Chapter 4: The Decree to Execute the Chancellor

Your Majesty, some time ago, I received a petition from Haizhou. The contents of this petition are shocking and even contain criticisms of the court; I did not dare to take it lightly, so I dispatched someone to Haizhou for investigation. Last night, the personnel returned, and I worked through the night to organize the information, not daring to be negligent or biased. I ask the King to allow me to report everything to you in detail.

( Forged imperial edict, falsely transmitting the imperial edict )

You have misread! Kong Xiang laughed, "Master Lü, it is a pity that the monarch values you so highly, yet you do not consider repaying this grace, and even engage in underhanded dealings. Such intentions are worthy of punishment!

A servant from the Kong family hurriedly approached, coming to stand before Kong Xiang, and whispered, "Sir, the old steward of the Prime Minister's residence has fled. We have already discovered it, and it has already..."

Of course, to reach the current position, Kong Xiang's thick skin goes without saying; completely unperturbed, he straightens his clothes and speaks clearly: "I received the petition from Haizhou thirty-two days ago; however, due to the significant nature of the matters discussed, for the sake of the world and the royal court, I have specially dispatched both overt and covert personnel to conduct thorough investigations.

The ministers, however, still adhered to the customary etiquette, bowing to wish the king good health and the eternal stability of the kingdom. In this world, where clan power is strong, although the royal family is nominally exalted, officials do not perform the so-called kneeling ceremony; however, in formal occasions, commoners and slaves are required to kneel when encountering nobles

What has happened? ... There is no further information ... ! ... Yes, there is no further information !

It has now been clearly investigated and proven that some matters are true, while others are difficult to verify

For a moment, the Hall of Supreme Harmony was eerily quiet, even the monarch of the Great Li was silently contemplating the implications of these words. The underlying meaning of these words was clear: the chancellor harbors ulterior motives, such a person should be eliminated

Kong Xiang is almost unrestrained in his desire to eliminate his lifelong enemies! However, the confidence that allows Kong Xiang to act this way stems from the fact that the royal court of the Great Li is indeed on the verge of collapse, while the Kong family stands at the pinnacle of the nine streams of the Eastern Victory Divine Continent, such that even a king would not dare to act recklessly. A king can only govern his own territory; however, a Kong family can influence the entire Divine Continent

Thirdly, the recent remarks regarding Xuanwu have been confirmed to be made by the Xiao family and the Li family of Haizhou; these two families are in-laws

But for the small families, it is absolutely no problem to kick someone when they are down! As long as the Confucians are at the forefront, there will definitely be a large number of supporters rallying behind them! The monarch of the Great Li can already "see" that when the news spreads, the entire Great Li court will be thrown into turmoil

Hmm. The Great Li King let out a cold snort, clearly dissatisfied or perhaps in a bad mood. In any case, the atmosphere of today's court meeting was not good

"Return to the court? I am no longer the chancellor!" Lü Bi's mood began to sink. As an elite in the fluctuating world of officialdom, he was well aware of the circumstances; considering the relationship between Confucianism and the various schools of thought, Lü Bi's mood continued to deteriorate.

The king has decreed that I am responsible for everything! Now, I sentence you to death

Well done! A glint of ferocity flashed in Kong Xiang's eyes. The Confucians and the Miscellaneous School are undoubtedly sworn enemies! Since there is an opportunity, it must not be let go.

Three chimes of the bell sounded, and the attendant in front of the emperor raised his voice sharply: "If there are any documents, please present them first; if not, please wait a moment."

Secondly, except for Haizhou, in the remaining vacant lands, the Prime Minister personally supervises the execution each time, accompanied by disciples from various schools.

Allowing the Grand Historian to speak is also a strategy; there are certain words spoken by the monarch that cannot be altered; a decree from the sovereign is not to be taken lightly. Moreover, having subordinates speak is also a means of harmonizing with the emperor's methods.

