Shuhan

Chapter 638: Your Majesty’s kindness can never be repaid!
Inside the Prince of Wu's mansion, sunlight streamed in through the study window, illuminating Sun Lu's slightly immature yet somewhat sinister face.

Although he was still a teenager, his brows already showed a calmness and ruthlessness that did not belong to his age. His eyes sometimes flashed with desire for power, and sometimes revealed greed for beauty and wealth.

The noble families on the list, all their prominent names, have now turned into a wisp of smoke under the order to confiscate their property.

Sun Lu stood in front of the study window, holding the heavy list in his hand, with a barely perceptible smile on his lips.

These days, he seemed immersed in a game, a game with power and desire as the stakes.

For him, having his house confiscated was not only a punishment, but also a kind of enjoyment.

He could decide a person's life or death at will, and could watch those noble ladies who were once high and mighty become as humble as dust in front of him. The feeling of being in control of everything intoxicated him.

"What a pity! The wealth accumulated by these noble families over decades or even hundreds of years has now become mine."

Sun Lu muttered to himself, a hint of regret flashed in his eyes, but more of it was satisfaction.

He did not take 70% of the proceeds from the confiscation of property for himself as rumored by the outside world, but instead divided the proceeds 50-50 with the Emperor of the Han Dynasty.

But 50% of the corruption was enough to make him rich enough to rival a country.

There were mountains of food and fodder, forests of weapons and armor, and countless amounts of money. He seemed to have seen the incomparable mausoleum after his death, which was filled with rare treasures. The number of burial objects would exceed that of any emperor in history.

even
If the Han Dynasty was weak, he would raise his arms and with such wealth and weapons, he might be able to immediately raise a large army and regain control of Jiangdong!

However, at the pinnacle of power and wealth, there was an imperceptible emptiness in Sun Lu's heart.

He was waiting, waiting for the emperor's summons, waiting for the official enthronement of the King of Wu.

This was the moment he had always dreamed of, but at this moment, he felt an inexplicable irritability and uneasiness.

Could it be that this supreme power is really all he pursues?
"Your Highness, the eunuch who delivered the imperial edict from the palace has arrived outside the mansion. Please go and receive it immediately." A guard hurried into the study, interrupting Sun Lu's thoughts.

Sun Lu frowned slightly when he heard this, then relaxed his brows and curled up a sneer at the corner of his mouth: "It's finally here. It's time for my throne of King Wu to officially belong to me."

He straightened his clothes and strode out of the study. Every step he took seemed so confident and determined, as if he had already seen himself wearing royal robes and sitting on the throne of King Wu.

The eunuch, holding a bright yellow imperial edict with a dragon pattern, walked hurriedly into the Prince of Wu's palace.

When everyone in the mansion saw this, they all knew that something big was going to happen, and they all stood in silence waiting.

The eunuch walked to the center of the hall, cleared his throat, and read the imperial edict loudly:
"The Emperor, in compliance with the Will of Heaven, proclaims: I have heard that the kings of the past all won the hearts of the people with their virtues and made their mark with their achievements. Now there is Sun Lu, who is talented and has made outstanding contributions, and is deeply loved by me. Therefore, you are made the King of Wu, and I grant you the golden book and golden seal, allowing you to inherit the throne and rule Jiangdong forever. I hope you will uphold loyalty and filial piety, abide by your loyalty as a minister, and work together with me to ensure the peace of the country. I decree this!"

After reading the imperial edict, the eunuch presented the bright yellow dragon-patterned imperial edict with both hands. Everyone in the palace knelt down to congratulate him. Sun Lu was even more excited. He hurried forward to receive the edict, and secretly vowed in his heart to be loyal to the emperor and patriotic and not to let the emperor down.

Finally, he is the King of Wu.

The position he had fought so hard for was finally in his hands.

"King Wu, His Majesty is now waiting for the King in the palace. Please don't keep His Majesty waiting for too long."

The eunuch looked at Sun Lu with a smile.

"Your Majesty has done me a favor, so I must obey your orders. How dare I keep you waiting for so long?"

Having said that, he immediately ordered his servants to prepare the carriage and horses and set off for the palace.

Inside the carriage, Sun Lu closed his eyes to rest, but scenes from recent years kept emerging in his mind: from his ignorant initial entry into politics to his current power, every step was full of calculations and sacrifices.

He thought of the nobles trembling at his feet and the beauties enjoying themselves at his crotch, and felt both pride and a hint of barely perceptible fatigue in his heart.

There is endless joy in fighting against heaven, and there is endless joy in fighting against people.

But it would be great if we could take a break.

Being hated by the entire Jiangdong people, it would be a lie to say that Sun Lu had no pressure.

Fortunately, we all made it through.

He served as a dog for the Emperor of the Han Dynasty, and he did a good job. Now that the throne of the King of Wu is in my hands, it is time to settle down and enjoy life.

After obtaining the throne of Wu, he had to find a way to stabilize it.

The Han Emperor's palace is majestic and magnificent, and the towering palace walls are like a barrier to the sky, which makes people feel awe.

