"How can a mere commandant explain such matters? If the Emperor lacks the magnanimity to tolerate people, what's the point of being an official?"
Although Li Gang understood that Zhong Shidao was acting in his best interest, he still said with a smile.
"Prime Minister Li, I understand your meaning. However, at this juncture, even if I were willing to emerge, the Emperor would not employ me!"
Zhong Shidao let out a wry smile as he spoke.
The situation was beyond his control. He never imagined that the current Emperor would be so far inferior to his father.
Although Zhao Ji was undeniably a foolish ruler, even Zhong Shidao had to admit that Zhao Ji was at least competent in matters of statecraft.
But the current Emperor, in everything he did, acted purely on his whims, completely disregarding the court's established rules!
If it weren't for the impending invasion, the various prime ministers would have long ago joined forces and instigated a political upheaval!
"I know that some of you prime ministers have been wronged in this matter. However, the nation is in peril, and we must first overcome this immediate crisis before making other plans!"
Seeing the wry smile on Zhong Shidao's face, Li Gang could only cup his fists in salutation.
"If there is anything I can do to help, please do not hesitate to ask!"
After all, without Li Gang that night, who knew if Zhao Zhen would have survived?
If Zhao Zhen had perished, Zhong Shidao and Wang Xiang would have been next.
For this kindness alone, Zhong Shidao placed his utmost trust in Li Gang.
"Then I shall not be polite. If any difficulties arise, I ask for your continued support, Prime Minister!"
"Prime Minister, an envoy has arrived from outside, stating that the Emperor urgently summons Prime Minister Li to the Forbidden City!"
As they were speaking, a servant from Zhong's household rushed in from outside.
"Now?"
Upon hearing the servant's words, Zhong Shidao trembled from head to toe.
Having navigated the treacherous waters of officialdom for so many years, he possessed keen insight. The Emperor's summoning of Li Gang at this critical juncture, rather than earlier or later, clearly indicated an intention to cause trouble.
"You may withdraw. Inform Prime Minister Li that he will arrive shortly!"
With a wry smile at Li Gang, Zhong Shidao waved his hand, dismissing the servant.
"Prime Minister Li, it is likely that the Emperor's summons is related to my visit here. If the Emperor questions you, you may place the blame on me!"
"Uncle Yi, what are you saying?"
"No, listen to me. The current Emperor is narrow-minded. I am a man without official rank now, and he can only endure his displeasure. But you are different. The lives of nearly a million soldiers and civilians in Bianliang depend on you at this moment!"
Seeing Li Gang's indifferent expression, Zhong Shidao said earnestly.
"Rest assured, I understand the matter."
After giving him a deep look, Li Gang sincerely cupped his fists, turned, and walked out.
Following the young eunuch all the way to the imperial palace, the moment he stepped through the gates of Fu Ning Hall, Li Gang immediately saw Zhang Bangchang, Sun Fu, Li Ruoshui, Tang Ke, and Geng Nanzhong standing nearby.
"Your subject, Li Gang, pays his respects to the Emperor!"
At the sight of those three, Li Gang felt confident. It seemed highly likely that the matter was their doing.
"My Lord Li, where were you just now? Why were you not in your residence?"
After Li Gang completed his salutations, as was customary, Emperor Zhao Huan should have told him to rise. However, today, he seemed to have forgotten this formality and directly questioned him.
"Replying to Your Majesty, I was just visiting Zhong Shidao to hear his opinions on the defenses of Bianliang and his assessment of the situation in Hedong."
Li Gang did not conceal his actions; instead, he stated them frankly.
"Audacious Li Gang, do you not know that Zhong Shidao is a traitorous rebel?"
This was a matter directly related to his own vested interests, and Geng Nanzhong did not hesitate to attack.
"Traitorous rebel? I have never heard such a thing! Zhong Shidao entered officialdom in his youth. Although he was ostracized by powerful officials, he never forgot his duty to serve the court. A scholar who traded his brush for a sword, he achieved great military victories for the court in the northwest. Even in his old age, he tirelessly helped the court quell the Fang La rebellion. You call him a traitorous rebel? If he is a traitorous rebel, what are you?"
As soon as Geng Nanzhong finished speaking, Li Gang retorted without hesitation.
"You—"
"What? Open your eyes and see! All those standing here are high officials of the court. You, a criminal whom the Retired Emperor personally decreed would never be employed again, what right do you have to stand here and argue with me? What right do you have to judge a former prime minister who has already retired?"
Li Gang showed no mercy to Geng Nanzhong, this despicable and shameless wretch.
His temperament was already strong, and coupled with his intense hatred for this man stirring up trouble behind his back, Geng Nanzhong's single utterance of "traitorous rebel" was enough for Li Gang to crush him.
Listening to Li Gang's resonant words, even Zhang Bangchang felt a twinge of sympathy for Geng Nanzhong.
Although he also wished to bring down Li Gang, seeing Geng Nanzhong's fate, he promptly shut his mouth.
What a joke!
With Li Gang's current combat prowess, to confront him now would be to invite abuse.
Moreover, Geng Nanzhong was not an easy character. Compared to Zhang Bangchang, he was far too close to the Emperor.
Helping such a person rise to power would be like creating trouble for himself.
If it weren't for the Emperor insisting on dragging him along, he wouldn't even bother to show up to support the occasion.
"Prime Minister Li, Minister Geng merely spoke casually. Why must you be so aggressive?"
Zhang Bangchang could pretend not to see, but Tang Ke could not stand idly by. Seeing that Zhang Bangchang was unwilling to step forward, he had to brace himself and do so.
"Spoke casually? Are words like 'traitorous rebel' something one can utter lightly? Zhong Shidao spent his life in military service to earn his esteemed position as prime minister. Even if he had differences in opinion with the Emperor, it was merely a matter of discussing state affairs. To brand him a traitorous rebel for that, are there any good people left in the imperial courts throughout history! If we are to speak of traitorous rebels, I believe Geng Nanzhong is the foremost traitor of our time!"