Chapter 876: When the Rabbit Dies, the Dog Is Cooked—The Subtle Uses of Abandoned Pieces

Chapter 876: Chapter 77: When the Rabbit Dies, the Dog Is Cooked—The Subtle Uses of Abandoned Pieces

——The situation changed drastically in an instant.

The court’s various decisions almost became public knowledge by the next day.

Everyone was shocked by the downfall of Chancellor Qin Hui, yet they accepted it very quickly.

The fickleness of human relationships in political parties was fully revealed at this moment.

Just the next day—

Countless impeachment memorials against Qin Hui were submitted, and this once honored Chancellor fell to the point where everyone was demanding his downfall almost overnight.

Among them, some did it for reputation;

Some did it to label themselves as righteous officials before the Gu Clan returned to court.

Clearly, it was not just Zhao Gou.

Everyone in the court and all across the levels had already determined that the Gu Clan was surely going to return to the court.

This trend even overshadowed the military reports of threats to Jiangnan.

This is the influence of the Gu Clan!

And Qin Hui, in such circumstances, had no choice but to accept his fate, embarking on the path to death proactively under the condition of preserving his family.

….

Time flew by.

Yingchang Prefecture, the military camp in the suburbs.

It was late autumn, the cold wind had begun, sweeping up dead leaves on the ground, swirling them around and hitting the face with piercing cold.

Qin Hui, holding the imperial edict, was escorted by a squad of wary Northern Border Army soldiers, entering this region that was completely unfamiliar to him.

Before reaching the main tent, his gaze was caught by the scene on an open ground not far away, or rather, the sound that reached his ears made him stop involuntarily, as if all the blood in his body had frozen instantly.

A group of commoners were sitting around, and in the middle stood a young man dressed in the Gu Clan’s guard uniform, looking quite sharp.

The young man was not holding a knife or gun, but rather like a storyteller, asking the crowd in a loud voice: “…Fellow villagers, think again, the fields were created by heaven and earth, why do they become private properties of a few households, allowing them to annex them, leaving the diligent farmers without enough to eat, while those seated high have full granaries?”

“Does this make sense?”

The commoners sitting below, both old and young, began whispering among themselves, until a bold man responded in a deep voice: “Sir, we never dared to think about this before!”

“We only thought it was fate, that our ancestors didn’t accumulate enough virtue…”

The guard chuckled, his voice clear and each word hitting like a hammer: “Fate? If it’s really fate, then why did things change when Lord Gu came, measuring fields accurately, distributing the ownerless lands and those snatched by the powerful to everyone for cultivation?”

“This shows it’s not the Celestial Mandate, but rather human injustice!”

“Human injustice…” The commoners chewed over this unfamiliar term, their expressions confused yet with a spark of enlightenment.

The guard continued, his voice suddenly rising: “And about those court taxes, increasing layer by layer, with numerous kinds, draining the marrow and breaking bones!”

“Were you ever asked if you were willing?”

“Was that tax ever used to build bridges and roads for you, to relieve disasters?”

“No!”

“They only use this fat of the people to feed those parasites; why should we respect such a court, such officials, and be loyal?”

“Right! Why?!” The crowd erupted with long-suppressed shouts, filled with anger and release.

Qin Hui stood not far away, listening to these remarks that could indeed be considered ‘blasphemous’ and ‘worthy of extermination of nine generations,’ feeling a chill rise from the soles of his feet straight to his head, forcing him into a slight trembling.

He wasn’t oblivious to Gu Hui’s “misconduct,” but seeing and hearing it firsthand was far more impactful than any written reports!

Qin Hui was no fool.

On the contrary, to reach the position he was in, none could be anything less than a genius.

Previously, he hadn’t felt this way.

But now, having witnessed all this, he faintly realized something different.

Gu Hui… was he truly denouncing treacherous ministers?

Using the reputation of the Gu Clan.

Was his purpose really that simple?

Qin Hui dared not think further.

Despite having already prepared for the worst over these days, even having the thought of going to his death, he felt a chill at this moment, unable to think any further.

