northernbook Chapter 114: Court Debate
Chapter 114: Court Debate
Beijing Imperial Palace
Li Quan was waiting outside the imperial study for the emperor's summons, but his thoughts involuntarily drifted back to the court.
At that time, the morning light was just beginning to shine on the Golden Palace, but the atmosphere of the court meeting was so solemn that it seemed as if water could drip out of it.
Prime Minister He Changting was the first to step forward. His well-maintained face, which exuded wisdom and majesty, was now filled with a solemn expression of doubt. He bowed deeply to the emperor and said in a loud voice, "Your Majesty, I believe that Shen Li was granted the title of Xiangjun at the age of eight. This is not in accordance with the etiquette and is also inappropriate for the court.
Moreover, what they said about the existence of a divine master who can pray for rain is too absurd and bizarre to be convincing. I hope Your Majesty will be discerning and not believe such nonsense lightly, so as not to be deceived by the treacherous people and disrupt the order of the court.
Throughout history, titles and rewards have been based on merit, virtue, and talent. To be granted the title of a lord at such a young age, I fear that this will unsettle the people and make the government unstable."
Upon hearing this, the old general Xiao Zhenting frowned, his eyes widened, and he stepped forward, clasping his fists and saluting, his voice as resounding as a bell: "Your Majesty, I dare not agree with the Prime Minister's words.
The grain seeds donated by Mr. Fuxi have been trial-planted in many places recently with remarkable results and have already sprouted. He is truly a man who has made great contributions in alleviating the famine suffering of the people of our dynasty.
Moreover, according to many local officials and common people who witnessed the last rain-praying act, the rain fell and moistened the earth. This was a good deed that benefited the people, so how could it be false?
Your Excellency the Prime Minister has just made a false claim based on conjecture, which is probably biased and may also discourage loyal officials and righteous men.
Our dynasty is people-oriented, and Fuxi's actions are in line with public opinion and relieve people's worries. For such achievements, it is not excessive to confer the title of Xiangjun."
He Changting raised his chin slightly, his expression serious, and argued: "General Xiao, this is not just speculation. When governing a country, we should follow common sense and court rules.
A young child can actually have such extraordinary abilities. If we don't find out the root cause and investigate in detail, if someone with ulterior motives imitates him in the future and uses sorcery and magic to deceive people, the foundation of our dynasty will inevitably be shaken.
As Prime Minister, I, your Majesty, must assist you in the maintenance of state power. I must carefully consider the long-term and prevent future crises. Etiquette and moral principles are the foundation of a nation and cannot be abandoned because of one person.
Xiao Zhenting folded his arms across his chest, his expression firm, and he refused to back down. "Prime Minister, although you care about the country, you are too rigid in your actions. The world is in a state of flux, and extraordinary people emerge from time to time. Perhaps it is God's blessing that has gifted this talent to our dynasty."
Although young, Mr. Shen Li has the people in his heart, and everything he does benefits the country and the people. This is a blessing for our dynasty.
"Your unwarranted doubts chill the hearts of those who are loyal to the emperor and patriotic. Furthermore, with the current drought raging, we desperately need people like you who can help the people. If you doubt and abandon them because of the constraints of etiquette, would that be the behavior of a wise ruler?"
Seeing the two sides deadlocked and the atmosphere growing tense, Imperial Censor Zhao Qiming hurriedly stepped out, smiling broadly and saying in a gentle voice, "My two lords, please calm down. In the court, peace is the most important thing, and we should discuss state affairs together.
There may be something fishy about this matter, but we must not hastily judge it based on one side of the story. We should investigate it in detail and take our time. Your Majesty is wise and will surely weigh the pros and cons and handle it appropriately."
Amidst this arguing, the Minister of Revenue, with a worried look on his face, stepped forward and reported: "Your Majesty, I have a report to make.
Grain has now been harvested across the country, but after detailed calculations, the production reduction is huge, almost half.
The various departments of the Ministry of Revenue have been racking their brains for days to discuss countermeasures, but because the disaster-stricken area is too wide and the famine situation is too severe, no proper solution has been found so far.
