Unable to withstand seven consecutive days of attacks from the upright officials, Lu Yumin could only report sick and stop attending court. Emperor Longxing, having lost his main support, gave a cold laugh and sarcastically said, “Minister Cui, Chang’an has been in chaos for seven days, and you have been sick for seven days. As soon as you recover, you have a memorial to present. You truly are concerned about the country and its people.”
Faced with the Emperor’s sarcasm, Cui Xun’s expression remained unchanged. He simply took out a rolled white hemp paper confession from his sleeve, then respectfully knelt and presented it with both hands: “Your Majesty, I have Jin Ni’s confession to present.”
Emperor Longxing flew into a rage, and the crowd erupted in an uproar. Metropolitan Prefect Xue Wanzhe even stretched his neck, staring at the confession in Cui Xun’s hands. Cui Xun said, “When Jin Ni was imprisoned in the Investigation Chamber days ago, he confessed some things to me. Jin Ni said that six years ago, when he followed Khan Nidu southward to invade Zhou, Nidu Khan did not attack Fengzhou but instead led two hundred thousand troops to lay an ambush at Luoyan Ridge, hundreds of li away from Fengzhou. Jin Ni found this strange and questioned Hulu, the most trusted guard of Nidu Khan. From Hulu’s mouth, he learned that Nidu Khan had conspired with someone inside the Great Zhou and knew in advance that the Tianwei Army would pass through Luoyan Ridge. That’s why he led his army to ambush them there, waiting to wipe out the Tianwei Army in one fell swoop. Therefore, the complete annihilation of the Tianwei Army was not due to their recklessness but because they were deliberately set up!”
Cui Xun’s words were shocking. Everyone in the hall was dumbfounded. Emperor Longxing’s fingers slowly tightened on the armrest of his throne. He said through gritted teeth: “Minister Cui! Since you had already obtained Jin Ni’s confession, why did you present it months later? What are your intentions?”
Hearing this, Cui Xun remained calm and composed: “Your Majesty, I wasn’t sure if Jin Ni’s confession was true, so I dared not hastily present it and disturb Your Majesty’s attention. But now Shen Que’s confession has spread throughout Chang’an, and every word matches Jin Ni’s confession. The matter is of great importance. To prevent treacherous officials from continuing to harm loyal ones, I had no choice but to present it.”
He made it sound as if he had no choice but to present it. However, Emperor Longxing knew full well who had interrogated Shen Que. Wasn’t it Cui Xun? Who had posted the confessions all over Chang’an? Wasn’t it also Cui Xun? Now he was pretending not to know, treating Emperor Longxing like a fool.
Emperor Longxing was already furious: “What a righteous man who acts reluctantly! What a loyal minister who steps forward to eliminate evil! I didn’t know that Minister Cui was such a loyal and righteous person. Were all those officials who died miserably in the Investigation Chamber over the past three years deserving of their fate?”
Under the Emperor’s angry rebuke, everyone was reminded of Cui Xun’s cruel acts as an inquisitor over the three years. The upright faction, initially shocked by Jin Ni’s testimony, now began to shift their contempt for Cui Xun into doubt about the credibility of the confession he presented. The Emperor continued to rebuke: “Since you became the Deputy Chief of the Investigation Chamber, you’ve fabricated crimes, falsely accused good ministers, and extracted confessions through torture. It’s all clear to see. Which case wasn’t wronged by you, Cui Xun? Now you dare to use these confessions to portray yourself as a loyal and righteous minister. Where do you find the courage? Where do you find the face?”
This was the first time Emperor Longxing had rebuked Cui Xun in court. The Emperor’s words were forceful, cleverly turning Cui Xun’s presentation of the confession into an insult to his character, transforming him from a minister seeking justice to a despicable person. And what credibility did the words of a despicable person have?
The court officials looked at each other, and a considerable number of the upright faction began to tacitly agree with the Emperor’s words, even secretly applauding his on-the-spot rebuke. The Emperor seized the opportunity: “Cui Xun, both Jin Ni and Shen Que were under your custody. Your methods are well-known far and wide. Under torture, how difficult is it to fabricate testimony? Hmph, Shen Que’s confession being posted all over Chang’an must be related to you. And today you come with Jin Ni’s confession. What are you trying to do? Or is it that framing good ministers into the Investigation Chamber no longer satisfies you? Do you want to frame my imperial teacher as well? Or perhaps, you not only want to frame my imperial teacher but also me!”
