Chapter 62: Entering the Court

"Enough, that's enough, stop arguing!" Zhao Xu reached out and patted the imperial desk.

The great hall fell silent. Zhao Xu looked at the hundred officials: "Let us set aside the matter of the New and Old Laws for now. I have a mission here, the first task to be undertaken after I assume full rule. See which of you can accept this command!"

Hearing this, the ministers were surprised, not knowing why Zhao Xu suddenly mentioned a mission. Lu Dafang said, "Your Majesty, the matter of the New and Old Laws must be clarified, otherwise..."

"I have said enough. Let us speak of the mission first," Zhao Xu said lightly.

Lu Dafang was stunned: "I do not know what matter Your Majesty wishes to discuss?"

Zhao Xu said slowly: "I have long heard that evil ruffians and thieves dwell beneath the Eastern Capital, known as the Worry-Free Cave, also called the Ghost Ghost Fanlou. The character 'Ghost' in its name sums up all the wickedness of the human world and the venom of the age; it disturbs the court above and brings disaster to the common people below. Since the founding of Great Song, they have been repeatedly suppressed but never eradicated. The people's complaints are loud, spreading to foreign lands, where they mock our Great Song's incompetence. You... who can accept the command to exterminate this band of thieves?"

Hearing this, all the ministers were greatly shocked; many involuntarily lowered their heads.

The Ghost Ghost Fanlou!

A poison tumor embedded beneath the Eastern Capital, its origins trace back to the Five Dynasties period, but the underground waterways of the Five Dynasties were not as vast and interconnected as today's, so it never grew into a major threat.

During the reigns of Taizu and Zutai Sect, to ensure the capital would not be flooded by the Yellow River's overflow or heavy rains during years of disaster, they expended great labor and time to dredge and construct the waterways, and built many eight-character water outlets on the surface.

However, after several floods of the Yellow River, because the waterways had been opened too widely, they were breached. Washed by torrential rains, the original passages inside became chaotic, connecting everywhere, naturally breaking open countless places. With further collapses below and cities of previous dynasties stacked upon one another, it suddenly became as difficult to distinguish as a maze, perfectly suited for ruffians to hide and lurk.

The last suppression by Zutai Sect was in the first year of Zhidao. It took fully more than half a month, mobilizing nearly ten thousand of the Imperial Guard, but despite all efforts, they failed to completely eradicate it.

Afterward, when Zutai Sect passed away, suppression under Emperor Zhenzong became gradually more difficult; all were abandoned halfway, never thoroughly exterminated. In subsequent reigns, as the combat power of the Jingcheng Imperial Guard declined and the Xiang Army grew lazy and cowardly, while those inside were all desperate men, often before the suppression could even begin, it was declared over.

Thus, over these years, the Ghost Ghost Fanlou has become increasingly rampant and uncontrollable, becoming a chronic illness for the court and a poisonous thorn for the people, causing fear whenever mentioned.

No one was willing to take on the task of suppressing the Ghost Ghost Fanlou. No one wanted to have any connection with the desperate men there. Although as court officials they should not fear, everyone had family and children, and all worried about being targeted by these ruthless criminals.

No one spoke; the great hall was utterly silent. Zhao Xu frowned behind the desk: "Why do my dear ministers not speak?"

Still no one spoke; each turned their face to the side, as if they had not heard.

Zhao Xu's gaze grew slightly cold: "Just now, when speaking of abolishing the Old Laws and restoring the New Laws, you could all speak fluently, your voices startlingly loud, citing countless reasons. Yet when it comes to a small mission like this, you all turn a deaf ear and retreat from the sound?"

Liang Tao stepped out from the ranks, forcing his courage: "Your Majesty, this, this is not the same matter."

Zhao Xu looked at him: "Does Liang Aiqing wish to go and suppress the Ghost Ghost Fanlou?"

Liang Tao's face twitched violently: "Your subject... Your subject is ill. Handling state affairs is barely manageable, but leading men to fight and kill is impossible."

"So you cannot fight and kill!" Zhao Xu nodded: "Which of my dear ministers can share my burdens?"

No one in the hall spoke; this time, not even one stood up to argue.

Zhao Xu's gaze slowly fell upon Zhao Ti: "Prince Yan."

Zhao Ti said: "Your subject is here."

Zhao Xu said: "Li Xianggong said Prince Yan wields weapons and practices martial arts, so he possesses martial skills?"

Zhao Ti said: "Your subject... knows a little."

"Good!" Zhao Xu's gaze was profound: "Does Prince Yan wish to lead men to exterminate the Ghost Ghost Fanlou?"

