Chapter 99: Gu Jinian's Strategy to Unify the Eastern Wastelands, Emperor Yongsheng's Wrath, Civil and Military Officials Resign, Co

In the court.

An unprecedented war broke out.

This war had nothing to do with anything else; it was a struggle between the emperor and the entire civil and military officialdom.

It was a struggle between imperial authority and chancellorial authority.

Emperor Yongsheng's gaze had always been fixed on Li Shan.

His heart had long been filled with uncontrollable anger.

He is the emperor.

He never expected that over such a matter he would face such opposition.

Whose world is this, really? Is it still the Li family's? Beside him, the eunuch Liu Yan's expression was also not good; in fact, if possible, he hoped the emperor would yield.

Among the civil and military officials in the court, any one of them could be arbitrarily replaced by the emperor.

But when the officials gather together, this force becomes terrifying.

Officials resigning en masse is no small matter.

If the emperor becomes a bit more intense, it will attract the attention of the whole world; after all, in a prosperous age, mass resignations by officials are not a good thing.

However, from a neutral standpoint, this matter indeed shows that Emperor Yongsheng has been a bit anxious.

The Eastern Depot.

A sword hanging over the heads of the officials.

No one wants a glaring sword hanging over their own head.

Especially, these people are not major villains; moreover, there is a chancellorial power present here.

The chief among the officials.

It's like establishing an agency that watches over the military commanders in every aspect, whether their actions or expenditures, keeping a close eye on them.

Do you think the generals would cause trouble? More directly, setting up an agency to completely control all regional princes, monitoring their every move—including income and expenditure—under the court's control; these princes aren't stupid, if you scrutinize me that strictly, I'll rebel.

The same goes for the officials.

Setting up such an agency is not a big problem.

After all, with this incident, the nation's fortune almost got stolen; but we need our own people to supervise them, not a bunch of eunuchs, a bunch of castrated officials, a bunch of heavenly household slaves to supervise them.

In that case, they would not be willing.

Whoever agrees can just wait to be boiled like a frog in warm water.

In the future, if the emperor makes a mistake, should we speak up or not? If we don't speak, the common people will suffer the consequences.

If we do speak, the misfortune will fall on ourselves.

Such an agency must not be run by eunuchs.

The officials' meaning is clear: they knelt on the ground, took off their hats, placed them on the floor, and remained silent one by one.

"Good."

"Good!"

"Indeed, it's good."

"For twelve years, I have reigned diligently, strived for governance, esteemed Confucian learning, recruited the virtuous, listened to advice, and examined myself three times daily."

"Yet I never imagined that this would be the result."

"Hmm, not bad, not bad."

Emperor Yongsheng did not erupt in thunderous anger, but spoke slowly; yet everyone knew that this emperor harbored fury, a tremendous rage.

"If that is the case."

"Come here."

Emperor Yongsheng spoke, and at that moment his gaze instantly turned extremely icy.

"Detain all the officials under His Highness in the Hall of Inquiry; if they show no remorse within three days, dismiss them from all offices and have their subordinates replace them."

"Detain Chancellor Li Shan in the capital prison; without my order, no one may release him."

"Have the Lamp Surveillance Office, the Prefecture Stabilization Office, and the Ministry of Justice join forces to investigate these officials thoroughly; I want to see just how honest and how noble you really are."

Emperor Yongsheng wasted no words.

He is an emperor on horseback.

He is not a weak scholar-emperor.

You're causing trouble, right?

You're dismissing officials, right?

Then get lost all of you; if you want to retire and return home, then get lost back there.

But if any misconduct is uncovered, don't blame me, the emperor, for being heartless and unjust.

Upon saying this.

The officials' faces all changed; they had not expected the emperor's attitude to be so resolute.

To be frank, the main reason everyone is causing a ruckus is still the belief that the law does not punish the many.

Furthermore, given everyone's stubborn attitude, one would think the emperor wouldn't dare to contend over anything.

The main point is that Emperor Yongsheng is neither a tyrant nor a dim-witted ruler, but rather a wise sovereign; as a wise ruler, he would not act recklessly.

Yet who would have thought Emperor Yongsheng would be this harsh, dismissing the officials and detaining the chancellor?

Really, aren't you afraid of causing a major incident? Official turnover is no joke; if they go a day without handling affairs, the Da Xia Dynasty will fall into chaos.

Even if new officials were appointed directly, how could they possibly handle affairs all at once?

