Vol 9 Chapter 6 (1/2)
VOLUME 9 CHAPTER 6: DON’T TELL ME THESE ARE THE VARIOUS REACTIONS (6)
Meng De POV
He slowly raised his sleeve and managed to block it. Unlike before, he didn’t seem as stern or as righteous as he did so.
“…”
Nor did he speak. However, the pathetic sight of the silent, shrivelled fat scholar only further fanned the flames of my fury.
“You’re right. I am indeed a treacherous thief like you say. My crimes are beyond pardon and not even death can redeem me.” I then raised my arm and pointed at him, “But even so, I am still far better than a hundred pacifist scholars like you! If it weren’t for weak officials and scholars like you, the Great Han empire would never have become the way it is now!”
He continued to remain silent, though I wasn’t sure if it was because he wasn’t able to refute what I said. All he did was turn his flushed face away. In any case, I have no intention of leaving him with any face at all.
*Ta*… *Ta*…
The room was quiet and before long, light footsteps could be heard as Xun Yu came back with a tray that had 2 cups of tea on it.
“Lord Kong Rong, I’ve already written it.” I said in a calm tone as I picked up the piece of silk I was writing on earlier and shook it in the air, “If you are willing to shoulder the responsibility, I will be more than happy to offer you my position. You will be the Imperial Chancellor and I’ll be the Palace Counsellor.”
“That’s…”
“Lord Kong Rong!” When I heard him try to stammer an ambiguous excuse, I interrupted him abruptly.
He looked at me and I looked at him. During this time, Xun Yu silently set down the cups of tea in front of each of us. When she was done, I continued.
“Lord Kong Rong, I mean what I said from the bottom of my heart. If you are willing to, I really can give you my position.” I took a deep breath and spat it out before slowly asking, “Let me ask you. Are you willing to be hated by the world, endure untold suffering and hards.h.i.+p, and use what time you have left in your limited life and take on the responsibility of saving the world and the Great Han?”
Kong Rong continued to remain silent after I finished.
“Alright, this is already the third time I’m asking you this and you remain silent.” I nodded and folded the piece of silk before keeping it in my sleeve, “Clearly, you were just throwing out empty theories before about the situation we are in and have never really given thought on how to improve the situation. In that case, whatever I said before, no matter how unseemly, is apt and there is no need to take back what I said.”
“Wu…” He seemed a little unsatisfied at what I said. But this was in vain as he clearly had no counterarguments against me.
As I looked at Kong Rong, I began to wonder, what use could there be for such a person for the Great Han?
But in the end, my answer was still the same: None at all. That sort of arrogant, incessantly complaining att.i.tude of his means that he is nothing but talk no matter when or where.
After coming to this conclusion, I decided that I ought to continue along my new style and took out a letter from the shelf behind and placed it on the table as I said, “Kong Rong, do you know what this is?”
Kong Rong frowned and leaned forward to have a look before returning to his seat, “No.”
“Alright, I’ll tell you.” I said as I opened the letter and turned it so he could read it, “These are the testimonials I have received from many Imperial Court officials. All of them have adverse opinions about you, about how you
have untoward designs, how you undermined the reputation of the Imperial Court, how you disrespected Court rituals etc; all in all, enough charges for me to sentence you to death.”
When I finished, I looked up and saw his eyes bulge for a moment before returning to normal.
Naturally, I know that most of what’s written in this piece of silk are just baseless rumours. But why not use it to rid myself of a good spot of trouble? He can’t actually cause real, substantial harm but being able to control debates is enough of a threat to me.
In future, no matter how my plans proceed, I can be sure that this renowned scholar will stand up and argue against what they are. When the time comes, I’ll have to expend time and effort to deal with him again.
As for Kong Rong, he was currently frowning and had a grave expression on, looking like he was cornered.
“Looks like Imperial Chancellor Cao is thinking of using this as an excuse to kill me?”
Even now, he continued to speak in that tone filled with faux politeness which only strengthened my resolve to end him once and for all.
“I wasn’t, but now I am.” I honestly said what I thought and shook my head as I continued, “Kong Wen Ju, oh Kong Wen Ju, you might have thought that you were an intelligent scholar of renown. But saving the world takes a lot more than that. My killing you is something that is inevitable. Perhaps I might actually make you more famous by killing you! Men!”
I got up and gestured when I finished.
“Here!” The 2 guards outside came in and saluted.
I picked up the piece of silk from the table and recited loudly from it, “Kong Rong Kong Wen Ju disrespected and spread lies about Imperial Court and is suspected of having treasonous motivations!” When I said this, I threw the piece of silk at Kong Rong before I continued, “Take him away and lock him up! He will be executed at the end of this month!”