Chapter 248: De‑Founding the Founder (II)

"Come, men!"

"Here!" Two palace guards at the hall entrance strode in.

"Drag this treacherous old minister out! Strip all offices, demote him to commoner, never employ him again! Confiscate his property into the state treasury!"

"Your Majesty, spare me! Your Majesty, spare me!" Li Mu trembled, collapsed to the ground, crying out. He had not expected that merely speaking the truth would bring such a tragic fate.

The guards ignored his wailing, dragging him out of the hall like a dead dog.

In the hall, the remaining historians trembled like leaves in the wind, daring not even to breathe.

Killing a chicken to warn the monkeys.

This move was exceedingly ruthless.

Zhao Guangyi's gaze slowly swept over them, finally resting on Wang Xu.

"Minister Wang, you are also a well‑read scholar; tell us how the nation's history should be revised."

Wang Xu sighed inwardly. He knew it was his turn to step forward.

He stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, I think Li Xiuzhan's words are gravely mistaken."

"Oh?"

"What is a historian? Merely a recorder of events. Yet matters have outward and inward aspects, large and small, true and false. If one records only the surface without probing the depth; records only the minor without highlighting the major; believes rumors without discerning truth, then how does one differ from a street storyteller?"

Wang Xu spoke confidently, first denigrating Li Mu's "seeking truth" principle as "superficial."

"Your Majesty and the Founding Emperor are siblings of the same mother, bound by deep brotherly affection. At the founding of the nation, Your Majesty exhausted himself to assist the Founding Emperor, achieving unparalleled feats. This is the universally known 'inner', 'great', and 'true'! Yet the historians cling to trivial details, failing to grasp the brotherly heart between Your Majesty and the Founding Emperor, failing to highlight Your Majesty's monumental achievements. This is the historians' dereliction, not Your Majesty's fault."

"I believe that when revising history, 'great righteousness' must come first. What is great righteousness? The ruler as the framework for ministers, that is great righteousness! To showcase Your Majesty's saintly virtue, to proclaim Your Majesty's achievements, so that all under Heaven know that Great Song's present state is not solely the Founding Emperor's work, but also Your Majesty, the enlightened sovereign, silently contributing behind the scenes. This is the proper way to revise history!"

These words struck Zhao Jiong right in the heart.

What is called competence? This is competence!

The same flattery, yet Wang Xu delivered it with such fresh elegance, reasoned and substantiated, even elevating it to the lofty realm of "great righteousness."

"Excellent! Well said!" Zhao Guangyi beamed with delight, walked over and personally helped Wang Xu to his feet. "Minister Wang truly is my trusted aide! With your words, I am reassured."

He turned, faced the terrified historians, and coldly said, "Did you all hear? Follow Wang Scholar's instructions! I give you three months to rewrite the 'Chronicles of the Founding Emperor' for me! I want a history that reflects the unity of my two brothers in creating great achievements! If there are further oversights, do not blame me for showing no mercy!"

"Yes, yes, we shall obey the decree!" The historians, as if granted a pardon, kowtowed vigorously.

After handling the matter, Zhao Guangyi still seemed unsatisfied.

He pondered briefly, then issued another edict that shocked everyone.

"By decree, my personal name contains the characters Guang and Yi, which all subjects must avoid. I contemplate: this name was bestowed by my parents, yet a ruler should embody a new image. I have decided to change my name to 'Jiong'. The bright sun is called 'Jiong'. I wish to be like this radiant sun, shining upon all nations, bestowing blessings upon the world."

He looked at the bright sunlight outside the window, a satisfied smile spreading across his face.

Zhao Jiong.

From today onward, there is no longer a Prince of Jin named Zhao Guangyi in the world.

There is only one emperor, radiant as the midday sun, Zhao Jiong.

Having settled the history book and changed his name, Zhao Jiong felt much more at ease.

He felt he was gradually stepping out of his elder brother's massive shadow, truly becoming the sole master of this land.

Yet, when he saw the date on the memorial on the desk, that sense of ease vanished.

"Kai Bao, Year 9, 12th month, 22nd day."

Kai Bao was Zhao Kuangyin's era name.

As long as this era name remains in use even for a day, it feels like a constant reminder that it is still Zhao Kuangyin's era.

No, my era must bear my own era name!

Once this thought arose, it took wild root in Zhao Jiong's heart, impossible to suppress.

At the morning court the next day, the civil and military officials had just taken their places, before any agenda began, Zhao Jiong dropped a bombshell.

"Esteemed ministers," he cleared his throat, his voice echoing through the hall, "Since my ascension, I have labored day and night, yearning only for Great Song's prosperity, the people's peace, and the empire's everlasting stability.

Last night, I observed the heavens, saw the bright Ziwei star, the imperial throne stable—an omen of great luck. I intend to follow Heaven's will, inaugurate a new era; from tomorrow, change the era name to Taiping Xingguo, praying that Great Song may enjoy peace and prosperity, the nation flourish!"

As soon as he spoke, the entire court fell into a death‑like silence.

All the ministers thought their ears must be deceiving them.

Era Name Change?

Now?

Everyone knows that according to ritual tradition, a New Monarch's ascension is followed by the issuance of a New Era Name on the first day of the following year's first month, marking the start of a new calendar. This respects the late emperor and maintains calendrical stability.

Now there are only eight days left until the New Year.

To rush the Era Name Change for those eight days?

This… this is utterly unseemly! Truly unheard of!

After the brief silence, the court erupted into chaos.

The veteran Chancellor Zhao Pu was the first to stand. Having just been reinstated to his post, he was in high spirits, yet this absurd decision made him unable to remain seated.

"Your Majesty, this must not happen!" he fell to his knees, voice and tears mingling, "Changing the era name is a matter of state; throughout history, it is enacted at the start of the new year. Now Kai Bao, Year 9 still has eight days left; a hasty change not only violates propriety but also disrespects the Great Emperor. How will the subjects view Your Majesty? Please reconsider and retract the order!"

"Indeed, Your Majesty!" the Minister of Personnel knelt, "At year‑end, provincial administrations are finalizing accounts and drafting documents; a mid‑year era change would require all paperwork to be re‑done, resulting in two era names in one year and massive chaos! Please prioritize state affairs!"

"Your Majesty, rites must not be discarded! The ancestors' regulations cannot be violated!"

In an instant, a large swath of the court knelt. Led by Zhao Pu, the civil officials voiced unanimous opposition.

They thought this New Monarch acted too arbitrarily, paying no heed to ancestral conventions.

Zhao Jiong sat on the dragon throne, expressionless, watching the kneeling ministers below.

Inside, an unnamed fire rose within him.

Again, rites and ancestral regulations!