594 Innocent of Murder (1/2)
The night wind brought fragrant and chilly air to the lotus pond. The Minister of Justice, Tian Heng, stood with his hand behind his back, staring blankly at the gently flowing pond water, his mind wondering off.
Suddenly, his servant, Tian Jian, hurried to him and made an urgent report: ”Master, the Yang City Minister received news that Su Mo was appointed as Minister of the Masses. The Yang City Minister has gone over to support Su Mo.”
The Yang City Minister was Tian Kuo. He had inherited Yang City and became its governor after his brother, Tian Guang, had been promoted to the position of Lordship.
Tian Heng looked up with a jerk, opening his eyes widely as if fury was surging inside him. However, he immediately took a deep breath and controlled his expression, returning it to normal.
”Let him go.” His tone was one of indifference.
Tian Jian exclaimed, ”Master! How can we just let him go?”
”The Lord meant to give up the position of Yang City Minister!”
Tian Heng gave him an expressionless look and stressed his words. ”Let him go.”
Tian Jian did not dare to express his doubts again. He bowed in agreement before withdrawing himself from the pavilion.
After staring at the lotus pond for a little longer, Tian Heng suddenly sighed and whispered to himself,
”Perhaps this is good too...”
Inside the palace of the King of Chen, Meng Qi and Jiang Zhiwei, who were waiting for their first court meeting, were anxiously discussing their next course of action.
For the past month, they had pondered over and rehearsed their speech so much so that they had no time to discuss the many details in their plan to ”save the nation”, thus, leaving many lapses therein despite their overnight discussion on the issue.
”The King of Chen is a grandmaster himself, and has the support of court officials and scholars who are not landowners. He does not lack the support of experts of the Exterior. As long as he is determined, he can abolish the Transit Dues and implement national policies that encourage meritocracy. I do not think that aristocrats at Shangying will vigorously resist. However, I'm afraid of disobedience by officials, which can distort the impact of the policies. That will not only result in the failure to achieve results, but it will also damage relationships with other nations or result in the overspending of its own budget.”
As the emperor's younger brother, Zhao Heng had the ultimate say about such circumsatances. Back when the imperial family still had power, top aristocratic families loved to pull such an act.
Qi Zhengyan, who had always been taciturn, had become more outspoken after giving many lectures. He said, ”The use of meritocracy can be controlled in the royal court, a few Yamen, officials in Shangying and the King's military. This way, we would have less resistance as the aristocrats' interests will be protected.
These were areas where control by the King was strongest. The aristocrats would be unable to interfere using underhand tactics.
As for the military, the Apotheosized World differed from Meng Qi's world. There were many formations left behind from ancient times. With enough practice and the possession of precious weapons, these battalions could allow those who had enlightened the Apertures to fight the Exteriors. Thus, there was room left behind for an army to exist. However, except for a few special contingents, most armies were unable to fly, and would be useless in an ambush even though they served great purposes in garrison defense and frontal war.
”Well, for a start, we need to avoid conflicts and make Chu negotiate with the secret Taoist sect. We could be bold after different forces approve of our actions, which they would definitely do after experiencing the benefits!” Meng Qi agreed with Yan Zhengqi and they decided to report the result of their discussion to the King before the court meeting.
Jiang Zhiwei frowned slightly and explained her worries, ”The implementation of the policies of meritocracy and frugality, as well as our Disapproval of Extravagant Burial Rituals, only concern the King and a small group of others, and thus, we need not worry about external interference. However, the abolishment of Transit Dues requires cooperation from the aristocrats, or else, it would not be able to be implemented in the long run.”
One could not attract merchants without abolishing Transit Dues and one could not have any profits without having merchants. How many things could be accomplished without profits?
Persuading the King was only the beginning. The real challenge was yet to come!
Ruan Yushu suddenly blurted out, ”Strengthen our patrol and execute someone as an example to frighten others?”
Jiang Zhiwei nodded and said, ”That's a solution. As long as we can frighten the others and prevent them from interfering, our plan of action would be so much easier to execute.”
As long as the new policies create benefits, those who do not dare to interfere would not even be willing to do so in the end!
Although they would leave this world after one month, they still had sympathy and cared for the country. The King of Chen had treated them with respect and relied on them. How could they just leave a mess behind?
”Execute someone to frighten others? Who do we execute?” Zhao Heng laughed in disdain. ”Most of the gatekeepers at checkpoints had at most only opened Nine Apertures. What do we gain by killing them?” ”The aristocrats will not leave behind any evidence of their involvement, and will even help the gatekeepers escape. If we cannot find any evidence, the King will lose face.”
”There are also too many checkpoints. We will not have enough manpower to check and inspect them. As long as such barriers exist, the merchants' profits will be ruined, and they will doubt the King's determination to remove the Transit Dues. Even if we can remove all the barricades in the future, merchants will not want to pass by Chen anymore.”
”If no benefits can be reaped in the short term, why will the King continue trusting us?”
The problem in the execution of the task was the most thought-provoking one. Meng Qi and the rest were all thinking hard but they all could not find an ideal solution.
Suddenly, Meng Qi remembered a book that he had read in the past. His mind flashed as he clapped his hands. ”I have a plan!” he shouted.
”What plan?” Jiang Zhiwei and others looked at him.
Meng Qi regained his calmness and smiled profoundly. ”It's not a complicated idea,” he said.