Furthermore, if the officials are dismissed and their subordinates are promoted directly, would the aristocratic clans agree? Would the many nobles of Da Xia agree? Take the Minister of Rites, for example—behind him stand many forces; now that the Minister of Rites has been replaced, swapping in someone from another clan or someone with no background—would everyone accept that?

In short, if the officials are truly dismissed, the trouble that will ensue will be terrifying beyond measure.

They believe this; whether emperor or themselves, none want to see such a thing.

Your Majesty, please reconsider; dismissing the officials violates court regulations, you are a sage ruler, you must absolutely not do this.

Your servant earnestly begs Your Majesty to withdraw the order.

At this moment, Liu Yan knelt on the ground, kowtowing to the Yongsheng Great Emperor; now he must step forward to speak.

Regardless of the outcome, he cannot let the emperor do such a thing.

If they really did it, it would not only cause a huge uproar, but more importantly, behind these officials there is another group, a group of scholars.

These scholars will surely also loudly condemn the Yongsheng Great Emperor, especially those from aristocratic families, because they too will become officials in the future and are fully aware of the pros and cons involved.

Although it now seems unrelated to them, if the Office of the Suspended Lamps is truly established, they will inevitably face restrictions when they become officials in the future.

Naturally, this also involves a huge force.

Therefore, the establishment of the Office of the Suspended Lamps must absolutely not be rushed; it must be gradually unfolded, achieving silent nourishment like rain to succeed.

The Yongsheng Great Emperor is not in a hurry; rather, he is thoroughly disappointed with all intelligence agencies of Da Xia.

Whether the Office of the Suspended Lamps or the Office of the Pacified Prefecture, neither discovered the Xiongnu state's theft of the nation's fortune; this made him feel a crisis, and further led him to believe that the Da Xia Dynasty harbors many traitors.

But these eunuchs are different; they are his slaves, household servants of heaven, who will never betray him, or in other words, will never rebel.

Perhaps there could be an insider, but at the very least they would be the lowest of the low; the Da Xia imperial palace is also extremely tight, making it as hard as climbing to heaven for these eunuchs to even try to send out news.

Completely preventing it is impossible, but it is absolutely ten to a hundred times better than employing these officials.

This is also why the Yongsheng Great Emperor, though he knows the officials will not agree, still speaks out.

Just hearing Liu Yan's voice.

The Yongsheng Great Emperor did not use this opportunity to step down, but instead, taking the turn, coldly addressed the officials.

"I see that it is because I have been overly benevolent these past twelve years."

"Twelve years ago, I dared to do these things."

"Twelve years later, I still dare."

"I know that among you there are still those who secretly curse me as tyrannical and unbearable; I have been fully aware of this over the past twelve years."

"No matter what I do, I cannot change the impression I have in your hearts."

"If that is the case, then I need not say anything more to you."

"Come, take them all away."

"Also have the Office of the Suspended Lamps strictly monitor the nine clans of the officials' families."

"Dismiss court."

The Yongsheng Great Emperor spoke; this time his voice was icy to the extreme, and he was not only controlling the officials but also counting their nine clans.

In an instant.

The officials' faces completely changed.

At this moment, they suddenly awoke.

The person before them is certainly not a benevolent one; this is a usurping emperor, an emperor who since childhood followed the Grand Ancestor in conquering the world.

This is the Martial Emperor, resembling the Grand Ancestor in many ways, certainly not a weak civil emperor.

Being this firm will surely invite trouble.

Moreover, this emperor truly is capable of slaughtering the officials in blood.

Twelve years ago, the Jian De lineage implicated over a hundred thousand people; any other emperor would likely reduce the impact, choosing imprisonment and exile.

But this emperor? He basically slaughtered them clean; if not for the crown prince and some ministers stepping forward, he might truly have slaughtered them to the last.

Twelve years have passed.

They have indeed forgotten this.

Mainly, over these twelve years the Yongsheng Great Emperor has indeed heeded advice and promoted the virtuous while dismissing the unworthy.

The civil officials have become increasingly smug and arrogant, after all, with a wise ruler in office, civil officials naturally swell.

During the Grand Ancestor's reign it was not like that; disobey and be killed, resulting in civil officials being harshly suppressed while military generals held extremely high status.

However, the Grand Ancestor's actions also provoked backlash; many civil officials were suppressed, and the state encountered many problems.

Now, the Yongsheng Great Emperor's such conduct makes them feel panic.

