Dark Sand: My Players Are All Actors
Chapter 286 - 214 What are Factions_3

Chapter 286: Chapter 214 What are Factions_3

This time, Chu’s innate talent was still his previous generous articulation.

And this time’s battle of wits with the scholars was obviously more justified.

Previously, he had modified the Green Seed Law, which resulted in a loss for the country, causing the Emperor to lose trust in him. Although his intentions were good, he indeed had to take the blame for the outcome.

But what about this time?

He was trying to reform the administration!

The problem with the administration was apparent to everyone, and the Emperor was well aware of it, which is why he had agreed to his proposal.

With that being the case, the arguments of these people were simply self-defeating!

How could they say the measures were too drastic, or that there was no gradual implementation? I obviously started with very mild aspects, didn’t I? It’s not like I said to dismiss all unqualified officials right from the start—is even dismissing some unacceptable?

What does it mean that the scale is too large, too difficult to implement? Reform by its very nature is not achieved overnight. If every issue is deemed too large to handle and left undone, what reform can there be?

And those who say reform would offend the literati and cause them to withdraw their support from the Emperor, leading to widespread chaos, are even more absurd.

Did Emperor Taizu of Sheng not execute many officials? Did skinning corrupt officials for a few taels of silver lead to widespread chaos?

Instead, it was later when the power of the officials grew too strong, "When the right-minded filled the court," that the people suffered...

Indeed, among the literati, there were efficient officials like Wang Wenchuan, but many were merely parasites of the state. Are we not even allowed to remove these parasites?

If that’s the case, then Great Qi truly deserves to be destroyed by Jin Country.

As for the absurdity of supposedly forming cliques in secret, if Wang Wenchuan wanted to employ people for the reform, he inevitably had to promote some and demote others. Surely, not every decision involving appointments and dismissals should be labeled as secret clique formation?

In any case, the term "clique" is a basket where anything can be placed.

Surely, the Emperor could not be so naive as to misinterpret such simple affairs?

Chu was brimming with confidence because he knew that this Emperor was not that kind of top-tier incompetent ruler; he too wanted to achieve things, and historically, his reputation was still quite decent.

Thus, his passionate discourse should be effective this time.

Thinking this, Chu, with righteous anger, rebutted all the key officials, led by Wen Jun.

Especially when discussing the issue of cliques, Chu repeatedly emphasized that in reform, it is natural for the competent to rise and the mediocre to fall, which was a normal part of personnel management.

To achieve results, one must promote officials capable of handling matters; otherwise, they would impede each other, wasting time in meaningless internal conflicts. How could reform succeed under those circumstances?

In conclusion, "Please trust me, Your Majesty!"

Just give me five years, and I will restore a high-efficiency and honest administration to Your Majesty; give me ten years, and I will return a prosperous and powerful Great Qi to Your Majesty!

These words, bolstered by his talent, were spoken with passionate intensity, and the officials of the New Party echoed in agreement.

Members of the Old Party, having no strategy other than continuing their personal attacks with the "clique" argument, were utterly ineffective.

The Emperor was deeply moved and immediately decided to send Wang Wenchuan out of the capital.

At this time, the northern border faced severe threats, with the possibility of Jin soldiers moving south at any moment. The court needed a key official to conduct inspections abroad, and Wang Wenchuan was the best choice.

Thus, Wang Wenchuan was reassigned as the River East Envoy to conduct inspections.

Though he retained the title of Councilor, he had in fact been moved out of the central government.

And this attempt, just one short year later, was declared a failure.