Chapter 286 The Famous Scene of the Reborn Minister's Secret Exposed (Part 2)
In recent days, the important officials in the court have all keenly sensed that there are undercurrents surging beneath the surface.
His Majesty has recently been frequently summoning the heads of various ministries to thoroughly understand all the achievements His Majesty has made since becoming a prince, from salt and tea, water conservancy, wool, crafts, newspapers, grain, firearms, and so on. In other words, he has met with all the trusted confidants he has placed in the capital.
Many clever officials seized the opportunity to get close to the emperor, show their faces in front of him, and get a good job.
His face was practically splitting open with laughter.
Only a few high-ranking officials and close advisors sensed an impending storm and felt uneasy, yet they were unaware of the meaning behind the monarch's unusual behavior.
"Another big job is coming in."
The Right Vice Minister of Revenue, along with the Left Vice Minister, was tasked with clarifying the old taxes of hidden households in Luoyang. It would offend many people, but the reward was a huge sum—the kind of job he'd risk his life for. He grinned through gritted teeth, a mixture of love and hate, and privately couldn't help but say…
"Our Emperor... always seems to have some money to spend. He eats meat while we drink soup. But, if we're not careful, we can fall into his hands and become his target, turning to ashes in the blink of an eye!"
The Left Vice Minister, a reborn man, didn't even lift his eyelids as he calculated the numbers, multitasking with his mind, and said calmly, "Therefore, it's best not to block His Majesty's path."
"..." The Right Vice Minister had no words to express his bitterness, the words stuck in his throat, making it hard to speak. He could only sigh gently, "Since ancient times, benevolent rulers have advocated a stable and steady approach. Our ruler, however, is an ambitious and enlightened one. He is different, very different..."
Which subject enjoys such turmoil? Who doesn't admire a benevolent ruler?
At first, everyone was just happy and carefree, enjoying themselves immensely under the emperor's rule. But gradually, they realized that the risks were too great. Anyone who carelessly contradicted the emperor's new policies would have to bear the consequences. Disobedience was unacceptable; it would only lead to being crushed to pieces. Many ministers were unwilling, but had no choice but to grit their teeth and continue to cater to him.
Upon hearing this, the Left Vice Minister glanced at him coolly, a fleeting hint of bitterness and self-mockery in his eyes.
It's as if the reborn ministers were initially happy about it.
In their previous life, they caused quite a stir, but naturally, their efforts were only half as effective... If it weren't for the fact that the country was in dire straits at that time, with its mountains and rivers on the verge of collapse, which spurred these ambitious people to remain silent and restrain themselves, they would have followed the new emperor's instructions in detail and finally implemented them.
...I witnessed the enlightened and prosperous new Dingguo.
The reborn officials are not as obedient as they would be under the urging of Grand Secretary Mu in this life.
The Left Vice Minister finally understood.
Severe measures are needed in times of chaos.
The country is on the verge of collapse, what need is there for a benevolent ruler? Can a benevolent ruler save a country? No matter how much these ministers dislike the new ruler's style, they have to follow him forward. Therefore, in this new life, everything the new ruler must do is what these reborn ministers resolutely support.
The crisis that threatened the nation in this life was averted in time, and it was not as critical as in the previous life. Naturally, the ministers were able to catch their breath and were no longer united. Instead, they wanted to make money and fight amongst themselves.
The Left Vice Minister warned again, "Once these words leave this room, I will not acknowledge them. Just you wait and see, His Majesty will only take more drastic actions in the future."
'If you lose your good job because of those subtle complaints you just made, don't come looking for me.'
This is his subconscious meaning.
The Right Vice Minister was startled and shut his mouth as tightly as a clam shell. He quickly bowed twice and left in a hurry.
Despite his complaints, he still adored the new emperor, who was truly wealthy!
...
There were some changes during these five days.
