Martial Cultivator

A Vice Minister of Personnel Shi Jian had just disappeared from the court, and now another Vice Minister of Personnel was once again at the center of attention.

Zhang Zhijian knelt on the ground, holding up a memorial. The moment he spoke those words, all the ministers and officials were stunned. Many doubted whether they had heard correctly. In the two hundred years of the Great Liang Dynasty, this was probably the first time that a subject openly defied the monarch and insisted on speaking out during a grand court session.

His Highness the Crown Prince's expression turned somewhat unpleasant.

Chen Chao, standing at the front among the military officers and the accused of Zhang Zhijian's ten crimes, remained silent, lowering his head to look at his black official boots.

"Your Highness, this subject admonishes the ten major crimes of Lord Warden Commander Chen Chao with death!"

"First, Chen Chao disregards the law and frames the loyal!"

"Second, Chen Chao shows no respect to the sovereign and acts arbitrarily!"

"Third, Chen Chao kills innocents indiscriminately and made enemies with the foreign lands!"

"Fourth..."

......

Zhang Zhijian today seemed to be prepared to throw away his own life. Holding the memorial with both hands, he knelt and shuffled across the square. His robes soon wore thin, exposing his knees, and then left two blood streaks on the ground.

What he called the ten major crimes, to many ministers, did not fully hold up, but no one spoke up now. Everyone's gaze focused on three people: the Crown Prince standing above, Chen Chao standing in front, and Zhang Zhijian kneeling.

At this moment, whether all ten major crimes were true or not was no longer the key point.

Many people were wondering whether it would just be Zhang Zhijian stepping forward today, or if many others would join him.

They also wanted to know how His Highness the Crown Prince would ultimately handle the matter at hand.

In the past few days, countless memorials had been submitted, yet His Highness had ignored them all. Later, he even feigned illness to avoid the officials. But now, it was clear that what Zhang Zhijian was pressing for was a situation in which the Crown Prince had no way to evade the matter, forcing him to face not only Zhang himself, but all the court officials.

Zhang Zhijian had already knelt his way to a spot not far from Chen Chao. His Highness the Crown Prince had yet to speak, and the court was silent. No one expected that the first to break ranks would be the elderly Minister Zheng Huacai of the Ministry of Rites.

This highly respected elder stepped forward, glared angrily at Zhang Zhijian, and said bluntly, "Zhang Zhijian, most of your so-called 'ten major crimes' are strained and contrived. This is the grand court session, how dare you slander a high-ranking official so recklessly!"

The officials were shocked. That Zhang Zhijian would step forward and accuse Chen Chao of ten crimes was already surprising. But that Zheng Huacai would speak up in Chen Chao's defense was even more unexpected. After all, Zheng Huacai was not only a man of spotless scholarly reputation, but also a longtime close friend of Shi Jian, the former Vice Minister of Personnel.

Shi Jian had been exposed by the Warden's Office for serious crimes. By logic, even with ironclad evidence, Zheng Huacai should have nothing but contempt for Chen Chao.

Yet here he was, defending Chen Chao. No one had anticipated this.

Zhang Zhijian did not even look at Zheng Huacai. He simply said, "Is Elder Zheng truly determined to speak on his behalf today?"

"If so, how will Your Excellency face your departed old friend?"

Zhang Zhijian's voice carried across the entire square. Everyone knew of Zheng Huacai and Shi Jian's close relationship. Many nodded subtly, Shi Jian may have been convicted, but surely their friendship still meant something?

"Zhang Zhijian, let this old man tell you, this old man has always despised people like Shi Jian. I must've been blind to have befriended him. If he chose to become a criminal of the Great Liang Dynasty, then this old man will renounce all ties with him! Call it striking a man when he's down, call it protecting personal interest and staying out of trouble, it doesn't matter!"

The old man's beard bristled with anger. This elderly official who had been in the Ministry of Rites for many years had always been known for his normally mild demeanor. But today, he had clearly lost his composure.

