Chapter 1209: Subduing Bian Lingcheng! (1/2)
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
King Song was a member of the imperial household, and his faction in the capital was enormous. As for Yang Zhao, he had Consort Taizhen's backing, and Consort Taizhen's faction and the favor she enjoyed in the court would make investigating a single eunuch incredibly easy. Even if Bian Lingcheng had been appointed General of the Palace Gates by the Sage Emperor, he was still insignificant before Consort Taizhen.
Wang Chong was confident that whether it was in the court or on the border, Bian Lingcheng's greedy conduct had left behind many clues.
News from Yang Hongchang came much faster than expected. It took only three days for Wang Chong to obtain the information he desired.
Ten days later, Wang Chong received word from King Song and Yang Zhao. King Song asked no questions of Wang Chong and provided a detailed report according to Wang Chong's request. Yang Zhao, on the other hand, had sent his report along with a few sentences expressing deep curiosity. He was quite curious to know why Wang Chong was investigating one eunuch, but even so, he still provided an incredibly detailed report.
……
”Milord, spare me! Spare me!”
When Wang Chong threw the pile of evidence in front of Bian Lingcheng, the number three eunuch official of the Great Tang immediately dropped to his knees and plunged his ashen face to the ground.
According to the rules of the Imperial Court, after announcing the imperial decree, he should have left Khorasan. But his greed and desire for the eighty million taels of gold had caused him to delay his departure for ten-some days. He had originally believed when he had received an invitation to come over that Gao Xianzhi had come to understand something, but he had never expected this.
The stack of evidence in front of him made Bian Lingcheng's heart want to leap out of his chest, his entire body to crumble into pieces. Cold sweat instantly began to trickle down from his forehead. These papers listed his various crimes of embezzlement and bribery, and how he had bought and sold official positions. There were some things here that even Bian Lingcheng wasn't sure about, but when he read them, he suddenly began to recall them.
”Bian Lingcheng, a trifling eunuch official like you relied on the token given to you by His Majesty to commit crimes in the military, wantonly enriching yourself, and even daring to extort an important subject of the empire like the Anxi Protector-General. Did you know that this evidence alone is enough to have you executed via a thousand cuts! And not even death would be enough to redeem you!”
Wang Chong coldly glared at the prostrate Bian Lingcheng, his hands held behind his back and his face cold and hard.
”Milord, spare me! Spare me!”
Bian Lingcheng was drenched in sweat, and he slammed his head against the floor again and again, not even realizing that his forehead was bleeding. An immense fear dominated his mind. Wang Chong's case was simply too comprehensive. Bian Lingcheng couldn't even find any place where he could retort or argue.
Given Wang Chong's status, if this evidence were handed over, the only thing awaiting him was death.
”Hmph! Seeing as you once secretly helped Lord Gao, I'll let you keep your dog life for now. If I hear that you're threatening Lord Gao with that matter again, still trying to bribe and blackmail, or selling off official positions, you're finished. Given my capabilities, you probably understand that I'll know where you are, no matter where you run,” Wang Chong coldly said.
”This lowly one understands, truly! Milord, be at ease! No matter how bold this lowly one is, he would never dare to extort Lord Gao,” Bian Lingcheng fearfully said, cold sweat trickling down his face.
”Very good! Take these things with you!”
Wang Chong pointed at a wooden box by his side. Bian Lingcheng raised his head in shock.
”This lowly one would not dare, would not dare!”
At a time like this, Bian Lingcheng would not dare to take anything of Wang Chong's.
”I told you to take it, so take it!” Wang Chong icily ordered, his eyes like beads of ice.
Bian Lingcheng's heart trembled, and he didn't dare to speak again. He crawled up on his knees, his head lowered, and took the wooden box from the table.
Wang Chong stared at Bian Lingcheng and indifferently said, ”Aren't you going to open it?”
”Yesyesyes!”
Bian Lingcheng opened the box, and when he saw what was inside, he froze.
”This…”
Inside the wooden box was a thick stack of gold yuan certificates. The denomination of each of these certificates was enormous. A rough estimate put the total value of these gold yuan certificates at five to six million taels of gold.
Bian Lingcheng raised his head and stared in shock at Wang Chong.
”This is six million taels of gold. Take it. This is for your service to the country in helping Lord Gao. This money should be enough to satisfy your appetite for a very long time, but if you dare to stick out your hand and ask for more, you'll be executed without question,” Wang Chong coldly said.
Bian Lingcheng was so drenched in cold sweat that he really didn't dare to argue any more.
”Many thanks, Milord!”
”Go!”
Wang Chong waved his hand.
Bian Lingcheng had originally believed that his death was certain, but now, not only was he not dead, he had come away with a large gift. With his new lease on life, he did not dare to stay a moment longer. However, he had barely walked a few steps when he suddenly hesitated and stopped.
”What? You have something else to say?” Wang Chong coldly said.
”This lowly one would not dare!”
Bian Lingcheng trembled, fear emerging in his eyes.