Xianyang City.
Ying Ziye and Zhao Tuo brought people into the palace and presented the crimes of Qu Fenghou, Zhihou and others to Zhangtai Palace overnight.
The First Emperor Ying Zheng got up from the bed, dressed in black, and walked over.
"Father!"
"His Majesty!"
Ying Ziye and Zhao Tuo bowed, took out the crime files and handed them over.
The First Emperor Ying Zheng nodded slightly, sat in front of the documents, spread out the files and looked at them carefully.
The lights flickered and the north wind roared outside the palace.
The First Emperor Ying Zheng looked at the crimes described in the files with a cold look on his face.
Finally, he raised his head, looked at the two of them, and asked in a deep voice: "Ziye, what are you going to do with them?"
His words were calm and calm, making it difficult for people to notice his attitude towards this matter.
The First Emperor Ying Zheng looked at Ying Ziye with burning eyes, obviously testing him.
Ying Ziye cupped his hands and said with a solemn expression: "Return to my father, anyone involved in underground gambling, counterfeit currency manufacturing, assassination, etc., will be beheaded!"
"The private guards are mobilized, thinking of being deceived by others and the blessings of their ancestors, depriving them of their nobility and demoting them to civilians."
There was murderous intent in his voice, but there was also a hint of affection.
When the First Emperor Ying Zheng heard this, his originally calm eyes became surprised, and he looked at Ying Ziye with some confusion.
After all, with his previous iron-blooded methods, it was almost impossible for him to be so kind.
But in just a moment, the first emperor Ying Zheng seemed to understand the reason, and said with a majestic voice: "I will announce the decree in the court tomorrow, and at the same time summon all the marquis and nobles to join the court."
"Anyone who has not arrived will be treated as treason!"
The next day.
It's still dark.
The waning moon still hangs high in the distance.
The emperor's edict has been transmitted to the manor where the marquis and nobles live outside Xianyang City.
"His Majesty the First Emperor summons you and other marquises and nobles to come to the palace to see you today. There must be no mistake!"
When the marquis and nobles heard the eunuch's call, their expressions became more suspicious and cautious, and they could faintly smell something extraordinary.
After the eunuch who had delivered the message left, everyone started talking.
"There must be something fishy about this!"
Fang Fenghou frowned and said.
"Yes, I think so too."
Another prince nodded in agreement.
"Should we run away!"
Someone suggested.
"I'm afraid you're crazy!"
"This manor is surrounded by Lishan troops guarding it. We will definitely alert them when we go out, not to mention the hundreds of thousands of Nanhai Dragon Marquis troops stationed outside Xianyang!"
"Escape is too unrealistic."
All the marquis and nobles were talking about it.
Moreover, I thought of the arrests of Marquis Guangping, Marquis Shengyun, Marquis Qufeng, Marquis Zhi, Marquis Xingyue, Marquis Fengqing Jiang Xingsheng and so on.
The old Zhuoqinghou and Zhuoqinghou's grandparents fled.
The underground gambling city and counterfeit currency colluded with South Vietnam to sell private salt and iron books, and betrayed the whereabouts of the Eighth Young Master to South Vietnam for assassination.
After all the incidents, if they ran away, wouldn't it prove that they were accomplices? There is no three hundred taels of silver here!
It will be useless to argue at that time.
What's more, they didn't do any of these things. They just listened to the plans of Lao Zhuoqinghou, his ancestors, and his grandson.
I don’t know how much lighter it is than the former.
Thinking like this, Fang Fenghou and other noble marquises felt much more relaxed.
Without daring to hesitate, everyone hurriedly entered the city in carriages and entered the palace.
But on the main street of Xianyang City, I saw a notice.
Apparently there is a crime related to their noble Marquis!
But the punishment was never written.
There is a wise saying in Legalism: if the punishment cannot be known, the power cannot be measured!
The general meaning is that when criminal law is not made public, its power is endless.
Everyone will be cautious for fear of breaking the law, and the ruler can also make decisions freely.
The current situation is roughly similar to the above.
The lack of punishment will undoubtedly make these marquises and nobles even more frightened!
There were officials standing under the notice and preaching loudly to the people of Li who did not know how to read.
I could hear the people shouting and cursing, and their anger was boiling!
This made all the marquises and nobles even more frightened and left in a hurry.
It's time!
In Xianyang Palace.
Above the main hall.
All civil and military officials gathered together, but the relaxation was gone.
They have all seen those notices. This is a major event that shocked the entire empire!
"Your Majesty enters the court!"
A feminine eunuch's voice sounded.
The first emperor Ying Zheng entered the court with the emperor's sword Tianwen. He climbed up to the high platform step by step, faced the ministers, and angrily said: "I didn't expect that in just a few months, there would be Marquis Guangping, Marquis Shengyun, Marquis Qufeng, etc. who violated the imperial law." Breaking the law."
"How brave you are! You actually participated in the counterfeit currency case in the underground casino like the Guanzhong clan, and colluded with South Vietnam to smuggle salt and iron!"
