Chapter 1803: Clashing Memorials! (2/2)
Wang Chong was taken aback. He gave a nod and quickly departed.
……
Restore the prefectural armies, recruit more soldiers, expand and occupy!
Not long after Wang Chong was reinstated as Qixi Protector-General, his first memorial to the Sage Emperor was announced to the Imperial Court, setting off a maelstrom.
”What?!”
In the Secretariat Advisor Residence, Elder Song, Sword Ghost, Bamboo Mirror, and the other members of the Confucian Sect were all furious upon hearing the news.
”I knew it would be like this! These bastards! So many people died in the Rebellion of the Three Princes, and he saw the losses suffered in that battle with his own eyes. Does he still think it's not enough?”
”All the other countries are watching us! It was only with great difficulty that we managed to get them to sign the peace treaties so we could maintain this peace. If we let him restore the prefectural armies and recruit more soldiers, all the other countries will be provoked, and our work will have been for nothing!”
”We have to stop him no matter the cost!”
”He moved too quickly. We just posted our announcements and he's already sent his memorial to the Sage Emperor. He has no opposition in court and has the support of Zhangchou Jianqiong and the other border generals. Suppressing him is too difficult!”
Everyone in the hall was agitated.
”Worst of all is that the Sage Emperor presides over the court, not the First Prince. We have no way of fathoming the Sage Emperor's intentions.”
Elder Song sighed. His comment made the mood in the room even more oppressive.
For the sake of taking the throne and completely controlling the Imperial Court, the First Prince had been willing to work with the Confucian Sect and had served as its greatest backer in its expansion of political power. But the Sage Emperor… was not guaranteed to be so willing.
”Regardless, we can't let the Imperial Court pass this memorial. We have to stop it no matter the price,” the white-robed young woman on the side solemnly said.
”Senior Brother, what do we do now?”
She turned to Li Junxian, who was sitting cross-legged in the back.
Li Junxian had been sitting there all this time, his eyebrows locked together.
”The current situation is extremely disadvantageous for us!” Li Junxian finally said. ”There's the southwest, the northwest, and now the feat of saving the emperor. In normal circumstances, we would truly find it difficult to stand against him. However, we wisely chose to not support the First Prince in his rebellion. Thus, neither Taiji Palace nor the King of Foreign Lands Residence have grounds to criticize our Confucian Sect.
”Moreover, the Confucian Sect and Confucian school have always been of one body, like the left and right hand. The Confucian school began in the Spring and Autumn Period and has persisted for more than one thousand years. Its influence has transcended that of imperial authority, rooting itself in the people of the realm. Thus, as long as we don't make any mistakes, the Sage Emperor cannot banish us as he pleases.
”In other words, we still have a chance!”
Li Junxian raised his head, a profound light in his eyes.
”Sword Ghost, prepare ink and paper for me. I will personally deliver a memorial to the Sage Emperor! In addition, mobilize all our power and influence. We need as much of the court and people to stand on our side as possible.
”The Harmonious World is a righteous cause for the good of all, not some selfish pursuit. We can't allow it to be destroyed at the hands of these aggressive military men.”
”Yes!” Sword Ghost energetically replied, clenching his fists.
A few moments later, the ink, brush, and paper were placed on Li Junxian's desk. Li Junxian focused himself, took up the brush, and began to write.
'The lowly subject Li Junxian presents a memorial to the Sage Emperor: the sages say that if the people are subdued through virtue, the realm rejoices, and if they are subdued through strength, the realm is rife with discontent. If martial might could unite the realm, the world would have long ago been united. War is used to stop war, so wars never come to an end. The Confucian Sect comprehends this principle, so for generation after generation, it has worked to correct the people through benevolence and righteousness so that the people of the world can put down their weapons and enjoy eternal peace!
'The King of Foreign Lands has said that the cultures of the foreigners are completely different from that of the Central Plains, that they fear strength and spurn kindness. But if this was so, why did Qibi Heli serve Emperor Taizong for several decades, and when Taizong died, swear to protect Emperor Taizong's tomb for the rest of his life? Was Qibi Heli not a Hu?
(TN: Qibi Heli was a Turkic general who served Emperor Taizong. When Emperor Taizong died, he wanted to commit suicide to follow him, but Emperor Gaozong forbade him from doing so.)
'The dynastic record contains numerous accounts of loyal Hu generals, handsome or ugly, fat or thin, tall or short. There are Hu and there are Tang, but are there Tang hearts and Hu hearts? As the saying goes, when people hold the same ideals, they will be of the same heart.
'The Confucian Sect seeks to use the heart of benevolence and righteousness to reform the Hu so that future generations might enjoy everlasting peace!'
Once he finished writing the last line, Li Junxian solemnly raised his head.
”Prepare my clothes! I will head to the palace myself and explain the Confucian Sect's view to the court!”
”Yes!”
……
Boom!
As the Confucian Sect submitted its memorial, Li Junxian and Wang Chong, the leaders of the Confucians and the militarists, once more stirred up a storm in society.
The militarist-Confucian conflict that had faded into the background once more stepped onto stage.
”The battle in the capital just ended, but the King of Foreign Lands is already thinking about causing trouble on the border? Just when will their aggression ever end?!”
”These military men are leading the country down the wrong path! I have to stand on the Confucian Sect's side no matter what! Does this King of Foreign Lands bastard really want rivers of blood to flow through the Great Tang?!”