Volume One, Chapter 11: One Hundred Lashes!

All eyes turned sharply toward the corner, where an old minister stood. His hair was wild and unkempt, as if he had not bathed in days.

“My lord, what objections do you have?” Lin Che’s eyes brightened as he asked.

The unwashed minister stepped forward, glaring fiercely at the others. “You treacherous officials! Those bandits have taken strategic positions and ravaged the region. Yet Middle Grand Marshal Yang Feng, who has never led troops in battle, is bound to cause the needless death of many soldiers!”

“Sun Shudu, how dare you spout such nonsense here!” Before Yang Huaiman could speak, the Chief Secretary of the Chancellor’s Office rose and shouted.

“Your Majesty, I also believe that Middle Grand Marshal Yang is unfit to lead this campaign. Please appoint a more capable general!” Another minister chimed in, followed quickly by several others.

“Ji Boyan...” The Grand Marshal beside Yang Huaiman widened his eyes in astonishment.

Yang Huaiman’s gaze turned icy, filled with murderous intent.

But he kept his composure and said calmly, “Your Majesty, why use a sledgehammer to kill a chicken? This is but a small band of bandits, naturally Middle Grand Marshal Yang can handle them!”

Yang Feng was equally displeased.

“You bunch of scoundrels! I’ll wipe you all out when the time comes!”

Lin Che nodded, his eyes devoid of emotion. “Take them away and flog them fifty lashes.”

At this, Ji Boyan, Sun Shudu, and the others who had opposed Yang Feng’s deployment were struck with terror.

“Your Majesty, do not listen to them!”

“Enough nonsense. The emperor will decide. In my opinion, fifty lashes is too lenient—make it a hundred!” The Chancellor’s Chief Secretary, Shi Youli, advised Lin Che.

Lin Che’s eyes darkened further. “Very well, as you say—one hundred lashes.”

“You, you, you—these few men...” Lin Che pointed one by one at Sun Shudu and the others. “Except for them, all ministers who participated in the discussion shall receive one hundred lashes!”

What?!

Sun Shudu and the others seemed to have misheard.

Yang Huaiman’s heart sank as he asked, “Your Majesty, what do you mean by this?”

Lin Che no longer feigned innocence and let out a cold sneer, his fury barely contained. “What does this mean? The court has laws; everyone has their duties. Does our Great Zhou have no generals left that you want them to lead the army?”

“Besides, those bandits, driven by famine, had no choice but to take to the hills. They are already pitiful enough. Yet you seek to exterminate them?”

“Such actions would truly endanger our nation!”

Lin Che’s words rang out with resolute power, shocking all the ministers.

Yang Huaiman realized he had underestimated this emperor.

From the start, he had only been pretending, to see who were virtuous ministers and who were traitorous.

Quite a clever ploy.

The ministers who had agreed with Yang Huaiman broke into cold sweat at this.

“Your Majesty, we only wish to protect the nation!”

“Perhaps you do, but your foolishness will not go unpunished,” Lin Che said, then turned to two men below.

“Therefore, all shall receive one hundred lashes without exception. Furthermore... Yang Feng and Liu Heng are to be expelled from the court, never to be employed again!”

Boom—

Yang Feng and Liu Heng were stunned, their faces pale as if struck by a thunderbolt.

Yang Huaiman immediately stepped forward, defending the anxious pair. “Your Majesty, they also intend to serve the court faithfully. Besides, all our generals are stationed at the borders; there is no suitable replacement!”

These men were his own faction; expelling them would be a loss to himself.

Lin Che understood his meaning well. “Does our Great Zhou truly lack capable generals?”

“Your Majesty, this is mistaken. Our generals are at the frontiers; to recall them might leave the borders vulnerable,” a minister said.

“Indeed, Your Majesty, do you intend to restore Xiao Aoyu’s position and send her to lead the campaign?” Shi Youli suddenly asked.

At these words, the hall fell into stunned silence; ministers were aghast.

Some even stifled laughter.

Lin Che’s gaze sharpened. He had not expected anyone to dare mention this matter openly.

It seemed his status in court was far inferior to Yang Huaiman’s, and his authority insufficient to command the ministers’ fear.

But Lin Che did not grow angry; instead, he smiled politely. “She is no longer part of the court; I have no control over her. But you, as a court minister, dare speak so to me? It seems the law needs to be enforced more strictly... Take him away; flog him four hundred lashes.”

Shi Youli turned pale with fright.

The Great Zhou’s flogging was particularly severe; four hundred lashes would leave a man unable to care for himself for the rest of his life.

The guards immediately moved to seize Shi Youli.

“Your Majesty, you cannot do this. Lord Yang, save me...” he began.

Before he finished, Yang Huaiman shot him a fierce glare.

Shi Youli felt a chill run through his body, nearly fainting.

Fool!

Yang Huaiman cursed inwardly.

To disrespect the emperor publicly—even he could not openly defend such insolence!

Still, he stepped forward. “Your Majesty, though Chief Secretary Shi spoke out of turn, he committed no grave crime and meant well. If you punish him so severely, it may discourage honest advice in the future.”

Indeed, Yang Huaiman was a cunning statesman; his words were firm yet gentle.

But Lin Che was no fool. Hearing this, he cursed sharply, “By law, he has committed lèse-majesté. To abandon the law in the name of frank counsel is to corrupt the system and harm the nation’s foundations!”

“Does the Chancellor not understand this? Or is there another agenda?”

Lin Che fixed a cold stare on Yang Huaiman.

Yang Huaiman could find no fault in Lin Che’s words but was deeply displeased.

Still, he dared not cross the line in court.

Suppressing his resentment, he bowed. “Your Majesty is wise beyond us all.”

“Very well. Also, the positions of Yang Feng and Liu Heng shall be filled by Lord Ji and Lord Sun,” Lin Che said lightly.

Ji Boyan and Sun Shudu were overjoyed beyond measure.

They knelt immediately. “Thank you, Your Majesty. We pledge to serve the nation loyally!”

Lin Che knew these two were utterly loyal ministers, even to a fault.

But such men were exactly what he needed now.

Otherwise, most would have already allied themselves with Yang Huaiman.

“Rise. I hope both of you will work diligently for the court and keep your integrity,” Lin Che said.

“We shall obey, Your Majesty!” they replied with a nod.

Then Lin Che turned to the other ministers. “Does anyone else have anything to say?”

With Shi Youli’s example fresh in their minds, no one dared speak against Lin Che.

Compared, their punishment of a hundred lashes was merely a brief pain.

No one in their right mind would choose death over a few days of suffering.

Though the Chancellor wielded great power, he could not save them if they spoke insolently in court.

In other words, Shi Youli had been careless; his punishment was deserved.

After all, this was the Great Zhou, where imperial authority reigned supreme.

As the court adjourned, Yang Huaiman’s venomous gaze could no longer be concealed and was fixed mercilessly on Lin Che.

He had not expected Lin Che to treat him with such disrespect.

Then he would show no mercy.

Some matters had already been nearly arranged.