As soon as the Emperor finished speaking, all the ministers in the hall were stunned for a moment, then were grief-stricken. They knelt one after another, tears streaming down: “Your Majesty, forgive us. We are terrified.”
Even Metropolitan Prefect Xue Wanzhe knelt, weeping: “Your Majesty, please do not speak this way. I am in great fear!”
Emperor Longxing’s eyes reddened as he looked at Cui Xun and said, “Minister Cui, if you disapprove of me as Emperor and want to force me to abdicate, I will comply. But please do not use such methods, exploiting the national disgrace of six years ago, spreading falsehoods, inducing the old and weak, women and children to falsely claim grievances, causing chaos in Chang’an, making my trusted ministers live in fear. If the world can return to peace, what does it matter if I give you the throne?”
Emperor Longxing’s hot tears fell, and the ministers knelt and wept. Some straightforward upright officials sobbed and cursed Cui Xun: “How can a mere subject force the Emperor to this point! Even if we are crushed to dust, we will not let a treacherous official like you succeed!”
Cui Songqing also knelt on the ground. He sighed inwardly. The reason he had been unwilling to participate in reopening the case was that he feared such a situation would arise. Now he could only be grateful that he had not yet spoken up; otherwise, he might have been labeled by Emperor Longxing as Cui Xun’s accomplice, and then the new policies would truly be beyond salvation.
Several elderly upright officials, feeling indignant on the Emperor’s behalf, became increasingly agitated as they spoke, reaching the point of wailing. Lu’s faction also attacked Cui Xun, saying he had no respect for his sovereign or father and was utterly treasonous. They argued that he should be sentenced to death by slow slicing as a warning to others. The confession incident had been distorted into Cui Xun’s conspiracy to force the Emperor’s abdication. Emperor Longxing was about to order the Imperial Guards to arrest Cui Xun, but faced with the curses of the entire hall, Cui Xun suddenly smiled gently and said, “Interesting.”
Everyone was stunned.
Emperor Longxing was also stunned.
An upright official rebuked: “Facing death, yet still unrepentant!”
Cui Xun did not engage in verbal disputes with him but merely looked up at the Emperor high above: “Although I am indeed low and not worth mourning, even Dou Xian of the Han Dynasty, though arrogant and overbearing, a notorious villain, could defeat the Northern Xiongnu in one battle, achieving immortal merit. Similarly, Hua Xin, though frugal and virtuous, with impeccable conduct as an official and a person, still had the flaw of being a Han minister who helped Wei usurp Han. As they say, no one is perfect, no gold is completely pure. I dare not argue about my past conduct, but if Your Majesty declares that I forced Shen Que and Jin Ni to write these confessions merely because of my low character, and attributes Sheng Ah’man and others’ tearful plea for justice to my conspiracy to force abdication, this accusation I cannot accept.”
His voice grew increasingly clear, like metal striking jade, spreading throughout the hall: “The Tianwei Army case has always had many suspicious points. For example, how did Shen Que know that Sheng Yunting was coming to Chang’an to seek help? How did Wang Ranxi, the wife of Pei Guanyue, appear at Changle Relay Station? Are all these suspicious points fabricated by me? Do I possess such great ability that I could have informed Shen Que six years ago that Sheng Yunting would ride alone for thousands of li to Chang’an to seek help? Or could I have instructed Wang Ranxi to participate in the plot against Sheng Yunting six years ago?”
Cui Xun gave a bitter smile: “But the fact is, six years ago, I was trapped with General Guo in the heavy encirclement of the Turks. I don’t have such great abilities.”
Cui Xun had brought the conversation back around. Emperor Longxing was momentarily stunned. Cui Xun continued: “Your Majesty says I covet the throne. This accusation terrifies me to my soul. I don’t know where Your Majesty’s words come from. The current realm belongs to the Li family, as everyone knows. I have no soldiers, no generals—how could I covet the throne? Moreover, I am not yet married and have no children. What would be the point of coveting the throne? If Your Majesty forcibly places such accusations on me for the sake of protecting your teacher, I cannot accept it even if I die ten thousand deaths.”
Cui Xun refuted the Emperor’s accusations one by one. For a moment, Emperor Longxing was at a loss for words and could only say: “Don’t be so glib. For someone as treacherous as you, if not for ulterior motives, why would you seek justice for the Tianwei Army?”
