Chapter 90

As Zhang Rang, the Grand Commandant, stood before the emperor, he secretly wiped the sweat from his brow. He thought to himself, "The beauties in the harem outnumber the officials in the empire. The emperor knows each one of them by heart, and can identify them just by looking. How come when it comes to the court, his mind doesn't work as well?"

However, he only thought this and hurriedly reminded the emperor. Before he could speak, Yuan Wei stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, Qin Zijin has repeatedly achieved military success. He helped the Commander of the Archers, Yuan Shao, defeat the rebels in Changshe, and thus was promoted to Commander of the Cavalry."

Upon hearing Yuan Wei mention only his nephew, Cao Song, the Grand Administrator, was immediately displeased and stepped forward to say, "Your Majesty, this person once accompanied the Commander of the Cavalry, Cao Cao, in defeating the Yellow Turban rebels in Changshe."

Emperor Ling of Han now had some recollection. He looked at the officials with an awkward expression and slapped his forehead, saying, "I handle myriad affairs daily, and suddenly I forgot."

The officials stumbled, knowing very well the nature of this emperor. They thought, "Is the emperor really handling myriad affairs, or is he just indulging in myriad pleasures?"

At this moment, the quiet hall was interrupted by a wailing cry, like a large stone thrown into still water.

Cui Lie, pulling his beard and shedding tears, cried out, "Qin Zijin has ransacked my home. Throughout history, such actions are no different from rebellion. If he can do this to me today, he can do it to others tomorrow, and perhaps even to the capital the day after. Please, Your Majesty, do something for me!"

The people were shocked, thinking, "This Magistrate of the Imperial Court has a venomous tongue, trying to destroy Qin Zijin completely."

Emperor Ling was also startled by the mention of ransacking the capital and immediately flew into a rage, "How dare he treat a high-ranking official of the court like this, showing no respect for hierarchy. He cannot be forgiven. Bring him here!"

Just as Liu Hong was about to order the Imperial Guards to remove Qin Feng's titles and execute him on the spot, a small eunuch appeared outside the hall, shouting, "Your Majesty, great news, great news!"

People always prefer good news, so Liu Hong put aside his anger and waved the eunuch forward, asking, "What is the good news?"

The eunuch ran up to the hall, a smile on his face, thinking, "The emperor loves money, and this will leave an impression on him." He knelt and said, "The petition from the Commander of the Cavalry has arrived, along with a tribute."

Emperor Ling's eyes lit up at the mention of a tribute. He smiled at the officials and said, "The Commander of the Cavalry is truly loyal." He then asked the eunuch, "What is the tribute?"

The officials trembled, thinking, "Is the emperor alright? How can he still find this loyal?"

Zhang Rang quickly waved his拂尘 (duster) and whispered, "Your Majesty, the Commander of the Cavalry is Qin Feng!"

"Oh?" Emperor Ling's mouth formed an 'O'. Since the words of the emperor are golden, he could not retract them. Despite the strange looks from the officials, he continued, "What is the tribute?"

The eunuch hurriedly presented Qin Feng's petition, and Zhang Rang personally went down from the imperial dais to take it and present it to Emperor Ling.

Emperor Ling opened the petition, which read as follows: "The Yellow Turban rebellion is spreading, and many people have joined the rebels due to the oppression by the wealthy. At this critical moment for the state, the Cui family has not tried to pacify the people or contribute to the country, but instead has increased its oppression. This has caused unrest among the tens of thousands of refugees in Ye, who are on the brink of rebellion. The actions of the Cui family are forcing the people to join the Yellow Turbans.

I, Qin Feng, have received the emperor's great favor and been appointed Commander of the Cavalry. It is my duty to protect the country and its people, and I cannot stand idly by. To ensure the safety of Ye and Ji Province, I have punished the Cui family and pacified the people.

I have confiscated all the Cui family's assets and recorded them for the emperor's review. To pacify the people, I have used part of the assets. I have not taken a single coin for myself, and the emperor may send someone to verify this."

Emperor Ling eagerly looked at the ledger. It was impressive: ten million coins, and vast amounts of land and property. Emperor Ling felt as if he had just overthrown He Shen and fed Jia Qing.

In fact, Emperor Ling knew that these wealthy families were as rich as nations, even richer than the emperor himself. He loved money and often sold official positions. He could not usually take from these wealthy families, but now they had come to him. How could he not take them?

Moreover, Qin Feng's petition clearly stated the Cui family's wrongdoings, and Emperor Ling knew they were at fault. In his mind, Qin Feng had become a loyal and incorruptible general.

By confiscating the Cui family's assets, all the wealth would go to Emperor Ling.

