Chapter 513 Women's Martial Arts Examination: An Auspicious Omen!
Wang Xiangzhi, the principal of the Ministry of Rites, returned home in a rage and immediately began to berate: "Women should stay at home and study the precepts for women, the three obediences and four virtues. Showing your face in public every day and only thinking about competing with men for profit is simply an insult to civilization and utterly absurd!"
His wife, Zhang, stepped forward with a smile: "Master, why are you so angry? Be careful not to hurt yourself." She comforted him while pouring him a cup of hot tea.
Wang Xiangzhi slammed his fist on the table in anger: "I'm absolutely furious!"
Zhang smiled, but the smile didn't reach her eyes. She waited quietly to the side, and only spoke when she saw that Wang Xiangzhi's anger had subsided.
"The concubine tax for this month is due. The court has issued a new law that requires the head of the household and the mistress of the house to go together to pay the tax. I went to pay it today, but the yamen saw that I was the only one there and sent me back immediately."
Wang Xiangzhi slammed his fist on the table again in anger. If he went, wouldn't he lose all face?
What kind of bullshit laws did Shen Lanxi change? They're practically targeting men and leaving them no way to survive.
Wang Xiangzhi stood up to leave, but just as he reached the door, his two daughters happily returned.
"Father, this is perfect timing. My sister and I want to take the imperial examinations, and we need your signature here."
Wang Xiangzhi was completely stunned, staring blankly at the registration form his daughter had shoved into his hand. Then, enraged, he turned around and questioned Zhang Shi.
"Who gave you permission to send your daughter to a girls' college?"
The same thing happened in other court officials and ordinary people's homes.
Two days later, women began submitting their registration forms.
On the third day at court, Shen Lanxi brought up the women's imperial examination again.
"No, I object."
"I also object."
Shen Lanxi looked at the official in charge of the Ministry of Rites and asked, "Lord Wang, you're not objecting this time?"
Wang Xiangzhi's face turned red, and he couldn't utter a single word for a long time.
What could he say? Could he say that if Zhang didn't agree, he would make a scene and demand a divorce? Could he take it to the authorities and accuse him of favoring his concubine over his wife?
Shen Lanxi is simply the biggest scourge of the Great Zhou Dynasty. She is going to ruin his family and cause him to never have a peaceful day again!
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty agrees."
Shen Lanxi chuckled: "Lord Wang must be a man who loves his daughter very much and cares about his family."
Wang Xiangzhi looked as if he had been slapped a dozen times, his old face turning bright red.
Many court officials looked at Wang Xiangzhi as if he were a traitor.
Wang Xiangzhi was suffering in silence, his head bowed so low it almost touched the ground.
"I agree."
"I agree!"
"Your subject agrees..."
Looking at the number of people in favor and dissent, Shen Lanxi nodded in satisfaction and said, "If there are slightly more people in favor than dissent, then the minority shall obey the majority."
Many court officials stared wide-eyed, saying that wasn't how it was calculated.
Those who disagreed were mostly high-ranking officials of the third rank or above, while those who agreed were mostly officials of the third rank or below. We should listen to those of higher rank; those of lower rank are not qualified to express their opinions.
The three regents, who were in name only, looked at each other in silence.
Shen Lanxi smiled and said, "Since women who take the civil service exam can participate, women who take the military exam should participate as well."
Some courtiers instinctively disagreed, but Shen Lanxi continued, "Women fight the enemy just like men on the battlefield. It is unreasonable for men to achieve great deeds while women are only fit to be lowly soldiers and not to receive the same treatment."
The courtiers fell silent. They didn't know about the other troops, but among the soldiers that Shen Lanxi brought were many female guards and also many female healers.
They saw them off at the city gate several times and witnessed it with their own eyes.
Furthermore, they did not believe that women could beat men; most women were weak and frail, and would not even dare to kill a chicken.
The Vice Minister of War had a plan: "I think it would be better to let women take the military examination first. If it goes well, then we can gradually let women participate in the military examination."
