When Jing Yi's faction was pleading for Ji Li's case, a few people didn't participate.
Qin Shiyu, Vice-chancellor Yu, Minister of Personnel Peng Yuanhai, and Lord Qu of the Office of Transmission. How strange!
When the Ministry of Personnel first impeached Jing Rong for interfering in the transfer of officials, Peng Yuanhai had been so enthusiastic! Logically, he should now stand with Jing Yi and plead for Ji Li's life together. Why was he acting so uninvolved and taking the high ground instead?
Likewise for Lord Qu of the Office of Transmission. Interesting!
Frankly, the Qizhen Emperor didn't really dare to do anything to Ji Li.
After all, Ji Li held military power. Although it wasn't any major force, it still represented the lifeblood of Great Lin. Moreover, he claimed to be doing his duty by obstructing Jing Rong's entry, only issuing the order to 'kill without reservation' when the obstruction proved useless. He was in the right!
If he really sent Ji Li to be publicly beheaded for this, it was highly likely that Ji Huan would rush in with his troops on the offensive in the next moment. Unless he were able to obtain blackmail to hold over their heads like Jing Yi, the soldiers who had risked life and limb together with the Ji brothers would surely revolt. Even if their revolt didn't succeed, it would still cause a great loss to Great Lin's military strength.
It was a sure-lose scenario! No point considering it further.
The Qizhen Emperor could only give up that notion. He gave him a furious look, "Ji Li, you issued unauthorised commands and almost cost Jing Rong his life. For your order of 'kill without reservations', We can send you out to be beheaded according to the Great Lin's laws, but…" he paused for a moment, "all the courtiers are now pleading on your behalf and We also know that you were carrying out your duty and were out of options. If We really executed you, I'm afraid that the entire imperial court would not be satisfied. In consideration of the many years of service for the country, We may spare your life. However, you are not exempt from punishment. You will be temporarily stripped of your post and sent back home to await further news.”
What? Stripped of your post and sent back home? How is that different from being stripped of his post and under investigation? To put it more accurately, this was covertly removing his military power.
The Qizhen Emperor is undeniably an experienced and wily strategist to have thought of this masterful stroke.
When Jing Yi heard that, his brows knit together in consternation. He hurried forward with cupped hands, trying to dissuade that notion, "Imperial Father, although Secretary Ji…" but before he could finish speaking…
"Enough!" The Emperor slammed a hand on the table. "This matter has been decided. If anyone says anything further, We will punish them in the same fashion!"
Ah!
Jing Yi truly wasn’t afraid of death. He continued speaking, “Even if Secretary Ji was wrong, this son requests that Imperial Father would be lenient towards him.”
“We have already decided, Jing Yi. You have no need to plead on his behalf.”
“But Imperial Father…”
“Enough.” The Qizhen Emperor was displeased.
Jing Yi could only grudgingly shut up. Nobody else in court spoke up, all terrified of bringing disaster onto themselves.
Of course, Ji Li wasn’t willing to accept his fate. It was one thing to be forced to do Jing Yi’s dirty work and stand out to take the brunt of the blame, but who would have expected that the Qizhen Emperor would not play by the book and actually wanted to expel him from his post?
Dammit, all that over such a trivial matter? A thousand horses of straw and mud galloped across his mindscape. [1]
Following that, the Qizhen Emperor suddenly asked him, “Ji Li, do you accept?”
Of course not! I refuse! I won’t accept even if you beat me to death! “This subject willingly accepts his punishment.”
Bro, doesn’t it kill you to say something against your will like this?
The Qizhen Emperor swept his wide sleeves to the side.
Ji Li could only hide dejectedly within the crowd of courtiers, pretending to be deaf and dumb. In contrast, Ji Huan who stood beside him held a bellyful of fire. He turned his head slightly and whispered, “Brother, I reckon His Majesty clearly did this on purpose.”
“Of course I know that.”
“Then you still…” Agreed?
Ji Li was frustrated. “You saw what happened just now. I had no choice.”
