One Piece of Song Dynasty

Chapter 506 Li Gangyi Part

As soon as Li Gang finished speaking, the court instantly burst into flames, and all the officials began to whisper. Except for the officials who were released during the Jingkang crisis, all other officials were trembling with fear. Zhao Gou observed the reactions of the ministers and thought about how this situation would end. Unexpectedly, Li Gang's following words were even more frightening: "Except for Li Ruoshui and others who would rather die than surrender, all the ministers of the Manchu Dynasty claimed to be vassals of the puppet court. They are all second-rate treason." All the guilty officials should be arrested and brought to justice, and no one should be allowed to slip through the net."

Everyone was shocked when they heard this, and for a moment everyone was in danger. Even Kang Lu beside Zhao Gou became excited. Zhang Jun and Zhao Ding shook their heads and whispered, thinking that Li Gang was not only exaggerating and very naive, but also did not understand what strategy was. Here Li Gang continued: "Those who negotiate peace with the Jin people can be pardoned, but they should make a list and make it public and never hire them."

These words stirred up a hornet's nest, and everyone turned to look at Zhao Gou.

Zhao Gou finally couldn't hold himself back: "I was also ordered to negotiate peace with the Jin people. Is this considered treason?"

Li Gang had just forgotten that Zhao Gou was the chief envoy for the peace talks, and was speechless for a moment. Huang Qianshan immediately said in a strange tone: "The emperor and Bang Chang were held hostage in the Jin camp, but Xianggong Li ignored the emperor's life and death and robbed the camp every night. Is this considered a false life?"

Li Gang also ignored Huang Qianshan and only said to Zhao Gou: "Mencius said that the country is more important than the king. When the enemy's troops are pressing down on the border, I forgive you for not caring about the life of King Kang."

Zhao Gou snorted coldly and said nothing. Seeing that his advice failed, Li Gang cried loudly: "The scholar-bureaucrats in modern times are shameless and do not know the justice of monarchs and ministers. The calamity of Jingkang is a matter of justice and death. There are very few people like Li Ruoshui who do not punish hypocrisy. How can they promote the rule of heaven and earth?" Be upright, Your Majesty."

Zongze felt that Li Gang's bill could not be wrong, but discussing this extremely sensitive topic here and now seemed a bit extreme, especially since it would put himself in an extremely isolated situation, so he frowned and said: "As soon as the impeachment and fraud case comes out, It is bound to cause an uproar both inside and outside the court. Now the court’s foothold is not stable. Mr. Li, can this case be rescheduled for discussion?”

Zhao Gou signaled Kang Lu with his eyes without waiting for Li Gang to speak. Kang Lu understood and said: "Retreat from the court." Then Zhao Gou left in a hurry.

Everyone looked at each other in confusion. Zhu Shengfei, Zhao Ding, and Zhang Jun had changed their admiration for Li Gang into disgust, and the three of them walked out without looking back. Huang Qianshan lowered his head, snickering and went out, followed by Zhang Bangchang. Only Zongze and Li Gang were left in the government office. Zongze looked at Li Gang and shook his head secretly. Li Gang raised his head and sighed.

Zhu Shengfei was both sad and angry at Li Gang. When he walked out of the government office with Zhao Ding and Zhang Jun, he was still complaining: "I kindly recommend Li Gang. Your Majesty is more interested in Li Gang. Who knew that Li Gang would lead to such a situation when he came?"

"The Jingkang crisis is a major change that has not happened in a thousand years. The country has been destroyed, and the morality attached to the state has also ceased to exist in name only. Do you two think that we really shouldn't punish hypocrites to boost morale?" Zhao Ding looked at the two of them, shook his head and sighed.

Zhang Jun immediately replied: "It's not that we shouldn't, it's that we can't. At this time, the king's career is in a difficult situation, and at a time when there is dirt and evil, the court is not stable, and harsh punishments are suddenly imposed on phonies. The court is completely empty, and the people's hearts are bound to be in chaos. Everyone is afraid, everyone is in danger, how can we restore morale?"

"This dynasty hates the scholar-bureaucrats of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms the most, from the Qin Dynasty to the Chu Dynasty, so it attaches great importance to integrity. He and Shouzhi have made a decision and the country is clear. The crime of treason is correct and morale is high. If treason is not punished and even the basic integrity is lost, then I am afraid. Isn’t the Song Dynasty really going to perish?" Zhao Ding argued.

