Iron Dynasty Chapter 1099

“This servant deserves the death penalty!”

Ge Yiren opened his mouth, and ultimately bowed his head, admitting his guilt. He realized that the moment the secret guards apprehended him, his transgressions were already fully known. Anything he uttered now would prove futile.

“Hmph, I had anticipated you would employ your silver tongue to escape accountability and distort the truth,” Xiao Ming declared, rising from his seat and approaching Ge Yiren. “Following the former emperor’s demise, you pledged allegiance to King Zhao. For that transgression alone, I could have ordered your execution. Nevertheless, I overlooked it and permitted you to join the Cabinet, ascending to the pinnacle of officialdom. My hope was that you would genuinely reform and contribute to the Empire. But tell me, what was your response?”

Ge Yiren kept his head lowered. A mere few days confined in prison had already inundated him with remorse. Upon hearing Xiao Ming’s words, he immediately dissolved into tears. “Your Majesty, this servant is deserving of death. I made a grave error in heeding Ren He’s counsel and harbored the audacious ambition of usurping power. This old servant has nothing further to say. I merely implore Your Majesty to grant this old servant a dignified end.”

Xiao Ming emitted a faint sigh. He had extended an opportunity to Ge Yiren, but the official had overstepped all bounds.

Because of this singular offense, the Emperor could no longer countenance the presence of individuals like Ge Yiren.

“The act of usurpation is a crime which, under the statutes of the Great Yu Empire, warrants the obliteration of the entire clan. At present, I have proceeded solely against you, refraining from implicating your kin. You ought to find solace in this leniency.”

Xiao Ming stated with icy resolve. His heart had hardened to steel. For such a treacherous act, he was unwavering in his decision to make an example. How could he possibly afford Ge Yiren any special consideration?

Ge Yiren’s head drooped even lower. He now grasped Xiao Ming’s meaning. Should he utter another word, he risked inviting even greater calamity upon himself.

Passing Ge Yiren by, Xiao Ming approached Luo Hong. In contrast to Ge Yiren, Luo Hong, though kneeling on the flagstones, held his upper body erect. His countenance bore an air of defiance, as if he stood prepared to embrace death.

Before Xiao Ming could utter a word, Luo Xin abruptly stepped forward. “Your Majesty, my elder brother was merely momentarily misguided. Under my earnest counsel, he has already expressed profound remorse. I humbly beseech Your Majesty’s compassion!”

“Luo Xin, you need not intercede on my behalf. An honorable man bears the full weight of his actions. It was I who conspired with Ge Yiren, operating behind the Luo family’s awareness. The generals who subsequently rose in revolt were also acting under my direct orders,” Luo Hong proclaimed with unwavering conviction.

Pang Yukun’s gaze was tinged with a measure of regret. In days past, Luo Hong had been a steadfast and valiant general, making significant contributions to the Empire’s founding.

In the blink of an eye, such a minister had transformed into a traitor. He, the venerable Chief Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, also experienced a wave of bitter disillusionment. He could not refrain from voicing his thoughts: “Luo Hong, the Emperor has not been unjust in his dealings with you. What compelling reason drove you to undertake such a reckless endeavor?”

“Dealt with me unjustly?” Luo Hong scoffed, his voice laced with a discernible current of sorrow. “Following the rebellion in Chang’an, I obeyed the former emperor’s decree, leading the firearms battalion to support His Majesty, who was then the Prince of Qi. Since the Empire’s inception, I have participated in dozens of engagements, both major and minor, and subsequently defended the northern territories. Throughout these years, I harbored not a single grievance. Yet, how has His Majesty repaid my service? In the restructuring of the six major military regions, I received a nominal promotion but an actual demotion, while Zhu Sansi, an individual of obscure origins, was appointed as a military region commander. Can such an action be attributed to a sagacious ruler?”

As he articulated these words, Luo Hong met Xiao Ming’s gaze directly, devoid of any apprehension.

“Hmph. Two of the six major military regions were under the control of your Luo family. And still, you deem yourself unsatisfied. Does your Luo family harbor aspirations of rebellion?”

Zhan Xingchang’s fury escalated upon witnessing Luo Hong’s unabashed insolence.