This is a ruler-minister rupture.

Someone wanted to speak, but the Yongsheng Great Emperor had already left; the guards outside the hall entered, without any nonsense, and took them all to the Hall of Questioning the Heart.

As for Li Shan, he was directly detained in prison.

Li Shan, however, felt no regret, but instead looked at the crowd and said.

"If the Office of the Suspended Lamps is established, court order will collapse and both civil and military will perish."

He merely uttered this sentence to warn the crowd.

Because he knows these people are panicked and somewhat fearful, but he is even clearer that the establishment of the Office of the Suspended Lamps is absolutely a sword that could fall at any moment.

Civil and military officials will have no say at all.

One may allow the emperor to hold the greatest power, but if the emperor wishes to possess all power, that is also unacceptable, as it easily breeds a dim-witted or tyrant ruler.

Therefore, regarding the Office of the Suspended Lamps, he absolutely disagrees, and also warns the crowd not to throw the formation into chaos.

Upon hearing this, the officials fell silent.

They understand Li Shan's meaning, but they also do not want to stiffen their conflict with the emperor.

For a moment, they found themselves in a dilemma.

But everyone knows one thing: Li Shan has thoroughly offended the emperor to death.

And at the same time.

Outside the palace.

The whole capital was already immersed in celebration.

Gu Jin Nian today refused the marriage alliance, spoke out for the Da Xia Dynasty; His Majesty conferred a marquessate and held a banquet, and also granted a general pardon—how could this not be a cause for celebration?

Now on the streets, both common folk and scholars alike are praising Gu Jin Nian for what he has done today.

Scholars compose poems to sing his praises, and the common people continually laud Gu Jin Nian for his deeds over these days.

Moreover, the major theaters promptly hired some scholars to write scripts, turning today's events into plays.

The reason is simple: whether it's the ordinary troupes on the capital's skybridges or the larger manor troupes, they have already rehearsed the play in which Gu Jin Nian seeks justice for the people.

Every show is packed to the rafters—commoners, scholars, and even some merchants love to watch; when the feeling runs deep, applause erupts and rewards pour in.

To the theaters, Gu Jin Nian is nothing short of a treasure, a veritable treasure indeed.

Such things will not be regulated, after all they indirectly expand Gu Jin Nian's fame; and it's not just the capital—the play of him seeking justice for the people has already spread to every theater troupe throughout the Da Xia Dynasty.

What's hot in the capital will likewise be transmitted to the other prefectures.

Nowadays, speaking out for the country is no small matter.

However, compared to the capital's bustle,

The Great Jin Dynasty and the Fuyu Dynasty also received the news three hours later.

At this very moment.

The Great Jin Dynasty.

Inside the imperial palace.

An old man sat upright on the Dragon Throne, listening to the eunuch relay the news, his brows furrowed continuously.

"Your Majesty."

"The Xiongnu State has sent a letter, hoping the Great Jin Dynasty will step in to handle this matter."

The old eunuch spoke, gazing at this Great Jin Emperor, and said:

On the Dragon Throne.

The Great Jin Emperor remained silent, his aged face showing only calm.

After a long while, his voice sounded.

"Have the Xiongnu king investigate clearly how the Da Xia Dynasty detected and thwarted the theft of its fortune."

"Also have our people gather information on this matter."

"Tell the Xiongnu State that if the Da Xia Dynasty truly goes to war with the Xiongnu, the Great Jin Dynasty will mediate, but for minor skirmishes Great Jin will not intervene; if the Twelve Cities are involved, Great Jin will offer partial aid."

"As long as the Da Xia Dynasty does not invade the Xiongnu State's true territory, Great Jin cannot declare war on Da Xia."

"Let him make his own preparations."

The Great Jin Emperor said thus.

This is his attitude and also his thought.

When the two states go to war, Great Jin can step in to mediate, but that's all it does—just inform the other side that it is paying attention.

If fighting really breaks out, and the Twelve Cities are not involved, Great Jin cannot give much aid; in other words, Da Xia also has its national dignity—it surely wouldn't just pretend nothing happened after such a major incident.

Dynasties must also consider each other; this is a matter of dignity.

Although Great Jin wishes Da Xia would not develop, some things cannot be taken too far; great-power rivalry must not be too sharp, must proceed gradually—trying to crush the opponent at once is impossible.

On the contrary, it would invite retaliation.

To put it bluntly, since I can't go on, whoever messes with me I will make die.

