Chapter 293 A Blend of Kindness and Power...
The king was furious.
The officials knelt down in a flurry, utterly silent. But the remonstrating officials did not give up, continuing to plead and weep on the ground.
Qi Chengming sneered and asked him, "I remember your surname is Dai? Does Lord Dai have any spare money at home?"
The remonstrating official was startled and suspicious, realizing there must be a trap in those words. However, he had no choice but to answer the emperor's question, so he vaguely pleaded poverty, saying, "I am poor! My salary is all used to buy rice and grain to make ends meet... Where would I find any money left over?"
Qi Chengming glanced to the side, where Cui Anshi was waiting respectfully.
Following his gaze, Cui Anshi nodded, indicating that he would investigate.
Qi Chengming was not in a hurry and asked the other remonstrating officials, "What about you?"
The officials naturally all cried poverty, speaking with uncanny realism. Some held up the faded corner of their robes in grief and indignation, while others lamented the miserable state of their families after their salaries were insufficient to support their households.
Qi Chengming listened attentively.
If Cui, the secret envoy, can report the situation later, that would be best. If there's not enough time to find out, we can postpone this topic until the next court session.
But He San Tie, with his sharp eyes, noticed the way the new emperor gestured to others—how could he stand by and watch others share the emperor's burdens?
He happened to be a junior official in the Ministry of Personnel. His official rank was not high, but he handled all the documents related to officials. Most importantly... just two days ago, he saw Lord Dai buy a gemstone hairpin the size of a pigeon's egg for a female relative at the Jade Pavilion!
He Santie immediately stepped forward and reported everything, then looked over and said, "...Lord Dai, is this what your family's poverty is like?"
The official surnamed Dai looked grim and couldn't help but say angrily, "I am indeed poor. My wife and children have never had a good life with me. I manage the household, the firewood, rice, oil, and salt, and we don't even have any jewelry... That hairpin was a birthday gift I bought for her with half a year's salary! Is that not allowed?!"
Qi Chengming asked with a hint of sarcasm, "If Lord Dai can still save up money to buy birthday gifts for his female relatives, surely he can also save up money to help those common people who are struggling through the winter?"
"...?!" This was far too demanding. The official surnamed Dai turned pale and speechless, finally crying out in grievance, "Your Majesty! I...I am truly poor, even my wife and children are struggling. They have suffered because of me, I...I cannot let them down! How could I possibly save any extra money? Please, Your Majesty, consider this!"
If this conversation gets out, regardless of His Majesty's reputation, if he ever dares to have a little extra money and treat his wife and children even a little better, it will be a matter of life and death! But he simply can't comply with His Majesty's demanding requirements! If he had the ability and the money, wouldn't he help the people? Isn't that something he can't do?
The other officials also looked rather strange, and many of them stepped forward to plead for mercy, saying, "Your Majesty..." "Lord Dai, this... is really asking too much of you."
Those unaware of the situation wore subtle, unpleasant expressions, feeling that His Majesty was being rather unreasonable, demanding that his advisors do things they couldn't possibly accomplish. However, some astute courtiers had already realized His Majesty's intentions and listened in silence, without uttering a single thought of speaking up for him.
Faced with their pleas, Qi Chengming immediately turned hostile, grabbed his specially made metal paperweight, and smashed it to the ground.
"How dare you! Since you know that your own needs come first, and you only use your spare resources to help the people, how dare you tell me what to do?! My private treasury is not for you to dictate!"
Qi Chengming coldly pointed to the name of the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue: "Tell me, since I ascended the throne, everything has been in need of rebuilding. In which of the new policies did I not use my own treasury to subsidize?"
The Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue was also a newly appointed official. He was familiar with the flow of money and was well-versed in it. When he saw that the new emperor was furious, he quickly knelt down and recited several important accounts: "Newspapers, new currency, agriculture, coal briquette factories, glass factories... refugees have been settled in various places."
"Your Majesty is merciful!" Upon hearing this, the other officials were terrified and dared not plead any further, instead kneeling and prostrating themselves obediently.
Eunuch De carefully went downstairs, returned with the metal paperweight in both hands, and presented it to His Majesty.
He too looked angry, staring coldly at those hateful courtiers.
Qi Chengming was so angry because he knew that he had always been frugal, and that other princes and palace servants had previously criticized him for being so stingy. They said they had never seen him act so petty, which meant he was not favored in the palace and that even being granted the title of prince did not make him look good.
At that time, Qi Chengming simply laughed it off, without even getting angry. How could a modern person with values of thrift and making the most of resources communicate with these people at the top of the feudal class, accustomed to luxury? They would take extravagance for granted, and Qi Chengming also felt that he could never become like that. So there was nothing more to say.
Therefore, since ascending the throne, Qi Chengming has continued to do as he pleases.
Forget about spending money on pleasure; he didn't even have a palace or a garden. He was stingy even when building a princely residence, and he frequently used his private treasury to subsidize the national treasury. Strictly speaking, there was almost no distinction between the two.
Qi Chengming knew he was an anomaly among emperors. Compared to the actions of the upper and middle classes who benefited the country, he cared more about whether the lowest-class people could live a good life. He had a clear conscience about his actions and had done everything he could... He dared to say that among all those present, he was the one who had contributed the most money and effort to help the poor and needy.
...He's already so diligent! And yet someone still dares to take advantage of his kindness and criticize him?!
