The Immortal Seeker: Legend of Bronze Mirror
Chapter 266 - 131: Innate Finger, Capital Shaken (Request for Subscription)_3

Chapter 266: Chapter 131: Innate Finger, Capital Shaken (Request for Subscription)_3

He respectfully submitted the petition.

The Grand Secretary took it, didn’t even glance at it, but threw out a stack of papers and said, "The Imperial Censorate has had many such petitions recently. The scholars being treated like fish and meat, quite novel indeed. However, Mr. Liang should first take a look at these petition letters."

Mr. Liang took the papers, carefully read through them, and calmly said, "This is indeed a major evidence of Xu Qing treating the scholars like fish and meat. I ask, if not for Xu Qing pressing them too much, how could these people have written petitions about land survey?"

The Grand Secretary glanced at Mr. Liang, "Does Mr. Liang mean that every scholar harbors ill intentions, daring not to let the Court survey the lands?"

Mr. Liang’s expression changed, and he exclaimed, "Prime Minister, I meant no such thing. We cannot, just because we are high in the temple of government, fail to understand local sentiments. Some things are unavoidable. Southeast is a major source of financial allotment; should it be disturbed, the Court would also be thrown into chaos. Prime Minister, this matter must be handled with caution."

The Grand Secretary looked at the other Elders, asking, "How does everyone see it?"

"It is better to leave the matter in the Southeast undisturbed," commented an Elder.

"Whether true or false, since there are so many impeaching petitions, we must thoroughly investigate."

The Grand Secretary lightly said, "I am speaking of the matter of land surveys, how does everyone see it."

"Ah." The Elders were startled, they didn’t expect the Grand Secretary to make such a strong stance, actually intending to carry out land surveys.

Mr. Liang’s expression changed, "Prime Minister, the One Whip Law is about to be enforced, surveying lands now, I’m afraid local scholars won’t cooperate, making it difficult to implement the law."

Grand Secretary: "It’s precisely to implement the One Whip Law that we need to survey the lands. Moreover, during the winter when the farmers are idle, this is the time to survey lands and remake the Yellow Book, not delaying next year’s spring plowing, exactly when we need to act."

Mr. Liang: "Prime Minister, matters of the world should be dealt with cautiously, not hastily."

Grand Secretary: "Then tomorrow we shall debate this matter in court, and before that, let’s discuss this petition."

Mr. Liang: "Prime Minister, what do you mean?"

The Grand Secretary indifferently said: "Mr. Liang, I ask you, were these petitions sincerely written?"

Mr. Liang: "Certainly not."

The Grand Secretary scoffed, "Since it wasn’t, what were they doing signing and sealing the petition? This petition is meant for His Majesty, you say it wasn’t sincere, what then are they doing? Deceiving the Emperor?"

Mr. Liang was at a loss for words, "Perhaps they were coerced by Xu Qing."

Unable to restrain himself, the Grand Secretary laughed angrily, "Mr. Liang, are you saying they would rather deceive the Emperor than offend Xu Qing? Great, these scholars really have guts."

He then looked at the other Elders, asking, "Gentlemen, these scholars dare deceive Heaven, their crimes are unpardonable. If we forgive this as well, where is the majesty of the Emperor? Where is the authority of the Central pillars? As pillars of the state, how could we face standing above in the Court if we cannot share the sovereign’s concerns?"

"Prime Minister, please calm down. This matter must be severely punished," the other Elders replied helplessly, having no choice but to agree.

This is a matter of principle.

If the scholars truly meant their petitions, then Xu Qing is not in the wrong. If the scholars didn’t mean their petitions, then the error is grave.

Whether or not Xu Qing is culpable is another matter.

Jiangning Prefecture must be severely punished without negligence.

The Grand Secretary then slowly said, "Mr. Liang, you are the Minister of Rites. Managing the education of scholars is an undeniable responsibility of the Ministry of Rites. How about you first go to South Zhili, investigate this alarming matter. If the scholars from Jiangning Prefecture sincerely petitioned, then execute the land survey there. If not, take down the listed scholars right there, bring them back to the Capital, hand them over to the Ministry of Personnel to strip their titles and claim back their credentials."

