Chapter 527 268: The Fire Ignites (Part 2)

Although being in the Ministry of Rites, his stance is clearly different from Ye Xuan, and at this moment he stands out with a distinct attitude.

"Your Majesty!"

He bows and salutes: "Although the scientific examination is a national policy of our Great Zhou, the culture of the Northern Lands differs from the Southern Lands. Scholars mostly study the Four Books and Five Classics and the works of sages, and seldom delve into scientific theories. Forcing this policy might disappoint the scholars of the Northern Lands, causing resentment and shaking the foundation of the state, therefore, I believe it is better to continue the separation of northern and southern lists."

"Absurd!"

Upon hearing this, before Song Yu could speak, Ye Xuan harshly rebuked: "How can a national examination be divided into two parts? Do you mean that our Great Zhou is not unified between the north and south, and the Nine States are not one? Such malicious rhetoric truly shakes the foundation of the state. What exactly are you intending?"

Facing such words, Wang Shi's expression did not change, nor did he even look at Ye Xuan, only staring at Song Yu above the Imperial Hall: "I ask for Your Majesty's judgment!"

"This..."

Hearing this, Song Yu was also troubled.

To be honest, he does not oppose the implementation of this scientific examination, as it is the foundation of the Great Zhou. Since its implementation in the Southern Lands, many achievements have been made. The success of the Northern Expedition back then owed much to this "scientific path."

But what Wang Shi said was also not without reason. The Northern Noble Families resist this move, and a forced push will surely cause public resentment.

As the former commander of the Northern Expedition, these Northern Noble Families mostly pledge allegiance to him, and they are his most loyal supporters in the court. If he forces them to submit, it will surely result in alienation...

That's why Song Yu was somewhat troubled.

Ye Xuan saw this and decisively said: "The scientific path is the foundation of our Great Zhou, established as early as during the time of Qinghe and Huangshan. It is the cornerstone of our Great Zhou's foundation, a move that benefits the present and the future. How can it be ruined by some profiters for personal gain, destroying the national apparatus and the people's roots?"

"Talk about benefiting the people of the Northern Lands, the world has been stabilized for ten years, and these ten years are the consideration our Great Zhou has given to the people of the Northern Lands. Now that ten years have passed, and all conditions are met, these temporary methods should be changed."

"This time, not only should examinations in engineering, agriculture, medicine, and mathematics be fully implemented, but we should also fully implement all our national policies in the Northern Lands!"

"What Lord Ye said is correct!"

As Ye Xuan finished speaking, another person stood out, none other than Lu Ping, Minister of the Ministry of Revenue.

"Your Majesty."

Lu Ping stepped out and stood alongside Ye Xuan: "Our Great Zhou has long established national policies to abolish the status of slaves, and to strictly prohibit the keeping of slaves. Additionally, we need to measure land, audit fields, and set taxes. However, in the Northern Lands, many families comply in appearance but oppose in secret, keeping slaves and hiding land and population using various methods, becoming national parasites and social tumors. I request an order to deal with this according to the law!"

"Lord Lu's words are incorrect!"

As Lu Ping finished speaking, another stood up: "Abolishing slave status indeed benefits the people, but everything should not be rushed. The customs of the Northern Lands are different from the Southern Lands, and the matter of slavery is an old system involving many aspects and has a wide influence. Banning it abruptly is impractical; it should be done gradually..."

"It's been ten years; how much longer do you want to take?"

As soon as these words fell, another person stood up and directly scolded: "You parasites, for personal gain, ruining national policies, blinded by greed, harming the nation and the people, you're great villains who should be punished!"

"Whether loyal or treacherous, for public or private, His Majesty will decide, not your words alone!"

"You are pushing policies hastily, ignoring the principle of haste making waste; it's your self-interest at play..."

One after another, words against words, the entire court divided into two factions, debating and even quarreling, each with fierce words, engaging in a heated battle.

This scene made Song Yu helpless and gave him a bit of a headache, but he had to speak to control the situation: "Gentlemen, please do not argue."

"Your Majesty!"

But Ye Xuan ignored it, instead solemnly looking at him: "These national policies must be implemented; I ask Your Majesty to make a decision!"

"National policies must be implemented, but they should be adapted to local conditions, not rushed."

Wang Shi quickly responded, bowing and saluting again: "I ask for Your Majesty's judgment!"

"..."

Song Yu was silent for a moment before speaking: "Both of you make valid points. These national policies must be implemented, but they should not be rushed. Let's first conduct a pilot in Xuzhou..."

"Your Majesty!!"

The words were not finished when sharply interrupted, Ye Xuan took a step forward: "After ten years of planning, everything is ready, the people of the world are eager for the scientific path, the enslaved millions long for freedom, Your Highness, as the ruler of our Great Zhou, how can you sit back and ignore the people's desires, turning a blind eye just for the personal desires of these profiters, that's simply unworthy of being a ruler!"

