Red Mansion: I am Jia Lian

Chapter 632 Interruption
Every change brings about change, and every change has supporters and opponents.

When different voices are heard, it comes down to who has the loudest voice.

In the past, emperors were often at a disadvantage in terms of public opinion. With the advent of newspapers, it became much more difficult for the gentry and landlord class to control public opinion.

Whether it's the reform of the imperial examination system or the advanced engineering program, both are part of social change, and both have supporters and opponents.

At the official level, the policy of the imperial power forcibly withdrawing from power for its own interests was resolutely opposed by the gentry and landlord class.

However, the opposition this time was not strong, partly because it was impossible to fully grasp public opinion, and partly because officials chose to accept it.

There are many reasons for accepting it; some people originally supported Jia Lian, while others were afraid of him.

During Emperor Chenghui's reign, Jia Lian was incredibly successful in his official career, leaving his opponents quite desperate. After the new emperor ascended the throne, the opposition thought their chance had come, but Jia Lian remained steadfast.

The new emperor wanted to use some of the former officials who had committed crimes, and Jia Lian persuaded Li Yuanzhen to accept the offer after entering the palace.

This is terrifying. Getting rid of Jia Lian isn't the problem; the problem is failing to kill him and suffering the consequences of a frenzied retaliation, which no one can bear.

Remarkably, this time, neither the imperial examination nor the establishment of schools caused much of a stir. A few officials submitted memorials opposing the events, but they did not create any ripples.

I thought the matter was over, but unexpectedly, some trouble broke out at the court assembly on the first day of the fifth lunar month.

Nowadays, the grand court assembly is more of a ritual, a way for officials to see what the emperor actually looks like; it's basically not about discussing state affairs.

Officials have tacitly accepted this model, since nobody wants to stand there for half a day without being able to solve anything.

Jia Lian can no longer stand at the back and slack off; as the Minister of Works, he must stand in the second row.

Jia Lian, who had gotten up early, was not in much spirits. He lowered his head and closed his eyes to rest. These court assemblies were usually uneventful, so he just quietly passed by.

[I would suggest building a large assembly hall or similar facility, with seating for meetings. This way everyone will be comfortable, instead of just the emperor sitting alone.]

As for ideas like "ruling by doing nothing," Jia Lian felt nothing for them. Whether a figurehead monarchy is good or bad is another matter; implementing it would be extremely difficult. Is a parliamentary system necessarily good? Not necessarily.

The key to a system is whether it is appropriate; change is never something an individual can drive.

"Your Majesty, your humble servant Bi Dingguo, the Director of the Personnel Selection Department of the Ministry of Personnel, risks his life to report this..."

An official stepped forward from the crowd, spoke loudly, and attracted everyone's attention.

Li Yuan, who was sitting on the dragon throne, was not in a good mood, but this shout woke him up.

It had been many years since anyone had risked their life to speak at a grand court assembly, and Jia Lian was startled awake by the shout.

The position of Director of the Personnel Selection Department in the Ministry of Personnel is an incredibly lucrative post. Why would this guy be so foolish as to step forward and risk his life to submit a memorial?

It's important to understand that in recent years, officials have tacitly agreed not to cause trouble during grand court assemblies. They communicate privately, and if they're really bored, they can tell a few bawdy jokes to liven things up.

There are only two possibilities for causing trouble at the grand court assembly, especially with this kind of surprise attack: either it's a well-prepared attack aimed at overthrowing the existing cabinet, or it's a lone wolf, like Hai Rui.

It's obvious that this guy is definitely not a lone wolf!
When Bi Dingguo stood up and spoke, those who understood what he said immediately realized that something big was about to happen.

The Minister of Personnel broke out in a cold sweat. After all, this was his subordinate. What if others thought he was up to something? Just as he was about to step forward and reprimand him, Li Yuan on the stage spoke up.

"Come forward and speak!" Li Yuan wanted to hear what could possibly warrant such an exaggerated claim as risking one's life to report it.

"Your Majesty, practical learning is the learning of craftsmen. To include it in the imperial examination and place it on par with the teachings of sages is something I cannot accept. I implore Your Majesty to rescind your decree and restore order to the original state."

After Bi Dingguo finished speaking loudly, Li Yuan leaned back slightly, stared at him, and did not speak immediately.

After about five or six seconds, Li Yuancai said, "You may leave now. You may write down the matter you have reported and submit it to me. I will consider it carefully before making a decision."

This answer was quite accommodating to Bi Dingguo. After all, it was the emperor's decision, supported by the cabinet, and documented in writing.

"Your Majesty, I, your subject, will remonstrate to the death!" Bi Dingguo suddenly raised his voice and slammed his head against a pillar in the main hall.

Caught off guard, just as Bi Dingguo was about to crash into the pillar, a foot suddenly slashed out and kicked him down, his head avoiding the pillar.

