Done! Your Majesty is going to prostitute me for free!

The cabinet chief, Tang Xingjia, was a burly man with a sinister look. His eyes were deep, as if they could swallow all the light. The group of followers beside him all had cunning faces and sneered smiles, which contained endless ridicule and disdain. One of them had a slightly round face and high emotional intelligence. He raised his mouth and said in an extremely hypocritical tone: "This is a great opportunity to donate money to get promoted!" After that, he shook his head pretentiously, as if he felt sorry for those who did not understand this "good opportunity". Those followers with lower emotional intelligence laughed without scruples and mocked directly: "Isn't this just selling official positions at a price!" Their laughter was full of contempt and disdain for Li Banghua.

Li Banghua, a second-rank official with the title of Shaofu, should have been awe-inspiring, but at this moment he became the object of ridicule. They said he was obsessed with power and ignorant to the extreme. After all, his position was already so high, and if he was promoted again, he would be a high-ranking official of the Sanzheng and the first rank. However, in the eyes of this group of people, he was like a clown who would do anything for power.

Back then, donating money to buy an official position might have been justifiable. At that time, the Ming Dynasty was shaky, but at least it was still alive. But now, the Ming Dynasty is like a building that is about to collapse, as dangerous as a pile of eggs that may collapse at any time. Even if you raise a million taels of silver, you can't stop its fate of destruction. Why do this kind of useless work? It's better to keep the money and prepare for the change of dynasty as soon as possible.

Lin Xiaofeng, the emperor, made empty promises, saying only "there will be a great reward" but not specifying what the reward would be. This made the ministers despise him even more, thinking that his words were nothing but empty talk and had no practical significance.

Among this group of people, the governor of the East Factory, Gu Chaosheng, was an exception. He was thin, with a cunning face and a greedy light in his eyes. He knelt on the ground, looking like he was reluctant to give up his love, and said: "I have been favored by the emperor many times, and I am willing to donate half of my property to help eliminate the bandits!" However, seeing this, Lin Xiaofeng's mouth twitched slightly, and he cursed in his heart: This guy is really a money-obsessed guy. After being beaten by me, he still dared to keep half of his property. He is really a model of people dying for money and birds dying for food! However, he pretended to be overjoyed on the surface, and praised: "Gu Chaosheng is really loyal, I will promote you to the third rank!"

Guo Tianyang, the once wealthy businessman, was now short of money. He was thin, haggard, and his eyes were full of helplessness and anxiety. He only had ten taels of silver left, and he felt ashamed to even spend it. However, in order to please the emperor and protect himself, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and say, "I am willing to donate one thousand taels of silver!" When Lin Xiaofeng heard this, he was overjoyed and immediately promoted him to a higher rank.

Lang Jiwu, a minister, was a burly man with a resolute face. He recalled Lin Xiaofeng's words before the court meeting, and in order to preserve his position, he had no choice but to express his willingness to donate. He gritted his teeth and said, "I am also willing to donate 500 taels of silver!" Although his voice was firm, his eyes revealed a hint of helplessness and unwillingness.

At Li Banghua's initiative, more than 40 court officials donated their property. However, Lin Xiaofeng calculated that the donated silver ranged from dozens to thousands of taels, and the total amount was only 50,000 taels! He frowned and asked again: "Is there anyone willing to donate?" All the officials were silent. Those who wanted to donate had already donated, and the rest used silence to express their attitude.

Lin Xiaofeng paused and said, "Since no one is willing to donate, I have no choice but to borrow money. Is there anyone willing to lend me money?" Hearing the word "borrow", the cabinet chief Tang Xingjia almost laughed out loud. He thought: Lin Xiaofeng is the emperor, but he actually wants to borrow money from his subjects. He really doesn't care about his face! In the current situation, what is the difference between borrowing money and donating money? If the fundraising has no results, how can anyone respond to the loan? It's really stupid!
However, others had different ideas. They knew that if Lin Xiaofeng wanted to borrow money, could they refuse? Obviously not. All the ministers and nobles lowered their heads, thinking hard about how to deal with it. Seeing that no one responded, Guo Tianyang was worried that the emperor's face would be damaged, so he hurriedly winked at Gu Chaosheng. Gu Chaosheng had no choice but to kneel on the ground again and said, "Your Majesty, I am willing to lend 500 taels of silver to the court to suppress the bandits." Although his voice was firm, his eyes revealed a hint of helplessness and unwillingness. When Lin Xiaofeng heard this, he was overjoyed and praised him for being a teachable child.