It is said that at the court of the Great Li Kingdom, on the following day during the morning assembly, all the civil and military officials noticed that the position of Prime Minister Lü Bi was empty, yet none of them were surprised, and they proceeded with the assembly as usual. In fact, it is not surprising; those who can hold positions in the royal capital are not simple figures, each one of them is perceptive and astute.

In such reckless abandon, after leaving the court, Kong Xiang immediately issued an imperial decree to have a squad of imperial guards seal off the prime minister's residence, and personally took the prime minister out of the imperial prison, returning him to the prime minister's residence in a horse-drawn carriage

Firstly, Haizhou indeed possesses both Shenni Peak and Youlong River, and the estuary of Youlong River is located here, with the two being less than 40 li apart; secondly, Haizhou is also indeed the last remaining territory governed by the former Prime Minister.

He is no longer the chancellor, yet he wants to return to the chancellor's residence. What is the purpose of this! Need I say more? It is for interrogation

To seize the vast land of three thousand miles, your nine clans must be exterminated

However, it is utterly unacceptable that you, the Prime Minister, wish to seize the fortune of the Great Li royal court spanning three thousand miles! Even if there were a possibility of this, it is still not permissible

Hmph, I believe your steward has already fled in fear of punishment. Furthermore, this map was found in your chancellor's residence, and there are several striking marks on it. Tsk tsk, the positions of these marks are truly remarkable!

Ah, what excuse is there for adding to the charges? In this lifetime, if one has made an effort, there will be no regrets. A gentleman is open and magnanimous, while a petty person is always anxious! Master Kong, what do you say? Lü Bi is not a spineless person; since he already knows that disaster is unavoidable, he will no longer act as a petty person, begging for pity. Moreover, using the words of Confucius to evaluate Kong Xiang at this moment is indeed to the point!

Oh? The Great King of Departure narrowed his eyes. What does it mean that some are true and some are difficult to verify? This statement sounds like a pragmatic attitude, but upon closer consideration, one will realize that there are quite a few traps within it

However, what remains uncertain is that the so-called expert who discovered the 'Xuanwu Formation' is merely a legend; despite my numerous investigations, I have been unable to verify it. Therefore, it is speculated that this may be a rumor

"Master Lü, speak up. The steward of the Prime Minister's residence has disappeared and has not been heard from since. Hey, the incident occurred last night, and by this morning, the person was already missing. What do you think, isn't this a bit suspicious?" Kong Xiang coldly laughed as he looked at Lü Bi, who appeared to be generously facing death, and seeing the other party's dignified demeanor, he felt a surge of anger.

A guilty minister, surprisingly without a care, is enjoying tea! Are you mocking me?

Indeed, when arriving at the Prime Minister's residence, the gleaming armored Imperial Guards had already surrounded the premises. All personnel, both high and low, from the former Prime Minister's office were blocked off—of course, whether anyone had secretly left beforehand remains unknown. However, the Censorate has always wielded significant power, and with the monarch's permission, their authority is even more formidable. Now that the city gates have been sealed, efforts are being made to apprehend the fugitives—those who flee must certainly have something to hide

Since ancient times, there have only been two types of people who can stand in the court: those with ability and those with connections Of course, one should not speak carelessly about eunuchs and guards

The darkness of the court is not solely due to the infighting among officials, but also stems from the ruthlessness of the emperor

Is that so? Lü Bi laughed, "Why do I feel that these strokes of color are still somewhat vivid?"

"... ... Good! This matter will be handled by you, Minister Kong." After much consideration, His Majesty the Shenglong finally nodded! This matter is indeed somewhat tricky, and having someone else handle it is a very good approach; when the time comes, if the world is not satisfied, then Kong Xiang can be dismissed! This is the essence of royal authority; everything is subordinate to the will of the monarch!

There are some things that cannot be said. And this family has already made its meaning clear

All of the above have been confirmed

Additionally, it is necessary to invite several scholars to interrogate at the court of the Great Li King.

