Crown Prince of the Empire, I quit!

Even the intercepted secret correspondence between the army and local grain merchants and iron shops clearly outlined the chain of corruption and division of spoils.

The sheer magnitude of the case, and the number of officers involved, far exceeded initial estimates. General Wang Ben, the Southern Guardian, and Li Chong, the Longyou Jiedushi—two of the empire's most celebrated frontier commanders, both renowned for their military exploits—were implicated, along with nearly all of their core officers! They exploited the remoteness and difficulty of oversight in the border defenses, colluding with superiors and subordinates to falsely report troop numbers, withhold military pay, resell military equipment, and enrich themselves, effectively turning a crucial border town into their own private property!

"Good, very good." Qin Ming closed the last secret report. His voice was eerily calm, yet it sent a chill down to the bones of the Privy Councilor and the others. "My Tiger Guards, my Great Wall of Border Defense, have been eaten away to this point!"

He raised his eyes, his gaze like a sharp blade: "Wang Ben, Li Chong, are you aware of this? How involved are you?"

The Privy Councilor took a deep breath. "Your Majesty, based on the available evidence, even if Generals Wang and Li weren't directly involved in the division of the spoils, they cannot escape the grave guilt of condoning, shielding, and negligence of duty! Their trusted subordinates' actions would have been impossible to conceal to this extent without their tacit approval or even instruction! Furthermore... according to secret reports from the Fengwei, the two have been acquiring extensive land and building villas in their respective territories in recent years, leading to a life of luxury far exceeding their salaries..."

"Enough." Qin Ming interrupted him, his eyes filled with cold murderous intent.

Merits? Former subordinates? They were nothing compared to the crime that was corroding the very foundations of the empire.

"Draft an edict." Qin Ming's voice was firm and decisive, without any hesitation.

"General Wang Ben of Zhennan and Li Chong, the governor of Longyou, have failed to discipline their subordinates, neglected their duties and engaged in corruption. Their crimes are proven beyond doubt. They will be immediately stripped of all official titles and brought to the capital for trial by the Privy Council, the Supreme Court, and the Censorate."

"The officers and soldiers under his command who are implicated in the case, and those listed on the list, will be immediately apprehended by the Tingfeng Guards in conjunction with the local garrison! Anyone who resists will be killed without mercy!"

"The vacancies involved will be immediately filled by elite troops from the reserve camp and surrounding military garrisons! The Arsenal will immediately allocate new weapons! The border defense is weak, and we must not slack off for a single day!"

"All civil servants, clerks, and merchants involved in this case will be brought to justice! This investigation will be rigorous and without mercy!"

The series of cold and merciless decrees completely cut off any possibility of compromise or intercession. Although the Privy Councilor was shocked, he dared not question it in the slightest and immediately accepted the order: "Your Majesty, I obey!"

He knew that once this storm against the military erupted, it would shake the world. The fall of two powerful border commanders commanding significant forces would have far-reaching consequences, profound and incalculable. Yet, this was precisely the emperor's style—no matter who was implicated, no matter how meritorious, as long as they threatened the empire, they must be eradicated with ruthless force!

A few days later, when imperial guards suddenly appeared at the headquarters of the Zhennan and Longyou armies, bearing an imperial edict, the shock, resentment, and even a hint of despair on Wang Ben and Li Chong's faces did nothing to change their fate. Shackled and imprisoned, the powerful generals were also swiftly eliminated.

When the news reached the capital, the entire government was once again shaken. Everyone felt the resolute and ruthless determination of His Majesty to rectify the administration and strengthen the empire. No favors, no merits, could withstand the iron laws of the empire.

The body of the empire, under the emperor's ruthless treatment, was experiencing severe pain, but it was also undergoing a difficult and determined transformation towards becoming stronger and more efficient.

Qin Ming sat upright on the dragon throne, his dark robe gleaming coldly in the candlelight. He listened expressionlessly to the Privy Councilor's report. The evidence against Wang Ben, Li Chong, and their cronies, one by one, was clear and brutal, like cold iron nails, nailing the two former warriors to the pillar of shame.

The hall was completely silent, with only the Privy Councilor's deep voice echoing. Several important officials stood in awe, their heads bowed, not daring to utter a single breath. The air was filled with an invisible pressure and chill.

"The evidence is irrefutable and irrefutable." Qin Ming finally spoke, his voice steady but filled with a heavy weight. "The Privy Council, the Dali Temple, and the Metropolitan Procuratorate will jointly investigate and strictly handle the case according to the Daqian Law and the Military Law. All officers involved will be executed immediately without mercy, their property confiscated, and their families exiled three thousand miles away. Wang Ben and Li Chong..." He paused, his eyes sweeping down, "all their titles and salaries will be stripped, and they will be taken to the execution ground and beheaded immediately. Their families will also be exiled."

The words "Execute immediately" uttered, and the temperature in the palace seemed to drop a few degrees. Several veteran officials moved their lips, as if to plead for mercy for these two veteran generals with distinguished military achievements, but met the emperor's calm, unfathomable eyes, and all words were swallowed back. His Majesty had made up his mind; any plea for mercy was futile and might even backfire.

"Your Majesty, I obey your command." The Privy Councilor bowed deeply, accepting this verdict that would surely shock the world.

"In addition," Qin Ming's voice rang out again, leaving no room for doubt. "The vacant positions of General Zhennan and Jiedushi of Longyou will be temporarily filled by their deputy generals. The Ministry of War and the Privy Council will immediately work with the Ministry of Personnel to draw up a list of new candidates and submit it to me within three days. The new appointees must be from humble backgrounds, have outstanding military achievements, and have no ties to the old ones. I demand a complete shake-up."

"Here!"

"Also, this thorough investigation of the military garrison revealed numerous loopholes in the procurement and manufacture of military supplies." Qin Ming turned his gaze to the Minister of Revenue and the Minister of Works. "Order the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Works, and the Ministry of War to jointly draft 'New Regulations for the Procurement and Manufacture of Military Supplies.' Strictly control the process, clarify responsibilities, and introduce tripartite verification. Anyone found guilty of passing off inferior goods as superior ones, falsely reporting prices, or colluding for profit will be punished by lingchi, their property confiscated, and their families enslaved! Officials, craftsmen, and merchants involved will be punished together, with no leniency!"

"Your Majesty, we obey!" The Ministers of Revenue and Works, sweating profusely, quickly agreed. His Majesty was planning a complete overhaul of the entire military supply system!

The decrees were issued one after another, like precise scalpels, cutting the rotten flesh on the body of the empire, coldly and efficiently.

A few days later, at the execution ground in the West Market of the capital.

There were huge crowds of people, but total silence.

Wang Ben and Li Chong, both dressed in prison uniforms and with disheveled hair, knelt on the platform. The once powerful and commanding generals of the frontier towns now looked pale and hollow. Only when the executioner raised his dagger did Wang Ben suddenly raise his head, gaze toward the imperial city, and roar at the top of his lungs, "Your Majesty! I... refuse to obey!"

Before the voice fell, a flash of knife appeared!

Two gray-haired heads rolled to the ground, blood splattering!

There were suppressed exclamations and gasps from the onlookers.

Immediately afterwards, dozens of officers involved in the case were taken to the execution ground one by one, beheaded amidst desperate cries and curses! Blood dyed the entire execution platform red, and the bloody stench rose to the sky, making people sick.

The capital is shaken, the whole world is shaken!