"He even betrayed Midnight's whereabouts to Nanyue and ordered him to assassinate him behind his back!"
"Refuse to carry out the military conscription order, and act in a submissive manner to the few!"
The words were like thunder, resounding throughout the hall.
All the officials and courtiers could not help but tremble.
The Marquis Fang Feng and other marquises and nobles standing in the court hall were even more frightened and their bodies were trembling slightly.
The First Emperor Ying Zheng announced in a deep voice: "Guangping Marquis, Shengyun Marquis, Qufeng Marquis, Zhihou, Xingyue Marquis, Fengqing Marquis, etc., all will be executed!"
With these words, dozens of marquises and dozens of nobles were all sentenced to death.
The First Emperor Ying Zheng then looked down at Fang Fenghou and other marquises and nobles, with a cold look on his face, and asked in a deep voice: "Fang Fenghou, do you also have the same intention of rebelliousness as you have acted against the law?"
His eyes were cold and murderous!
Faced with the question, Marquis Fang Feng and other nobles kowtowed and said: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, we will never dare to have any rebellious intentions!"
"The reason why we have delayed entering Xianyang City and handing over the old, weak, sick and disabled soldiers is all because of the advice of the old Marquis Zhuo Qing."
"Your Majesty, please be clear. We have never colluded with South Vietnam, nor have we been involved in the case of counterfeit money in underground casinos, nor have we ever betrayed the Eighth Young Master's whereabouts."
"We, we are willing to hand over all our private soldiers to serve the country!"
"Your Majesty, please forgive me. We have never thought of treason!"
Marquis Fang Feng and other nobles kept kowtow and begged for mercy.
Bang bang bang!
Makes a dull sound.
Their bodies were shaking, their faces were pale, and their eyes were filled with fear.
Young Master Fusu's eyes were sad, showing a hint of helplessness.
A few days ago, he was still thinking about making friends with the imperial marquis and nobles and asking them to support him.
But unexpectedly, Marquis Guangping, Marquis Shengyun, Marquis Qufeng, Marquis Zhi and others violated the imperial laws one after another.
All actions were in vain!
Young Master Hu Hai watched with great interest. Once these marquises and nobles were eliminated by his father and lost their influence in the army, their positions would be vacant.
His men could just take the opportunity to climb up.
At this time.
However, Ying Ziye stood up.
"Father, I think that the crimes of Marquis Fang Feng and others will not lead to death, unlike those of Marquis Guangping, Marquis Shengyun, Marquis Qufeng and other marquises who can commit serious crimes."
"They were just deceived by the ancestors and grandsons of Lao Zhuoqinghou, and they have not entered Xianyang for a long time. Their crimes can be big or small."
"If you forgive Fang Fenghou and others, it will show that my father is not only domineering, but also has benevolence and righteousness!"
"And Marquis Fang Feng and other nobles will also live in Xianyang in the future. After all, without the protection of private soldiers, safety is also a problem."
He was actually interceding for Marquis Fang Feng and other noble marquises!
Seeing such a scene, the civil and military officials were shocked.
Hasn’t the Eighth Young Master always been iron-blooded and merciless? Why did your temper suddenly change today?
Young Master Fusu and Young Master Hu Hai were even more disbelieving and looked at Ying Ziye suspiciously.
Could it be that I heard it wrong? Badi (Ba Ge) has changed his temper?
The most shocked person was Fang Fenghou and other nobles. They looked at Ying Ziye with wide eyes, in disbelief.
"This, this, this!"
"Eighth Young Master actually begged for mercy for us?"
Marquis Fang Feng and other noble marquises looked shocked.
As for not only having no private soldiers from now on, but also living in Xianyang, they also know that this is house arrest.
But under pressure, the situation was stronger than the people, and the Eighth Young Master was trying to save them, so he didn't speak to refute.
At the same time, he bowed to the ground with a pitiful expression, secretly looking at the First Emperor Ying Zheng, waiting for his resignation.
"Um!"
The First Emperor Ying Zheng nodded slightly, his face majestic.
Walking on the high platform, he placed one hand on Tianwen.
The First Emperor muttered: "For the sake of Midnight's plea, and because your crimes are relatively minor, I will spare your lives."
The words just fell.
Marquis Fang Feng and other noble marquises impatiently thanked him, kowtowed and said, "We would like to thank His Majesty the First Emperor!"
"Thank you for your magnanimity, Your Majesty!"
"Thank you so much for your kindheartedness, the Eighth Young Master, for interceding for us..."
The First Emperor, Ying Zheng, was sitting on the throne, his face hidden under the crown, looming and unknowable, and he said in a deep voice: "I hope you will keep this in mind in the future and don't do it again, otherwise I will kill you without mercy!"
The words fell slowly, like nectar.
Immediately, Fang Fenghou and others felt relieved, and bowed again: "Your Majesty is kind, thank you very much!"
"His Majesty Emperor Fuwei will live forever!"
