Chapter 384: I, the Minister, Plead to Instantly Raise a Great Purge!

In the early reign of the Supreme Emperor, the officially promulgated "Exemption Regulations" institutionalized and expanded the exemption system for officials and gentry:

For example, first‑rank capital officials are exempted from thirty shi of grain and thirty household members; second‑rank are exempted from twenty‑four shi of grain and twenty‑four household members;

third‑rank are exempted from twenty shi of grain and twenty household members, decreasing sequentially.

This is not "benevolent relief for the scholar‑gentry" at all, but blatant institutional privilege.

Moreover, all of this was gradually pushed forward by the civil officials' faction.

Even worse, local officials repeatedly exceeded the exemption limits during implementation, creating a situation of rampant exemptions.

Many court officials now have tax‑free fields of tens of thousands of mu in their families, all donated or hidden by others!

When these officials now claim "no posting, no grain", they never mention the exemption limits, nor that during the Founding Emperor's era there was never such a large‑scale exemption system.

Seeing Jia Jing bring up the ancestral system to refute, Fang Congzhe and the others were momentarily at a loss how to respond.

The ancestral system has always been their banner for limiting imperial authority, and no one has ever torn that veil to bluntly expose their selfish motives behind defending the ancestral system.

One must admit, this situation truly caught them off guard!

In fact, when Zhang Tingyu and others rebuked the old faction, they would not say that preserving the ancestral system was for personal gain.

Because they also belong to the civil officials' group and have enjoyed many benefits, they naturally cannot turn a blind eye!

Only someone like Jia Jing, a high‑ranking, influential military merit who is favored by the emperor, dares to expose the civil officials' double standards toward the ancestral system!

Because this exposure means Jia Jing stands opposite the entire civil officials' faction!

Of course, Jia Jing is also fully aware that the civil‑military struggle has existed since antiquity!

In fact, ever since his great victory in the northwest battle, becoming the Da Han Empire's top‑most military merit, he inevitably became a thorn in the side of the civil officials' group!

Moreover, having just pledged to Jing Sheng Di to lead troops into Jiangnan, he is now completely at odds with the civil officials' faction!

Therefore, at this moment he does not fear offending a few more; instead, he intends to seize this opportunity to thoroughly crush the old civil faction, paving the way for later purging of Shenjing's military merits and consolidating command of the troops to buy time!

Only when the civil officials are too busy with their own affairs will they have no time to constantly engage in factional strife or focus their gaze on him.

And his act of speaking on behalf of the sovereign father, almost like a "lonely minister", must be precisely in line with Jing Sheng Di's wishes!

Sure enough, Jing Sheng Di smiled pleasantly and said to Jia Jing:

"Zi Jie's words truly strike the core of my heart! Their mouths are full of talk about the ancestral system and sage sayings, but only Heaven knows their ulterior motives!"

"You may speak freely without restraint; no need to hold back. Whatever harsh law you propose, I am eager to hear it!"

Jia Jing's expression paused briefly, he faced the throne, bowed with clasped hands, and his voice, though not loud, was as firm as iron:

"Your Majesty, I have three proposals."

"First proposal: expel those who force the palace. The crowd gathered outside the Meridian Gate, whether officials or scholars, should be immediately dispersed by the Imperial City Guard."

"If officials defy orders and refuse to leave, they shall be arrested and stripped of rank; if scholars defy orders and refuse to leave, their titles shall be confiscated and they shall be barred from taking examinations for life."

"Anyone who dares to incite disorder or speak disrespectfully shall be sentenced to Zhao Yu for trial."

"Second proposal: severely punish the chief offenders. Xu Zhuo, Xie Jishi, and Lu Shengnan, three individuals, conspired with hundreds of officials, gathered crowds to force the palace, incited the people, and disrupted the court's order; this is not admonition but rebellion."

"According to the Da Han Empire Law's 'Traitorous Faction' clause, those who collude with factions and sow chaos in governance shall be beheaded; all three are guilty of unforgivable crimes."

"I propose to immediately apprehend them, imprison them, subject them to severe interrogation, confiscate their property, then impose the proper legal punishment, and send their heads to Jiangnan as a warning to others."

"Third proposal: instantly launch a mass purge, using the faction case to investigate party members."

"That these three could, within a single day, coordinate dozens of officials and incite over a hundred scholars indicates pre‑existing scheming; behind this must also be gentry from Jiangnan colluding with them."

"Your Majesty may order the Imperial City Guard to thoroughly investigate the case, and adjudicate the involved persons according to the severity of their rebellion."

"Those who deserve execution shall be executed, those who merit exile shall be exiled, those who should be dismissed shall be dismissed, those whose titles should be stripped shall lose them. Cast a wide net, uproot them completely, leaving no lingering threat."

Jia Jing, having said this, thought for a moment, and his voice deepened further as he continued:

"Your Majesty, the flaw in governance does not lie in the New Policies, but in the mutual deception of superiors and subordinates, unclear rewards and punishments, and unfair promotions and demotions."

