National Division

Chapter 115 The Queen: Truly a wake-up call, hitting the nail on the head!

Before the Imperial City—

The rain seemed to have lessened considerably, and the crowd craned their necks to watch the imperial carriage procession.

A radiant smile appeared on the Empress's stunningly beautiful face as she said, "Gentlemen, you may dispense with the formalities."

An unprecedented sense of joy welled up in my heart.

While the Empress might have felt some joy at Shen Xian's great victory over Cui You and Lu Ziling, she wasn't exactly ecstatic.

What truly delighted the Empress was Shen Xian's actions in severely damaging the reputation of the Cui and Lu clans, breaking their mystique in front of the people of the capital, and humiliating them as "useless."

This could be described as more of a denunciation meeting.

As the spectators leave the stands and the news spreads, the damage to the reputation of the Cui and Lu clans will be devastating.

If Shen Xian had simply engaged in a competition without making any emotionally charged remarks or creating public opinion, the discussion surrounding this matter would not have been so extensive.

The reason why the younger generation is not as skilled as others is simply that the younger generation of Cui and Lu is incompetent.

But the brilliance lies in the fact that Shen Xian used the martial arts competition to escalate the issue of the Cui and Lu clans, seizing every opportunity to criticize and discredit them. This was an extremely skillful political maneuver.

The common people are easily swayed, and at the very least, after this incident, the public's positive perception of the Cui and Lu families will be somewhat shattered.

Compared to the parallel universe Wu Zetian, the methods of stigmatizing Li Jinzhong by changing his name to Li Jinmie and Sun Wanrong to Sun Wanzhan are actually more sophisticated forms of Ah Q's victory strategy.

"Thank you, Your Majesty the Heavenly Empress." Everyone present stood up and said.

The Empress's lips parted slightly, and her majestic and melodious voice, amplified by Murong Yue's telepathic array, resounded throughout the arena: "Today's competition is due to the dismissal of the prime minister, but upon closer examination, the reason is that Scholar Shen has witnessed the chaos and turmoil in the world. The two prime ministers, Cui and Lu, hold high positions in the government, leading the officials, yet they are merely occupying their posts without fulfilling their duties. They have received imperial favor for generations, yet they do not think of repaying the country. Scholar Shen has long been dissatisfied with the two families."

These words stirred something in the hearts of everyone present.

The faces of the Cui and Lu clansmen were gloomy, just like the weather today.

But since it was the Empress Dowager who, in Shen Xian's name, denounced the faults of the Cui and Lu clans, how could one harbor resentment towards the Empress?

The Empress said, "Since the young men of the Cui and Lu clans are not convinced and have dared to challenge me, I have no choice but to reluctantly agree to the competition, so as to settle the dispute and prevent it from causing greater trouble."

The onlookers nodded in agreement.

"Regardless of right or wrong, now that the outcome has been decided, I believe all the people have their own opinions," the Empress said in a clear voice.

Upon hearing this, Shen Xian thought to himself that the Empress seemed to have become more politically astute.

When emperors engage in disputes among their subjects, they are far more astute than those who directly intervene and act as neutral arbitrators.

The Empress's voice was filled with majesty and certainty: "Now that the outcome is decided, the reward I promised earlier, as a golden word, should be fulfilled."

Then he instructed, "Eunuch Gao."

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Gao Yanfu replied loudly.

"I will bestow the four-star divine weapon upon Scholar Shen," the Empress said softly.

At this point, there was not even a mention of a reward.

Gao Yanfu responded to the order and quickly took a four-star divine weapon from the two eunuchs behind him.

Shen Xian stepped forward and took the four-star divine weapon. It was extremely heavy in his hand, and the four stars on the hilt gleamed, engraved with two words, "Wu Zhen".

This divine weapon was clearly carefully selected, containing some kind of message from the emperor to his subjects.

The secret passage might be available in the Qilin Pavilion, but in reality, he only has the right to use it. If he were to seal it away and retire someday, he would surely return it intact.