That's the mindset—who can withstand it?

"I will obey the decree."

The old eunuch spoke, assenting.

Immediately after, the Great Jin Emperor spoke again.

"How is the Great Jin Academy these days?"

The Great Jin Emperor inquired.

"Your Majesty, with Mr. Su present, everything is stable; our Great Jin talents have also increased considerably, and by the time of the Four Seas Poetry Meeting they will surely shine brightly."

The old eunuch spoke with a smile, praising thus:

"The Four Seas Poetry Meeting is nothing much—just a poetry gathering—and besides, Da Xia now has Gu Jin Nian; any poetry meeting would probably pale in comparison to him."

"This time, for the Da Xia Poetry Meeting, Great Jin did not send any genuine talents."

"The Jixia Academy grand ceremony is what truly matters; tell Mr. Su to hurry a bit, for the Jixia Academy grand ceremony is especially important—the academic and literary contests are the main battleground for Great Jin's scholars."

"Poetry meetings? No matter how good, they are merely side paths; scholarship is the true way."

The Great Jin Emperor said solemnly.

The Four Seas Poetry Meeting is more grandiose than the Da Xia Poetry Meeting, but before the Great Jin Emperor it counts for nothing; what matters most in the Confucian Dao is the academic contest, and that is the key.

What use is it to be able to recite poetry? Just a side‑path technique.

"I will obey the decree."

The old eunuch spoke, then slowly left the hall.

After the old eunuch departed,

The Great Jin Emperor remained seated on the Dragon Throne, unaware of what he was pondering.

Afterwards, a figure walked in from outside the hall—the Twelfth Prince—who entered directly.

After entering the hall, he promptly closed the doors.

"Your subject, the child, pays homage to Father Emperor."

"May Father Emperor live ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years."

This is the Great Jin Twelfth Prince.

The Twelfth Prince who had gone to Da Xia to attend the poetry gathering: "Twelfth, how do you evaluate this Gu Jin Nian? Is there any threat to Great Jin?"

The Great Jin Emperor's tone was calm, but his eyes hid an awe-inspiring gaze.

Replying to Father Emperor, this Gu Jin Nian possesses extraordinary talent, truly a great talent of the world, only his character is somewhat impulsive, after all he is a top-ranking noble of Da Xia, some arrogance is normal; overall he is very clever, but his threat level is not great.

The Twelfth Prince spoke, saying this was his evaluation of Gu Jin Nian.

He is smart, he certainly has talent, but to say whether he could bring a threat to Great Jin, the Twelfth Prince thought it impossible.

The Great Jin Dynasty is the first dynasty of the Eastern Wilderness; what is a mere Gu Jin Nian? If you say the Da Xia Dynasty poses a threat to the Great Jin Dynasty, he acknowledges it.

A mere Gu Jin Nian amounts to nothing.

The main point is, this Gu Jin Nian acts impulsively; no great figure would do so.

With such a disposition, it is extremely easy for others to find his flaws; he cannot be considered a notable person, let alone pose a threat. Yet upon saying this, the Great Jin Emperor could not help but let out a cold snort.

Upon hearing his father emperor's cold snort, the Twelfth Prince's expression changed instantly; he lowered his head and remained silent.

Waiting for a lecture.

This is why you are ranked twelfth.

Gu Jin Nian is the grandson of the Great Summer Zhen Guo Gong, a military family that has cultivated a great talent in the Confucian-Daoist tradition.

Moreover, you say he acts impulsively, but have you considered that this Gu Jin Nian clearly possesses such great talent yet has concealed it for over a decade?

Ten years to forge a sword, the frosted blade has never been tested.

Hiding for ten years is not frightening.

But how old was Gu Jin Nian ten years ago? Only six or seven; at six or seven he knew how to endure, and he endured for ten years straight.

Even if it were all your brothers, even the eldest, at six or seven they would hate to not display their talents; more importantly, this Gu Jin Nian is an only son, not someone who suffers unjust treatment.

Under such circumstances, he could endure for ten years; this kind of scheming and depth is hard to find among the three great dynasties.

The Great Jin Emperor spoke, and the Twelfth Prince considered Gu Jin Nian's character impulsive.

But the Great Jin Emperor's view of Gu Jin Nian was completely different.

You say he acts impulsively; think carefully—has any of his actions not been grounded in principle?

