Daqin Zhentiansi

Chapter 340: Meritorious Service to the Nation Deserves a Reward
Qianyang Palace.

"Your Majesty, in times of war, decisiveness is paramount, but was it really necessary to kill those hundred men?"

"Your Majesty, this is the accusation from the families of the miners killed by Qingyang Earl Zhang Qingyang. It is truly filled with blood and tears—"

"He has murdered Qin's people without authorization, and now he has seized the envoy's authority and interfered with the peace talks. The Earl of Qingyang is too arrogant and must be severely punished."

As soon as the eldest prince arrived outside the hall, he heard loud shouts of reports.

When he walked into the hall, many officials bowed slightly.

With a slight nod of his head, the eldest prince walked to the jade steps, bowed to the expressionless Emperor Yuankang who was sitting there, and then took a step back.

His eyes swept over Yu Kuizhen, who was standing not far behind him with her hands clasped and her brows lowered.

Half a month ago, Yu Kuizhen was transferred from the Imperial Household Department to Qianyang Palace to serve as a palace attendant.

The official position has not changed, but the power, responsibilities and benefits are even far less than before.

But this is the emperor's attendant!
For eunuchs and civil and military officials, the rank of official position is always inferior to the benefits obtained by being close ministers to the emperor.

Even if you are a seventh-rank editor and a newly promoted reader in Wenyuan Pavilion, as long as you have the opportunity to see the emperor frequently, you cannot be treated as an ordinary low-ranking official in the eyes of all officials.

After all, many times, a single word from these attendants could determine the fate of many people.

Sensing the eldest prince's gaze, Yu Kuizhen stepped forward lightly and lowered her voice, "Your Highness, the two envoys have returned to report that Earl Qingyang is interfering in the peace talks."

"Many officials from the Censorate and Wenyuan Pavilion seconded the proposal. The matter of the Qingyang Earl killing the miners, which was discussed last time, was put on hold, so we're bringing it up together this time."

"Fifth Master should be standing with them."

Hearing Yu Kuizhen's words, the eldest prince looked up and his eyes met with the young man standing opposite him, who was wearing a blue-gray brocade robe and a golden dragon crown.

The fifth prince, Ying Li, was the son of Concubine Jia.

The eldest prince was born to the queen, so he should have been the legitimate prince and was destined to be the crown prince.

But the queen died early.

Without the support of his mother's family, the eldest prince has indeed been walking on thin ice in recent years.

Moreover, Emperor Yuankang had one empress and three concubines. Among the three concubines, except Concubine Qi, who had no children, the other two had princes and princesses.

If one of these two concubines ascends to the throne of queen, her children will instantly become legitimate.

That is to say, if the eldest prince were to compete for the position of crown prince, he would be at a direct disadvantage.

What's more, if the other party's mother becomes the queen, it means the support in the court, the power in the harem, etc., and the eldest prince will be at a disadvantage.

Fortunately, over the years, although the eldest prince was not appointed as the crown prince, he had always been trained by Emperor Yuan Kang, and the ministers in the court also respected him.

Seeing the eldest prince looking at him, the fifth prince Ying Li opposite him smiled, put his hands in his sleeves, and bowed slightly.

He moved in an elegant manner and wore a long robe with wide sleeves, similar to those civil servants.

The fifth prince Ying Li was indeed close to the civil officials.

He is still studying in the Imperial City Academy and is one of the top geniuses in the academy.

Compared to the eldest prince who often wears a military robe, the fifth prince is more popular in the civil service circle.

"I feel ashamed."

From above, the emperor's voice came.

"Go get a contract for Yingrong."

At this time, in the main hall, several celestial officials and Lu Jun, the Duke of Chengguo of Heibingtai, all had a page of the book in their hands.

Yu Kuizhen hurriedly turned around and handed a page of the book to the eldest prince in a moment.

The eldest prince took the page and unfolded it, a look of surprise flashing in his eyes.

This contract...

how to say?

The struggles between the Qin Dynasty and the other four countries and three regions were also characterized by separation and reunion, and contracts were often signed.