After a while, seeing that no one was talking, Lin Xiaofeng's face became more gloomy. He directly named Wang Zhengzhi, the left assistant minister of the Ministry of Revenue. Wang Zhengzhi was a fat man with a wretched face and a lustful light in his eyes. He first surrendered to Li Zicheng and then surrendered to Jiannu. On the surface, he seemed loyal, but in fact, he was a lewd man. Lin Xiaofeng wanted to start with him. Wang Zhengzhi pouted secretly and stood up to bow in a proper manner. Lin Xiaofeng asked him how much cash he had at home. Wang Zhengzhi hesitated for a moment and said that there was only one hundred taels of cash at home, and the rest were property instead of cash. Lin Xiaofeng squinted his eyes and said, "Since you don't have much assets, I will borrow less. How about half?" Wang Zhengzhi was stunned and thought: Is Lin Xiaofeng crazy because of poverty? He didn't even let go of one hundred taels of silver? He wanted to refuse, but he didn't dare to speak because of the majesty of the emperor. If he lent it out, the money would definitely be gone. He hesitated for a long time before he stammered that he had old and young people at home and that fifty taels of silver was not enough to support his family. Lin Xiaofeng comforted him, "Don't worry, Minister Wang. As long as I have something to eat, I will never let your family go hungry." Wang Zhengzhi had no choice but to agree.

Then, Lin Xiaofeng asked where the Minister of Works Cheng Qinghua was. Cheng Qinghua was tall and dignified. He bowed and said, "I don't have less than 50 taels of silver at home." When Lin Xiaofeng heard this, he said, "Since it's so little, I won't lend it to you." The others grasped the key point and realized that if they pretended to be poor and pitiful, they could escape the disaster.

Later, Lin Xiaofeng asked where the Minister of War Zhang Jinyan was. Zhang Jinyan was thin and haggard. He knelt down and said that he was an honest official and his family had no assets to use. Wang Zhengzhi looked at him sideways and sighed, "What a ruthless character, he doesn't want to lend a penny." Lin Xiaofeng asked him if he was telling the truth, and Zhang Jinyan swore that he dared not lie.

Finally, Lin Xiaofeng asked the cabinet chief Tang Xingjia. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Tang Xingjia slowly stepped forward and said unhurriedly: "I am willing to lend 500 taels of silver to the court to suppress the bandits!" Although his voice was firm, his eyes revealed a hint of cunning. Lin Xiaofeng's face became more gloomy, saying that he had misunderstood him and actually wanted to ask how much cash he had at home. Tang Xingjia snorted in his heart, and then said loudly that his family was poor and had no cash, and he lived on borrowing. The 500 taels he just mentioned were also borrowed.

Guo Tianyang stood aside, gnashing his teeth as he looked at these people. The assets they embezzled were more than the national treasury. When the court was in danger, not only did they not donate generously, but they were extremely stingy. It was really hateful. He looked at the back of Emperor Lin Xiaofeng, his heart filled with helplessness and anger. He hated that he was not Wei Zhongxian, and could not intimidate the court and could not help the emperor solve his problems.

"Duke Cheng?" Lin Xiaofeng continued nonchalantly, and then turned his gaze to the first-class duke. Duke Cheng was tall and strong, with a dignified face. He was one of the pillars of the court. However, at this moment, he was also facing the same dilemma. Although his family was wealthy, he did not dare to take out money easily in this turbulent situation. He looked at Lin Xiaofeng, with hesitation and helplessness in his eyes. He knew that no matter how much silver he donated, he could not change the decline of this court. And he, as a loyal minister, could only watch this court step by step towards destruction.

In the ancient and solemn Huangji Hall, the sunlight shines through the carved window lattices and sprinkles on the smooth floor tiles, but it seems unable to dispel the heavy atmosphere in the hall. Duke Cheng, Zhu Chunchen, a noble whose ancestors had fought with Prince Yan, Zhu Di, and made great military achievements, now kneels on the ground with a sincere face and complex emotions in his eyes. Although his figure is old, his eyebrows still reveal an unyielding pride, which is the dignity and honor given to him by the inherited title.

"My ancestors were all granted the title of first-class duke due to the emperor's great grace. Although the family has some assets, when faced with the approaching bandits, I have distributed the family wealth to the servants and allowed them to escape. Now, there are less than five hundred silver coins left in the mansion. It is really insignificant, insignificant." Zhu Chunchen's words were filled with helplessness and sadness, as if one could glimpse into his deep-seated worries about the fate of his family.

As soon as these words came out, the air in the palace seemed to freeze and became extremely cold. The faces of the court officials varied, some were shocked, some were secretly happy, and most were desperate. They knew very well that Zhu Chunchen's move was actually to protect himself and he was unwilling to contribute his wealth to the national crisis.

Lin Xiaofeng, the young emperor, looked at the ministers below with a sharp gaze. There was anger in his eyes, but also a trace of barely perceptible sadness. He knew very well that this was not just a matter of money, but also a test of people's hearts and the fate of the country.