“Commanders are appointed based on proven merit, so what relevance does the Luo family's stewardship of two regions possess? Ultimately, it stems from the Emperor’s lack of trust in our Luo family,” Luo Hong countered sharply.

Zhan Xingchang let out a derisive sneer. “Luo Hong, you overestimate your own importance. While your wartime performance against the feudal lords was indeed commendable, in terms of accrued merit, can you truly measure up to the Prince of Huainan and the Prince of Yong? They leveraged the might of the Huainan state to aid the Emperor in pacifying the north, and subsequently, they voluntarily relinquished their hereditary fiefdoms. If that is the standard, then the commanderships ought to have been bestowed upon Cui Shang’an and Xiao Zhongyi. What possible connection do these appointments have to you?”

“Moreover, concerning Zhu Sansi of the Eastern Military Region, he bears the brunt of the difficult and taxing duties. He was the first to confront the Tsarist Russians in the frigid north. His position as military region commander is largely nominal, commanding no actual troops. He is being sent to the desolate land of Alaska. While everyone labels him a military region commander, don't all the court officials, both civil and military, murmur that he's merely an expeditionary commander?” Zhan Xingchang's words left Luo Hong utterly speechless. He glanced at Cui Shang’an's mocking expression, opened his mouth, yet found no retort.

While he had participated in numerous battles, his contributions to the Empire undeniably paled in comparison to those of the Prince of Huainan and the Prince of Yong.

Presently, Cui Shang’an, though part of the General Staff, wielded no military authority and was frequently derided within the army as the Emperor's personal errand runner.

And Xiao Zhongyi, the son of the Prince of Yong, was reassigned to Manila as governor not long ago.

Cui Shang’an spoke deliberately, “Luo Hong, the Emperor bestowed upon you a prominent military rank. It is merely that you remain unsatisfied. However, you forget that what the Emperor bestows, you may accept; what he withholds, you cannot forcibly seize. This is where your inferiority to Luo Xin becomes apparent. It is also the reason why Luo Xin attained the status of a military region commander, while you now find yourself a prisoner.”

Xiao Ming gave a slight nod. In truth, a great many court officials had perceived Luo Hong's true nature. He was a competent general, but his ambition far outstripped his prudence.

This had been evident during the war against the feudal lords. In his relentless pursuit of personal advancement, he exhibited an excessive eagerness for swift success.

Consequently, for an individual possessing such capability coupled with unchecked ambition, no one felt truly at ease entrusting him with significant responsibilities. This was precisely why Luo Hong had been relegated to the sidelines.

“Luo Hong, what Zhan Xingchang intended to convey has already been stated. Even with your meritorious deeds, the position of commander for the six major military regions would not have been yours by right. The current circumstances unequivocally validate the wisdom of my decision back then. Simply because you failed to secure the official appointment you coveted, you harbored resentment towards me and conspired to seize power. Within this Empire, countless officials harbor dissatisfaction with me. Should each and every one of them rise in opposition simply due to a promotion or demotion in their official capacity?”

After a brief silence, Xiao Ming declared sternly, “As the sovereign of a nation, my focus lies on the enduring peace and stability of the Empire. Your heart, however, is consumed solely by your personal lust for power, Luo Hong. Reflect upon this: if I were to grant you command of a military region, would I feel secure? Would the civil and military officials of the court feel secure? Would the populace of the Empire feel secure!”

His face, previously flushed, turned ashen. Luo Hong's initial haughtiness gradually waned. Recalling the recent period, his thoughts had been dominated by discontent over his official standing. He had not once considered his profound responsibilities toward the Empire.

Mulling over these realizations, he fell into silence.

“What troubles you? Are you too ashamed to utter a word?” Xiao Ming scoffed coldly. “You, Luo Hong, have indeed led many victorious campaigns, yet you, Luo Hong, are at least still present in this court today. What of the soldiers who fought and perished, paving your path to glory? Did they lay down their lives for you, Luo Hong, to attempt a usurpation of power today! Incorrect! They fought for the Empire’s prosperity. Do you feel no shred of shame, standing upon their very bones while plunging the Empire into turmoil!”