The Fierce Teacher of Zhenguan: Starting with Teaching the Crown Prince to Make a Comeback

Chapter 86 Returning to Perverted Behavior, Is This Not a Failure of the Imperial Court?
Li Shimin's gaze swept over the dark mass of officials below the imperial steps, and finally, he nodded very slightly.

Upon receiving the signal, Cui Renshi steadily stepped out of the ranks.

He did not look at the crown prince immediately, but bowed to the throne first, and then turned to the ministers.

"His Highness the Crown Prince recommending members of the imperial clan is an act of fostering harmony among relatives and demonstrating His Majesty's benevolence. His intentions are commendable."

He paused slightly, his breath becoming slightly heavy, and when he spoke again, his tone did not rise, but every word was sharp and piercing.

"However, the most important assets of a nation lie in virtue and ability, not in personal relationships."

"The position of the Commissioner of Promotion and Demotion is to receive the Emperor's favor and authority, to pacify the military and civilians of the Western Regions, and to bear the heavy responsibility of supervising the administration of officials and developing the frontier. Every move he makes is related to the foundation of the country, affecting the fortunes of hundreds of thousands of people in the Western Regions, and even the bulwark of Guanzhong and the stability of the nation."

His gaze slowly swept over Crown Prince Li Chengqian, who was standing at the front, and his eyes flashed with sharpness.

"I have heard that Li Sima is honest and kind, and his conduct is quite good."

"However, his performance evaluations over the years have only been average to above average. His record shows no outstanding achievements in pacifying the people, no remarkable accomplishments in securing the borders, and no trace of his ability in planning and management. With such a resume, how did he suddenly rise to such an important position?"

"I fear that this will not only fail to demonstrate the court's impartiality in selecting and appointing virtuous and capable officials, but will also arouse criticism from scholars throughout the land, who will say that the court values ​​bloodline over talent and virtue in its personnel selection."

He turned to the throne again and bowed deeply.

"Your Majesty, I dare not question His Highness's sincerity in recommending talented individuals for the country, nor do I have any prejudice against the imperial family."

"The system of selecting officials is the foundation of the nation. If this foundation is disrupted, rewards and punishments will become unclear, and if rewards and punishments are unclear, the people's hearts will be scattered. My concerns are truly for the sake of the court's discipline and for the sake of public opinion! I beseech Your Majesty to make a wise decision!"

These words, rich in classical allusions, are all based on the high ground of imperial law and public opinion.

Without directly criticizing the Crown Prince, the text cast an invisible net over Li Chengqian, implying that he was guilty of "nepotism," "undermining the system," and "failing to win popular support."

"I second the opinion of Vice Minister Cui!"

An imperial censor followed closely behind.

"Li Suli is mediocre in talent, and his sudden promotion to an important position may cause trouble on the border! Xizhou is not like the interior; it requires capable people to govern it!"

"Your Majesty! Although it is an honor to appoint members of the imperial clan to positions on the frontier, they must still avoid suspicion! If this precedent is set, future generations may follow suit, and how will the laws of the land be upheld?"

Another official loudly echoed this sentiment.

"We believe that His Highness the Crown Prince may be blinded by kinship ties and has failed to fully assess Li Suli's true abilities. This position is of paramount importance and should not be lightly granted!"

One voice after another rang out from the ranks of the Censorate, from some officials of low rank but in key positions.

They were no longer as reserved as the previous high-ranking officials; their words became more direct, clearly targeting Li Suli's "incompetence" and the Crown Prince's "oversight" in recommending him.

The sound was not loud, but it was continuous, converging into a clear chill that impacted the isolated and helpless crown prince.

Chu Suiliang stood in the middle of the line, his brows furrowed.

Yesterday, upon hearing that the Crown Prince intended to recommend Li Suli, he felt deeply that it was inappropriate, believing that the man was mediocre and unfit for a great responsibility, and that the Crown Prince's recommendation was very unwise.

He had already made up his mind that if the matter came up at today's court meeting, he would speak frankly and offer his advice, in order to fulfill his duty as an advisor.

However, seeing the almost unanimous wave of attacks before him, and the Crown Prince's isolated and helpless state, Chu Suiliang's heart sank.

His opposition to Li Suli was based on considerations of her talent and virtue, and was motivated by a sense of public duty.

But the current situation has a hint of something unusual about it.

Chu Suiliang's thoughts raced.

Li Suli was certainly not the best choice, but at this moment, upholding the authority of the Crown Prince's recommendation was far more important than whether Li Suli himself was competent!
He recalled the Crown Prince's recent changes, his sharp edge in daring to confront His Majesty and participate in government affairs. Although his methods were drastic, they were nonetheless a sign of awakening.

