Chapter 306: with translation of chapter title

Dawn light first pierced, thin mist like gauze, lightly shrouding the streets and alleys of Bianliangcheng.

Inside the Censorate offices at the southeast corner of Huangcheng, lamps were already blazing.

The Director of the Secretariat and Equal of the State, Wang Ru, sat upright in the chief seat, her scarlet official robe making her face ever more solemn.

Along the lower seats were arranged the Censorate Chief Inspector, the inspection commissioners of all circuits, and the chief officials of the Ministry of Personnel's Examination Bureau.

Everyone held their breath, focused; the atmosphere was heavy.

Lords!

Wang Ru spoke, her voice icy and devoid of warmth, her gaze slowly sweeping over every official present.

"The matter of the western frontier's light barrier, the False Song's founding, and Zhao the Rebel's frenzied edict—surely you are already aware."

She paused slightly, letting that intangible pressure spread.

In such extraordinary times, extraordinary vessels are revealed, and extraordinary loyalty is tested.

The Sage's Majesty has set state policy: internally, to strengthen the roots and nurture the essence; externally, to stand firm and await opportunity.

But to strengthen the roots, first strengthen the trunk; to nurture the essence, first purify the source.

If within Great Chen the administration is not clear, the people's hearts waver, and… there are even worms hidden, colluding with the enemy and betraying the nation.

Even with a million mighty troops and a thousand sound plans, it would be like building a tower on sand—collapse could come at any moment!

Her words, each word like a hammer, struck the hearts of all present.

The Censorate Chief Inspector immediately said:

"What Minister Wang says is absolutely correct! In this national crisis, we must even more purge the interior, tighten discipline, so that all of Great Chen may act as one finger to the arm, only then can we face the great enemy!"

An inspection commissioner from Hebei Circuit showed a worried look:

"In my locality, I have indeed heard some rumors; there may be such disaffected literati and fallen former officials."

"They harbor fantasies about the False Song's so-called 'orthodoxy', discuss it in private, corrupting people's hearts; worse still, they may be in collusion with remnants of the Iron Crow Army..."

A flash of cold light passed through Wang Ru's eyes.

Not a possibility, but a certainty!

"The False Song's founding, Zhao Kuangyin issuing such an edict—what does he plot? Besides the overt weapons, this covert sowing of discord, infiltration, and subversion will surely not be lacking!"

"The Iron Crow Army is accustomed to such wicked tricks; the former 'cold crow' menace in Bianliangcheng is a recent warning!"

She picked up a dossier already prepared on the desk.

Today I have summoned you all here precisely to carry out a thunderous move!

Effective today, led by the Censorate, jointly with the Ministry of Personnel's Examination Bureau, the Ministry of Punishments, and the Peace and Security Bureau, we shall launch a three‑month 'Reformation and Discipline' grand investigation!

The focus lies in the four characters: loyalty, diligence, integrity, and ability!

Especially the character 'loyalty'!

She issued her orders item by item, clear in logic, harsh in wording.

First, strictly investigate speech; anyone who spreads rumors, criticizes court policies, idly talks about the light barrier and the False Song, especially those who sympathize with Zhao the Rebel or doubt the Majesty's and Great Chen's orthodoxy, regardless of rank, once proven shall be immediately impeached and interrogated!

Second, thoroughly examine conduct; the associations, comings and goings, and financial inflows and outflows of officials at all levels must be strictly scrutinized; any huge sums of money of unknown origin, or close ties with persons of unknown identity, shall be a key focus of investigation!

Third, re‑examine old cases; especially those concerning grain, armaments, and frontier defense mishaps from the past half year in various localities must be reviewed anew to see whether there was neglect of duty, or even intentional connivance and collusion between inside and outside!

Fourth, rectify academic mores; the Imperial Academy and all prefectural and county schools must strengthen loyalty‑righteousness education, so that students clearly discern the distinction between Hua and Yi, orthodoxy and heterodoxy, and absolutely not be beguiled by such 'mirror‑flower, water‑moon' heresies!

Her gaze like a blade turned toward the Langzhong of the Ministry of Personnel's Examination Bureau.

In the Examination Bureau's evaluation during this period, the character 'loyalty' shall be paramount; a single veto!

Anyone lacking in loyalty and righteousness, even if possessing the talent of Su Qin or the eloquence of Zhang Yi, shall be dismissed!

"I understand, sir!" the Langzhong of the Examination Bureau hastily bowed and replied.

"This grand investigation," Wang Ru finally emphasized, her voice ice‑cold, "better strict than lenient, better tight than lax!"

In extraordinary times, enact extraordinary measures!

If there be those obstinate and unheeding who test the law with their own bodies, it is fitting to use their heads to uphold sight and sound, and to warn others!

