Chapter 242 Traitors in Chaotic Times (18) How to Become a Super Strategist...
Upon hearing this, Song Ce smiled, calmly meeting Wu Gongyuan's gaze, and said slowly, "Your Excellency has come on imperial orders. I believe His Majesty has made his own decision. I am deeply grateful for the Emperor's favor and need only obey."
Wu Gongyuan paused, looked at the composed Song Ce before him, and secretly sighed that this man indeed had some courage.
"Lord Song, I won't beat around the bush with you anymore. His Majesty has issued an edict ordering me to immediately escort you back to court to face the Emperor."
Song Ce nodded, a hint of understanding flashing in his eyes. He took a small step back, bowed, and replied, "Your humble servant accepts the imperial decree and expresses his gratitude."
Wu Gongyuan stared straight at him, as if he had suddenly understood something. "It seems you had foreseen this day would come, didn't you?"
Song Ce nodded, "Once the arrow is released, there's no turning back. My actions are like rowing against the current. Since I've already chosen to start, I've already made the worst-case scenario plan."
Upon hearing this, Gao Chengfeng and Chu Xiaoer, who were standing nearby, both changed their expressions. Having received instruction in the palace since childhood, how could they not understand the meaning of this edict?
An imperial edict is the most formal and solemn document. Even when the late emperor was alive, he only issued one edict, which was a self-reproach edict in which he reflected on his own mistakes.
Gao Chengfeng, a military officer, was known for his upright and outspoken nature. He couldn't help but step forward and ask in a deep voice, "Lord Wu, what wrong has my lord done? Why did His Majesty issue this edict ordering you to escort him back to the capital?"
Wu Gongyuan stared at Gao Chengfeng for a moment, then said with a half-smile, "General Gao, what do you mean by that? Are you perhaps questioning His Majesty's divine judgment?"
Gao Chengfeng's expression hardened. "Your humble servant dares not."
"If you dare not, then say no more. Guards!" With that, Wu Gongyuan loudly ordered the imperial guards behind him, "Quickly, invite Magistrate Song to the carriage!"
"Yes, sir!"
Before the guards could step forward, Song Ce smiled and raised his hand to stop them, saying, "There's no need for that, Lord Wu. I will go with you."
Looking at the composed and handsome Song Ce before him, Wu Gongyuan nodded after a moment's thought. "Very well, Lord Song. Please, let's set off immediately."
Song Ce's eyes flickered, and he turned around to Gao Chengfeng and Chu Xiaoer, whispering, "I'm leaving this place to you. You two are in charge of all the important political affairs in the county."
"Rest assured, sir, we understand," the two replied in unison.
Song Ce nodded, said no more, and slowly followed Wu Gongyuan into the largest carriage in the middle. The wheels rolled and slowly headed towards the imperial city.
Hearing the news, Gao Chu and his companion were not the only ones who came to see him off; a group of ordinary people from Shiguan also came spontaneously. Everyone watched the young official until the long carriage disappeared at the end of the road before leaving with worry.
As the group returned to the capital and reached the official road, Wu Gongyuan couldn't help but remind them, "Lord Song, your return to the capital will likely cause quite a stir in the court."
Upon hearing this, Song Ce looked up and smiled, "Don't worry, Lord Wu, I know what I'm doing."
“Since you are aware of this, you should have stopped as soon as you tasted the benefits of the first reform! If you gain five inches, you should retreat two inches; you can still gain three inches. Doesn’t Lord Song understand such a simple principle of gradual encroachment?” Wu Gongyuan said sharply.
Beneath Song Ce's calm exterior, there seemed to be a burning fire within him: "I understand, but implementing reforms is no easy task, and some resistance is to be expected."
"You're quite composed." Wu Gongyuan paused, then said in a low voice, "Although His Majesty intends to support you, his reign is still short, and the powerful clans are deeply entrenched. Your trip to the capital to present your case... is probably not going to be optimistic!"
