Chapter 339: The Third Assessment

The news of Di Yi being seriously ill was not deliberately concealed, and very quickly the whole city knew, and the people were in an uproar.

No one expected that Di Yi, who had been in good health, would suddenly be unable to go on.

And in his haste, he wanted to propose a third assessment, and one round would decide the outcome.

In that case, how unfair it was to Yin Qi!

Everyone discussed it heatedly, guessing what the content of the third assessment would be.

If Yin Shou won, how would Yin Qi conduct himself?

With Yin Qi's current prestige, the only way was to stay far away from Zhaoge, go to the provinces to establish a state, and become a vassal.

Otherwise, Yin Shou would probably not be able to sleep peacefully even while sleeping.

Amidst the chaos, three days passed in the blink of an eye.

This day.

Countless gazes turned toward the Imperial Palace.

Zichen Hall.

Di Yi was wearing casual clothes, sitting behind the imperial desk, his complexion rosy; he did not look like someone whose life was nearing its end.

He looked at Yin Qi and Yin Shou standing before the imperial desk and said in a gentle voice: "Qi-er, Shou-er, as the Human Emperor, you can have ordinary literary talent, and you can have ordinary martial arts, because you are the Human Emperor; you can choose the right people to do the right things, and we just need to set the direction and tasks for them.

That is to say, as the Human Emperor, the most fundamental quality is to understand the big picture.

To understand the national situation, and to understand how to govern."

Yin Shou was a bit confused, and even a bit disapproving, but he honestly lowered his head and listened.

Yin Qi, on the other hand, nodded in agreement.

He had been a Great President and a Heavenly Emperor, so he naturally understood how to be a qualified ruler.

Di Yi continued: "This third assessment is to talk about how you view the current Great Shang. If you were the Human Emperor, how would you govern?"

Yin Qi's eyes narrowed as he thought secretly.

His goals were too big; saying them out loud would probably scare Di Yi to death, and he would definitely be considered to be talking nonsense, so he had to hold back a bit and say things Di Yi wanted to hear.

This proposition was too subjective; it was difficult if one wanted it to be, and simple if one wanted it to be.

To win, one must figure out Di Yi's psychology and guess how Di Yi hoped he would govern.

Yin Shou was also frowning and thinking.

After a long time, Di Yi said: "Who will go first?"

Yin Shou immediately said: "Father Emperor, let the son go first. The son believes that under Father Emperor's governance, our Great Shang is prosperous and the people are at peace, with the Grand Tutor, Prime Minister, and Imperial Uncle assisting internally, and the Four Great Worthy Marquises stabilizing the four directions externally.

If I were the Human Emperor, I would continue Father Emperor's various policies, rest and recuperate with the people, and unite the vassals.

In this way, our Great Shang can have a solid foundation for the country."

Di Yi nodded slightly, neither happy nor angry, his expression indifferent.

He looked at Yin Qi and said: "And you?"

Yin Qi bowed and said sternly: "Father Emperor, I cannot agree with what the Imperial Brother said. On the contrary, I believe that beneath the splendor and prosperity of our Great Shang, there are actually crises everywhere, and undercurrents are surging. If we do not reform, I am afraid the fall of the country is not far off."

Yin Shou was shocked and turned his head abruptly to look at Yin Qi: "Imperial Brother, you..."

The Great Shang was so prosperous, having just destroyed the Chiyi and expanded the territory by sixty thousand li, and the various vassals also paid tribute on time every year. It was clearly a peaceful and prosperous age of singing and dancing; how could there be crises everywhere?

Di Yi's eyes narrowed, and he sneered: "Crises everywhere, undercurrents surging? Yin Qi, tell me, how is my Great Shang not far from falling? If you cannot give a reason, then go outside and be enfeoffed."

Yin Qi said sternly: "Since the Holy Ancestor Shang Tang allied with three thousand vassals to destroy the Xia and establish the Shang, six hundred and forty years have passed. In these six hundred and forty years, internally, the nobles have constantly annexed the well-fields and wantonly enslaved people, leading to the people being in extreme distress.

