I rode and slashed unparalleled in the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 1125 Great Confucian Scholars Debating Classics
Seeing Wan Nian hurriedly ordering someone to draft an imperial edict, Su Yao smiled, put his arm around her shoulder and said, "There's no need to rush. The edict can be sent to Luoyang first, but it doesn't need to be so explicit. Give them a hint and heat up the atmosphere first."

“Even the abdication of abdication requires three refusals and three concessions. If you rush to agree to their request, wouldn’t that make us seem too eager and put us at a disadvantage?”

Upon hearing this, Wan Nian blushed slightly and immediately understood Su Yao's intention. She gave Su Yao a coquettish look and said, "My husband is right. I was just too anxious. The title of 'Emperor' is no small matter. How can it be accepted so easily? It should be repeatedly urged by the ministers and eagerly awaited by all the people of the world. Only then can it be seen that the Mandate of Heaven has been bestowed upon us and that the matter will be settled naturally."

She then summoned the Imperial Secretary who had come to deliver the message from outside the door, and verbally conveyed the imperial decree, her tone becoming solemn and composed:

"I hereby issue this decree to Luoyang: Your Highness, the Prince of Tang, has pacified the East Sea, your achievements are unparalleled throughout the world, and all people admire you, which greatly pleases me. However, the matter of your title concerns the national system and etiquette, and cannot be decided lightly. I hereby instruct Grand Tutor Lu Zhi, General of the Cavalry Yuan Shao, and Attendant-in-Ordinary Xun Yu, among other high-ranking officials, to widely solicit opinions, carefully study the classics, and strive for a proper and harmonious outcome, so as to secure the state and win the hearts of the people. After a decision is made, a report shall be submitted."

This imperial edict, seemingly passing the buck back to the court officials in Luoyang, actually concealed a hidden agenda. The phrases "his achievements surpass the world" and "admired by all people" set the tone, while "carefully studying the classics" further implied that the author would find evidence or similar precedents for the title "Emperor" in old documents to legitimize it.

Especially at the end of the imperial edict, Wan Nian casually added another appointment: Wei Ming, the Prefect of Yangzhou, was promoted to Minister of Rites. As for Zhou Zhong, the former Minister of Rites, he was transferred to the position of Minister of Works.

Soon, the imperial decree was sent out by fast horse to Luoyang, immediately giving the court a new shock.

Grand Tutor Lu Zhi and Attendant Xun Yu exchanged a glance, both seeing understanding and a hint of helplessness in each other's eyes. The eight characters in the Empress's decree, "her achievements surpass the world" and "admired by all people," were practically an explicit instruction, while "carefully studying the classics" further clarified the direction—it wasn't a discussion about whether or not to add an honorific title, but rather to find a legally sound basis and a glorious precedent for this unprecedented title of "Emperor." This undoubtedly meant that these well-read ministers were tasked with a "tailor-made" research mission.

General Yuan Shao was secretly delighted. The Empress's selection of him to participate in the deliberation was undoubtedly an affirmation of his previous stance in court in support of the "Emperor" title, giving him another advantage in cultivating relationships with the newly powerful. He immediately stepped forward, his voice booming: "Your Majesty is wise! The merits of Prince Tang are indeed beyond the scope of ordinary etiquette. We, your subjects, will certainly do our utmost, study extensively, and research ancient systems to ensure that the discussion of the title not only conforms to the will of Heaven but also to the wishes of the people, and to live up to the trust placed in us by Your Majesty and Prince Tang!" His words, seemingly a response to the imperial decree, actually treated the "Emperor" title as a fait accompli, and the discussion was merely about how to make it "legitimate."

When Zhou Zhong, the former Minister of Rites, heard that he had been transferred to the position of Minister of Works, his face turned deathly pale. He wanted to question whether this was His Majesty's original intention, but he quickly shut his mouth and let out a barely audible sigh.

Although the Ministry of Works appears to be on par with his Ministry of Rites, and oversees all practical matters such as public works, water conservancy, and machinery manufacturing, its responsibilities are also significant. However, for an old minister like him, whose family tradition is rooted in Confucian classics and who strictly adheres to etiquette, leaving the prestigious and powerful Ministry of Rites, which governs the nation's education and rites, to take charge of those "extraordinary skills" and civil engineering projects is undoubtedly a demotion in disguise. It is also a clear signal that his conservative stance is no longer suitable for leading the upcoming ceremony to establish the unconventional title of "Emperor." What His Majesty and the Prince of Tang need is a Minister of Rites who can better "understand the Emperor's will" and is courageous in "innovation."

