Chapter 647: Impeachment
Shen Yanchuan quickly finished reading the letter and passed it directly to him.
"Take a look."
"This—" Yun Cheng hesitated for a moment before stepping forward to accept it with both hands.
It was only a few short lines. Yun Cheng glanced over it, taking in the entire contents at once.
He was usually responsible for guarding the Capital City and handling correspondence from all over, which included news from the Northern Border. Naturally, he could read the Wazhen Script.
After reading it, Yun Cheng looked surprised. "Ugle wants to ask for your help against Zhuola? It seems he’s truly desperate to have written such a plea for aid."
A faint smile touched Shen Yanchuan’s thin lips.
"The old scores between us are nothing compared to his throne and his future. His only enemy right now is Zhuola. As long as he can get rid of Zhuola, he’s willing to pay any price."
Yun Cheng nodded. "You’re right, Master. But... Zhuola laid low for many years. To ascend to the position of Khan in one fell swoop, he must have made thorough preparations. If Ugle rushes back like this and they clash head-on, I’m afraid he doesn’t stand much of a chance."
"If you can figure that out, so can he."
Shen Yanchuan tapped his fingers lightly on the table twice, lost in thought.
"Ostensibly, he’s returning in triumph with the Peace Negotiation Book. Even if Zhuola is dead set on killing him, he can’t be too blatant about it. But that window won’t last long; Zhuola will eventually come after him. Ugle knows this very well, which is why he’s desperately looking for allies during this time. A pity I have no interest in getting involved in their internal strife."
Ugle would never have guessed that his dear younger brother had already written to Shen Yanchuan long before he did.
The contents of that letter were also simple: a request for Shen Yanchuan to help stall for time, to keep Ugle in the Capital City for as long as possible so that he could make his move.
In reality, Shen Yanchuan did nothing.
But for various reasons, Ugle still ended up staying here for quite some time, until the arrival of that letter from Jin Xin.
Yun Cheng mulled it over for a moment. "Although Ugle was caught off guard, he was, after all, the Crown Prince most favored by Mu Mu Zhen’er. A starving camel is still bigger than a horse. If he rallies his supporters, he’ll surely draw many to his side. Plus, he brought back the Peace Negotiation Book, which makes him a true hero to the Wazhen. No matter how impatient Zhuola is, he can’t openly have him killed. In that case... it’s still uncertain who will come out on top."
Shen Yanchuan’s expression was unruffled. "That’s fine too. The Northern Border will have a period of peace."
Yun Cheng froze, then suddenly realized something.
"Could it be... that when you received Zhuola’s letter, Master, you had already foreseen this outcome?"
At first, he hadn’t quite understood why his master had contacted Zhuola.
At the time, he even thought that since his master had fought several battles against Ugle, he had decided to side with Zhuola.
But now it seemed... everything had been for this very moment!
With the Wazhen engaged in internal strife, they would inevitably fall into chaos. They would be too preoccupied to spare any energy to harass the Northern Border.
Shen Yanchuan smiled. He held the letter over a candle flame and watched as the orange-red fire slowly consumed it. Only then did he speak. "It doesn’t matter to me who sits on the Khan’s throne in Wazhen. What matters is that their fight for the position saves me a great deal of effort."
Understanding dawned on Yun Cheng!
"So that’s how it is!"
Shaken and filled with admiration, he couldn’t help but say, "Master, you devise strategies that decide battles a thousand miles away! In that case, the Marquis at the Northern Border can also lead the troops in a good period of rest and recuperation."
The leaping flames danced across Shen Yanchuan’s face, making his phoenix eyes appear even more dark, serene, and unfathomable.
His expression gradually grew serious.
"With powerful enemies abroad and treacherous rebels at home, the situation would only be worse if not for this."
Yun Cheng’s heart jolted at his words, and his brow furrowed.
"Master, you mean..."
Shen Yanchuan shook his head.
"Let’s just take them one by one."
The last corner of the letter burned away, turning into a wisp of blue smoke that dissipated silently.
"Tomorrow’s court session will be another good show."
...
「The next day.」
Due to Emperor Muwu’s illness, the court assembly had been suspended for several days. On this day, it finally resumed.
The many court officials, lined up on both sides, all kowtowed in salute.
Emperor Muwu sat upon the Dragon Throne, his weary gaze sweeping over the officials below.
"You may all rise."
His body had suffered successive blows and was clearly not what it used to be. The only reason he could sit here now was because he was being sustained by Ye Chutang’s medicine.
The officials below did not dare to raise their heads to look closely, but from the sound of Emperor Muwu’s voice, they could tell that while it lacked its former vigor, it was still deep and powerful.
Many of them secretly exchanged glances.
’His Majesty looks much better than the rumors of him being bedridden suggested.’
’That Ye Chutang really has some skill, to actually be able to pull him back from the brink of death.’
"Present your memorials if you have business; if not, the court is adjourned—" Eunuch Li announced, flicking his horsetail whisk.
The words had barely left his mouth when a tall, imposing figure stepped out from the ranks.
"This subject has a memorial to present!"
Hearing the voice, everyone looked over, only to be stunned.
Emperor Muwu was also quite surprised when he saw who it was.
"Miao Sheng, what matter do you wish to report?"
The one who had stepped forward was none other than the current Minister of War and concurrent Suinan Governor—Miao Sheng.
"Has something else happened in Sui Nan?"
Ever since Xu Jie’s death, Miao Sheng had taken his position and had been busy with disaster relief in Sui Nan, pacifying the refugees.
It wasn’t until before the new year, when the weather turned freezing and the rivers froze over, and the relief grain had reached the most severely affected areas of Sui Nan, that the disaster was finally brought under control. Only then did Miao Sheng return to the Capital City.
Hearing Emperor Muwu’s question, Miao Sheng shook his head and said, "Reporting to Your Majesty, the disaster in Sui Nan has been alleviated. This subject is presenting a memorial today for another matter!"
"Oh?"
Emperor Muwu grew curious. Miao Sheng had always been low-key; for him to act with such gravity, the matter was surely not simple.
"Speak."
Miao Sheng said in a heavy voice,
"This subject wishes to impeach the Beijiang Jingyuan Deputy General and General Xianwu—Zheng Baosu! For four major crimes: Falsifying military intelligence! Fraudulently claiming military merits! Corruption and dereliction of duty! And colluding with foreign enemies!"
The accusation was a bombshell.
After a moment of dead silence, the vast hall erupted in an uproar!
Everyone was stunned, barely able to believe their own ears.
"What did Lord Mou just say? Who is he impeaching?"
"Zheng Baosu! He’s impeaching Zheng Baosu!"
"That name sounds familiar... didn’t he perform several great deeds on the Northern Border? Why would Lord Mou suddenly impeach him? And with... with such serious charges?"
"Those four charges... they’re all capital offenses!"
Amid the clamoring crowd, one man’s face was exceptionally grim.
—Fan Chengzhuo.
Since his last demotion, he was now merely a fifth-rank official and could only stand at the very back of the ranks.
But he had heard every single word Miao Sheng said, loud and clear!
He stared intently at the figure in front of him, his hands clenched into tight fists inside his sleeves, and the blood in his veins seemed to run cold.
Only a single thought remained in his mind—
’Miao Sheng is coming after me!’