"Is what you said true?" Lin Xiaofeng's voice was low and powerful, as if it could penetrate everyone's heart.

Tang Xingjia, the experienced courtier, kowtowed in response, with a hint of misery in his words: "The soldiers of the three camps in the capital still owe eight months' salary, and the salaries that the courtiers are short of are not much different."

"Your Majesty, please find a better plan for raising funds!" The ministers echoed, but their voices could not hide their panic and selfishness.

Lin Xiaofeng turned his gaze to Miao Renjian, and when he saw him nod, a cold smile appeared on his lips, which was chilling. "If you lie, wouldn't that be a crime of deceiving the emperor?" His words were like the cold wind in winter, making people feel scared.

However, the court officials were laughing. What if they were deceiving the emperor? When the edifice was about to collapse, would Lin Xiaofeng dare to touch them easily?

"Your Majesty!" Tang Xingjia kowtowed again, his voice trembling. "We have worked hard for our country and the people for half our lives, and we dare not lie in the slightest. I hope Your Majesty will sympathize with our loyalty."

"The Prime Minister is right." Lin Xiaofeng applauded in agreement. The applause echoed in the empty hall, seeming particularly ironic.

The ministers thought they had escaped, but they saw an evil smile on the corner of Emperor Chongzhen's mouth, and an unknown storm was hidden in that smile.

"Okay! Okay!" Lin Xiaofeng slammed the dragon desk suddenly, the sound was deafening, "Since everyone is telling the truth, if I find that someone is lying, don't blame me for being rude."

Several people were stunned, and then fell silent again. It was just a harsh word, anyone could do it.

"Miao Renjian!" Lin Xiaofeng's face was extremely cold, as if it could freeze everything.

"I... am here!" Although Lang Jiwu, the commander-in-chief of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, was extremely bold, he couldn't help but feel a chill on his back when he saw Lin Xiaofeng's icy eyes and words.

"Have you remembered what I said before?" Lin Xiaofeng's voice was chillingly cold.

"I've got it...I've got it!" Lang Jiwu answered tremblingly, with beads of sweat on his forehead.

"You will personally lead the army to the residence of Wang Zhengzhi, the Minister of Revenue, to conduct a search. If the cash found exceeds one hundred taels, there is no need to report to me. His property will be confiscated directly. After the property is counted, it will be sent to the Ministry of Revenue, and his family members will be taken to the Pacification Office to await punishment." Lin Xiaofeng's order was like ice, which pierced everyone present with fear.

The ministers who were so proud just a moment ago now looked pale, especially Wang Zhengzhi, who was in a panic. As the left assistant minister of the Ministry of Revenue and a third-rank official of the court, how could his family not have more than 100 taels of silver? His previous words were just to gain sympathy.

However, with so many people in the court acting pitifully, why only search his home? Wang Zhengzhi looked at Tang Xingjia and saw that he did not react. He became even more anxious and began to think of a solution.

After a moment, he calmed down, kowtowed and said, "Your Majesty, I don't know what crime I have committed that my house is being confiscated."

"Your Majesty, please make it clear!" Wang Zhengzhi knew very well that if he confiscated Lin Xiaofeng's property and arrested him without any crime, then the ministers in the court would drown him with spit.

It is okay to punish someone, but the reason must be sufficient. This is the basic rule of the political game, and even the emperor cannot violate it.

Lin Xiaofeng smiled coldly. Before he could say anything, the Left Censor-in-Chief Li Banghua stepped out and said in a sonorous and powerful voice: "Your Majesty, I want to impeach the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, Wang Zhengzhi, for two crimes."

"The first is the crime of corruption. Wang Zhengzhi's ancestors were poor, and he served as an official for 17 years, but his family property exceeded 100,000. That money must have been obtained through corruption."

"The second is the crime of forming a clique. He formed a clique with the cabinet to pursue personal interests, exclude dissidents, and spread rumors to disrupt government."

"Your Majesty, please punish him!" Li Banghua's words were loud and clear.

"I second the proposal!"

"I second this motion!"

Under the leadership of Li Banghua, the people of the Censorate knelt down one after another, demanding that Wang Zhengzhi be punished. Wang Zhengzhi looked extremely unhappy, as he had not expected Li Banghua to take the initiative to attack him. Everyone knew that Li Banghua was a close confidant of the cabinet's chief minister, Tang Xingjia, and the intention to impeach him was self-evident.

Before he could refute, he saw Lin Xiaofeng smiled slightly, with a hint of amusement in his smile: "You are too kind, Censor Li."

