Chapter 785: with translation of chapter title

As the eunuchs chanted in unison, the officials orderly finished the series of preparations before the court assembly.

Although those standing on the hall had done these things countless times, able to complete the process even with eyes closed, they still could not avoid its tediousness.

The young emperor leaned sideways on the Yu Ta, propping his head with his left hand, his expression weary, showing no joy, only a hint of impatience.

Since he discovered that his own imperial edict could not even leave this palace city, the twice‑monthly grand court assembly, he even wanted to abolish it.

Waking up at the fourth watch (chou hour) every day is very annoying.

Just sitting here watching them argue is even more annoying.

Such a sitting, short as half an hour, long as over an hour, can give him lingering hostility for several days, which cannot be calmed for a long time.

"My lords, if there's nothing else, you may disperse." the emperor said.

He simply does not want to ask whether they have any business; you had better have nothing at all.

Fortunately, the prince's officials have long grown accustomed to the emperor's sarcastic deadpan.

The emperor speaks his part, they speak theirs.

As the emperor's words fell from the upper seat, an official stepped forward from among the court officials, saying, "Minister Cao Lin has a memorial to present!"

The young emperor merely lifted his wrist.

This trick he learned from the noble consort; it is extremely effective.

To summon someone, just wave your hand, letting them speak or withdraw; a simple outward flick of the palm suffices.

Simple, saving time and effort, it wastes none of his emotions at all.

"Your Majesty, the banditry in Lingnan is rampant; the court ought to manage it." Cao Lin first set the tone, then cried out sadly, "In the four prefectures of Lingnan, only Yang Yu, Yang Jinglve struggles to hold on in San Guan Jun, while the other three prefectures have all become bandit territory."

I have heard that Chen Wuji of Nan Jun has seized all of Nan Jun, commanding two hundred thousand troops, his nature wolfish and ambitious, possibly harboring designs to march north into Zhongyuan; if not checked, the state will be in peril!

When Chen Wuji was mentioned, His Majesty the Emperor finally roused some spirit, "Cao Qing, where did you hear this hearsay? Chen Wuji's office is one I personally appointed, Nan Jun Jiedu Guanchasi; he commands Nan Jun's Bīngmǎ and oversees governance—doing all this is perfectly reasonable, is it not?"

"Your Majesty!" Cao Lin shouted loudly.

Chen Wuji's conduct is reckless and rebellious; he bears no semblance of a subject of the Son of Heaven. Though I am not well‑read in poetry, I have some grasp of strategy; even our great Da Yu never had a Regional Inspector Commander with two hundred thousand troops.

Chen Wuji's move is clearly treason!

His Majesty the Emperor let out a soft hiss, "I truly do not know whether he will rebel or not, but that office is one I granted him; Cao Qing, stop insisting that only Yang Jinglve holds the four prefectures of Nan Jun."

"As for your claim that Chen Wuji is not an official, what do you mean? Are you trying to slap my face? Do I now lack even this authority?"

Cao Lin's face darkened instantly; before he could speak, someone beside him stood up.

"Your Majesty, Chen Wuji's office is inherently contrary to court regulations!"

His Majesty the Emperor glanced over, too lazy to see who was speaking, then rose and burst out, "How is it contrary to regulations? As the Son of Heaven, could I not appoint local officials?"

"The imperial brush appoints, issuing from the Imperial Writing! If Chen Wuji's office is contrary to regulations, half of you lot must get out of this hall. You officials are becoming more and more improper—could you even utter such words?"

He flung back his robe sleeves, pointed firmly at the throne behind him, "Come, if you can no longer bear it, whoever is interested in this seat, take it yourself—I will now abdicate and yield virtue!"

"Come up!!!"

A sharp shout rang out, the court officials fell silent instantly, then with a clatter they all knelt down.

"We, your servants, are panic-stricken!"

"Panic? Hmph!" the emperor gave a heavy cold snort.

"Apart from being able to shout the word 'panic' with your mouths, when have you ever felt even a trace of panic? The frontier commanders I personally appointed with my imperial brush, the ministers of the state—you say you don't acknowledge, then you don't; is that panic? This is a palace coup!"

The court officials lowered their heads a bit more, murmuring "panic."

The emperor ignored all that nonsense, brought up a pile of old scores, and launched into a frenzied tirade.

In his prime, his voice rang like metal striking stone, resonant and forceful in the Zi Chen Hall.

After a round of scolding, he instantly felt relieved in body and mind.

The Imperial Uncle's method is good; regardless of whether anything can be done, scold first, then speak.

Moreover, these people cannot talk back, making him even more relieved!

"Rise, is there anyone else who wishes to speak? If not, dismiss the court!" the emperor stood with hands behind his back and shouted.

From this height, seeing them kneel five‑limbed on the ground still feels very relieving.

The court officials rustled as they rose.

"Your Majesty, although Minister Cao's words have some impropriety, Chen Wuji indeed harbors divided loyalties and must be guarded against!"

Among the foremost power brokers, one stepped forward.

The emperor glanced over, his eyelids slightly narrowed, "What does Minister Yan wish to say now?"

This person is the Grand Secretary and Participant in Government Affairs, Yan Yan, a major thorn in the court, holding military authority.

The moment he spoke, pressure on the emperor surged instantly.

The pressure this Minister Yan brings upon him far exceeds that of Minister Ruan, who sits on the left now like an old monk in meditation.

Although he does not want to admit this at all.

But after suffering several losses, he is almost instinctively tense toward this person.

Each time brings the tension of a wild beast encountering its mortal foe.

Yan Yan, expressionless, clasped the tablet to his chest and lifted his head to stare directly at the young His Majesty the Emperor.

"Your Majesty's unrestricted promotion of talent, I have no objection. However, the Chen clan has lain dormant for years, continually deceiving the court; the annual reports from Nan Jun always speak of the Chen clan's decline, leaving only a few clan members clinging to life, utterly lacking the former might of the world's premier military house."

"But now the facts lie before us: Chen Wuji's raising of troops has lasted just over a year; he leads the Chen clan troops, riding across Nan Jun, unopposed, and in a short time gathered a force of two hundred thousand."

"Regarding this person, I have also gathered some intelligence: his force of two hundred thousand troops is not a rabble; the armored soldiers and cavalry each exceed fifty thousand."

"Chen Wuji has repeatedly defeated the Qiang People in battle, every victory showing the strength of his troops. He leaves no prisoners, slaughtering them all or piling them into victory monuments, revealing his cruelty and ruthlessness. I had men calculate precisely: to date, Chen Wuji's campaign has slain nearly three hundred thousand foes, at least two hundred thousand of whom he buried alive."

Upon these words, a ripple of sucked‑in breath spread through the court.

Those high‑ranking officials, many actually know Chen Wuji's name.

But in their eyes, Chen Wuji is merely a Nan Jun grass bandit who, for unknown reasons, suddenly caught the emperor's favor—utterly beneath their notice.

They weren't even interested in finding out what Chen Wuji had actually done.

At that moment, hearing these precise numbers spill from the vice premier's mouth, they finally realized that the Nan Jun grass bandit was not a grass bandit but a man-eating beast.