Novel Full Chapter 917 - 44: Cat and Mouse (Part 3)
Chapter 917: Chapter 44: Cat and Mouse (Part 3)
Yang Ling suddenly recalled the fate of those aristocratic families in Yangzhou many years ago, and a chill involuntarily ran through his heart.
"By this view, it won’t be long before a bloody storm unfolds."
Prince Chu’s lips curled into a sneer, "Sir, you do overestimate these aristocrats and nobles."
"Did I overestimate them?" Yang Ling asked with a perplexed look, "Your Highness, how did I overestimate them?"
"Sir, don’t you think they will stubbornly resist the Emperor’s new policies, even at the cost of bloodshed?"
"Is that not the case?"
"Sir, you forget that these people are the most afraid of death. Once they realize their resistance is not only futile but also angers the Emperor to oppress them with harsh methods, they will immediately compromise, not daring to resist any longer." Prince Chu had long seen through the true nature of the aristocrats and nobles, "The three new policies do harm their interests, but compared to their lives, they become insignificant."
Yang Ling appeared enlightened, "Your Highness is right; I did overestimate them." Facing the aristocrats and nobles, other emperors might have hesitated, but the current Emperor would certainly not fear them.
Aristocrats and nobles cannot threaten the Emperor. If they indeed threaten the Emperor, given his temperament, he would only eradicate them, never bow to them. Moreover, the aristocrats do not have the capability to coerce the Emperor.
The current Emperor, whether in cunning, resourcefulness, or strategic planning, is exceptionally formidable. The schemes and tricks of the civil and military officials are all transparent to his discerning eyes. The Emperor is like a cat, while the ministers are merely mice. How can the mice possibly contend with the cat?
The aristocrats once tried to threaten the Emperor with reputation, but the Emperor was entirely indifferent. As long as he believed he was right, he would implement his will without regard for consequences, even if it meant bearing infamy for generations.
"If the aristocrats and nobles want to stir up trouble, Father allows them to do so. However, for them to create significant disturbances is impossible," Prince Chu remarked humorously, "Actually, they internally understand that once Father decrees something, it means it’s set in stone; Father is unlikely to change his decision. Nonetheless, they still oppose, hoping to express their stance, but Father never cares about their opinion."
"Only the current Emperor disregards the stance of the aristocratic families; previous emperors all heeded them." Both the late Emperor and the current Emperor hailed from humble backgrounds, and what they detested most were these aristocrats. They care nothing for the aristocratic stance. If these families behaved, they would leave them alone. If they misbehaved, they would compel them into obedience. And if they remained defiant, they would see no reason to keep them in this world.
"Grandfather and Father both said that a dynasty without people but only with aristocrats is a dead one. Conversely, a dynasty without aristocrats but with people won’t perish but thrive," Prince Chu noted. "They further added that our Zhao family conquered the nation for the sake of the common people, not for the aristocratic families, or as they put it succinctly: ’not for some damn aristocrats.’"
Yang Ling bowed in salute towards the Imperial Palace’s direction, "The late Emperor and the current Emperor are wise rulers who love the people as their children."
Prince Chu said, "In these times, let them create a fuss and see how far they can push it."
Yang Ling joked, "Surely, no one would want to run into columns anymore."
Mentioning the incident of running into columns, Prince Chu remembered the Emperor’s look of regret.
"Father actually wanted to see ministers run into columns."
Hearing this, Yang Ling found it amusing but dared not laugh.
Normally, a minister’s death through remonstration is a grave matter. If mishandled, it could stain the Emperor’s historical record with the blame of driving ministers to their death and tarnishing his reputation as a wise ruler, thus, emperors usually prevent such events. However, the current Emperor not only did not stop it, but also wanted to see ministers collide with the columns in death defiance, truly...
Faced with an Emperor who doesn’t play by the rules, the ministers feel extremely troubled and utterly helpless.
When ministers run into columns in defiance, not only does the Emperor not intervene, but he also might thoroughly watch how they perform the act. Perhaps, after watching, the Emperor would applaud, commend them for their act, or even belittle them for not doing it righteously, then encourage the next person to do it better. Most people wouldn’t do such things, but in the case of the Emperor, he certainly would, for he truly is a capricious and unrestrained person.
Yang Ling asked, "Your Highness, do you think the other three princes will support the Emperor’s implementation of the three new policies?"
"Prince Wei would, but it’s hard to say for Prince Dai and Prince Jing."
"Prince Dai is backed by nobles, and Prince Jing by aristocrats, so it’s difficult for them to agree," Yang Ling speculated, "However, Prince Jing might support the new policies to please the Emperor. Then Prince Dai, seeing Prince Jing not opposing, would naturally have to stand out in support as well."
Prince Chu nodded, "Very possible."
Yang Ling smiled meaningfully, "If that happens, it will be quite entertaining." With that, his expression turned curious, "Do you think the three new policies came from the Emperor or Prime Minister He and his group?"
"Probably not from Prime Minister He; they were summoned to the palace in the middle of the night. It’s estimated that it was the Emperor’s idea."
Yang Ling shook his head, "I think it’s unlikely it was the Emperor’s idea." The Emperor, indeed, is smart and shrewd, capable as well, but he doesn’t seem like someone who would propose such policies. "I suspect the person who proposed the three new policies is the same person who advocated selecting officials through the imperial examinations."
"Do you think so too, sir?" Prince Chu shared the same thought. "Who do you believe it is?"
Yang Ling pondered, "In this world, only Grand Commandant Zheng is capable of suggesting such astonishingly brilliant policies." Besides Grand Commandant Zheng, he couldn’t think of a second person. "Many policies in Great Zhou were proposed by Grand Commandant Zheng. It’s not surprising he proposed the imperial examinations and the policies like land survey registration."
"Great minds think alike."
"Grand Commandant Zheng truly possesses talents of grand celestial schemes worthy of admiration." Yang Ling once thought himself comparable to Grand Commandant Zheng, but now realized he was far inferior. Though he prided himself on exceptional talent, he could never conceive of nationally beneficial policies like the imperial examinations or land survey registration. "I’m not worthy."
"Each field has its expertise, sir, you shouldn’t belittle yourself."
"Your Highness speaks true." In policy crafting, he was indeed no match for Grand Commandant Zheng. However, in other areas, he was not inferior to Zheng Xilin.
The two continued discussing the matter of the three new policies, becoming more excited as they spoke, feeling increasingly impressed by Grand Commandant Zheng’s propositions.
In faraway Lingnan, Zhao Yao sneezed several times in succession.