Chapter 110: I’m Going to Search Your Homes, I Hope You Cooperate!
“Your Majesty, I have discovered that the Prince of Northern Hebei, Prince of Southern Jiang, Duke Wuxi… and other vassal kings have been researching and manufacturing a flying device known as the Air Balloon in their own territories. They have made significant progress and will soon be able to test fly. Your Majesty, please take notice!” The commander of the Imperial Guards reported to the Empress in court.
“Your Majesty, I have just received shocking news that surrounding countries such as the Great Xia Empire, Great Yan Empire, and the Great Yue Empire are also actively manufacturing the Air Balloon with great success. Your Majesty, please take notice!” An old general reported to the Empress on the grass field.
Another group of people also reported on the situation with the Air Balloon.
The Empress’s facial expression became increasingly dark, and the court became quieter and quieter, just like the calm before a storm.
The Empress shouted, “Wang Rushui, where are you!”
“I am here!” The Minister of Industry, Wang Rushui, came out trembling and sweating.
The Empress stood up and pointed at Wang Rishui’s nose, angrily saying, “Look at what you have done! I have expressly forbidden the secret of the flying device to be leaked out. Those who violate this order should be beheaded on the spot! But look at what has happened everywhere! Are my words not enough, or is my sword not sharp enough?”
“Your Majesty, I am innocent!”
Wang Rushui fell to his knees, sweating profusely. “Your Majesty, the structure of the flying device is not complex at all. For skilled craftsmen, they can easily figure out how to make it just by looking at it. Therefore, I am not associated with this matter. Please have mercy!”
The Empress continued to rage, “You dare to claim your innocence? Did you not hear the reports? They have made significant progress and will soon be able to test fly! They clearly have a complete understanding of the manufacturing process! Where else could they have gotten it from but the Ministry of Industry you lead?”
“In such a short time, how do they have a complete understanding of the process? They must have obtained the process itself! It must have leaked from your Ministry of Industry!”
“Wang Rushui, what is your punishment?”
“Your Majesty, I am truly innocent!” The Minister of Industry, Wang Rushui, was about to cry.
He knew that the Empress highly valued this matter and that it was important to the entire court. He also highly valued it himself and warned everyone not to act rashly.
He even personally rooted out several traitors to set an example.
But now, everything has failed!
He felt so bitter and wronged!
“Your Majesty, you are aware of the current situation in the Ministry of Induy! The Imperial Guards and a large number of the Forbidden Army are guarding the area, making it impossible for any leaks to occur! In fact, apart from the Ministry of Industry, there is another person who could have leaked the manufacturing method!”
Wang Rushui turned his head and pointed to Lin Beifan, who was standing behind the officials watching the scene, and said loudly, “That person is Lin Beifan, the inventor of the flying artifact and the first person to fly with it. He also has the potential to leak information. Your Majesty, please investigate!”
This is a tactic often used by experienced officials – even if it is not true, throw the mud and share the blame. Lin Beifan stood up angrily.
“Sir Wang, you do not have to slander me! I am loyal and devoted to Your Majesty and the Great Wu Empire. How could I commit such an unforgivable act?”
“If I were disloyal, why would I give the manufacturing and control methods of the flying artifact to Your Majesty instead of selling them to someone else? Obviously, this is unnecessary!”
“Moreover, Your Majesty has been very gracious to me, treating me like a son and providing for my every need. Any decent person would not betray Your Majesty in this way!”
With his hand on his chest, Lin Beifan let out a loud roar, “You can insult my conscience, but you cannot insult my loyalty!”
Wang Rushui looked embarrassed. The Empress, who was sitting on the throne, had an uncomfortable expression on her face. Lin Beifan’s argument made sense, and they could not find a way to prove his guilt. Only the Empress, her fists clenched, wanted to strike Lin Beifan’s face.
Lin Beifan added, “Finally, as you said earlier, the Imperial Guards and the Forbidden Army are stationed all around the Ministry of Industry. It is impossible for any leaks to occur. If I leaked information under these circumstances, wouldn’t it be obvious? They would suspect me immediately for any small issue! I am a triple winner of the imperial examination, do you think I would do something that foolish?”
“This…” The officials all shook their heads.
Any person with normal intelligence knows what they should do.
Lin Beifan, such a smart person, must not have made such a stupid mistake.
“I am innocent, Your Majesty, please investigate!” Lin Beifan bowed.
“Sir Lin is indeed innocent!” The empress said firmly: “He has been loyal to me and to Great Wu. In his three months in office, I do not know how many achievements he has made for our court! The Darro Swallowing Plan was his idea, and the air ballon was his invention! Among all the civil and military officials, others may betray me, but he will not!”