We shall obey Minister Wang's orders!

All officials replied in unison, feeling a stern, killing aura emanating from this female minister known for her upright severity.

They knew that a storm sweeping the court and countryside was about to begin.

In the days that followed, in Bianliangcheng and throughout the circuits and prefectures, the atmosphere noticeably tightened.

The Censorate's investigating censors, together with the Peace and Security Bureau's secret agents, like an invisible net, quietly spread to every corner.

The Ministry of Personnel's evaluation also became unprecedentedly strict.

Some officials who usually enjoyed discussing court affairs and spoke without restraint suddenly found their colleagues' gazes toward them grow distant, and even received veiled warnings from their superiors.

Several old cases were dug up again; the implicated officials, regardless of rank, were all severely punished.

Within the Imperial Academy, the doctoral lecturers, when expounding the classics, also placed extra emphasis on the way of loyalty to the sovereign, love of country, and steadfast integrity.

At first, there were still some murmurs of complaint, thinking this measure overly harsh, fearing it would wound the scholars' hearts.

But soon, the outbreak of two cases caused all the noise to vanish instantly.

The first case: a fifth‑rank official in Bianliangcheng, because his clan younger brother was doing business in False Song territory, secretly transmitted some trivial information about Great Chen's grain transport in exchange for commercial profit.

This matter was uncovered by the Peace and Security Bureau; the evidence was solid.

Wang Ru personally issued the verdict: strip of office, exile three thousand li, and confiscate all properties belonging to his clan younger brother.

The second case was even more shocking.

An officer serving as a grain‑corps assistant commander on the northern front was found to have long been bought by remnants of the Iron Crow Army, repeatedly falsifying forage loss reports, secretly withholding military rations, and leaking the rotation schedule of the garrison troops to the Iron Crow Army remnants in the Taihang Mountains.

When this case came to light, the court and countryside were shocked!

Had not the Reformation and Discipline campaign ferreted him out, continuing thus, the northern front's defenses would surely develop a huge gap, the consequences unimaginable!

Chen Wen heard the report, and the Emperor's countenance flared with wrath.

Vermilion brush swept down: Execute on the spot! Exterminate the three clans!

Taking this as an opportunity, they issued an edict again, reiterating their determination to rectify officialdom and eradicate internal traitors.

The two bloody heads, together with the cruel punishment of exterminating three clans, made all who harbored hopes of luck tremble with fear.

They truly realized that His Majesty and the Chancellor would show no leniency whatsoever in this matter.

For a time, the atmosphere of officialdom was purified.

Those private grumblings and complaints virtually disappeared.

Officials handled affairs more diligently and cautiously, for fear of being labeled disloyal or negligent.

Efficiency, on the contrary, improved to some degree.

That day, Wang Ru reported to Chen Wen the phase achievements of the rectification and discipline campaign.

"Thus far, we have investigated and punished seventy-three officials, big and small; among them, eleven were charged with disloyalty or collusion with the enemy, while the rest were mostly corruption and dereliction of duty; the atmosphere of officialdom has become solemn."

Chen Wen flipped through the files, nodding slightly.

Hard work, Minister Wang.

In chaotic times, heavy penalties are needed; otherwise, it is hard to eradicate wicked customs.

Wang Ru spoke solemnly:

This is within my duty.

But through this investigation, we can also confirm that the False Song and Iron Crow Army's infiltration into our dynasty is omnipresent and hard to guard against; although we have uncovered some this time, deeper hidden elements may still remain.

Chen Wen set down the files, his gaze deep.

I know.

This is a long-term matter; it cannot be completed by a single major inspection.

Over at the Jing'an Bureau, Qian Gui will keep watching.

Your recent purge has initially rallied the people's hearts, solidified court discipline, making petty villains dare not act rashly; this merit is not small.

He shifted the topic.

Next, the rectification can ease the thunderous force and transition to regular surveillance;

You should devote more energy to implementing new policies and pacifying the people's hearts.

When domestic affairs are stable and the people's hearts are aligned, Fortune Momentum will arise naturally; this is the fundamental basis for resisting all external evils.

"Subject, I understand." Wang Ru bowed and replied.

Having withdrawn from the Hall of Martial Virtue, Wang Ru gently exhaled.

Lifting her gaze to the sky, although there remained the intangible pressure from the western border's light curtain, the sky over Bianliangcheng seemed to have become somewhat clearer due to this purge.

She knew, this was only the beginning.

The struggle against that mirror-image Song and its hidden masterminds exists in every aspect.

Only a Great Chen with a clear officialdom and internal unity can serve as the most solid foundation to meet all challenges.

This rectification campaign is like a thorough surgical debridement, removing the nascent rotten flesh; although it brings short-term pain, it injects the dynasty's body with greater vitality and resistance.