latelenovela Chapter 407 Holding the Emperor's Sword
Chapter 407 Holding the Emperor's Sword
Xie Shifu and other officials found what these people were saying absurd.
Was Emperor Wenjing overwhelmed with the affairs of state?
It's nonsense.
The emperor would only be too busy with his concubines in the harem to attend to state affairs, and would never be tired from dealing with state affairs.
Everyone had their own thoughts, but Emperor Wenjing seemed oblivious to it all. He pondered for a long time, as if he had finally made up his mind.
"What happened to Prince Yong must never be allowed to happen again, therefore..."
He paused, his gaze sharp as he fixed it on Yun Shang. "Yun Shang, I command you to wield the Emperor's Sword and purge the corrupt officials in my Great Zhao court. Do you dare accept this heavy responsibility?!"
Upon hearing this, everyone's faces instantly showed shock.
The entire hall fell silent instantly, with only the sound of heavy breathing rising and falling.
The officials from noble families could no longer suppress their fear and looked up at Emperor Wenjing, their eyes filled with undisguised terror.
Why would the emperor, who has been negligent in his duties for so many years and has always turned a blind eye to the corrupt officials in the court, suddenly bestow the imperial sword upon them?!
Is this an attempt to make enemies of all the powerful families?!
They knew perfectly well that all the powerful officials in the court were more or less involved in the corruption in the court. If they were to investigate, how many of them would be clean, and how many could withstand the scrutiny?
Once the Emperor's Sword is drawn, the first to be impacted will likely be the profit chains that these aristocratic families have painstakingly built up over many years.
Right Chancellor Li Chongyi, who had remained silent until now, stepped forward with a solemn expression.
He looked up and stared directly at Emperor Wenjing, his eyes deep and unfathomable, and said coldly, "Your Majesty, this matter is absolutely unacceptable!"
"Although Yun Shang has some talent, he has only been an official for a short time and lacks experience. How can he be entrusted with such an important task?"
"Your Majesty, the stability of the court is hard-won. I implore Your Majesty to reconsider and not to cause turmoil in the court and the country due to a moment of impulsiveness."
"Your Majesty, please take back your order!"
As the core representative of the aristocratic officials, Li Chongyi's words prompted those already anxious officials to step forward and offer their opinions.
"Your Majesty, it is absolutely impossible!"
"How could Yun Shang, this greenhorn, shoulder such a heavy responsibility!"
"If Your Majesty insists on this, we will have no choice but to kneel in the Imperial Study forever!"
……
For a time, voices of dissuasion echoed throughout the imperial study, creating a chaotic and nearly out-of-control scene.
As Emperor Wenjing gazed at his impassioned ministers, his thoughts drifted back to the early days of his reign.
At that time, he was a puppet in the hands of the powerful families. If he made a decision that did not suit their wishes, he would be threatened and pressured by them.
Do they still consider him the young emperor he once was?
Emperor Wenjing slowly rose, walked around from behind his desk, strolled to the group of ministers, and sighed.
"I know that this decision is somewhat inappropriate."
"But this riot in Huizhou has resulted in the deaths and injuries of tens of thousands of people. Can you really bear to see such a tragedy occur in other prefectures? My actions are truly out of necessity."
"The people are like water; water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it. My country and its people cannot be destroyed by a rebellious populace forced into revolt."
Emperor Wenjing knew that if he took a hard line, these powerful officials would definitely argue with him and engage in heated debates.
But if they were to continue their strong and forceful opposition after these heartfelt words, it would likely be within a day that the people of all parts of the Great Zhao would know that these aristocratic officials had openly opposed the emperor's punishment of corrupt officials.
By then, the people of Dazhao will probably regard the aristocratic families as enemies.
Li Chongyi stared directly at Emperor Wenjing without any attempt to conceal his gaze, showing not a trace of the awe a subject should have for the emperor.
Emperor Wenjing caught them completely off guard.
His actions did not seem like a sudden impulse, but rather something he had been planning for a long time.
Li Chongyi's face was extremely pale, and he remained silent.
He didn't speak, and when the other officials from the aristocratic families saw that he was silent, they all shut their mouths as well.
The court fell silent instantly, the atmosphere so oppressive it was hard to breathe.
Xie Shifu truly did not expect Emperor Wenjing to say such a thing.
As the emperor's tutor, he had been by the emperor's side since Emperor Wenjing ascended the throne as a young boy.
I still remember when he first ascended the throne, Emperor Wenjing was full of ambition, diligent in his duties and loved his people. He would carefully consider and actively promote any policies that would benefit the country and its people.
Xie Shifu was very pleased at that time and proud of himself for having taught such a wise and virtuous monarch.
Unfortunately, less than a year later, the emperor, who had been diligent and caring for his people, seemed to have changed completely and began to neglect state affairs.
Xie Shifu repeatedly offered his earnest advice, but always received the same cold response: "I am tired. The Left Chancellor should consult with the Right Chancellor."
Xie Shifu felt a mix of emotions as he thought about these things.
He looked up at Emperor Wenjing, his lips moved, but he didn't know where to begin.
The young emperor, once full of ambition, now feels both strange and familiar when he talks about people's livelihood.
"Your Majesty," Xie Shifu hesitated for a long time before finally speaking, "I believe Your Majesty is absolutely right."
"Although Yun Shang is still relatively inexperienced, the disaster in Huizhou was quelled so quickly because of his decisive and resolute actions. This alone is enough to show that Lord Yun has the potential to shoulder great responsibilities."
After he finished speaking, he glanced subtly at Li Chongyi, then addressed the other officials in the imperial study:
"The situation is critical and urgent. The foundation of the Great Zhao Dynasty has begun to crumble. If corruption is not addressed in time, the people's livelihood will become increasingly impoverished, and the people's hearts will gradually be lost. You may think about it: at that time, will there still be any peaceful and stable days in this court?"
Upon hearing this, most of the ministers fell silent, speechless.
The princes remained aloof and silent throughout.
But at this moment, they all had to admit that everything Xie Shifu said was true.
The riots in Huizhou were not an isolated incident. Before this, how many people had turned to banditry because they had nowhere else to turn?
If they weren't truly driven to the brink, who would willingly become a despised bandit?
However, this time the number of people who rose up in Huizhou was so large and the momentum so great that the imperial court could no longer turn a blind eye.
Moreover, if the imperial court continues to do nothing, given the precedent set by Huizhou, people in other prefectures of Dazhao will likely follow suit and rise up in rebellion.
Even powerful families want to seize power, but the prerequisite is that they can keep their lives, right?
Li Chongyi pursed his lips and remained silent.
In his view, wielding the Emperor's Sword might not be a good thing for Yun Shang.
Yunshang's foundation is still shallow and its wings are not yet fully grown. Prematurely showing its talent and placing itself in the eye of the storm will only attract the targeting and suppression of various forces.
Li Chongyi and other aristocratic officials may seem to have compromised at this moment, but once Yun Shang truly begins to investigate corruption, Prince Chen can easily guess what methods they will use.
He secretly hoped that Yun Shang would refuse the assignment and save himself.
The court officials quieted down, and Emperor Wenjing was quite satisfied. Only then did he turn his gaze to Yun Shang, "Minister Yun, are you willing to share my burdens?"