“Your Majesty is wise!” Lin Beifan was deeply moved.
“Therefore, the method of making the air balloon must have leaked from your Ministry of Industry! After all, your ministry has a history of such things happening regularly! Wang Rushui, what is your crime?”
“Your Majesty, I am really innocent!” Wang Rushui, the Minister of Industry, cried, feeling more wronged than Dou E1
Seeing Wang Rushui, who usually opposed her, crying, the empress felt happy inside.
Of course, she knew the other party was innocent, framed by some little villain and ended up taking a big black pot on his head.
But with such a rare opportunity to vent her anger, how could she let it go?
“Humph! There’s no such thing as being wronged. Since it has already happened, you cannot escape responsibility for negligence!” the empress said angrily: “You will be fined three years’ salary and remain under investigation! If you make the same mistake again next time, you won’t need your official hat – I will definitely finish you thoroughly!”
“Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty!” Wang Rushui breathed a sigh of relief.
It was just a matter of salary punishment, as long as he still had his official position, there was no problem.
But in the future, he may have to act low-key.
“This leak threatens our national stability, and we cannot take it lightly. We must impose severe punishment!” the empress said loudly: “Investigate! Investigate the Ministry of Industry inside out! We must not let anyone off! Once a problem is found, they must be dealt with severely!”
At this time, Lin Beifan stood up: “Your Majesty!”
“Sir Lin, what is it?”
“Your Majesty, please give this matter to me!” Lin Beifan said with a heavy heart: “I am very sad and angry to see the air balloon that I have researched so hard being leaked like this. Therefore, I must find the mastermind behind the scenes and let them receive their due punishment!”
The empress sneered in her heart: You bastard, you are good at pretending to catch the thief!
At this moment, you seem quite proactive. Are you thinking of pilfering again?
When will you ever give me some peace of mind.
On the surface, the empress appeared heartbroken, saying, “My dear, I have caused you great distress! Your pain is my pain, and I understand it so well! That being the case, I entrust this task to you!”
Lin Beifan was overjoyed, “Thank you, Your Majesty! I will give it my all and will not rest until it is done!”
This is another way to get rich!
Who knows how many corrupt officials work in the Ministry of Industry?
You know, those in construction are all rich beyond measure!
If you don’t seize this opportunity to cut them deep, it would be a waste!
Looking up at the empress’s stunning face.
Your Majesty, I love you!
The empress, sitting on the throne, looked at Lin Beifan’s slightly upturned lips and could sense his inner pride and joy.
She made a fist and wanted to punch him again.
“Also, I hope you can take up residence in the Ministry of Industry. On one hand, you can help the craftsmen manufacture the airship sooner! On the other hand, I hope you can keep an eye on others and not let this method leak out again!”
If the manufacturing method is leaked again, you won’t be able to escape responsibility, so don’t cause problems for me.
“Yes, Your Majesty!” Lin Beifan readily agreed.
So next, Lin Beifan led the imperial command to break into the Ministry of Industry.
“The leak of the airship threatens the state and has angered the empress!”
“The empress has said that the Ministry of Industry must be thoroughly investigated from top to bottom, and no one can be excluded! Once a problem is found, it must be immediately exposed, and punished severely!”
“What this means is…”
Lin Beifan smiled, “I’m here to search your homes, and I hope you all cooperate!”
The officials of the Ministry of Industry were shocked.
“What? You want to search our homes?”
“Absolutely not!”
“Lin Beifan is too greedy, we must not let them in!”
“Sir Wang, please speak for us!”
…
The officials were very agitated.
Lin Beifan smiled at the Ministry of Industry’ Heaf, “Sir Wang, they seem very uncooperative! Can you help me out a bit? Otherwise, I could end up going too heavy-handed and offending my colleagues!”
Wang Rishui, the Head of the Ministry of Industry, was tired and weak, saying, “This is the order of the empress, so please cooperate with Sir Lin! Otherwise, if you make a mistake, I won’t be able to save you!”
“Sir Wang!”
“Sir Wang!”
…
Everyone was shocked that even Sir Wang couldn’t stand up against it.
“Everyone, have you heard Sir Wang’s words? I hope you will cooperate or else I will charge you with treason and give you no mercy!” Lin Beifan shouted.
The officials trembled, feeling as though the sky was about to collapse.
1. Dou E is the protagonist of the classical Chinese play “The Injustice to Dou E”, also known as “The Injustice Done to Dou E”. The play is a Yuan Dynasty play by Guan Hanqing and is regarded as one of the “Four Great Classical Chinese Dramas”. The storyline revolves around the struggles of Dou E, a young woman who is falsely accused and punished for a crime she did not commit. The play has been adapted into various forms of media and is widely known in Chinese culture.
