Tang Dynasty: A Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls for Li Er at the Start

Chapter 371 Is Cui Dunli perhaps possessed?

An hour ago.

Inside the Tai Chi Hall.

The atmosphere today is exceptionally oppressive.

Those present had all heard about what had happened before, to varying degrees.

Before the court session, many people cast their gazes at Wen He.

Li Daozong went up to him and struck up a conversation.

"Little one, today's court assembly is probably going to be a disaster, but don't worry. If you really lose your current position, you can always come to my Left Commander's Office. I'll keep a job for you and make sure you're safe."

He then raised an eyebrow.

Before Wen He could thank him, he turned and walked towards the procession of the imperial family and nobles, his back view free and unhurried.

As soon as Li Daozong left, Yan Lide quickly approached.

He glanced at the nobles who were eyeing him menacingly in the distance before lowering his voice and saying, "Jiaying, don't panic. There's a junior official in the Ministry of Works who's in mourning recently, so the position is vacant. If there's any controversy in the court discussion later, I'll immediately recommend you to His Majesty and have you transferred to the Ministry of Works to avoid the storm."

As soon as he finished speaking, he deliberately turned his head and snorted loudly at the nobles who were casting unfriendly glances at him.

He looked as if he was afraid someone would bully Wen He.

Looking at Yan Lide's sincere expression, Wen He couldn't help but smile and cupped her hands in greeting.

"Thank you for your kindness, Brother Lide, but I'm afraid I can't avoid this matter today."

"If we can't avoid it, we won't. With His Majesty here, they won't dare to be too presumptuous."

Yan Lide patted him on the shoulder, nodded with a smile, and then turned and walked towards the civil servants' column, leaving Wen He feeling a warmth in his heart.

Wen He shook her head. Just as she was about to return to her class, she heard two steady footsteps behind her.

Turning around, I saw Li Jing and Li Shiji.

The two stopped right in front of him.

"I have met the Duke of Dai and the Duke of Cao."

Wen He quickly suppressed her smile and bowed respectfully.

Li Jing spoke first, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable weight.

"The Ministry of War is currently short of a physician. If His Majesty asks you to leave the Hundred Cavalry after today's court meeting, come to the Ministry of War, and I will recommend you."

Li Jing said calmly.

These nobles were powerful, and they did not belong to any particular faction or a particular aristocratic family. Among these nobles were members of the imperial family, aristocratic families, and powerful clans from Guanzhong and Longxi.

It can be said to be a comprehensive collection.

Even Li Shimin had to be cautious, let alone other officials.

They kept their distance from Wen He.

It wasn't a big deal with Li Daozong before; he was just a reckless and fearless guy.

Yan Lide had a good relationship with Wen He before, and he was appointed Minister of Works because of Wen He.

The fact that Li Jing and Li Shiji came to find him was indeed somewhat unexpected.

Historical records say that these two were the most prudent in protecting themselves.

Seeing that Wen He did not respond for a long time, Li Jing thought that he was unwilling to go to the Ministry of War, so he added a sentence.

"Although you previously served as the principal officer of the Ministry of War, you did not stay in the ministry for long. The position of physician will allow you to become familiar with the affairs of the Ministry of War."

Li Shiji, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but laugh and patted Wen He's arm.

"It seemed that the magistrate of Gaoyang County was unwilling to sit idly in Chang'an dealing with paperwork."

"How about this? I'm going to Lingzhou soon to oversee military affairs. If you'd like, you can come with me. We can also bring that kid Su Lie along; it'll be a good opportunity for you young people to gain some experience."

"Is the Duke going to Lingzhou?"

Wen He was stunned.

Lingzhou is a strategically important border location for defending against the Turks. If Li Shiji goes there at this time, does His Majesty intend to take action against the Turks?

He had never heard any rumors about it, and his mind was full of questions. But he knew that this was not the time to ask, so he suppressed his thoughts and cupped his hands to the two of them.

"Thank you both for your kindness. However, the matter is still unresolved, and it is too early to talk about it now. Moreover, I am still young. Even if I suffer a setback today, it may not be a bad thing to spend a few years in seclusion to temper my character."

Upon hearing this, Li Jing couldn't help but laugh out loud, his laughter carrying a hint of understanding and a touch of appreciation for Wen He.

"You little rascal, you've got some lazy ideas, but if you really want to retire and avoid trouble, those people probably won't give you that chance."