In the Jiangning Commandery crisis, Gu Jin Nian sought justice for the people; it seemed impulsive, but in fact he won the people's hearts.

The Kong Family favored another state, yet Gu Jin Nian stood up for our country's scholars, not fearing offense, thereby winning the scholars' hearts.

This time, regarding the Xiongnu marriage alliance, Gu Jin Nian forcibly opposed it and again won the people's hearts.

You think he is impulsive, but if you were his enemy, how would you find fault?

The Great Jin Emperor continued speaking.

In an instant, the Twelfth Prince's expression changed involuntarily.

Upon careful thought, it really is so.

Seemingly impulsive, yet each time he actually gained great benefits.

Moreover, every matter was done flawlessly, without a single leak.

Assuming I were Gu Jin Nian's enemy, I would truly find no fault.

Gu Jin Nian sought justice for the people—how could I impeach him? To impeach Gu Jin Nian for not seeking justice for the people? Or to accuse him of overstepping? Yet impeaching Da Xia's foremost noble would itself be overstepping.

Gu Jin Nian caused a disturbance at the Kong Family—what's wrong with that? It was your Kong Yu who invited him over; it's not as if he came uninvited.

Even if he came uninvited, what then? Trespassing a private residence at most means a few days' detention or paying some silver—but who would dare punish him? This marriage alliance, Gu Jin Nian leaves no fault to be found; the Xiongnu state seeks to steal Da Xia's fortune, which no one could tolerate.

Even if you cannot produce evidence, it's useless, for you cannot afford to gamble on even the slightest possibility.

Father Emperor, why is this?

Logically, the Gu family's power is overwhelming; they should be more low-key, yet this Gu Jin Nian is so impulsive that he seems unfit for great responsibility, fond of acting on passion—but why does everything he does turn out flawlessly?

The Twelfth Prince grew more shocked the more he thought, more puzzled the more he pondered; he could not understand why, so he could only look to his father emperor.

Upon hearing his son's inquiry.

At that moment, the Great Jin Emperor's eyes brightened.

Because everything he does is done on behalf of the Da Xia Emperor.

Whether or not the emperor intends it, every matter he handles follows the imperial authority.

The Great Jin Emperor stated the core.

In an instant, the Twelfth Prince froze.

He also understood.

Yes, everything Gu Jin Nian does is actually what the emperor wants to do; in other words, regardless of the process, the result will certainly be without danger.

Because the emperor wants to see that result.

This comprehension left the Twelfth Prince stunned in place.

In his heart, Gu Jin Nian is indeed an impulsive person who likes to act on passion.

But now, with his father emperor's slight guidance, he seems to see clearly what kind of person Gu Jin Nian is.

Then Father Emperor, do we need to find a way to suppress him?

The Twelfth Prince continued asking, such a person is so terrifying; he wonders whether to take action to suppress him.

No.

You have met him once; you should not have formed a grudge, right?

The Great Jin Emperor asked.

No, although we are not well acquainted, we still left each other a good impression.

The Twelfth Prince pondered for a while, then gave this answer.

Good.

Associate closely with him, invite him to the Great Jin Dynasty, grant him all authority; if he has any request of you, as long as it does not involve state secrets, you can assist.

"If you suppress him, it will only make him hate the Great Jin and wholeheartedly assist Da Xia; but if you treat him with great courtesy."

"First, if he comes into conflict with the court, he will miss the Great Jin."

"Second, if Da Xia learns of it, it will also guard against and suppress him."

"Third, at the crucial moment, we can scheme so that he is forced to betray the Da Xia Dynasty."

"Whether advancing or retreating, the Great Jin Dynasty will suffer no loss, understand?"

The Great Jin Emperor spoke; this was his thought.

Instead of suppressing Gu Jin Nian, we should establish a friendly relationship with him, for Gu Jin Nian will eventually enter the court, and once there he will inevitably encounter unpleasant matters, right? At that time Gu Jin Nian will surely think of the Great Jin Dynasty, and if he truly faces injustice, his grievances could very well lead us to recruit such a great talent.

Even if that does not happen, the Great Jin Dynasty's relationship with him will be excellent; think about it, the top aristocrat of Da Xia has close ties with princes of other nations—can the emperor stay seated? He cannot.

What is the result of being unable to stay seated? It leads to suppression; under disunity and with the Gu Family's great power, extreme events become likely.

If the Gu Family is destroyed, the Great Jin Dynasty profits.