If no one participates, or if things don't go well, hmph...
The Vice Minister of War's eyes gleamed with the shrewdness of someone who had succeeded in his treacherous scheme.
Shen Lanxi glanced at the Vice Minister of War and smiled, "Good, I think what Lord Chen said is absolutely right. Lord Chen is indeed worthy of being the head of the Ministry of War, and he cares about the Ministry of War in everything."
Chen Qing, the Vice Minister of War, looked speechless. He had a feeling that Shen Lanxi was doing it on purpose.
He thought for a moment, then shook his head. It was his idea to have women participate in the martial arts examination; Shen Lanxi couldn't possibly have known this beforehand.
After the court session, Shen Lanxi immediately sent a message to the express messenger.
The next day, the news that the Minister of War strongly advocated for women to participate in the military examinations was printed on the front page of the newspaper in the most prominent position. Even storytellers and street vendors were talking about it.
Upon learning of this, the Vice Minister of War nearly fainted and missed the morning court session.
Officials who refused to accept the appointment of the Vice Minister of War would surround him after court.
"Lord Chen, didn't we have an agreement before? You betrayed us and sided with Shen Lanxi, leaving us in an awkward position."
"Lord Chen, you're pushing us out to take the fall, while you're making yourself look like a great good guy."
"Lord Chen, how could you do this..."
Chen Qing felt a surge of anger, a sharp pain in his forehead, and his vision went black as he fell forward.
The next morning at court, Shen Lanxi directly brought up Chen Qing to make an issue of him.
"Lord Chen worked diligently and tirelessly in managing state affairs, day and night, until his body could no longer withstand the strain and he fell ill."
"I am deeply saddened, but also proud that my Great Zhou has such a great minister!"
"After the court session, I will certainly report to His Majesty and ask him to reward Minister Chen handsomely."
"Since the Vice Minister of War has taken leave, official business cannot be left unattended. Let the Junior Minister of War temporarily handle the affairs of the Ministry of War in place of Lord Chen!"
The Vice Minister of War knelt down to express his gratitude.
As for the reward that Shen Lanxi mentioned, it was only for the purpose of making a fuss in the court; there was nothing of value to be gained.
The Vice Minister of War had only asked for a day's leave, but unexpectedly, while he was at home drinking herbal medicine, his post was temporarily taken over. Overwhelmed with anger, he fainted again.
Shen Lanxi received a leave request from the Chen family, but she didn't even look at it and directly asked Che Mingyuan to handle it.
Che Mingyuan took the red pen and casually added a stroke to the top, changing it to ten.
A ten-day holiday should be enough for Chen Qing to rest and recuperate properly, right?
Good news came again from Shu. Overjoyed, Shen Lanxi quickly reduced agricultural taxes by 20%.
One court official suggested, "Why not grant a general amnesty?"
Shen Lanxi said, "Those who are imprisoned are already wicked and unforgivable. Such people do not deserve to be pardoned." Besides, the imperial prison does not keep idle people.
Those who deserved to die were all killed, and the rest were sent to cultivate the land. The prison cells are empty; who will be pardoned?
Shen Lanxi continued, "Instead of pardoning those scum and letting them go out to harm the people, it would be better to reduce some taxes so that the people can eat more rice and have fish and meat during the New Year."
Liu Mingxian: "The Regent is wise!"
Shen Lanxi glanced at him and smiled faintly.
The joy of the good news from Sichuan was short-lived, as good news also came from Ganzhou.
Shen Lanxi said, "Just a little while longer, and the agricultural tax will be reduced by another 10%!"
The Ministry of Revenue was unwilling and was about to resist when Liu Yanhui had already begun to present his memorial.
"Your Majesty, I received a report from Qingyang County today that a cow at the Qingyang County breeding farm gave birth to six cows in one calf, and all of them survived."
"Good news has also come from the poultry farm in Baishu County: a hen laid three eggs a day, each as big as a goose egg..."
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