Do you have any suggestions? The king appeared somewhat fatigued, having already gone through the entire matter in his mind in a short period of time—this issue was now inevitably going to affect the already limited stability of the Great Li court; moreover, with the former chancellor's strong influence and the intimidation from the prominent Zajia family, those smaller families truly dared to express their anger but could not voice it.

"Oh dear, Master Lü, you are mistaken. I am strictly following the procedures, and I have received the king's permission." Kong Xiang smiled, his joy evident.

Your Majesty, based on my investigation and analysis, I present the following points

Additionally, it is necessary to kneel during the sacrificial rites. Generally, these rites are divided into those for ancestors and those for deities. However, the worship of deities is also distinctly categorized; those in the heavens are considered gods, while those in the earth are regarded as spirits. Gods require kneeling in reverence, whereas spirits are to be honored with appropriate rites.

Hmm! The esteemed King Shenglong, what a timely occurrence! Just last night, the Prime Minister "surrendered," and you spent the night "organizing" everything, only to present it this morning

"Lord Kong, what are you trying to do!" Although sitting in the carriage, Lu Bi felt uneasy in his heart

Kong Xianggen did not report to the king at all, nor did he wait until noon or arrive at the execution ground; he executed Lü Bi right at the gate of the Prime Minister's residence. It is a pity that a generation's Prime Minister, a master of the miscellaneous school, was thus beheaded at the court of the Great Li dynasty. Subsequently, the entire Prime Minister's residence was subjected to a thorough investigation

Wow! Lü Bi could no longer sit still, "Kong Xiang, why are you so malicious!"

Moreover, this is not all. Subsequently, Kong Xiang further fabricated a decree from the king: In consideration of the chancellor's contributions to the Great Li Kingdom and the Library Court, he would show mercy to the lives of the Lü family of Great Li, but in order to pacify the world, the entire family must be expelled from the Great Li royal court, with a deadline of one month to leave. As the steward has "fled in fear of punishment and has been missing without a trace until now," there is no need for further investigation! A direct verdict!

Subsequent court affairs have not seen many new developments; they mostly consist of trivial matters. Over the past three years, due to the chancellor seeking opportunities in the interstices, the country has become relatively prosperous, leading to a significant strengthening of military capabilities. Thus, the nation can be considered to be experiencing a certain revival. This is also the primary reason why the monarch is reluctant to punish the chancellor.

Let alone ... ...

"Send the Prime Minister back to the residence." Kong Xiang rode on horseback, following the Imperial Guard's advance; the Eastern Victory Divine Land was fragmented, and naturally, Confucianism was not merely the domain of powerless scholars. Confucianism also emphasizes the Six Arts of the Gentleman: rites, music, archery, charioteering, calligraphy, and mathematics. However, in this fragmented land, while the rites and music have collapsed, it is worth noting that archery and charioteering are still pursued by some Confucian disciples. Originally, charioteering referred to driving a carriage, but with the changes brought by war, it has now transformed into mounted archery and cavalry combat. Rites, music, archery, charioteering, calligraphy, and mathematics; however, in this fragmented land, while the rites and music have collapsed, it is worth noting that archery and charioteering are still pursued by some Confucian disciples. Originally, charioteering referred to driving a carriage, but with the changes brought by war, it has now transformed into mounted archery and cavalry combat

This is ultimately for the good of the common people, as clarifying the matter benefits not only the common people but also the royal court and the peace of the world

"Your Majesty, I have a memorial to present." The Grand Inspector Kong Xiang was the first to step forward.

In an instant, all the ministers understood that there was something significant happening today. Under normal circumstances, the protocol is "to present a memorial if there is one, and to dismiss the court if there is none"; however, once the phrasing changes, regardless of what it is, it indicates that there is a matter at hand. Of course, the urgency of the matter can be implied in various ways; yet, situations like today are rare. Similarly, instances of the chancellor being imprisoned are also uncommon.

At this moment, the words of the king were precisely in line with Kong Xiang's intentions, "Your Majesty, I believe we should invite Master Lü Bi to answer a few questions briefly.