao Mao said nothing, his face expressionless:
"Where did the news come from?"
"The child doesn't know."
"If you don't know, go check it out!" Cao Mao suddenly became furious and pointed at him:
"Find some connections you can use and investigate! I want to know how this rumor came about! Who is behind this?
And... you go and pass on my order to the government offices in the capital, and other government offices, big and small, to arrest those who spread rumors! Suppress these voices!"
Cao Ke Di responded and turned away, not daring to delay for even a second.
……
At the same time, in the backyard of Baima Prison.
Zhao Duan, who was playing chess with the old supervisor Sun Lianying, also received the latest news from his subordinates.
"How?" Sun Lianying asked calmly without raising her head.
Zhao Duan finished reading the paper in his hand that recorded Cao Mao's actions, and threw it into the brazier beside him. He calmly picked up the chess piece, pressed it on a certain part of the chessboard, and said with a smile:
"Just incompetent and furious."
(End of this chapter)