Zhang San, please behave yourself!
Chapter 673 - 615: Others May, But Zhang San Cannot!

Chapter 673: Chapter 615: Others May, But Zhang San Cannot!

The ministers who had just been mocking Wang Junwu were now giving each other uncertain looks, feeling like clowns themselves.

"I thought you only knew sacrifice, but it turns out you’ve been scheming to become an Imperial Relative!"

Emperor Kaihuang had actually been somewhat troubled by Princess Qionghua’s marital affairs over the years.

It wasn’t that he couldn’t find a son-in-law, but rather that Princess Qionghua’s figure was too voluptuous.

This meant not everyone welcomed or accepted her.

As the daughter of Emperor Kaihuang, a princess of the nation, with a noble status, marrying an Imperial Son-in-law who didn’t like her or couldn’t even pretend to would naturally be humiliating.

Emperor Kaihuang neither wanted his daughter to be humiliated.

Nor did he want her to remain unmarried for life.

What is Wang Junwu up to?

Does she just want to become an Imperial Relative, or does she truly have a penchant for the corpulent?

After a moment of silence, Emperor Kaihuang slowly said, "Wang Junwu, you really do have a way with words! However, Princess Qionghua is not only my treasure but also the apple of Empress Dugu’s eye."

"This matter isn’t even something I can agree to without the Empress’ approval. But I can first inquire about Princess Qionghua’s feelings. If she agrees and the Empress has no objections, then you might have the chance to become the Imperial Son-in-law."

"If my treasure is unwilling to agree, then Wang Junwu, you will need to make greater efforts!"

Emperor Kaihuang purposely did not give a definite answer, since he himself didn’t know what Wang Junwu was thinking, nor what Princess Qionghua and Empress Dugu would think.

A smart man never speaks with absolute certainty!

That was the wisdom Emperor Kaihuang and Empress Dugu had distilled from their many years together.

"Although I can’t give you a definite response about the marriage at this moment, I have promised to make you a Distant Army Count in the army. I keep my promises... and even more so!"

"Wang Junwu, I appoint you Duzhi Military Envoy of the Dragon Blood Army in Jin River, confer upon you the title of Distant Army Marquis! I bestow upon you one hundred thousand taels of gold, twelve chests of jewels, three sets of top-quality Mysterious Weapons Heavy Armor, and two pairs of top-quality Mysterious Weapons Steel Whips."

"Many thanks for the rewards, Emperor Kaihuang!"

Upon hearing these rewards, Wang Junwu was actually not very pleased.

Because the rewards were sufficient.

And if the rewards were sufficient, his request for marriage might just...

But having been rewarded by Emperor Kaihuang, he could only first express his gratitude.

After addressing Wang Junwu, Emperor Kaihuang let out a long breath and turned to Zhang San.

"Zhang San, whatever reward you desire, just name it! I can grant it."

However, Zhang San had just come forward, and hadn’t even had a chance to kneel on one knee, when other ministers, as if they had been prepared, dropped to their knees first.

Moreover, they knelt with a thud.

"Your Highness, Emperor Kaihuang! Absolutely not! Absolutely not!"

Then, more than a dozen ministers rushed out and knelt down.

Such speed!

Such loud voices!

Such sharp reactions!

They made Zhang San doubt whether Emperor Kaihuang was about to do something to them to provoke such a vehement protest.

"Emperor Kaihuang, this old official has heard that Zhang San, during his time with the Lingwu Army, colluded with the Tujue and even received gifts and beauties sent by the Great Khan of the Tujue Dashi Bian!"

"Emperor Kaihuang, I have conclusive evidence that Zhang San, after his mission to the Tujue, publicly accepted lavish gifts from the Tujue Khan Xing Luohou!"

"Zhang San boasts of having dissuaded the Tujue’s four armies, but from beginning to end, the only Tujue invasion was by a single army. The alleged invasion by five armies is very likely false intelligence fabricated by Zhang San aiming to falsify his military achievements. I implore Emperor Kaihuang to investigate this matter!"

When faced with the claim of the five armies, Emperor Kaihuang was also very perplexed at first.

But after sending people to investigate.

It was confirmed that there indeed were Tujue forces on Longyou Road and Longwang Road; just that to the north of Longyou Road, only the Vanguard Army had come, and it quickly retreated after Zhang San’s arrival.

Based on the circumstances discovered by Longyou Road’s troops at the time, it’s possible that the Dashi Bian of Tujue indeed planned a southward advance but subsequently withdrew.

As for the forces north of Longwang Road, under Xing Luohou’s command, they were originally not inclined to wage war, but they still posed a certain threat to Great Sui.

Regarding the other two roads, though the Sui Army couldn’t confirm their presence, at that time, with more than 60,000 Tujue captives in the military, interrogations of some of their leaders revealed this information. Furthermore, multiple proofs suggested that Sharlobi, as the Great Khan, indeed had plans to divide the Tujue forces into five groups to attack Great Sui simultaneously.

At this moment, Emperor Kaihuang, looking at this group of civil officials who knew nothing but how to babble on, began to grow impatient.