If the Gu Family survives but suffers a great disaster, Gu Jin Nian will flee to the Great Jin, and the Great Jin Dynasty profits even more.

If nothing happens and the two sides remain friendly, Gu Jin Nian would be too embarrassed to act against the Great Jin Dynasty, right?

Or perhaps he would at least save some face; in that case the Great Jin Dynasty only gains, never loses.

In an instant, the Twelfth Prince suddenly understood.

"Your son understands; Father Emperor truly is wise."

The Twelfth Prince spoke, full of joy.

"Carry out this matter properly and report directly to me."

"If this is handled, after a few years I will have the Ministry of Rites arrange the granting of a princely title for you."

The Great Jin Emperor ordered, letting the Twelfth Prince undertake this task.

He also promised a throne.

Now the Twelfth Prince was overjoyed; as the Twelfth Prince, the throne could not come to him, and he had no expectations.

But being granted a princedom was what he had long desired.

In the Great Jin Dynasty, not every prince can be granted a princedom; those who are, though still inferior to the emperor, will become regional lords in the future, which is better than staying in the capital, confined.

"Thank you, Father Emperor."

The Twelfth Prince knelt and kowtowed, his words trembling with great emotion.

At this moment.

Fuyu Dynasty.

In the great hall, two Emperors stood on either side.

On the left stood the Shenluo Emperor, middle‑aged, showing no sign of decline, though in fact he is a hundred years old this year.

On the right was the Fusang Emperor, a woman of middle age, possessing both charm and authority.

The court's civil and military officials stood on both sides, debating whether Fuyu should send troops in response to Da Xia's declaration of war on the Xiongnu.

Both sides had their own opinions.

But in the end, the Shenluo Emperor spoke.

"When the two nations clash, the Ministry of Rites will mediate, merely mediate."

"If the war involves the Twelve Cities, Fuyu will covertly provide aid."

"If it concerns the Inner City, Fuyu will directly declare war on Da Xia."

The Shenluo Emperor's words reflected his intention.

The Emperor spoke, the ministers fell silent for a moment, but in the end said little.

After all, the Xiongnu state is indeed important.

Thus, this is the stance of the two great dynasties, almost identical; given the circumstances, no other solution is possible.

Soon.

The next day.

The matter of the Da Xia court was vaguely spoken of.

The officials' resignations also gradually spread.

After all, the civil and military officials have not emerged since entering the court yesterday; it cannot be concealed, and with rumors circulating within the palace, the incident sparked a huge uproar.

The Crown Prince, Prince Qin, Prince Wei, and even other princes hurried to the palace to appear before His Majesty.

They begged Emperor Yongsheng to pardon the officials.

But the outcome remains unknown for now.

Inside the Da Xia palace.

Within the Yangxin Hall.

Dozens of princes, led by the Crown Prince, knelt together outside the hall.

They came to plead on behalf of the officials.

Especially the Crown Prince, whose stance was resolute, hoping Emperor Yongsheng would not establish the Eastern Depot and would absolve the officials of the crime of speaking frankly.

But these words sounded extremely harsh to Emperor Yongsheng.

Consequently he rebuked the Crown Prince, yet this time all the princes were present; although they also wished the Crown Prince misfortune, they understood the situation.

Indeed, dismissing all officials benefits no one; someone must step forward and compel Emperor Yongsheng to retract the imperial edict.

No one may think of hiding.

The matter is too far‑reaching.

"Your son asks Father Emperor to keep the Da Xia realm safe and to withdraw the decree."

The voice sounded again.

Every time an incense stick burned, the Crown Prince would speak up, kneeling outside the hall and shouting.

The other princes also followed suit and started shouting.

Such noise made the Emperor Yongsheng inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation even more furious.

"This is truly rebellion."

Emperor Yongsheng took a deep breath, clenched his fists, and was truly angry.

It's fine if the officials cause trouble for themselves.

Even these sons of mine cause trouble for themselves.

Anger.

Extreme anger.

But Emperor Yongsheng can't do anything; it's impossible to abolish even his own sons.

That's unrealistic.

"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince and his brothers have been kneeling outside for half a day; the Crown Prince himself is frail and sickly—if this continues, something might happen."

"Your Majesty, I beg you to withdraw your order; all mistakes are ours, please calm your anger."

Wei Xian and Liu Yan knelt on the ground, also weeping bitterly.

Since things have blown up this big, they also don't want Emperor Yongsheng to continue stalemating with the officials.