Under the guidance of the eunuchs, Sun Lu stepped into this solemn and sacred place.

The corridor was long and deep, like a time tunnel, leading him to an unknown destiny.

Every step seemed heavy and solemn, and Sun Lu's heartbeat accelerated.

The air is filled with a faint scent of sandalwood, which makes people feel refreshed.

Finally, he walked outside the hall.

Outside the hall, there are rows of armored soldiers, looking mighty and majestic, standing like iron towers.

They held spears in their hands, wore armor, and had firm and cold eyes, revealing an inviolable majesty.

Sun Lu thought to himself: "Your Majesty has put so much thought into my enthronement ceremony as King of Wu. Not only did he send an eunuch to summon me, he also deployed so many soldiers outside the palace. Your Majesty wants to make use of me!!"

Thinking of this, Sun Lu couldn't help but feel that his future was bright. He straightened his back and straightened his clothes.

hiss~
Sun Lu took a deep breath and tried to calm his inner excitement and nervousness.

However, when he stepped into the majestic and magnificent Han Emperor's palace at the invitation of the Emperor of Han, and stepped into the magnificent hall, he could not help but have an ominous premonition in his heart. This premonition was like a wisp of cold wind in winter, penetrating his brocade robe and piercing his bones.

The atmosphere in the hall was solemn, in stark contrast to the solemnity of the past.

This summons was no longer a private meeting between the emperor and his ministers, but all officials were present. Under the watchful eyes of the public, Sun Lu felt an unprecedented pressure.

He looked around and saw that those former officials of the Wu State who had once served under his father were now staring at him with complicated and resentful eyes, as if he was a lone sheep that had strayed into a pack of wolves and could be torn to pieces at any time.

Sun Lu couldn't help but feel a chill in his heart. He realized that today's summons was not a simple reunion or reward, but the eve of an unknown storm.

Call ~
He took a deep breath, trying to calm his inner panic, then slowly exhaled, trying to make his expression appear calm.

Sun Lu straightened his clothes and bowed respectfully to the Emperor of Han, with a barely perceptible tremor in his voice: "Your Majesty, I am Sun Lu, your Majesty. Long live your Majesty!" However, what responded to him was not the emperor's gentle words of comfort, but a long silence.

This silence was like a heavy burden, pressing on Sun Lu's heart and almost suffocating him.

The air in the hall seemed to be frozen. Even though it was the coldest time of winter, beads of sweat oozed out of his forehead. His face was pale, and his eyes were flashing with fear and helplessness.

What exactly is wrong?

In the end what happened?
At that moment, a mountain of pressure came over him, making Sun Lu feel that his life might be in danger in the next second.

In this suffocating silence, some officials in the court finally couldn't hold back and took the lead in taking action.

The first to bear the brunt was Gu Yong. This old minister, holding a tablet, walked out of the line steadily. He first bowed respectfully to Liu Chan, then turned around suddenly and pointed directly at Sun Lu's nose, with anger and pain that could not be concealed in his voice:

"Sun Lu, Sun Lu, as the crown prince of Wu, you should have been a pillar of the Han Dynasty. Why did you betray your loyalty, collude with foreign enemies, and put the people of Jiangdong in dire straits? Do you know that your actions have turned countless people into wronged souls and changed the color of the mountains and rivers of Jiangdong! Sun Lu, you have disregarded the trust of His Majesty!"

Sun Lu's face suddenly changed when he heard this, but before he could argue, Zhang Zhao immediately stood up. He was old, but his words were sharp and his eyes were like torches, as if he could see through the darkest part of people's hearts:
"Sun Lu, let me ask you, do you know your crime? In the past few days, you have committed heinous crimes. If I count them carefully, there are ten crimes:
First, he secretly communicated with the enemy and leaked military secrets; second, he killed innocent people indiscriminately and abused his power for personal gain; third, he oppressed the people and levied heavy taxes; fourth, he disregarded human ethics and disobeyed his father and brothers; fifth, he formed cliques for personal gain and excluded dissidents; sixth, he was extravagant and squandered the national treasury; seventh, he made unjust judgments and took human lives lightly; eighth, he abandoned the alliance and broke the trust of the world; ninth, he was arrogant and disrespectful to his monarch and father; tenth, he attempted to usurp the throne and overthrow the country.

Do you admit to these ten crimes?"

In a short period of time, Zhang Zhao charged Sun Lu with ten crimes.

As soon as Zhang Zhao finished speaking, a chorus of agreement was heard in the hall.

"That's right. On January 8th of the fourth year of Tianming, you raided the home of Old Biejia Wang and killed him without authorization. You also raped his wife and daughter. Not only that, you also allowed your men to take turns to rape them, so that all the women in Old Biejia Wang's family were raped to death. You are worse than a beast!"

"Yes, and on March 15th of the fourth year of Tianming, you used an excuse to search and confiscate the residence of Minister Li. Not only did you embezzle his family property, but even more outrageously, you imprisoned Minister Li's elderly mother in a dark dungeon, leaving her to wail until death. The scene was horrible. Your actions are truly unscrupulous and outrageous!"

