Chapter 1099

“This servant… deserves to die!”

Ge Yiren opened his mouth, and finally bowed his head and confessed his guilt. He understood that his crimes had already been fully grasped the moment the secret guards arrested him. Whatever he said now would be useless.

“Hmph, I thought you would use your eloquent tongue to talk your way out of this and confuse black and white.” Xiao Ming stood up and walked in front of Ge Yiren. “After the former emperor passed away, you turned to King Zhao. For that alone, I could have had you beheaded. But I did not hold it against you and still allowed you to enter the Cabinet, reaching the highest position of an official. I hoped that you would truly turn over a new leaf and do your part for the Empire. But what did you do?”

Ge Yiren lowered his head. A few days in prison had already filled him with regret. When he heard this, he immediately burst into tears. “Your Majesty, this servant deserves to die. I should not have believed Ren He’s words, and I should not have had the wild fantasy of usurping power. There is nothing more for this old servant to say. I only hope that Your Majesty will give this old servant a dignified death.”

Xiao Ming sighed slightly. He had given Ge Yiren a chance, but he had gone too far.

For this matter alone, he could no longer keep people like Ge Yiren.

“Usurping power is a crime that, according to the laws of the Great Yu Empire, should be punished by the extermination of the entire clan. Now, I have only dealt with you and have not yet harmed your relatives. You should be content.”

Xiao Ming said coldly. He had now developed a heart of steel. For such a rebellious act, he was determined to set an example. How could he give him any face?

Ge Yiren’s head hung even lower. He already understood what Xiao Ming meant. If he were to say anything more, he would probably bring about an even greater disaster.

Walking past Ge Yiren, Xiao Ming came to Luo Hong. Compared to Ge Yiren, although Luo Hong was kneeling on the ground, his upper body was straight, and his face showed an untamed look, as if he were ready to die.

Before Xiao Ming could speak, Luo Xin suddenly stepped forward and said, “Your Majesty, my elder brother was just confused for a moment. Under my persuasion, he has already shown remorse. I hope Your Majesty will be merciful!”

“Luo Xin, you don’t have to plead for me. A man of honor takes responsibility for his own actions. It was I who plotted with Ge Yiren behind the Luo family’s back. The generals who rose up were also acting on my instructions.” Luo Hong said loudly.

Pang Yukun’s eyes held a hint of regret. Back then, Luo Hong was also a loyal and brave general who made great contributions to the establishment of the Empire.

In the blink of an eye, such a minister had become a traitor. He, the Chief Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, also felt a bitter taste in his mouth. He could not help but say, “Luo Hong, the Emperor has not treated you unfairly. Why did you do such a ridiculous thing?”

“Treated me unfairly?” Luo Hong laughed, his voice laced with a hint of sorrow. “After the rebellion in Chang’an, I followed the former emperor’s order to lead the firearms battalion to join the Emperor, who was still the Prince of Qi at that time. Since the establishment of the Empire, I have fought in dozens of battles, big and small, and later defended the north. I have never had a single complaint. But how has the Emperor treated me? In the reform of the six major military regions, I was promoted in name but demoted in reality, while Zhu Sansi, an unknown soldier, was made a military region commander. Is this the act of a wise ruler?”

While speaking, Luo Hong looked at Xiao Ming without fear.

“Hmph. The six major military regions had two of them occupied by your Luo family. And yet you’re still not satisfied. Are you Luo family trying to rebel?”

Zhan Xingchang was furious when he saw Luo Hong being so rude.

“The commanders are appointed based on merit, so what does it have to do with the Luo family occupying two of them? In the end, it’s still because the Emperor doesn’t trust our Luo family.” Luo Hong retorted.

Zhan Xingchang sneered. “Luo Hong, you think too highly of yourself. You indeed performed well in the war against the feudal lords, but in terms of merit, can you be compared to the Prince of Huainan and the Prince of Yong, who used the power of the State of Huainan to help the Emperor pacify the north and then voluntarily relinquished their fiefs? If that were the case, the commanders should also be Cui Shang’an and Xiao Zhongyi. What does it have to do with you?”

“Besides, as for Zhu Sansi of the Eastern Military Region, he is doing the hard work and the tiring work. He first fought against the Tsarist Russians in the far north. His position as military region commander is also a commander with no troops. He is going to the godforsaken Alaska. Everyone says he is a military region commander, but don’t all the civil and military officials in the court say that he is actually just an expeditionary commander?” Zhan Xingchang’s words left Luo Hong completely speechless. He looked at the sarcastic-faced Cui Shang’an, opened his mouth, but found no words to retort.

He had fought many battles, but in terms of contributions to the Empire, he was certainly no match for the Prince of Huainan and the Prince of Yong.

Now, although Cui Shang’an was in the General Staff, he had no military power and was often ridiculed in the military as the Emperor’s personal messenger.

And Xiao Zhongyi, the son of the Prince of Yong, was transferred to Manila to be a governor a while ago.

Cui Shang’an said slowly, “Luo Hong, the Emperor gave you a high position in the army. It is just that you are not content. But you have forgotten that what the Emperor gives you, you can take; what he doesn’t give you, you cannot snatch. This is where you are inferior to Luo Xin. This is also why Luo Xin can become a military region commander, while you are now a prisoner.”

Xiao Ming nodded slightly. In fact, many court officials had seen Luo Hong’s true nature. He was a good general, but his ambition was too great.

He had seen this during the war against the feudal lords. For the sake of his own career, he was a little too eager for quick success.

And for such a capable and ambitious person, no one would feel at ease using him. This was also the reason why he had sidelined Luo Hong.

“Luo Hong, what I wanted to say has already been said by Zhan Xingchang. Even with your contributions, the position of commander of the six major military regions would not have been your turn. And now the facts prove that my decision back then was correct. Just because you did not get the official position you wanted, you harbored resentment towards me and plotted to usurp power. There are countless officials in this Empire who are dissatisfied with me. Should every one of them oppose me because of a promotion or demotion in their official position?”

After a pause, Xiao Ming said sternly, “As the ruler of a country, what I am thinking about is the long-term peace and stability of the Empire. But your heart only contains your own desire for power, Luo Hong. Ask yourself, if I were to give you a military region to command, would I feel at ease? Would the civil and military officials in the court feel at ease? Would the people of the Empire feel at ease!”

His face, which had been red, turned white. Luo Hong’s initial arrogance slowly subsided. Thinking back to this period of time, all he had in his mind was dissatisfaction with his official position. He never once thought about his responsibility to the Empire.

Thinking of this, he fell silent.

“What’s wrong? Are you too ashamed to speak?” Xiao Ming snorted coldly. “You, Luo Hong, indeed fought many victorious battles, but you, Luo Hong, are at least still standing in this court today. What about the soldiers who fought and died for you to pave your way to success? Did they fight with their lives on the line for you, Luo Hong, to usurp power today! Wrong! They fought for the Empire’s prosperity. Do you not feel a single bit of shame for standing on their bones and causing chaos in the Empire!”