As for this four-star divine weapon, it was a prize from the competition, and he could accept it without hesitation.

The Empress's beautiful eyes fell on the young man's face as she asked, "Mr. Shen, were you just about to revise the Qilin Ranking?"

Upon hearing this address, the cunning Cui An felt a slight tremor in his heart, his gaze fixed on Shen Xian and the beautiful woman, his suspicions growing even stronger.

Why did the Empress treat Shen Xian with such high regard?

It seems they really fell for the scheme of this ruler and his minister!

Well, actually Shen Xian didn't plan anything. Since the Cui family had issued a challenge first, Shen Xian was just going along with their plan.

Shen Xian cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, although today's competition was initiated by the young disciples of the Cui and Lu clans, it also reveals some drawbacks of the Qilin Ranking. They may have thought that because they are on the Qilin Ranking, they have overestimated their strength and become arrogant."

The Empress nodded, thinking to herself that Mr. Shen's summary hit the nail on the head. Indeed, the Cui and Lu clans were arrogant and thought they were sure to win, which is why they risked the reputation of their two clans.

The surrounding martial artists nodded, their faces thoughtful.

Scholar Shen's words are profound.

Shen Xian said, "Yelang was arrogant and ended up losing its country. The warriors on the Qilin Ranking should be selected based on their actual combat skills, so as not to live up to the name of the nation's Qilin!"

Upon hearing this, the Empress was deeply moved, her beautiful eyes sparkling, and her majestic voice carrying a hint of joy: "Scholar Shen's words are truly thought-provoking and to the point!"

Even during the competition, he remained concerned about the country and its people, keeping the nation and its people in his heart. He was truly a peerless national hero!

"Nanzhu, proclaim the decree," the Empress said after a moment's thought.

Gu Nanzhu acknowledged the order and took the imperial edict on yellow silk from the accompanying female official. She unfurled it with a swift motion, and Consort Gu's pink lips parted slightly, her voice gentle and melodious:
"Your Excellency: I have heard that those who quell rebellions and establish dynasties must possess great strategic vision, while those who secure borders and pacify frontiers rely on military prowess. In the past, the Three Sovereigns and the Five Emperors established rules, always employing both civil and military strategies to cultivate and educate. Although the realm is now at peace, the barbarians still occasionally covet our territory. Even with the Yellow River flowing clear and the seas calm, we still need a pillar of strength to stand firm. Therefore, drawing upon past precedents, I have established the Military Examination Center, so that those with exceptional talent and strategic acumen may display their abilities in this enlightened era."

“Starting in the second year of the Tiansheng era, every year in the third month of spring, a military examination shall be held in the Ministry of War. Anyone who is skilled in riding and archery, knowledgeable in battle formations, proficient in spears and halberds, and familiar with military strategy, regardless of rank, may register at the prefecture or county. The Vermilion Bird Envoy shall examine their abilities and recommend them to the capital.”

"The method of the examination was detailed and announced to the world. Those who passed were divided into three grades: the first grade was appointed as Zhaowu Colonel and entered the Northern Army; the second grade was appointed as Zhiguo Colonel and sent to the Zhechong Prefecture; and the third grade was appointed as Yihui Colonel and served as the garrison commander of the border town."

"Those who possess the unparalleled skill of shooting an arrow through a willow leaf from a hundred paces away, and the strength to defeat ten thousand men, even if their strategic acumen is slightly inferior, shall be promoted without exception. The governors of each region shall post notices to inform the emperor, so that no recluse in the mountains and valleys, or a hero of the Jianghu, may be forgotten in this enlightened age."

This is hereby proclaimed to the world, as decreed by law.

The third day of the fourth month of the second year of the Tiansheng era of the Great Jing Dynasty.
As Gu Nanzhu recited the words in a clear and rhythmic voice, the people and martial artists present in the capital all understood that it meant the establishment of a martial arts examination.

The top-ranking official was directly appointed as the Zhaowu Colonel, a sixth-rank official, which can be described as a meteoric rise.