"Furthermore, on May 20th of the fourth year of Tianming, in order to satisfy your own selfish desires, you sent people to break into the home of the governor of Zhao County late at night, forcibly abducted his young daughter, and imprisoned her in your private residence, torturing her in every way, causing the innocent girl to die in endless fear and pain. Sun Lu, do you still have a conscience? This is simply a demonic act, and it is intolerable to heaven!"

The ministers accused Sun Lu one after another with harsh words, and every word was like a sharp blade stabbing Sun Lu's heart.

Sun Lu's face turned from pale to blue, and then from blue to purple. He was trembling and could hardly kneel. The fear and despair that surged in his heart overwhelmed him like a tide.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, please understand!" Sun Lu's voice was trembling as he explained anxiously, "These are all rumors, lies made up by those who want to kill me! I, Sun Lu, am loyal to Your Majesty, how dare I do such a heartless thing?"

There was a hint of sob in his voice, and he seemed to be really frightened by these accusations.

He turned to look at the ministers who were accusing him, with a flash of anger and unwillingness in his eyes.

"They, they all framed me for their own selfish interests! Your Majesty, you must believe me, I am innocent!" Sun Lu's voice became louder and louder, and he seemed to be trying his best to prove his innocence.

However, the scolding of the ministers did not weaken despite Sun Lu's explanation. Instead, it became more turbulent like a tide.

They stood up one after another and accused Sun Lu of his crimes with righteous indignation. Every word they said was like a sharp sword pointing directly at Sun Lu's heart.

"Sun Lu, you have committed numerous evil deeds that are too numerous to list! Not only did you confiscate the property of your family and exterminate your clan, you also raped innocent women. There is evidence for all of this, and the witnesses are in the government office. Your Majesty can go and interrogate you in person!"

Gu Yong scolded sternly.

"Your Majesty, this man has committed many evil deeds. If you do not punish him severely, how can you appease the anger of the people? How can you bring peace to the world?"

Zhang Xiu also stood up. His old master Sun Deng died at the hands of such a rat, and he had long wanted to take revenge, so he asked Liu Chan in a firm tone to severely punish Sun Lu.

"Sun Lu, as the crown prince of Wu, you should be a role model for the people, but you have committed so many evil things. This is the misfortune of the country and the sorrow of the people! Your Majesty, please be vigilant and punish this beast severely!"

An old minister stood up tremblingly. Although his voice was a little trembling, the firmness in his tone could not be ignored.

Seeing this, Sun Lu became even more frightened.

He knew that his situation was extremely critical, but he was still unwilling to give up any hope.

He looked at Liu Chan again, his eyes full of pleading.

Didn’t you say that you would support me unconditionally?

Why are you silent now, Your Majesty?
Your Majesty, please say something.
"Your Majesty, I, Sun Lu, swear to heaven that I have never done anything to harm the people or betray Your Majesty! These rumors were fabricated by those who wanted to put me to death! Your Majesty, please be clear and clear my name!"

Sun Lu's voice was already somewhat tearful, and his words were filled with helplessness and despair.

Everyone in the palace looked at the Han emperor sitting on the dragon throne. Liu Chan had a look of regret on his face and said slowly, "I made a mistake in employing Sun Lu. I thought he was from Jiangdong and would treat the people of Jiangdong well. I didn't expect that he was so rebellious and committed so many heinous crimes. I am heartbroken."

When Sun Lu heard Liu Chan say this, his heart sank to the bottom.

The birds are hidden in their bows, and the rabbits are cooked to death.

Liu Gongsi, you have such a cruel heart!
The Han emperor, Liu Chan, sat on the high dragon throne with a serious and determined expression.

His eyes swept across His Highness and his ministers, and everyone felt his unshakable majesty.

Now that things have come to this, Sun Lu, you have no way to survive.

He immediately gave an order, his voice resounding throughout the hall: "Remove all of Sun Lu's titles and take him to Jianye Prison immediately. Wait for the three courts to hold a joint trial before making a verdict! In addition, all those whose property Sun Lu confiscated will be released back home and their land will be restored."

As soon as these words were spoken, voices of approval were heard in the hall.

All the ministers praised Liu Chan for his wisdom and decisiveness.

His Majesty the Emperor not only severely punished the evildoers, but also took into consideration the innocent people who were implicated.

"Your Majesty is wise and this move is truly pleasing to the people!"

"He not only punished the treacherous officials, but also showed sympathy to the people. He was truly wise!"

"Your Majesty is wise and powerful. While severely punishing the wicked, you also remember to restore the livelihood of the people. This is a blessing for us, your subjects, and a blessing for the people!"

Liu Chan could imagine how grateful to him those nobles and ministers who were implicated by Sun Lu and released by his imperial order would be after they were able to escape and survive.

But Liu Chan wanted to say that kindness cannot be expressed by words, but must be shown.

The Northern Expedition needs you to repay our gratitude!

The battle front is in great need of filling in the gaps, baby!
after all
Your Majesty's kindness is endless!
(End of this chapter)