Upon closer inspection, everyone realized that it was Jia Lian who had kicked him.

Bi Dingguo, who had been kicked over, lay on his back with his feet in the air. When he looked up and saw Jia Lian, he immediately pointed at Jia Lian and cursed angrily: "Jia traitor! You have bewitched the emperor and caused chaos beyond the law. You deserve to die ten thousand times over."

Without saying a word, Jia Lian took off his hat and handed it to the person next to him, rolled up his sleeves and rushed forward. He kicked Bi Dingguo, who was trying to get up, back down, climbed on top of him, grabbed his collar, and started punching him while cursing.

"Shameless scoundrel, ungrateful wretch! What have you done for this country besides labeling others? You're just a lowly fifth-rank physician, how dare you label and smear me? A person like you can't do anything practical except talk. I'm really curious, how did you get promoted to a fifth-rank physician? Did you do it by selling your body? Or are you just a born troublemaker...?"

Everyone was stunned. Jia Lian, the Minister of Works, a candidate for the Grand Secretariat, actually disregarded all decorum and beat someone during the grand court assembly.

Now everything was quiet, and no one dared to speak up to stop it. Even the five senior cabinet members chose to remain silent and watch Jia Lian assault Bi Dingguo.

The nearby ministers also stood still, and no one stepped forward to break up the fight. Actually, it wasn't that no one wanted to step forward; some had already tried to get out, but were pulled back by those around them.

Bi Dingguo continued cursing: "You scoundrel Jia, you have corrupted moral principles and insulted sages. I wish I could tear you apart and spit on your flesh..."

Jia Lian raised his hand and began slapping people, cursing as he did so: "You old bastard who sells dermatitis, your morals are even worse than the actors on stage, how dare you curse me, Jia Lian. With your shameless behavior, it seems you're not your father's biological son, your mother must be cheating on you..."

When it comes to cursing, Jia Lian is also quite skilled; his language is so foul and obscene that it's unbearable to hear.

Li Yuan, sitting on the dragon throne, was stunned; it was the first time he had ever seen this side of his teacher. "Jia Lian, stop!" Lin Ruhai finally spoke.

Li Yuan, who was watching with great interest, quickly sat up straight, coughed, and said, "Where is the General of the Great Han? Why haven't you separated the two of them yet?"

Despite saying that, Jia Lian's hands didn't stop; he continued slapping Bi Dingguo across the face, and his mouth didn't stop either: "No evidence, just labeling, making a mountain out of a molehill, you lazy people pointing fingers at those who do, the affairs of the court are all being wasted by you parasites. You're unlucky to have run into me today, Jia Lian. If I kill you, I'll just pay with my life!"

Upon hearing Jia Lian's words, those who were itching to make a move instantly calmed down, recalling the past when Jia Lian almost smashed the Grand Secretary's face with a teacup during a cabinet meeting.

No one dared to gamble with their future, because Jia Lian had too many powerful connections. Even if he killed someone, the worst that could happen was exile. They dared not risk their own future and lives.

The burly general who came in finally managed to pull Jia Lian up, but Jia Lian still wouldn't give up. He kicked at empty air several times while cursing.

"Why did the late emperor implement reforms? Why does Your Majesty uphold his legacy? Wasn't it because you parasites were hollowing out the nation? You spout benevolence and morality, but your hearts are filled with nothing but profit and business. You stand up to suppress artisans from becoming officials—is that for the sake of the court? You want artisans to make money for you. You exploit farmers and artisans, enriching your own families and clans, and you don't even want to pay taxes. If it weren't for your insatiable greed, would the late emperor have risked pushing for reforms? Not to mention in today's world, in this age of great strife, you are like frogs in a well, only concerned with the interests of your own families and clans, disregarding His Majesty's great kindness and the livelihoods of all people. You all deserve to die!"

Jia Lian had stopped cursing at Bi Dingguo; the man had been beaten and cursed unconscious.

At this moment, Jia Lian turned to face the officials in the hall, raised his hand and gestured, not specifically scolding any of them, but they all understood what he meant.

"Why did Jia push for opening up the seas and expanding the maritime frontier? Wasn't it because you ignored the harm caused by land annexation, leading to the intensification of conflicts between officials and the people within the country? Are the local tyrants and bullies blind to the sharpness of these conflicts? Today, I stand here, and anyone who still supports Bi Dingguo, step forward. Even if it means losing your official positions, I guarantee I'll kill them all, one by one. 'Death by remonstrance,' you say, but why not die at home? Or at least in the street? Coming here to use death by remonstrance to force the emperor's abdication? I'll grant your wish!"

"How dare you! Threatening court officials in front of His Majesty, are you plotting a rebellion?" It was Lin Ruhai who spoke up to suppress Jia Lian, a tactic that had been quite effective in the past.

