Chapter 400

First Volume, Chapter 400: Factional Warfare

As the Pro-War Faction and the Taibao Faction argued incessantly, the Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices stepped forward to the Liang Emperor's side, extended both hands flat, then slowly clasped them together in a profound bow: "Lord Lin Taibao claims to uphold Imperial Ancestral Precedent and nullify the Emperor's verbal edict—this is tantamount to treating the Ancestral Precedent as an inviolable Imperial Will. Yet the Ancestral Precedent clearly states that only the Three Dukes acting in unison may invoke it. Lord Lin Taibao avoids the weighty issues and chooses only the path advantageous to himself—this is nothing but Toukongquqiao!"

"Our Shedynasty values propriety and virtue, but above all, it upholds legal legitimacy—how can we allow such defiance of the Ancestral Precedent's dignity?!"

As the Court of Imperial Sacrifices oversees rites, sacrifices, and the imperial examinations, these words were perfectly suited to come from him.

Even though the Taibao Faction remained defiant, they were now forced to retreat under the Director's counterattack.

The Liang Emperor, seeing the three factions locked in fierce infighting, frowned outwardly with solemn eyes, yet inwardly felt deeply satisfied—this kind of court infighting was precisely what he desired.

Just as the Liang Emperor prepared to deliver his final verdict, Lord Lin Taibao added: "Even if we must appoint a Special Envoy to quell the rebellion, we should choose a worthy official from within the court. Qin Feng holds no GovernmentPosition, no noble title—he is unfit for such a critical task and will fail to command respect."

The Liang Emperor fell silent again—not because he had no solution, but because he relished this scene of watching tigers fight from the mountain.

Qin Tianhu immediately recommended: "No GovernmentPosition or noble title? Where did you get that idea? First, Qin Feng is Commander of Tianji Camp; second, he is the pillar of Beixi County; third, he is the Inspector of Zhengyi."

Before he finished speaking, Lord Lin Taibao retorted: "All are hollow titles with no real authority."

Qin Tianhu narrowed his eyes: "Does the Golden Sash count as real authority?"

Lord Lin Taibao remained calm: "Of course not! The Golden Sash is merely an honorific merit."

Qin Tianhu shifted tactics and asked: "What about ten households?"

Lord Lin Taibao sneered: "A petty title like ten households? That counts as real authority?"

Qin Feng, to avoid suspicion, could only listen passively, relying on court factions to defend him—this was precisely why he founded the Taolin Party.

Facing Lord Lin Taibao's aggressive questioning, the Director of the Imperial Academy suddenly stepped forward, his tone neither subservient nor arrogant.

"Your words are mistaken, Lord Taibao! All officials registered by the Ministry of Personnel hold real authority—GovernmentPosition derives from power, not from scale. Ten households may be small, but they are no different from ten Battalion Commander; both are sustained by the people of Shedynasty. If these ten households on the northern frontier fall under the control of the Di bandits, will our Shedynasty stand idly by and ignore the people's lives and deaths?"

"If they are our Shedynasty subjects, sustained by our people, even ten households constitute a legitimate, upright Shedynasty noble title! If an Imperial Examiner receives a small reward, does that mean he deserves no respect? Then why, since the time of the former Emperor, has our court annually allocated funds to support Imperial Examiners? Do not neglect small good deeds, nor commit small evils—this principle applies equally to serving in office."

Qin Feng silently marveled—no wonder the Director of the Imperial Academy spoke so fluently; even Old Fox Lin Taibao struggled to counter him.

Seeing Qin Feng now held the upper hand in legal legitimacy.

The Liang Emperor no longer hesitated: "The Director speaks wisely. Though ten households is a minor title, it is a registered noble rank of Shedynasty. Appointing Qin Feng as Special Envoy to quell the rebellion is entirely reasonable."

Since the court could no longer block it, Lord Lin Taibao ceased his resistance and bowed respectfully: "Then let all ministers remember: Qin Feng has sworn a Military Command—that within ten days he shall take Huang Cheng's head, or his own head shall be forfeit in his stead."

