Dark Sand: My Players Are All Actors
Chapter 299 - 219 Five Years_2

Chapter 299: Chapter 219 Five Years_2

The composition of the old party, however, was much more complex.

Among them were adherents to tradition like Wen Junshi, who were absolutely conservative in thought, bureaucrats whose interests were highly bound with those of landlords, but also some officials who were not against reform, but opposed Wang Wenchuan’s proposals.

And these officials who were not against reform but opposed Wang Wenchuan’s proposals were an undeniable, powerful force within the old party.

For example, it had previously been suggested that the Exemption Law should be implemented, but that it should collect money from the wealthy, not from the impoverished common folk.

Chu Ge made some adjustments to the content of Wang Wenchuan’s reforms, objectively garnering support from this group of people.

Therefore, at this moment, the atmosphere in the court was noticeably different from before.

The old party officials glanced at each other, clearly, many were somewhat worried about this.

The shift in the wind left them anxious.

But, perhaps to their dismay, Wang Wenchuan had temporarily decided not to implement the Green Seed Law and the Market Trading Law. Removing these two most criticized and easiest to target laws, the old party’s direction of attack against the new laws was undoubtedly severely limited.

However, they soon found a new direction.

An old party official, as if he had discovered a new world, exclaimed, "My liege, the official system law cannot possibly be implemented!"

A long discourse was given, laying out the pros and cons.

In reality, these officials’ opposition to the official system law boiled down to two reasons: one was its ability to cull redundant officials, which would be harmful to their interests, and the second was the further strengthening of the royal power, which caused dissatisfaction among some senior ministers.

These obstinate members of the old party clearly hoped to use the official system law as a point of entry to continue their fierce attack on the new laws.

However, before the official had finished speaking, he saw the emperor’s face darken.

"The official system law is a plan that I and Minister Wang have contemplated deeply. It is imperative and not open for discussion!"

The official was stunned.

He had intended to find a point of leverage but had not expected to inexplicably hit a wall.

The emperor’s attitude was so resolute that it took many by surprise.

But this did not stop the discussion; instead, it drew more old party officials’ attention to the issue.

Originally, the official system law had been mixed in with other new law proposals, and many officials had subconsciously ignored it or, even if they had read it, failed to grasp its true significance.

At this point, the emperor’s reaction served as a reminder instead.

Opposition voices erupted everywhere!

Even Wen Junshi expressed his dissent.

"My liege, there is no necessity for this official system law. The Saint said, ’The Holy Emperor rules by doing nothing that goes against the nature of things,’ and for minor matters, there are always prime ministers to take care of them. Why should the liege exert himself personally?"

Unaware, the focal point of the debate in the court shifted from the Exemption Law and other new laws to the official system law.

And the emperor’s expression grew increasingly grim.

Throughout the entire process, it was almost exclusively the old party officials who spoke, while the new party officials remained silent.

Chu Ge, acting as Wang Wenchuan, of course, would not speak, as the situation was exactly the outcome he desired.

And among the other officials of the new party, though there were some discontent with the official system law, there was still that saying: whether reformers or opportunists, the new party universally regarded Wang Wenchuan as their leader and would not openly undermine him in such a setting.

Chu Ge secretly observed the emperor’s reaction, knowing that this affair was already more than half successful.

The emperor’s hatred for these old party officials was clearly mounting!

It was as if he was about to take out a notebook and jot down the names of all these old party officials who had spoken.

Obviously, Chu Ge’s previous bluster had taken effect.

The emperor had made up his mind to reclaim royal power, yet at this moment, even Wang Wenchuan, who acted as the prime minister, had already volunteered to give up power. How could these old party officials remain so obstinately ignorant?

Especially Wen Junshi, what did he mean by ’The Holy Emperor rules by doing nothing that goes against nature’? And ’for minor matters, there are always prime ministers’?

Were these minor matters?

The emperor had long been dissatisfied with this state of affairs. He always harbored ambitious aspirations, but each time he sought to achieve something great, a prime minister always stood in his way.

It was like a young person, freshly venturing into the world, aspiring to start a magnificent business, only to have an elder constantly intruding with advice, busying him with this and that.

Perhaps the elder meant well, but from his perspective, whether in success or failure, resentment toward the elder would surely accumulate, even to the point of deep-seated loathing.

With a face ashen, the emperor, facing the collective attack of the old party officials led by Wen Junshi, did not rage or clamor in response. Instead, he silently noted their names and further affirmed Wang Wenchuan’s arguments in his heart.

If previously, he could only rage impotently, faced with the impenetrable bloc of civil officials, he had no good options.

But now, he had a plan.

As long as he relied on Wang Wenchuan, these people posed no threat!

Indeed, only Minister Wang truly understood me, the old party, one by one, preaches the methods of ancestors with their mouths, but in reality, they wish for me to be the kind of emperor who ’does nothing,’ leaving all matters unchecked, allowing them, who would be prime ministers in the future, to act recklessly...

"Let’s end today’s discussions here. Court is dismissed!"

After a heated debate, the emperor departed with a sweep of his sleeves.

Wen Junshi watched the emperor, his brows slightly furrowing.

As a leading figure in the old party, his political instincts were not poor. He had already keenly sensed something amiss in the emperor’s reaction, picking up on the shift in the winds.