Zhao Ti said: "To share the ruler's worries, to relieve the people's troubles, to serve the nation, your subject... is willing!"

As soon as he spoke these words, all gazes in the great hall turned sharply toward him. Whether the Old Faction or the few remaining members of the New Faction, all were stunned.

This was not a good mission; no one would be willing to take it. Even if forcibly assigned, it would be done perfunctorily, leading to punishment in the end, and no one would truly exert effort. How could the other party actually accept it?

Su Zhe's face suddenly changed, and over there, Fan Chunren's eyes suddenly widened.

Not good, entering the court! The other party intends to enter the court!

Zhao Ti held the title of a royal prince, but he held no official post or mission in the court. Even if he submitted a memorial to abolish the Old Laws and restore the New Laws, it would not play any decisive role.

However, if he entered the court and obtained an official post, it would be different; he could push this matter forward. If a member of the imperial clan enters the court and associates with ministers, it is called 'cultivating connections with court officials'; but if he enters the court first and then associates, there are many excuses to cover it up. If he then colludes with the New Faction, it would be extremely dangerous.

"Your Majesty, this matter cannot be done!" Fan Chunren immediately said.

Zhao Xu glanced at him: "Does Fan Aiqing wish to go and suppress the Ghost Ghost Fanlou?"

"This..." Sweat immediately streamed down Fan Chunren's forehead. What kind of people were in the Ghost Ghost Fanlou? They dared to kidnap and sell even the daughter of a Commandery Prince. Over the years, retaliatory acts against court officials behind the scenes had not been absent. Even if he himself was not afraid, what about his entire family, old and young? Could he simply leave them in danger without care?

"Your Majesty, please reconsider this matter..." Su Zhe stepped out from the ranks at this moment.

Zhao Xu said: "Does Su Aiqing wish to accept the command to suppress the Ghost Ghost Fanlou?"

"Your subject, your subject..."

Zhao Xu knitted his brows: "Since none of you are willing to go, and Prince Yan is willing, why do you still obstruct him? Eradicating the Ghost Ghost Fanlou would bring immense benefits to the court and the people of the Eastern Capital. You are all virtuous ministers serving the nation and the people; such obstruction truly leaves me puzzled."

"Your Majesty, Prince Yan, Prince Yan may not be able to suppress the Ghost Ghost Fanlou either..." Lu Dafang said.

Zhao Xu looked at Zhao Ti: "Does Prince Yan have confidence?"

Zhao Ti smiled: "Your subject has some confidence."

"Good, since Prince Yan has confidence, this matter is entrusted to Prince Yan!" Zhao Xu said.

"Your Majesty, your subject can go to suppress the Ghost Ghost Fanlou, but your subject holds no official post. How can he suppress it? He cannot mobilize the military either," Zhao Ti said.

A strange atmosphere now pervaded the court. Every member of the Old Faction had a dark face, thinking, "You two are singing in unison, but you don't need to be so obvious, right?"

But no one dared to speak; no one wanted to get involved with the Ghost Ghost Fanlou. This was a cruel, filthy place; even hearing about it was unpleasant. This involved the safety of one's entire family, old and young. A gentleman does not stand beneath a dangerous wall!

Zhao Ti wore a half-smile on his face. This had been discussed that night in the palace. To tear open a crack in the Old Faction, he had to enter the court. Only after entering the court could he be more persuasive and act more effectively.

But entering the court required a pretext; otherwise, a royal prince entering the court out of nowhere would be opposed by both the New and Old Factions, and the hundred officials would inevitably block it.

Thus, under this calculation, the Ghost Ghost Fanlou was brought up. Zhao Ti had long wanted to move against the Ghost Ghost Fanlou. Setting aside doing a good deed for the people of the Eastern Capital, even to have sole control over the underground of the entire Jingcheng region, the Ghost Ghost Fanlou must be eliminated. This entry into the court was a perfect opportunity to borrow strength.

Zhao Xu had also long wanted to eradicate the Ghost Ghost Fanlou. The Ghost Ghost Fanlou had always been a chronic illness for the emperors of Great Song. After assuming full rule, he wanted to increase his popularity among the people and eliminate the negative effects caused by the transition between the New and Old Laws. Thus, eliminating the Ghost Ghost Fanlou was not a bad strategy.

The hundred officials would not be willing to take on this mission. Zhao Ti wanted to enter the court to open a crack for the New Laws; bringing up the Ghost Ghost Fanlou as a topic was the best possible approach.

At this moment, Zhao Xu nodded: "Since Prince Yan has this intention, then I shall grant you an official post in the court."