Chapter 1276: The Plot Revealed, Li Junxian!
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
King Qi was far too selfish. When considering matters, he would always place his own interests above the welfare of the country. His faction was already strong enough to give his opponents a headache. If he were allowed to insert Ge Huan, no one knew what sort of state he would put the court in.
Most importantly, amongst all the officials, no one except w.a.n.g Chong and King Song were capable of opposing him and ruining his plan.
“Absurd! What sort of nonsense is this!”
King Song’s opposition caused King Qi to immediately retort in agitation.
“Just who exactly enters the Imperial Court with experience? Doesn’t everyone start with nothing and slowly ascend, step by step? If others are not given a chance, how can we ever nurture new talent? Ge Huan has outstanding achievements, and this king believes that he is completely suitable for the post!”
King Qi would do his utmost to get his own man into the court.
“But this king does not find him suitable!”
w.a.n.g Chong’s voice resounded through the hall as he stepped forward, coldly smiling. King Qi could not be permitted to use this chance to insert his own man into the Imperial Court. Ge Huan might have been decently qualified, but the Great Tang had many more people who were much more talented than him!
“w.a.n.g Chong!”
King Qi roared upon hearing w.a.n.g Chong speak up, his eyes turning red. w.a.n.g Chong had already ruined his plans twice now.
“This subject also believes that Ge Huan is not the best candidate!”
At this time, Minister of War Zhangchou Jianqiong also stepped forward. Bright Minister He Qingrong’s departure from the capital was already a done deal that could not be altered. All they could do now was do their utmost to prevent King Qi’s men from occupying He Qingrong’s post.
“This subject agrees!”
“This subject also agrees!”
In a flash, the generals and officials in King Song’s faction stepped forward and agreed, agitated looks on their faces. This chorus of voices caused King Qi’s face to twist in rage.
“Your Highness, if Ge Huan is not acceptable, this old subject has a person to recommend!”
In the middle of this tense stalemate, an extremely elderly voice resounded through the hall. The Grand Preceptor had chosen to speak once more.
“This old subject has interacted with this person before, and based on this old subject’s judgment, he is entirely capable of entering the Secretariat to a.s.sume He Qingrong’s position and handle the matters of state.”
The Grand Preceptor’s words left everyone dumbstruck, and even King Song and Zhangchou Jianqiong appeared taken aback. In the back, w.a.n.g Chong was startled and instantly felt an extremely ill foreboding.
Ever since their conflict in the Imperial Court, the Grand Preceptor had not appeared at the morning court session for a very long time, let alone partic.i.p.ated in the discussions. And based on the question the Grand Preceptor had asked He Qingrong, it was clear that he had come to this court session amply prepared. w.a.n.g Chong would never believe that the Grand Preceptor had thought up this person on the spot.
“Who is it?!” King Qi furiously roared, his eyes bloodshot, so enraged that he didn’t even realize that it was the Grand Preceptor who had spoken. But before King Qi could realize what he had done, a thunderous and energetic voice came from outside.
“Me!”
This single word was p.r.o.nounced with absolute confidence, showing no fear for the many luminaries and influential officials gathered within the court. And with this word, a tapping of footsteps came from outside Taihe Palace, immediately attracting everyone’s attention. Whoos.h.!.+ Instantly, all the officials, including w.a.n.g Chong, turned to look.
A moment later, in a dazzling flash of light, an upright figure with his head held high, his robes as white as snow, strode over the threshold.
His steps were confident, and his demeanor graceful, like an orchid found deep within a serene valley.
Upon seeing this man, at least half of the civil officials in the court lowered their heads with respect in their eyes.
w.a.n.g Chong had cared little at first, but when he got a clear view of that person’s face, he trembled all over like he had been struck by lightning!
Li Junxian!
w.a.n.g Chong stared in disbelief at that familiar figure. Never had he imagined that the person the Grand Preceptor was recommending would be none other than the Confucian Sect leader he had met in Drunken Moon Pavilion, Li Junxian!
At that moment, w.a.n.g Chong suddenly felt like he was drowning in the middle of a scheme.
From the irrigation project and He Qingrong’s departure to King Qi’s recommendation of Ge Huan and finally to the Grand Preceptor’s recommendation of Li Junxian… these events flew through w.a.n.g Chong’s mind at astonis.h.i.+ng speed, and then he recalled how King Song’s spy had learned from King Qi that the entire structure of the court was about to change. At this moment, w.a.n.g Chong finally understood what was going on.
At this moment, Li Junxian stood at the entrance to the hall and rapidly scanned the officials, in the end setting his gaze on w.a.n.g Chong.
“King of Foreign Lands, we meet again!”
Buzz!
These words caused the hall to buzz with chatter, all the generals turning to look at this white-robed youth. It was evident from this youth’s words that he knew w.a.n.g Chong, but from the mood between them, this was clearly a hostile relations.h.i.+p, not a friendly one. Given that the Grand Preceptor had recommended him and that he was enemies with the King of Foreign Lands, this white-robed youth definitely came from an unusual background.