In other words, for scions of prominent families, joining the army meant starting at this rank, but for those from humble backgrounds, it was undoubtedly a leap for success.

The second-ranked one was not bad either, being a seventh-rank senior officer.

Bingdi was a seventh-rank military officer, known as Yihui Xiaowei.

The martial artists around who were obeying the order all had a sudden thought, realizing that this was indeed a stepping stone to advancement.

Watching this scene, Shen Xian thought to himself that by launching the martial arts examination during this competition, it would obviously reduce the obstruction from some veteran generals in the army.

It's understandable that military examinations were widely opened because the sons of aristocratic families were incompetent.

Empress Dowager said, "Scholar Shen, the Qilin Pavilion should take the lead in this military examination system. We should come up with detailed rules as soon as possible and work with the Ministry of War to prepare for this military examination."

Upon hearing this, Shen Xian's expression turned solemn, and he cupped his hands and said, "Your subject obeys the decree."

After the Empress finished speaking, she said in a clear voice, "Let's end the competition here for today."

As she spoke, the Empress Dowager turned her gaze to the Cui and Lu clans, and sneered inwardly.

After this incident, the reputations of the Cui and Lu clans will likely be ruined in the capital.

The imperial decree was announced, effectively concluding the martial arts competition. Without further delay, the Empress summoned Shen Xian to the palace to accompany her to a banquet.

This martial arts competition, which had caused a sensation throughout the entire capital, gradually came to an end.

The crowd of people and martial artists around the stands lingered, reluctant to leave. It was already afternoon, and although the sky was overcast, the rain had lessened considerably, but it still couldn't dampen the enthusiasm of the people of the capital.

Lady Han's face was as white and smooth as snow. She parted her pink lips slightly and said softly, "Now that the competition is over, I cannot enter the palace to see Scholar Shen's demeanor up close."

“Sister, it wouldn’t be unreasonable for you to submit your petition to the palace now,” Lady Zheng said softly, raising her eyebrows and looking at him with clear, bright eyes.

Meanwhile, Lady Wei withdrew her gaze and instructed her servants to prepare carriages and horses to return to her residence, where she would later go to the palace to meet the Empress Dowager.

King Zhao Yang Youxing withdrew his gaze, sighed, and said to his confidant with mixed feelings, "Master Faming, let's go back too."

The aunt addressed Shen Xian as "sir," a courtesy that surpassed any previous treatment she had shown to any official.

Faming nodded, put his hands together, and chanted a Buddhist prayer.

Lai Jing and Zhou Liang, however, had different thoughts. Looking at the young man riding a horse and following the imperial carriage into the capital, they both felt a strong sense of crisis.

With this person present, it's likely the Empress will favor him above all others, neglecting her former officials. Although the martial arts competition has ended, a storm is brewing throughout the capital.

Shen Xian, a scholar of Zhaowen Hall, was superior to the young men of the Cui and Lu clans, and utterly humiliated them.

The reputation of these aristocratic families, while not entirely ruined, has certainly been shrouded in a thick shadow.

As Shen Xian's achievements and official position grow higher and higher, it is conceivable that today's competition will be repeatedly mentioned and talked about with great interest.

……

……

On the other side, Shen Xian mounted his horse and handed the four-star divine weapon in his hand to Xue Zhihua beside him, saying, "Please keep it safe for me for now."

Xue Zhihua rolled her eyes at the young man, but her heart was filled with sweetness. She also mounted her horse and asked using the secret telepathic communication technique of a martial artist, "What does the Empress Dowager want with you?"

Shen Xian replied, "It's probably about discussing the detailed rules for the martial arts examination."

Of course, there might also be issues with powerful clans like the Cui and Lu families. After this incident, the Cui and Lu families would likely become even more hostile towards him.

The next step is to deal with the backlash from both groups.

I'm afraid that if he weren't currently riding high on his popularity, the Cui and Lu clans would already be considering hiring someone to kill him.

Xue Zhihua didn't say anything more.