"Hmm!?"

Upon hearing this, Song Yu's eyes grew stern, coldly staring at Ye Xuan.

"Ye Xuan, you are presumptuous!"

Wang Shi was inwardly delighted, but outwardly showed anger, standing righteously, pointing at Ye Xuan: "How dare you challenge the authority and insult the monarch?"

"Challenge the authority?"

Ye Xuan sneered, turning to Minister of the Ministry of Justice Li Feng by his side: "Minister Li, do laws of our Great Zhou have any crime for challenging the authority?"

"No!"

Li Feng's expression remained unchanged: "The laws of our Great Zhou clearly state that unless there is intimidation or insult, the speaker is innocent, without a crime for challenging the authority, even against the Monarch."

Wang Shi's eyes narrowed, not directly refuting, but turned to Song Yu: "Your Majesty, Ye Xuan disregards the monarch, his words are inappropriate, although not against the country's laws, they violate the etiquette of a minister..."

"Mr. Wang, that is too severe!"

The words were not finished when interrupted, Song Yu sitting high on the throne, calmly looking at the ministers, finally fixing his gaze on Ye Xuan: "Mr. Ye is also speaking for the sake of the country. I believe he has no ulterior motives. As for the examination matter... Mr. Ye's words make sense. Our Great Zhou cannot be divided into north and south, so let it be carried out according to Mr. Ye's proposition."

"Your Majesty!?"

Wang Shi's eyes narrowed, wanting to speak, but was suppressed by a glance from Song Yu.

Suppressing Wang Shi, Song Yu turned to others: "Do any of you have further petitions?"

Standing on the same front with Ye Xuan, Lu Ping immediately stepped forward: "Also, sorting out of fields and abolition of slave status..."

"Granted!"

"..."

"Dismiss the court!!!"

After intense arguments and accusations, this grand court meeting finally ended.

Song Yu left the Golden Hall and returned to the Imperial Study, waving away the attendants.

Then...

"Bang!!!"

Song Yu swept his wide sleeve, clearing the desk, sending brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone crashing to the ground in a mess.

"Ye Family!"

"Li Family!"

"Lu Family!"

"You dare to bully me too much!!!"

Song Yu's expression was icy, his words filled with anger, venting the fury accumulated in the court.

He was furious!

Not at the various state policies themselves, but at how Ye Xuan and others used these policies to compel him!

As the Emperor, the Venerable Emperor, he was even reproached by his ministers in court, and in the end, he had to swallow his anger.

How was he supposed to endure this?

In their eyes, was there still this Emperor, this supreme being?

State policies?

Law?

Whose state policies?

Whose law?

Whose world is this, after all?

Was he truly the emperor of the Venerable Emperor, or a puppet in someone else's hands?

"Bang!!!"

Song Yu slammed his fist down, breaking the wooden table, his heart burning with rage, unable to calm for a long time.

Although reason told him he shouldn't be so angry, that person was his ancestor, the pillar of the Song Clan, the true founder of the Great Zhou Dynasty, he had no right, should not, and could not be angry, but, but... but...

Unspeakable, indescribable!

The indescribable fury burned intensely in his heart, almost engulfing his rationale.

Like this, he didn't know how long it took before Song Yu could barely calm down, coldly saying: "Someone!"

"Your Majesty!"

An attendant walked into the room.

"Clean this up!"

"Yes!"

Song Yu left a word and then walked out with his hands behind him.

A moment later, in the Imperial Garden.

Song Yu walked with his hands behind him, his steps showing some anxiety, the unspeakable anger in his heart rising again, making even the beautiful scenery of the Imperial Garden hard to soothe him.

Just then...

"Bang!"

At the corner, a maid walked over and carelessly bumped into Song Yu.

"Ah... Your Majesty?"

The maid, delicate and not as sturdy as Song Yu, fell directly to the ground, then hurriedly got up, repeatedly bowing: "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I wasn't paying attention..."

"Sorry?"

"To me?"

Seeing her just bowing and not kneeling to plead guilty, with a Southern accent, Song Yu's eyes flashed with anger, an unknown fire rising, as he struck out directly with a palm: "Wretched maid!!!"

"Slap!"

The maid, unprepared, was slapped hard in the face, her delicate body unable to withstand such force, flipping and hitting the nearby corridor pillar.

Immediately...

"Bang!!!"

With a dull thud, blood splattered, the maid fell to the ground, blood gushing from her forehead.

"!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Upon seeing this scene, Song Yu finally awakened, his rationality instantly returning, looking at the maid lying lifeless on the ground, the unknown fire in his heart instantly dissipating, replaced with unprecedented panic and helplessness, his once authoritative countenance turning ashen pale.

"How could this be, how could this happen!?"

"You can't die, you can't die!!"

"Wake up, wake up, wake up for me!!!"