readytorunbook Chapter 719: Court Trial
Chapter 719: Court Trial
On the first day of October in the thirty-seventh year of Linguo You'an, at Zhou Chang's insistence, a grand court meeting was held, summoning all civil and military officials to publicly try Prince Rong for his numerous crimes.
Zhou Chang stood at the top of the throne in the Golden Palace, and next to him stood Feng Shuo, the twelfth prince who had just been conferred the title of Prince Fu. Now they were the only two princes of the Emperor in the court.
Prince Fu Feng Suo seemed both nervous and excited.
Zhou Chang was also in a position second only to one person and above ten thousand people, so he did not feel the slightest bit of novelty or excitement. He was even calmer than usual.
Yuan Qi and Yuan Jie, brother and sister, were arranged to sit at the very bottom of the Golden Palace, witnessing Prince Rong's verdict as meritorious officials and family members of the victim.
This was the grace that Zhou Chang had asked Emperor Lin for in advance, on the grounds that Prince Rong had killed Yuan Yu, but the Yuan family was the behind-the-scenes hero in defeating the Shen Kingdom twice. The court should not only uphold justice for the Yuan family, but also commend their contributions.
Emperor Lin was against it at first. Although there was precedent of women entering the throne room, the fact that Prince Rong's affair had become known to everyone was already embarrassing enough for the royal family. Moreover, Yuan Qi's identity was both special and sensitive.
Yuan Qi is not only the daughter of the Yuan family, but also the abandoned Princess Yi.
The two combined are even more embarrassing, it's extremely shameful.
Zhou Chang took out the account book of the Yuan family's support for the war, and pointed out bluntly that the reason why they were able to win the war with the Mirage Kingdom and recover the lost territory without food, money or medicine was all thanks to someone.
This is a war of silver. Without the help of the Yuan family, it may not be possible to drive the Mirage Kingdom out of the border. The "Wartime Order" is still in effect, and the Yuan family is still the biggest creditor of the court.
For the sake of money, Emperor Lin hesitated.
"Father, the Yuan family paid nearly 10 million taels of silver, but they never asked the court to repay them?" Zhou Chang used his last trump card.
So the Emperor compromised for the sake of the silver: "In this case, I will make an exception and approve it this time."
Zhou Chang finally lived up to Yuan Qi's trust and allowed Yuan Qi and his sister to be present in person to witness the final fate of Prince Rong.
Prince Rong, Minister of War Peng Pai, Minister of Personnel Zhou Tang, Commander-in-Chief of the Western Garrison Camp and others knelt under the imperial platform.
The civil and military officials in the court were separated on both sides.
According to Zhou Chang's original imagination, there should be at least several hundred people at this court meeting. There would not be enough room for them in the Golden Throne Hall. Officials of lower ranks who could not fit in should fill up the Danchi outside the door or even outside the Danbi.
As a result, probably for the sake of face, Emperor Lin limited the scale of the court to that of an ordinary morning court, so it was not as grand as imagined.
Emperor Lin sat high on the golden throne, saying nothing, and only asked the Dali Temple to read out the final verdict.
The Dali Temple Minister Chu Liang investigated for more than two months and found more than a thousand people including Prince Rong and his followers, and the files could fill ten carts.
In order to avoid losing face for the royal family, Emperor Lin suppressed and reduced the punishment again and again. However, in the end, the fact that Yuan Yu and Yuan Qi, father and daughter, formed cliques for personal gain, colluded with foreign enemies, framed court officials, provoked war between the two countries, and in order to support the Mirage Kingdom with money, he kidnapped Yuan Yu and Yuan Qi twice could not be concealed.
Just one of them is enough to kill nine generations of the clan.
The nine clans of Prince Rong include Emperor Lin and Prince Yi himself.