Wang Zhengzhi and Li Banghua were both stunned. Wang Zhengzhi was at a loss for what to do with Lin Xiaofeng's attitude. He wanted to punish him one moment, but changed his mind the next moment? Li Banghua was even more confused. His Majesty said that he would confiscate Wang Zhengzhi's property, so why did he change his mind and say that it was too much? Was the charge against Wang Zhengzhi unreasonable?

Lin Xiaofeng said with a smile: "Minister Wang said that the cash in his house does not exceed 100 taels. If this is true, it means that he is a great honest official and a loyal minister."

Wang Zhengzhi's ominous premonition became stronger and stronger. Lin Xiaofeng continued, "If the cash seized is more than 100 taels, there are only two possibilities."

"First, the money is not Minister Wang's property. It could have been stolen or robbed. Regardless of the source, it must be ill-gotten gains."

"Second, Minister Wang deliberately deceived me and committed the crime of deceiving the emperor."

"Wang Zhengzhi, tell me yourself, which possibility is it?" There was a bone-chilling chill in Lin Xiaofeng's words, as if it could penetrate one's soul.

The hall was silent, and everyone looked at Wang Zhengzhi, waiting for his answer.

"One... two... I mean... no, no, no... I..." Wang Zhengzhi was completely dumbfounded. He never thought that Lin Xiaofeng would have such a big brain circuit. If he answered one, he would definitely die according to the Ming Dynasty law; if he answered two, death by slow slicing would be considered a mercy. What should he do? This is a dead end!
Seeing that the situation was irreversible, Wang Zhengzhi decided to use an open plot. Aren't you, Lin Xiaofeng, planning to use the minister's property as military pay? Then just say it clearly!

He knelt on the ground and begged, "I am wronged! If Your Majesty is short of money, I am willing to donate all my property to pay the army! Please, Your Majesty, spare my family for my loyalty and hard work for the Ming Dynasty!"

As he spoke, Wang Zhengzhi's tears and snot flowed down, giving people a very miserable feeling. However, all the civil and military officials looked at Wang Zhengzhi with disdain, and then looked at Lin Xiaofeng at the same time, their eyes full of questions. Lin Xiaofeng can make money, but not in this way. This is a matter of principle. No one can guarantee that they will not be the next Wang Zhengzhi.

Lin Xiaofeng snorted coldly, and said with disdain, "You want to support the court? You don't deserve it!"

"The court is short of money, but we still have two million taels of silver in the treasury! How could I fall to the point of relying on confiscating property to replenish the national treasury!" His words were filled with unquestionable majesty, as if they could shock everyone's heart.

As soon as these words came out, the whole court was shocked! Everyone, including Guo Tianyang, was stunned. What is the concept of two million taels of silver? Lin Xiaofeng has never fought such a rich battle in the past fifteen years!
Tang Xingjia was afraid that this was a fraud, so he asked hurriedly: "Your Majesty, if there is money in the treasury, why not use it earlier? It would not put the court in such a difficult situation."

Lin Xiaofeng smiled slightly, with a hint of mystery and depth in his smile: "I know you have doubts in your hearts. I didn't know about the two million taels of silver before. It was my grandfather, the emperor, who told me in my dream last night."

As soon as these words came out, the hall fell into silence again. Everyone looked at each other, their hearts filled with confusion and shock. Chengguogong Zhu Chunchen was even paler. He didn't expect Lin Xiaofeng to come up with such an absurd reason. However, he also understood that this might be a helpless move made by Lin Xiaofeng in order to maintain the dignity and authority of the royal family.

At this time, the sun outside the palace seemed brighter, but the atmosphere inside the palace was still cold. The court officials were filled with unknown fear and anxiety. They knew that the storm had just begun and the road ahead would be even more difficult. And Lin Xiaofeng, the young emperor, was trying to save the dying Ming Dynasty in a way they had never seen before.

Mentioning Lin Xiaofeng's ancestor, who is he? It is Ming Shenzong Zhu Yijun, whose reign was Wanli. No one in the Ming Dynasty could match his long reign, and no other emperor could match his greed for money. Emperor Wanli, a monarch who left a deep mark in the long river of history, reigned for a long time, like an endless river, running through the middle and late Ming Dynasty. His reputation for greed is like the brightest star in the night sky, always shining no matter how the years pass. Speaking of other emperors, the ministers may have doubts and discussions, like catkins in the wind, erratic; but when it comes to Emperor Wanli, almost no one dares to object, and they all say the same thing, as if the heavy hammer of history has deeply imprinted his image in everyone's heart.

This is because the story of Emperor Wanli hiding treasures in the palace has long been widely spread among the people. Some people say that he buried countless gold and silver treasures in the palace, which are worth a fortune; others say that he secretly collected countless rare treasures, each of which is enough to make people dumbfounded. These legends spread like wildfire, filling people with endless reverie about Emperor Wanli's wealth.