As Shen Xian spoke, he looked at Han Yi and said, "Han Xiaoshu, you and Zheng Xueshi should handle the follow-up matters. Today's competition news should be published in the Qilin Gazette, and spread along with the previous investigation into the Cui and Lu families."

Upon hearing this, Han Yi was thrilled and bowed in agreement.

With the Empress herself attending the ceremony, Scholar Shen is bound to rise rapidly in rank after this event.

He gained further trust from Scholar Shen.

As for Zheng Guanying and Han Yi, they stayed behind to handle the follow-up matters, which will not be discussed for the time being.

The eldest princess looked at Lu Ji, the commander of the Vermilion Bird Division, and said with a smile, "Commander Lu, regarding the suppression of the situation here, I still need to go to the palace to report important matters in person."

As he spoke, he looked meaningfully at the flagpole and said, "Commander Lu, be careful not to let these two die."

They wouldn't pin the blame on Shen Xian, since Shen Xian had previously been injured but not killed, and the main purpose was to humiliate him.

More likely, others wanted to escalate the conflict between Shen Xian and the Cui Lu clans.

Lu Ji bowed respectfully and said, "Your Highness may proceed as you see fit. In the next few days, the Vermilion Bird Division will select experts to guard these two flagpoles."

The eldest princess turned to look at Cui Shang, whose expression was gloomy, and instructed, "Keep an eye on things, Cui."

"Yes, Your Highness." Cui Shang replied absentmindedly, his face pale, his eyes fixed on Cui You and Lu Ziling on the flagpole, his heart filled with worry.

Finally, turning their gaze to the Cui Lu tribesmen under the reed huts, they undoubtedly saw a gloomy and desolate scene.

It can be said that, after this incident, the Cui and Lu clans were utterly humiliated and their civility was completely lost!
Cui Shang flashed to the thatched hut where the Cui clan members were, looked at Cui Yan with a gloomy face, and cupped his hands, saying, "Father."

"Go back." Cui Yan's face was grim, and he practically spat out the two words through clenched teeth.

Subsequently, with Cui Kun's help, they boarded the carriage, and Cui Ang, Cui Sheng, Cui An and others followed one after another. The Cui family members left in a grand procession, but in the eyes of the people of the capital, the Cui family members looked somewhat disheveled as they fled into the hurried rain.

"Brother Huan, the competition is over, it's time to go back," Zhou Kuan said with a smile.

A spectacular martial arts competition; the trip was truly worthwhile.

Huan Yanfan said, "Today's competition was truly enjoyable to watch. Today, I'll treat you and me to a drink at Zuixianju!"

Kuang Shili smiled and said, "That would be wonderful."

Afterwards, the three military officers from the Southern Imperial Guards left the arena and went to drink.

At this moment, the martial artists among the onlookers also dispersed in twos and threes, chatting and laughing, but their mouths were still talking. There were jokes about the Cui and Lu clans, as well as the upcoming martial arts examination.

It is easy to imagine that as the crowd disperses, the scene of today's competition will spread throughout the streets and alleys of the entire capital.

In particular, the banner hung on the flagpole for seven days, reading: Traitors Cui and Lu!
Any citizen of the capital city who comes to this place can see them, and officials attending court can see the two figures hanging on the flagpole as long as they look up.

That's practically equivalent to a public execution!

Meanwhile, Shen Xian rode his horse and entered the palace with Xue Zhihua.

Qianyuan Hall, side hall—

The Empress and the Imperial Advisor Murong Yue had already taken their seats. The beautiful woman was dressed in a gorgeous palace gown, her hair styled in a beautiful bun, and her face was as lovely as a lotus flower. At this moment, joy was overflowing from her eyes and brows.

"Your Majesty, Scholar Shen and Miss Xue request an audience." The eunuch entered the room.

The diva's voice betrayed her eagerness and joy: "Announce it quickly."

A moment later, Shen Xian and Xue Zhihua, led by palace maids, entered the hall and bowed to the beautiful lady in palace attire seated at the head of the table: "Your subject greets Your Majesty the Empress, may Your Majesty live a thousand years."

