Daqin Zhentiansi

Chapter 518 Marquis Qingyang, Headmaster of the Imperial Academy, and Master Zhang Hengqu come to see you.
Gong Yuzheng's voice echoed from the pavilion above Donghua Gate.

Everyone opened their mouths, but couldn't utter a single word in rebuttal.

Even though they were all sharp-tongued and incisive censors, they were clearly unable to utter a word to refute Gong Yuzheng at this moment.

Even though they knew in their hearts that everything Gong Yuzheng said was just an excuse.

Gong Yuzheng wanted to covet that mansion and push the Minister into the cabinet so that he could advance his own career.

What Gong Yuzheng is saying now is clearly a scheme orchestrated behind the scenes by the Minister, involving the Yu Yuan Trading Company—a case of collusion between officials and merchants…

Being an official isn't enough, is it?

Within the three cities of the Qin imperial capital, without His Majesty's approval, or even with his full support, who could make the slightest move?

His Majesty!

Your Majesty wants to demolish all those grand mansions of noble families and residences of high-ranking officials, and use the proceeds to build millions of pavilions, so that millions of low-ranking civil and military officials in the capital city will have a place to live!
Your Majesty is willing to offend those ancient families in order to benefit the low-ranking civil and military officials of the capital!
"Lord Gong, this humble servant understands His Majesty's good intentions..."

A low sigh echoed from inside the attic.

"I'll take this house."

"I will go and organize all the calligraphy and paintings I have kept on weekdays, and I will make sure that every piece is a masterpiece."

"Rest assured, my lord. For the sake of the world and the people, what is there to fear even if we fall into the mud?"

……

In the imperial city, on the square outside the Qianyang Hall, the palace lanterns shone brightly, vying with the moonlight.

Wang Anzhi, Minister of Rites, and Cao Yue, Imperial Censor, walked side by side.

"Isn't Your Excellency worried that Vice Minister Gong won't be able to persuade the censors to let your plan fall through?"

Cao Yue turned to look at Wang Anzhi and said in a low voice.

Upon hearing his words, Wang Anzhi smiled and said calmly, "What Your Majesty wishes to do will be debated by great Confucian scholars."

After spreading out his robes, Wang Anzhi strode straight up the stone steps of Qianyang Hall.

"Your humble servants, Wang Anzhi, Minister of Rites, and Cao Yue, Grand Censor, hereby request an audience—"

Inside the main hall, Sima Qingguang, the Minister of Personnel, Zuo Qian, the Minister of Revenue, and several other civil and military officials in crimson and purple robes turned their heads.

Sima Qingguang and Wang Anzhi's eyes met, and they both turned their heads away in tacit agreement.

After Wang Anzhi and Cao Yue bowed to Emperor Yuankang and reported what had happened outside Donghua Gate, the emperor glanced at them and said indifferently, "Since the people support the officials' self-examination so much, and the people's hearts are with us, then let's investigate to the end."

Inside the main hall, everyone bowed respectfully.

"promise."

Emperor Yuankang turned to look at Yu Kuizhen, who quickly handed a stack of scrolls to Wang Anzhi and the others.

The group opened the scroll, which contained Yu Yuan Trading Company's plan for the reconstruction of the imperial city.

This plan is much more detailed than what Gong Yuzheng reported.

"Ministry of Revenue, Ministry of Personnel, Ministry of Works..."

Wang Anzhi narrowed his eyes.

As expected, His Majesty still needs to maintain checks and balances.

The imperial city was rebuilt.

The Ministry of Revenue raised funds, the Ministry of Personnel was responsible for compiling statistics on officials, and the Ministry of Works was responsible for construction. However, the Yu Yuan Trading Company was only assigned a small demolition task.

With the implementation of the entire plan, whether it was the Minister of Revenue being demoted, the Minister of Personnel Sima Qingguang, or the Minister of Works Du Ruhui, all had the opportunity to enter the cabinet.

With Wang Anzhi included, whoever performed the best among the four would become a Grand Secretary of the Cabinet.

He knew that His Majesty would not allow Wang Anzhi to easily get what he wanted.

"Besides handling demolitions, Yu Yuan Trading Company also organizes caravans to Chenzhou and Qingtianzhou. In addition—"

The emperor's voice carried a hint of leisure: "He also spearheaded the formation of merchant caravans to Yangtian Continent and other continents."

“These caravans, the sons of military families, and the elites of aristocratic families can all join them for training and can also become shareholders.”

The emperor placed his hand on the long table in front of him and said calmly, "The major shareholder behind the Yu Yuan Trading Company has indeed sacrificed a great deal for the Great Qin..."

Who is the major shareholder of Yuyuan Trading Company?
It is said that it was Consort Qi?
Inside the main hall, everyone looked at each other and lowered their heads.

The emperor was telling them that Consort Qi had been instrumental in the reconstruction of the imperial city and had made significant contributions.

Once this news reaches the ears of the millions of civil and military officials in the capital who will benefit from it, it will undoubtedly boost Consort Qi's prestige—

It turns out that the emperor intended to make Consort Qi the empress!