Tang Xingjia was the first to respond. He was an old official in his sixties, with a haggard face and a gleam of wisdom in his eyes. Although he was in awe of the supernatural, he did not dare to believe in anything that had not been verified. "Your Majesty, where is the silver hidden?" His voice trembled slightly, and he was obviously full of doubts about this matter.

Lin Xiaofeng glanced at him, then turned to Guo Tianyang and said, "Guo Tianyang, do you know that there is a cellar behind the Palace of Tranquil Longevity where the silver is buried? Send people to dig it quickly. Even if you have to dig three feet underground, you must find it." His voice was calm and firm, as if the silver in the cellar was in his pocket.

"I...I obey your order!" Guo Tianyang was so excited that he forgot the court etiquette and walked out of the palace quickly. He was a burly middle-aged military general with a resolute face and loyal eyes. He knew that this was not just an operation to find silver, but also a tribute and remembrance to Emperor Wanli.

After Guo Tianyang left, the Huangji Hall fell into silence. Everyone was waiting, waiting for the silver in the cellar to see the light of day again. Lin Xiaofeng sat on the dragon throne calmly, his heart was calm. His face was cold and majestic, like an unshakable mountain. The two million taels of silver hidden by Wanli were indeed recorded in history books, but Lin Xiaofeng didn't know about it. Why didn't he know? This has become a historical mystery, and there is no solution.

The Yangxin Palace is only 500 meters away from the Huangji Palace, but in this short 500 meters, it seems to contain endless history and secrets. Guo Tianyang summoned the nearby eunuchs and Jinyiwei to go digging together. Holding shovels and spades, they carefully dug every inch of the land. Not long after, Guo Tianyang came back with a silver ingot in his hand and reported with a smile: "Your Majesty, as you ordered, we really dug up silver in the cellar behind the Yangxin Palace. Although the exact number has not been counted, it is roughly estimated that there are at least more than one million taels!"

wow...

There was a cry of surprise in the court. This was not just about the silver, but also about ghosts and gods. The ancients were all superstitious. They would rather believe in such things than not believe in them. Guo Tianyang immediately knelt on the ground, stretched out his hands to the sky, worshiped devoutly, and then kowtowed several times: "God bless the Ming Dynasty, my emperor is wise!" Under his leadership, all the court officials also knelt down. They were filled with awe and gratitude, as if the appearance of the silver was a gift from God to the Ming Dynasty.

"God bless the Ming Dynasty, our emperor is wise!" Before the ministers stood up, Lin Xiaofeng pointed at Wang Zhengzhi's nose and asked, "Wang Zhengzhi, do you have anything else to say?" Wang Zhengzhi was an official with a thin face and flickering eyes. He was stunned when he heard Lin Xiaofeng's question. The silver was like a sharp knife piercing his heart, making him lose the power to resist. He knelt down and begged for mercy: "I am guilty... I am willing to donate all my property, please Your Majesty spare my family."

"What crime have you committed?" Lin Xiaofeng's voice was cold and majestic.

"I am guilty of corruption!" Wang Zhengzhi's voice was trembling and weak.

Lin Xiaofeng sneered, "I gave you a chance!" His voice was full of disappointment and anger. He once trusted Wang Zhengzhi and gave him opportunities and power, but Wang Zhengzhi betrayed his trust.

"Your Majesty, please calm down!" Some court officials began to plead for Wang Zhengzhi. They knew that if Wang Zhengzhi was convicted, they would be the next to suffer. Under their leadership, half of the court officials knelt down. They were filled with fear and anxiety, as if they saw their own future fate.

The more people beg for mercy, the harder it is for Lin Xiaofeng to calm down his anger. These scholars keep saying that they are doing it for the sake of the Ming Dynasty, but what they do is for their own selfish interests. They hold power, but abuse it; they are eloquent, but they are untrustworthy. Han Feizi once said in "Five Vermin" that among the five pests that destroy the country, scholars are the most important. And among scholars, Confucian scholars are the most prominent. What is the core idea of ​​Confucianism? It is not the slogans of benevolence, righteousness, courtesy, wisdom, trust, forgiveness, loyalty, filial piety, and brotherhood, but double standards! They shout these slogans, but their actions are completely opposite to these slogans. Because they hold the final right to interpret these slogans.