Li Jing's words hit the nail on the head.

If those nobles were truly united against Wen He, they would never allow him to retire peacefully.

After all, although he was young, he was actually the teacher of Crown Prince Li Chengqian. Even if he did not take office, as long as he stayed in Chang'an and by the Crown Prince's side, he would always be a hidden danger in their eyes.

Their real goal was to demote him out of Chang'an, preferably to a remote and harsh place like the Western Regions or Lingnan.

In three to five years, His Majesty may gradually forget about it due to his busy schedule, and the Crown Prince may also become estranged from his subject due to the distance between the emperor and his minister.

If he were unlucky, he might contract an epidemic in his place of exile, ruin his health, and die far from home—that would be the ending those people most wanted to see.

"Don't worry, Duke Dai."

Wen He still had a relaxed smile on her face, but her tone was full of confidence.

"They're just a bunch of petty scoundrels; they can't cause any big trouble. I can handle them."

Seeing that he was confident and not just putting on a brave face, Li Jing didn't try to persuade him any further. He simply nodded, exchanged a glance with Li Shiji, and the two walked forward side by side.

Their steps were steady, their backs straight, and although they didn't say another word, it was as if they were giving Wen He a reassurance.

At least in the imperial court, not everyone avoided him.

Wen He watched the two figures leave, breathed a long sigh of relief, rubbed her temples, and silently prayed.

'Please don't let any more people come. I'm getting a headache just from being 'recommended' like this.'

But things didn't go as planned. As soon as he turned around, he saw two familiar figures walking towards him.

Leading the way was Liu Dewei, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. He wore a blue official robe and had a gentle face. He walked up to Wen He and got straight to the point.

“Wenxianzi, there is a vacancy in the Dali Temple for the position of Left Assistant, who is mainly responsible for reviewing criminal cases in the capital region. If you are interested, I will recommend you to His Majesty afterward. You are meticulous and knowledgeable in the law, and you will surely be able to clear up many injustices in the Dali Temple.”

Wen He reluctantly bowed and thanked him.

"Thank you for your kindness, Minister Liu, but I know in my heart that those people neither want me to stay in the Hundred Cavalry to hold military power, nor would they let me go to the Dali Temple to be in charge of criminal justice."

Upon hearing this, Liu Dewei was taken aback.

He wasn't unaware of the intricacies involved.

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but sigh, said no more, just patted Wen He's arm, and turned to leave.

Following behind Liu Dewei was none other than Wei Zheng.

Wen He couldn't help but feel uneasy.

He had no close relationship with Wei Zheng. The only connection he had was when Li Shimin retained Wei Zheng, he said, half-jokingly, that "Wen He pleaded for you."

Although Wen He knew that even without her, Li Shimin's magnanimity and Wei Zheng's talent would surely have allowed them to survive, Wei Zheng was unaware of this and always thought that he owed Wen He a favor.

Based on the logic of the previous ministers, Wei Zheng would probably recommend him for a position in the Censorate, right?

Thinking of this, Wen He couldn't help but chuckle.

Since he entered officialdom, the number of censors who were exiled for impeaching him cannot be counted on one hand.

If he were to actually go to the Censorate, the entire court would probably go crazy, and the first to collapse would be those censors who usually pride themselves on their outspokenness.

To Wen He's surprise, Wei Zheng only paused for a moment in front of him.

He gave him a deep look, said nothing, and then turned and walked toward the column of remonstrating officials ahead.

Wen He froze on the spot, looking completely stunned.

Wei Zheng's gaze was clearly directed at me just now, so why did he leave without saying a word?

Could it be that I saw it wrong?

Or am I just imagining things?
He raised an eyebrow slightly and chuckled self-deprecatingly, "Looks like I was overthinking it."

Just then, Gao Yue's clear voice rang out from outside the hall.

"The sage has arrived, and all the ministers greet and pay homage!"

In an instant, all the officials in the hall straightened their robes, turned to face the hall entrance, bowed, and their unified voices resounded throughout the Taiji Hall.

"Your Majesty, we respectfully wish you good health!"

May Your Majesty be well.

Li Shimin's voice came from the palace gate.

After Gao Yue repeated the imperial edict, the officials slowly rose and lined up in their respective ranks.

On the throne, Li Shimin calmly swept his gaze over the civil and military officials in the hall, finally fixing it on Wen He, who stood at the end of the line.

