Above the Great Dao
Chapter 688 - 308 Great Ming Paste Craftsman_2

Chapter 688: Chapter 308 Great Ming Paste Craftsman_2

Yan Xianzhi said, "I insist."

Zhang Fuzheng stood up, walked down from the teahouse, then stopped and looked back, "You did nothing, while I did everything. I beat you at every turn, in every way. I can’t understand it, really can’t understand it."

Yan Xianzhi laughed, "At this time in the Great Ming Dynasty, doing nothing can be a win. Taking action, on the contrary, is wrong and would lead to defeat."

"Is doing nothing the correct course?"

Zhang Fuzheng shook his head as he laughed heartily and turned around to descend the stairs.

Yan Xianzhi waited for a moment and walked to the window, looking down from above, he saw the driver open the carriage door, and Zhang Fuzheng bent down and went in.

The carriage started its journey, leaving the Western Capital.

This morning, Zhang Fuzheng’s resignation letter was already submitted to the Cabinet.

Zhang Fuzheng did everything while Yan Xianzhi did nothing, yet Zhang Fuzheng made a mistake and had no choice but to give an explanation to the Thirteen Families, resigning from his position as Grand Secretary.

Yan Xianzhi, once again became the Grand Secretary.

When Yan Xianzhi walked downstairs, the storyteller in the teahouse was still narrating the battle between Chen Shi and the young lord with tears in his eyes, describing the top scorer Chen Shi as utterly evil and deeply sinful.

Yan Xianzhi stood in the crowd and listened for a moment, then shook his head, thinking to himself, "These commoners only know the surface, just fragments, acting out of emotion."

He left the teahouse and slowly walked towards the Inner City.

Everywhere in the streets and alleyways, people were also discussing the battle between Chen Shi and the young lord, describing how Chen Shi killed the young lord as if they had witnessed it with their own eyes.

Various rumors were flying around, some extremely absurd, while others were analyzed with great detail.

"When someone leaves, the tea cools; when the tree falls, the monkeys scatter. These criticisms will all subside in a month. For the common folk, life will go on as usual, what is right or wrong has nothing to do with their daily necessities," he silently mused.

Listening to people’s discussions as he walked, he finally found some peace after entering the Inner City, then he headed towards the Wenyuan Pavilion and entered the Cabinet, taking his seat.

At this moment, the other twelve ministers of the Cabinet were already waiting for him, with pairs of eyes focused on his face.

Yan Xianzhi smiled faintly and said, "Gentlemen, the name of the top scorer should be decided now."

"Cabinet Minister, regarding the matter of Chen Shi killing the young lord..."

"Throughout history, disputes over the top scorer have inevitably involved casualties, it is an unfortunate matter. The Cabinet will express condolences to the family of Ren Mu, and the Court will offer some solace."

Yan Xianzhi said, "Also, Minister of War Ren Xiao lost his son, his heart is grieved, and he is advanced in age. The Court should not delay his retirement. At tomorrow’s morning assembly, let us urge him to retire."

The twelve ministers nodded silently.

Xia Canghai inquired, "Then, what about Minister Chen Tang? The Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Revenue manages the eight treasuries and four granaries. Surely he’s pocketed quite a bit over these years?"

Unable to restrain his indignation, he said, "Minister Cui of the Ministry of Revenue is clueless, not knowing how much Chen Tang has embezzled!"

Cui Baihe, bearing the title of Minister of Revenue and also a Cabinet Minister, was in the Wenyuan Pavilion. Hearing this, his face flushed with anger as he slapped the table, "Gao Canghai, if you went to the Ministry of Revenue to be the Minister, you too would be fooled like an idiot! Which of those present doesn’t think Chen Tang is a pillar of the nation? Who doesn’t believe he is a cornerstone of talent? Who discovered he embezzled thirty-seven talismans of Fu Shen Tianji? You all think he is a great talent!"

Xia Canghai sneered, "He doesn’t work under me, but under you! Your people have embezzled so much, assaulted the civil and military officials, even injured several patriarchs, with the Ma Family’s patriarch having his leg broken!"

Ma Lishu was somewhat displeased, "What do you mean the Ma Family’s patriarch had his leg broken? Wasn’t the Li Family’s patriarch’s leg broken? The Li Family patriarch was humiliated by Chen Wu and beaten so severely that even after recovering slightly, he was gravely injured again by the White-clothed Fairy, and right after recovery, he was heavily beaten again by Chen Tang..."

Li Xiaoshuang, slapping the table, said angrily, "What do you mean by that, Ma Lishu? The Thirteen Families share the same fate, which family patriarch hasn’t been beaten by Chen Wu? Which family patriarch hasn’t been beaten by the White-clothed Fairy? If they hadn’t left early, they would also have been beaten by Chen Tang this time!"

...

The twelve ministers quarreled bitterly, nearly coming to blows.

Yan Xianzhi let them argue, feeling quite helpless, "The Great Ming’s paper-mâché politics, it’s just paper-mâchéing such matters."

After the crowd quarreled to exhaustion, Xia Canghai asked, "Cabinet Minister, what should be done about Chen Tang’s numerous crimes and corrupt practices?"

"Investigate? Investigate what? Who will investigate?"

Yan Xianzhi spread his hands and in astonishment said, "If this old man doesn’t investigate, who will? Minister Xia, will you investigate? Or Minister Ma will? What’s a little embezzling? Isn’t the Ministry of Revenue operating perfectly well? Isn’t the Court functioning as it should? Is it that Minister Li hasn’t embezzled, or Minister Cui?"

Everyone fell silent.

Xia Canghai couldn’t help but ask, "But we can’t let him stay in that position. As the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Revenue for these years, he embezzled thirty-seven talismans of Fu Shen Tianji. Who knows how many more he could amass if he stays? Why not move him to a lower position?"

Yan Xianzhi shook his head, "If you’re not afraid of his family’s thirty-seven talismans of Fu Shen Tianji, I am. Minister Chen Tang is diligent in the Ministry of Revenue, his contributions are significant, how could he be demoted? It would be better to promote him! Let him be elevated to the position of Honorary Advisor, holding a rank of Associate First Grade. What do you all think?"

The twelve ministers knowingly smiled and all nodded in agreement at the cleverness.

This move was ostensibly a promotion, but in reality, a demotion.

The Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, with a rank of Third Grade, becomes an Honorary Advisor, with a rank of Associate First Grade. It appears as a two-level promotion, but the Assistant Minister oversees the eight treasuries and four granaries, while the Honorary Advisor holds an empty title with no actual power, essentially promoting Chen Tang into an empty position, blocking him from accessing any resources.

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