Most of those contracts were about the Qin Dynasty occupying some land and then rewarding the other party with gold, silver, food or other materials.

In the eyes of the Qin Dynasty, the four countries and three regions are not real rivals.

The Qin army's enemies were outside the Great Wall in the north. These four kingdoms and three regions existed more as a training ground for the Qin army.

Of course, there are external forces behind the four countries and three regions, who have been constantly improving the combat capabilities of these places and squeezing the space of Daqin.

Looking at the contract in his hand, the eldest prince knew why the Ministry of Rites, the Censorate, and those Wenyuan Pavilion officials were ganging up on him and wanted to cause trouble for the Earl of Qingyang.

The eldest prince's expression turned into a chuckle.

After all, Zhang Qingyang rose to prominence in a border county and had never experienced court struggles, so he couldn't see through the struggle for the greater good.

Judging from this contract, Daqin indeed gained all the benefits.

Even the eldest prince was tempted by the gold, silver, treasures, and control over the transactions in Liangyuan Territory.

But, is this the contract that Your Majesty wants?

How can we announce such a contract to the world and make a petition in the Imperial Ancestral Temple?
Tell the ancestors of the Great Qin that our Great Qin received a million in compensation?

The great Qin Dynasty has always only compensated others. When has it ever asked others for compensation?

Announce to the world, tell the other four countries and three regions that my Great Qin wants to occupy your mines and control your trade routes?
Wouldn’t this make the ties between the other four countries and two regions closer and the alliance unbreakable?
Zhang Qingyang's intentions were good, and he was definitely getting benefits, but from a top-level position, his vision seemed a bit small.

In the hall, civil and military officials were still arguing.

Many military heroes praised the contract signed by Lord Qingyang.

This is real money, no empty talk at all.

Several military heroes talked about how they had led the troops into battle and were defeated despite not being in a position to win, or had to pay silver and send food in the end. Their faces suddenly turned red and their blood boiled.

If I had the courage of Earl Qingyang back then, my generals wouldn't have complained so much after the war.

Regarding the Earl of Qingyang who dared to change the contract, several military marquises and military dukes were firm in their attitude and were determined to protect it.

"Ying Rong, Ying Li, tell me, how should we handle this matter?"

At the top, the moment Emperor Yuankang’s voice sounded, the hall suddenly became quiet.

All eyes were on the two princes.

The fifth prince Ying Li smiled and bowed to the eldest prince.

"Brother, you are the elder brother, you can speak."

"I support your opinion, brother."

Dig a hole.

This is clearly digging a hole.

Today's incident, whether it is to protect Qingyang Bo or punish Qingyang Bo, will offend the civil and military officials in the hall.

Even if his opinions differed from those of Emperor Yuankang, he would lose the emperor's attention.

The Fifth Prince's tactic of retreating to advance made many civil officials chuckle and nod.

In fact, do these officials in the hall really have conflicts of interest with Lord Qingyang?
almost none.

What they are fighting for now, after all, is a struggle between civil and military officials, and between external officials and internal officials.

If the Earl of Qingyang was a civil or military official like the Marquis of Pingyun, and moved from the imperial city to the local area, no one in the court would have any objection.

The last time Pingyun Hou took control of the three counties, no one spoke up.

In the hall, as the fifth prince spoke, everyone looked at the eldest prince.

At the top, Emperor Yuankang had a calm expression, his eyes fixed on the eldest prince.

The eldest prince nodded, holding the page in his hand, looking at the officials in the hall, and his voice sounded clear.

"The Qin Imperial Censor and Scholar Sun were sent as envoys to Liangyuan Territory to sign a treaty to gather wealth and goods for the Great Qin, establish prestige, intimidate all directions, and win the hearts of the people."

"Contributions to the country should be rewarded generously."

Inside the hall, the officials all looked confused and surprised.

Qin Mu and Sun Botang stood there in a daze.

The fifth prince opposite stared at the eldest prince with wide eyes.

(End of this chapter)