Those nobles who were already prepared to launch an attack were now even more eager to try.

"Do any of you ministers have anything to report today?"

Li Shimin's voice echoed in the Taiji Hall, his face somber, with a barely perceptible tension hidden in his eyes.

He had long anticipated that today's court assembly would be a confrontation between the nobles and Wen He. Those people had been holding back their anger for two days and were probably going to use the court meeting as an opportunity to make trouble.

As soon as he finished speaking, several nobles dressed in purple robes below the steps moved. More than a dozen of them stepped forward almost simultaneously, one foot already outside the ranks, clearly having prepared their impeachment arguments.

But just then, a figure stepped forward first, moving so fast that everyone was caught off guard.

Wei Zheng, holding a tablet, strode into the hall, bowed deeply to Li Shimin, and his voice resonated so loudly that it made the hall tremble slightly.

"Your Majesty, I have something to report."

Those nobles who had already taken half a step froze on the spot, their faces turning pale and then red, as if someone had poured a bucket of cold water over their heads.

One of the nobles gripped his ceremonial tablet tightly, his eyes filled with rage.

What is Wei Zheng trying to do?
I don't believe this scoundrel doesn't know what they're up to today.
But he deliberately stood up.

Li Shimin, sitting on the throne, was also quite surprised. He had thought that Wei Zheng would remain silent and observe the situation as usual, but he did not expect him to intervene at this moment. His anger subsided somewhat, and he spoke up.

"Minister Wei, please speak."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Wei Zheng straightened up, his expression solemn and frosty. His gaze swept over everyone in the hall, finally landing on the nobles with angry expressions, and he slowly spoke.

"Yesterday, I happened to reread the 'Biographies of the Partisan Prohibitions' in the Book of the Later Han Dynasty, written during the Southern Song Dynasty. I saw that it recorded the 'partisan chaos' during the reigns of Emperor Huan and Emperor Ling of the Eastern Han Dynasty. I couldn't sleep all night and had some thoughts. Today, I dare to share this story with Your Majesty and my colleagues, hoping that it will serve as a mirror to warn the court."

The moment these words were spoken, the hall fell silent.

The persecution of the partisans during the Eastern Han Dynasty was the key factor in the decline of the Han Dynasty from its peak.

But why is Wei Xuancheng saying this at this moment?

If you really want to preach, go to the Imperial College.

Or we can go to the Hongwen Hall another day.

The nobles all looked displeased, their gazes towards Wei Zheng filled with deep resentment.

Aren't you just wasting your time?
Wen He, standing at the end, couldn't help but raise an eyebrow; he was somewhat surprised.

I never expected Wei Zheng to bring up this anecdote.

Although the Eastern Han dynasty's partisans were known for their integrity, there were also many powerful families and nobles who used their factions to monopolize power.

It seems he intends to use past events from the previous dynasty to warn these powerful nobles who are forming cliques and protecting their own.

So, he's here to help me?
No wonder the way he looked at me when he came in was a little strange.

Wei Zheng continued, “During the reign of Emperor Huan of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Zhou Fu, a native of Ganling, was the emperor’s teacher. After Emperor Huan ascended the throne, he directly promoted Zhou Fu to the position of Minister. Fang Zhi, from the same prefecture, was known for his virtue and was serving as the Governor of Henan. The two had no animosity towards each other, but their guests, in order to compete for superiority, ridiculed and speculated about each other, and each tried to win over the sons of nobles and officials of the prefecture and county, gradually forming two factions, ‘North and South Ganling’.”

"At first it was just a verbal dispute between guests, but it later spread to the imperial court. Zong Zi, the governor of Runan, relied on his family's power and handed over all the affairs of the prefecture to his trusted clerk Fan Pang. Cheng Jin, the governor of Nanyang, also let his clerk Cen Zhi hold all the power, and he himself became the 'governor who sits and whistles'."

"In the local areas, it was even worse in the Han court. There were more than 30,000 students in the Imperial Academy, led by Guo Linzong and Jia Weijie. They, along with meritorious officials such as Li Ying and Chen Fan, praised each other and often used the name of 'public opinion' to suppress dissidents and even interfere in the appointment and removal of officials."

At this point, Wei Zheng emphasized his words, his voice tinged with sorrow.