Such a general was exactly what Emperor Ling loved. For money, he could sell even the highest positions. He was overjoyed, thinking, "This man is respectful. Selling a high position for ten million coins. There are only three high positions, and now I have ten million."

Emperor Ling, who loved to take from the wealthy, was determined to do so with great righteousness and composure.

Thus, Emperor Ling flew into a rage, slammed his hand on the imperial desk, and the entire hall was shocked.

"Qin Zijin is dead for sure!"

"I think he will be executed by dismemberment or drawn and quartered."

"Perhaps he will be burned alive." The officials murmured.

Emperor Ling loudly declared, "The Commander of the Cavalry, Qin Feng, has done a great service. The ten million coins confiscated for military needs will go to the court..."

The officials were immediately stunned.

Cui Lie, shocked, cried out, "Your Majesty, no, no, this is not military needs, it is my family's money!"

Emperor Ling, who hated hearing that his money belonged to others, angrily said, "Rubbish! What do you mean it's your money? This is all for military needs, do you understand?"

He continued, "Cui Lie, as the Magistrate of the Imperial Court, you know the law but break it, oppressing the people. The Yellow Turban rebellion is a result of your incompetence."

"Bring him out and execute him!" Emperor Ling ordered.

The officials were shocked, and Cui Lie collapsed on the ground. After a moment, he realized that Qin Feng had first confiscated the assets and then claimed they were for military needs, all with a premeditated plan. The final point of the plan was to reach Emperor Ling.

Yuan Wei quickly stopped the Imperial Guards and said, "Your Majesty, what crime has the Magistrate of the Imperial Court committed to deserve such punishment?"

Emperor Ling, still angry, handed Qin Feng's petition to Zhang Rang. After a moment, the officials had read it and understood the situation.

"Ah, I see..." The officials remained silent, knowing that many of them had done similar things, but they could not be discussed openly, as it would be illegal.

Who could say that Cui Lie's oppression of the people was right?

Cui Lie had intended to act first and accuse Qin Feng, but Qin Feng had a plan. By appealing to Emperor Ling's love of money and sending a large sum, Cui Lie's plan was foiled.

"Qin Feng, what do you have to say?" Emperor Ling, determined to get the Cui family's vast wealth, was set on destroying him.

Cui Lie, knowing Emperor Ling's nature, had nothing to say and looked to his old colleague, Yuan Wei.

Yuan Wei sighed, thinking, "Qin Zijin is clever, knowing the emperor loves money..." He still said, "Your Majesty, Cui Lie's crime does not warrant death. Please show mercy."

The officials all echoed, "Please show mercy."

For Emperor Ling, oppressing a few people was not a big deal. If Qin Feng had just reported it, it would have been ignored. But by directly confiscating the assets, the matter became serious. He waved his hand and said, "My loyal minister, go home and retire."

In fact, Cui Lie had calculated that oppressing people was not a big deal, at most a scolding. He never expected to be completely ruined. Now, with all his assets taken by Emperor Ling, he could not get them back. He had wanted to ruin Qin Feng but ended up ruining himself.

Cui Lie, hunched over, stumbled out of the hall, suddenly bursting into tears, "I go home to retire, but where do I retire to?" A song perfectly described his current state of mind: "I want a home."

Thus, the Cui family, one of the most prominent families in the Han dynasty for over two hundred years, was reduced to poverty overnight. At the same time, the names "Living Bandit" and "Qin the Skinflint" began to spread among the wealthy families.

Yuan Wei, watching Cui Lie's retreating back, thought, "What a fool. He tried to accuse Qin Feng but ended up leaving a deep impression on the emperor. If he had not mentioned it, he would still be the Magistrate of the Imperial Court and could have risen again. Now he has nothing." He also thought, "This new Qin Zijin is too cunning. I must tell Benchu to be careful."

Cui Lie was a prominent figure among the wealthy families, and his fall due to a few refugees left the officials feeling a deep sense of loss and resentment. They all looked to Yuan Wei.

Why did they look to Yuan Wei? Because he was the leader of the officials and the wealthy families.

Yuan Wei felt he could not let the Cui family be silenced so easily. If he did nothing, not only would the Cui family lose its prestige, but the Yuan family would also be implicated. So, he stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, the Commander of the Cavalry confiscated the assets of a high official without permission. If this is allowed to continue, it will disrupt the order of the state."

The officials, thinking, "No wonder he is the Grand Tutor, he can trap Qin Zijin without even using the word 'crime'," all stepped forward, complaining, "If this continues, the country will fall into chaos."

Emperor Ling felt the officials had a point.