Honghuang: Creation of the Green Lotus, the beginning of the Three Pure Ones

Chapter 299 The Great Shang's Number One Convict

After seeing Guang Chengzi off, Du Yuanxian stood in the courtyard, gazing up at the starry sky, but felt as if a huge rock was pressing on his heart.

The night breeze brushed against his official robes, bringing a touch of coolness, but it could not cool the fine beads of sweat seeping from his forehead.

"Invoking the will of Heaven"

Du Yuanxian repeated Guang Chengzi's words in a low voice, a bitter smile appearing on his lips.

As the Grand Astrologer, he did indeed influence the court on several occasions by using astrological interpretations, but those were all trivial matters.

Now, Guang Chengzi is asking him to do something that will shake the very foundation of the nation. If he does it, he will be infamous for eternity.

Unfortunately, Du Yuanxian now has no way out. He can only blame himself for being blinded by greed and deluding himself into becoming a righteous god in Heaven.

……

The next morning, civil and military officials stood on either side of the Nine-Room Hall. Upon seeing Emperor Xin enter the hall, they all performed the grand salute of a subject to his ruler.

Di Xin knelt on the throne and softly said, "Rise." Only then did the civil and military officials rise.

At the same time, everyone's eyes were on Du Yuanxian. They were waiting for Du Yuanxian to launch an attack on Di Xin so they could cooperate according to their plan.

Sure enough, the next moment Du Yuanxian stepped forward, came to the foot of the jade steps, bowed and said: "Your Majesty, in two days, it will be the birthday of our human race's Holy Mother Nuwa."

"To prevent the human race from suffering hardship and wasting resources, the Goddess Nuwa decreed that celebrations should be held every sixty years. Now that the sixtieth anniversary has arrived, I humbly request Your Majesty to go to the Nuwa Temple to offer incense."

The sudden turn of events left the civil and military officials who were ready to cooperate with Du Yuanxian completely dumbfounded.

Even Emperor Xin was somewhat shocked, wondering why Du Yuanxian had suddenly changed his ways.

Although Emperor Xin had some doubts, he had no choice but to grant Du Yuanxian's request.

He immediately said, "Grand Tutor Du is absolutely right. Our human race's Holy Mother Nuwa created humans from clay at the foot of Buzhou Mountain, and that's how our human race came to be."

"Now that it is the birthday of the Goddess Nuwa, as the ruler of the human race, I should naturally go to the Nuwa Temple to offer incense to the Holy Mother Nuwa of my human race, and at the same time pray for the blessings of my Great Shang."

"I will leave this matter to you, Grand Tutor Du. Two days from now, I will personally lead the concubines of the harem, the two crown princes, and all civil and military officials to the Nuwa Temple to offer incense."

"At the same time, I will also announce to the world that all people who wish to go with me to the Nuwa Temple to offer incense may go with me."

Du Yuanxian nodded in agreement and then retreated immediately. He didn't mention a word about Mei Bo and Di Xin's implementation of the new policies.

At this moment, Fei Zhong stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, even though Mei Bo has been imprisoned in the Heavenly Prison, he is still disrespectful to Your Majesty. He cursed Your Majesty all night long in the Heavenly Prison."

“Such treacherous officials and villains must be killed to appease public anger. We beseech Your Majesty to issue an edict to execute Mei Bo and his nine clans as a warning to others.”

Upon hearing this, Di Xin's face turned extremely gloomy. He glanced at the civil and military officials in the Nine-Room Hall again and found that not a single person stood up to plead for Mei Bo.

This puzzled Emperor Xin as well, since if Fei Zhong's words were true, then the execution of Mei Bo's entire clan was a just punishment.

But wouldn't that play right into Mei Bo's hands? So Di Xin naturally couldn't kill Mei Bo, and someone needed to step forward and plead for him.

