Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 424: Inspector (Part 1)

Ten days later.

The memorial from Nanyang County Princess Jiang Shaohua was placed before Emperor Taihe’s imperial desk.

Prime Minister Wang did not utter a word.

Minister Zhang of the Ministry of Personnel wore an angry expression, furiously bowing and reporting: "Your Majesty, Lu Cong is a criminal minister. Back then, it was Prince Nanyang who went to great lengths to save his life, allowing him to escape death and be dismissed back to his hometown. According to the Da Liang Law, a criminal minister who has committed a serious offense will never be reemployed by the court."

"The Lu Family is an in-law to the Nanyang Prince Mansion. Lu Cong went to seek refuge with the Nanyang County Princess, to be used by her. This matter did not go through the Ministry of Personnel, and the Ministry of Personnel also has no formal official documents. In other words, Lu Cong holds no official position and merely performs tasks at the Prince Mansion. Such matters are indeed against the regulations. Out of respect for the County Princess, the court can look the other way."

"But now, the Nanyang County Princess is rightfully seeking merit on behalf of Doctor Sun and his sons. How can she recommend Lu Cong to be the Pingzhou Governor?"

"This matter is utterly ridiculous and laughable!"

The Ministry of Personnel oversees the promotion of all officials, with appointments of third-rank and above made by the Emperor. Promotions of officials below third-rank fall within the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Personnel. Back then, when Lu Cong served as the Prefectural Governor, he was merely a fourth-rank official. The dismissal document bore the official seal personally stamped by Minister Zhang.

Now, Jiang Shaohua attempts to recommend a criminal minister as an Inspector for his achievements in governing Pingzhou. Minister Zhang is the first to disagree.

Minister Zhou of the Ministry of Industry and Minister Dai of the Ministry of Justice also spoke out in indignant agreement.

A Prime Minister, three Chiefs of Staff, along with numerous middle and low-ranking civil servants, plus the Left General guarding the border. This represented the visible core strength of the Prime Minister Faction.

In contrast, the Empress Dowager Faction was indeed much weaker. Aside from the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng in the harem, the frontline figures in the court were Minister of War Duke An, Minister Ji of the Ministry of Revenue, and Minister Li of the Ministry of Rites, who were loyal to the Emperor. Occasionally, when the two factions’ disputes became heated, Minister Ji and Minister Li might lean somewhat toward the Empress Dowager Faction, albeit just a little. They would voice support in favorable times and remain silent when circumstances turned against them.

Duke An himself also felt that Jiang Shaohua’s actions were unreasonable. However, Jiang Shaohua was now a staunch supporter of the Empress Dowager Faction. Last night, Grand Empress Dowager Zheng sent someone to instruct him to fully support Jiang Shaohua in the court today.

Thus, Duke An stood forward and directly pierced the heart of Prime Minister Wang: "Back then, Prime Minister Wang insisted on abandoning Pingzhou. Out of twenty thousand people in Pingzhou, over a hundred thousand perished, leaving only a pitiful fifty or sixty thousand commoners. It was Nanyang County Princess who sent physicians to treat the plague, dispatched people to calm and govern Pingzhou, and sent medicine and grain seeds. Otherwise, the people of Pingzhou would have either died of illness or starved to death."

"Now that Pingzhou has found stability, it is an unexpected blessing. The credit goes entirely to Nanyang County Princess. If the court now wants to send someone to serve as Pingzhou Inspector, isn’t that too thick-skinned? Since the Nanyang County Princess has recommended a suitable candidate, why can’t he be appointed?"

Prime Minister Wang coldly huffed: "Minister Zheng, please speak cautiously. Pingzhou is a territory of the Da Liang Dynasty. The Nanyang County Princess has contributed to the Da Liang Court, which I, the Prime Minister, do not deny. However, Pingzhou belongs to Da Liang, not to the Nanyang County Princess."

Duke An retorted with a sneer: "Prime Minister Wang’s words sound nice, why not personally visit Pingzhou and ask the surviving people there, whose subjects are they?"

These words were indeed harsh.