Mr. Liang: "This task could be handled by sending an Assistant Minister. Is it necessary for me to go personally?"

Grand Secretary: "The matter is significant, and not just any state official can command authority. Moreover, since the Southeast is crucial for financial allotment and should not be disturbed, Mr. Liang’s trip should only consist of stopping at Jiangning Prefecture to investigate the scholars’ deceiving of the Emperor. Absolutely no action should provoke local unrest."

"What about Xu Qing then?"

Grand Secretary: "Firstly, determine if the Jiangning Prefecture scholars deceived the Emperor before discussing Xu Qing’s case. If they didn’t deceive, what crime would Xu Qing have? If they did deceive, only after stripping them of their titles and credentials by the Ministry of Personnel, and then having them prosecuted by the Three Judicial Departments with a legal basis, can we consider Xu Qing’s case."

Mr. Liang: "Prime Minister, this task you assign is really making things difficult for people."

Grand Secretary indifferently spoke: "If Mr. Liang is unwilling, I could send Zhang Shilun there, and have him also supervise the investigation of the actual conditions of lands and population in South Zhili, preparing for the land survey."

Mr. Liang: "Then I better go."

Zhang Shilun is a famously upright and incorruptible official of the Court.

If he were to serve as an imperial envoy to South Zhili, wouldn’t that spell doom for the local officials there?

Thus, if Mr. Liang refuses, he would surely be despised by the locals of South Zhili after they find out.

If he goes, it’s simply the scholars of Jiangning Prefecture who would suffer losses.

If Zhang Shilun took this opportunity to go to South Zhili, it would be hard for everyone.

Better for one prefecture to cry than a whole province, right?

The Grand Secretary slightly smiled: "Then let’s trouble Mr. Liang with this task. Let us request a decree from Your Majesty now."

Mr. Liang nodded: "This matter is significant, I should go back and prepare early."

The Grand Secretary clasped hands: "Much obliged, Mr. Liang."

Mr. Liang quickly stepped aside and took his leave.

The other Elders watched him go, seemingly a bit envious.

After leaving the Cabinet, Mr. Liang felt a weight lifted off him, finally finding a chance to escape the recent whirlwind at the Court.

Whether the Grand Secretary wants to survey the lands or something else, it temporarily had nothing to do with him.

What a splendid turn of events!

"Jiangning’s Xu Qing, interesting." Mr. Liang briskly stepped out of the Cabinet, and after exiting, his expression became solemn again, deep as still waters.

Once he left the Imperial City and returned home, many Imperial Censors and Capital Officials from South Zhili came calling, inquiring about the news.

"Mr. Liang, what’s happening?"

Mr. Liang, with a grave face, recounted what had happened in the Cabinet.

"This Prime Minister... is lacking in martial virtue..." blurted a young and impulsive Imperial Censor.

The rest also looked shaken, feeling quite ominous.

"Gentlemen, this matter concerns national welfare and people’s livelihood. In tomorrow’s court session, we must argue our case based on reason and must not let the Prime Minister pass the order to survey the lands."

"Yes, if this matter is not handled well, it could lead to unrest throughout the land."

"The Prime Minister is being foolish."

Many officials were filled with righteous indignation.

As for the issue of investigating the scholars of Jiangning Prefecture, they all momentarily forgot it.

It was a joke, such a great sin of deceiving the sovereign, who would dare get involved?

One might say these people deserved it, if Xu Qing had killed them, none of these troubles would arise.

They only considered their own safety and property, completely oblivious that, as people serving in the temples of officialdom, they needed to consider many bigger issues.

And the significant matter of surveying the lands quickly spread throughout the Capital.

It shook the Court from inside out, a major storm was evidently brewing.

But Mr. Liang hurriedly received the imperial decree and went to Jiangning Prefecture in South Zhili to carry out his duties.

For Mr. Liang, national affairs were pressing matters.

How loyally he served the nation and reported to the sovereign!