Outside the Fuyao Hall, on the ninth level of its stone base, beneath two towering bronze statues of Xiezhi beasts standing several zhang tall, a dozen or so burly and imposing Shenwu Generals surrounded Lu Yu, whose whole body was trembling.
The Shenwu Generals were a special elite force under the Palace Guard, composed of the strongest and most handsome warriors plucked from the Yulin Army, the Imperial Guards, and the Five Armies Headquarters—each skilled in martial combat and towering in stature.
They were the most elite close guards around the Dayin Emperor, the grandest and most official face of imperial power.
Numbering eight thousand in total, all Shenwu Generals wore armor and attire crafted from Dayin’s finest internal workshops—the very pinnacle of craftsmanship.
With an average height of over eight chi five cun, fully armored, they looked formidable, almost godlike.
Back in the early days of Dayin’s founding, the lowest entry requirement to be a Shenwu General was to have reached the peak of the Bixue Realm.
Even now, most Shenwu Generals carried cultivation realms in the first or second heaven of the Tuomai Stage.
Lu Yu, the Duke of Laiguo who hadn’t practiced martial ways for three generations, was now surrounded by these fierce warriors like a little white rabbit trapped among wolves and tigers, almost collapsing to the ground.
“Let’s follow the rules, please,” Lu Yu’s voice trembled softly.
From afar, Lu Qian heard his uncle’s faint pleas.
He saw one Shenwu General reach out his hand.
Lu Yu shakily pulled out a white deer coin from his sleeve, looked at it carefully, and handed it to the general: “One slap is eighty, ten thousand coins each time. I have a million coins here, and two hundred thousand coins—please, generals, help yourselves to some tea!”
The group of Shenwu Generals nodded approvingly.
One stretched out a palm the size of a cattail fan, while another grabbed a spanking board made from three layers of raw cowhide sewn together, and began to rhythmically slap the open palm—smack, smack, smack—not too fast, not too slow.
Lu Yu graciously cooperated, letting out a loud roar: “Aow, aow, aow! Your Majesty, your servant was wrong!”
Lu Qian rolled his eyes and held his forehead in embarrassment.
This idiot uncle, a Duke, had never been beaten a day in his life.
When slapped violently, how could he cry out so clearly? At best, he might manage a few mournful woo woo sounds—if he were tough.
One slap after another landed.
In the great hall, a group of red-robed officials standing near the entrance pulled their mouths.
They were experienced; hearing Lu Yu’s cries meant he was following the rules—paying money to avoid too much suffering.
Inside, Emperor Yinyuan smiled as he looked at the gathered ministers. “I have bestowed the title of Tianyang Duke upon Lu Qian—does anyone have any objections?”
Bai Changkong pondered for a moment, then lightly nodded.
Suddenly, a large group of officials from the Imperial Censorate, the Court of Judicial Review, the Honglu Temple, the Guanglu Temple, the Imperial Academy, plus officials newly appointed from the Grand Chancellor’s Office’s six new ministries—over a hundred in total—all wearing purple and vermillion robes, stepped forward from their ranks and lined up according to rank within the hall.
“We, the ministers…” A few leading purple-robed senior officials, direct disciples carefully cultivated by Bai Changkong over the years, began gathering their words, preparing to object to Yinyuan’s bestowing of title on Lu Qian.
These cultural and educational officials knew well that Lu Qian had joined the eunuch faction, breaking his marriage alliance with the Bai family.
No matter the inner workings, the fact was their mentor Bai Changkong had been slapped in the face.
If Bai Changkong was snubbed, then so were they—the literary disciples of Gaojing—branded with shame.
So, purely out of opposition and principle, they had to stand up.
As these men stepped forward, countless followers and juniors they had nurtured over the years in various government offices also moved out from the ranks according to hierarchy.
One after another, linking hands and forming a long line, over a hundred civil officials came forward, eventually pulling in more than three thousand officers from various departments.
Bai Changkong was greatly pleased.
This was his political influence earned after so many years as Vice Director of the Imperial Academy!
Such influence could only be matched by a handful of great cultural sages like Chancellor Zhu Chong.
Bai Changkong truly was a flag of cultural education in Gaojing, a prominent banner recognizable to all.
Yinyuan gazed at the sea of civil officials who had stepped forward, his mouth twitching slightly.
This scene reminded him of when he forcibly made Lu Tai the Tian’en Marquis—words and actions had echoed then, deeply familiar and unforgettable!
He couldn’t help but suspect that the secret archives chronicling how the Founding Emperor and subsequent emperors made life-or-death decisions during court sessions, with civil and military ministers too afraid to speak, allowing the emperor’s absolute rule, might just be old stories to deceive future generations.
Taking a deep breath, Yinyuan smiled and nodded before the ministers even spoke.
“Well then, let us discuss the second matter. Last night, a band of rebels stormed the Grand Chancellor’s mansion, killing countless people, shouting slogans about ‘clearing the moral corruption and serving the monarch,’ killing traitors to the nation… What exactly happened?”
“They shouted ‘clear the monarch’s moral corruption,’ not ‘kill the foolish monarch,’ so clearly this matter has little to do with me,” Yinyuan cunningly grabbed onto the phrase ‘clear the monarch’s moral corruption,’ twisting it to absolve himself.
“As for killing traitors to the nation…” Yinyuan looked at the ministers flustered by his sudden tactic and softly said, “Traitors, heh heh, traitors near me—traitors who incited officials to rebel against the people.”
“Nearly twenty thousand rebels infiltrated Gaojing, hoarded countless pieces of fine armor and weapons, directly lurked beneath the imperial city’s walls, storming the Grand Chancellor’s mansion, with heads rolling and blood flowing like rivers!”