However, today was an exception. Jia Lian glared at Lin Ruhai: "Prime Minister Lin also approves of Bi the traitor?"

The father-in-law and son-in-law glared at each other, which was quite astonishing. Seeing that Lin Ruhai was in an awkward position and the situation might get worse, Li Yuan, who was on the dragon throne, quickly spoke up.

"Drag Jia Lian out!"

Upon hearing this, Jia Lian immediately turned around and clasped his hands, saying, "Your Majesty need not do this. I have legs and can walk by myself."

After saying this, Jia Lian turned around and walked out of the main hall with his head held high and chest out.

After Jia Lian left, Li Yuan looked at Bi Dingguo lying on the ground with disdain and said, "Drag him out too, let the imperial physician take a look, lest he die in the palace."

The expected scene of numerous ministers stepping forward to impeach Jia Lian did not occur. Instead, one minister stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, Jia Lian has disregarded the rules and regulations..."

Before he could finish speaking, someone jumped out from behind and kicked him in the buttocks: "You dog, you don't dare to say what you want to say to my face? Do you think the Jia family is all dead?"

The minister was kicked by a vicious dog that snatched his excrement, and his speech was interrupted. Everyone looked and realized it was Jia Zheng.

Speaking of Jia Zheng, because of his hereditary official position, his career had reached its peak and he could not rise any higher.

Jia Zheng usually keeps a low profile, but today he suddenly pulled off something big, which really opened everyone's eyes.

"You bastard!" Lin Ruhai was so angry that his hands trembled, and he pointed at Jia Zheng, unable to speak.

Seeing this, Li Yuan waved his hand and said, "You should resign!"

Without saying a word, Jia Zheng removed his official hat and said, "Your Majesty, I thank you for your kindness!"

So Jia Zheng left as well.

After this commotion, no one dared to stand up and impeach the Jia family uncle and nephew. Did they really think there were no officials in the court who had a good relationship with the Jia family?

Li Yuan didn't give the other ministers a chance to speak, but spoke first: "If there are any ministers who want to use the pretext of remonstrating to the death to actually force the emperor to abdicate, I don't want to hear it!"

Lin Ruhai stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, Jia Lian must be punished! Otherwise, if fighting breaks out in the palace, what will become of the court's reputation?"

The ministers below the stage gasped in shock upon hearing this. This old silver coin had turned their words into a brawl.

Li Yuan thought that the ministers' tendency to resort to so-called "death plea" was a trend that could not be allowed to continue.

"We'll discuss Jia Qing's matter later. Court adjourned!" Li Yuan didn't give Lin Ruhai a chance to continue speaking before getting up and leaving.

On the way back, his expression gradually turned grim. Suddenly, he stopped and turned around: "Hu Min, if you hadn't stopped him, how many people would have stood up to oppose me, following Bi Ze's so-called remonstrance?" Hu Min's face turned green: "Your Majesty, how could this servant know?"

"If you don't know, go investigate! What are you doing following me?" Li Yuan refused to believe that only Bi Dingguo was supposed to step forward today; there must be others preparing to support him, but Jia Lian had simply and rudely interrupted him. This was the first influential decree issued by Li Yuan since his ascension to the throne, and yet someone had formed a faction to plot against the emperor and force him to withdraw it, even going so far as to use the pretext of remonstrating to the death.

After the grand court assembly, Lin Ruhai returned to the cabinet without saying a word, then turned to look at the four cabinet ministers behind him: "Who?"

The four people below all shook their heads in denial, vying to say that it had nothing to do with them.

"Don't think I'm exaggerating. Today's events just happened to have a semblance of seriousness. If that scoundrel Bi had really run into a brick wall, things would have blown up completely. At that point, not only would His Majesty be in a difficult position, but the cabinet would also be seen as incompetent. Everyone knows what will happen next; countless people will jump out to impeach the cabinet, and then no one will have the face to stay. You are all sensible people. Go back and investigate thoroughly to see which ambitious individual is plotting to wipe out the entire cabinet."

Li Qing immediately echoed Lin Ruhai's words, saying, "That's right. Whether Bi Dingguo lives or dies is not important. What's important is that those who are hiding in the shadows have an opportunity to take advantage of the situation. I'm sure you all know very well that since the late emperor's reforms, many people at all levels have harbored discontent. Once they take this opportunity to band together, even His Majesty might not be able to suppress them."

Cabinet ministers quickly reached a consensus for their own benefit.

Even Pan Jixun, who was about to retire, was unwilling to step down with a bad reputation.

Today's events, though seemingly sudden, were actually premeditated. Someone had come forward to plead their case, and once blood was drawn, everything would spiral out of control.

Fang Song chuckled coldly, "Speaking of which, we should all thank Buqi properly. If it weren't for his intervention, things wouldn't have ended like this today."

(End of this chapter)