Chapter 298: Who agrees and who objects next?

Impeachment?

After hearing that, Lu Yuan blinked.

This…

This counts as a matter?!

This isn't even a matter, alright!

In any court assembly, if Qingbei's people aren't impeached, that would be a big deal!

How would you describe these Qingbei people?

They are very annoying!

How would you describe this bunch?

Lu Yuan found a particularly precise description: 'stupid'.

Very stupid.

Each one is a hotheaded idiot.

These Qingbei people, once they leave Qingbei, go straight into the imperial court as officials.

The capable ones go straight to court, while ordinary ones end up in various bureaus.

Maybe it's Qingbei's motto, or maybe it's because of something else.

Anyway, Qingbei people stick to their principles when doing things.

Right is right, wrong is wrong.

They don't care whether the other person is higher rank or their direct superior.

Anyway, if you're wrong, or more strictly speaking, if he thinks you made a mistake, he will definitely find fault with you at the next court assembly.

So this behavior is very unpopular.

What else is added?

Moreover, in recent years the imperial court's support for Qingbei students is not ordinary.

Basically, anyone who has studied at Qingbei for a year hasn't fully graduated yet and may need to study a few more years.

But the court will directly assign them positions.

After all, the Great Zhou Dynasty has entered a new era and needs more new-era talent; they can't wait for these people to study three to five years at school before coming out.

Instead, after these people finish one year of study, they are first given positions, and then they handle affairs while continuing to study at school.

Can the original court officials be happy with such extraordinary treatment?

They are definitely not happy!

After all, what does it rely on for everyone to be able to stand in the court?

It relies on one's family gate!

It relies on one's family background!

It relies on one's intelligence, and on one's diligent hard work at the grassroots level back then!

It relies on one's understanding of human relations and worldly affairs, and on various miscellaneous things, to reach this point.

As a result, you Qingbei folks just read a year of junk books, then sit on equal footing with us and start pointing out the rivers and mountains?

Who could be happy about this?

Who could accept this?

Although everyone is not stupid and can see it, maybe in the future this will become Qingbei's world.

The emperor now also relies heavily on Qingbei.

But sometimes, when these people impeach you without hesitation, the old guard also gets worked up and will retaliate.

So, for now, the current court assembly basically consists of various impeachments from Qingbei.

It can be said that, except for Lu Yuan not impeaching, everyone else from this group will come to impeach.

Sometimes, Gu Qingwan gets criticized by the Qingbei people in court for saying something wrong when going out.

And my wife herself is not good-tempered; sometimes she gets so angry she wants to give these people a few military sticks on the spot.

However, out of respect for Lu Yuan's face, and knowing these people always act this way, in the big picture this is actually good for the overall atmosphere.

It's better when everyone dares to speak, right?

But even so, sometimes at night when the two of us are in bed cuddling and whispering, Gu Qingwan still complains.

Lu Yuan feels that, since Gu Qingwan is his wife, otherwise he would eventually be implicated by these people's practices.

After all, I'm the head of Qingbei!

To outsiders, any action taken by officials from Qingbei seems to be under Lu Yuan's direction.

These Qingbei people are so unwilling to give face that sometimes they don't even give the emperor face— isn't that just another cabinet?

If this situation continues, Lu Yuan will likely become the Nian Gengyao of another world.

Fortunately, Gu Qingwan is his wife, so sometimes Lu Yuan comforts her, and it's not a big deal.

As for what these Qingbei people do,

Lu Yuan also doesn't bother to manage it— if someone is right and has reason, what's there to control?

So, over the past three years, basically every day has been like this.

And Kang Linfei also knows about this matter.

Just as Lu Yuan was raising his eyebrows, about to say something, Kang Linfei also realized his own words were problematic.

Kang Linfei, coming to his senses, hurriedly said:

"Impeaching the captain of the Seventh Fleet, Chu Zhongxiang, because they bypassed the Ministry of War, deviated from the original drill sequence, and headed for the Baltic Sea."

Heading to the Baltic Sea??

Lu Yuan hearing this, couldn't help but be stunned.

Hmm??

This isn't just yesterday...

Although this isn't exactly a top secret, today Lu Yuan will say this at the grand court assembly, then have the Ministry of War issue an order.

But, not many people know about this, right?

Just those two from yesterday.

How did the navy find out about this in advance?

Moreover...

And they actually went straight there?!

