The issue is that Cao Tianbao is not an ordinary person.
This General Cao had followed the Jin Emperor into battle from a young age, leading troops, and from when he was just a minor colonel, he was known throughout the military for his straightforward and fiery temper.
Over the years, his military achievents have increased, his official rank has risen, and his age has advanced, but the only thing that hasn’t changed is his temper.
So when faced with the Jin Emperor’s near-explicit rebuke, Cao Tianbao not only did not timidly offer his resignation but instead stiffened his neck and straightforwardly made his position clear: although he might be old, he is still robust, and if the Jin Emperor wants him to resign, he can comply, but in any case, he cannot bear the bla for sothing he did not do. Even if he resigns, he cannot leave in disgrace. Otherwise, it would bring sha to the Cao family’s ancestors, and his descendants would hang their heads in sha.
When these words were spoken, it was virtually no different from pointing at the Jin Emperor’s nose and saying he was slandering an old minister. The Jin Emperor was so infuriated that he lost his composure, and the two, ruler and minister, argued in the grand hall until their faces turned red. Cao Tianbao was unyielding, leaving the Jin Emperor almost breathless with anger, who then directly called in the imperial guard to bind Cao Tianbao and throw him into prison, seemingly planning to execute him before long.
For any average person to dare to argue like this with the Jin Emperor in the grand hall, execution would not be unjust.
But this person is not just anyone, nor is he an average person. He is Cao Tianbao! The leading military general of the court, who followed the Jin Emperor and helped him ascend to the throne, a ritorious elder minister.
Especially with Cao Tianbao’s well-known temperant throughout the court.
If this happened to soone else, it would be absolute treason, and beheading the entire family would not be excessive.
But this is Cao Tianbao! His personality is such that even the King of Heaven wouldn’t make a difference; his straightforwardness is unparalleled. His resolute stance led the veteran ministers in the court to wonder if he was truly wronged.
And these veteran ministers began to contemplate if, this ti, Cao Tianbao was indeed frad, and he couldn’t clear his na successfully, what if next ti it was them being falsely accused? As the lifelong followers of the Jin Emperor, do they deserve to be wrongfully killed one after another?
With this mindset, the veteran ministers started to plead fervently for Cao Tianbao in the court, even those like Situ Jing, who usually kept their distance from Cao Tianbao, were no exception.
Though the Jin Emperor was extrely upset, he couldn’t simply ignore the strong plea of so many important ministers in the court. Even if he was dissatisfied, he couldn’t insist on executing Cao Tianbao.
Thus, the situation reached an awkward stalemate, and both sides were unsure how to resolve it.
Just at this tense and difficult impasse, the situation suddenly took a turn— the Jin Emperor received a secret report from the Golden-faced Imperial Censor, detailing how Black Iron mines in Shuo Country were secretly being exploited by outsiders, how those people tricked and kidnapped Shuo Country’s blacksmiths to imprison them and forge weapons. The report also explained how to differentiate between real and fake weapons.
After reading it, the Jin Emperor summoned the Ministry of War, and, following the thods described in the secret report, had them inspect the batch of weapons received by Cao Tianbao’s n.
The inspection revealed the truth— the weapons received by Cao Tianbao’s n were indeed counterfeit.
The Jin Emperor was furious, reprimanded the Ministry of War, ordered them to investigate who was responsible for giving those counterfeit weapons to Cao Tianbao, and then personally went to the prison to release Cao Tianbao, holding his hand with reddened eyes and saying, "Tianbao, you’ve suffered."
Cao Tianbao’s injustice was cleared, and he was not concerned about past events. The ruler and minister reconciled, and the Jin Emperor imdiately restored Cao Tianbao to his position, additionally bestowing gifts of gold, silver, and silk as compensation for his previous grievances.
Cao Tianbao gratefully accepted them, and the almost irredeemable turmoil was finally cald.
After Zhu Yu finished reading, he turned to look at Lu Qing behind him, whose face was calm, seemingly satisfied with the matters stated in the secret report.
"When did you send the secret report back?" Zhu Yu asked.
"When we were in Lan Country, after hearing about Cao Tianbao’s situation, I had the Shadow Guard sneak the secret report to the Chifu Guard," Lu Qing didn’t intend to hide it from Zhu Yu but had simply forgotten due to recent overwhelming experiences. "The Chifu Guard never left Jin Country territory, so I couldn’t hand it to them directly."
"Will the Shadow Guard be exposed?" Zhu Yu was sowhat worried.
Lu Qing smiled and shook his head, "Don’t worry, they were well-trained by Lu Chao; they aren’t so easily compromised."
"Then... you didn’t undertake this mission to Shuo Land on orders, and although the secret report eased the imdiate crisis, isn’t there a risk that once this issue is resolved, he might rember and then settle accounts with you?" Zhu Yu was concerned.
"His Chifu Guard was always surrounding , like my shadow, more like his eyes," Lu Qing said calmly, as if being constantly monitored was a normal part of life, without much emotion. "So from the mont I stepped out of Jin Country and entered Shuo Land, he was aware.
Since he made no move, nor permitted the Chifu Guard to leave Jin Country to continue following , doesn’t it indicate that he is observing my actions, or perhaps has other tasks he needs to accomplish, so he doesn’t intend to move against ?
If he ever wants to settle accounts, whether or not I sent the secret report, he would act against regardless; there is no difference.
But for us, at least for now, we share the sa goal as him. We both do not want General Cao to be forced into retirent due to false charges.
So whether it’s a blessing or a curse, if it’s a curse you can’t avoid it, with his thoughts being hard to guess, I’ll just do what benefits our plans."
Zhu Yu thought for a mont, finding Lu Qing’s words very reasonable.
Originally, she thought that in the Jin Emperor’s position, he should have the strength and confidence to be decisive and be a true hegemon, but now she realizes her thoughts were too simplistic.
Even soone as exalted as the Jin Emperor, this ti, was equally trapped in a dilemma, stuck between a rock and a hard place.
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