Chapter 274: The Right Prime Minister Falls
Emperor Tianwu also thought of the Minister of Revenue's idea.

He chuckled and said, "Give orders that this year's imperial examination can only be conducted in regular script with a brush."

Scholars who want to succeed in imperial examinations must learn calligraphy.

In this way, the emergence of water-based pen refills will only bring convenience to ordinary people and will not have any impact on the market.

Emperor Tianwu believed that he had done his utmost, but how could he accept the fact that someone was intent on causing trouble?
Early the next morning, more than twenty students from various academies sat in front of the calligraphy and painting shop in blue shirts to protest against the Tianwu court's competition with the people for profits.

When the news was reported to the palace, it was time for court session.

All the civil and military officials in the court were very nervous and looked at Emperor Tianwu: How will the emperor deal with these scholars?
Emperor Tianwu's expression remained unchanged, and he simply asked, "Who is the leader among these people? Let him submit a petition to argue!"

“Why do you compete with the people for profit?”

"Whose interests are you fighting for?"

"How much profit did you make?"

"What are the pros and cons in the long run?"

"If he can make his point and convince the world, I can change this rule."

"Yes!" The City Defense Department immediately went down to execute the order.

Emperor Tianwu turned his head slightly and glanced at Lu Daban.

Lu Daban understood what he meant and immediately turned around and left, going to the back hall to instruct several secret guards to find out who is in charge of this matter.

Everything cannot be taken at face value.

Being able to instigate so many students to cause trouble obviously means he has some background.

If you don't want to live a good life, then don't live it.

Emperor Tianwu continued to attend court as if nothing had happened.

The three court officials who had secretly colluded with each other were secretly anxious: How could this be allowed to happen?

These pen, ink, paper and inkstone may seem trivial, but they are of great importance to scholars all over the world!
As long as it concerns the scholars of the world, there is no small matter.

Why not discuss it directly in the court?
"Your Majesty, since the students' reaction is so strong, we should treat it with caution..."

A fifth-rank civil servant jumped out, but before he could finish his words, he was interrupted by Emperor Tianwu.

"Am I not careful? I asked him to make a defense, which is to give him a chance, and also to avoid him from listening to one side only."

"Or do you think that you are smarter than me and have a better way than me?"

The fifth-rank civil servant felt a chill on the back of his neck. He dared not say anything and shrank back.

Yue Youquan, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, was unwilling to accept this and secretly winked at another civil official.

The other party received the signal, lowered his eyes and pretended to be stupid: If your Majesty refuses to mention it, what's the point of you winking at me?

If you have the guts, then jump out and be the first to take action!

No one wants to be beaten.

Today's court discussions last longer than ever before.

By noon, all the reports that needed to be made had been made, and those that had not been decided on the spot followed the Emperor to the Imperial Study to discuss them slowly.

But today, at noon, the court was not dismissed.

Emperor Tianwu listened to the reports from his subordinates at a leisurely pace, and then questioned them in detail. He even discussed matters that were usually discussed in the imperial study directly in the court.

At this moment, a eunuch hurried in from the back hall and handed Lu Daban a thick stack of account books and letter paper.

Lu Daban glanced at the thing on the top, turned around and handed it to the Emperor.

Emperor Tianwu looked at the thick pile of things on the dragon table and stopped discussing state affairs.

"read."

Lu Daban glanced down and said, "After investigation, it was found that the Right Prime Minister Lin Hongchang allowed his son to commit crimes, kidnapping and torturing at least thirteen married women and killing them."

"After knowing this, Lin Hongchang not only did not impose any restrictions, but also ordered people to raise catfish in the lake in the backyard of the mansion, and threw the body into the fish pond to destroy the evidence..." "It was also found that Lin Hongchang used the Jinghong Bookstore he opened in the mansion as a cover to accept bribes and ask for bribes, and asked officials and students to buy pens, inkstones and inkstones at exorbitant prices, indirectly selling official positions and questions..."

The whole court was in an uproar. The right prime minister Lin Hongchang fell to his knees on the ground, trembling, and did not even dare to cry out for justice.

The catfish in the fish pond only eats carrion, not bones...

The human bones in the fish pond can be fished out at any time as long as people are ordered to do so.

But the gate of that yard is usually closed and no one goes in. Those who know about this are all trustworthy confidants.

Quite a few people knew about the Jinghong Bookstore incident. It was only a matter of time before the perpetrators were arrested and interrogated.

To be able to produce such a thick stack of materials in half a day, it was obvious that they had already conducted some investigation.

This time, he instigated the students to cause trouble, which angered the emperor, so Emperor Tianwu immediately took out this thing.

Emperor Tianwu's expression remained unchanged and his tone was calm, as if what Lu Daban had just read was just a weather forecast.

"Order the Ministry of Justice to dismiss Lin Hongchang from his post and investigate him. Throw him into the Heavenly Prison."

"The Lin residence will be confiscated, and all those involved will be strictly investigated and punished."

When all the civil and military officials in the court heard the news, they were so frightened that they fell to their knees. The Golden Palace fell into complete silence.

In the cold winter, many people are sweating profusely!

Oh my God, it’s a good thing that I didn’t stand up for Lin Xiang just now, otherwise I wouldn’t know how I died now.

Emperor Tianwu looked deeply at the officials who were kneeling obediently below him and said: "I am dedicated to the people, but I am not intolerant."

"If you feel that you are upright and incorruptible, I will give you a chance!"

"Who else wants to say something?"

You can hear a pin drop below.

After a moment, one of the ministers shouted in a trembling voice: "Our emperor is wise! We respect him."

The ministers seemed to have turned on a switch and shouted: "Our emperor is wise, and we respect him..."

The Ministry of Justice and the Supreme Court moved swiftly and directly sealed off the residence of Right Prime Minister Lin Hongchang, arresting all his family members and servants.

Not only that, they also directly picked up all the students who were sitting quietly next to Yingchun Academy, and without saying a word, they took them to Prime Minister Lin's residence.

The students were confused and didn't understand the situation.

The leading student was even more excited, his voice almost split open: "The court has no morals! It competes with the people for profit! The people are suffering! They suppress them wantonly..."

One person's shout immediately aroused the other frightened students' blood boiling and they started shouting along.

The voice was ups and downs, with a clear rhythm. He shouted all the way, attracting countless people to follow and watch the fun.

The officials from the Ministry of Justice ignored his shouting and did not try to stop him. They just dragged them all the way into the gate of the Lin Mansion.

The brave people followed him in and were surprised to find that no one was stopping them, so they all followed in.

The palace was filled with soldiers, with a guard post every three steps and a sentry every five steps.

The people wanted to move around but were stopped; they wanted to follow the tied-up students but no one stopped them.

The people understood immediately: this was tacit permission for them to come along and watch the fun!
For a moment, the crowd surged and followed into Prime Minister Lin’s residence.

The pavilions with carved beams and painted rafters and the exquisite gardens made ordinary people marvel: He is worthy of being the right prime minister. How much money did it cost to build such a house and such a garden? !
After turning countless bends, everyone followed the dragged students into a courtyard.

There is a pond in the yard with some remaining lotus leaves on the edge, but the water in the middle is emerald green and unfathomable.

Beside the lotus pond, soldiers and yamen runners were crossing the water, and many soldiers were standing by on full alert.

The students who were pulled over were taken aside. They realized something was wrong and dared not shout anymore. They began to observe quietly.

The onlookers were stopped on the other side not far away and began to look around and ask questions.

Everyone noticed something was wrong: Why were they wearing wet clothes in such a cold weather?!

What's in the water?
(End of this chapter)