Super Cultivation System of the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 662: Opposition from the Ministers
Everyone looked at each other, and finally looked at Xun Chen.

"This...this...this...did we hear it right? All? Everyone, has a title?"

"This...is unlikely..."

Xun Chen smiled and said, "The emperor's words are golden, how can they be false? Since he promised me that day, I should follow it one by one. How could I cheat?"

When he said this, everyone burst into endless cheers.

"I got it! I got the title! Father, ancestors, and unworthy descendants, you have brought honor to our Taishan Zhang family!"

"Haha, that's great, that's great, I didn't expect that I'm also a person with a title, now it's all clear, hahahaha..."

"It's worth it, everything is worth it..."

However, after a brief revelry, someone immediately remembered a question.

"Eh? I think I saw the governor didn't open his mouth just now, so what did he say next..."

"Yes, and why is there a dinner party? Who will the top ten people in the merit list have a dinner with? I don't think I heard it clearly."

"Yeah, who are we going to have dinner with?"

Just as everyone was questioning, another figure slowly walked out from behind.

"With me."

As soon as these words were spoken, Xun Chen and the branch manager immediately knelt down and saluted to this person.

"Your Majesty, I bow to you!"

All the merchants and craftsmen were stunned.

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty?"

Xun Chen shouted, "This is the emperor of the day, why don't you kneel down?"

"Yes, yes, yes, it's your Majesty, it's your Majesty!"

He Chang and Chen Qing recognized Liu He and quickly knelt down.

The others were also extremely surprised and knelt down immediately.

"We, the common people, bow to our emperor. Long live the emperor!"

Many people began to tremble nervously as they knelt on the ground.

Liu He smiled and said, "You are all heroes of the Han Dynasty. Please stand up quickly."

These people were about to stand up, but some of them felt their legs go weak and they couldn't stand up at all.

There were also some people who secretly pinched themselves, as if they were doubting whether they were in a dream.

Liu He looked at their various reactions and said jokingly, "Why, are you dissatisfied with this reward?"

"No, no, no! Your Majesty is so kind, I am just... just... just overjoyed. It is hard to repay you, yes, it is hard to repay you... No, that's not right, it's hard to repay you even if you just... "

Liu He smiled and said, "Haha, you all care about the court, and I should thank you. Well, let's stop talking nonsense. It's getting late now. The two dinners are ready. If you don't mind, please take your seats separately. How about that?"

After he said this, most of the people who were going to the county government were fine, but people in the top ten, such as He Chang, stood where they were, not knowing whether they should move.

Xun Chen said in a low voice: "It is such an honor for His Majesty to invite you to dinner. Why does His Majesty have to personally invite you twice?"

"Ah? Ah... Yes, yes, let's go. I'm leaving now..."

The ten people lowered their heads, supported each other, and moved forward under the leadership of the shopkeeper.

"It's outrageous, outrageous, so disgraceful, so disgraceful!"

In Luoyang City, outside the imperial palace, many court officials gathered here, and most of them had indignation on their faces.

This was the first court meeting since the beginning of the new year, but the atmosphere among the ministers at the palace gate did not look very good.

"Your Majesty's move simply disregards the laws of our ancestors. It is outrageous. It would be fine to use some low-class merchants and craftsmen a little bit, and after the matter is completed, you can grant a few of them titles. But Your Majesty actually granted titles to all these more than 400 people. It is ridiculous, really ridiculous!" "Yes, this move violates the ancestral ethics and laws and ethics. We must swear to persuade your majesty not to do such a foolish thing!"

"It's fine to confer a title, but Your Majesty, as the emperor, is dining with these lowly people. Isn't that lowering your status?"

Yang Biao and Wang Yun stood aside, half-closing their eyes, and remained silent. However, a few people, such as Cui Lie and Lu Zhi, showed displeasure at the ministers' comments.

As for Qian Li, Meng Jian, Shi Tao and others who had recently arrived in the capital to take up their posts, as well as the Er Xun and Cui Jun, they were even more indignant. If Cui Lie and others had not stopped them, they would have rushed up to argue.

"The court meeting has begun, all ministers go to the palace!"