Lin Xiaofeng's eyes swept over every minister in the court. Their faces were different, but they all had the same greed and selfishness in their hearts. He took Sun Chuanting as an example and told how a loyal minister suffered injustice because of the corruption of the court and the double standards of Confucian scholars. Sun Chuanting was a brave general who led the Qin army to Beijing to defend the king and made great military achievements. However, because of the corruption of the court and the slander of Confucian scholars, he was eventually arrested and imprisoned for three years! Where is the benevolence and righteousness that the Confucian scholars in the court talked about? Why didn't they plead for Sun Chuanting? The court officials knew this truth, but they all kept silent, fearing that they would be implicated. After this incident, the relationship between the monarch and the ministers became increasingly unstable, especially the relationship between the emperor and the generals. The country needs farmers to farm and pay taxes, and soldiers to fight with their lives. However, no one in the court sought benefits for farmers and soldiers, but instead tried every means to exploit them. So farmers were unwilling to farm, and soldiers were unwilling to join the army to fight. As a result, the country's strength gradually declined. Half of the responsibility for the demise of the Ming Dynasty lies in the objective laws of the feudal dynasty, while the other half of the responsibility should be borne by Lin Xiaofeng and these Confucian scholars!
Lin Xiaofeng knew that these people were not really admitting their mistakes, but were just trying to survive. After thinking this through, his anger erupted like a volcano: "Gu Chaosheng!" His voice resounded throughout the Huangji Palace like thunder.

"Your Majesty...Your Majesty is here." Gu Chaosheng was a young official with a handsome face and a gleam of intelligence and cunning in his eyes. He was watching the excitement from the side and was startled by Lin Xiaofeng's sudden shout. He cautiously glanced at Lin Xiaofeng from the corner of his eye and was relieved when he saw that his anger was not directed at him.

"Go with Commander Lang to investigate the officials I mentioned just now. Any official whose situation does not match what I said can be directly confiscated and arrested without asking for my permission. You supervise each other and make sure to verify it clearly before handing over the confiscated property to the Ministry of Revenue for processing. If anyone dares to protect them or makes mistakes, they will be executed on the spot!" Lin Xiaofeng's voice was as cold and ruthless as ice.

"Yes... yes!" Gu Chaosheng kowtowed tremblingly and quickly fled from the Huangji Palace behind Lang Jiwu. He had a hunch: Lin Xiaofeng, who had eliminated Wei Zhongxian, was back again, and even more ruthless than before. That time he only targeted Wei Zhongxian's eunuch party, but this time the emperor targeted everyone! While he was glad that he had donated money, he also felt a little scared because his family property was quite rich.

As the backs of Lang Jiwu and Gu Chaosheng gradually disappeared, Lin Xiaofeng finally breathed a sigh of relief. At the critical moment, we still have to rely on Jinyiwei and Dongchang! The imperial power of the Ming Dynasty was not dominated by one party, and was restricted in many aspects. Take the army as an example. In addition to the Yongwei Camp, the only military forces that Lin Xiaofeng could mobilize alone were Jinyiwei and Dongchang. The mobilization of other troops requires many cumbersome procedures: first, the emperor needs to discuss with the cabinet and the cabinet drafts an imperial edict; then the cabinet and the Silijian stamp and sign respectively; then the eunuch of the inner palace takes the imperial edict to the Ministry of War to mobilize troops; after the Ministry of War confirms that it is correct, it will equip personnel and materials according to the will and transfer them to the Five Military Governor's Office; finally, a certain governor will confirm that it is correct before leading the troops to fight. If any link is missing in the middle, other departments will not pay attention to your request. This is also one of the important reasons why eunuchs cannot rebel even if they are powerful-no matter how powerful they are, their power is not greater than the imperial power! How could the eunuchs possibly do something that even the emperor couldn't do?
Looking at the figures of Lang Jiwu and Gu Chaosheng going away, Wang Zhengzhi was completely desperate. He couldn't understand why Lin Xiaofeng's character suddenly became so resolute. He was indecisive before, but now he has become vigorous and resolute. He looked blankly at the chief minister of the cabinet, Tang Xingjia, and placed his last hope on him. However, Tang Xingjia just shook his head helplessly. He knew very well that he could no longer do anything for Wang Zhengzhi. Lin Xiaofeng has made it very clear: the officials named will be investigated. And the identities of these people are more noble than each other: there are the chief minister of the cabinet, Tang Xingjia, the Duke of Chengguo, Zhu Chunchen, the Minister of War, Zhang Jinyan, the Minister of Works, Cheng Qinghua... They will all face an unprecedented storm, and the source of this storm is the emperor sitting on the dragon throne with a stern face-Lin Xiaofeng.

Except for Cheng Qinghua, the expressions of the ministers were different. Fear and anxiety spread among them like wildfire, which could not be contained. This was not only because of the emperor Lin Xiaofeng's thunderous anger, but also because of Cheng Qinghua's courage to face the truth and not fear the power, which was like a mirror, reflecting their cowardice and selfishness.

