Chapter 1 Hard-line Emperor

Jiang Chen, wearing a gentle smile, walked down the imperial steps step by step and stopped in front of Xu Zhongxuan.

He said mildly, "Minister, what did you just say? This Emperor didn't hear clearly. Repeat it."

Hearing this, Xu Zhongxuan hesitated.

He swallowed, and the inexplicable fear in his heart made him dare not act rashly.

"Why are you silent? Are my words useless?" Jiang Chen's voice was as cold as the Nine Nether Springs.

Xu Zhongxuan was so frightened that he blurted out, "This humble official, this humble official asked Your Majesty if you are not afraid of leaving a mark in the history books..."

*Pa!*

A writing tablet slammed heavily on Xu Zhongxuan's mouth!

The force was so great that it directly broke his front teeth, staggering the eight-foot-tall man.

Jiang Chen looked at Xu Zhongxuan's embarrassed appearance, raised the corner of his mouth, and shook his numb hand.

He praised, "This writing tablet is really a good thing. It has multiple uses and is very sturdy. Not bad, not bad!"

"Well, it seems that This Emperor should prepare a few more on the imperial table in the future..."

These words made the surrounding ministers' eyelids twitch.

They silently hid the writing tablets in their sleeves and slowly retreated to avoid being accidentally injured.

The officials whose writing tablets were taken away by Jiang Chen did not dare to speak out. After reluctantly glancing at their 'old partner', they immediately ran away.

At this time, Xu Zhongxuan had initially recovered.

He looked at the gentle and refined Emperor in front of him, shocked and terrified.

And Jiang Chen wanted this effect.

A bunch of treacherous villains, not knowing what's good for them!

They had to wait until he took action to know fear!

Jiang Chen clenched the writing tablet in his hand and said with a smile, "Minister, repeat what you just said. This Emperor didn't hear clearly."

His casual words frightened Xu Zhongxuan so much that he trembled. He cast a pleading look at Mei Wenshi, but was avoided.

At this moment, Jiang Chen raised his hand again and said sternly, "What? Are my words useless again?"

Xu Zhongxuan shrank his neck in fright and said tremblingly, "Your Majesty, this official knows, knows his mistake..."

*Pa!*

Jiang Chen gave him another writing tablet head-on, the sound crisp and loud.

He said indifferently, "Irrelevant answer. If there is a next time, drag him out and flog him!"

After speaking, he changed the subject and said, "Minister Xu, repeat your previous 'brilliant argument'. This Emperor didn't hear clearly."

Xu Zhongxuan was now completely regretful.

His lower half of his face was a little numb from the beating, and he couldn't even feel his teeth.

But the Emperor didn't intend to let him go, pressing him relentlessly!

If he had known that this tyrant was so difficult to deal with, he would never have been the first to speak out!

Looking at the teeth falling on the ground, Xu Zhongxuanuan cried bitterly and knelt down to beg Jiang Chen for mercy.

But because his speech was slurred, he was rewarded with several more writing tablets.

It wasn't until the Prime Minister couldn't stand it anymore and stood up to dissuade him that Jiang Chen let Xu Zhongxuan go.

At this time, the Grand Historian, who dared to confront the Emperor in court, was already seriously injured in the face and was breathing more than inhaling.

Glancing at Xu Zhongxuan, who was like a dead dog on the ground, Jiang Chen's depressed mood dissipated slightly.

He thought to himself, "This dog deserves to thank Mei Wenshi."

"If it weren't for that old fox pressing him step by step, restricting This Emperor and preventing him from killing ministers for the time being... This Emperor wouldn't have let this matter go so easily!"

Thinking this, Jiang Chen's cold gaze turned to Mei Wenshi again.

Unsurprisingly, he found that the old fox was looking like it was none of his business, as if the ministers who protested were not his subordinates.

His indifferent demeanor was in stark contrast to Xu Zhongxuan, who was half-crippled on the ground.

The ironic scene made Jiang Chen couldn't help but laugh.

This action also eased the heavy atmosphere in the hall.

The civil and military officials also breathed a sigh of relief, and the big stone in their hearts fell to the ground.

His Majesty's laughter was so hearty, he must have calmed down and didn't need to be afraid anymore.

Just when they were all relaxing, Jiang Chen's face suddenly changed.

His dark eyes flashed with cold light, and with the majesty of an Emperor, he surveyed the surroundings!

Wherever his gaze passed, the officials bowed and retreated!

At the same time, he coldly announced, "I am the Emperor of Great Wei, entrusted by Heaven, may I live long and prosper!"

"A few pages of history books are nothing to This Emperor!"

"Whether a wise ruler or a tyrant, This Emperor will always be your master!"

"As ministers, you must remember your duty. If there are any more ministers like the Grand Historian who do not distinguish between superiors and inferiors and offend their superiors!"

Jiang Chen paused and said word by word, "This Emperor will exterminate his ten clans to uphold the law!"

"Withdraw from the court!"

After Jiang Chen finished speaking, he waved his sleeves and strode away.

He knew that many ministers were scolding him as a tyrant behind his back, but so what?

Even if he was condemned by thousands of people and the whole world was his enemy, he, Jiang Chen, would never be timid and retreat!

After a while, the ministers in the Golden Luan Hall woke up until the bright yellow figure completely disappeared.

Everything that had just happened was too shocking, allowing them to reacquaint themselves with Jiang Chen.

They understood that the monarch they were serving was a great Emperor with great talent and vision, and that the reputation valued by the world could not restrain him.

Mei Wenshi slowly got up, staring at the direction Jiang Chen left with cold light flashing in his eyes, like a poisonous snake hunting for food.

The next day.

Mei Wenshi's second wave of attacks arrived.

All the prefectures in the southern part of Great Wei submitted memorials reporting their worries.

The number was so large that it took four guards to carry them into the Hall of Diligent Governance.

"Your Majesty, a total of sixty-eight counties are in financial distress. The local governors are helpless and have reported to the Imperial Capital with eight hundred li urgency!"

"Also, the army stationed in Yunzhou has also begun to cause trouble, almost to the point of mutiny!"

"Those soldiers have not received their military pay for a long time. Now that there is a financial problem, they can't even afford to eat..." Yuan Buyi's expression was solemn.

Jiang Chen had been listening to bad news all morning. At this time, he finally couldn't help but explode, slamming the table and saying:

"These bastards actually dare to embezzle the soldiers' money!"

"What This Emperor hates most is officials who drink the blood of soldiers. When I free up my hands, I will skin these dogs and stuff them with straw to appease the people's anger!"

The people in the room were frightened by his sudden outburst and immediately knelt down and shouted for him to calm down.

Jiang Chen saw this, put away his anger, and signaled them to get up.

He said with a sneer, "Mei Wenshi's family is in the south. These local officials suddenly submitted memorials, they must have been instructed by the Mei family."

"However, thinking of making This Emperor submit and welcome Mei Wenshi back to court with these despicable methods is underestimating This Emperor too much!"

"I'm really curious where they get the confidence to think that This Emperor doesn't have the courage to overturn the table and bloodbath the south?"

Yuan Buyi was shocked when he heard this and hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, you must not!"

"This move is too extreme. Once implemented, it will inevitably cause Kyushu to shake and the country to be unstable. You, you must think twice!"

Jiang Chen raised his eyes and looked at Yuan Buyi.

He found that this scholar, who always valued his appearance, was trembling with his beard in fear. He couldn't help but laugh.

This person is really too upright, actually taking his joke seriously...