Hmph! Ji Huan clenched his fists, furious. He dearly wished that he could pull down that fatuous ruler from his dias for a good beating. The next moment, Ji Li grabbed his arm and softly dissuaded him, “Wait till we get back home before you say anything.”
Ji Huan could only suppress his fury and silently endure. He couldn’t have imagined that the next one would be him.
The Qizhen Emperor spoke, “Now that the punishments have been doled out, we should discuss the matter of the late Emperor’s edict.” Onto the main topic!
The late Emperor’s edict was brought out by an Imperial concubine and presented on a tray. The Qizhen Emperor picked it up and put it on the desk in front of him without opening it. “As my dear courtiers know, the Barbarians started wantonly causing trouble at the borders a few months ago. Troops should have been sent out long ago to suppress and eliminate them. However, due to the ‘Thirty Years’ Accords’, we had to hold back our troops. Who would have expected that the Barbarians would only become more daring and take advantage of the lack of military presence. The posthumous edict that Jing Rong has brought back to the capital is exactly what we need to solve this gnarly problem. The ‘Thirty Years’ Accords’ may be destroyed and ignored, while our Great Lin may send out a hundred thousand soldiers to eliminate the Barbarians.”
Eh? What kind of posthumous edict is that? The courtiers buzzed with discussion.
Jing Yi seemed to have realised something. He suddenly looked towards the placid and calm Jing Rong, his expression unconsciously turning dark. It was as if an invisible and traceless battle had silently started.
As the crowd filled with speculation and bewilderment, the Qizhen Emperor handed the edict to Zhang Quan and indicated for him to proclaim it.
Zhang Quan received the edict as if it weighed a thousand pounds and slowly unrolled it. “ 37th year of Hanzhi, 1st day of the 9th month. The barbarians have been at our borders for over a hundred years. They offered tributes for several decades, and maintained amiable relations. If someday in the future, the Barbarians rise up in arms, initiating disputes and causing disturbances without consideration of amiable appearances, a hundred thousand troops shall be sent to the borders in an expedition against the Barbarians in order to restore order. By the word of the Emperor himself.” His voice resounded in the audience hall.
The courtiers were aghast. The late Emperor actually left behind such an edict?
The edicts of past Emperors had always taken precedence over everything! This posthumous edict is now their saving grace, neatly dealing with a major problem for Great Lin.
However, one of the courtiers questioned, “This subject has a concern; since this edict was issued by the late Emperor, how did Prince Rong come to possess it?”
Without waiting for the Qizhen Emperor’s response, Jing Rong raised his head slightly and turned to answer that courtier in measured tones. “The posthumous edict had been in Marquis Kang’s possession.”
That courtier seemed to want to press for more answers, “Since it was in Marquis Kang’s hands, why was it brought into the capital by Prince Rong?”
“If Lord Zhang would like to know, why don’t you go ask Marquis Kang why he would entrust the posthumous edict to this prince?”
“This…” He was dumbfounded.
The Qizhen Emperor said, “Regardless of who brought this posthumous edict into the capital, it is certainly one issued by the late Emperor. With this edict, the Accords can be abolished; neither the people nor our neighbouring countries would be able to dispute it. However…” he paused for a moment in thought, “although sending out a hundred thousand soldiers would be sufficient to exterminate the Barbarians, they are still unruly and we cannot underestimate them. We have considered the matter for a night but still could not decide who would be the best choice to lead the troops.”
Every single pair of eyes was trained on him, waiting for him to finish speaking.
“Only just now, did We have a good idea.” His gaze suddenly landed on Ji Huan meaningfully. “We had personally conferred the title of Changlin General to General Ji; brave and skilled in warfare, one who has made heroic contributions on behalf of our Great Lin. Nobody would be better suited to lead the troops.”
Ji Huan had been selected.
[1] A phrase to keep note of for the MTL i know y'all are guilty of reading. This is a common pronunciation pun and self-censoring for the curse, f*** (straw) your (mud) mom (horse). i prolly shouldn't be teaching you this