He glanced at Wei Ming, the newly promoted official beside him who had proposed the title "Emperor," and saw that the man's expression was calm, accepting the honor with equanimity, yet his eyes gleamed with a composure and sharpness beyond his years. Zhou Zhong understood; the winds of change in the court had truly shifted completely. In the end, he simply bowed to accept the decree, saying in a hoarse voice, "Your subject... Zhou Zhong, accepts the decree and thanks you." The newly appointed Minister of Rites, Wei Ming, remained unfazed by the honor or disgrace. He stepped forward, bowed, and after expressing his gratitude, quickly threw himself into his new work with swift and decisive action.

For example, he first summoned the secretaries and assistant secretaries of the various departments of the Ministry of Rites, and broke down the Empress's decree to "carefully study the classics" item by item, clearly assigning tasks accordingly:
"The Sacrificial Affairs Office must thoroughly examine the records of the Supreme Titles in the Book of Rites and the Book of Documents, focusing on the titles and rituals of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, and the sage kings of the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties; the Ceremonial Affairs Office must compile the procedures and stories of emperors throughout history adding titles, especially the precedents of Emperor Wu of Han's Fengshan ceremony and Emperor Guangwu's establishment of the title of Zhongxing; the Food and Beverages Office and the Guest Office will temporarily assist in handling documents, collecting reports from all prefectures and counties of the empire on the achievements of the Tang King and petitions from the people—all matters concerning the Tang King's pacification of the barbarians and his benefit to the people, even folk songs and inscriptions, must be collected and archived!"

His next task did not extend beyond the imperial court. In his capacity as Minister of Rites, Wei Ming summoned scholars from all over the country to Luoyang to discuss the matter of the title "Emperor." He also took up front pages in newspapers, serializing the latest developments in the research on the title "Emperor" and the enthusiastic scenes of "people's petitions" in various places.

The front page of the *Da Han Yue Bao* was immediately dominated by articles related to the title "Heavenly Emperor." Wei Ming personally drafted, or instructed trusted scholars, a series of textual research articles. These articles cited numerous classical texts, from the *Shangshu* (Book of Documents) section on Yao Dian ("Then he commanded Xi He to respectfully follow the will of Heaven"), to the records of the "Heavenly Emperor" star officials in the *Shiji* (Records of the Grand Historian) section on Fengshan (Fengshan), and even the vague legends of the "Son of the Red Emperor" and the "Son of the White Emperor" in apocryphal texts. All of these were cleverly linked to Su Yao's achievements and the title "Heavenly Emperor," demonstrating the inevitability and sacredness of his "correspondence with the stars above and conformity with ancient teachings below."

Meanwhile, the newspaper also devoted a large portion of its coverage to the petitions "spontaneously" submitted by people from all over the country: the people of Youzhou were grateful to the Tang Emperor for quelling the rebellions of the Wuhuan and Gongsun and restoring peace to the border region; the gentry of Xuzhou praised the Tang Emperor for promoting new agricultural tools and building water conservancy projects, which filled the granaries; even as far away as Jiaozhou, scholars submitted petitions saying that the Tang Emperor's prestige had spread far and wide, and the countries of the South China Sea had submitted to him... Each and every one of these events was portrayed as irrefutable evidence of the people's will and the people's expectations.

Soon, a grand scene unfolded where countless Luoyang citizens gathered outside the palace gates, chanting "Please add an honorific title to the Emperor!" This event was quickly reported in newspapers through paintings of the scene, spreading throughout the land with great inflammatory rhetoric.

With Wei Ming's meticulous planning and the encouragement of Yuan Shao and others, a wave of public opinion requesting the addition of an honorific title quickly swept across the country. Officials, gentry, and even ordinary people in various prefectures and counties felt this powerful trend through the "Great Han Monthly Report," and many who had initially been hesitant submitted petitions to express their support, fearing they would be left behind.

While the court and the public in Luoyang were busy with this matter and public opinion was in an uproar, Su Yao was leisurely taking Wan Nian and Shafiya on a ride in the Griffin to inspect his "birthplace" Taiyuan.

Looking down at the familiar mountains, rivers, and cities below, and watching the Bingzhou soldiers and civilians cheering and jubilant at his arrival, Su Yao was filled with a myriad of emotions.

Wan Nian was also visiting this land where her husband had risen to power for the first time, and she was captivated by what she saw. Although Safia didn't have many thoughts about it, she was also somewhat intrigued by the scenery of the Central Plains and the North.

They would occasionally land to receive the homage of local officials and common people. Su Yao would even chat with some veterans or elders, completely unlike someone at the center of the storm of imperial power transition.
(End of this chapter)