Song Ce smiled slightly and said softly, "Thank you for the reminder, Lord Wu, but even if the road ahead is fraught with difficulties, I will not regret it even if I die nine times."
Wu Gongyuan paused, looking into Song Ce's resolute eyes, then sighed and said nothing more. He knew that this young man before him harbored lofty ambitions; perhaps he truly could bring about some change for the Dali Kingdom!
Traveling day and night, resting at night, the long convoy finally arrived at the capital after seven days.
However, as soon as the group entered the city gate, they saw many people gathered by the roadside, pointing and whispering about the carriage. Clearly, news that Song Ce's reforms had offended powerful families and that he had been escorted back to the capital had already spread throughout the entire imperial city.
"Hey, have you heard? This Lord Song, he's been pushing some reforms in Shiguan County, and he's offended quite a few important people!"
"That's right! I've heard that many landlords have jointly filed a complaint! He's probably in big trouble this time he comes to the capital!"
"Don't you know? This Lord Song has done a tremendous good deed! I have a close relative in Shiguan County who told me personally that since Lord Song took office, he has not only repaired water conservancy projects and exempted taxes, but also opened free academies, saying that he wants to allow children from poor families to study!"
"Are you sure you're not making this up? A free academy? In my opinion, he's already being incredibly generous by giving a poor person a bowl of thin porridge! How can they talk about studying and learning to write when they can't even fill their stomachs? What a joke!"
"How do you know that Lord Song hasn't ensured that the people under his rule are well-fed and clothed?"
"Hey, gentlemen, you can't just talk nonsense about official matters! Calm down, calm down..."
Meanwhile, inside the carriage, Song Ce listened to the intermittent discussions outside, his expression unchanged as he turned the pages of the travelogue of the Great Li Dynasty. Seeing this, Wu Gongyuan gave him a second look, secretly praising the man's extraordinary composure.
After an unknown amount of time, the carriage finally arrived at the palace gate. Wu Gongyuan alighted first, leading Song Ce to the outside of the Linde Hall, and gestured for him to wait outside.
Before long, Deng Ping personally led six eunuchs to deliver Wei Shaosu's oral decree, summoning Song Ce to the palace for an audience.
Song Ce slightly turned to the side to straighten his robes, then straightened his back and strode into the Linde Hall.
"Your humble servant Song Ce greets Your Majesty and wishes Your Majesty good health." Song Ce bowed respectfully, his voice clear and resonant.
Inside the Linde Hall, Wei Shaosu sat upright on the dragon throne, with civil and military officials lined up on both sides, creating an exceptionally solemn and dignified atmosphere.
"Minister Song, I have urgently summoned you here. Do you know why?" Wei Shaosu asked in a deep voice, looking at Song Ce below.
Song Ce bowed again and said, "Your humble servant understands."
Wei Shaosu nodded slightly, then looked sternly at the civil and military officials and said loudly, "Now that Minister Song is aware of this, you may begin to ask your questions."
The officials present looked at each other, none of them willing to be the first to take the plunge. Wei Shaosu's move clearly supported Song Ce's reforms. If they rashly questioned him, offending Song Ce would be a minor matter; the real danger was incurring the Emperor's displeasure. Then, they would have nowhere to turn to complain!
While everyone was still hesitating, Kong Deqing, the Vice Minister of the Chancellery, stepped forward and asked sharply, "Song Ce, do you know your crime? Our Dali Dynasty has always promoted benevolent governance. You have only been in office for a short time, yet you have already acted so radically. How harsh! Do you not know that you are trying to establish your reputation in the county by acting in this way?"
Upon hearing this, Song Ce showed no fear on his face, his gaze was calm and composed as he looked at Kong Deqing with neither servility nor arrogance. "My lord," he said, "I have implemented reforms in Shiguan County, including water conservancy projects, tax reductions, and the revitalization of education. Every single one of these measures is for the sake of the Dali Kingdom, the nation, and the well-being of its people. I wonder what crime I have committed?"