Seventh Fleet...... Is the whole fleet going?

The Seventh Fleet does have an aircraft carrier battle group.

While Lu Yuan was somewhat dazed.

Then Kang Linfei hurriedly said:

"I've asked about this; the Seventh Fleet dared not report to the Ministry of War because of Prince Lie's order."

Upon hearing this, Lu Yuan understood.

Oh~

Lu Yuan then said, "How did the Seventh Fleet suddenly run to the Baltic Sea?"

In a moment, Lu Yuan knew what was going on.

Yesterday, Gu Qingwan called Gu Lie to request troops, and they were commanders of the Wan Sui Army; anyone who isn't a fool would definitely know this means there's a military operation.

With Gu Lie's personality, how could Lu Yuan not know?

With my little brother-in-law, just see how he puffs his butt, and I know what kind of shit he's about to take.

Roughly speaking, after finding out about this, they sent people straight there.

Upon hearing this, Lu Yuan suddenly thought of something, and asked with a puzzled face:

"Eh, that's not right; the closest to the Baltic Sea should be the Third Fleet, so why is the Seventh Fleet going?"

Just as Kang Linfei was about to continue speaking, he froze, then loudly said with a speechless expression:

"At this point, why do you care which fleet went?!"

"Maybe the Third Fleet is unavailable, or the aircraft carrier is under major repair or something, so the Seventh Fleet went instead!"

Listening to Kang Linfei's words, Lu Yuan glanced at him, blinked, and said with a smile:

"Hey, not bad, Old Kang, you even know the aircraft carrier needs major repair."

After saying that, Lu Yuan grabbed his bag and headed for the imperial palace; he needed to hurry, otherwise he'd be late for the grand court assembly.

Last time he just woke up late.

As a result, all the civil and military officials, including his wife, had been waiting for him for over ten minutes.

Fortunately, he found an excuse to smooth it over.

This time, if he's late again, Lu Yuan really can't think of any excuse.

Seeing Lu Yuan not taking it seriously, Kang Linfei truly panicked, hurriedly caught up with him, and anxiously said at his side:

"Oh my, what time is it now, and you still aren't taking it seriously?!"

"When the old guard kicks up a fuss, you Qingbei people would know the reason; tell me, what would your Qingbei crowd do after learning about this?"

Lu Yuan raised his eyebrows, then said:

"Of course, just follow the old officials and join in impeaching Chu Zhongxiang."

Even though Chu Zhongxiang also comes from Qingbei, if he does wrong, he'll still be impeached by Qingbei people.

As just said, Qingbei people are stubborn in their actions.

They stick to their principles.

If you're wrong, even if it's the emperor, Qingbei people will stand up and speak.

However, Qingbei people do not form factions.

If Qingbei people do wrong, they too will be impeached by Qingbei people.

So, the current Qingbei is essentially different from the previous cabinet.

This is also why Gu Qingwan can tolerate Qingbei people; aside from Lu Yuan's influence, this point is the most important.

If Qingbei people form cliques and factions for personal gain, Gu Qingwan will definitely deal with them.

Now Gu Qingwan not only does not suppress them, but continues to support them—precisely because of this.

And Kang Linfei, upon hearing Lu Yuan's words, gritted his teeth and said:

"If they only impeached Chu Zhongxiang, that would be fine, but given their character, they're definitely going to drag Prince Lie into it as well!!"

"Just imagine that scene when the time comes!"

"The emperor has only this one relative; usually they seem however, often scolding, but behind closed doors they're family."

"The emperor's scolding is the emperor's scolding; if it were someone else scolding, what would it become?!"

Listening to Kang Linfei's words, Lu Yuan froze for a few seconds, then burst out laughing.

Still, this matter is just old talk.

Also.

Kang Linfei never seeks him out for nothing; whenever he does, it's definitely because of this kind of thing.

For the past three years, it's always been like this.

It hasn't changed at all.

Regarding my relationship with my second daughter-in-law, the court still doesn't know about it.

The only one who knows is Pang Kaige's father-in-law.

However, this person is very sharp; when it comes to such matters, he absolutely refuses to mention them.

Pang Kaige's father-in-law likes to drink; he's a drunkard.

But after he bumped into me and Gu Qingwan that day three years ago, Pang Kaige's father-in-law quit drinking outright, fearing that if I got drunk that day I would blab.

Then it would implicate me and my family.

