The Immortal Seeker: Legend of Bronze Mirror
Chapter 269 - 132: Please Execute Xu Qing (Subscribe Request)_3

Chapter 269: Chapter 132: Please Execute Xu Qing (Subscribe Request)_3

The officials could not help but be at a loss.

The Grand Secretary said: "Your Majesty, currently all officials have their private agendas. I suggest that Your Majesty make the decision alone, to first implement the land survey and the One Whip Law. I will carry out this decree at all costs, even if it means I have to risk my life."

He spoke with fervor, as if he had set aside the fear of death.

The officials were taken aback by his intensity.

The Emperor slowly spoke: "As for the land survey and the one whip law, let Mr. Zhang first draft a detailed set of regulations, and then we will discuss and review these plans in a future court meeting."

The officials sighed in relief.

Such important matters obviously could not be decided by one word.

As long as the Emperor has not shown his decision, there is always an opportunity for changes.

However, after this exchange in court, many ministers felt the Grand Secretary’s determination to implement the land survey and the One Whip Law.

In fact, implementing the One Whip Law inevitably requires a thorough land survey.

Otherwise, it would still be the lower-class citizens who pay the taxes, and without silver, their exploitation would only worsen.

Then they adjourned from court.

Shen Mo, as the Minister of Honglu Temple, remained silent today.

After leaving court, someone from the Prime Minister’s Mansion came to seek him out.

Shen Mo immediately went to the Prime Minister’s Mansion.

At that time, in the Yanyue Hall of the Prime Minister’s Mansion, several key figures from court were present, including the Vice Minister of Ministry of Revenue Chen Fu, who firstly criticized the Grand Secretary today, and Cheng Guang, the Assistant Minister of Rites who countered the Grand Secretary with citations from the classics.

Shen Mo was not surprised at all.

The reform was actually a consensus among high-ranking officials; the key is how to implement it.

Serving in high positions, there were those who pursued easy careers and those who aimed to achieve significant deeds.

However, these two ministers were definitely not initially with his teacher; he really did not know when his teacher managed to win them over.

"Ah, the higher one stands, the more envy he faces, the purer one lives, the more disdain he encounters." Shen Mo thought, the more high-profile and power-grasping his teacher is, the more precarious his future would be.

He decided he should visit the Prime Minister’s Mansion less in the future.

After exchanging greetings.

Chen Fu said: "Today’s grand court debate showed that implementing new laws still faces significant obstacles."

The decrees for reforms were not achieved overnight.

There had been many irrelevant decrees issued before.

But when it came to the implementation of the land survey, it marked the deep-water zone of the reforms, and the resistance was great enough to deter any influential minister.

These people, following the Grand Secretary, in fact, had even disregarded their own families.

Shen Mo, feeling emotional, could not help but admire them.

Others had families, whereas he, Shen Junshan, actually did not really have a family.

His foster father didn’t want him, his biological parents were no longer alive, and he didn’t know those clan members well, so he basically had no interaction with them.

Even so, he did not think about establishing a noble cause for the people.

Humans are just strange and complex creatures.

Chen Fu and Cheng Guang, both from major families, were even more active in this matter than Shen Mo, who had no family burdens.

Cheng Guang said: "The primary goal in implementing new laws is to clarify official administration. Currently, state affairs, although originating from the Central Court, are effectively controlled by clerks. If these people are not subdued, discussing reforms will be pointless."

He had read widely and his perspective on problems was profound.

The Grand Secretary slightly nodded, then turned to Shen Mo and said: "Junshan, since you returned from South Zhili, you haven’t shared your experiences with me. I wonder what are your thoughts about the current situation?"

Shen Mo replied: "As a student, I traveled hurriedly and didn’t particularly observe anything noteworthy."

The Grand Secretary looked disappointed and said, "Xu Gongming, what is your opinion of him?"

Shen Mo hesitated for a moment, then said: "As a student, he was under my supervision during the provincial exam, so it would not be appropriate for me to express opinions."

The Grand Secretary asked, "He caused such a stir during the provincial exam, don’t you blame him?"

Shen Mo shook his head: "I don’t blame him, but rather admire his courage. However, the more stubbornly straightforward a young man is, the more easily broken. His future is unpredictable."

The Grand Secretary nodded: "Then you may leave."

"Understood."

The Grand Secretary watched Shen Mo’s receding figure, then withdrew his gaze and smilingly said to a few senior officials nearby: "Shen Junshan has his own prospects, we old fellows needn’t worry about him."

Chen Fu did not dwell on this topic, he said: "Xu Qing from Jiangning can be greatly utilized."

The Grand Secretary asked: "How so?"

Chen Fu replied: "Xu Qing’s family was massacred, with only his foster uncle and aunt as close relatives, who are not his blood relatives. I know this person is brave and wise, and without the burdens of a family, he resembles the orphan of the Zhao family. Moreover, he is about to marry into the Feng family. Although he is the son-in-law of the Taicang Zhou family, he comes from ordinary origins, also lacking family burdens..."

He spoke at length, all on how Xu Qing could be substantially used.

Once Chen Fu finished, Cheng Guang countered: "I completely agree with Mr. Chen’s points, but in my view, Xu Qing should not be heavily relied upon."

The Grand Secretary asked: "Why not?"

Cheng Guang bowed and said: "Please invite him to the capital to take the imperial examinations and serve as a Hanlin for a few years with a righteous and upright attitude."

"Why would I want him to idle away when I intend him to be employed?" the Grand Secretary queried.

Cheng Guang replied: "Prime Minister, you misspoke. Our dynasty does not lack wise and capable individuals, nor those who can handle affairs. If South Zhili’s matters can’t proceed without Xu Qing, then it would eventually lead to a major collapse, or it might make Xu Qing, controlled by us, a great threat to the nation in the future.

With the Prime Minister’s far-reaching foresight, with us assisting, the implementation of the new laws should be temporarily achievable. Yet the difficulty lies in governance ceasing when people are gone. Today, since Shen Junshan has no great ambitions, the Prime Minister should select someone to inherit your aspirations, rather than hastily striving for achievements."

The Grand Secretary said: "Lord Cheng speaks truthfully from his heart. Unfortunately, life is unpredictable, and I may not live to see him mature. In dealing with such important matters, there’s only time to act immediately. Let’s not discuss this matter further."

Cheng Guang couldn’t help but sigh.

The historical pattern of governance ceasing with a leader’s demise is well recognized, but why wouldn’t those in power understand?

However, acknowledging the unpredictable nature of worldly affairs was also reasonable.

His argument, indeed, could not sway the Grand Secretary.

Cheng Guang bowed to the Grand Secretary again and said,{"mode":"full","isActive":false}