Chapter 718

First Volume, Chapter 718: So What If I'm a Traitorous Minister?

Facing Qin Feng's sharp questioning, Chen Zheng remained unfazed.

"A wise ruler will never let a loyal minister die unjustly; only a foolish ruler ignores gains and losses, seeking only momentary satisfaction."

"If a wise ruler commands a minister to die, the minister shall die!"

Hearing this, Qin Feng cut straight to the point: "Can you, Master Chen, tell the difference between a wise ruler and a foolish one?"

Chen Zheng swept his long sleeve aside: "Naturally. Anyone who isn't an idiot carries a ruler inside their heart."

"To me, a wise ruler is one who strives diligently for the good of the state and its people."

"A foolish ruler is one who is selfish, indulging in pleasure."

"The same applies to loyal ministers and traitorous ones!"

"If one cares only for power and influence, no matter how great their achievements, they cannot be called a loyal minister."

Watching Chen Zheng stand there, righteous and resolute, every Taolin Party official present felt their spirit drain away.

Chen Zheng was the type who never spoke unless he spoke with earth-shattering force.

On ordinary days, standing among the ministers, he had almost no presence—only ever obeying orders, never stepping forward unless confronted with truly unbearable foolish governance.

But whenever Chen Zheng stepped forward, no one could refute him.

Any policy pushed forward without Chen Zheng's approval would inevitably end in one of two outcomes.

Either it was abandoned, or Chen Zheng led the pure-stream loyalists in a mass resignation, paralyzing the entire government.

All officials inwardly sighed: Qin Feng had finally kicked a block of iron.

Compared to the Northern Di Envoy Group, this Chen Zheng was truly incorruptible.

At that moment, Qin Feng suddenly laughed. All officials present froze, bewildered by what he found amusing.

Even Chen Zheng raised an eyebrow, for he sensed in Qin Feng's gaze an almost incomprehensible confidence.

"Hahahaha! So power-seeking, even with great achievements, still doesn't make you a loyal minister. I thought 'scholars ruin the state' was just empty rhetoric—until today, meeting Master Chen, I finally understand its true meaning."

"According to your logic, the Qin Family's pursuit of power and profit means we're not loyal ministers either."

"Let me ask you, Master Chen—who fought this National War? Who drove back the Northern Di and secured maximum benefit for Shedynasty at the State Peace Talks?"

"Who crushed a whole province of the Northern Di and turned it into our Buffer Land?"

"Who poured vast sums without regard for cost, seeking not a single penny of profit, only so the people of Heaven could eat their fill?"

"Can your mouth alone build the Qin Grain Shop? Can it bring down Shedynasty's soaring Grain Price?"

"The Qin Family has given its all for Shedynasty—and still can't earn the title of 'loyal minister.'"

"After this, who among the empire's officials will dare to get things done?"

At Qin Feng's questions, the entire Grand Hall fell silent. Not even Taolin Party officials, nor even the opposing Imperial Party, could deny that the Qin Family brought a hundred benefits to Shedynasty and only one harm.

Had the Qin Family's power not been so immense, the Imperial Party would never have dared oppose them.

Even Chen Zheng, known for his blunt speech, fell silent—for Qin Feng spoke truth: if painstaking effort earned no recognition as a loyal minister, who would ever again pour their heart into office?

At that moment, Qin Feng shifted his tone.

His blade now pointed directly at Chen Zheng and all the pure-stream loyalists.

"You all are an undeniable force within this Imperial Court—but in matters of National War or domestic governance, you've never offered a single suggestion."

"You call it 'above Military Order with the likes of us,' living in moral isolation?"

"Pah!"

"If every official in Heaven acted like you—haughty, refusing to engage or negotiate with others—what purpose would this government serve?"

"We fought the wars. We upheld the domestic policies. Even the Imperial Party holds the Central Plains, maintaining the balance between north and south."

"Tell me, you self-righteous pure-stream loyalists—what have you actually done for Shedynasty?"

Qin Feng did not deny that the pure-stream loyalists were good and loyal officials—but what he despised most were precisely these theorist types.

No matter how perfect a theory, it always diverges from reality; every matter requires practice to yield results.

To the pure-stream loyalists, the Qin Family opposing the Liang Emperor and seizing authority was proof of "disloyalty."

Qin Feng naturally sneered at such rigid thinking.

Facing Qin Feng's barrage of questions and verbal attacks, Chen Zheng remained silent—but his eyes showed no flicker of disturbance.

To defeat Chen Zheng with words alone was utterly unrealistic.

Qin Feng harbored no illusions; he laid out his position plainly: "If the ruler commands the minister to die, the minister shall not die!"

"If I die, the Northern Di lose their greatest threat. If I die, the Grain Price we fought so hard to lower will instantly surge again."

"If I die, the Powerful Clans of Nan Jing will grow even more brazen."

"If I die, Shedynasty will descend into civil chaos!"

"To you, Master Chen, my refusal to die makes me a traitor—unconcerned with how much I've done for Heaven. Then fine—I'll be this traitor!"

Qin Feng's resounding voice echoed through the Grand Hall. The Civil and Military Ministers watched him in silence, not a single word spoken.

Even Chen Zheng could find no argument against Qin Feng.

Qin Feng pressed on, shouting: "I, this traitor, benefit Heaven! You loyal ministers only know how to strut and bluster in court!"

"You pure-stream loyalists know full well that mass resignations disrupt governance, paralyze edicts, and cause the people to suffer."

"Yet you repeatedly use it as leverage to force your policies—truly, you spare no means."

"After all this, you pure-stream loyalists aren't any better!"

"Today, I the Qin Family will claim the position of Taishi Taibao! If any minister finds this unacceptable and plans to resign as a threat—then go ahead!"

"I, Qin Feng, dared oppose every Grain Merchant and break the Grain Price—I dare now take on the burden of the Horse Administration!"

"If one day I collapse from exhaustion, if Shedynasty descends into chaos, you pure-stream loyalists must remember: you helped cause it."

The once-arrogant pure-stream loyalists now exchanged uneasy glances, their proud heads bowed low.

Because... Qin Feng spoke every word truthfully, and they had no rebuttal.

Chen Zheng took a deep breath, having already filtered Qin Feng's words through his mind, and arrived at one conclusion.

The existence of the Qin Family would endanger the Beixi County War Hero, but losing the Qin Family would endanger all of Shedynasty.

Two Harmful Weights Choose the Lighter.

Chen Zheng, daring to face adversity and stand against the other ministers, was equally willing to bow and admit fault; without hesitation, he bowed to Qin Feng: "I, the Qingliu Zhengchen, will no longer interfere in the matter of the Grand Commandant Grand Tutor."