your younger brother, so that I can be your true friend!"His words thundered.Although Zhao Qinglan stood atop the phoenix chariot, looking down on everyone, Li Chen's aura was like a hidden dragon eme...Chapter 218: Shouldn't I Wait for Death Instead of Running

"The chief minister is still more powerful."

Li Chen said coldly, "To hide this trump card, how many rebels did the Xishan Province have How many innocent people died How many soldiers died A general's success comes at the cost of ten thousand bones. The chief minister's achievement is not yet complete, but there are already quite a few bones beneath his feet."

Zhao Xuanji twitched the corner of his mouth and said stiffly, "Compared to Your Highness, there's still a bit lacking."

Seeing Zhao Xuanji sarcastically mocking him, Li Chen let out a cold smile and ignored him.

At this time, Tao Rui, dressed in prison garb and disheveled, was already escorted by guards to the Taihe Hall.

Two guards pressed their palms on Tao Rui's shoulders and pushed down, the iron chains on their hands and the shackles on his feet caused Tao Rui to kneel with a thud.

Despite the soft carpet laid on the floor of Taiping Palace, Tao Rui still let out a grunt of pain.

At this moment, everyone in the Taihe Palace, including Li Chen, could finally see Tao Rui's face.

Of average appearance, of medium height, and looking quite ordinary.

Perhaps among ordinary people, Tao Rui could still retain some of the bearing of someone who had long held a high position. But on this Taihe Palace, few people's official ranks were lower than his.

He had been tortured day after day and seemed disheveled and haggard.

"You are Tao Rui." Li Chen said indifferently.

Tao Rui let out a cold snort and said, "Don't play these tricks. Once I was captured, I never thought I could live. Bringing me to Taihe Palace is just to squeeze the last bit of value out of me, isn't it"

“That’s right, those refugees from Xishan Province revolted. They were very powerful, and almost overnight, their rebel army appeared everywhere in the province. I was no match for them. Whether I reported it or not, I was doomed. So before the rebels arrived, I fled.”

"I just didn't run away."

"Be bold!"

The Right Vice-Minister of the Metropolitan Procuratorate thundered, "As a court official receiving a salary from the imperial court, you should devote your heart to serving the country. Yet, under your rule, rebel armies appeared in your province! Instead of thinking about resisting and suppressing them, you chose to run away! You didn't even report it to the imperial court before fleeing directly. Such audacity and cowardice, yet you dare to speak eloquently in the Taihe Hall!"

Tao Rui let out a cold snort, fixing his gaze on the Right Deputy Minister of State, and said, "Tan Bingzhi, you speak without feeling the pain, do you know what's happening in Xishan Province"

“In the province of Xishan, there were originally six million people living there. It was a populous province in the whole country. But after two years of natural disasters – floods, droughts, and now this snowstorm – over two point eight million people have died within just two years!”

"This is still based on statistics. What about those that are not counted They are impossible to count now. One village after another is disappearing and being wiped out, and the remaining people have all fled, leaving their fates unknown. Currently, in Xishan Province, the number of registered residents that can be found is less than two million."

“The imperial court is failing to provide disaster relief. The government has no money or grain to send down. Not only the common people, but even the soldiers of the government and the garrison troops stationed in Xishan province haven't received their pay and allowances for a long time. Everyone is struggling to fill their own stomachs. When those rebels attack, it's already a miracle they haven't joined them. How can you expect me to command these starving men to put down the rebellion”

"In Xishan's situation, not even I could do anything about it. Even if Mr. Bo Wen from over 300 years ago were to be reborn, he would be helpless too!"

"If I don't run, what else can I do Stay there to be buried with them I'm not that stupid!"r the covers and pulled Jin Xueyuan in.Don't overthink it. Focus on preparing for the banquet tonight and think about how to persuade the Crown Prince to help you. Before that, spend some time enterta...