"What a silver tongue!" Kong Deqing's face was ashen, and his tone became increasingly stern. "Song Ce, you forcibly implemented reforms with cruel methods, beheading more than forty people in just half a month, causing unrest in the county! Now, many villagers have jointly filed a lawsuit against you, and you still dare to use your silver tongue to say that you are innocent?"
Song Ce smiled faintly, turned directly to Wei Shaosu, and said calmly, "Your Majesty, I have long heard that a peaceful country uses etiquette, but a chaotic country must use law! Your Majesty has appointed me as the head of a county despite my lack of talent, so I will naturally eliminate the wicked for Your Majesty! If I cannot use severe punishments to eliminate the evildoers, then I will have failed Your Majesty's trust! It is not that I am imposing cruel punishments, but that the wicked deserve to be punished!"
Seeing that Song Ce was prepared, Kong Deqing was secretly alarmed but still tried to defend himself, saying, "Even if they are guilty, you should hand them over to the Ministry of Justice for punishment according to the law. How dare you use torture on your own and overstep your authority?"
“Your Excellency is mistaken.” Song Ce’s gaze sharpened slightly as he looked directly at Kong Deqing. “Shiguan County is hundreds of miles away from the capital. If every case has to be reported to the emperor, how can I explain this to the victims? As the magistrate of Shiguan County, I have a duty to protect this land. In the face of such an important case, I will act expediently. All case files have been prepared and are ready for the Ministry of Justice to review at any time.”
"Even if what you say makes sense, how can you explain allowing the children of lowly craftsmen and merchants to attend school, an act that shakes the very foundation of the nation?"
“Discuss?” Song Ce smiled coldly. “In your eyes, sir, are the children of artisans and merchants not allowed to read and write? Is it only the sons of noble families who can serve as officials and politicians? What kind of logic is this? His Majesty once said that all the talents in the world can be used by him! The reason I established schools was to discover the talents of the world and to recruit more virtuous people for His Majesty! May I ask, sir, what crime have I committed?”
“The monopoly of education by aristocratic families makes it difficult for children from poor families to rise in society. If this continues, the court will be filled with relatives and nobles. How can Your Majesty's empire be stable? How can Your Majesty hear the true voice of the people?”
"All the people of Dali, regardless of their social status, are His Majesty's subjects. Why is it that children from noble families can study here, but ordinary people cannot?"
“If promoting education is a crime, secretly repairing water conservancy is a crime, reducing taxes is a crime, establishing free schools is a crime, and revitalizing culture and education is a crime, then this humble servant is willing to accept the punishment.”
As soon as Song Ce said this, the court fell silent.
"You!!!" Kong Deqing took a small step back, speechless with shock.
Just then, an official in a red robe stepped out from the group and angrily asked, "Such naive words are truly laughable! Song Ce, in the more than two hundred years since the founding of the Dali Dynasty, we have never seen such bizarre and vicious people as you! Putting aside the matter of the free school for now, tell me, those who jointly petitioned are all good citizens, why would they slander you for no reason?"
Song Ce smiled faintly and said amiably, "Sir, may I ask your name and how should I address you?"
The official in red robes said proudly, "My name is Yue Su, courtesy name Lanyang. What advice do you have for me, Lord Song?"
"So you are Lord Yue. I've heard so much about you."
Yue Su was taken aback upon hearing this, then asked in surprise, "What, does Lord Song know me?"
"It's more than just knowing him. When I first came to the capital, I heard that Lord Yue seemed to have a penchant for homosexuality!" Song Ce said casually.
Upon hearing this, all the officials present changed color and tacitly moved away from Yue Su. Even Wei Shaosu, seated high on the dragon throne, widened his eyes and asked hesitantly, "Minister Yue, so... so you are actually..."
"You! You! You scoundrel!! You're talking nonsense!!! Your Majesty, please see the truth! I didn't! I didn't!!"
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Author's note: Revising it again! Revising it again! [crying][crying][crying]
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