Tang Xingjia, the cabinet chief minister, was usually very impressive, but at this moment, he was like a frost-bitten eggplant. He and the Minister of War Zhang Jinyan staggered out of the class train, kneeling on the ground with trembling knees. There was pleading and despair in their eyes, like two small boats about to be swallowed by a storm. Before they could open their mouths to beg for the slim forgiveness, Lin Xiaofeng gently raised his hand to stop their pleading. It was an unquestionable majesty that made the whole hall silent.

"Don't worry, everyone. Let's start with Minister Wang." Lin Xiaofeng's voice was calm and deep, as if it was the voice of judgment from ancient times. The determination revealed in his words made everyone's heart tighten. They knew the efficiency of Jinyiwei and Dongchang. One hour was enough to decide the life or death of a person, or even the rise and fall of a family. Wang Zhengzhi's heart seemed to be pressed down by a huge rock, so dull that he could hardly breathe. Justice? In this vortex of power struggle, how can we talk about justice?
Tang Xingjia squinted his eyes, trying to catch a glimmer of hope from every subtle expression of Lin Xiaofeng. He knew very well that no matter whether the court's finances were really in trouble, Lin Xiaofeng would use this as an excuse to conduct a thorough liquidation of them. In this case, taking a step back might save his life? He thought in his heart that abandoning the family business accumulated for generations, resigning from this glamorous but crisis-ridden official position, returning to the countryside, and being an ordinary citizen would not be a kind of relief. So he winked at his party members, which was a signal mixed with helplessness and determination. Then, he kowtowed to Lin Xiaofeng tremblingly, with a bit of hoarseness in his voice: "Your Majesty wants to confiscate the homes of the ministers, and I am willing to give up all my property, resign from my official position, and return to the countryside." Zhang Jinyan also knelt down and repeated the same words. Their backs looked particularly desolate.

However, Lin Xiaofeng's answer was like ice that froze his heart. "No!" His voice was firm and cold, as if it could freeze all hope. "I must find out the truth and give you a fair judgment. It won't be too late to resign and return home then!" These words were like a sharp knife, cutting everyone's nerves.

At this time, Li Banghua stood up, his face full of determination and justice, like a bright spot in the dark court. He walked out of the class, clasped his hands and said loudly: "I, Li Banghua, impeach the cabinet chief Tang Xingjia. He is unworthy of his position, forming a clique for personal gain, embezzling military pay, and deceiving the emperor! Your Majesty, please investigate." His voice was like thunder, shaking everyone's heart.

"I second the proposal!"

"I also second the proposal!"

Following Li Banghua's lead, more than 20 court officials walked out of the class together. Their voices gathered into a force that could not be ignored, requesting the investigation of Tang Xingjia. Tang Xingjia's face turned pale as paper in an instant. He originally thought that he could save himself by resigning from office, but he did not expect that Lin Xiaofeng intended to completely eradicate him. What to do? His eyes wandered around the court, like a trapped beast, looking for a gap to escape. He would not give up easily. The more times like this, the more he needed to find ways to protect himself. When his eyes fell on Chengguogong Zhu Chunchen, who was kneeling on the ground, a surge of hope suddenly surged in his heart.

Zhu Chunchen, the hereditary duke, had a deep family background and complicated relationships in the court. With him blocking the way, Lin Xiaofeng might be hesitant and dare not make a big fuss. Thinking of this, Tang Xingjia gave Zhu Chunchen a look, which was a request for help and also a signal of alliance.

Zhu Chunchen was also distressed about being named, and when he saw the cabinet chief winking at him, he immediately understood something. Now that a united front had been formed, the two stood up at the same time, which was a silent resistance and a struggle in despair.

Tang Xingjia began his speech, his voice echoing in the hall, with a sense of tragedy and unwillingness: "My lords, the bandits have invaded the border, and the capital is in urgent need of manpower. I didn't expect that the emperor would want to confiscate our homes to raise military pay." His words were full of dissatisfaction and accusations against Lin Xiaofeng.

"If you want to accuse someone, you can always find a pretext." His words were like sharp arrows, shooting at Lin Xiaofeng. "If you are short of pay today, my house will be raided. Will your house be raided tomorrow? When all the civil and military officials in the court are raided, will he also dig up our ancestors' tombs?" His voice became louder and louder, a desperate resistance.

"If the monarch acts recklessly and his subjects are unable to save the country, then the country is doomed to perish!" His tone was filled with worry and helplessness about the country's future.

"How sad, how pitiful, how ridiculous!" His voice was filled with self-mockery and sarcasm. "My death is not a pity. I just hope that you ministers can remember this incident. Future generations will have justice!" His words, like his last words, echoed in the hall.