“How did these rebels enter Gaojing? Where did the weapons come from? How did they conceal themselves from so many offices to accomplish such an incredible feat? Ministers, who will give me an explanation?”
Grand Chancellor Zhu Chong’s face suddenly went pale.
Several senior officials in purple robes exchanged grim looks with one another.
Yinyuan calmly said, “Also, what kind of place is Anping Prefecture? It sounds very familiar. Those rebels claimed they wanted to exact revenge for the people of Anping Prefecture. Where does this grudge come from? Where does this hatred begin?”
“Since my ascension, our government policies have faithfully followed the former emperor’s rules—no massive construction, no war, no new taxes, no additional labor. For nineteen years, the weather has been fine, governance smooth, people harmonious. So why does anyone say they want to avenge the people of Anping Prefecture… heh heh!”
Yinyuan lightly tapped his fingers on the dragon-engraved desk. “Which minister will tell me, what is Anping Prefecture? What happened there?”
Zhu Chong closed his eyes tightly, opened them again, and glared fiercely at Bai Changkong.
Bai Changkong hesitated for a moment, sighed, and shook his head.
The gathered cultural officials retreated like receding tides—rustling noises as they returned to their positions, heads lowered, hands folded in silence like clay figurines.
Yinyuan smiled and nodded. “Then, the third matter. Last night’s rebel attack on the Grand Chancellor’s mansion came as a surprise. The Imperial Guards and Yulin Army units originally stationed to defend the palace rushed to reinforce, but unfortunately the rebels used strange and fierce tactics.”
Le Wu stepped out from the ranks, his hands on his large belly, tears streaming down fiercely: “Your Majesty, last night the Imperial Guards and Yulin Army suffered a total of eighty-seven thousand deaths, with more than thirty thousand severely wounded… The compensation, medicines, lost military equipment, logistics…”
Yinyuan and Le Wu both looked at Zhu Chong.
Zhu Chong took a deep breath and slowly stepped forward. “The soldiers sacrificed shall be given generous funds and supplies from the Ministry of Revenue for proper compensation. The seriously wounded shall also be cared for by the Ministry. Your Majesty and the Grand General may rest assured.”
Le Wu hurriedly said, “The compensation money must be delivered to the Grand General’s residence by this afternoon!”
Zhu Chong’s mouth twitched; he nodded slowly.
Unbelievable! The emperor and the Grand General had teamed up in a racket!
Last night’s battle raged on for so long, reinforcements kept arriving from the city garrison.
Later, Lu Tai’s Canglang Cavalry breached the Grand Chancellor’s residence, along with Jia Yu leading a unit of the Imperial Guards, totaling no more than ten thousand men attacking the mansion in support.
The Yulin Army? Did they even show up?
Over ten thousand Imperial Guards had a decisive victory—how could they have over eighty thousand dead and thirty thousand wounded?
Even though the Grand Chancellor’s mansion was large, it certainly couldn’t hold over a hundred thousand soldiers fighting inside!
This claim was downright shameless.
But Zhu Chong gritted his teeth and accepted it.
Yinyuan nodded approvingly. “Last night’s suppression of the rebels—Tian’en Marquis must take first credit. I intend to promote his rank.”
Lu Tai bowed his head slightly to the emperor on the throne.
Zhu Chong clenched his teeth, squeezing out a few words: “This is only right and proper.”
Yinyuan smiled brilliantly. “Tian’en Marquis promoted to Tian’en Duke, so it is decided. This is today’s fourth matter. Now, going back to the first topic—Lu Tai saved the Grand Chancellor’s Mansion and was promoted to duke; Lu Qian saved the Empress Dowager and me. I have bestowed the title of Tianyang Duke upon him. Who agrees? Who opposes?”
Zhu Chong lifted his head and looked at Yinyuan. “Your Majesty, noble titles are the emperor’s rewards. If you deem someone meritorious, granting a title is within your rights; we have no objection. Regarding the matter of Anping Prefecture, we will work diligently to provide the Empress Dowager and Your Majesty with a satisfactory answer.”
Yinyuan glanced at Zhu Chong. “You promise it will be done properly?”
Zhu Chong solemnly replied, “Absolutely.”
Yinyuan laughed and waved at Yu Changle. “Old Yu, draft the edict. Lu Tai to be promoted to Tian’en Duke, Lu Qian bestowed Tianyang Duke. The rewards for Lu Qian will be substantial—after all, the lives of the Empress Dowager and myself are very valuable.”
Bai Changkong ground his teeth and finally could not hold back.
He stepped forward from his line and snarled, “Your Majesty, in this way, three dukes from the Lu family—this is simply, simply—”
Yinyuan looked at Bai Changkong with deep eyes and sighed long: “Bai… ‘Vice’ Principal, if you envy them, next time the Empress Dowager and I are in mortal danger, you may rush forward to save us.”
“Those who achieve merit are rewarded; this is the prinicple of heaven and earth. As for the Lu family having three dukedoms… They have made contributions, why shouldn’t I repay them with titles?”
“Ministers who are loyal to me and treat me like a father are treated generously as if my flesh and blood—this is something the Founding Emperor once said,” Yinyuan suddenly chuckled, “Though Bai… ‘Vice’ Principal is getting on in years and probably unwilling to recognize me as his father…”
Bai Changkong’s face turned dark with anger.
A mouthful of blood forced itself to his throat, but he swallowed it back.
The Court Ritual Officer almost lost his mind; he opened his eyes wide and loudly declared in near hysteria, “I am guilty! Please, Your Majesty, punish me severely!”
Yinyuan pursed his lips and spread his hands. “You are not guilty; I misspoke. Enough, this court session is adjourned.”
“Within a month, the Grand Chancellor will surely handle the Anping Prefecture matter properly. I trust him!”
Yinyuan’s smile shone brilliantly.
(End of chapter)