Chapter six hundred and seventieth suspects do not need
The ten soldiers of the Forbidden Army obeyed orders completely habitually, and the four words "orders and prohibitions" have been integrated into their bones.
When they instinctively were about to draw out their weapons and rush towards the envoys of the Holy See in the palace, just when their palms touched the handle of the horizontal sword, the ten Forbidden Army soldiers suddenly reacted and immediately stopped themselves
Actions.
The person who gave them orders just now was Mr. Xia Gongming, the chief minister of the cabinet, and not the ninety-five-year-old man sitting high on the dragon throne.
The ten Forbidden Army officers glanced at Xia Gongming in astonishment, who was glaring at the red Archbishop Yelulivi, and withdrew his gaze in panic, and hurriedly knelt down on one knee towards Liu Mingzhi, who was sitting on the dragon chair.
"We are aware of our sins, and Your Majesty forgives us."
The panicked tone of the ten Forbidden Army soldiers made Xia Gongming, who was full of anger towards Jelulivi, stunned for a moment.
At the same time, the red archbishop from the Holy See and the dozen or so so-called messengers of the Lord could not help but show uneasy expressions on their faces.
Although they don't speak Chinese fluently, they understand the meaning of the Chinese.
Did this official Dalong mean by what he said just now, did he want those soldiers to kill him?
Red Archbishop Yelulivi turned his head and glanced at the ten Forbidden Army soldiers in full armor behind him. His face no longer had the same indifferent smile and calm expression as before.
Xia Gongming came back to his senses and subconsciously glanced at the ten Forbidden Army soldiers who were kneeling on one knee. He also suddenly realized what he had done when he was so angry just now.
It is no longer a question of whether he is transgressing or not by ordering the imperial guards in the palace in front of the current emperor.
Did you overstep? You overstepped! And you overstepped a bit too much.
If His Majesty is not present, there is no problem in ordering the imperial guards in the palace, because that is within the scope of his authority.
Moreover, this authority is a right that His Majesty personally bestowed upon himself as the Chief Minister of the Cabinet.
Although I had subconsciously asked Your Majesty to forgive me for my transgression, this could not conceal the fact that I, a minister, ordered the soldiers of the imperial army in front of the monarch.
What is the Forbidden Army? The Forbidden Army is the soldiers and horses that guard the safety of the capital.
What is the duty of the Imperial Guard? The duty of the Imperial Guard is to protect the emperor's safety.
Without His Majesty's approval, a minister actually ordered the imperial army in front of the monarch. If the monarch thinks about something bad, one can imagine his own fate.
Over the decades, I have assisted several generations of emperors, and this has never happened to me. Today, because of a small barbarian, my mind was disturbed, and my moral character was ruined due to anger.
For a moment, he was both ashamed and uneasy.
A thin layer of sweat appeared on Xia Gongming's wrinkled forehead. This time he really felt scared.
He dared to be upright and spoke out to the emperor when he had committed a crime, but he never touched the emperor's bottom line.
But my behavior today crossed the line a little bit.
"I know that I have sinned, and please forgive me, Your Majesty."
Liu Mingzhi looked at the frightened Xia Gongming and the ten Forbidden Army soldiers with calm eyes. He gently turned the jade ring on his thumb and was silent for a moment. He smiled lightly and held up his hands.
"Not guilty, Sir, no courtesy."
"Your Majesty, I know that I have committed a crime. Please forgive me."
"Sir, you asked me to punish you, but why are you guilty?"
"Returning to Your Majesty, although I have the authority granted by Your Majesty to order the Imperial Army, I have already committed the crime of transgression by ordering the Imperial Army in front of His Majesty.
According to our Dalong regulations, anyone who commits the crime of tyranny without serious offense will be demoted by one rank, given a ten-level cane, and a fine of three months' salary.
I have committed the crime of trespass, and please forgive me. I made the mistake first. No matter how your Majesty punishes me, I will never complain, and I will not dare to complain."
When Liu Mingzhi heard Xia Gongming's righteous words and looked at his solemn expression, a hint of helplessness flashed in his eyes.
This old man really spared no effort to maintain the strict laws of the imperial court!
The official was demoted one level and the salary was fine. However, this cane punishment was really harsh for you.
With your body and bones, let alone ten sticks, it’s hard to say whether you can withstand three blows from a stick or two.
"My lord."
"The old minister is here."
"You said you yourself committed the crime of transgression."
"Your Majesty, that's right."
"Then I ask you, what should you do if you humiliate your ministers?"
"Return to your majesty, you will humiliate me and I will die."
"I have been humiliated today. If you don't come out to protect my face, you will be punished by death. But you protect my face, but you think you have committed the crime of transgression.
Then tell me, when these two situations are put together, is it better to protect the emperor's face? Or is it better to arrogate?"
"This...Old Minister...Old Minister..."
"My lord."
"The old minister is here."
"If the ministers have to be punished for protecting the emperor's face, then who among the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty will dare to come out to loyally protect the emperor?
The power you have to command the officers and soldiers of the Forbidden Army was given to you personally by me in front of the civil and military officials of the entire dynasty.
Sir, why are you guilty of doing something within your power?
Fortunately, the red archbishop of the Holy See today just went too far with his words. If they intend to assassinate the king, sir, are you going to exercise your authority?
If you use it, you are committing the crime of transgression; if you don't use it, you are ineffective in protecting yourself.
With these two dilemmas before you, how should you choose?"
"Of course the old minister will do his best to protect you."
"In this case, do you need me to say anything else? Do you still think that you have committed the crime of transgression?"
"Old minister...Old minister..."
"My lord."
"The old minister is here."
"Since I dare to hand over the power of commanding the imperial army to your hands, I will never doubt your loyalty to the imperial court, sir.
Don't say that you just ordered the Imperial Guards in front of me. Even if Sir, you lead the Imperial Guards and break into my bed, I will not doubt your loyalty to the imperial court.
Although your lord often confronts me, and often makes me unable to step down, and I often want to dismiss you from office, my lord, but I have never doubted your loyalty to me and the imperial court.
Don’t use them if you doubt them, don’t doubt them if you employ them!”
Listening to Liu Mingzhi's sincere words, Xia Gongming's old eyes turned red instantly. He adjusted his dark blue official robe, held the Chao Hut and saluted Young Master Liu.
"Old minister Xia Gongming, thank you for your great kindness. Long live, long live, long live."
"Sir, no courtesy, please return to your seat and take a seat."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Liu Mingzhi shifted his gaze to the ten Forbidden Army soldiers again, chuckled and held up his hands.
"You are not guilty of doing what you are told, so you can withdraw without courtesy."
"We thank your Majesty very much, long live your Majesty."
"Jerulivi."
Yelu Levi, who had been observing the situation secretly, heard Young Master Liu calling his name and hurriedly turned around and saluted Young Master Liu.