Chapter 103

Chapter 103: After Mo Chi, Who Can Be Chancellor? (4000 words, two chapters combined)

By the Emperor of Wu’s own decree, Xu Ming’s refusal to marry memorandum has spread throughout all of Wu Du, and even the entire Wu Kingdom.

At first, when many commoners heard about Xu Ming rejecting the marriage against the emperor’s order, they were shocked. The Emperor was going to give his most beloved daughter to you, but you refused her? Some thought Xu Ming was too arrogant, ungrateful, even conceited with a sense of superiority. Others admired Xu Ming more because his refusal showed he wasn’t attracted by power, possessing the pride of a scholar. His image in their hearts became even greater.

But almost everyone thought Xu Ming would surely be punished. However, this refusal memorandum came out. Its splendid writing style and sincere emotion made many scholars stand on Xu Ming’s side. “So what if you’re a prince-in-law? So what if you have the biggest father-in-law in Wu Kingdom? As a man, one should achieve success through one’s own efforts, not be a gilded bird! The men of our Wu Kingdom should fight on the battlefield, not cower behind.”

Xu Ming’s refusal memorandum resonated with many ambitious people who didn’t want to live off others. If the Emperor wanted to punish Xu Ming, they even thought of writing a petition together. But in the end, not only did the Emperor not punish Xu Ming, but also rewarded him with a hundred taels of gold, ten bolts of Shu silk, a blood-sweating horse from the Northern Wilderness, and appointed him as a civil and military minister, a fifth-rank official.

This was a specially created position for Xu Ming by the Emperor. Although it had no real power, it was just a title. But this title contained the words “civil” and “military”, meaning it could work both among civil officials and military officers. This was the first time in Wu Dynasty’s history.

The Emperor’s magnanimity won unanimous praise from the people. Many even believed that because of Xu Ming’s refusal memorandum and the Emperor’s understanding, this event might be recorded in the annals of mutual understanding between monarch and minister.

In fact, the Emperor gave Xu Ming this idle post to prepare for his future trip to the Rootless Mystic Realm. If Xu Ming really had any real power, whether in civil or military posts, he would need to be distracted. But now, what Xu Ming needed to do was constantly improve his cultivation. In less than two years, the Rootless Mystic Realm would open. It would be the last opening, and a carnival for all geniuses in the world. For Xu Ming, it was not only a major opportunity but also related to Wu Kingdom’s reputation. Otherwise, if Xu Ming represented Wu Kingdom and failed, it would embarrass the Wu Kingdom.

Xu Ming naturally understood the Emperor’s intentions. So during the last audience with the Emperor to express gratitude, Xu Ming expressed his desire to go outside for training. He would return after one and a half years. The Emperor naturally agreed. Now that Xu Ming had entered the Heroic Soul Realm, he indeed needed to go out and broaden his horizons.

Unlike cultivators who can seclude themselves to gain enlightenment without going anywhere, martial artists need to hone themselves in repeated battles, surpass their limits, and even understand their martial way between life and death. No great teacher could bring this to Xu Ming. That’s why members of the Blood Floating Pagoda have numerous tasks every month besides fighting wars, and these tasks are not easy, even possibly fatal.

Upon learning that Xu Ming would travel far away, Chen Suyan didn’t say anything. As a mother, Chen Suyan felt proud and honored by her son. She knew she didn’t have much ability. She even doubted if Xu Ming was her biological child because he was too outstanding. But Chen Suyan knew the only thing she could do for her child was to support his decisions, letting him soar high and far. When he returns, there will be a home in Wudu waiting for him, with his mother always waiting for him.

As the third-place scholar, Xu Pengda, the Emperor asked him what kind of official post he wanted. Xu Pengda said he wanted to leave Wudu and see the common people. The Emperor smiled and said “good,” then transferred Xu Pengda to Baihe County in Chongyun Prefecture to serve as the county magistrate. To ordinary people, Baihe County is just a simple county. But it carries profound political implications. Three chancellors of the Wu Kingdom originated from Baihe County. Their official careers started here. Moreover, Baihe County is the hometown of the current chancellor Fang Ling. Therefore, appointing Xu Pengda as the magistrate of Baihe County was seen by many as a sign of heavy use of Xu Pengda. Once Xu Pengda accumulates certain experience in governance and understands the common people of Wu Kingdom, he would serve in other positions for a few more years. During this period, the Emperor would definitely focus on testing Xu Pengda’s quality. If Xu Pengda passes the test and proves to be a promising talent, he would be transferred back to Wudu. By then, Xu Pengda would truly rise rapidly. In the court, many people already marveled at the twin stars of Xu Mansion. They didn’t know what good fortune Xu Guo Mansion had stepped into, to produce such two individuals! Although many thought Xu Pengda received such attention from the Emperor due to his younger brother Xu Ming.