Fortunately, at that time, the cold voice of the soldier beside him rang out directly.

“Chancellor Qin, Lord Gu is waiting in the tent.”

Qin Hui took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the overwhelming waves in his heart, adjusted his attire slightly, tried to maintain the last semblance of dignity, and walked towards that seemingly ordinary, yet storm-laden main tent.

Inside the tent, the warmth of a brazier dispelled the autumn chill.

Gu Hui wasn’t wearing official attire, merely a plain green gown, seated at a desk, perusing a document.

Upon hearing footsteps, he didn’t immediately look up but casually pointed towards a nearby seat.

“Chancellor Qin, your journey must have been tough.” Gu Hui’s voice was calm, revealing neither joy nor anger, as if he was merely welcoming an ordinary guest.

Qin Hui composed himself, forced a smile, slightly raised the imperial edict in his hand, and spoke in his most proficient, awe-inspiring tone: “Lord… Lord Gu, His Majesty has decreed…”

“A decree?” Gu Hui finally raised his head, his gaze bright as if penetrating the soul, his lips carrying a hint of a faint smile, interrupting Qin Hui, “Is it appointing me as Grand Tutor?”

His expression was extremely complicated, making it hard to discern his true thoughts at the moment.

Qin Hui was momentarily stunned, but instinctively nodded, naturally revealing a trace of a smile: “Lord is wise… His Majesty, out of gratitude…”

Before he could finish, Gu Hui waved his hand, interrupting him: “When needed, my Gu Clan is praised as loyal, the pillar of the nation, wishing to appoint both the Grand Tutor and Three Ministers, merely seeking us to come forth, to mend this broken land and stabilize that precarious throne.”

His tone was flat, like recounting an old story unrelated to himself, yet his gaze at Qin Hui was startlingly sharp.

“When deemed useless or slightly obstructive,” Gu Hui’s tone shifted, carrying a trace of scorn, “then we are called a reclusive family, not to be lightly disturbed, accused of wielding excessive power, feared to become a threat.”

“Even the Northern Border supplies could be withheld and delayed, allowing enemy raids, just for personal gain, preserving imperial dignity.”

With each statement, Qin Hui’s complexion turned a shade paler, his fingers gripping the edict slightly whitening from the pressure.

These tacit court calculations laid bare so straightforwardly by Gu Hui brought an excruciating chill to him.

Gu Hui’s gaze lingered on Qin Hui’s forcibly composed face for a moment, then suddenly asked: “Chancellor Qin, do you say it is or isn’t?”

Qin Hui’s throat moved, wanting to protest, yet he found no words to utter.

But Gu Hui didn’t need his answer, he slowly stood up, paced to the center of the tent and continued: “And now, with the Jurchens at the doorstep, the Yingtian court at risk, Zhao Gou remembers the Gu Clan, this old blade.”

“Even at the expense of…”

He paused, a hint of disdain flashing in his gaze at Qin Hui, before continuing with a head shake: “Offering you, once his prized right hand, as a token of goodwill or perhaps a sacrifice to quell our soldiers’ potential wrath.”

“Qin Hui,” Gu Hui’s voice wasn’t loud, but carried a chilling insight, “bringing this yellow silk here, have you truly thought whether you can return alive?”

“Your Majesty—”

“No!”

“Zhao Gou, and those officials in Lin’an City, did they ever hope you’d return alive?”

Gu Hui’s tone was exceedingly calm.

Yet when “Zhao Gou” was uttered from his lips, the entire tent’s atmosphere shifted completely!

Qin Hui stood there, dumbfounded, his body beyond his control, trembling as if he couldn’t believe these words came from Gu Hui’s mouth!

But Gu Hui’s expression remained calm and steady throughout.

He had nothing to hide.

To them, Qin Hui was merely a pawn to be discarded, yet to the common folk amidst a transformative wave of thought, he was fundamentally different.

Indeed, to Gu Hui, a pawn… had another use!

…

Fish is exceedingly grateful, a new plot will follow this scene, and the conflict points and climax of the entire plot will gradually emerge.)