Novel Full Chapter 918 - 45: Duke Anyang Actually Supports It
Chapter 918: Chapter 45: Duke Anyang Actually Supports It
In the dining hall, the emperor is having breakfast. He seems to be in a good mood, with a constant smile on his lips.
Sun Kui rarely sees the emperor in a good mood during breakfast.
Last night, the emperor didn’t visit Lady Liang. What is the emperor happy about? Did he have a good dream last night?
Who knows what the emperor dreamed about last night that made him so happy?
With the emperor in a good mood, his appetite naturally improved, and he ended up eating more during breakfast.
Seeing the emperor finish breakfast, Sun Kui quickly brought over a cup of tea: "Your Majesty, it’s rare to see you have such a good appetite in the morning."
The emperor smiled and said, "I’m in a good mood today."
"Your Majesty, is it a special day today?" Sun Kui thought carefully; today is neither a holiday nor a special day.
The emperor didn’t keep him guessing and said with a broad smile, "Later at the court, there will be a good show. Shouldn’t I be happy about that?"
"A good show, what kind of good show?" Sun Kui didn’t react for a moment.
The emperor slightly raised an eyebrow: "What do you think?"
Sun Kui paused, then suddenly realized, showing a look of anticipation.
"Your Majesty, you’re in a good mood because of this." He had thought the emperor had a nice dream last night.
The emperor said with a cheerful voice, "Today’s show is a big one, I have been expecting it for a long time."
Sun Kui: "..." Your Majesty, do you particularly enjoy watching ministers argue?
"I hope they don’t disappoint me." After finishing the tea and seeing it was almost time, the emperor stood up without being prompted by Sun Kui, hands behind his back, whistling, and walked briskly towards Zichen Hall.
Sun Kui, with a heart full of anticipation, followed the emperor into Zichen Hall.
In the main hall of Zichen Hall, the ministers had long lined up. Seeing the emperor arrive, they all bowed to him: "Greetings to Your Majesty, long live Your Majesty."
"Rise, everyone." The emperor propped his right hand on his face, the elbow resting on the armrest of the throne. Then, with a look of interest, he waited for the ministers to present a good show for him. "I’ve given you two days to discuss, now you should have a conclusion. Tell me your thoughts."
Just after the emperor finished speaking, Prince Jing stepped forward. He first bowed to the emperor and then respectfully said, "Father, I support the policies of allocating land taxes, transferring taxes to public funds, and having both officials and gentry pay the grain tax."
Prince Dai, hearing Prince Jing say so, thought to himself, "Indeed," and then internally criticized Prince Jing.
He quickly stepped forward: "Father, I also support it." He managed to outpace the fourth brother, good.
As Prince Dai finished, Prince Chu also stepped forward to express his stance: "Father, I also support it."
Glancing at Prince Chu, Prince Dai thought: The fourth brother indeed supports it.
Then, Prince Wei also stepped forward to express support for the new policies.
The ministers were quite surprised to see all four princes supporting the three new policies. They weren’t surprised by Prince Chu and Prince Wei’s agreement. But Prince Jing and Prince Dai’s approval was beyond their expectations!
Seeing Prince Jing indeed agree with the three new policies, Marquis Xuanping was unsurprised but very upset. If Prince Jing hadn’t agreed, Prince Dai wouldn’t need to step forward in support. In order to please the emperor, Prince Jing truly disregards his maternal family’s interests.
Prince Jing remained indifferent to the various gazes cast upon him. He knew that by being the first to stand up in support of his father’s policy, the ministers would be shocked and then blame him, but he didn’t care. He valued his father’s opinion more than the ministers’. Besides, with the emperor proposing the implementation of three new policies, it meant this matter was already decided, and no one could change it. Also, it meant that no matter who opposed it, it would be useless. Hence, it was better to support the emperor from the beginning.
The ministers believed their strong opposition could make the emperor change his mind and not implement the three new policies. Ha, they overestimated themselves. They haven’t realized yet that whenever the emperor promulgated a new policy, did he ever fail? They had opposed before, and did it succeed?
As long as it is a policy beneficial to the country and the people, the emperor would never allow anyone to stop him. The three new policies clearly benefit the nation, so the emperor wouldn’t abandon their implementation just because of their opposition.
Instead of acting against the emperor and displeasing him, it would be better to follow his lead from the beginning.
"Good, good, good, you are indeed my good sons." The emperor laughed heartily, "You haven’t disappointed me." Seeing his four sons support the three new policies, the emperor wasn’t surprised at all.
"The seventh brother is great." The emperor deliberately praised Prince Jing alone.
Filled with joy at the praise, Prince Jing was very pleased in his heart.
"Thank you, Father, for the compliment."
Prince Dai saw Prince Jing had won the emperor’s favor again, feeling both jealous and angry.
Damn seventh brother, this sycophant!
The emperor then looked at Prince Dai and said with a smile: "Second brother, you’re good too."
Unexpectedly praised by the emperor, Prince Dai was both surprised and happy, immediately replying: "Father, the three new policies are beneficial to the country and people, I fully support them."