If the court is suppressed because of this setback, or even harbors resentment and reverts to its perverse ways, wouldn't that be a failure of the court?

Just when the wave of opposition seemed poised to completely overwhelm the Crown Prince, a clear and steady voice broke the silence.

"Your Majesty, your subject, Chu Suiliang, has a memorial to present."

All eyes immediately turned to this man, who was known for his calligraphy, erudition, and integrity.

Yesterday, after receiving word that the Crown Prince intended to recommend Li Suli, Chu Suiliang explicitly expressed his opposition at a friend's private residence. Many people knew his stance, and seeing him step forward now, almost everyone thought he would add another heavy weight to the Crown Prince's predicament.

Even Li Shimin, sitting on the throne, had a slight flicker in his eyes, waiting for this close advisor to speak.

Li Chengqian's heart sank even further.

However, what Chu Suiliang said next stunned everyone in the know.

He held a jade tablet in his hand, and his voice was loud and clear.

"In my opinion, Your Highness's recommendation of Li Suli is a wise and timely move to safeguard the country!"

Upon hearing this, a slight commotion arose within the hall.

Even Changsun Wuji, who had been keeping his eyelids down, slightly raised his eyes.

Chu Suiliang ignored the reactions of those around him.

"What you gentlemen just said focused on whether Li Suli's talents are outstanding enough. However, have you all considered what kind of official Xizhou needs most right now?"

He asked himself the question and answered it, his gaze sweeping over the few people who had spoken out against it earlier.

"Do we need an ambitious and decisive official who might cause trouble due to his lack of knowledge about the border situation? Or do we need a stable and cautious minister like Li Suli who is loyal to the king, can abide by the laws of the court, and can implement the court's strategies step by step?"

He spoke faster, with the force of argumentation.

"The western region has just been annexed, and the people's hearts are like newly hatched chicks, still filled with doubt and uncertainty. At this time, stability is of paramount importance!"

"Li Suli may not have extraordinary talent, but his status as a member of the imperial clan is a symbol of His Majesty's benevolence and the court's trust, which can reassure the local chieftains and people."

"His steady character ensures a smooth transition of policies, preventing any complications. This is the true meaning of prudence!"

“Your Highness the Crown Prince can see what others cannot, and he abandons empty fame for practical results. If this is not the wisdom to select virtuous people for the country, then what is wisdom?”

He finally turned to the throne, bowed deeply, and spoke earnestly, even with a hint of passion.

"Your Majesty! His Highness the Crown Prince is new to politics, yet he is able to see through the ills of the times, set aside personal likes and dislikes, prioritize national affairs, and recommend suitable candidates. This is a blessing for the court!"

"Your Majesty, I humbly request that you grant the Crown Prince's request and appoint Li Suli as the Commissioner of the Western Prefecture, so as to demonstrate Your Highness's wisdom and stabilize the hearts of the Western Prefecture!"

Chu Suiliang's words were like a boulder thrown into a lake that was already turbulent, instantly stirring up even bigger waves.

The officials of the Eastern Palace who supported the Crown Prince were greatly encouraged, as if they had grasped a lifeline, and they all spoke up in agreement with Chu Suiliang.

"Minister Chu is absolutely right! Stability is indeed the top priority for Xizhou at present!"

"Your Highness, the Crown Prince, is wise and discerning!"

Those who opposed the proposal, especially Choi In-seok and others, immediately offered their rebuttals.

"Minister Chu, you are mistaken! Your cautiousness is not an excuse for incompetence! The development of Xizhou is a complex undertaking, and only a capable official can handle it!"

"While being a member of the imperial family may provide temporary peace of mind, if one lacks competence and causes chaos in the realm, it will ultimately damage the court's prestige!"

"Your Highness's intentions are commendable, but the matter of making recommendations concerns the affairs of the state. How can we abandon the facts because of personal feelings?"

The imperial court was immediately thrown into chaos.

Supporters and opponents each held their own views, and the voices rose and fell.

However, upon closer inspection, very few people actually stepped forward to explicitly support the Crown Prince and Chu Suiliang.

Apart from a few officials from the Crown Prince's palace, there were only a handful of officials who had close ties with the imperial family or who had always upheld orthodoxy.

Most of the officials either watched in silence or exchanged glances, their eyes mostly fixed on the expressionless Changsun Wuji and Fang Xuanling.

Seeing that these two high-ranking officials did not respond to Chu Suiliang's vehement words, many people remained silent or continued to stand in the opposition.

(End of this chapter)