But those who truly understood the truth knew that it was actually an old Mr. Zhang who mentioned to Xiao Mo Chi, “This child’s future role in the Wu Kingdom will be no less than yours or mine.”

This sentence reached the Emperor’s ears through the Listen Wind Pavilion. When the day comes, if Xu Ming establishes great merit for the Wu Kingdom, returns to court for enfeoffment, and marries the princess. And Xu Pengda is also transferred back to Wudu to take up important positions, what kind of storms will these two brothers stir up in the court of the Wu Kingdom?

As for whether these two brothers will become too powerful and threaten the imperial authority, or even usurp the throne, the Emperor isn’t worried at all. Not to mention that Mr. Zhang vouched for the character of these two brothers. Unless the ruler of the Wu Kingdom becomes tyrannical and the true destiny has run out, otherwise, the Mountain and River Fortune of the Wu Kingdom won’t recognize anyone else in the Wu imperial lineage. Let alone the Green Dragon Seal of the Wu Kingdom, which only the current royal bloodline can activate. If someone else cannot gain the recognition of the Green Dragon Seal, the national defense strength of the Wu Kingdom would decrease by at least one quarter. Even if the Emperor worries, it would be worrying about Xu Mansion and Qin Mansion not knowing moderation, forming factions privately, not only tarnishing the reputations of Xu Ming and Xu Pengda, but also making the entire court chaotic. But now, the Emperor has prepared countermeasures. On the day he heavily relies on Xu Ming and Xu Pengda, if Xu Mansion and Qin Mansion still don’t know restraint, they will reap what they sow. As for the previous friendship with the late emperor, that was then. Ancestor’s law, I’ve changed myself. What does the friendship between the late emperor and Lord Xu and Lord Qin matter? Whoever obstructs the progress of the Wu Kingdom, the current Emperor will kick them aside!

Just as the heat of Xu Ming’s “Refusal Memorandum” hadn’t cooled down much, another piece of news emerged in the court, taking over Xu Ming’s “hot search”. Chancellor Fang Ling submitted a resignation request, wanting to retire and enjoy his twilight years.

