Hearing their commotion, Luo Yangxing's expression changed drastically. He strode over and blocked them outside the main hall.
"Ministers, what are you doing?" he shouted sternly.
"This is forbidden territory of the royal palace, so don't you dare do anything reckless!"
However, those ministers didn't take him seriously at all.
"Hmph, who do you think you are, daring to stop me?"
The leading minister stepped forward and stared at Luo Yangxing.
After seeing the minister's appearance clearly, Luo Yangxing indeed chickened out.
"So it's Scholar Zhou. I'm all very grateful."
As he spoke, he bowed to Scholar Zhou.
The leading minister was none other than Zhou Yanru.
He is now not only a scholar of the Hanlin Academy, but also the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites.
Although in history, he would soon become enemies with the Donglin Party.
At this time, however, he was still regarded as a member of the Donglin Party, or at least an unofficial member.
Zhou Yanru glared angrily at Luo Yangxing.
"We want to see His Majesty because we have important matters to report. What, are you trying to isolate us from the outside world?"
Luo Yangxing was certainly not worthy of this charge.
He quickly stepped back to make way.
But he still said, "My ministers, I don't have that kind of courage."
"It's just that His Majesty personally appointed Li Ruolian as the martial arts champion."
"Besides, His Majesty has just recovered, so there's no need for you all to confront him at this time."
"If angering the emperor harms his health and causes his illness to relapse, that would be absolutely not a good thing!"
Zhou Yanru sneered inwardly.
"Hehe, I'd be happy if that tyrant got sick from anger."
But on the surface, he looked like he was worried about the country and its people.
He sighed and said, "That's true, but have you ever heard of the principle of 'nipping a problem in the bud'?"
"Today, because His Majesty is unwell, we will disregard His Majesty's alteration of ancestral rules."
"If His Majesty suffers from a headache or fever again in the future, and decides to prioritize military over civil affairs, how can we dissuade him?"
"If you don't dare to stop us, then get out of our way."
Upon hearing this, Luo Yangxing could only smile wryly and step back.
He allowed those civil officials to go and see the emperor.
He sighed inwardly, "Your Majesty has acted too hastily."
"Even if you trust Master Gao a lot, you wouldn't just directly appoint Li Ruolian as the martial arts champion!"
After standing there for a while, Luo Yangxing finally left.
We need to take those children to see Gao Qingyun.
Inside the main hall, tensions were already high.
Zhu Youjian glared angrily at Zhou Yanru.
"Scholar Zhou, I only want to appoint a martial arts champion, why do you insist on obstructing me?"
Zhou Yanru shook his head.
"Your Majesty, this is far more than just a martial arts champion."
"Our Great Ming Dynasty ruled the world by relying on the laws established by our ancestors."
"You have arbitrarily changed the law; this is the way to bring chaos to the country!"
Zhou Yanru spoke with great sorrow and indignation.
Even the ministers behind him nodded in agreement, seemingly moved by his words.
But they knew perfectly well what was going on in their hearts.
"Lord Zhou's statement is merely an overreaction."
"If the emperor were willing to deal with Wei Zhongxian and give important positions to our Donglin Party."
"Let alone selecting one martial arts champion, even if you selected ten or eight, Lord Zhou would only sing their praises."
"Praising His Majesty for his enterprising spirit, and lamenting that the Jurchens are about to perish."
As Zhou Yanru finished speaking, Zhu Youjian's face turned cold.
"What if I refuse to retract my decree?"
Zhou Yanru shook his head and knelt down on the ground.
"Your Majesty, if that is the case, we have no choice but to kneel here and beg you to change your mind."
"If you refuse, then we will kneel here and die!"
With Zhou Yanru leading the way, the other ministers exchanged glances and also knelt down.
Seeing this, Zhu Youjian wished he could watch them die right there.
But soon, he sighed inwardly.
"If these people die, there will be no one to hold office in the court. How will I govern the Ming Dynasty?"
"At that time, I'm afraid the Jurchens will enter the pass more than ten years earlier than expected."
"Fine, let them enjoy a few more good days!"
Zhu Youjian then said, "Since you ministers have said so, I cannot ignore it."
“Then I will compromise and not allow Li Ruolian to become the champion of martial arts.”
"But their other benefits are a level higher than those of ordinary military graduates."
"What do you think about letting him take command of troops immediately and become a powerful military officer?"
The emperor backed down, and Zhou Yanru and the others could no longer say anything more.
They nodded and said, "That's fine too."
Just then, someone suddenly rushed in from outside the hall.
Zhu Youjian looked displeased and was about to reprimand him.
Then they heard the man kneel down and kowtow, saying:
"Your Majesty, something terrible has happened! There has been trouble on the border!"
Zhu Youjian had already learned from Gao Qingyun that the Ming Dynasty's greatest threat was the peasant uprising and the Jurchens beyond the Great Wall.
So when he heard that there was a problem at the border, he immediately stood up and asked:
"What happened in the border region?"
The man looked up and said with a wry smile:
"Your Majesty, it was the soldiers in Ningyuan and Jinzhou who mutinied over their pay, and the governor of Liaodong committed suicide!"
"And the Jurchens actually took the opportunity to move south and launch an attack!"
Zhu Youjian's expression changed drastically in an instant.
"Is this really true?"
"What should we do?!"
He was still young and had no experience in this area.
Upon hearing this, they immediately panicked.
However, Zhou Yanru, who was kneeling on the ground, revealed a cold smile.
He said, "Your Majesty, since you think so highly of Li Ruolian and want him to lead the troops..."
"Now that things are in such a situation, it's the perfect opportunity for him to lead the troops into battle!"
"If he can quell this chaos, then even if you want to award him the title of martial arts champion, we will have no objections!"
These words, though ostensibly suggestions to Zhu Youjian.
But it still harbors malicious intentions.
Although Li Ruolian passed the imperial examination for military officers, it is unlikely that he was an incompetent fool.
But sending him to lead troops to fight the Jurchens would be sending him to his death.
Moreover, at this time, a mutiny also broke out in the Guan Ning area.
If Li Ruolian really led troops and was defeated, it would prove that Zhu Youjian was incompetent.
In the future, any policies implemented or talents promoted will be even less convincing.
Zhu Youjian had not considered this point.
He nodded quickly: "That's absolutely right. Immediately issue an imperial decree ordering Li Ruolian to lead the troops into battle!"
Zhu Youjian only realized this after all the ministers had left.
"Wait, have I fallen for their trick?"
At this moment, he regretted it somewhat, but he did not want to take back his decision again.
"What if Li Ruolian really can win?"
"If that's the case, then the civil officials won't be able to object to anything I want to do in the future."
"If I were to deal with the Donglin Party again, the backlash would be much smaller!"
While hesitating, Zhu Youjian subconsciously thought of Gao Qingyun.
"I will go and consult Master Gao right away!"
"I believe Master Gao can surely resolve my doubts."
Not long after, Zhu Youjian arrived at Gao Qingyun's residence.
Before he could go inside, he heard a commotion coming from inside.
Gao Qingyun sighed and said, "You child, have you been watching too many cartoons?"
"Your Dahe Village is so remote, how could you possibly have been to Japan?"
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