"At that time, the nobility colluded with factions in the court. Any official who did not belong to their faction was either demoted or framed and imprisoned. They claimed to be upholding the country, but in reality, they turned the court into a place for private dealings. At that time, even if a scholar from a poor family had real talent, he would never have a chance to rise in the ranks if he did not attach himself to them. On the other hand, even if the sons of nobles were uneducated, they could rise rapidly in the ranks as long as they joined their faction."

"Ultimately, during the reign of Emperor Ling, the eunuchs used the pretext of 'partisan rebellion' to carry out a large-scale purge, implicating thousands of people. The court was emptied out, and the foundation of the Han dynasty collapsed. This is the origin of the 'Disaster of the Partisan Prohibitions'!"

As soon as Wei Zheng finished speaking, it was as if a thunderbolt had struck in the imperial court, and the previously somewhat restless atmosphere instantly froze.

Those nobles who had been eager to try and had impeachment arguments just moments before all bowed their heads, their fingers gripping their tablets turning white, but none of them dared to step forward and refute them.

Li Shimin, sitting on the throne, felt as if the anger that had been building up in his heart had been extinguished by a clear spring.

The initial frustration caused by the nobles' pressure to abdicate gradually dissipated.

A slight smile involuntarily crept onto his lips, and a straightforward exclamation of admiration welled up within him: 'What a bold and outspoken Wei Zheng!'

Wen He, standing at the end of the line, was shocked and secretly clicked her tongue in amazement.

Wei Zheng's words effectively blocked the impeachment attempts by the nobles.

They also conveniently pinned the moral high ground of upholding the imperial authority on me.

This completely shut them up.

Before everyone could recover from their shock, another voice suddenly rang out, breaking the silence in the hall.

"Your subject, Cui Dunli, reports to Your Majesty!"

Wen He looked up at the sound, her pupils suddenly contracting.

The one who stepped forward was none other than Cui Dunli from the Cui clan of Boling!
His brow furrowed instantly, and alarm bells rang in his mind.

This matter did not originally involve the Five Clans and Seven Noble Families. Is Cui Dunli trying to take advantage of the power of the nobles to suppress him as well?

Previously, Cui Wei of the Qinghe Cui clan had plotted against him, and Zhang Wenxiao had investigated for a long time but had not found any evidence. Now, the Boling Cui clan has come to interfere again.

This made Wen He start to ponder.

Could it be that Cui Dunli is trying to avenge Cui Wei, or that the Five Clans and Seven Noble Families are joining forces with the nobility to deal with me?

This really stirred up a hornet's nest.

However, Wen He wasn't in a hurry; his backup plan hadn't been revealed yet.

Not only Wen He, but also the nobles in the palace were stunned.

The five surnames and seven noble families have always been outwardly friendly but inwardly hostile to the Guanzhong nobility. Why would they suddenly step forward today?

Several nobles even exchanged glances subconsciously, clearly not understanding Cui Dunli's intentions.

But they soon figured it out.

Previously, Wen He had repeatedly caused Zheng Shi and Boling Cui to suffer setbacks.

It seems Cui Dunli is about to step in and deal with Wen He.

Ignoring the astonishment of the crowd, Cui Dunli bowed and addressed Li Shimin in a loud voice.

"I heard yesterday that more than ten students from the Hongwen Academy broke into the examination hall before the spring examination, intending to spy on the exam questions. The magistrate of Gaoyang County arrested them according to the law, but was attacked by a group of nobles. Today I want to speak out for the magistrate of Gaoyang County. He was upholding the fairness of the imperial examination and adhering to the law of the court. What wrong has he done?"

Wardfa!
Wen He was so startled she almost jumped up, and subconsciously turned her head to look outside the hall.

Did the sun rise in the west today?

People from five prominent families and seven prestigious clans would actually speak out for Wen He's innocence?

It seems that Cui Dunli has been possessed!
The nobles were dumbfounded. One noble, dressed in a scarlet robe and standing in the front row of the nobles, holding the title of Senior Grand Master of the Fourth Rank, couldn't help but speak up.

“Lord Cui, are you sure you’re not mistaken? The magistrate of Gaoyang County is Wen He, that’s the one…”

That Wen He who slapped the face of your Boling Cui clan.

Have you forgotten how your uncle slunk back to Boling?

Cui Dunli immediately straightened his face, his sharp gaze sweeping over the nobleman, and his voice suddenly rose.

