Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 717: Proclamation (Part 2)
Zheng Chen’s actions thoroughly enraged the court officials.
While the military generals might let it go, the civil servants, all of whom came from the ranks of advanced scholars through the Imperial Examination, certainly knew how to wield a pen.
Jiang Shaohua’s gaze swept over the furious faces of the officials, and with a chill in her voice, she said, "Everyone, please calm down."
The officials immediately quieted down.
In the spacious main hall, the voice of the Empress rang out, "You all know that the proclamation is false. However, the Da Liang territory is vast, and the commoners wouldn’t even know which direction the palace gate is, let alone distinguish between truth and falsehood."
"It is a fact that Prince Ping did not ascend the throne, and it is a fact that I am a woman. The Grand Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager reside in the inner palace and rarely appear in public. The intricacies of the matter cannot be untangled easily, nor be made clear to everyone."
"Zheng Chen seized upon this very point to maliciously distort the truth, fabricate lies, and speak nonsense."
"We must engage in this war of words, and our response must be swift and powerful. Minister Dong, as the head of the Ministry of Rites, you are most familiar with the laws and proprieties of Da Liang. I want you to draft a proclamation that severely rebukes the Yu State Army from a legal and moral standpoint, and publish Zheng Chen’s crimes to the world."
Minister Dong’s spirits lifted as he bowed and accepted the order.
Jiang Shaohua’s gaze swept over and landed on Wang Jin’s face, "Secretary Wang."
"I am here," Wang Jin responded, bowing.
Jiang Shaohua said coldly, "I want you to go to the Zheng Family and show this proclamation to Duke An. Have him personally write a letter of farewell disowning his rebellious son. Publish it alongside Minister Dong’s proclamation in the court bulletin for all the world to see."
Wang Jin bowed and accepted the order.
The officials secretly clicked their tongues. The Empress’s methods were truly brilliant.
The influence of the Yu State rebels was ultimately limited. However, the court bulletin could be formally sent to all government offices of Da Liang, and then spread throughout the court and countryside.
Having Minister Dong write the proclamation to denounce the rebels was the court’s official stance. Having Duke An write a farewell poem severing ties with his son was even more ruthless.
Da Liang rules the realm with filial piety. Even though Jiang Shaohua hates her father, she has never wronged Lu Xuan publicly, avoiding leaving room for criticism. At the crucial moment of ascending the throne, she was willing to make some real concessions to secure the support of the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng in consideration of the Emperor’s reputation.
Now with Duke An personally writing a farewell letter disowning his rebellious son, the infamous reputation of being ungrateful and unfilial would be firmly tied to Zheng Chen.
How could an unfilial, rebellious son be a loyal minister of Da Liang? What right does a treacherous and malicious minister have to accuse the Empress of illegitimately gaining her position? Naturally, the proclamation he wrote loses credibility.
This is truly hitting where it hurts!
No wonder the Emperor has kept the entire Zheng Family and Duke An, for now they prove invaluable.
The officials looked at the Empress with a subtle blend of awe and dread in their eyes.
Jiang Shaohua said lightly, "The Yu State Army’s rebellion will surely affect the whole of Yu State and even neighboring states."
"The Ministry of Revenue must continue to prepare military funds and provisions for contingencies."
Minister Ji solemnly accepted the order.
After injecting fifty percent of the Zheng Family’s assets into the National Treasury, the Heroic Guard Camp has secured funding for the next decade. With a well-stocked treasury, tasks naturally wouldn’t be hard to accomplish.
Jiang Shaohua then instructed Minister Zhang, "The Ministry of Personnel should prepare a batch of officials early on, so that once the army pacifies the Yu State Army and vacancies arise in Yu State, the personnel can be immediately filled."
Minister Zhang did not utter a word and swiftly complied.
The Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Industry were temporarily uninvolved, but the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Rites, and the Ministry of Personnel each had tasks assigned.
After the court adjourned, the officials hurried back to their respective government offices to busy themselves.
Minister Dai stole a moment from his busy schedule to visit the Prime Minister’s Mansion.
Prime Minister Wang, already informed of the palace news, sneered before Minister Dai could speak, "With such a rebellious son, Duke An won’t find peace even in the Yellow Springs."
Minister Dai, having a close friendship with Prime Minister Wang, spoke freely and joked, "As you have a talented and accomplished son like Secretary Wang, you can close your eyes without worry at any time."
Prime Minister Wang, caught between laughter and tears, cast a glance at Minister Dai, "This Prime Minister intends to live another twenty or thirty years, watching what will become of the Da Liang Court."
Minister Dai sighed, "I don’t have that kind of drive anymore. I plan to retire after this year."
Prime Minister Wang couldn’t laugh, and his brows furrowed, "The Emperor promised not to disturb senior ministers for three years, and it’s not even been a year. Why are you in such a hurry to retire? Has the Emperor deliberately marginalized you, or is Vice Minister Yang restless?"
Minister Dai sighed again, "Neither. The Emperor has been courteous to me, and Vice Minister Yang respects this old Chief of Staff."
"It’s just that I feel it’s time to retire."
"A new emperor brings a new set of ministers. I’m old, unable to keep up, and unwilling to try. While the Emperor is still willing to leave some face for old ministers, I should yield my position early on. This way, the Emperor might still hold me in some regard."
Prime Minister Wang squinted his eyes, "Have you been frightened by the Zheng Family affair?"
Minister Dai replied with a wry smile, "Let’s say that’s the case! You’ve seen the Emperor’s ingenuity and tactics too. Think about Emperor Gaozu’s reign; did he possess such mastery over people’s hearts?"
Emperor Gaozu, mentioned by Minister Dai, was the grandfather of Emperor Taihe and the brother of Prince Nanyang, regarded as one of the mightiest emperors in Da Liang’s history.
But even such an emperor in his youth did not possess the machination and methods akin to Jiang Shaohua.
Sometimes it makes one marvel if there truly is a True Dragon Emperor destined by birth for the Dragon Throne.
"The Emperor is only sixteen this year, turning seventeen after this year," Minister Dai remarked with a sigh, "so young and at the height of his power."
"Let’s just wait and see! The Da Liang Court will undergo earth-shattering changes. This old boat of mine can’t weather the storm; I should make a full retreat while the waves are still small. Waiting another three years, it may become difficult to retire even if I want to."
These were the heartfelt words of Minister Dai.
Prime Minister Wang detected another meaning, "Are you trying to advise me to also withdraw soon?"
Prime Minister Wang, though absent from the court, had not detached himself from political affairs. In fact, Prime Minister Wang was well-versed in the great and minor matters of the court and had been engaged in subtle diplomacy with the Emperor all along.
Minister Dai looked at the deeply contemplative Prime Minister Wang, "I’m perhaps the only one who dares to be so frank with you. The Emperor will inevitably suppress and control factional strife to fully consolidate the court."
"The Zheng Family is being cornered by the Emperor now, slowly bleeding them by a thousand cuts, an unstoppable decline."
"When the Emperor is through with the Zhengs, which family will be next?"
Prime Minister Wang remained silent.
Minister Dai looked at the grim-looking Prime Minister Wang, deciding to be even more direct, "Only when you, Prime Minister, truly withdraw from the court will Secretary Wang become a key trusted minister of the Emperor."
"These principles need not be elaborated, as you surely understand them, Prime Minister."
"In any case, I’ve resolved myself to retire. After the New Year, I’ll submit my memorial to retire."
