Seeing his daughter's shocked expression, the General of the State's eyes flashed with a hint of disdain.
He snorted heavily, his tone tinged with disdain: "Daughter, you have no idea!"
"Those old fogies are all like rocks in a latrine, smelly and hard!"
"Keeping them in the court means they're always being sarcastic and condescending, or taking advantage of their age and authority, and interfering with my decisions."
"They still cherish the emperor in their hearts and are waiting for the day when they can welcome him back!"
"Why not just send them all to the barren mountains and give those people there a headache!"
A ruthless glint flashed in Xiao Zhen's eyes, as if he could already see those old ministers complaining bitterly in the desolate mountains.
It is said that Huangshan is currently building factories in Liang Kingdom and Yunzhou, and has recruited many workers.
The reason why the Mountain Goddess recruited so many people was probably for the benefit of the factory.
Just thinking about those tough guys from the past, forced to work in factories, or even possibly carrying bricks, makes him feel incredibly happy!
Some people dare to act arrogantly in the capital simply because they rely on their family's influence and their past connections.
Once we reach the desolate mountains, those people won't be allowed to act recklessly! How could the Mountain Goddess be so easily offended?
During the time he knelt and worshipped in the desolate mountains, he only unintentionally said that the mountain goddess was probably as powerful as the national teacher of Yan State, and he was already angered and glared at by those believers!
For several days, he was not well received by the believers.
If those old bones dare to utter a single curse against the Mountain Goddess, those believers will jump up and devour them whole, leaving not even a trace!
On his side, he could both receive the gratitude of the Mountain Goddess and stand on the moral high ground.
After all, the reason he sent those people was to support the barren mountains, to build factories, to help disaster victims, and to help all the people in the world!
Consort Shu listened to her father's words, her eyebrows furrowed slightly, and she fell into deep thought.
What my father said didn't seem to be entirely unreasonable.
Those old ministers were indeed as stubborn as stones in a latrine.
They still revered the emperor and harbored hostility towards her, the birth mother of the crown prince, and the entire Xiao family.
If the Crown Prince were to one day truly regain his sanity and cease his madness...
Consort Shu's heart skipped a beat.
I'm afraid those old bones won't wholeheartedly assist her child!
On the contrary, it will become the biggest obstacle!
Rather than keeping these menaces in the capital and getting in the way, it would be better to...
Upon thinking of this, Consort Shu's tightly furrowed brows slowly relaxed.
She looked at Xiao Zhen, a resolute glint in her eyes.
"Alright! I'll do whatever Father decides!"
"If there's anything your daughter needs to do, Father, just let me know, and I'll do my best to help!"
Consort Shu said firmly.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhen nodded in satisfaction, a smile of approval appearing on his face.
"Good daughter, now that's more like my daughter, Xiao Zhen's daughter!"
He pondered for a moment, a glint of light flashing in his eyes, as he thought to himself.
"With just those old ministers and useless people in the Crown Prince's palace, I'm afraid we can't even muster three or four thousand men."
Xiao Zhen thought to himself, "That snake woman's demands aren't something just anyone can fulfill."
Then, his eyes lit up and an idea came to him.
"I need your help as your father."
"Lend me the Crown Prince's token."
He was going to the Imperial College to invite a group of talented young people, and to send them all to the desolate mountains!
Aren't those self-proclaimed aloof students at the Imperial College most fond of pontificating and writing passionately?
It's a good opportunity to send them to the desolate mountains to see the real hardships of ordinary people; it would be a way for them to share the burden of the country!
Consort Shu was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, but quickly nodded in agreement.
"Father, rest assured, I will go and fetch the Crown Prince's token right away."
Just then, a palace attendant rushed in from outside the hall, looking flustered.
"Your Majesty, and the General!"
"Outside the palace! A large group of people has arrived outside the palace!"
The eunuch was panting heavily, his face filled with panic.
Xiao Zhen frowned: "What's the commotion? Who dares to make a scene in the palace?"
The eunuch swallowed hard and said urgently, "Reporting to the General, they are a group of students from the Imperial Academy, as well as several highly respected Confucian scholars!"
"They, they've gathered outside the palace gates, saying they want to seek justice for the great scholar Murong, who was falsely accused and imprisoned a few days ago!"
"They also said that although His Highness the Crown Prince holds power in name, he has never actually shown up to handle state affairs, clearly showing that he is indifferent to the country! He is not worthy of overseeing the country with the Left Chancellor!"
Upon hearing this, Consort Shu's expression changed slightly.
She had also heard about the great scholar Murong.
It was orchestrated by the late emperor to weaken the influence of the Murong family, by exiling the entire Murong family.
Now that the corrupt emperor is gone, this mess has fallen on their shoulders.
Seeing the two men's different expressions, the eunuch became even more apprehensive and continued to report: "They are still sitting on the ground at the palace gate and refuse to leave!"
“Some people even cursed loudly, saying that you, the Grand General of the State, and the Left Prime Minister are corrupt and colluding with each other, and you will surely come to a bad end!”
Outside the palace gates, the place was already bustling with noise.
Beneath the vermilion palace walls, hundreds of students in blue robes knelt in a dense, dark mass.
They stood under the scorching sun, their faces filled with grief and indignation.
The leading group of elderly men, all with white hair and beards, were highly respected Confucian scholars in the capital.
"Traitors are in power! They are bringing disaster to the country and its people!"
"We scholars, who are paid by the emperor, should naturally speak up for the people!"
"Mr. Murong was an upright man throughout his life, and his students are all over the world. How can we allow such villains to slander him!"
“We didn’t know before, but now we have enough evidence to prove Mr. Murong’s innocence!”
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