Xu Ming didn’t know much about this Fang Chancellor, except that not long ago, this Fang Chancellor came to Xu Mansion and talked with him for two hours. Xu Ming knew that this Fang Chancellor was the only person since the establishment of the Wu Kingdom to serve as prime minister without being a cultivator. All previous Wu Dynasty prime ministers were Confucian cultivators. Even when they retired, it was because they had consumed too much of their life essence, hoping to live a few hundred more years. Or they were trying to see if they could break through and extend their lives by thousands of years. After all, everyone has selfish desires, wanting to live longer, which is understandable. Of course, those deeply entrenched in the court are exceptions. But Fang Ling was an ordinary person, completely free from concerns about life essence consumption. Moreover, Fang Ling had a very good reputation in the Wu Kingdom, known as “Fang Iron Face,” meaning “impartial.” Furthermore, Fang Ling was sixty years old, though advanced in age, human officials in the dynasty mostly retire at seventy, meaning Fang Ling still had ten years left. So Fang Ling’s resignation left many in Wudu confused. After Fang Ling submitted his resignation, the Emperor naturally didn’t agree, trying to retain Fang Ling. Fang Ling resigned again. The Emperor retained him again. Fang Ling resigned once more. The Emperor retained him yet again. After three resignations and three retentions, on the fourth attempt, the Emperor finally approved Fang Ling’s request. The Emperor rewarded Fang Ling with a thousand taels of gold, a hundred maidservants, brocade, white silk, and a hundred acres of good farmland as retirement pay. But Fang Ling rejected everything. Fang Ling only asked the Emperor for a branch from the banyan tree in front of the palace hall to make a ruler. The Emperor didn’t understand Fang Ling’s intention but still approved it. On the third day before Fang Ling’s departure, the Town Luck Office came to inventory Fang Ling’s assets. When a chancellor leaves office, the chancellor’s residence must be returned to the royal family, so it must be inventoried. There was also another purpose, to check how much corruption had occurred over the years. Normally, for senior officials who voluntarily resign, even if the Town Luck Office inventories their assets, if there is some corruption, successive emperors would turn a blind eye, and the Town Luck Office would be ordered to pretend not to see. Because if you were going to be dealt with, you would have been dealt with long ago, and the Town Luck Office would have kicked your door down long ago. Now everyone was just going through the motions, making things look good for everyone, giving you a good ending, and leaving you a good legacy. But this time, the director personally responsible for the inventory was confused. Because in the chancellor’s residence, this director didn’t see any valuable calligraphy or paintings, priceless antiques, or exorbitantly priced medicinal herbs. In the chancellor’s study, there was only a landscape painting given by a friend, a desk, a brush, and an inkstone. In the main bedroom (the wife’s room), the jewelry and cosmetics were all cheaply bought from the market, and there were no more than five sets of clothes. The number of servants in the chancellor’s house was according to the lowest standard of Wu Dynasty law. Moreover, Fang Ling had only one legal wife and three grandchildren (his two sons were disciples of sects and had left the Wu Kingdom), so many rooms were empty, not fully occupied. This director felt something was amiss because, regardless of circumstances, officials in such high positions usually had some “extra income,” so the director ordered digging everywhere. But what was dug up was only layer upon layer of mud. Finally, unable to find anything, the director ordered the soil to be filled back in, the floor laid down, and then left the chancellor’s residence. What he saw was just an old man leading his grandson, like an old farmer, smiling at him. The director bowed in respect. The old man returned the bow. On the day before Fang Ling’s departure, the Emperor invited Fang Ling to the palace for a banquet. This banquet had only the Emperor and Fang Ling. Concubines, attendants, and even the eunuch Wei were absent. “Old servant pays respects to Your Majesty.” Fang Ling bowed respectfully to the Emperor. The Emperor hurriedly walked forward and supported Fang Ling, saying, “Prime Minister, there’s no need for such formality, please rise quickly.” Fang Ling shook his head, “Your Majesty, I am no longer the prime minister.” The Emperor spoke sincerely, “In my heart, Elder Fang, you will always be the prime minister of the Wu Kingdom.” Fang Ling just smiled and didn’t say much. The Emperor pulled Fang Ling to sit on the chair, “Elder Fang, all these dishes were personally cooked by the Empress. I’m seeing Elder Fang off!” Upon finishing, the Emperor raised his wine glass. “Thank you, Your Majesty.” Fang Ling also raised his wine glass, drank it all in one gulp, smacked his lips, “This wine is truly excellent.” The Emperor smiled, “If Elder Fang likes it, I’ll have someone send it to you every month.” Fang Ling put down the wine glass, “I thank Your Majesty, but I decline. This wine can be exchanged for too much grain. I can’t drink it peacefully.” The Emperor, “…” Fang Ling smiled at the Emperor, “Did Your Majesty invite me just for a meal?” The Emperor refilled Fang Ling’s cup with wine, “The late emperor said you were the best at reading people, never making mistakes, so I have something to ask Elder Fang.” “Your Majesty, speak freely.” The Emperor put down the wine pot, looking straight into Fang Ling’s eyes, “After Mo Chi, who can be the prime minister?” Fang Ling didn’t hesitate, “Chen Xuan.” The Emperor, “After Chen Xuan?” Fang Ling, “Fei Yi.” The Emperor, “After Fei Yi?” Fang Ling closed his eyes, thinking for a long time, “Xu Pengda.” The Emperor, “After Xu Pengda?” Fang Ling thought even longer but shook his head without saying more. The Emperor, “What does Elder Fang think of Xu Ming?” Fang Ling smiled, “A month ago, I went to Xu Mansion and talked with the Zhuangyuan Lang for two hours. I hope Your Majesty considers carefully.” The Emperor’s heart skipped a beat, “Could it be that Xu Ming lacks administrative talent?” Fang Ling still shook his head, “The position of prime minister is the greatest waste for the Zhuangyuan Lang.”