In fact, since the chaotic armies occupied Pingzhou and rebelled a few years ago, Pingzhou no longer recognized the rule of the Da Liang Dynasty. All the civil servants within Pingzhou had been utterly wiped out.

Emperor Taihe, sitting on the Dragon Throne, appeared somewhat uneasy.

Prime Minister Wang’s face looked unpleasant as he replied coldly: "Regarding the Pingzhou rebellion, the court has always sent troops for suppression. Previously, General Wei was executed for his failure to suppress the bandits. General Fan has now taken command against the bandits and has gained the upper hand. If it weren’t for a plague, the court would have long recovered Pingzhou."

"Such hypotheticals are better left unsaid," Duke An pressed his advantage: "The current fact is that the Nanyang County Princess sent people to stabilize Pingzhou and recover it. To keep Pingzhou stable, it must be governed by people from the County Princess. Otherwise, if Pingzhou doesn’t submit to court governance, rebellion will resurface."

"The court has been warring for years, and the National Treasury has been depleted. Prime Minister Wang couldn’t possibly want Pingzhou to relapse into chaos and continue fighting!"

"But a criminal minister cannot be employed!" Prime Minister Wang’s eyes flashed with anger: "Where does that place the dignity of the court!"

At this moment, Vice Minister Dong of the Ministry of Rites suddenly stood up, bowing to Emperor Taihe: "Your Majesty, Minister Zheng’s words hold some truth. I also believe that the person recommended by the County Princess should be appointed as Pingzhou Inspector. As for Prime Minister Wang’s concerns, they are not difficult to resolve."

"Please, Your Majesty, directly issue an imperial decree to pardon Lu Cong’s criminal status and appoint him as Pingzhou Inspector in recognition of his merits in governing Pingzhou and pacifying the people."

"In this way, it will demonstrate Your Majesty’s magnanimity in employing talent beyond the conventional norms, providing an answer both inside and outside the court."

Prime Minister Wang’s eyebrows twitched as he glanced at Vice Minister Dong, who spoke eloquently.

Vice Minister Dong had always been closely associated with the Nanyang Prince Mansion, often speaking on behalf of Nanyang County Princess in court.

Following this, Vice Minister Yang of the Ministry of Justice also stood and bowed: "Your Majesty, I find that Vice Minister Dong’s words are quite reasonable."

"The case against Lu Cong back then was really due to misfortune. A flood disaster and rebellious civilians stormed the governor’s mansion, and Lu Cong’s wife and daughter were killed by the rebels. In truth, Lu Cong himself did no wrong while in office."

"Although the plague in Pingzhou is now under control, with desolation spread across thousands of miles and all industries devastated, it is uncertain how many years are needed to revive it. There are still remnants of the disbanded Pingzhou rebel army hiding within Pingzhou’s borders. Who knows when they might spread like wildfire and reignite rebellion."

"To put it bluntly, which minister in the court dares to assume the role of Pingzhou Inspector?"

Upon these words, silence fell among the ministers in court.

Vice Minister Yang’s words were direct and sharp. They lived comfortably and prosperous in the Capital City, engaging in power struggles and verbal spats, but who wanted to venture a thousand miles away to Pingzhou to risk their lives in hardship!

Prime Minister Wang knitted his brows, his gaze sweeping over Vice Minister Yang and Vice Minister Dong.

In the past few years, Nanyang County Princess Jiang Shaohua had closely consolidated with Grand Empress Dowager Zheng and the Emperor, making relentless efforts to win over the courtiers. Vice Minister Yang and Vice Minister Dong were both under fifty, in the prime years of their careers in court. Vice Minister Dong had long been considered the indispensable choice for the next Minister of Rites. Although Vice Minister Yang was slightly less experienced, with the current support of Jiang Shaohua, he might contend for the position of Minister of the Ministry of Justice once the current Minister retires.

They willingly served the Nanyang County Princess, demonstrating the prowess and capability of Jiang Shaohua.

In another five, eight, or ten years, when he retired, would the court become Jiang Shaohua’s world?

"I have heard all that my beloved ministers have said," Emperor Taihe broke the silence: "I will need a few days to thoroughly ponder."