If this goes on, something major will surely happen.

They followed beside the emperor, knowing the gravity of the matter, and naturally would not act recklessly.

"Shut up."

Emperor Yongsheng merely spoke coldly.

This time he was determined to dismiss the officials.

If he backs down today, will he have to back down on everything in the future? Yesterday he was merely informing the officials, not consulting them.

Now, how could he not be angry?

The two remained silent, yet still knelt on the ground without raising their heads.

The hall was silent.

Apart from the pleas outside, there was no other sound.

After a quarter of an hour.

Emperor Yongsheng rose, looking at Wei Xian and said.

"My nephew asked you to prepare the 200,000 taels of gold banknotes—are they ready?"

Emperor Yongsheng suddenly spoke up, bringing up this matter.

"Your Majesty, it has been prepared."

Wei Xian replied aloud.

The next moment, Emperor Yongsheng rose.

"Come, I will personally deliver it to him."

"I don't want to stay here any longer; if I stay longer, I really will kill someone."

Emperor Yongsheng spoke; his eyes were ferocious, he wasn't lying—if this continued, he really would kill a bunch of people.

Hearing this, the two immediately rose, without further words, and followed behind Emperor Yongsheng.

As Emperor Yongsheng emerged, the crown prince and princes outside also began to plead.

But Emperor Yongsheng didn't even glance at them, leaving straight away.

Thus, two quarters of an hour later.

Da Xia Academy.

Toward the Holy Hall.

In the school hall, Gu Jin Nian taught as usual; yesterday after he returned, he was forced by everyone to drink all night, so he only woke up when the sun was high.

The matter of Establishing Speech for the state had a huge impact; besides, everyone in the academy were close classmates, and each had entered the Qilin Pavilion.

Naturally, they could not refuse everyone's goodwill.

So they steeled themselves to attend the banquet.

At this time.

In the school hall, many people frowned, discussing court affairs.

"Alas, the East Factory was established for no reason; now Your Majesty and the officials are in conflict, it's become irreconcilable—if Your Majesty is truly pressed, perhaps the events of twelve years ago will happen again, which would truly be an undeserved disaster."

"Yes, my father still hasn't returned; this affair might be far worse than we imagine—I only hope the final outcome isn't too bad."

"The Xiongnu matter hasn't been decided; Your Majesty says to go to war, but the Ministry of War hasn't started operating—causing this trouble at such a critical juncture is no good for our Da Xia."

"It must be those eunuch traitors, deceiving Your Majesty and setting up the East Factory—nothing but a power grab, truly hateful."

"Ah, whether they're hateful or not, the urgent task now isn't who's right or wrong, but how to resolve the conflict between Your Majesty and the officials—that's the core issue."

"Imperial authority supreme; the officials' provocations are indeed wrong, offending imperial authority—Your Majesty's great anger is understandable—but establishing the East Factory is also indeed wrong; we already have the Office of Suspended Lamps and the Office of Pacifying the Prefecture, adding another East Factory is truly inappropriate."

Inside the school hall, the students chatted back and forth; some worried, after all, their fathers still hadn't returned home.

Some were afraid, dreading that the events of twelve years ago might happen again—if so, that would mean extermination of nine clans.

Nobody wants to die, especially these nobles.

Still others hated these eunuchs, but at least some were clear-headed, knowing the problem lay elsewhere, not greatly related to the eunuchs.

Listening to everyone speak.

Gu Jin Nian appeared quite calm; such a matter is indeed troublesome.

Especially now, the problem with the Xiongnu State is the greatest for Da Xia; internally, it's best to avoid any trouble, otherwise the trouble will grow greater.

However, Gu Jin Nian could understand his uncle's intentions.

To put it bluntly, stabilizing the imperial power is just a simple matter.

But the officials' conduct, Gu Jin Nian understands even better, after all being managed by a group of eunuchs—who would accept that?

Even if some Great Scholars were invited to manage, they would be willing, and wholeheartedly so.

After all, Great Scholars are not the emperor's people, and they handle affairs according to everyone's rules.

But eunuchs are different—they are purely the emperor's people, court lackeys, heavenly household slaves; who would be willing then?

Put simply, it's a struggle between imperial power and ministerial power.

With imperial power supreme and its word final, the benefit is great unity, without worrying about traitors—after all, the emperor couldn't be a traitor, right?

But the downside is also simple: the officials have no power left; originally everyone was a shareholder, now they've become mere workers—who would accept that?

