Human Emperor

Chapter 1251-1260

 HOSTED NOVEL

RHE - Chapter 1251: Zhang Shougui's Gratitude!

‹ Previous

Contents

Next ›

Chapter 1251: Zhang Shougui's Gratitude!

Translated by: Hypersheep325

Edited by: Michyrr

Wang Chong stepped forward at this moment. "Your Majesty, Lord Zhang truly did blunder. Fortunately, he was not too late in realizing his errors and repenting for his actions, with this letter serving as evidence. This subject hopes Your Majesty can reconsider the judgment with this in mind."

"Your Majesty, this cannot be allowed! This personal letter alone cannot signify anything, and Zhang Shougui bribed an imperial emissary to lie about the military situation. This is an indisputable fact. If one can emerge unharmed even after deceiving the sovereign, will not the imitators be endless? Nothing can be accomplished without norms or standards, and the country and clans have their laws that must be followed. This subject hopes that Your Majesty can deliver a harsh punishment according to the laws of the Great Tang!"

"That's right! This subject hopes that Your Majesty can uphold the laws of the Great Tang and harshly punish the offender!"

"Your Majesty, please harshly punish Zhang Shougui!"

Now that they finally had grasped Zhang Shougui's weakness, the Confucians of the Imperial Court were loath to let this opportunity go. Ye Haicheng immediately made a statement, and all the civil officials began to agree, imploring the Sage Emperor to harshly punish Zhang Shougui.

Wang Chong watched all this while inwardly sneering. The Confucians were merely making one last desperate struggle. The Great Tang was facing a calamity, and Zhang Shougui, as one of the Great Tang's best Great Generals, had to be protected. Wang Chong was both returning Zhang Shougui's favor and working for the sake of the Great Tang. He would not allow the Confucians to so easily succeed.

As expected, the civil officials had barely finished speaking when a voice resounded through the hall. But this time, it was not Wang Chong, King Song, or anyone else speaking, but the unmoving figure of the Sage Emperor seated above all.

"We already know of this matter. Although Zhang Shougui truly did falsify the military situation, a matter that is truly difficult to tolerate, it was not to the level of deceiving the sovereign."

The Sage Emperor had a dignified and majestic expression as he spoke, and his first words caused everyone's hearts to chill.

"We did not receive Niu Xiantong's fabricated report, but a truthful recount of the battle by the Huang River. He did not even conceal the fact that he had been bribed, and he also offered up the gold yuan certificates he received from Zhang Shougui of his own volition. We have already handed this money over to the Bureau of Revenue with instructions that it be allocated to the Bureau of Military Personnel. As for Zhang Shougui, though he promptly felt remorse and has never committed a great blunder, that he had such thoughts cannot be lightly forgiven!"

The Sage Emperor's words caused the hearts of Ye Haicheng and the other civil officials to chill even more. At a time like this, the harsher the Sage Emperor's words were, the lighter the eventual punishment would be. But the Sage Emperor had already begun to speak, and no matter how unwilling they were, they did not dare to speak.

"However, Zhang Shougui is still a major contributor to the Great Tang who has rendered enormous service. Thus, We have decided that Zhang Shougui's former achievements atones for his crimes. Zhang Shougui is demoted from his position as Andong Protector-General and is made temporary Andong Protector-General. In addition, he is stripped of salary and cannot be promoted for a period of five years!"