Since the fall of the Pro-Peace Faction, this was the first time factional strife in court had grown so fierce.

After court adjourned, the Liang Emperor stood with hands behind his back, walking slowly toward the Imperial Study, his spirits high.

The Pro-War Faction and the Taolin Party, facing off against the Taibao Faction, had indeed taken on the posture of Zhen Du—but it wasn't enough! The Liang Emperor was eager to bring the New Party to the forefront, yet after nearly forcing Qin Feng to break ties last time, he had learned his lesson. Haste makes waste; supporting the New Party could not begin until after the Pingnan County Rebellion ended.

Zhang Xiuye followed closely behind, whispering: "Your Majesty, Qin Feng has established the Taolin Party and is now its Party Chief. If we do not check him, in the future…"

Before Zhang Xiuye could finish, the Liang Emperor frowned sharply and glared at him with utter revulsion: "You eunuch, only know to offer sycophantic flattery—did they not castrate you thoroughly enough?"

The Liang Emperor despised the Eunuch Faction above all; for Zhang Xiuye to voice his own hidden thoughts so bluntly filled him with even greater loathing, provoking him to curse aloud.

Zhang Xiuye turned pale with fear and immediately bowed his head, daring not speak again.

The Liang Emperor snorted in disdain—balancing the court factions required covert strategy, step by step; how could one be as shallow as Zhang Xiuye? The Hedging Art, wielded well, consolidates imperial power; wielded poorly, it is like playing with fire and burning oneself alive. If you drive the court factions too hard, they will unite—and the consequences would be unthinkable.

Lord Lin Taibao and the Minister of Justice walked side by side, slowly heading toward the Palace Gate.

The Minister of Justice cast a cold glance at Qin Feng's retreating figure and warned in a low voice: "Though Qin Feng holds no GovernmentPosition and his noble title is the lowest—ten households—he has already established himself in court. The Pro-War Faction and the Taolin Party support each other; in the future, trying to move against him will be harder than climbing heaven."

Lord Lin Taibao, hands behind his back, remained composed: "The Ministry of War is no real threat—ninety percent of their energy is focused on the northern Di; in court, they are strong in will but weak in action. But Qin Feng, by leveraging the case against the Eleventh Prince, has won over the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and the Imperial Academy—that caught me off guard."

Hearing this, the Minister of Justice's expression darkened.

The Court of Imperial Sacrifices and the Imperial Academy represent Shedynasty's literati and Imperial Examiners; with these two factions protecting him, Qin Feng's legal legitimacy cannot be shaken.

The Minister of Justice sighed, unable to help but marvel: "Qin Feng is so young, yet his depth is astonishing—especially his ability to exploit loopholes."

Lord Lin Taibao chuckled softly: "This boy has sharp eyes—he never misses an opportunity. Now that he has become Party Chief of the Taolin Party, we shall be on the defensive in court. But it doesn't matter—can he really dare to swear a Military Command to kill the rebel leader within ten days?"

Recalling Qin Feng's sworn Military Command, Lord Lin Taibao and the Minister of Justice exchanged glances and simultaneously smiled with the cunning of old foxes.

Earlier in court, Qin Tianhu had fiercely defended Qin Feng—but as soon as court ended, Qin Tianhu's heart sank.

To capture Pingnan County, defended by ten thousand troops, within ten days—even with tens of thousands of soldiers deployed, it was impossible.

Worse, Qin Feng had no troops to command at all.

If the siege failed and he could not cut off Huang Cheng's head, Qin Feng would be executed in his place.

This Military Command was nothing less than Flock Like Moths to Flame.

Qin Tianhu frowned tightly: "Feng'er, do you realize what you've done?"

Qin Feng, who had been so solemn in court, now reverted to his usual lazy demeanor, hands behind his back, striding like an old official, calm and carefree: "Father, don't you trust me?"