"The fact that Xu Zhuo and others dare to force the palace shows they have backing; the courtiers' willingness to join stems from the belief that 'the law does not hold the masses accountable.'"

"Therefore, I ask Your Majesty to use this incident to simultaneously implement the Capital Inspection grand plan, to assess officials' merits and faults according to the examination statutes."

"The capable remain, the mediocre depart; the diligent are promoted, the lazy are demoted. Whether the New Policies can be enacted depends not on court debate but on whether officials can carry them out."

"If this can straighten administration and clarify rewards and punishments, I need not say more; the New Policies can then proceed on their own."

When Jia Jing uttered these words, everyone present was greatly startled!

The other proposals were relatively acceptable; whether it was the expulsion suggestion, the severe punishment, or even the Capital Inspection, none were entirely unexpected.

But no one could have imagined that Jia Zi Jie would propose launching a mass purge using the faction case,

knowing that initiating a mass purge is no child's play!

Each time a mass purge occurs, for the civil officials' group it becomes a disastrous political cleansing.

It brings not only the dramatic rise and fall of dozens or hundreds of officials' lives and honors, but also a potentially devastating blow to the entire Da Han Empire civil administration.

Historically, each of the Da Han Empire's few 'faction cases' that were investigated usually meant widespread collateral damage and heavy slaughter.

During the Founding Emperor's era, a major case could even implicate tens of thousands of people.

If this were truly carried out, it would not only create a terrifying atmosphere of mutual suspicion, but also a torrent of decapitations, severely weakening the civil officials' group.

Fang Congzhe's eyes flashed with shock and anger, and he immediately shouted:

"Your Majesty! This proposal is unacceptable! Duke Jing's murderous intent is too great; if a mass purge is launched, it will inevitably plunge the court into chaos, and the nation will cease to be a nation."

"It is also extremely detrimental to Your Majesty's reputation and the stability of the state; please think it over!"

The child's intent is so vile; he aims to wipe out the old faction entirely, a complete purge!

Zhang Tingyu and a few others of the new faction, at this moment, wore solemn expressions as they watched Jia Jing; although they hoped to use this palace‑forcing opportunity to strike the old faction,

they never imagined launching a mass purge via the Imperial City Guard, because once a purge begins, their new faction would easily suffer backlash.

Or perhaps, the mutual struggles among civil officials have a bottom line.

Such a mass‑purge tactic could cause officials, under intense pressure, to turn on each other—a self‑damaging move that harms a thousand while losing eight hundred; it would not be employed unless absolutely necessary!

Jing Sheng Di's expression remained calm; he was not overly surprised, but rather somewhat moved.

Because he knows that Jia Jing's reason for offering such fierce remonstrance is also his desire to protect himself.

Zi Jie cannot stand seeing himself forced by that band of treacherous ministers into a palace coup, and thus feels some indignation; this is wholly a sincere loyalty to himself!

Otherwise, with Zi Jie's present position, there is no need for him to speak these words here and now that would inevitably offend countless civil officials!

After all, once these words are spread, Zi Jie's reputation within the civil officials will indeed be ruined!

Just as a brief silence fell over the hall, Xu Zhuo, standing nearby, broke out in cold sweat on his forehead and suddenly shouted:

"Your Majesty, the Founder decreed that civil and military affairs follow separate tracks, each fulfilling its duties. Military generals command troops, civil officials govern the state, checking and balancing each other; this is the unalterable law of our ancestors for a hundred years."

"Now, Jia Zi Jie, as a military official, holds command of the troops, already commanding the twelve brigade armies, and additionally bears the title of Minister of War."

"If, following his intention to 'launch a great purge' of civil officials, the whole world's armies and officials advance or retreat at the will of a single person, Your Majesty… are you not aware of the case of Huo Guang?"

Lu Shengnan's forehead veins throbed, and he promptly shouted in turn:

"Your Majesty, the Tang dynasty suffered the disaster of the fanzhen, and the Song dynasty had the lesson of a cup of wine that released military power. When military officials wield heavy power, it is no longer a blessing for the state."

"If today we again follow his intention to 'launch a great purge' against civil officials, then after that, who in the world could curb his power?"

"Your Majesty… military officials must not be allowed to understand civil affairs; once they do, they will inevitably develop ulterior motives. This is a principle unchanging through the ages!"

"Your Majesty, military men bring disaster to the nation; Jia Zi Jie's wolf‑child ambition is as obvious as if revealed, and must not be ignored!"

Both men were truly a little frightened at this moment!

If they say that Zhang Tingyu's remonstrance would lead to death, they still cling to a sliver of hope!

But if, in line with Jia Jing's intent, a great purge is initiated and they are taken to the Imperial City Office, then truly they cannot obtain life nor escape death!

Not to mention, Jia Jing also remonstrated that after subjecting them to severe interrogation, their property should be confiscated, a proper punishment imposed, and their heads sent to

The child's nature is cruel and vicious; truly unfit to be a son!