Chapter 19: Scathing Denunciation of the Treacherous Minister with a Gall as Big as a Peck Measure

  "My family has received great kindness from the Tang Emperor, my father shed his blood for the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty, and my brother is just a weak scholar, an idle official who assists in the Eastern Palace with no power or authority. How dare he be disrespectful to the emperor? And how could he possibly carry out such treasonous acts that would bring heavenly punishment and earthly destruction?"

  "But those shameless, treacherous scoundrels, for personal grievances, actually fabricated crimes to frame the loyal and good... Falsely claiming they plotted against the emperor, pointing fingers at the imperial carriage - what a big hat, how absurd the crime!"

  Zhang Xuan spoke eloquently and at a rapid pace.

  The people present were shocked and looked at Zhang Xuan with complex eyes, speechless.

  The ins and outs of Zhang Huan's case are clear to most people, anyway, the matter is roughly just that - it was a frame-up by Ji Wen and others.

  Although no names were mentioned, who can't understand what kind of treacherous and deceitful person Zhang Xuan is talking about? A scholar like him daring to publicly rebuke the current powerful minister, this kind of courage is indeed not small.

  Zhang Huan was released from prison, originally had nothing to do with the lady of Guo State, at least not until today. But she really liked and valued Zhang Xuan's literary talent, since Zhang Xuan publicly asked for her help, she secretly planned to find a chance to enter the palace and ask the emperor and her sister, the noble concubine, for a personal favor.

  What is rebellion? Zhang Huan, a small official, has no capital to rebel, it's just Li Linfu instructing Ji Wen and others to frame him. The goal is still aimed at the Eastern Palace. It's not a big deal, the emperor gives face, that's all, at most, Zhang Huan will be dismissed from office and not reused. Princess Guo thought the emperor would give herself this face, so she didn't take it too seriously.

  But she did not expect that Zhang Xuan would become more and more outrageous, more and more agitated, scolding the treacherous and evil people with a stern tone, without stopping.

  Madam Guo glanced at Zhang Xuan hastily, gave him a signal with her eyes, hinting that he should stop talking, but Zhang Xuan pretended not to see. Today was his perfect opportunity to take a risk and make a desperate move, and he would not let it slip away.

  He not only had to publicly scold Ji Weng today, but also rebuke the treacherous minister Li Linfu, thereby completely cutting off the last possibility of Zhang's family and Li Linfu standing together.

  During the Tang Dynasty, the social atmosphere was open-minded, especially among scholars. In gatherings of literary figures, it was common to engage in unrestrained discussions about state affairs. At such banquets where poetry and wine flowed freely, under the cover of artistic expression, Zhang Yue could raise the banner of rectifying the laws and institutions, speak wildly and insult Li Linfu's faction without much risk.

  A crucial factor is that Li Linfu was already seriously ill and struggling to save himself. What he was now desperately considering and arranging was how to avoid the Li family being completely destroyed after his death, with Yang Guozhong delivering the final blow, where did he have the time and energy to "generally see" a junior scholar like himself?

  Moreover, Zhang Xuan was just hinting from start to finish and never actually mentioned a name.

  "How dare you! Zhang Xuan, you actually dared to insult the imperial court's officials in public, what crime should you be punished for?" Chen He, the son of Chen Xi Lie, who had been filled with jealous fire in his heart, saw that Zhang Xuan was "talking too much" and secretly rejoiced. He suddenly stood up, pointed at Zhang Xuan and scolded him angrily. In fact, there was a hint of fanning the flames, hating that Zhang Xuan would be even more unbridled and speak out of turn, so as to send himself on a path of no return.

  Zhang Xuan smiled calmly and turned to look at Chen He, saying coldly, "Young Master Chen has once again placed a great hat on Zhang Xuan's head, but Zhang Xuan truly does not dare to accept it."

  "Sycophancy, clever words and facial expressions, no learning or skills... This was the evaluation of some treacherous officials by Yang Shen, the Censor-in-Chief, in the past. Everyone in the Tang Dynasty knew about it, and Zhang Xuan just dared to say what Chen Gongzi didn't dare to say out loud. Whether someone is loyal or treacherous, virtuous or inferior, talented or mediocre, there will be a public verdict. Even if you can shut up one person like Zhang Xuan, how can you shut up the mouths of all people?"

  "What's more, in today's imperial court, treacherous officials hold great power and monopolize it, acting arbitrarily and tyrannically, blocking all avenues of speech and deceiving the emperor's ears. Those with honey on their lips but a sword in their belly, those who fawn and flatter, run amok..."