"Mr. Shen, please rise. Someone, please bring a seat." At this moment, the Empress looked intently at the young man, her eyes revealing undisguised admiration and a burning desire for possession.

Like an old lecher looking at a peerless beauty.

This person is truly a peerless divine sword of the Great Jing Dynasty. With him, one can overcome all obstacles and bring peace and stability to the country!

Shen Xian thanked him and then sat down.

The Empress said, "What you did today has truly broadened my horizons. I'm afraid that after this incident, the people of the capital will regard the Cui and Lu families as a laughing stock and will no longer have any respect for noble families."

“The reputation of a distinguished family cannot be built in a day. Although a good name can be ruined in a day, it takes many attempts to achieve it,” Shen Xian said.

The diva's thinking is still somewhat optimistic.

“However, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. If this happens repeatedly, it will be enough to diminish her reputation.” Worried that the Empress might lose heart, Shen Xian added.

Even the prestige of a noble family, let alone the prestige of the imperial family, cannot withstand the damage to its reputation caused by repeated mistakes.

Upon hearing this, the Empress's eyes lit up, and she smiled, "Sir, you must have a complete plan."

Time and time again... Will it happen again?
Shen Xian said, "Your Majesty, in the capital, it is better to remain calm than to take any action. Too much of a good thing can be bad. Let's wait for the Qilin Report to expose the Cui and Lu clans and for the martial arts competition to gain traction. However, we can take this opportunity to adjust local personnel."

"What you say coincides with what I think." The Empress's eyes gleamed as she said, "The Prefect of Anzhou, Cui Xu, has been an official in Anzhou for six years. He has formed cliques and engaged in corrupt practices, turning Anzhou into a chaotic mess. He has also had frequent conflicts with the Vermilion Bird Envoy, Xing Gang. I intend to remove him and reorganize the northern grain transport hub."

The middle and lower reaches of the Danghong River in Anzhou connect the north and south, making it a vital waterway for grain transport and a place where countless riches have accumulated.

Shen Xian remained silent for a moment, then asked, "Is the Empress thinking of a suitable reason?"

I'm afraid they're not just satisfied with replacing Cui Xu, but want to further damage the prestige of the Cui and Lu clans.

The Empress nodded and said, "Although there are some impeachment memorials that are enough to dismiss him from office, they are not enough to imprison him and prosecute him."

Clearly, the Empress Dowager was not content with simply dismissing him from his post; she wanted to eradicate the Cui clan's influence in the region.

"Does Your Highness intend to raise funds for a case?" Shen Xian asked.

The Queen sighed and said, "Perhaps the case is big enough, but there is no conclusive evidence yet."

Upon hearing this, Shen Xian appeared thoughtful.

After thinking for a moment, he said, "Your Majesty, I need to return to Guhe County in Anzhou in the next two days. I am willing to do it for you."

First, eliminate the Cui clan's local supporters, and also give the people of the capital time to digest the martial arts competition.

At the same time, he also wanted to avoid the limelight, and it seems that the Empress also thought of this.

"That's exactly what I was thinking." The Empress nodded and pondered, "The Vermilion Bird Bureau reported that there have been some cases of demonic possession in Anzhou recently, which seem to be quite troublesome."

Previously, Shen Xian had mentioned that he would return to Guhe County in Anzhou after the martial arts competition. The Empress Dowager happened to want to adjust personnel, so there was a more suitable candidate than Shen Xian, the sworn enemy of the Cui and Lu clans.

Shen Xian asked, "Wang Shence?"

The Empress nodded, a hint of embarrassment appearing on her beautiful face. She said, "I had already pardoned the Yu family case, but he was eager to make a name for himself and rushed off to Anzhou. Now his whereabouts are unknown."

Shen Xian also felt a little strange.

Wang Shence was supposed to be capturing his fiancée, but he was unlucky and probably encountered a powerful demon.

(End of this chapter)