Dark Sand: My Players Are All Actors
Chapter 326 - 224: Group Possession? (8500 words, asking for monthly tickets)_4

Chapter 326: Chapter 224: Group Possession? (8500 words, asking for monthly tickets)_4

Wen Jun really had an irrepressible urge to oppose.

Other old party officials also brewed their sentiments, awaiting Wen Jun’s speech, after which they would all rise up in an attack, creating a tumultious wave of opposition that would hamper the implementation of the new laws.

Wang Wenchuan soon finished reading all the new law articles.

Wen Jun immediately said, "Your Majesty, this subject believes that the new laws harm both the state and the people and absolutely must not..."

But before he could finish, he was interrupted by the emperor sitting high above.

"Wen Jianyi.

"It’s not your turn to speak yet; stay calm and composed."

The emperor’s face wore a smile that seemed a very compassionate expression toward his subjects, almost identical to that of the emperor from before. However, to Wen Jun, it still felt somewhat off.

It seemed... the original emperor was tough with a soft edge, while the current emperor had softness laced with firmness.

Their temperaments were so similar that Wen Jun felt momentarily disoriented, even doubting whether it was his own misperception.

However, since the emperor had spoken, he would hold back and wait for an appropriate moment to oppose.

The other old party officials were also forcibly restrained.

The emperor continued, "Prime Minister Wang, continue discussing the matters of official appointments and dismissals."

Chuge nodded and took out another document.

This time, as Chuge had barely started reading a few sentences, the old party officials in the court were already in an uproar!

Because this document directly relocated all old party officials away from the center of power, with some being demoted, others exiled!

Chuge, playing the role of Wang Wenchuan, hadn’t even finished reading when some old party ministers could no longer restrain themselves and burst out.

The official scene in the Qi Dynasty was much more relaxed than that of the Great Sheng Dynasty. In the Great Sheng Dynasty, it was easy for officials to provoke court punishment by shouting and yelling in front of the emperor, but in the Qi Dynasty, it was not unusual for officials to argue heatedly in the court, even to the verge of fighting.

How could these old party officials have expected Wang Wenchuan to play such an unorthodox card?

To indiscriminately dispatch all old party officials regardless of their integrity – wasn’t this a blatant factional struggle? Didn’t it completely disregard the laws and traditions of the court? Above all, it shattered the political tacit agreement that had been established since the founding of the Qi Dynasty!

Were they planning a rebellion?

And most importantly, how could the emperor remain indifferent to all this?

To meddle with one’s livelihood was as grievous as killing one’s parents, let alone sending all these old party officials away to retire – how could they possibly remain silent?

"Your Majesty, Wang Wenchuan is a deceitful scoundrel; to enforce laws that harm the people, he does not hesitate to create chaos in the court. Please, immediately dismiss Wang Wenchuan!"

"Your Majesty, this subject has toiled tirelessly for the Great Qi, dedicated to death, ever vigilant and cautious throughout half a life. Why then am I facing an existence of drifting aimlessly? Your Majesty, by acting in this way, do you not fear that the scholars across the land will feel disheartened?"

"Your Majesty, think thrice! Do not be deceived by a treacherous Prime Minister!"

Old party officials were already desperate, openly cursing Wang Wenchuan as a treacherous Prime Minister.

Wen Jun, however, did not jump out immediately. He was a refined man, but even so, he was puffing on his beard and glaring, trying hard to calm his emotions, obviously shocked by the turn of the events. No matter how cultivatied he was, he almost fainted.

Yet, the emperor and Wang Wenchuan simply smiled slightly, paying no mind at all.

The highest-ranking official of the Imperial Censorate, the Imperial Censor, spoke up.

"Your Majesty, I am just about to impeach these people!"

Upon hearing this, the old party officials who were jumping up and down were completely stunned, looking at the Imperial Censor as if they were seeing him for the first time.

The Imperial Censor, however, completely ignored their gazes.

The old party officials had jumped up, ready to attack Wang Wenchuan, but never expected to be backstabbed by the Imperial Censor before the fight had even begun.

Ordinarily, among the Censors of the Qi Dynasty, there were those who were dedicated, served the court and the public, and upheld integrity.

But at this time, the Imperial Censorate would not completely side with either the new party or the old party.

The reason was simple: the Censors of the Imperial Censorate were also divided into two factions, some supporting the new party and others the old. As the highest official of the Imperial Censorate, the Imperial Censor could not fully tilt towards one side.

Playing both ends against the middle was the way to survive in the officialdom.

Of course, if the Imperial Censorate discovered any official engaging in nepotism, fraud, or other impeachable offenses, they would not hesitate to submit a memorial for impeachment. However, among the old party, there were also those who were honest officials, perhaps even cleaner than those of the new party.

Therefore, the sudden turncoat act of the Imperial Censor against the old party officials baffled them immensely.

What’s happening?

Wasn’t everything fine yesterday? How could it all change overnight?

Surely, such a significant political shift should be foreshadowed by some signs?

For Wang Wenchuan to gain the emperor’s full support, to win over people from the Imperial Censorate, to gain sufficient political backing, should normally require a process and consume a lot of time.

But at this moment, these people seemed possessed, suddenly all standing on Wang Wenchuan’s side.

This was too unreasonable!

The sudden change left even seasoned ministers like Wen Jun dumbfounded.

The Imperial Censor read out several dozen memorials in succession, essentially exposing the misconduct of some of the main old party officials.

These misdeeds, of course, had already been unearthed by the players during the simulation trials through the Wude Bureau, and now they were simply collated; after all, each was based on fact.