This is the first time in so long that the emperor has so clearly conveyed his intentions!
Inside the main hall, Wang Anzhi, the Minister of Rites, wore a smile.

For such a momentous event as the establishment of an empress, the Ministry of Rites must be involved throughout the entire process.

From this perspective, his position as Minister of Rites appears all the more important.

------------------

Imperial City.

The Sun family of Jiushanfang.

The Sun family has been officials for generations. The current head of the family, Sun Qimin, is an assistant minister in the Ministry of Revenue. It may seem like only a fifth-rank official position, but it is a lucrative post. If the Sun family had not cultivated their influence in the capital for hundreds of years, they would never have been able to obtain this position.

"Patriarch, do you really want our Sun family to move out of the inner three cities?" The white-haired old man in front of Sun Qimin had a sorrowful expression on his face.

“It took ten generations of my Sun family to establish ourselves in Jiushanfang. And now you’re just going to move away like this?” In the main hall, the other members of the Sun family also looked unwilling.

“What Ninth Uncle is right. It’s just a rumor in the market. Our Sun family’s mansion is worth tens of millions. How can we move it?”

"Patriarch, there are many powerful and influential families in the capital. Can they all move?"

Voices sounded.

Sun Qimin stood with his hands behind his back until the voices of the crowd gradually subsided before shaking his head: "I have already negotiated with Yuyuan Trading Company. The house will be exchanged for nineteen Confucian treasures, thirty-two pieces of calligraphy and painting by great Confucian scholars, and fifty pills for cultivation."

“If my Sun family doesn’t move, the Zhen Tian Si will help us move.”

"Since the news has already been spread, it can't be false."

"His Majesty appointed Marquis Qingyang to head the Martial Guard because Marquis Qingyang is truly capable of killing people, isn't he?"

Sun Qimin's words sent a chill down everyone's spine.

"After some time, if any family doesn't move out, it's probably because the people from the Heavenly Suppression Bureau have emptied their houses."

……

Zhongsancheng, Bailufang Sanlin Lane.

In a noisy house, a pregnant woman wearing a cotton robe is hanging out her change of clothes to dry.

"Madam Wu, you're almost due to give birth, why don't you find a maid to take care of you? You're washing and drying your clothes yourself. It's cold in winter, don't let it cause you any health problems..."

A woman in her forties, who was not far away with her sleeves tucked in, spoke up.

The woman in the cotton robe shook her head: "Aunt Bai, living in the capital has already exhausted my husband's salary. Where would we find the extra money to hire a maid?"

Her words caused everyone else in the courtyard to shake their heads slightly.

Although the woman's husband was a sixth-rank civil official, in the capital city, officials of this rank meant nothing.

That official from the Wu family had no powerful backing and couldn't ask for favors; he relied solely on his salary to support his family.

Wu's wife lived with him in this courtyard for three years. Not only did she eat and drink frugally, but she also pawned all of her dowry and jewelry.

Some time ago, the Wu family official said he didn't want to stay in the capital any longer. After his wife gave birth, he would resign from the capital and go to work as an official in a local prefecture.

There was no other way; staying in the capital would make it impossible to survive.

"My wife, my wife—"

Outside the courtyard, Wu family official, dressed in green official robes, hurried over, his face full of joy.

Hearing her husband call her, the pregnant woman turned around.

"My wife, guess what this is?"

Upon reaching the woman, the official from the Wu family handed over the jade token and paper scroll, speaking excitedly.

Seeing that Wu's lord was sweating and holding a scroll of paper and a jade token in his hand, the woman's expression was complicated.

"My lord, is this a transfer order to leave the capital?"

"Actually, I still have some savings hidden away. We can hold out for a while longer..."

Looking at her husband, the woman said softly, "I understand. If we leave this place, we can never come back."

These words made the smile on Wu's face widen even more.

"That's right, once we leave this place, we will never return."

He opened his hand, revealing the jade pendant in his palm.

"This is the house certificate for the inner three cities. With this, we can have a place to live in the inner three cities and no longer have to squeeze into this place or travel around."

He stepped forward and embraced his wife, whispering, "From now on, we can live in the inner three cities."

The woman from the Wu family, who was being embraced by him, was initially stunned, and then her whole body trembled.

"Is my wife happy?"

"Madam, madam..."

"Master Wu, hurry! Your wife is about to give birth! Go and call the midwife!"

……

The turmoil stirring up in the imperial court and the capital city seemed to have nothing to do with the Zhen Tian Si or the Wu Yu Si.

In the past few days, Zhang Yuan has been either in seclusion cultivating or handling various affairs and reviewing various documents in the Martial Defense Division.

"Lord Qingyang, Headmaster of the Imperial Academy, Mr. Zhang Hengqu has come to see you."

A sound rang out from outside the main hall of the Martial Guard.

Headmaster of the Imperial Academy?

A smile appeared on Zhang Yuan's face.

This great master of Confucianism and Taoism has finally decided to come.

Zhang Yuan had been waiting at the Martial Guard for a long time.

The hundreds of students and teachers captured from the Imperial Academy had also been starving for a long time.

"Please, no, I will go to greet you myself."

Zhang Yuan stood up and chuckled softly.

(End of this chapter)