"Good!" The emperor then praised Prince Chu and Prince Wei, and then looked towards the ministers, "My dear ministers, what are your thoughts?"
The ministers looked at each other, none immediately stepping forward to express their opinion.
At this moment, Duke Anyang suddenly stepped forward. He first bowed respectfully to the emperor, then firmly stated: "I support the policies of allocating land taxes, transferring taxes to public funds, and having both officials and gentry pay the grain tax!"
What?
Duke Anyang actually supports it?! Is he out of his mind?
The ministers all turned their gaze towards Duke Anyang, their expressions filled with astonishment, unable to believe what they just heard.
Marquis Xuanping looked at Duke Anyang in horror, thinking to himself: Has Duke Anyang gone mad? Does he know what he’s saying?
Several other marquises also looked at Duke Anyang incredulously, wondering if he was possessed to openly support the three new policies.
Duke Anyang ignored the piercing gazes, appearing extraordinarily composed.
All the ministers, including the four princes, were shocked by Duke Anyang’s words. Only the emperor on the dragon throne remained calm, as if he had anticipated Duke Anyang’s statement.
The Duke Anyang Mansion, essentially the Wang Family, is now the head of the noble families in the capital, how could Duke Anyang support the three new policies?
If not in the court, other noble families and powerful ministers would surely surround Duke Anyang, questioning why he betrayed the noble families and supported the three new policies.
This old scoundrel, Duke Anyang, actually betrayed the noble families!
The noble families and powerful ministers never calculated that Duke Anyang would agree with the implementation of the three new policies! To them, it was like a bolt from the blue! This blow left them completely disoriented!
Marquis Wuping couldn’t hold back his anger, pointing at Duke Anyang and cursing: "Duke Anyang, you old thief!"
As Marquis Wuping began to curse Duke Anyang, the scene instantly descended into chaos.
The noble families and influential ministers immediately surrounded Duke Anyang, accusing and blaming him for his betrayal. At first, it was only cursing, then someone, unknown, started to fight, and soon it turned into a brawl.
Sun Kui was dumbfounded by the scene.
Have these ministers gone mad? This is the court, not their homes. How can they curse and fight so recklessly?
He quickly turned to look at the emperor’s expression, only to see the emperor watching the brawling ministers with great interest.
Sun Kui: "..." So this is the good show the emperor mentioned.
The emperor not only watched with great interest but also commented: "Marquis Wuping, though tall and strong, is no match for Duke Anyang."
Sun Kui: "..." He just saw a certain minister make a sneaky move; truly underhanded.
Prime Minister He and Grandmaster Liu naturally did not participate; they stood aside, observing the brawling ministers with cold eyes.
After a while, Duke Anyang and Marquis Wuping, along with others, were still fighting and cursing, completely forgetting they were still in court.
Sun Kui found the scene of fighting increasingly unbearable to watch. He asked the emperor for instructions: "Your Majesty, should we stop them?"
"I haven’t seen enough yet. Let them continue," said the emperor.
Sun Kui: "..." If they keep fighting, some ministers will end up in tatters.
The emperor watched the commotion for a while longer before instructing Sun Kui to remind the brawling ministers that they were still in court.
The fighting ministers finally realized they were still in morning court, then each one turned pale with fear, kneeling on the ground, trembling like chaff.
"How about I set up a ring for you to freely fight on?" The emperor said with a smile, "Whoever wins will be richly rewarded. What do you think?"
"Your servant deserves death a thousand times over; please forgive us, Your Majesty."
"Hmph!" The emperor snorted coldly, scaring the kneeling ministers’ hearts into quaking hard.
"I will not pursue your brawling for now. Let me ask again, what are your views?" Compared to the brawling drama, the emperor was more looking forward to the ministers opposing his policies. "Duke Anyang supports the implementation of the three new policies, what about you, Marquis Wuping?"
Marquis Wuping had already tidied his attire, and if not for his slightly crumpled court robes, it wouldn’t show that he just fought.
"I do not support." That old scoundrel Duke Anyang betrayed the noble families, but he wouldn’t. "I..."
He was about to state his reasons for opposition, only to be interrupted by the emperor, who then asked another, Marquis Xuanping.
Marquis Xuanping, of course, did not oppose the implementation of the three new policies. If Prince Dai opposed, Marquis Xuanping certainly would not support it either.
As the emperor asked one by one, none of them agreed to the implementation of the three new policies.
In the court, supporters and opponents of the three new policies were evenly divided.
"Since support and opposition are evenly divided, then..." At this point, the emperor deliberately paused, which instantly raised the hearts of the opposing ministers.
"Then let’s implement them immediately."
The supporting ministers: "Your Majesty is wise!"
The opposing ministers: As expected!
"Your Majesty, please reconsider."
"I have not only reconsidered thrice but six times, nine times." The emperor said solemnly, "Starting today, announce and implement the equal field system, abolishment of unnecessary levies, and equality in tax collection."
"Your Majesty, absolutely not."
Sun Kui suddenly shouted loudly, "Court dismissed!"
When the emperor returned to the Imperial Study, he waited for the next moves from the ministers who opposed the three new policies.