You rascal, stop right there!

Chapter 184 There are many things in this world that are worse than love (thanks to the extraordinar

The door of the upper study.

In addition to the eunuchs standing upright in front of the pillars, many ministers were wearing official hats and walking hurriedly towards the door.

Emperor Jiaxing, Prime Minister Li Simeng, and several ministers were in the hall, creating a strange atmosphere.

Those who advocated fighting the Qingliu faction and those who advocated peace with Li Simeng's faction drew their swords and attacked the enemy.

The Empress Dowager Cixi, who had returned from Mount Wutai, had received no idea what kind of advice she had received. She only thought that Li Simeng was old and had made great achievements, and after all, he was your majesty's mentor, so it was absurd that he had been reinstated as prime minister.

Even though Bai Wan and Ling Shu had caused such a commotion before, the emperor deposed and reinstated the prime minister, and his favor and trust did not diminish in the slightest. It was simply a joke.

Ling Shumo quietly asked a young eunuch to go and report, while he stood helplessly in front of the door.

At this time, people in the hall were discussing...

……

Jiaxing was sitting on a cushion, holding a whisk in his hand and wearing a Taoist robe.

The other ministers did not dare to stand and look, and had to kneel aside.

Li Simeng, who had just been reinstated as prime minister, could not only stand and overlook the emperor, but Jiaxing even thoughtfully prepared a chair for him in case he got tired of standing.

At this time, the young eunuch whispered carefully, "Your Majesty, the Minister of Rites Ling Shumo wants to see you."

Jiaxing frowned slightly: "Just in time! Xuan——"

When Ling Shumo walked into the hall, the air around him was very hot.

Under the cold blue light, the entire upper study was already hung with three-foot-long scrolls of three gods, various yellow long banners, and smoke-filled air.

Countless painters died in Daying Painting Academy, and they have long been unable to paint the statue on time.

Several paintings, with different styles, were clearly made by the Imperial Court.

"His Majesty!"

Ling Shumo raised his red official uniform and cupped his hands: "I heard that Xuanli invaded and occupied three cities in Daying..."

Unexpectedly, Li Simeng's eyes darkened slightly and he interrupted: "Your Majesty, Xuanli is nothing to be afraid of. We have a vast territory and abundant resources. As long as we give them a little sweetness, they will not invade again."

Emperor Jiaxing leaned forward respectfully and asked earnestly, "Prime Minister Li, what do you think?"

"Of course we won't do anything that would make people's lives miserable! If they want three cities and gold and silver, we'll give them to them. As long as they don't attack the capital, we can still maneuver!"

This concerted effort is clearly aimed at the war faction.

"Your Majesty, your territory has been invaded, three cities have been occupied and you are demanding compensation. This is against the people!"

He meant every word.

At this time, Emperor Jiaxing raised his eyebrows slightly: "Oh, it's Minister Ling! When did you come? I was just about to order you to discuss peace talks with Envoy Xuanli!"

Ling Shumo said anxiously: "Your Majesty, we cannot ask for peace!"

There is no doubt that he knew after the incident with Xuanli that the so-called peace talks would be fruitless.

No matter what, Xuanli is still ambitious and has not given up his intention to invade Daying. There is no way he can be appeased by just these three cities.

This year, they had not yet started trade or confirmed the treaty.

If this kind of sweet treat were given, I'm afraid the entire Daying would fall.

"Your Majesty, I am not so weak that I cannot fight. I cannot ask for peace! This is courting death..."

Emperor Jiaxing was upset after hearing this: "That's enough. I haven't punished you yet! If the peace agreement had not been reached, how could they invade now? I will spare you the responsibility of negotiating peace."

"Your Majesty!" Ling Shumo frowned, holding his breath in his chest.

The people around didn't dare to say anything and just stood aside and watched the former master and disciple arguing.

Cai Lun, who was promoted to Shangshu, bowed and looked quite embarrassed:

"Your Majesty, Xuanli's claim for 50 million taels of silver and gold is too much. The Ministry of Revenue cannot afford it now..."