Zhang Jun said tit for tat: "It's good to punish the phony, but now is not the time. Li Gang is eager to punish the phony to boost morale, but this is revenge."

Zhao Ding said doubtfully: "Retaliating against the wise brother means that the party struggle has started again."

Zhu Shengfei nodded in agreement: "The people Li Gang wants to punish are mostly members of the Yuanyou party who drove him out of the court during the siege of Jingkang. Today, Li Gang is determined to get something and acts under the pretense of power. What he said is obviously excessive. Isn't this a party dispute?" "

"With the squabbles between the parties, the disputes about right and wrong in the country and the disputes between the parties will become more complicated and treacherous in the future." Zhao Ding frowned and clenched his jawbone.

Zhu Shengfei shook his head and left with a sigh: "The imperial court has fallen into the quagmire of internal disputes before it has a stable footing. How can it be consistent with the outside world?"

As soon as Wu Shaofen came in from the outside, she heard the whistling sound of arrows. She couldn't help being surprised. She hurriedly ran into the living room with her sword in hand. When she looked up, she saw Zhao Gou shooting arrows angrily and rapidly. There was a mess of arrowheads stuck on the pillar, and Kang Lu was behind him. Standing silently.

Wu Shaofen entered the palace to serve Kang Wang Zhaogou at the age of fourteen. According to Song history, he was serious in nature and often served the emperor in military uniform. He was also well versed in calligraphy and history and was good at calligraphy. As a result, he met Rilong and assisted Gaozong and Xiaozong one after another. The three emperors Guangzong and Guangzong had an inestimable influence on the domestic and foreign affairs of the Southern Song Dynasty in the first sixty years.

Wu Shaofen was stunned: "Your Majesty, what's going on?"

Zhao Gou ignored her, and Kang Lu sighed and said, "It's not all because of Li Gang that man is angry."

"Shut up, Li Gang is loyal and selfless, everyone knows it, how can you slander him?" Zhao Gou turned around and held his bow to scold Kang Lu. Kang Lu retorted unconvinced: "The emperor has already pardoned Zhang Bangchang, and Li Gang will kill him as soon as he comes. How can the emperor still be afraid of his subordinates?"

Just when Zhao Gou was about to get angry, Wu Shaofen rushed Kang Lu out: "Okay, let's see how the preparations for Zong Ze's farewell banquet are going."

After Kang Lu left, Wu Shaofen poured tea for Zhao Gou and said seductively: "Your Majesty, do you still remember Zhu Shengfei's words? Since you have heard about Li Gang's temperament for a long time, and you insist on using Li Gang to do big things, then just make do with it."

Zhao Gou frowned and turned around to take the tea. Lan Gui came back with a pile of memorials, saying that they were all memorials just delivered by the Minister of Civil and Military Affairs. Wu Shaofen was surprised: "Why are there so many people?"

Zhao Gou looked through the memorials one by one, and the more he read, the more surprised he became: "Chen Dong went to the Supreme Court. During the period when Bangchang was the puppet emperor of Chu, he had an affair with Mrs. Jinggong of the Hua Kingdom. Li Shi also reported the case of Bangchang's defilement of the palace. The generals jointly impeached Zhang Bangchang." Like snow flakes, it comes so fast.”

Wu Shaofen asked: "Your Majesty is saying that this was all secretly instigated by Li Gang."

"Who else has this appeal except Li Gang?" Zhao Gou smashed the teacup to pieces and walked around in anger. Lan Gui carefully bent down and picked up the fragments of the teacup, but Wu Shaofen handed Zhao Gou two more teacups: "Don't pick them up, let the emperor continue to throw them, otherwise he will vent his anger."

Zhao Gou looked at Wu Shaofen and stamped his feet helplessly. Wu Shaofen checked the remaining memorials: "Hey, it's not all like Li Gang. Some of them are protecting Zhang Bangchang. Your Majesty, please take a look."

"No need to look, it must be a memorial from Huang Qianshan's party." Zhao Gou said without looking back.

Wu Shaofen was puzzled: "Huang Qianshan was not in the court before, so how could he go against Li Gang?"

Zhao Gou explained: "Although Huang Qianshan is not in the court, the group of people behind him all attacked Li Gang when Tokyo was besieged last year. This time Li Gang came to power and used hypocrisy during the siege last year. Huang Qianshan and his group can Won’t you fight back?”