"It is my fault," Qi Chengming admitted with a cold laugh. "I have treated this country too well and have been too attentive to you. I have even used my private treasury frequently, which has made you think that I am some kind of clay that can be molded and shaped, and that you can criticize me at will."
No, it's precisely because he's so selfless that these people dare to take advantage of him. They yell at him for the slightest reason, treat his money as their own, and wish he couldn't enjoy any of it.
"Your Majesty, please forgive us!" Those kneeling and pleading ministers felt even worse; many began to break out in a cold sweat and their faces turned pale.
How dare they plead like that? Isn't it only because of His Majesty's good temper? And because they don't want a wise ruler to be corrupted and become a tyrannical or incompetent ruler, that's why they're doing this…
But upon closer reflection...
His Majesty has never been a benevolent ruler who follows the rules; now their fate is probably sealed!
Even the reborn ministers who had been observing coldly and silently from the sidelines immediately knelt down upon hearing the new emperor's words, begging him to retract his original statement: "...Your Majesty, you must not torment yourself like this!"
The few remonstrating officials were the ones who felt the worst.
Some trembled with fear, some looked uneasy, while others wore expressions of tragic resolve, with a hint of excited anticipation. For these remonstrating officials, dying for their cause and being remembered in history would be the ultimate fulfillment. No matter what His Majesty said now, they could always find something to criticize about his wasting resources and manpower; killing them would be even better!
The next second, Qi Chengming coldly announced: "Those who offered advice and pleaded for leniency today will all be stripped of their official positions and imprisoned pending trial. I will have someone investigate thoroughly. If anyone's words and actions match their advice, they will be released without charge, and I will even reward them. If they cannot even do this themselves, or if their families are corrupt and extravagant... then I will punish them for deceiving the emperor, usurping power, and being arrogant and rebellious!"
Upon hearing this, a squad of imperial guards rushed in and began to strip them of their official robes.
Everyone's faces turned deathly pale, and they collapsed to the ground, speechless.
"Your Majesty!" The ministers who had long been prepared to die for their cause stood up straight and shouted, "Such a refusal to listen to advice is the behavior of a foolish ruler!" "Even if we die here today, we will still advise Your Majesty not to waste the people's resources!"
"Drag him out," Qi Chengming said coldly without even blinking.
So what if word gets out? He doesn't care about his reputation. Only those who have investigated his family background are qualified to stand before him and offer advice.
He will continue to use his private funds to subsidize the national treasury and the people. These acts of benefiting the people come from his own conscience, so he will not waver or change because of the actions of others. However—he truly did not realize that his generosity would only lead to others taking advantage of him.
A ruler should combine kindness and severity.
He had only shown kindness in the past; from now on, he would have to add a thunderous "prestige" to this group.
"Whether you submitted your remonstrances for posthumous fame or for the sake of the people, you know the answer in your hearts," the reborn Left Vice Minister rebuked those who had died remonstrating.
The reborn historian who recorded the events was a man of few words and ruthless actions. He suddenly reported, "I have recorded the events truthfully. I believe future generations will make their own judgments."
Upon hearing his words, some of the people who had dared to remonstrate turned pale and remained silent, while others firmly believed they had done the right thing, and were dragged away with a relieved smile, no longer struggling.
Qi Chengming watched the farce come to an end with a sigh of displeasure.
No wonder emperors disliked officials who offered advice.
He had a fairly good understanding of the nature of these officials. For example, several of the officials surnamed Dai who offered their advice were genuinely sincere, or those who were indeed poor had their reasons for doing so. It would be a pity to punish them like this.
But Qi Chengming must exert this "power" today.
So he had already decided where to place these people—Yanshi County had previously punished a large number of low-level officials who had embezzled funds or failed to perform their duties, and was short of manpower. The county had also taken in many refugees, and although the people's lives were gradually improving and the overall framework of the county town was being built, it was still short of manpower, and it would take at least three to five years to get things on track.
—Let's demote all these people and send them to do real work.
Lord Dai's salary will be higher then than it is now; we can't really let him be unable to support his family.
The noisy morning court session has ended.
After returning to the side hall, Qi Chengming drank two cups of tea to suppress the gloom he felt from the troubles he had encountered.
"Today's events have served as a wake-up call for me." Qi Chengming turned around and sighed to He Santie, who had followed him. "From now on, I will have to be careful to show my power at all times."
He was initially confused as to why someone was suddenly attacking him.
But upon closer reflection, the relationship between the monarch and his ministers has always been one of relative power struggle. It's just that he's constantly supported by his reborn ministers, so he hardly feels it. These ministers want him to become a benevolent ruler like Emperor Renzong of Song, or a wise and sage-like monarch.
He had to be constantly mindful of keeping his ministers in check.
It wasn't that Qi Chengming was too arrogant—but rather that he clearly understood the differences between his own views and those of these people, and he knew what he should do without needing to reflect on himself.
Or rather, his willingness to stay for the sake of the nation, for the sake of the world and its people, was already his greatest act of sincerity. Nobody knows exactly what he sacrificed!
"Yes, Your Majesty, your subject and others will continue to share your burdens as always." He Santie's reply was nothing but a bow of conviction, without the slightest doubt.
Their new ruler is the most unique monarch.
The new ruler is always right, no matter what he says or does.
—They have been the only ones who have tried to follow and understand the new ruler, but the new ruler will not stay or change. I hope that those colleagues who have not been reborn will understand this soon!
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