"Can't produce it?" Emperor Jiaxing said casually, "Then let Zhang Qian, the prefect of Jingzhao, search every household in the capital. There will be at least one ounce of gold left."

This relaxed expression, as if he was ordering food casually.

The ministers seemed to hear thunder and lightning in their ears, their faces turned pale, and they were so angry that they could not control themselves.

"Your Majesty! If you insist on doing this, the people will be alienated and will fall into disarray one day."

Ling Shumo has always been gentle and has a surprisingly good temper. He occasionally shows a strong character, but that is usually because he can no longer tolerate it.

"presumptuous!"

Emperor Jiaxing was extremely furious. Why did this man's behavior seem so familiar?

As the Minister of Rites, he dared to disobey him!

"I would rather offend Your Majesty and seek death than bring injustice upon Your Majesty in the future."

Ling Shumo bowed, and the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Works, and some of the upright officials jointly submitted a petition. Everyone stood aside, as if they were in the study room to "cry and make a plea".

"Your Majesty, I beg you to go to war and recover the lost territory!"

"Please, Your Majesty, send troops!"

……

However, although these dozens of officials knelt down and died for their loyalty and righteousness, they failed to move Emperor Jiaxing.

This group of people knelt from the Shen hour until the Xu hour.

The day gradually darkened and turned directly into night.

In the eyes of Emperor Jiaxing, this was tantamount to a threat, and he was unwilling to listen to anyone except Prime Minister Li.

Therefore, he ordered that officials who advised against war should be punished with caning or imprisoned. Those who were over 10 years old and weak could be placed under house arrest.

"Pass the order down. Minister of Rites Ling Shumo disobeyed the imperial order. Vice Minister of Works Hao Yan, Minister of Punishment Zhai Ying and others will be sent to the Criminal Justice Department."

Emperor Jiaxing let go of the whisk easily, "I still need to discuss the name of the new temple with the master, and we still have to negotiate. Don't bother me!"

"Your Majesty..." Ling Shumo was completely shocked.

All of the convicted officials were loyal ministers who did not support Prime Minister Li and were members of the upright faction.

All the officials in the Nine Ministers, Six Ministries, and Censors who advocated war were imprisoned, but Emperor Jiaxing was determined to advocate peace.

The other ministers who encountered such a situation could not help but cry bitterly.

They stood far away with their red official uniforms...

I just felt that the slender figure was determined in sorrow, and such advice was as insignificant as dust in the eyes of His Majesty.

Jiaxing didn't even look at the backs of these people. He just thought that they were a group of noisy civil servants who were very troublesome and disturbed his practice of Taoism.

Just leave the world's political affairs to Prime Minister Li and he won't have to worry about anything.

……

There was a long red dragon at the gate of the Shangshufang Palace. Twenty-three officials were led by the imperial guards and the people from the prison department and taken to the Ministry of Justice one by one.

"Lord Ling, don't be sad. His Majesty can't listen to anything at this moment, alas..."

The white-bearded Lord Song Taibao was being escorted beside him and shook his head helplessly.

Seeing that the old man was over 70 years old, Ling Shumo stood still in astonishment: "Xuan Li committed such a heinous act, and it is absurd for Your Majesty to be so careless and casual."

It was rare to see this usually gentle man speak in such a way, and Song Taibao was stunned for a moment.

"Be careful, be careful with your words!"

Ling Shumo was silent for a moment. It seemed that after spending so much time with Bai Wan, his temper had become more straightforward.

"This is a big win...ah..."

Song Taibao didn't say anything else, just gave a meaningful look.

Several familiar loyal ministers around him kept silent involuntarily.

What they were fighting for was not just a word of courtesy, but the idea of serving as an official for many years and being loyal to the country, and they had long since put life and death aside.

Ling Shumo's eyes darkened slightly. He looked at the embarrassed appearance of the upright officials around him and only remembered what Bai Wan had said before.

"This level is a matter of life and death for the people. Ling will die nine times without regrets!"

This was exactly what Han Miaoran had vowed to do six years ago.

There are many things in this world that are worse than love...

He also understands more deeply...