After Gong Saner's shout, the ministers hurriedly took off their boots and walked quickly into the hall.

"Your Majesty, I have something to report!"

Jingzhao Yin Du Ji stood up impatiently.

Liu He glanced at him, expecting something: "What's the matter, my dear?"

Du Ji said solemnly, "I heard that Your Majesty went to Yunhai County a few days ago and conferred titles on more than 400 merchants and craftsmen involved in the construction of Yunhai County one by one, and even had a dinner with them. I think this is very inappropriate."

Liu He said calmly, "I made this clear when I called on merchants and craftsmen from all over the world to come to help. How can it be wrong for the court to fulfill its promise today? Do you think that I am a person who does not keep his word?"

In the past, most of the court officials would have chosen to kneel down and apologize if Liu He had asked this question, but at this time, Du Ji's expression was surprisingly firm.

"Your Majesty is right, but the imperial edict of that day did not mention that all people would be granted titles. There are more than 400 titles, all at once. Even when Emperor Gaozu founded the Han Dynasty, he rewarded meritorious officials, but there was never such a scale. Your Majesty made this exception just for a few merchants and craftsmen. Isn't it against the ancestral system?"

"Moreover, your Majesty is a person of ten thousand gold, but you have to condescend to eat with these lowly people. This is too beneath your dignity. I think it is inappropriate."

Liu He said calmly: "Then what do you think we should do?"

"In my humble opinion, we only need to select five to ten people and grant them the title of Tinghou. As for the rest, we can just give them some rewards to comfort them. That will be enough."

"I think what Jingzhao Yin said is very reasonable."

Another person stood up. Liu He looked and found that it was the Minister of Agriculture of the current dynasty, Feng Fang, who was also the current head of the Feng family of Xiling in Jingzhou. In the original history, he was listed as one of the Eight Commandants of the Western Garden of Emperor Ling of Han, along with Cao Cao and Yuan Shao.

"Your Majesty's move is benevolent and loving to the people, and we should agree with it. However, the ancestral system cannot be violated, and the moral principles cannot be disrupted. Merchants are good at scheming, and they will do anything for a little profit. They are truly shameless people. As for the craftsmen, their skills are insignificant, so how can they be displayed in a high-class hall? How can it be worth your Majesty to personally reward them?"

"I also agree with this." Liu He looked at the third person who stood up. Like Feng Fang, he was also one of the eight commanders of Xiyuan in the original history. His name was Zhao Rong, and now he is Guanglu Dafu, one of the Nine Ministers.

"Merchants are those who pursue petty profits. Your Majesty, if you show them such great favor, they will surely go further and become even more greedy, which will surely bring disaster to the world. Therefore, I dare to ask Your Majesty to revoke your order!"

"Your Majesty, I beg you to revoke your order!"

Many ministers stood up at the same time and shouted in unison.

Liu He raised his eyelids and looked at Yang Biao: "What do you think, Commander?"

Yang Biao saw that he was being called, and took two steps forward: "This old minister is old and confused. This matter is so important, and the connections are so complicated that this old minister cannot figure it out at the moment, so I can't give any advice to Your Majesty. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."

There was a gleam of light in Liu He's eyes, but he soon smiled again.

"The Grand Commandant has made great contributions to the court. I think he is too tired and has become ill. When you go back, you can ask Doctor Hua to treat him. I cannot do without the Grand Commandant by my side."

"Ahem..." Yang Biao coughed a few times and bowed to express his gratitude: "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. When I am healthy again, I will serve Your Majesty day and night."

Several ministers were surprised to see that Yang Biao simply ignored the matter.

Cui Lie was about to walk out, but Wang Yun got there first.

"Your Majesty, I think that although what the ministers say is reasonable, Your Majesty should not listen to it."

"Oh?" Liu He looked at Wang Yun with interest.

"Wang Yun is a very cunning man. He never likes to be the first to stand out. Why is he rising from the west today?"

Although Liu He was a little confused, since he was willing to speak for him, that was naturally the best.

"Since you have a good idea, please feel free to speak up. I am here to say that no matter whether you are right or wrong, no one will be punished in today's court meeting. You can speak freely."

(End of this chapter)