All the officials were silent.

It was rare to see Zheng Huacai so agitated. This was not a man throwing a tantrum, and few doubted his integrity. After all, he had long been known in the Divine Capital for his stubborn character.

They still did not understand. This person, not despising Shi Jian was one thing, but why was he speaking up for Chen Chao?

Zhang Zhijian let out a cold snort. "Elder, this official must say that I admire you a little, for daring to risk universal condemnation."

Before Zheng Huacai could respond, from among the civil officials, more and more stepped forward, falling to their knees, both hands holding up memorials, kneeling on the floor, one after another speaking. The contents were identical to what Zhang Zhijian had just said, accusing Chen Chao of ten great crimes.

Zheng Huacai stood off to the side, eyes wide with anger. "Have you all gone blind?"

Zhang Zhijian suddenly turned his head and looked at Zheng Huacai, saying calmly, "Elder, earlier you said most of what this official said was strained and far-fetched, is that correct?"

Zheng Huacai said, "And what if it is?"

"Then wouldn't that mean among what this official said, a good portion was indeed true? If even one of these ten major crimes this official listed is true, should Chen Chao not be punished?!"

"Should he not be held accountable?!"

Zhang Zhijian's words left Zheng Huacai momentarily speechless. It was indeed as the other had said, many of the so-called accusations were strained, but quite a few were genuine. Even Zheng Huacai who had spoken on Chen Chao's behalf could not refute this.

"Elder, you can't speak now, can you?"

Zhang Zhijian stared at Zheng Huacai, his eyes filled with an indescribable emotion.

Zheng Huacai opened his mouth slightly, but in the end said nothing.

Zhang Zhijian turned around and looked up at the Crown Prince standing above. He said solemnly, "Your Highness, a nation cannot be ruled without law. If the law is ignored, how can the people place their trust in it?" "As the saying goes: 'When the Son of Heaven breaks the law, he is punished just as the common folk.' Why should Chen Chao be the exception? This official begs Your Highness to enforce the law, and restore the hearts of the people!"

After saying this, Zhang Zhijian kowtowed forcefully. Behind him, the officials from the Six Ministries and various offices all followed in bowing.

This situation now was close to resembling forcing an abdication.

The standing court officials looked on at this scene, feelings complicated. Before today, many had expected something would happen regarding Chen Chao, but no one had imagined it would be on this scale. It was like a sudden thunderstorm with no time to prepare.

"This subject thinks that Vice Minister Zhang is being unreasonable."

No one knew how much time passed when suddenly, a deep and powerful voice rang out. A tall, broad figure stepped out from among the officials.

Everyone froze.

All the court officials recognized him; it was Sun Congrong, Minister of War.

In the army, there was often talk of men who could fight ten thousand enemies alone. In the past two centuries of Great Liang, with constant war on the Northern Frontier Army against the demon race, true generals worthy of such a title were few. Currently in the Northern Army, the cavalry commander Li Changling could be considered one. If one looked further back, it would be this very Minister of War, Sun Congrong.

Before returning to the Divine Capital to join the Ministry of War, Sun Congrong had spent half a lifetime battling in the north, slaying countless demons. He had served under two successive Northern Frontier Great Generals. Later, due to age and nearly dying in a major battle, his body was pierced multiple times, nearly drained of all blood, he had somehow survived with great difficulty. Because of the injuries, he could no longer serve on the battlefield. Just as the Ministry of War lacked people, the old general grudgingly agreed to stay.

In the ten years since, Sun Congrong's career in the Ministry of War had gone unusually smoothly, perhaps due to the emperor's favor, or perhaps for other reasons. In any case, he had eventually risen to the position of Minister of War.

But though this old general had become Minister Sun, he never concerned himself much with political affairs. Only during major northern campaigns would he involve himself in military logistics. For him to speak out during a court session like this, it was the first time.

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