Tang Xingjia, a man who had no real talent but relied on his words to become the prime minister of the cabinet, his fate was now hanging by a thread. Is this ridiculous?
"How dare you! Come, arrest Tang Xingjia!" Guo Tianyang, Lin Xiaofeng's eunuch, was the first to stand up. He must uphold the dignity of the emperor, which is his duty. The Jinyiwei outside the door pushed the door open, their eyes full of hesitation and confusion. Seeing that the person Guo Tianyang ordered to arrest was actually the chief minister of the cabinet, they all stopped and looked at Lin Xiaofeng, waiting for his instructions. At this time, without the emperor's clear instructions, they would never dare to act rashly. They could ignore Guo Tianyang, Lang Jiwu and Gongsun Yuchun, but they had to obey that man.

The eyes of the court officials were also wandering between Lin Xiaofeng and Tang Xingjia. They were waiting, waiting for a verdict that would decide their fate. They didn't care whether Tang Xingjia's house was confiscated or not. What they cared about was whether Lin Xiaofeng would confiscate their houses one by one in order to raise military funds. If so, then they might as well unite and resist together as soon as possible.

Lin Xiaofeng also knew what they were waiting for. In the feudal era, the emperor had supreme power and could deprive his subjects and the people of everything, including their lives, at any time. But there was a prerequisite, and that was the charge! As long as the charge was reasonable, it could shut up the officials, scholars, and the people of the world. Thinking of this, Lin Xiaofeng's mouth curled up in a sneer. He was too familiar with things like accusing people. He shook his sleeves, put his hands behind his back, and swept his eyes across everyone's faces. It was a kind of scrutiny and a deterrent.

"My lords, you are all courtiers of my Ming Dynasty." His voice was calm and deep, as if it could penetrate everyone's heart. "Some of you are known for your bravery, some are good at speaking, some are flattering by nature, and some are treacherous by nature. Some love money, some are lustful, some love power, and some seek fame." His words were like peeling off everyone's disguise, revealing their true face.

"I am the only one who can I trust?" His tone was full of helplessness and loneliness. "In order to gain my trust, some people united to deceive me; and another group of people also had to unite to protect themselves, so there were party struggles!" His voice revealed his deep boredom with party struggles.

"Whether it is the Eunuch Party or the Donglin Party, or the Qi Party, Chu Party, Zhejiang Party, or Xuan Party, I know everything. As long as you can do practical things for me and truly serve the good of the Ming Dynasty, then I can pretend not to see your private hobbies." His words revealed a kind of tolerance and understanding, but behind this tolerance, there are more severe punishments hidden.

The civil and military officials in the court were all smart people. They understood the meaning of Lin Xiaofeng's words. In the eyes of the emperor, no one was clean. As long as he wanted, he could punish anyone. Thinking of this, the civil and military officials in the court lowered their heads at the same time, their hearts were filled with fear and anxiety.

However, Lin Xiaofeng suddenly changed the subject and his voice became even colder: "Tang Xingjia, you have not achieved anything since Lin Xiaofeng entered the cabinet sixteen years ago. You only proposed that all officials donate. You are a person with no talent and no virtue. You can neither take the world as your own responsibility nor come up with a strategy for governing the country. You are not doing your job and you are misleading the emperor and the country. Don't you deserve to die?" His words were full of anger and dissatisfaction with Tang Xingjia.

"After you were promoted to the prime minister of the cabinet, you formed a clique for personal gain, embezzled military funds, deceived the emperor, spoke wildly, and committed treason. You should have been executed by slow slicing! I think of you as an official for many years, and even if you have no merits, you have worked hard, so I will give you a chance." Lin Xiaofeng continued to list the evidence of the crimes of the prime minister Tang Xingjia. His voice revealed an unquestionable majesty.

"I asked you to donate money, but you didn't. I asked you to borrow money, but you didn't." There was a hint of sarcasm and disdain in his tone. "I asked you how much cash you had at home, and how did you answer?" His eyes were like torches, shooting straight at Tang Xingjia.

"No money!" There was a hint of trembling and weakness in Tang Xingjia's voice.

"I don't want to rob nor seize, what are you afraid of?" Lin Xiaofeng's voice was full of doubt and puzzlement, "The annual salary of the Prime Minister of the Cabinet is only a hundred taels of silver. You have only been an official for four years. Where did the tens of thousands of assets come from?" His voice suddenly raised, and his eyes were like knives, shooting directly at Tang Xingjia.

Tang Xingjia's face changed drastically, and his heart was filled with fear and despair. For him, property was his biggest and only problem. There was no need for the Jinyiwei to be dispatched, and two eunuchs could find out that his property did not match his salary. However, officials in the Ming Dynasty were all corrupt, and if he was not corrupt, he would not fit in, would be excluded by others, and would not be able to sit in the position of Prime Minister. This was a helpless choice and a sad fate.

Lin Xiaofeng continued: "As a monarch, he is a father! As a subject, I should share the worries of my monarch and father." (End of this chapter)