With a balance of imperial power, the benefit is that we discuss matters together, and the emperor holds the greatest power; basically, if you speak up, we will yield, as long as it's not too much of a violation.

You have to give us some benefits, otherwise we'd lack motivation to work; moreover, if we do the job poorly and upset you, we could at any time face a raid—who could endure that?

The downside is also obvious: the emperor's words are ineffective.

Actually, this matter has always been a thorny problem since ancient times.

If you want to be a wise ruler, you must balance imperial power and official power.

If you want to be a tyrant, that's fine—you're the boss, and you kill anyone who disagrees.

As long as you don't worry about officials betraying the country or rebelling, there's no big problem.

However, throughout history, how many emperors don't want to be good emperors? Most emperors have the dream of being a good emperor.

After death, they are praised, and their fame lasts for ages.

However, often few emperors can actually be wise rulers.

The reason is simple: whether one is a wise ruler is not decided by the emperor, nor by the common people, but by the entire court of civil and military officials, and by scholars across the land.

So since it's up to them, you must yield and listen to advice.

The officials have worked out a set of standards of conduct for the sage of Confucianism for the emperor; if you follow it, you are a sage ruler, a wise ruler.

If you don't follow it, you are a tyrant, a dim ruler.

That's how simple it is.

Therefore, the fundamental contradiction of this matter lies in one side wanting to dominate completely and strip officials of all power, while the other side is the officials' collective, with all the small shareholders gathering together to oppose the major shareholder.

Victory, loss, and harm all befall the Da Xia Dynasty.

"Your Highness the Heir Apparent, why not go to the palace, find His Majesty, say a few kind words—after all, you have a good relationship with His Majesty, perhaps he'll listen to your advice."

Abruptly, someone spoke up, saying this.

Upon hearing this, many people couldn't help but look toward Gu Jin Nian.

Actually, don't say it—this is a method.

However, upon hearing this, Gu Jin Nian couldn't help but give a bitter laugh.

"All the civil and military officials, the current crown prince and princes have gone to plead; whether I go or not makes no difference."

Gu Jin Nian does not go.

This matter has blown up too much, it's very stiff, especially since my uncle is likely currently furious.

If I go over myself, no matter what I say, even if I could eventually convince my old uncle, the process would surely be a barrage of criticism.

Even the demanded two hundred thousand taels of gold might be gone.

Better to calm down first, after all the civil and military officials are indeed a bit arrogant.

Although the emperor has his faults, you lot actually give no face at all? Really damn arrogant.

You say playing a little dirty is fine—just say we'll discuss it again, wait until the Xiongnu State matter is settled, then we'll talk; I believe the emperor would also agree.

But it's just a hard-headed confrontation.

It makes you look like a loyal minister, right? It makes you look like you're wholeheartedly loyal to Da Xia, right? This is just bullying your uncle who wants to be a wise ruler; unless your uncle didn't seize the throne by force and didn't behead a bunch of people, Gu Jin Nian would find it unacceptable.

"Your Highness the Heir Apparent, you're resourceful and strategic; you can surely come up with a plan. Otherwise, why not think of a plan and have Mr. Wen Jing intercede?"

"This is good, this is good."

"Brother Jin Nian, just think of a plan."

Everyone spoke up, especially Yang Hanrou, who wore an even more worried frown, after all her grandfather had suffered the worst misfortune and brought great trouble.

Now the emperor is furious; she fears her grandfather may meet disaster, so she naturally sees Gu Jin Nian as a lifeline.

Upon hearing this, Gu Jin Nian coughed slightly.

His expression softened a bit.

"You all flatter me."

"However, there is indeed a way."

"Actually, resolving this is also simple; it only requires the emperor or the officials to each step back a little."

Gu Jin Nian spoke up.

Upon saying this, everyone fell silent.

Saying this is as good as saying nothing.

"If neither side steps back, is there then no solution?"

Someone continued to ask, inquiring of Gu Jin Nian.

"If there's no stepping back, it's even simpler."

Gu Jin Nian gave a reply.

It's purely just to liven up the atmosphere, after all this is a school and hardly anyone comes.

But just then.

A familiar voice sounded.

"Oh?"

"How is there a simple method?"

"Tell me about it."

As the voice sounded.

Inside the study hall, it instantly fell silent. —There will be another chapter later, an extra chapter for the alliance leader.

Around four o'clock.

(End of chapter)