Ming Dynasty: Domination of the World from the Imperial Examination

Chapter 406 It’s better to be still than to move!
Liu Sanwu left.

And without any resentment.

He even helped Xia Zhibai persuade other scholars to come back. Compared with the lively discussions outside, the Hanlin Academy was eerily silent as death. This not only surprised many generals in the court, but even Zhu Yuanzhang was a little surprised.

In fact, he was prepared for the Hanlin scholars to submit a lot of memorials of opposition, but in the end, nothing came. Not to mention memorials, there was even little discussion. At one point, Zhu Yuanzhang even suspected that the news did not reach the ears of the Hanlin scholars.

After asking several times, Zhu Yuanzhang was sure that the Hanlin scholar had already known about it but had not expressed any opinion on it. Only then did he smile with his beard sticking out.

He had less trouble.

The Hanlin scholars quieted down, but many civil servants in the court did not.

When hearing the content of the banquet in Fengtian Hall, many civil officials could no longer sit still. In less than half a day, memorials like snowflakes were presented to Zhu Yuanzhang's desk, and there were signs that the number would continue to increase. This also led to dissatisfaction among many military generals with the civil officials in the court.

For a while.

The civil and military officials were on the verge of a fight.

Compared to the disputes between civil officials and military generals during the court meetings, Li Shanchang had been thinking privately. He did not participate in this "farce" in the court and had always maintained due restraint and silence. As the head of the civil officials, he should actually speak for them.

But after Xia Zhibai's reminder and Zhu Biao's private hint, Li Shanchang had to back off.

Li House.

Li Shanchang declined any visitors.

His recent silence made many officials dissatisfied, and many officials came to him, but Li Shanchang stopped them at the door on the grounds of being unwell. Li Shanchang instinctively sensed that something was wrong with this sudden "political turmoil" in the court.

But he couldn't tell what was wrong exactly.

Fuzhong.

Li Shanchang's eldest son Li Qi has returned from the coast.

After traveling all the way, his face was full of vicissitudes. Compared with the scenery when he left, the return seemed dull.

Li Shanchang stood in the courtyard. The peach tree beside him had sprouted new buds. Tender green shoots were sprouting tenaciously from the branches. He did not look at Li Qi's greetings and said calmly, "How are things in the south going?"

Li Qi said respectfully: "Father, everything has been handled."

"No news leaked out, and not too many people noticed. I followed my father's instructions and cleared out all the properties I had privately purchased in the south. Now, except for the Dingyuan old house and some land and real estate in the south, the rest have been dealt with."

Li Shanchang nodded.

He sighed and said calmly: "Just deal with it cleanly. Now is a troubled time."

"It's better to be cautious."

Li Qi smiled, a little puzzled, and said: "Father, I don't understand why you are so nervous about these private properties. Which minister in the court doesn't have private property? Father, you are one of the three highest officials, but your family assets are not as good as those of ordinary third-rank officials."

Li Shanchang glared at Li Qi and said coldly:
"The trees are beautiful in the forest, but the wind will destroy them!"

"How many times have I taught you this principle? Why don't you understand it yet?"

"Your Majesty is not something that ordinary people can guess, nor is it something that your father and I can guess. Especially now, under the influence of Xia Zhibai, His Majesty's views are changing every day, and even Your Highness is changing with him. Xia Zhibai is a man with great ambitions. He is planning something big, and he is very murderous."

"With a sharp weapon in hand, the desire to kill arises naturally!" Li Qi frowned and said in surprise: "Father, are you overestimating Xia Zhibai? He is just a Hanlin scholar, how can he be as powerful as you say? If he was really powerful, His Majesty would not have allowed him to go to the south, and brought Jinyiwei and Duke Xin with him. Even so, he was still worried that things would not be handled well, so he brought some officials from the six ministries with him."

"Father, are you worrying too much?"

Li Shanchang sneered and said self-deprecatingly, "I hope I am overthinking, but Xia Zhibai came to warn me some time ago. I, your father, have been smart all my life, and I don't want to fall into the trap when I am old."

Hear the words.

Li Qi said in disbelief, "Father, Xia Zhibai came to warn you? On what basis did he do that? You are a high-ranking official, and he is a Hanlin scholar. What qualifications do he have? If it weren't for the Jinyiwei and Duke Xin, how could he accomplish what happened in the South? And if it weren't for you, father, telling me to warn the officials in the South again and again, those people in the South wouldn't have obeyed so easily. For this, when I left, some officials complained to me."

"They think we have cut off their source of income."

"And I have never understood why you are so afraid of Xia Zhibai, father?"

"What is his virtue?"

Li Qi asked the questions that had been on his mind for a long time.

He really couldn't understand.

Is Xia Zhibai powerful?

He admitted that it was good.

But how can he be compared with his father? His father followed His Majesty all over the country and gave advice to His Majesty. His father had at least 10% of the credit for the establishment of the Ming Dynasty. If it were someone else, I'm afraid he would have ignored them. But his father had always been cautious, especially after Hu Weiyong was killed, he was even more trembling, as if he had lost his inspiration and aged all of a sudden.

The wrinkles on Li Shanchang's face trembled, and he said, "Your father is not afraid of him, but respects him. Xia Zhibai is not as simple as you say. If he is really that rough, do you think he can still live today? He is indeed young, but his political savvy is no worse than anyone else."

"Many officials in the court only care about their own interests."

"Xia Zhibai is a step above them, by a lot. He values ​​politics."

"After Xia Zhibai entered the court, it was obvious to the naked eye that the court was becoming increasingly chaotic. Not only did the civil officials begin to lose track of the situation, but the military officials were also being played around. How could this be a good sign? The more chaotic and unclear things are, the more things in the world may be about to change."

"Xia Zhibai is the one who leads all this."

"He is currently leading the compilation of books in the Hanlin Academy. I have heard about the contents of his books, and they are quite horrifying. And now, His Majesty has spoken again, intending to improve the status and influence of military men. Who dares to say that Xia Zhibai is not behind this?"

"Who would dare to be careless with such a person?"

"I, your father, would not dare!"

"In today's world, it is better to be quiet than to move."

"Otherwise, there may be a disaster of death, and it will be a massacre."

There was a hint of fear and terror in Li Shanchang's eyes.

His premonition became stronger and stronger.

Especially since Your Majesty is the Hongwu Emperor, there is almost no other choice, and Your Majesty will not give any other choice. In Your Majesty's eyes, the so-called iron certificate of immunity from death is no different from a piece of scrap copper and iron. As long as Your Majesty wants to kill someone, the person will definitely die.

He could sense that undercurrents were surging in the peaceful court.

There is also a hidden murderous intention!!!
(End of this chapter)