“I am thirty-two years old this year. I am not deaf or blind, nor am I mentally impaired. I naturally recognize Wen He from Gaoyang County. I am not standing up today for personal reasons!”

At this point, he paused for a moment, his chest heaving slightly, and said in a very solemn voice.

"I only care about justice and fairness. The imperial examination is the foundation for selecting talents for the country, and the examination hall is an important place for evaluating talents. It is already a breach of discipline for students to trespass. Instead of holding their own children accountable, the nobles are turning the tables and forcing His Majesty to punish those who uphold the law. Is this a just act?"

“What Wenxian Zi is doing is protecting the rules of the imperial examination and upholding the dignity of the imperial court. What crime has he committed?”

Seeing his righteous and awe-inspiring appearance, Wen He almost couldn't help but applaud him.

However, if we're talking about the Tang Dynasty, which placed the most emphasis on privileges based on birth, then...

Aren't you, the five surnames and seven noble families, the ones who despise fairness to those from humble backgrounds the most?

Now they're talking about justice and fairness? This act is so fake!

But then Wen He suddenly understood, and many officials in the hall also gradually showed signs of understanding.

The five surnames and seven clans were not truly acting for justice; they were clearly acting in their own self-interest!

Since the establishment of the Xiuwen Academy, the predecessor of the Hongwen Academy, the Guanlong nobles have firmly controlled the enrollment quota by virtue of their merits in assisting the late emperor in conquering the country. Even if the sons of the five surnames and seven noble families were talented, they were mostly excluded.

Only a few people who were close to the retired emperor or were deliberately courted by Li Shimin were allowed to enroll.

The people of the five surnames and seven noble families also knew that this was the Emperor Emeritus and His Majesty intentionally weakening them.

Therefore, they had long been dissatisfied with the monopoly of the Hongwen Academy by the nobles, but had never found a reason to cause trouble.

However, Chu Liang spent all his time in the Hongwen Hall without doing any work, only letting his son take the lead.

They then found no grounds to attack.

As for Chu Suiliang doing things on behalf of his father, that's really nothing special. In fact, it could be considered a beautiful story.

Now that Wenhe and the Guanlong nobles have fallen out over the incident of students from the Hongwen Academy trespassing into the examination hall, it has given the Five Clans and Seven Noble Families an opportunity.

The fourth-rank official who had spoken earlier turned ashen with rage, pointing at Cui Dunli and shouting, "Lord Cui, you're twisting the truth! The exam questions haven't been decided yet, how can you be trying to spy on them?"

"The Grand Master of the Imperial Censorship is mistaken!"

Cui Dunli retorted without backing down, "How do you know the exam questions haven't been finalized? Even if the questions haven't been finalized, isn't the incident of trespassing into the examination hall still true?"

"If that's the case, then I think the magistrate of Gaoyang County did the right thing."

The physician was speechless, opening his mouth but unable to come up with a single rebuttal.

Trespassing into the examination hall is a serious crime. Wen He handled it properly. Their previous accusations were not in the right, and now that Cui Dunli has seized on this, they have no way to refute it.

Other nobles also bowed their heads, and no one dared to step forward anymore.

Cui Dunli's words were all reasonable; continuing to argue would only make things more awkward for him.

Li Shimin sat on his throne, watching all of this unfold, a profound meaning flashing in his eyes.

He had long been aware of the conflict between the Five Clans and Seven Noble Families and the Guanzhong nobility, but he never expected it to erupt today.

Cui Dunli spoke up for Wen He, though it was for his own benefit, but it also inadvertently helped him by completely isolating the Guanlong nobles and giving him more reason to promote the reform of the imperial examination system.

He cleared his throat, his voice carrying the majesty of an emperor.

“What Minister Cui said makes sense. The imperial examination is the foundation of the country, and the rules of the examination hall cannot be trampled on. The students of Hongwen Academy who trespassed into the examination hall should be dealt with according to the law. Wen He’s actions were not inappropriate. As for the attacks on Wen He by the nobles, I think they were unfair. There is no need to mention this matter again.”

Li Shimin originally intended to use Cui Dunli's statement to put a final judgment on the Hongwen Academy matter, both to protect Wen He and to give a warning to the nobles.

But no sooner had the words left his mouth than an aged voice shattered the silence of the hall.
"Your Majesty, this old minister begs to retire!"