But now that no one was pleading for him, Di Xin was in a predicament. Left with no other choice, he could only feign anger and say, "You scoundrel Mei Bo, how dare you insult me!" "E'lai, immediately take the Imperial Guards and ransack Mei Bo's house. Imprison all members of his nine generations, regardless of age or gender, in the Heavenly Prison!"

"Two days from now, I will use the blood of their entire family and nine generations to offer sacrifices to my human race's Holy Mother Nuwa."

E'lai was the palace general, and naturally he obeyed Emperor Xin's every word. He immediately gave his consent and turned to leave the Nine-Room Palace.

Everyone felt that Du Yuanxian should step forward now. After all, if he didn't plead for mercy, the Mei family would be doomed.

But the result surprised everyone, because Du Yuanxian was now slightly closed-eyed, as if the matter had nothing to do with him.

Seeing this, a sly look appeared on Wen Zhong's face. Knowing that this matter was not as simple as it seemed, he simply stepped forward.

"Your Majesty, although Mei Bo has made mistakes, and even the extermination of his entire clan would not be excessive, Mei Bo has rendered great service to our Great Shang Dynasty. Therefore, I implore Your Majesty to spare his life."

Upon hearing this, Di Xin's face darkened, and he stared at Wen Zhong for a long time without uttering a word. Finally, he gritted his teeth and spoke.

"Grand Tutor, are you really going to plead for that scoundrel Mei Bo?"

Wen Zhong shook his head. "I am not pleading for Mei Bo, but for the loyal and upright officials of our Great Shang. At the same time, I am also thinking of Your Majesty's reputation."

Upon hearing this, Di Xin couldn't help but sigh, "Since the Grand Tutor has said so, it would be unreasonable for me to insist on my own way."

"However, while Mei Bo may be spared the death penalty, he will not be spared any punishment. Furthermore, his entire family and nine generations of relatives will also have to pay the corresponding price for Mei Bo's disrespect towards me."

After speaking, Di Xin turned to look at Fei Zhong and You Hun beside him and said directly.

"I have heard that a copper mine has been discovered a hundred miles southeast of Chaoge City. I wonder if my two beloved ministers, Fei Zhong and You Hun, are aware of this matter?"

Fei Zhong and You Hun stepped forward at the same time and said, "Your Majesty is indeed all-knowing. This copper mine was only discovered a few days ago. We haven't had a chance to report to Your Majesty yet."

After hearing this, Di Xin nodded, "Since this is true, then the matter of mining copper will be entrusted to the two of you."

"If you do this job well, you might be granted a title in the future. If you can't even do this job well, don't blame me for punishing you."

Fei Zhong and You Hun hurriedly bowed to Emperor Xin and said in unison, "Please rest assured, Your Majesty, we will dedicate ourselves wholeheartedly to mining copper for Your Majesty and will not dare to slack off in the slightest."

After hearing this, Di Xin nodded, "Now that the new policies have just been implemented, the laborers who mine copper should not be forcibly conscripted."

"Not only must they be made to work voluntarily in the copper mines, but they must also be paid the wages and food they deserve. If anything goes wrong, don't blame me for letting you perish in the copper mines."

Fei Zhong and You Hun knelt down at the same time, saying, "Your Majesty, rest assured, we will report to Your Majesty in detail about the copper mining, and we dare not embezzle a single penny."

After hearing this, Di Xin nodded and stood up. Just as he was about to leave, Fei Zhong called him back.

“Your Majesty, you just said that the Mei family can be spared the death penalty, but they cannot escape punishment. Why not hand over the Mei family to me and let me lead them to mine copper?”

“The entire Mei family, including nine generations of relatives, are sinners. They went to the copper mine to work as miners to atone for their crimes. Naturally, there is no need to pay them wages.”

Upon hearing this, Di Xin nodded and said, "This method is feasible. Then let it be as you say, my dear minister. From now on, all criminals shall be sent to the mines for labor reform."

(End of this chapter)