Standing at the entrance, Li Junxian acted like he couldn’t see or hear these things. Ignoring the officials, he gently smiled as he met w.a.n.g Chong’s eyes. At that moment, electricity seemed to be crackling in the air, and the entire hall fell silent as all the officials present finally noticed the hostility between the two.
“It’s him!”
Next to a coiling dragon pillar, King Song seemed to sense something, his eyes widening. As he gazed at the white-robed figure, his expression turned grave.
Though he had never met Li Junxian, King Song had already ordered someone to draw a portrait based on w.a.n.g Chong’s descriptions. King Song had developed an extremely deep impression of this young leader of the Confucian Sect, but not even he had imagined that this schemer behind the scenes would now appear and enter the Imperial Court.
Nearby, Zhangchou Jianqiong’s reaction was somewhat slower, but he also noticed something and began to suspiciously examine Li Junxian.
“Your Highness, this king objects! The tasks of the Secretariat are of utmost importance! Can any random person be permitted within?” w.a.n.g Chong suddenly said, his expression cold. Regardless of what sort of plan the Confucian Sect had, he would not allow them to succeed.
Li Junxian only smiled and said nothing.
At this time, the Director of the Chamberlain of Dependencies, Fang Zhengqing, suddenly stepped forward and firmly said, “Who said that he was any random person? This is the Deputy Director of our Chamberlain of Dependencies!”
“So taking care of foreign guests at the Chamberlain of Dependencies grants one the abilities to handle important matters of state in the Secretariat? Since when have the matters of the Imperial Court been permitted to be so casually handled?” w.a.n.g Chong coldly said.
The Chamberlain of Dependencies was part of King Qi’s faction, and this was probably the best post that Li Junxian could a.s.sume. He didn’t know what the Confucian Sect’s intent was, but the Imperial Court was the center of the Great Tang and the heart of the Central Plains. If Li Junxian was willing to go to such lengths to get into the Imperial Court, even transferring away He Qingrong, he undoubtedly had grand ambitions.
The Grand Preceptor stood in front of his chair and unhurriedly said, “Serving in the Chamberlain of Dependencies is naturally not enough! I forgot to tell everyone that besides being Deputy Director of the Chamberlain of Dependencies, he is also the last disciple of this old subject. In my retiring years, this old subject still hopes to be of utmost service to the Imperial Court. Moreover, this person possesses outstanding talent, so this old subject decided to take him as a disciple and guide him. Every day, every memorial sent to the Imperial Court that pa.s.ses by this old subject’s eyes also pa.s.ses by his. In these last several years, this old subject has taught him everything he knows. And this person has not let down this old subject’s hopes. The student surpa.s.ses the master. He is completely capable of partic.i.p.ating in government affairs and handling the affairs of the court.
“Your Highness, this old subject believes that this person can a.s.sume He Qingrong’s post. If he enters the Secretariat, there will be no errors. In this aspect, this old subject can swear upon his reputation! Your Highness, please consider this!”
After saying his piece, he solemnly bowed.
This was the third time he had taken action in today’s court session. When w.a.n.g Chong heard the Grand Preceptor call Li Junxian his last disciple, he felt his heart freeze and sink like a stone.
The Chamberlain of Dependencies’s recommendation, the Grand Preceptor’s guarantee, and an important status like the Grand Preceptor’s last disciple…
For the sake of recommending Li Junxian, the Grand Preceptor had even put his reputation on the line. w.a.n.g Chong did not know if Li Junxian had actually learned everything the Grand Preceptor knew or if he had the ability to handle matters of state, but if what the Grand Preceptor said was true, then the schemes of the Confucian Sect, Grand Preceptor, and King Qi were terrifyingly farsighted!
But the more this was the case, the more w.a.n.g Chong could not allow them to succeed.
“The Imperial Court has its regulations, and everything must be done according to them. Without any achievements, not even the Grand Preceptor’s student can ascend to the heavens with a single step and enter the Secretariat. My stance remains the same: unacceptable!” w.a.n.g Chong sternly said.
At this moment, another voice spoke up—none other than the Great Tang’s Prime Minister, Li Linfu. “The King of Foreign Lands is correct. It just so happens that this old man has a matter to announce. Not long ago, Deputy Director Li Junxian traveled as an emissary of the Great Tang to the surrounding countries, formally signing treaties in which Ü-Tsang, the Western Turks, Goguryeo, and the other countries all agreed to reduce their armies. Ü-Tsang, because of the severe losses it suffered in previous wars, will reduce its army by one hundred and fifty thousand. The Western Turks will reduce their army by two hundred thousand. The Eastern Turks will reduce their army by two hundred and thirty thousand. Goguryeo will reduce its army by two hundred and eighty thousand. Finally, Mengshe Zhao will reduce its army by three hundred thousand! These countries all formally informed the Imperial Court several days ago, and all the reductions will be finished within ten days!”
This caught everyone off guard. Li Linfu had been silent throughout the entire court session. No one had expected him to speak up now. And even more shocking was the news that he had just announced.
Boom!
The quiet Taihe Palace immediately erupted. Even those who apparently knew a little about Li Junxian’s background appeared surprised.