"Your Majesty Emperor Kaihuang," he implored, "recently, countless officials from the Capital Region Road have presented petitions to impeach Zhang San. May Your Majesty allow these petitions against Zhang San to be presented!"

Emperor Kaihuang snorted coldly and waved his hand dismissively.

Seeing the Emperor’s gesture, everyone understood that he had consented.

Soon, eight palace guards carried in a huge wooden rack that resembled a sedan chair.

The top of the rack was perfectly flat.

For on it were petitions, stacked as tall as a person.

The eight guards placed the wooden rack in front of Zhang San, who found the stack nearly reached his chest.

Sweeping his gaze across, he saw row upon row of neatly arranged petitions—there must have been at least two to three thousand, perhaps even more.

At that moment, an eerie silence filled the great hall.

Everyone sensed something unusual about these thousands of petitions.

Not to mention all the officials from the Capital Region Road—even if every official from the entire Great Sui were to submit a petition against Zhang San, there wouldn’t be this many.

It seemed likely that someone had been writing petitions day and night to accumulate such a number.

And the implication was clear.

To Zhang San, at least, it was obvious that someone was out to get him.

Emperor Kaihuang opened his mouth and then glanced at Zhang San.

"Since there are objections to Zhang San’s actions in this great battle, let the Ministry of Punishment conduct a thorough investigation. Shen Wei!"

Before Shen Wei could step forward, Minister of Personnel Jiang Huaiyuan spoke up, "Your Majesty! It is well-known throughout the court that Zhang San is a close disciple of Pharaoh. It would be inappropriate for the Ministry of Punishment to investigate this matter."

Zhang San saw clearly that the Ministry of Personnel was definitely involved in this affair.

Otherwise, not to mention the origin of so many petitions, the Minister of Personnel would not have stepped forward at such a time.

Zhang San immediately saluted with his hands, "Your Excellency, I agree with the Minister of Rites. It is indeed inappropriate for the Ministry of Punishment to conduct this investigation. Not just the Ministry of Punishment, but the Ministry of War too should abstain from this investigation due to my acquaintance with many involved. It would be better to hand it over to the Ministry of Personnel, with anyone related to the Ministry of Punishment, Ministry of War, or Legalism barred from participating. Only then can the investigation led by the Ministry of Personnel yield a result that is convincing."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Huaiyuan frowned.

With neither the Ministry of Punishment nor the Ministry of War involved, what could we in the Ministry of Personnel possibly find out!

Emperor Kaihuang nodded slightly, "Then let it be as Zhang San suggests. Jiang Huaiyuan, such a big case with so many impeachments, surely one month is enough for you to conduct the investigation?"

At that moment, Jiang Huaiyuan broke into a sweat.

Whether Zhang San was wronged or not, others might not know, but how could those who wronged him not know whether he was being framed?

Zhang San didn’t wait for Jiang Huaiyuan to speak and quickly said, "Since the Minister of Rites himself will investigate this matter, let us postpone my rewards for now. Publicly, let it be declared that due to the Minister of Personnel’s impeachment, my enfeoffment will be suspended, to be revisited after one month."

At that moment, Emperor Kaihuang understood what Zhang San was driving at.

He laughed and said, "Very well! Let’s proceed as Zhang San suggests. I trust none of those who have impeached him will have any issue?"

At that instant, only a fool would fail to realize. Zhang San had made such great contributions that everyone originally just wanted to reduce his reward a bit.

But now everything was on hold because of the Ministry of Personnel.

Never mind how outside parties would debate about the Ministry of Personnel.

But just the fact that the Ministry of Personnel could stall the rewards of a meritorious servant was enough to isolate them from everyone else in the court.

What’s most important and terrifying is that the war had just ended, and there were still over a hundred thousand troops outside the city.

And now, the primary contributor not only had no reward but was also subject to an investigation by the Ministry of Personnel.

Were the officials of the Ministry of Personnel not afraid of dying?

However, it was a relief that there had been rumors everywhere about Zhang San colluding with the Tujue. With the Ministry of Personnel now conducting the investigation and Zhang San temporarily without awards, it could temporarily quench some of the rumors and discontent.

Just then, Zhang San saluted and spoke, "Your Majesty Emperor Kaihuang. We can put aside the matter of rewards for the battle for now, but... I did earn merits for saving Your Majesty, and in front of Empress Dugu, you promised to confer upon me the title of Marquis. There is no hurry for the food allocation, but I have long been eager for the title."

Emperor Kaihuang realized that he was cunning, but Zhang San was even craftier.

"I have not forgotten this matter. Zhang San is conferred the title of ’Marquis Beyond the Law’. After the Ministry of Personnel clarifies whether Zhang San colluded with the Tujue, all food allocations and rewards will be distributed at once!"

At that moment, Minister of Rites Jiang Huaiyuan felt completely defeated.

This was akin to Emperor Kaihuang announcing Zhang San’s innocence and then having the Ministry of Personnel investigate!

What was there even left to investigate!