"No one may approach the palace gates without His Majesty's summons. Anyone who disobeys will be punished as a traitor. You shall all leave immediately!"
When the students approached, the officer on duty shouted and glared at them.
"retreat!!!"
As soon as the officer finished speaking, the guards stepped forward and blocked their way.
"you.....?"
Upon seeing this, the students of the Imperial Academy and the scholars couldn't help but tremble, and a look of fear appeared on their faces.
Although they outnumbered each other, they still felt somewhat intimidated by the armored and armed guards.
After all, they came to petition, not to rebel, so many people couldn't help but take two steps back.
In the crowd, a student from the Imperial Academy approached Li Qing and asked in a low voice:
"Brother Li, what should we do next?"
"It's alright. These imperial students and scholars have gathered here, and we have already achieved our goal. We just need to make a big fuss!" Li Qing replied in a low voice.
"Alright!!"
The man nodded and stepped aside.
Li Qing then shouted loudly:
"Gentlemen, please hear me out! We are here today to support His Majesty, so we must not act rashly. As long as we are sincere, His Majesty will surely summon us..."
"Brother Li is right, let's take a few steps back for now!"
The others responded and followed Li Qing as they retreated.
In fact, Li Jing, Han Ping and others' plan was not complicated. As long as these students and scholars made a fuss, they could take the initiative.
In order not to discourage scholars from their studies, the emperor had to summon these scholars and students regardless of his own wishes.
When the emperor appears, they can naturally use this opportunity to make demands. If the emperor does not agree, they can keep making trouble until their demands are met.
Conversely, if the emperor did not intervene, it would further facilitate their intentions.
In time, with a single sentence: "The treacherous officials are manipulating power and coercing the emperor," the fate of the world will fall entirely into their hands.
Therefore, although Li Jing, Han Ping and others' plans were simple, they were extremely difficult to deal with.
Even after retreating to the center of the square, the students and scholars continued to shout various slogans.
Scholars and students from all directions who heard the news joined in, and soon nearly seven thousand people gathered in the square.
In an instant, the momentum was immense, spreading far and wide.
Seeing this, many people also came to the square with curiosity.
Amidst the crowd, Mao Jie looked indifferently at the scholars and students in the square.
A student from a poor family looked at Mao Jie with a solemn expression and asked:
"Brother Xiaoxian, is what they said true? Is it really true that treacherous officials are in power now, and they are colluding with the Empress Dowager to deceive His Majesty?"
Mao Jie snorted coldly: "Hmph~, it's nothing but a publicity stunt! Listen to what they say, isn't every word for their own benefit?"
Their actions are nothing more than using the name of all the scholars in the land to blackmail His Majesty!
“Brother Xiaoxian is right! Building schools is clearly a matter that benefits the whole country, yet they openly state that they will only admit the sons of scholars, which shows their sinister intentions!”
"Indeed, the benefits of building schools for us are self-evident, but the person before us is only concerned with his own interests and is trying to block others' path to education. His heart is truly despicable!"
The students from impoverished families around them, recalling the hardships they had endured in their studies, also expressed their dissatisfaction with the scholars.
"Regardless of anything else, the assessment is imminent. We must do our utmost. Only by passing the assessment and ascending to the highest levels of power can we stand on equal footing with them!"
After saying this, Mao Jie glanced at those people, then turned and walked towards his residence, followed closely by several friends.
Like Mao Jie and others, many poor students who were watching quickly realized the intentions of these scholars. While feeling indignant, they also became more determined to pass the examination.
Now, through the dissemination of information by spies from the Military and Political Affairs Department and the Investigation Department, most students from poor families have learned some of the content of the examination questions.
Therefore, the students from impoverished backgrounds who were watching did not linger there, but instead hurried towards the three colleges to prepare for the upcoming assessment.
"To benefit our descendants, establish schools!"
Just as Mao Jie and his group stepped out of the crowd, five thousand ironworks craftsmen, shouting, marched toward them along the road in the north of the city.
"For the benefit of our descendants, establish schools!!!"
Just then, many artisans appeared on the roads leading to Nangong Square, shouting loudly.
People from paper mills, printing plants, glass factories, garment factories, as well as various workshops and shops, were also gathered together by the military and political officials and rushed over here.
From a distance, these tens of thousands of people looked like a surging river, rushing towards this side.
Its sheer scale and power caused onlookers to tremble.
"Brother Xiaoxian, what do you think of this...?"
Such a spectacle shocked everyone, and even one student couldn't help but gape in astonishment.
"Ha! This group of people will eventually be overwhelmed!"
As the people drew closer, Mao Jie revealed a pleased smile.
"what happened?"
The students of the Imperial Academy and the scholars in the center of the square were also shocked to hear the roar coming from afar.
Before long, under the horrified gazes of Li Qing and the others, a large procession composed of artisans and commoners strode onto the square and surrounded the students and scholars.
In an instant, those students of the Imperial Academy and scholars were like a lone boat adrift in the vast ocean of workers and common people, in danger of capsizing at any moment, and their cries were completely drowned out by the roar of the massive waves.
"Haha~ Brother Xiaoxian... what do you think...?"
A student from a poor family laughed loudly, his face flushed as he looked at the workers and ordinary people who were fighting hard for the sake of their children and grandchildren.
"This is the will of the people, this is the general trend, and we cannot fall behind!"
Mao Jie also looked at the workers and civilians with excitement, and as he spoke, he stepped forward.
Deeply inspired, many students from underprivileged backgrounds also joined in.
Those students who aspired to join the Yuan, Xun, Chen, and Yang families were not to be outdone and also joined this vast wave of talent.
"To benefit our descendants, establish schools!!"
Just then, nearly six thousand soldiers from the Fifth Battalion of the Northern Army arrived at the scene, led by instructors from the Military and Political Department.
The sound waves rolled on, and the clouds moved in all directions.
Those students and scholars in the center were terrified and filled with dread.
Looking at the roaring workers and peasants around them, they were truly afraid at that moment.
Inside the Deyang Hall, Liu Hong sat calmly at the table with his eyes slightly closed.
Chen Fan, Hu Guang, Li Ying, Song Feng, Liu Shu, Wang Yue and other important civil and military officials also gathered here.
Outside the hall, two formations, each consisting of one thousand Imperial Guards and one thousand Tiger Guards, stood on either side, all two thousand soldiers staring intently at the open hall doors.
A gentle breeze blew, banners fluttered, and everyone inside and outside the hall remained silent.
Everyone is waiting for something.
Suddenly, a shout drifted from outside the palace and reached everyone's ears.
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