James Lewis grinned, “Yes, yes, that’s right. Your Majesty, when I rushed back, I discovered that some of Franklin Lane’s subordinates were causing a commotion. The ringleader is called Brian King, and right now he’s been arrested by Grand Marshal Hall...”

Brian King!

A man of courage!

William Harris narrowed his eyes. After a moment, he said calmly, “I understand.”

Chapter 8: Resist the Jurchens, Resist the Jurchens, Still Resist the Jurchens

On his second visit to the Chui Gong Hall, William Harris could feel that the civil officials present all showed him a bit more respect, to varying degrees. Some of Charles Harris’s old ministers were even trembling slightly.

The old man at the head of the group, wearing a bitter expression, was Grand Chancellor Blake Smith. Right next to him, elegant and handsome, was Vice Chancellor Richard Lee. Both were promoted by Charles Harris, now serving as the current Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister. Other old ministers of Charles Harris included Associate Director of the Privy Council Philip Wood, Left Assistant Minister of the Department of State Affairs Michael Bolton, and Hanlin Academician and Chief Compiler Arthur Underwood. If you also count the deceased Samuel Todd and Ethan Brooks, who was under house arrest, this was basically Charles Harris’s inner circle.

William Harris even felt that Charles Harris was a collector—specializing in collecting useless teammates.

With such a bunch of spineless cowards in power, it’s no wonder the country is on the brink of ruin!

William Harris wished he could drive all these people out of the court, but there was no time. The Yellow River defense line had collapsed, and now the only thing slowing the Jurchens’ advance was the number of ferries available.

Even if they were spineless, useless teammates, he had to use them. At worst, he could just “supplement their calcium.”

So, as soon as William Harris sat down, he said directly, “Last night, I executed Samuel Todd!”

This opening was truly unique. The faces of the chief ministers, led by Smith and Lee, instantly turned ashen, and they trembled with fear.

“I didn’t want to kill him, but he actually disobeyed my orders and escorted the Retired Emperor south. I had no choice but to pin all the blame on him and ordered the execution of Samuel Todd.” William Harris paid no attention to the ministers’ shocked gazes and continued, “After all, he was a man who had commanded troops for many years and still had some backbone. He didn’t betray the Retired Emperor, and took all the blame upon himself. Judging from this matter alone, it was the Retired Emperor who let him down! Organize what happened last night and spread the word.”

William Harris had just torn off Charles Harris’s old face right in front of everyone!

“Your Majesty!”

A minister immediately fell to the ground—it was none other than Censor Peter Warren.

He didn’t want to be the one to stand out, but as a Censor, it was his duty to correct decrees and advise the emperor, so he had no choice but to step forward!

“Your Majesty, please be cautious with your words!”

William Harris snorted, “Did I say anything wrong?”

Peter Warren was helpless and could only say, “What Your Majesty said is not wrong, but the Retired Emperor has reigned for twenty-six years. Now that the Jurchens are attacking the capital, if the people learn that the Retired Emperor has left the city, there will surely be panic and collapse without a fight. The Retired Emperor must not be implicated. As for Samuel Todd, just treat it as a private escape. He took the blame for his master, so his death is justified. I believe this is the most prudent course.”

William Harris looked at the others and smiled, “Gentlemen, do you all agree?”

Facing the emperor’s question, Grand Chancellor Blake Smith braced himself and said, “Your Majesty, this old minister believes that what Peter Warren said is absolutely right. At this critical moment, we must not cause internal chaos and give traitors an opportunity!”

Richard Lee seized the opportunity and also stepped forward, “Your Majesty, if someone takes this chance to spread rumors that the Retired Emperor intends to abandon Kaifeng, I—I fear it will cause unrest!”

Faced with these high-sounding arguments, William Harris couldn’t help but mock them: “Prime Minister Smith, Vice Minister Lee, let me ask you, do the people of the capital really not know what we’re doing? If I hadn’t executed Samuel Todd last night and brought the Retired Emperor back to Longde Palace, I’m afraid the city would have already been in an uproar by now, wouldn’t it?”

William Harris’s voice echoed through the hall as he disdainfully questioned, “Have any of you packed your bags, gathered your gold and silver, and planned to run away with the Retired Emperor? Have you? Dare to do it but not admit it?”

This line of questioning was truly cutting. Blake Smith, Richard Lee, and Peter Warren were all so frightened they knelt on the ground. If yesterday’s William Harris was still reasoning with everyone in a friendly manner, today he had completely torn off the mask.

“Your Majesty, we are guilty!”

William Harris impatiently waved his hand, “Enough with the empty words. We’re at the brink of national destruction. If we can’t come up with a solution, you and I will both become prisoners of the Jurchens. Even the common people understand this better than you! I just want to say that we’ve lied too much in the past, deceived ourselves and others too much. When a man is about to die, his words are kind. At a time like this, can’t we speak a few words of truth? How much longer do you want to keep lying? Aren’t you ashamed?”

These few questions were like slapping the chief ministers in the face with the soles of a shoe, and then asking them if the soles tasted good. The new emperor’s sharpness was terrifying, leaving these men unable to cope.

Of course, among this group of cowards, there were one or two with backbone—like Thomas Lee!

Ever since he heard that William Harris had executed Samuel Todd, while others were too scared to sleep, he was so excited he trembled all over. The emperor had finally shown resolve—there was hope for the Song Dynasty!

Seeing the ministers silent, Thomas Lee stepped forward.

“In my opinion, Your Majesty’s honesty is most appropriate. The current crisis is all due to the Retired Emperor’s poor choice of officials. It’s not just Samuel Todd; there are many more treacherous courtiers like him, occupying high positions, fawning and servile. The country is in chaos, and they all deserve to die—they must be executed!”

Thomas Lee’s words were even more provocative than William Harris’s.