Chapter 1243: Wang Chongs Counterattack! (1/2)
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
”His Majesty has decreed that memorials should be presented if there are any concerns. If there are no matters, then withdraw!”
Gao Lishi's voice resounded from the upper reaches of the hall.
”Your Majesty! This subject has a memorial!”
As a civil official stepped forward, the daily court session began.
Wang Chong half-closed his eyes and silently listened, rarely speaking. The Great Tang Dynasty was a land of plenty and fortune. In handling all these administrative problems, the court was bursting with talented individuals, and Wang Chong's intervention was simply not required.
Time slowly passed, and one matter after another was handled with astonishing speed. It didn't take long before the court had finished working through more than half of the government affairs.
”Your Majesty, this subject has a memorial.”
At this moment, the Assistant Minister of Revenue, Chen Yuanbao, stepped forward, grasping his ceremonial tablet.
”A few days ago, this lowly subject discovered that someone had fabricated their background, deceived the sovereign, and infiltrated the Imperial Court, even unjustly holding a high position. This subject implores His Majesty to fully investigate this matter and find the truth!”
Chen Yuanbao's voice was like a boulder slamming into the placid lake of the Imperial Court, immediately unleashing vast waves. The other officials were still trying to digest the words, but those young and newly-promoted officials in the ranks instantly paled.
The Grand Preceptor, who had spent this entire time motionless on his wide palace armchair, immediately trembled as if he had been struck by lightning, his face turning bloodlessly pale.
”Absurd! Chen Yuanbao, you've got quite some nerve! Are you saying that all these important officials in court have gone blind?”
With a thunderous roar, the Grand Preceptor stood up from his chair and glared at Chen Yuanbao, his entire body exuding an intimidating aura.
”That's right! Chen Yuanbao, slandering your colleagues is a major crime. If the investigation turns up nothing, are you prepared to take the responsibility?” King Qi also jumped forward, glaring at Chen Yuanbao as if he wanted to eat him alive.
With two leaders of the Imperial Court rebuking him at the same time, even Chen Yuanbao couldn't help but slightly pale under this immense pressure.
The other officials immediately piled on with their criticisms of Chen Yuanbao. For a moment, Chen Yuanbao was the center of a barrage of attacks, and his face became as white as a sheet of paper.
”The clean will naturally be clean while the corrupt will naturally be corrupt. Since they were able to enter the Taihe Palace to discuss matters of state, have they not even the ability to endure an investigation?”
His cold voice ringing through the hall, Wang Chong stepped forward. At this moment, a chilly wind seemed to blow through the hall, and the rebukes aimed at Chen Yuanbao dwindled away. As for the Grand Preceptor and King Qi, their faces shifted several times, a hint of apprehension in their eyes.
Wang Chong was only eighteen years old, and if he could be described with one phrase, it truly would be that he was still wet behind the ears. The Grand Preceptor and King Qi would have normally paid him little regard, but after experiencing his methods yesterday, both of them, as well as the spectating Prime Minister Li Linfu, were filled with apprehension. They did not dare to underestimate this youth.
”All seated are valued officials of the Great Tang who have attended court for ten-some years. Can none of you keep your tempers? At the very least, we should have Lord Chen say just who he is accusing!” Wang Chong coldly said, his eyes bursting with derision.
Wang Chong's words caused the officials to turn green and white in anger. It was true that they had only cared about rebuking Chen Yuanbao, not even allowing him to state who he was accusing. This show of anxiety was truly unbefitting of their statuses as important officials of the Great Tang.
With a flap of his sleeve, King Song stepped forward. ”Your Majesty, this subject agrees! As the matter involves an important official of the Imperial Court, whether it is true or false, this lowly subject believes that it should be investigated. In this way, even if Lord Chen is wrong, the accused can still have their name cleared. An upright man is not afraid that their shadow might be crooked. This lowly subject does not find anything inappropriate about this matter.”
Buzz!
King Song's words caused the Imperial Court to instantly become as silent as a grave. The Grand Preceptor and King Qi became rather pale. Meanwhile, the young and unfamiliar civil officials of the court suddenly had extremely unnatural expressions. Even a fool could tell that Chen Yuanbao's accusation was aimed at them, and the people commanding him from behind the scenes were none other than Wang Chong and King Song.
”Lord Chen, please finish your words! Which lord are you accusing?” Wang Chong said.
”Yes, Your Highness!”
With Wang Chong's encouragement, Chen Yuanbao immediately calmed down. He turned and bowed to the Sage Emperor.
”Your Majesty, this subject accuses Assistant Minister of Personnel Zhang Chaoshu!”
Chen Yuanbao thrust out his right hand and pointed at a young civil official standing nearby. This person just so happened to be the young official who had proposed that the prefectural armies should be dissolved yesterday.