Having received confirmation, the wool workshops in Dadingzhen signed a cooperation agreement with the Qiang people, and together with several scattered small kingdoms to the north, they all started trading wool. The workshops began operating, using up all their wool reserves, and starting this winter, they opened up to the outside world to trade, including recipes for various wool products.
From then on, the people of Dading were able to use warm and inexpensive wool clothing.
“He is above the common people,” the female official of the wool workshop corrected her own father.
Even at its cheapest, wool is still not something ordinary people can easily afford. Within three to five years, it will likely only be accessible to high-ranking officials, wealthy merchants, landlords, and soldiers for everyday wear. With the current exchange rate of the Thai baht, it's already a miracle that most people don't starve, thus mitigating many of the risks associated with the era of banknotes.
“This is already very good.” She was still disappointed, but the Ministry of Works official, who was also an official, felt gratified from another perspective. “If a family can pool their resources to buy one piece of clothing and get through the winter without freezing to death, that is a great merit!”
Ordinary people can't afford to use it?
How can a newly emerging item become so popular in the capital that its profit margins be immediately reduced to make it affordable for everyone? If His Majesty insists on doing so, it will only provoke a huge backlash from the people. On the contrary, by proceeding gradually as is the case now, the price will slowly decrease over the years.
For ordinary people living in poverty today, being able to save their lives is the thing they are most grateful for!
"Be more cautious in your actions lately." The female official's worries were gone, and she smiled happily, but she turned to her father and said, "I think there will be some big moves coming soon."
How did she know?
The usually composed Lady Fang Bi has been more anxious these past two days when she inspects the wool workshop. She specifically instructed them not to get arrogant because of the wool's contribution and to avoid attracting anyone's attention.
Five days passed quickly...
On this day, His Majesty held a special court assembly in the main hall of the Zichen Palace, summoning dozens of officials who sat in large numbers on the chairs in the hall, making quite a grand spectacle. Out of consideration for his subjects, each official had a small table in front of him, on which were placed several exquisite breakfast dishes.
This is a banquet to entertain everyone.
Those summoned breathed a sigh of relief, thinking to themselves, 'The new emperor's unusual behavior is finally going to have an outcome.'
The Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue was also summoned. He was in a mid-to-upper-rank position according to his official rank. He had just carefully settled into the comfortable armchair when, after a quick glance around, his heart skipped a beat, and his face paled slightly: "..."
These people...
Hmm, these people... they all look so familiar.
The person on the left is his classmate. They always stand together at the grand assembly, and they can communicate with their eyes without saying a word. I knew they were both people who had a serendipitous encounter.
Isn't that Zhang Ting, the Salt and Tea Bureau official, standing behind him?
He was His Majesty's trusted confidant, but he was also reborn.
Left Vice Minister felt uneasy and kept glancing around. What made him even more uneasy was that the gazes of others also revealed the same suspicion and panic.
The people present included both men and women, and held various official positions.
The Left Vice Minister even spotted the county princess who enjoyed the emperor's favor—the emperor's former wet nurse.
Wow… Looking around this hall, eight or nine out of ten people are reborn. Is it just a coincidence, or…?
Left Vice Minister barely managed to steady his racing heart, glancing upwards and finally settling his gaze on their pillar of strength, Grand Secretary Mu.
Grand Scholar Mu simply closed his eyes and remained silent, like an old tree stump, not exchanging glances with anyone, yet a hint of relief flickered across his face.
Even a shrewd man like Qin Liusong felt a chill run down his spine upon seeing this scene.
No banquet is ever a good one; today's banquet is probably a trap.
"I have invited you all here, and I believe you all understand my intention." After hearing a brief, hurried exchange in the hall, Qi Chengming stepped forward and calmly announced, not giving them any more time to collude.
The hall was filled with people, yet it was completely silent, and everyone was looking at each other with different expressions.
The wet nurse, Liu, seemed a little uneasy, filled with suspicion. Yang Shou also moved his lips, completely bewildered.
What puzzled him most was that when he looked around, it seemed that his other colleagues... all seemed to have tacitly agreed with His Majesty's words, as if everyone knew the purpose of His Majesty's visit today.