Hearing this, Cui Xun simply slowly unfolded Jin Ni’s confession on the ground. The ugly black ink marks on the confession formed a stark contrast with the snow-white hemp paper. He said, “I am indeed treacherous, but even a treacherous person can be moved by the unwavering loyalty of our Great Zhou soldiers. Loyal bones are buried in every mountain, and every inch of land is soaked with blood. The fifty thousand soldiers of the Tianwei Army faced danger without hesitation and fought bravely against the Turks, yet they were defeated at Luoyan Ridge. If they had truly died in open combat, there would be nothing to say. But if they died due to conspiracy and calculation, they will never be able to rest in peace!”
In Cui Xun’s mind, images began to float: the blood-stained brocade handkerchief in the pocket of the Turkic soldier he had killed, the appearance of Lu Er, who had eaten all the tree bark, eating large bites of half a flatbread. His eyes grew hot as he slowly said, “If you could go to Luoyan Ridge, you would see that every inch of land is scattered with the severed limbs and white bones of the Tianwei Army. Every breeze carries their blood and unwillingness. I admire the loyalty and bravery of the Tianwei Army and want to clear their grievances to the world. I ask, what wrong have I done? Do Your Majesty and the ministers present here attack me unanimously merely because I, Cui Xun, presented the confession, while completely disregarding the injustice suffered by the Tianwei Army? Hah, if you all truly despise me, Cui Xun, so much, I can take my own life. I only ask that you not let the soldiers who protected their country and homes remain unable to close their eyes in the underworld!”
After speaking, he kowtowed heavily. The ministers who had been cursing him gradually fell silent. Emperor Longxing clenched his fists, his gaze terrifyingly angry. Metropolitan Prefect Xue Wanzhe pursed his lips, stepped forward, knelt, and kowtowed: “Your Majesty, I am not acquainted with Deputy Chief Cui, and I deeply despise his character. I have submitted memorials to impeach him several times. I guarantee with my life that I have never associated with him. But today, I agree with what he says. I served as the Governor of Yangzhou for seven years. In the southern regions, markets are filled with pearls and jade, households are full of silk and damask. But could this prosperity of the South be achieved without the blood of generations of frontier soldiers? If not for these soldiers, the willows by the smoke, the painted bridges, the wind-blown curtains, and the green screens of the south would have long been destroyed under the iron hooves of barbarians, just as during the Five Barbarians’ Uprising. With their lives, they shouldered the poetry, dance, and literature of the south; they shouldered the peaceful prosperity of the Great Zhou. Yet they were in the desert sands, traveling day and night, exposed to the elements. These soldiers should be the heroes of the Great Zhou! Heroes, even if they must die, should die on the battlefield, not through conspiracy and calculation! I, Xue Wanzhe, implore Your Majesty to thoroughly investigate the Tianwei Army case!”
As Xue Wanzhe’s words fell, the hesitant upright officials also began to step forward. They started to awaken—how could they disregard the grievances of the Tianwei Army because of one person, Cui Xun? This was not what upright officials would do. They knelt and kowtowed: “I, Wen Yan, implore Your Majesty to thoroughly investigate the Tianwei Army case!”
“I, Zhao Chengzhong, implore Your Majesty to thoroughly investigate the Tianwei Army case!”
“I, Shangguan Jing, implore Your Majesty to thoroughly investigate the Tianwei Army case!”
“I, Fang Ziliang, implore Your Majesty to thoroughly investigate the Tianwei Army case!”
More and more upright officials stood out. Cui Xun was deeply moved. He kowtowed heavily again: “I know Your Majesty still has doubts about me. I am willing to recuse myself to avoid suspicion. I will not interfere with this case, nor will I inquire about it. I only implore Your Majesty to thoroughly investigate the Tianwei Army case!”
Cui Songqing, who had been observing, finally stood up with a solemn expression. He stepped out of line, knelt, and kowtowed: “I, Cui Songqing, implore Your Majesty to thoroughly investigate the Tianwei Army case!”
With Cui Songqing’s emergence, the matter was no longer in doubt. Cui’s faction also knelt in unison, imploring the Emperor to thoroughly investigate the Tianwei Army case. Between the upright faction and Cui’s faction, more than half of the court officials agreed to reopen the case for the Tianwei Army. Even some members of Lu’s faction who still had a conscience knelt and pleaded. They had formed factions and attacked Cui’s faction due to different political views, but apart from political differences, setting aside their identity as members of Lu’s faction, they were still people—people who had read extensively and could distinguish right from wrong.
Emperor Longxing was both shocked and angry. He pointed at the mass of kneeling ministers: “Are you… Are you planning to rebel?”
He was hysterical, but his fierce shout finally ended all his hopes. The Empress Dowager slowly walked in from outside the hall and rebuked: “Your Majesty, have you had enough of this!”