Externally, the Four Great Earls have continued to grow, to the point where the various vassals only know the Four Great Earls and do not know our Great Shang.

Especially Xiqi, which has strong national power and great ambition.

Back then, the Imperial Grandfather saw the threat of Xiqi, so he imprisoned and killed the Western Earl, which instead made Xiqi unite in hatred, and Ji Chang even swore to avenge his father.

Had the late Emperor not married the Imperial Aunt to him, Xiqi would likely have already rebelled.

But the root of the disaster has already been buried.

In my view, there will eventually be a war between our Great Shang and Xiqi, and it will be a war of national fortune."

Yin Shou's eyes widened, and his heart was in turmoil.

He never expected that Yin Qi could say such rebellious words; one must know that Ji Chang was his father-in-law!

"Clap!"

Di Yi slapped the desk and stood up, shocked and angry: "Shut up, you unfilial son. The nobles of my Great Shang are all virtuous people, loyal to the monarch and patriotic. The Four Great Earls are also loyal and devoted; how can I let you slander them? Also, the Western Earl Ji Chang is your father-in-law, yet you say such things about him; this is unfilial and rebellious. Do you know your crime?"

Yin Qi bowed solemnly and said sternly: "Every word I said is from the bottom of my heart; what crime is there?"

"Good, good, you are still stubborn. In that case, reflect here properly. When you retract what you said earlier, then you can go back. Shou-er, let's go."

Di Yi said, flicking his sleeves and leaving.

"Yes, Father Emperor."

Yin Shou was overjoyed and hurriedly followed.

Although Di Yi had not yet announced the result of the third assessment, the result was already obvious.

The position of Crown Prince was secure.

After Di Yi left, Yin Qi did not panic, because he could feel that Di Yi did not have any angry emotions; everything was just an act.

Not to mention that even if he lost the third assessment, at worst he could just stage a coup.

He was determined to be the Human Emperor.

Yin Qi stood honestly, because in this hall, he could also feel that someone was hiding in the void; it was likely Wen Zhong, Shang Rong, and Bi Gan.

As the third assessment that could decide the outcome in one round, how could Wen Zhong and the others not be present?

Without sensing, one could guess it.

An hour later.

Yin Qi heard footsteps coming from outside the hall.

It was Di Yi returning.

Di Yi walked to Yin Qi and said in a deep voice: "Unfilial son, do you know your mistake?"

Yin Qi said sternly: "Every word I said was the truth. The Great Shang is like the Great Xia on the verge of collapse, full of crises, and it has reached the point where it must be reformed."

Di Yi said coldly: "Still not knowing how to repent. Good, then tell me, how do you want to reform, and how do you want to save the Great Shang?"

"Legalist reform!"

Yin Qi said sternly: "Our Great Shang inherited the Xia system, enfeoffing the world, seemingly using vassals to guard the four directions, but in reality, it buried the root of disaster, because we have no control over the various vassal states, only the annual tribute.

This means we cannot curb the development of the vassal states.

Looking at the near future, there is Xiqi.

Looking at the distant past, didn't our Great Shang develop like that back then?

Past experience, if not forgotten, is a guide for the future.

When a certain vassal becomes strong enough to challenge us, they will also launch a rebellion like the Holy Ancestor Shang Tang.

Perhaps Father Emperor will say that our Great Shang has enfeoffed many royal clans, and they are of one mind with us.

But the kindness of a gentleman is cut off after five generations.

Once they are outside the five degrees of kinship, will they still be close to us?

This time destroying the Chiyi, we seemingly expanded the territory by sixty thousand li, but in reality, we were making wedding clothes for others.

If this continues for a long time, our Great Shang will not get any development, while the various vassals will be able to constantly grow stronger. With the reversal of strength, it would be strange if problems did not arise.

Therefore, we must reform, abolish enfeoffment, and establish a unified central power." ===== CHAPTER 340 =====