Chapter 225 Cancers (1/2)
Chapter 225 – Cancers
Wang Yun was shocked by the sudden change of Liu Yu's stance. Suddenly asking for a contribution from the others was like a political suicide as nobody wanted to part from their wealth.
On the other hand, Liu Yu had steeled himself from the backlash. To protect the Capital, he had to abandon his right to the throne and his future political influence.
Only the follower of Liu Yu understood about his selfless sacrifice. They gazed at this minister in deep respect as they also shouted.
”I have 2,000 gold and 3,000 troops. I'll contribute all of it.”
”My family stored 5,000 stones of provisions and 1,000 soldiers.”
”I have 500 mercenaries and 8,000 gold!”
Each of them pitched in their assets into the cause, which astonished the officials who had yet to decide their stance.
Wang Yun's supporters also looked at these people with eyes widened, dumbfounded by the sacrifice and selflessness of these incorrupt-minded ministers.
After a rough calculation, the Capital City would have 200,000 gold, 50,000 tons of provisions, and 35,000 soldiers by combining all noble forces that donated their assets.
However, Liu Yu and the donators did not look satisfied with these figures. They knew that the rest of the nobles in the hall, who had not contributed, had more wealth and private soldiers than them, yet they did not utter a word to help.
'Selfish bastards! The crisis is at hand, and they are still worrying about their self-interest?' Liu Yu cursed these ministers in his mind. With the current troops, they would not stand a chance against 100,000 elites of the west borders.
”Is there anyone else who wishes to contribute?” Liu Yu asked, after which he darted his eyes around the room.
”I have dispatched all of my troops to the north. I don't have anything to contribute.”
”I've spent all of my gold for His Majesty. I don't have any left.”
”I've invested all my gold into potteries. I can't contribute.”
Excuses came from the mouth of neutral officers and a part of Wang Yun's followers in the hall, which angered both Wang Yun and Liu Yu.
'Dispatched your troops!? If I remember correctly, His Majesty took conscripted troops from Dong Zhuo, but he did not take any troops from the Capital nobles!' Wang Yun thought as he glared at the lying nobles.
Liu Yu also had a similar thought. As he could not tolerate cowards and selfish crooks, he shouted.
”Gentlemen, you have already listened to the report about how Dong Zhuo treated the people in his cities and his civilians. Once he gets his hands on Luo Yang, he will not leave you alone as you still possess wealth and soldiers. If you do not contribute in this fight and we lose, you cannot blame us for being incompetence as you are the selfish shameless unintellectual nobles who wither away in the time of crisis!”
The remarks did not help Liu Yu but angered everybody in the hall instead. The nobles who had not contributed started protesting.
”When we say we have no troops, we meant as we said!”
”Shameless? No, you are shameless! We don't have anything to spare, why do you force us to donate our assets while we can't!”
”Right, this is robbery!”
The hall was thrown into an uproar as the dissatisfied nobles refused to donate their wealth to fight for the Capital.
Wang Yun also shook his head as he realized that Liu Yu had just committed political suicide by that remarks. As a governor, Liu Yu was exceptionally talented at it. But in terms of political skills and façade, he lacked basic psychological knowledge.
The old fox also knew about priorities. He decided to back Liu Yu by abusing his authority as a Chancellor.
”Hear my order! All of you must contribute all of your private troops and half of your provision and gold to the army! We are facing a crisis. Nobody has the right to be exempted from this! Since your wages came from people's taxes, it is your duty to protect the civilians' well-being with your troops!”
Sounds of mockery and shouted lashed at Wang Yun.
”Who are you to order us!?”
”Bootlicker! I won't give you shit! What are you going to do about it?”
”Chancellor, you have no right to order us what to do. I do what I want!”
Hearing the defying protests, Liu Yu and Wang Yun glared at them with hatred. Wang Yun held the highest position in the Court, yet they refused to comply with his order. If the Emperor were here, they would have been charged as treason and had their entire family executed.
”Do you realize that you are committing treason!? I have the authority to order you! Will you give us your troops or not!?” Roared Wang Yun.
The crowd was panicked, but an elder scholar stepped forward and mocked Wang Yun.
”We committed treason. Then, what are you going to do about it? Arrest us? Sure, go ahead. Arrest me right now, but I promise you this. The moment one of us is arrested, we will use everything we have to kill you and your stupid daughter! Do you think you are the Emperor who can order us around? Ptut!”
”What!? This is blasphemy! You are threatening the authority here!” Wang Yun was shocked.