  "In the fifth year of Tianbao, Huáng Fǔ Wéi Míng, who was in charge of both the Lóng Yòu and Hé Xī military commands, along with Wei Jian and the Crown Prince, gathered at the Jinglong Temple. Slanderous and treacherous people, following the orders of a minor official, framed them, accusing them of falsely claiming to have auspicious omens and criticizing the imperial carriage."

  "In the fifth year of Tianbao, at the end of the year, Liu Xuan accused Du Youlin of treason and plotting against the Eastern Palace, pointing fingers at the imperial carriage. The clique took advantage of this to create a big case, and many people were implicated. Du Youlin and Liu Xuan both died under heavy sticks, their bodies piled up in the Temple of Great Justice, their wives and children exiled to distant lands. Li Yang, the governor of Beihai Commandery, was also beaten to death..."

  "It has been only a few years since my brother Zhang Huan was again framed by treacherous officials, and the crime is still falsely claiming to have auspicious omens and criticizing the imperial carriage! How sad and absurd it is! The treacherous party controls the government, wantonly framing loyal and good people... For a long time, where is justice? I ask, where is justice!"

  Zhang Xuan's voice was sonorous and powerful, his words were stern and majestic, and his eyes sparkled with spirit as he looked around.

  Chen Ben thought to refute Zhang Huan a few words, but suddenly heard Zhang Huan abruptly turn the topic to Li Linfu, and called him "treacherous minister", extremely scornful and sarcastic, even publicly proclaiming the "honey-mouthed sword-belly" that was secretly ridiculed by Li Linfu in the court and alleys, and also brought out some old accounts of Li Linfu's framing of the Eastern Palace years ago. Not angry but delighted, he thought to himself: since you Zhang Huan are seeking your own death path, who can be blamed?

  Chen He then sat down with a comfortable mood and stopped arguing with Zhang Xuan, letting Zhang Xuan "speak freely".

  Wang Wei and Qiu were both shocked, their faces changed color.

  Even Yang Qi and other powerful members of the Yang family, who had long been at odds with Li Linfu and secretly opposed him, were all intimidated.

  This kid's guts are really too big, it can be said that he is as bold as a giant.

  Li Linfu dominated the court and the people, and now it can be said that he is a tyrant. Not to mention ordinary officials, even Yang's family, who had gained imperial favor, did not dare to confront him directly. But Zhang Huan dared to openly and secretly scold Li Linfu in public, although without mentioning his name, but who else would not understand that the treacherous minister he repeatedly criticized was Li Linfu?

  In other words, in today's imperial court, who else besides Li Linfu can live up to the title of treacherous minister!

  This time it's exhilarating, but what about next time?

  Choi Hwan's expression was extremely complex as he stared at Zhang Xuan, his face flushing red.

  Zhang Xuan's every word is like a sharp sword that pierces through the world and human hearts, fiercely denouncing treacherous officials who bring harm to the country. He spoke out many people's innermost thoughts with great relish, but as for Cui Huan and his ilk, they usually only dare to mutter a few words of discontent in their hearts, how could they possibly speak out like Zhang Xuan?

  Don't say it's scolding in person, even if it's just a few words of gossip behind one's back, you have to be afraid of being heard by others.

  However, the young scholars still had a bit of bookish air and blood, and among the onlookers outside the arena, there were actually many people who quietly cheered for Zhang Xuan and were deeply moved by his speech full of justice.

  Zhang Li, a servant of the Zhang family, turned pale with fright and almost wet his pants. He fell to the ground on his buttocks, muttering to himself in a weak voice: "Third Master, Third Master, you're not just seeking death for yourself, but pushing the entire Zhang family into the fire pit!"

  Cui Ying outside the court couldn't have imagined that Zhang Huan, who had just shed his reputation as a prodigal son, would suddenly turn his spearhead towards Li Linfu. At present, Li Linfu's power is so great that even the aristocratic families of Cui, Wang, Lu, and Zheng must yield to him, let alone the declining house of Zhang, which only has an empty reputation!

  Zhang Huan - how can he be so reckless?

  Cui Ying's face was filled with endless worry, staring blankly at Zhang Xuan who seemed to be about to continue his passionate speech on stage. Her two delicate small hands were tightly clenched together, and a layer of fine sweat beads appeared on her smooth forehead.

  An eerie silence fell over the scene, with the sound of some guests' urgent and heavy breathing faintly audible.

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