Furthermore, Pang Kaige's father-in-law originally could have been promoted the following year, but instead I retired.

All of this is to avoid accidentally letting slip the matter of Lu Yuan and Gu Qingwan.

So, for now, the court doesn't know anything about Lu Yuan and Gu Qingwan.

Actually, at first Lu Yuan rather wanted Pang Kaige's father-in-law to speak out a bit.

After all, some things aren't such that just because Pang Kaige's father-in-law says them, others will believe.

First spread a bit of rumor and such, to see what everyone's reaction would be.

Otherwise, three years ago Lu Yuan couldn't have brought Gu Qingwan along.

But later I figured it out; it doesn't matter, what do I care about others' reactions? Now both I and Gu Qingwan are already quasi-emperors.

This lifespan has already been tens of thousands of years.

What's this little matter?

Now Lu Yuan continues walking ahead, and seeing that Lu Yuan doesn't take it to heart at all, Kang Linfei immediately gritted his teeth and said, frustrated:

"I've told you Qingbei people to restrain yourselves in daily life, but look at you—you just won't listen!"

"There's nothing simple about the way of being an official!"

"Last time, someone of yours said the Emperor's travel Dragon Robe was wrong, which annoyed the Emperor, and now you're heading straight into the gun barrel again!"

"And you're the head of Qingbei, although you say you don't care about Qingbei's affairs, but to outsiders you..."

Before Kang Linfei finished speaking, Lu Yuan suddenly turned his head and looked at Kang Linfei strangely, saying:

"What time is the grand court assembly again?"

Kang Linfei stared, then frowned and said:

"Eight-thirty, you even forgot that?"

The next second, Lu Yuan raised his eyebrows and said:

"Then what time is it now?"

After Lu Yuan spoke, Kang Linfei lifted his wrist to check his watch—it was twenty past eight.

Just as Kang Linfei lifted his head to say 'hurry up,' Lu Yuan had already run ten or so meters away.

At this moment, Lu Yuan, without turning his head, said:

"Then why aren't you running fast?!"

Seeing Lu Yuan, who again disliked his talkativeness and just ran off, Kang Linfei gritted his teeth and said:

"Don't run!!"

"Did you hear clearly what I just said!!"

"When you get there, quickly make those Qingbei people shut up, and absolutely do not mention the prince's affair!!"

"Did you hear me!!"

Lu Yuan, without turning his head, shouted loudly:

"Fine, I'll go and tell them."

…………

Imperial palace, grand court assembly.

"Your Majesty, I have a memorial to submit: the Prince Lie bypassed the Ministry of War and directly issued orders to the Naval Headquarters; he must be severely punished!"

One person presented the memorial, whereupon many Qingbei officials all echoed in unison.

The Qingbei officials in the court are actually not many.

Even if those from Qingbei are highly capable and talented, and even if supported by Gu Qingwan, officialdom still values seniority.

You can't say you've done nothing before and then suddenly become an official, or a high-ranking official.

That's unrealistic.

The vast majority of Qingbei graduates are now at the grassroots level.

Only a few who are truly exceptionally outstanding get promoted out of turn.

Now the Qingbei people at the grand court assembly are only about a dozen, less than a third.

But even if it's just a dozen, when they all speak at once, the sight is still impressive.

After these people finished speaking, many present turned their gazes toward Lu Yuan.

Over these three years, the court's situation has undergone a tremendous change.

Before, Lu Yuan was a newcomer, and all six ministries of the Imperial Court wanted to get on good terms with him, wanting to draw him into their departments.

But over these three years, Qingbei has risen.

And Lu Yuan also hasn't been on good terms with any of the six ministries, and then the Qingbei people have been constantly causing trouble.

Now truly many people dislike Lu Yuan.

But Lu Yuan has always been a big favorite in front of the Emperor, whom the Emperor continually favors, so few dare to cause trouble.

However, the earlier matter of Qingbei seeking an audience with the Emperor actually stirred many people's hearts.

At this moment, Gu Qingwan, seated upon the imperial throne, looked at those dozen or so Qingbei people; before she could say anything, Lu Yuan directly said:

"Compared to this, I think we should still discuss whether the Great Zhou Dynasty should have the Seventh Fleet support the Abyssal Continent."

"I'll state my opinion first; I agree."

"Alright, who agrees and who disagrees?"

"Everyone, let's state your position."

(End of chapter)