Fearing being killed for his overwhelming merits, the empress decided to marry him.

"emperor!"

Upon hearing that Li Hong was going to hit him again, Zhang Weian exclaimed in surprise and immediately knelt down at his feet.

"We can't fight anymore. Please turn around and look at the people of Wu Zhao Kingdom!"

Li Hong interrupted Zhang Wei'an coldly: "What's wrong with the people? Tell me, what's wrong with the people?"

The voice was very calm, but it was filled with a chilling killing intent, preventing Zhang Wei'an from uttering a single word.

"Since I ascended the throne, I have swept away the malpractices of the previous emperor's reign and have worked diligently to govern the country without ever slacking off."

"I have reorganized the court, established the Grand Council to improve administrative efficiency, and improved the imperial examination system to select promising talents."

"In foreign affairs, I have revitalized the military, promoted junior officers, assisted in retraining old troops, and eliminated all external threats. My military achievements are remarkable, giving our dynasty the military style of the Taizu era."

"Domestically, I have reduced taxes and levies across the country six times, freeing hundreds of millions of people in Huguang from years of taxation. The land tax has been reduced to three out of every hundred, greatly alleviating their burden."

"Now you want to bring up the common people to me again? Do you think that attacking a small Dongyi country will make it impossible for the people of my Celestial Empire to survive?"

Zhang Wei'an was speechless after being confronted, and could only lie on the ground trembling.

Li Hong sighed: "You officials who dare to criticize, just because the people of one county or one region are having difficulties, you feel that I have failed the world and the people, and then you write it into the history books to criticize me severely."

But have you ever thought about how much price I paid and how much sweat I shed for this hard-won prosperous era?

No, you can't see it, or even if you do, you're unwilling to believe it; you only ever believe what you already believe!

"You cannot see the glorious military achievements of my Wu Zhao in its complete victories in foreign wars, nor can you see the obsequious tribute from all nations."

It's like being inside a golden house, but only seeing a single brick hidden inside, and then denying the perfection of the entire house.

They only know how to nitpick, they're really just looking for trouble. Keeping them in the court will only bring disaster to the future of my Wu Zhao Dynasty.

Tears streaming down Zhang Wei'an's face, he raised his eyes and shouted, "Your Majesty's wisdom and foresight are beyond measure. This humble subject's flattery is far from enough. Our Wuzhao Dynasty will surely be admired by the world!"

Li Hong chuckled lightly without showing any emotion, and the murderous aura emanating from him lessened considerably.

"Alright, get up. I summoned you today to tell you about your memorial criticizing me."

I will not blame you, but I will exile you to Lingzhou so that you can see for yourself just how glorious the Wu Zhao Kingdom under my rule truly is.

Let's set off with your family tomorrow.

"This guilty subject thanks Your Majesty for your great kindness!"

Zhang Wei'an once again prostrated himself before Li Hongna.

Li Hong ignored Zhang Weian and let him continue kneeling on the ground, then walked straight to Hu Nanyi.

Compared to Zhang Weian, Hu Nanyi was much calmer and showed no panic at all when Li Hong approached.

"Hu Nanyi, are you looking at me with such eyes because you disagree with my decision?"

"This humble subject had absolutely no such intention!"

Hu Nanyi maintained a humble yet assertive attitude. After saying just one sentence, he fell silent, appearing resigned to his fate.

"Hu Nanyi, you've truly impressed me by exonerating the followers of the Heavenly Principle Sect. Don't you know that the Heavenly Principle Sect is nothing but a bunch of traitors?"

Hu Nanyi: "When I took office as the Inspector General of Huguang, I already knew about the Heavenly Principle Sect. Its essence was that it was a group that had lost its land."

Unable to pay the exorbitant taxes and levies, and already on the verge of starvation, this humble official believes that if the court could implement benevolent policies,

If they could reclaim the land that had been seized by local gentry and corrupt officials, the sect would collapse on its own. Otherwise, even if the Heavenly Principles Sect could be eradicated by the imperial court,

Before long, perhaps there will be other religions like Geography and Humanity; in short, these rebels only choose to rebel because they have no other way to survive.

His Majesty is wise and powerful, and loves his people like his own children. I believe he would not stand idly by and watch his people take this path because they have no other way to survive.

Li Hong laughed upon hearing this: "You are quite eloquent. I underestimated you. I understand what you mean."

They simply think, like Zhang Wei'an, that if the people are in trouble, it's all my fault—that I'm cruel and disregard the people's safety, right?

"This guilty subject dares not!"

"What else do you have to be afraid of?"

Li Hong sneered.

"I've seen through you all long ago. You keep saying you're doing this for the country, for me."

Actually, isn't it all for your own benefit? You want me to kill you all, thus cementing your reputation for fearlessness in the face of power, leaving me with a mess to clean up?

But Hu Nanyi, do you know that based on your remarks just now, even if I were to execute you by slow slicing, it wouldn't be too much of an act?

Hu Nanyi's pupils contracted, and he instinctively wanted to argue, but the words caught in his throat as he chuckled to himself: "If the ruler commands the subject to die, the subject dares not live on in disgrace."

"It seems you still don't understand how you should die. Well then, let me waste my breath and tell you why you should die."

"Because in your heart, those evil followers of the Heavenly Principle Cult are not traitors, but I am!"

Hu Nanyi was shocked and hurriedly knelt down: "This sinful subject had no such intention!"

"No such intention?" Li Hong sneered. "You just said they rebelled because they lost land, that's why they rebelled."

In other words, in Hu Nanyi's mind, if the common people can't survive, then they can openly and legitimately rise up in rebellion.

"Does saying such things mean I shouldn't kill you?"

Hu Nanyi quickly shook his head: "That's not what I meant."

"And what do you mean by that? You can't see how cruel and inhumane the Heavenly Principle Cult members are, yet you blame me for suppressing them just because they are commoners."

"You even want me to avenge the rebels? Hu Nanyi, I want to ask you, are you still a subject of my Wu Zhao Kingdom?!"

One sentence, as powerful as thunder, left Hu Nanyi speechless.

“You lot are always neglecting your duties, each of you thinking you are a good official who speaks up for the people, but in reality you are nothing but fame-seekers, which are detrimental to the country and the people.”

Hu Nanyi clenched his fists and lowered his head in shame: "Your Majesty has profound insight and can see through everything in a single breath. This humble subject is far from being a worthy successor."

Li Hong sneered, "Alright, I won't kill you. Didn't you say that the followers of the Heavenly Principle Cult are all innocent people? Then I'll give you a chance to atone for your crimes."

"I hereby exile you to the Huzhou military camp, so you can personally accompany the local troops to see for yourself whether the followers of the Heavenly Principle Sect are truly innocent!"

Hu Nanyi pressed his head against the floor tiles, his eyes red, and shouted, "This sinful subject thanks Your Majesty for your great kindness!"

Li Hong waved his hand impatiently, and the guards immediately pulled the two of them out of the hall.

For Li Hong, who held the power of life and death, it was far more satisfying to destroy someone's spirit than to kill them.

His intention was to stab these self-proclaimed upright and honest officials in the heart, to cause their steadfast beliefs to crumble, and then to instill his own ideology in them in order to deceive them.

No sooner had they left than another eunuch came to report: "Your Majesty, Lord He is requesting an audience outside the palace."