I hope Your Majesty will show His Majesty wisdom and provide a clear path to relieve the people's distress and rescue our dynasty from this difficult situation. The granaries are not full, the people are uneasy, and we, the ministers, are deeply worried."
The Minister of Revenue also stepped out, his face haggard, his eyes filled with anxiety and helplessness: "Your Majesty, we have failed in our duties and caused the suffering of the people. We deserve death.
This year, a severe drought has ravaged the country. Although some areas have been blessed by God and have received rain, the affected area is vast, and a large amount of farmland has dried up and become barren, with no harvest.
The grain reserves in granaries across the country are decreasing rapidly. If we cannot raise grain supplies in time to appease the people, I am afraid that the people will panic and unrest will occur, endangering the stability of our country.
Your Majesty, the situation is urgent. Please make a decision quickly. The treasury is empty, and tax collection is difficult to continue. We are really at our wits' end."
For a moment, the court was abuzz with discussion. The Minister of Rites twirled his beard and spoke slowly, "Your Majesty, whether the Shen Li incident is true or false, it does raise many questions regarding etiquette. An eight-year-old child being ennobled as a county lord is unprecedented. If this precedent is set, it could lead to a breakdown in etiquette and make it difficult to rectify. As the head of the Ministry of Rites, responsible for promoting etiquette and education, I must speak out."
The Minister of Justice had a stern expression on his face. "Your Majesty, I believe that if Shen Li truly possesses extraordinary abilities, he should be summoned to the palace and carefully interrogated by us to prevent any criminals from using his name to commit crimes and endanger the court. The Ministry of Justice is responsible for investigating criminal cases and will surely be able to distinguish the true from the false and maintain the peace of the court."
The Minister of Works also stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, grain production has decreased, and water conservancy facilities across the country have been severely damaged by drought. Restoring livelihoods and rebuilding water conservancy projects will require a tremendous amount of manpower and resources. While I am willing, the national treasury is empty, and I am powerless. Water conservancy is closely related to agriculture, and agriculture is closely related to the fate of the nation. I urgently await Your Majesty's instructions on how to raise funds."
Master Wang, a doctor of the Imperial Academy, also stood up and bowed respectfully before saying, "Your Majesty, I believe that although Shen Li's case is unusual, in this year of disaster, if it can truly alleviate the drought and save the people, it could be considered an auspicious sign.
In ancient times, there were many strange people and events that were passed down as good stories, and Shen Li's act of offering grain seeds was true. If we completely deny it because of his young age, we might lose God's favor.
However, to prevent any deception, we can send a highly respected official to investigate and make a final decision."
Bai Xuanzhou, the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, stood there silently, listening to the quarrels in the court without saying a word, thinking to himself: That rebellious son Bai Jin went to Qingshan County. I wrote to him many times to inquire about him, but all fell on deaf ears. Could it be that he has become alienated from me? He really doesn't understand my plan!
Some young censors were whispering among themselves. One of them, Censor Lin, mustered up the courage to step forward and said, "Your Majesty, we believe that while the Prime Minister's concerns are reasonable, the old general's words should not be ignored.
The most urgent task right now is to address the drought and crop losses. If Shen Li can be of assistance, we can put aside our disputes and work together to resolve this crisis. As for the etiquette and concerns, we can explore them at our leisure after the crisis is over."
The ministers spoke one after another, expressing their own opinions, and the entire Golden Palace was filled with noise.
Some ministers frowned and fell into deep thought; some looked anxious, waiting for the emperor's decision; and some were whispering and exchanging their views.
The emperor sat upright on the dragon throne, his expression becoming increasingly gloomy, his eyes filled with worry and contemplation.
Li Quan was serving on the side, and looking at the emperor's expression, he felt uneasy.
Finally, the emperor seemed to be overwhelmed. He suddenly waved his bright yellow sleeves, stood up from his seat, and walked straight to the back hall without saying a word, leaving all the civil and military officials in the court looking at each other in bewilderment. The air in the Golden Throne Hall seemed to be frozen, and the silence was suffocating.