Yinshan Record

Chapter 395 A Tyrannical Nature: Seizing Power and Manipulating Handles (Part 2)

Cizhou Imperial Censorate.

The yamen was in complete chaos. There were many minor officials rushing around with bamboo slips and scrolls in their hands. Officials of all ranks could be seen whispering under the eaves and along the porches. When they saw Su Che walking towards the hall, they could hardly hide the panic in their eyes.

"I rode back on a paper horse across the ground, while Li Yizhen fled at all costs. It seems that news of his defeat is no longer news in this Censorate. I'm afraid that the news of the court's defeat will soon spread throughout the city from here, and the chaos will probably be even more serious then."

Su Che strode forward, and the imposing main hall of the Imperial Censorate came into view. In front of the hall stood two fierce and ferocious statues of Feilian, with bird heads, deer bodies, snake tails, and leopard patterns all over their bodies. The drizzling rain made the two statues seem to come alive.

An older official of lower rank stepped forward slowly and said respectfully.

"I am here to inform the Chief Clerk of the matter. The Chief Clerk and the two Imperial Censors are currently discussing matters in the hall. May I go and inform them?"

Su Che glanced at him coldly and stepped forward.

"Punishment can wait; this is a matter of great military importance, not to be discussed further..."

"Military secrets, what military secrets could there be now?"

Su Che snorted coldly: "Get out of the way."

With a sharp shout, the officials all stepped back.

Su Che flicked his sleeve and strode into the hall.

The heavy wooden door was slowly pushed open, and Wang Jian and Xiong Shou sat on either side of a table. They were dressed in official robes and looked displeased.

Su Che's domineering style of forcibly entering the Imperial Censorate could not be hidden from the people in front of him. They were all cultivators. Even though Wang Jian did not know what happened at the door, he could hear the commotion outside the hall clearly.

Li Yizhen was dressed in a Taoist robe, with the sleeve of his right arm hanging down. His face was pale and his eyes were bloodshot, clearly indicating that he had suffered serious injuries, with his arm being severed.

The dignified Imperial Censor, in a moment of panic, was actually injured by a demon king from Xuan Mountain. If word got out, countless people would laugh their heads off.

“Su Lixing, this is not your Imperial Guard’s office. You should tone down your arrogance.”

Li Yizhen coughed lightly, her eyes sharp as knives as she looked at Su Che.

"What's the point of looking at this now?"

Young Master Su didn't stand on ceremony with them and went straight to the table to look at the map.

This is a map of Cizhou, which clearly depicts the mountains, rivers, and terrain of Cizhou.

"Should the two imperial censors lead troops to defend the various counties, or..."

Su Che looked at the map in front of him and said, "Oh, right, Imperial Censor Li is injured, and we've lost all our troops. Let's replace this map. Being able to defend Cizhou City is enough to do justice to His Majesty."

"Su Che!"

Li Yizhen slammed her left palm heavily on the table.

"You Imperial Guards have truly lived up to His Majesty's expectations. The Great River Alliance has grown to such a powerful position right under your noses. You Imperial Guards are to blame for today's chaos."

Imperial Censor Xingyou recalled the helplessness he felt when his own group was repeatedly attacked by a group of Rejuvenating Pills, and immediately unleashed his anger on Su Che.

What on earth were you Cizhou Imperial Guards doing? The Great River Alliance had amassed such strength, and you were completely unaware. If I hadn't been misled by you, how could I have suffered this defeat?
Looking at Su Che in front of him, Li Yizhen felt a surge of anger. This kid was probably an accomplice of those rebels.

Wang Jian glanced at Li Yizhen, who was slamming her hand on the table, and then at Su Che, who had burst in from outside. He slowly stood up and said in a low voice.

"It's all for the sake of the court. Censor Li and Su Lixing have only been in office for a year, so it's impossible to pin the blame on them. Censor Li and Su Lixing were also injured while working hard for the country. We're all serving the court, there's no need to blame them on each other..."

While Wang Jian tried to mediate, Xiong Shou slowly closed his eyes to rest.

This brat from the Langya Wang clan is truly incompetent. He still tries to shift the blame onto the imperial guards, completely failing to grasp why Xiao Su has come here.

"Does it hurt?"

Su Che looked at Li Yizhen's right shoulder.

"You!" One shouldn't hit someone in the face, nor should one expose someone's shortcomings when insulting them. Li Yizhen looked at Su Che and immediately lost her composure.

"Currently, Cizhou has no troops available. We should discuss how to defend Cizhou City, otherwise, if the entire territory falls, none of us will escape."

Young Master Su's eyes swept across the faces of the people in front of him.

"Who says there are no soldiers available?"

Li Yizhen retorted, "Chief Secretary Wang also has three hundred armored cavalry, all of whom are elite."

"Three hundred is too few. It's enough to defend the city, but it might not be enough to support the local areas."

Su Che looked at Li Yizhen with a serious expression and asked, "Does Imperial Censor Li intend to lead these three hundred cavalry into battle, only to encounter some demon king and lose everything?"

"I have my own secret techniques that can obtain 10,000 elite soldiers, so I won't waste my time and energy on punishments."

Li Yizhen looked at Su Che: "As long as the law and punishment don't hinder me, it's fine."

"That is indeed due to my limited knowledge and understanding. I wonder if Imperial Censor Li could enlighten me."

Su Che looked at the expressions on the three faces. Xiong Shou was somewhat skeptical, Wang Jian looked troubled, while Li Yizhen was smug.

Clearly, the three of them had been discussing this matter before I entered the lobby.

"Major military matters are not within the jurisdiction of the judicial and criminal authorities."

Li Yizhen sneered: "The Ministry of Justice only needs to guard against those treacherous people. If any unrest breaks out in the city, I will certainly report it to the imperial court..."

Su Che took a half step back and looked at Xiong Shou and Wang Jian on the other two sides.

Xiong Shou remained silent, as if he had suddenly fallen seriously ill and did not know how to speak.

Wang Jian then tried to smooth things over, saying, "Su Lixing, this matter is indeed not within the jurisdiction of the Imperial Guards."

"What the hell are you playing?"

Su Che's casual remark immediately chilled the atmosphere in the hall.

"Li Yizhen, if you don't bring out your method for gathering 10,000 elite soldiers, I'll throw your other arm into Xuanshan today."

"Su Che!"

Li Yizhen slammed his fist on the table and stood up: "Threatening the imperial envoy, do you know what a grave crime that is?"

"You damned imperial envoy." Su Che looked at Li Yizhen: "You've slammed your fist on the table several times already, do you think I care about you? If we were to fight now, how many moves do you think you could last?"

Su Che's sword intent shot directly into Li Yizhen's eyes. The imperial censor felt as if a sharp sword was hanging between his brows, and immediately retreated several steps.

This kid... Li Yizhen swallowed hard. This kid really dares to fight.

“Censor Xiong, Chief Clerk Wang, if you want to impeach me, do it quickly.”

Su Che looked at the silent Xiong Shou and said, "I'm afraid if you write too slowly, there won't be enough time to finish."

"This this……"

Wang Jian glanced at Li Yizhen beside him, then at Su Che, unsure of what to say. Why did they have to risk their lives like this?

After a long silence, Xiong Shou finally spoke.

"I don't quite agree with Old Li's method. Even if we manage to defend Cizhou City by raising Gu soldiers, we won't be able to explain it in the future, not to mention that we might not even be able to defend it."

Gu soldiers?

Su Che looked at Li Yizhen and snorted coldly: "Explain yourself..."

(End of this chapter)