Therefore, the most that Emperor Lin could do was to order the expulsion of Prince Rong from the clan and the execution of his wife and children to be demoted to commoners. Prince Rong's biological mother, Concubine Shun Tian, was to become a nun and live with the former Imperial Concubine Yi, Gu, often accompanying the green lamp and ancient Buddha.
Minister of War Peng Pai, as a key figure in Prince Rong's party, should have been severely sentenced. However, because his only legitimate son Peng Liang was already dead and his wife Jiang was the daughter of the Jiang family, only Peng Pai was sentenced to death. The two wives of the Jiang family and the female relatives in the mansion saved their lives, but became slaves.
As for the rest of the party and government minor officials, there were more than a thousand people involved in the case. They were all stripped of their titles and positions and punished according to law.
Finally, there is Wen Fei. Although he was not the mastermind and did not volunteer, he was deceived and got involved in it unknowingly. At least he was also responsible for negligence and was demoted from his official position and was never employed again for the rest of his life.
After hearing the verdict, Zhou Chang felt that it was too lenient and not enough to relieve his anger.
But Prince Rong and his gang have committed so many evil things that no matter how much you hate them, the most they can do is die.
Is there any higher punishment than death?
Prince Rong accepted the order without saying a word.
None of the ministers had any objection.
Prince Rong and his followers were all taken away.
Emperor Lin's expression softened and he looked at Zhou Chang: "Prince Yi has made an indelible contribution to the great victory over the Mirage Kingdom. I wonder what reward Prince Yi would like?"
Zhou Chang had previously recommended merits for Jiang Meng and the officers and soldiers of the three armies in his memorials, and the officers and soldiers of the three armies all received corresponding rewards. Jiang Meng was also given the title of "Mighty General" as he wished.
But Zhou Chang didn't ask for anything for himself.
Emperor Lin's words were just a prelude, and everyone knew that the next topic to be discussed was the most important one.
Zhou Chang really didn't want to take credit, especially after experiencing the bloodshed on the battlefield: "I have no credit. This is all the result of the bravery of the soldiers. If you want to reward me, please give the Yuan family a favor. After all, the Yuan family donated tens of millions of taels of silver for this war."
It had been hinted to the Emperor before that this was a sum of money that the court did not have to pay back, and now the word "donation" was emphasized very seriously, and it could not be more obvious.
The Emperor Lin easily disclosed the matter of Prince Rong, and his mood became much better. He was able to follow suit and asked Yuan Jie: "Oh, I remember that the Yuan family had a companion who had been studying with Prince Fu?"
Yuan Jie stepped out of the group, bowed and clasped his hands, and said, "Your Majesty, I am the tutor of Prince Fu."
Emperor Lin did not want others to associate the past relationship between the Yuan family and Prince Yi with him, so he only asked, "Since the Yuan family has made contributions in this war, what reward do you want?"
Yuan Jie replied in a proper manner: "This great victory is entirely due to the extraordinary talent of His Royal Highness Prince Yi. The Yuan family does not dare to take credit for it, let alone ask for any reward."
Yuan Qi stood beside Yuan Jie, with his brows lowered the whole time, without any reaction.
Emperor Lin just wanted to pass it over lightly.
Zhou Chang quickly took over the conversation: "Father, although Yuan Jie is modest, the court cannot help but express its opinion. I, your son, would like to make a request on behalf of the Yuan family. Please transfer the mining and marketing rights of the court's copper, iron and coal mines to the Yuan family so that the Yuan family can participate in it. On the one hand, it will reduce the burden on the court, and on the other hand, it will take from the people and use it for the people."
This idea is the result of many days of hard thinking.
Based on the "simple" economic knowledge from his previous life, Zhou Chang also knew that when it came to making money, he had to count those with limited resources and a monopoly position.
If you want to describe a person as rich, the best way to describe him is to say that his family owns a mine.
In order to fulfill the promise to "repay the money" to Yuan Qi, this is the only way to do it.
Otherwise, if we really wait for the court to pay back the silver for the "wartime order" double, it will take an eternity.