Chapter 529 The Most Despicable BusinessChapter 1081: Questioning Su Zheting

Chen Tong's expression turned serious.

In fact, before the rebellion began, the East Palace and Sanbao had already issued an order to take advantage of this rebellion to record all officials who had secretly defected to the cabinet that had not been discovered before.

Therefore, capturing people was not difficult for Chen Tong.

It's difficult because it involves too many aspects.

He couldn't help but ask, "Your Highness, are we arresting everyone"

Li Chen frowned.

This statement, if Sānpó was still around, he would have definitely not asked.

Luckily, Su Zhetong spoke up. He said, "Commander Chen, officials who have entered the cabinet can only be punished by an imperial edict from the Emperor or the Empress."

This statement is very clear: Below the cabinet, round them all up. Above the cabinet, don't move a muscle.

Chen Tong suddenly realized, he gratefully said to Su Zhen Ting: "Thank you, General Su, for the reminder."

Su Zhen Ting nodded to accept Chen Tong's thanks.

Turning his head, Su Zhen'ting said to Li Chen: "If we arrest everyone at once, I'm afraid it would cause the major departments of the imperial court to be paralyzed and unable to function. Would you consider arresting them in batches and stages This will prevent too much upheaval."

"No."

Li Chen directly shook his head and refused.

"If you say chaos, weren't they blatantly rebelling and forcing a palace coup this time Just take advantage of this opportunity to kill them all."

Li Chen's tone was sinister and cold. "It's a warning to others," he said.

As for the institutional shutdown, this palace has made some preparations. I will have the scholars who passed the imperial examination last year enter government service to fill the vacancies. Although they lack experience, they can serve as deputies while learning on the job. It's better than them just idling in the Imperial Academy as compilers.

As for the rest, select those from all over the country as quickly as possible to fill the vacancies in Beijing. In times of crisis, extraordinary measures are needed. This selection can relax conditions, and everything should prioritize serving the needs of the court institutions and departments.

"Once selected by the Ministry of Revenue,

no one in the palace is allowed to object. Local officials are not permitted to shirk their responsibilities."

Su Zhen'ting's eyes lit up, and he said, "Your Highness intends to take advantage of this opportunity to test and dismantle local officials, transferring them to prevent the regions from becoming too powerful and weakening the imperial court, thereby countering the imperial court"

Li Chen remained impassive, calmly stating: "Under heaven, all is the sovereign's territory; within its borders, all are subjects of the sovereign."

"The Qin Dynasty had only one court, and it was absolutely impossible to allow any place to challenge the imperial court."

Two sentences express Li Chen's attitude and outline his basic governing philosophy.

Strengthen the imperial power!

After saying that, Li Chen suddenly turned his head to Su Zhenti and said: "General Su, this rebellion has made this palace see many things clearly, and understand many things. Among them, the performance of the military, this palace is especially dissatisfied."

Why would there be sixteen Crimson Artillery cannons at Shenwu Gate That number is comparable to the deployment at Yueya Pass. What is Yueya Pass, and how could someone move sixteen Crimson Artillery cannons from the military undetected and aim them at the Tahe Hall

One sentence contains three questions, but there is only one central idea.

Directly points to Su Zhen-ting's poor management of the military.

Su Zhen Ting said nothing in explanation, lowering his head and saying, "I have failed my duty, please punish me, Your Highness."

Li Chen said coldly, "Although the Red Robe Cannon is nominally under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of War for deployment, if there is no document from your Five Armies Governor's Mansion, it is absolutely impossible to go out through normal channels. Therefore, the appearance of these sixteen Red Robe Cannons proves one point: the authority of the Five Armies Governor's Mansion in the eyes of the army is almost like nothing."to seal Li Yinhǔ's fate, to crush him and send him plummeting into the abyss."Master He, now you just tell us everything you saw that day."He Shouyi swallowed hard, made up his mind, and said, “On tha...