Yang Shou couldn't help but feel some self-reproach and shame, thinking to himself:
Am I being too oblivious to what's happening in the capital? Or is there such a large divide between civil and military officials?
After trekking through mountains and rivers to return to the capital, Doctor Bian gave his old friend a sharp, knowing look. Although he didn't know what was wrong, he had a feeling that something had happened to his old friend.
Qi Chengming, seated on the dragon throne at the top, had a clear view of the various situations below. He paused for a moment, then quietly instructed Xiao Dezi and Xiao Chengzi to invite a few of them to the Drinking Ice Hall, where they could meet the emperor one by one later. He told them to go and have a banquet first.
"And..." Qi Chengming stopped mid-sentence, giving the two of them a deep look, "You two go and keep an eye on things too."
Xiao Chengzi readily agreed without a second thought. Xiao Dezi, however, replied with a mixture of grievance and shock: "...Yes."
This is terrible!
When did His Majesty develop such an unspoken understanding with so many people that he was unaware of?
Seeing his two personal eunuchs reluctantly and dejectedly leave, Qi Chengming found it amusing. He composed himself and looked silently into the main hall: "..."
The time for a showdown has come.
But given the current situation, it seems there's no need for him to say anything more.
...
The king above remained silent.
The familiar young face seemed to have become imposing and unfathomable.
Many people below were gripped by this suffocating feeling, unable to sit still.
"My dear ministers, don't you have anything to say?" Finally, Qi Chengming broke the silence and brought up the topic.
Grand Scholar Mu could no longer hold on. He knelt down first with a thud, and said calmly and respectfully, "I am guilty of deceiving the emperor."
Many people followed suit and knelt down, pleading guilty: "We are guilty!" "We are guilty..."
Qi Chengming glared hatefully at Song Gu and Qin Liusong, waiting for their reaction.
As for the others, even Grand Secretary Mu, Qi Chengming didn't react much. Only Song Gu and Mr. Qin, who had followed him the longest, kept their mouths shut as if they were welded shut! His little cousin hadn't returned yet, otherwise he would have given him a good glare.
Oh, and that bastard Wen Er too, luckily he ran away fast!
Qi Chengming had no recollection of the 'handsome and dashing young swordsman Wen Gongzi' from the original text; all he remembered was the cheeky, roguish tone of Wen Zhongnan's letter in this life.
Song Gu lowered his head, not daring to raise it, and forced a defense: "I earned my position as chief steward through my own efforts..."
If he hadn't fought so hard back then, how could he have become so close to the new emperor? But if he were to reveal his extraordinary encounter, it would inevitably expose his unfamiliarity with Liuzhou, and the new emperor would always ask how things were different between his past and present lives... His secret plan to prevent Chief Steward Song from going to Liuzhou and to have him take his place would then be exposed.
He couldn't say it back then, but now Song Gu is even more afraid of the new emperor's disappointed gaze.
Qi Chengming hadn't really figured it out, but it was at least a reason, so he turned his condemning gaze towards Qin Liusong.
—Now the pressure is on Mr. Qin.
Qin Liusong, steeling himself, still maintained his former dignity, kneeling ramrod straight, trying to convince himself that he was making perfect sense: "Your Majesty fears that I may think I'm talking nonsense and have fallen into a trance..."
He had been waiting in wait for the new emperor for a long time, and had risen to a position of confidant in the prince's residence. To put it bluntly, all that knowledge was his advantage.
Qin Liusong was a very ambitious man, and naturally he was also harmed by this greedy game and repeated struggles.
Now filled with regret, Qin Liusong knelt on the ground and burst into tears, wishing he could rush forward and hug the new emperor's leg: "Your Majesty! Waaah... I'm so sorry!"
Qi Chengming couldn't bear to look anymore: "...Get up first."
Mr. Qin himself didn't care, but he still cared a lot about his image; he wouldn't allow it to break!!
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