The moment Li Gang finished speaking, an awkward silence fell over the entire room.
Geng Nanzhong's face turned bright red, leaving him speechless at this juncture.
Tang Ke found himself in a precarious position. He wanted to argue with Li Gang, but Li Gang stood on a moral high ground. Not just him, but even ten of him combined would be no match for Li Gang.
"Your subject believes Prime Minister Li is correct. Lord Tang, Geng Nanzhong's actions in this matter are indeed inappropriate. Zhong Shidao is a meritorious minister of the court, and he is by no means a traitorous rebel!"
After a deathly silence, Li Ruoshui finally stepped forward, definitively settling the matter.
Unlike other matters, Xin Wang Zhao Zhen was, after all, the current emperor's younger brother, and he currently commanded an army of 100,000.
As long as Zhao Zhen himself did not raise the banner of rebellion, anyone who dared to hold Zhong Shidao responsible would be overtly provoking Zhao Zhen to rebel.
This was a critical moment for the survival of the Great Song Dynasty, and Li Ruoshui was unwilling to see infighting within the imperial family at such a time.
With his endorsement, the emperor, who had initially intended to press charges, now found himself somewhat embarrassed. All the accusations leveled against Li Gang were essentially based on the premise that Zhong Shidao was a traitor.
Now that this foundation had been completely undermined, the previously fabricated charges could no longer stand!
"Both Prime Ministers speak with reason. However, I believe they acted with good intentions. Our dynasty has no precedent for punishing people for their words. I propose that we ask them to personally apologize to Prime Minister Zhong at his residence, and let this matter rest."
Since their attempt to find fault with Li Gang today was clearly impossible, Zhang Bangchang stepped forward to play the peacemaker.
"No precedent for punishing people for their words? Prime Minister Zhang, is your memory so poor, or do you intentionally choose to forget? If there is no precedent for punishing people for their words, then what was Su Zizhan's 'Palace of Ink Poetry Case'?"
Zhang Bangchang wanted to let the matter drop, but Li Gang had no intention of ending it so easily. With a few simple sentences, he cornered Zhang Bangchang once again.
Seeing Zhang Bangchang's embarrassed expression, Li Ruoshui, who had been enduring this for days, suddenly felt an urge to laugh.
However, as soon as the corner of his mouth curved upwards, he immediately realized that this was not his home. Concealed by the loud coughing of others, he quickly pinched his thigh, barely managing to suppress his laughter.
"This... this was my oversight!"
Having his attempt to smooth things over disrupted, Zhang Bangchang's face turned a shade of liver-red.
"Your Majesty! Geng Nanzhong is a criminal designated by the Retired Emperor. His guilt is proven, and the Retired Emperor personally decreed his dismissal from court and permanent disqualification. Our Great Song governs with benevolence and filial piety. Your Majesty would certainly not overturn the Retired Emperor's decision. You are naturally kind and, remembering past affections, do not wish to add insult to injury when he is in misfortune. However, if others were to see this, they might think Your Majesty intends to reinstate him!"
After speaking, Li Gang bowed to Zhao Huan once more, awaiting the emperor's answer.
This put Zhao Huan in an even more awkward position.
Geng Nanzhong was completely dumbfounded!
He had confidently attempted to set a trap for Li Gang and have him removed from court, but unexpectedly, with a few words, this old man had trapped him instead.
Now that the emperor was cornered, even if Zhao Huan was inclined to favor Geng Nanzhong, he could not say another word for him at this moment.
"Prime Minister Li speaks with reason. This matter... was my oversight!"
Gazing fiercely at Li Gang for a long time, Zhao Huan finally gritted his teeth and uttered these words.
"Your Majesty admits his mistakes and corrects them; this is the greatest virtue! Your subject has matters of military and national importance to report. I request Your Majesty to expel this person from the palace!"
Hearing Li Gang's words and seeing the emperor's expression, even Li Ruoshui was somewhat impressed with Li Gang at this moment.
It was so satisfying!
This excuse was so grand and plausible that even the emperor could not find any fault with it.
"Mr. Geng, you may leave for now. I will speak with you when I have the time!"
Regardless of Zhao Huan's willingness, with the words "matters of military and national importance" preceding the request, he could only force himself to suppress his displeasure and escort Geng Nanzhong out of the Fúníng Hall.
"Your subject, a commoner, takes his leave!"
After glaring fiercely at Li Gang, Geng Nanzhong, suppressing his resentment, walked out of the Fúníng Hall, looking back repeatedly.
Only then did Zhang Bangchang breathe a sigh of relief.
Although he had lost a little face today, compared to face, the matter of expelling Geng Nanzhong from court was clearly more important!
"Reporting to Your Majesty, this is the news I have just received. Your subject believes we should temporarily abandon supporting Taiyuan at this time."
Since his objective had essentially been achieved, Li Gang once again took out a memorial from his sleeve and spoke.
"Present it!"
Although Li Gang's statement sounded somewhat incredible, he was, after all, the Prime Minister, and the authority he had just displayed in dealing with Geng Nanzhong was still evident.
Even Sun Fu could only obediently squat to the side, drawing circles.
Upon hearing the emperor's words, Shun Xi quickly stepped forward, took the memorial, and placed it on the emperor's desk with both hands.
After opening the memorial and reading it from beginning to end, Zhao Huan's eyes widened.
"This Hu Guo Array can truly transport grain and supplies out of thin air?"
"Your Majesty, to ascertain whether it is true or false, why not summon Master Yuan Miao to inquire?"
Although Li Gang had previously looked down on Lin Ling Su, he had to admit that regardless of what tricks Lin Ling Su had played in this matter, the fact that he could transport supplies into Taiyuan city and provide them all free of charge was enough for him to be called an old immortal without violating his principles!
"Your reasoning is sound. Come, summon Master Yuan Miao!"
It was not uncommon for emperors of the Zhao family to be superstitious about Taoist priests. Although Zhao Huan had not had a good impression of Lin Ling Su before, after reading this memorial, he was genuinely moved.
Taiyuan city was besieged, and large quantities of supplies miraculously appeared within the Hu Guo Array of the Divine Firmament Sect. If such a thing could be replicated in Bianliang city, what else would he, as emperor, need to worry about regarding military expenditure in the future?
"Your Majesty..."
Seeing Li Gang and the emperor so in sync, about to summon Lin Ling Su, Zhang Bangchang awkwardly pointed at the memorial in the emperor's hand.
This old fellow Li Gang truly did not regard him, the Grand Tutor, as important.