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw Chu Liang walking out of the nobles' procession, his face paler than a few days ago, his temples seemingly covered with more white hair, and his back more hunched than before.

But his eyes held an unyielding stubbornness.

Even more surprisingly, as soon as he stepped out of his post, seven or eight noblemen dressed in scarlet official robes followed behind him, all bowing and saying in unison.

"We, your humble servants, also beg to retire!"

Li Shimin, who was sitting on the throne, suddenly turned serious, his expression that had just been somewhat relaxed.

"Are you all trying to force me?"

Chu Liang met Li Shimin's gaze, his body trembling slightly, but he did not back down in the slightest, and spoke loudly.

"Your Majesty, the day before yesterday, outside the Liangyi Hall, the young man from Gaoyang County publicly humiliated this old minister, and even used poetry to ridicule the nobles of the court, treating us founding heroes as nothing, and instead claiming that commoners and scholars are the pillars of the court."

"This old minister is heartbroken! If Your Majesty continues to favor those from humble backgrounds and belittle those from noble families, and is willing to abandon us scions of aristocratic families, then this old minister dares not remain in the court. I humbly beg Your Majesty to allow this old minister to retire to the countryside and live out his remaining years in peace!"

These words, seemingly a show of weakness, actually conceal a sharp edge.

The unspoken subtext in the second half of the sentence couldn't be clearer.

If we want them to stay, we have to deal with Wen He.

Standing at the end of the line, Wen He saw through Chu Liang's thoughts and secretly sneered.

This old man knows how to gauge the situation. He knows that Li Shimin can't do without the support of powerful families and nobles, so he used the "collective petition to retire" to force Li Er to abdicate, trying to put Li Er in a very difficult position.

Li Shimin naturally understood Chu Liang's intention, and his expression grew increasingly grim.

His idea has always been to weaken the privileges of aristocratic families, rather than to completely eliminate them.

Now that the Tang Dynasty has been newly established, local governance and the operation of the imperial court rely heavily on these long-established aristocratic families. If they were all forced to retire, the imperial court would likely be paralyzed instantly.

Not to mention, if Chu Liang and others were to leave the court, they would certainly spread the word that "His Majesty has abandoned the powerful families."

At that time, all the noble families in the world will feel insecure, and who knows what kind of trouble might arise.

"Chu Liang, this is blatant coup d'état!"

Just then, Wen Yanbo suddenly stepped out of the classroom, pointed at Chu Liang, and questioned him sharply.

He came from the Wen family of Taiyuan, which was considered a prominent family, but he always befriended scholars from humble backgrounds and disapproved of Chu Liang's tactics of feigning retreat.

Chu Liang raised his eyes and glared at Wen Yanbo, his body trembling slightly with anger.

"I simply don't want the Tang Dynasty to be destroyed by a mere child! Wen Yanbo, don't think I don't know that Wen He is a member of your Taiyuan Wen clan. Your protection of him is nothing but for the sake of your own clan's private interests!"

"You old scoundrel, stop spouting nonsense!"

Upon seeing this, Wen He immediately stepped forward and spoke loudly.

"I come from a farming family and have absolutely no connection with the Wen family of Taiyuan!"

"shut up!"

Li Shimin suddenly shouted in a low voice, his gaze sweeping over Wen He with a hint of warning.

How could we allow him to argue with the old minister like this in the imperial court?

Wen He pursed her lips, and although she didn't say anything more, she still straightened her back, showing no sign of weakness.

Wen Yanbo shook his head with a wry smile. He had originally intended to take the opportunity to acknowledge his connection with Wen He in order to help alleviate some of the pressure, but Wen He had already denied it in public.

He didn't say anything more, but spoke to Chu Liang in a deep voice.

“I act according to public interest and the law. You are forcing His Majesty to go against his conscience by threatening to retire. Aren’t you afraid that the scholars of the world will see through your true colors and lose their loyalty?”

Chu Liang sneered, his eyes full of disdain.

"Wen Yanbo, stop spreading rumors! Since the pre-Qin period, has there ever been a commoner scholar who could bring peace to the world?"

“The powerful and influential families have been passed down for centuries and have deep roots. They are the pillars that support the country. The common people that Wen He mentioned are just some unambitious country bumpkins. How can they shoulder the heavy responsibility of governing the country?”

"What a joke!"

Wen He could no longer hold back and immediately retorted.

"Mencius, in the chapter 'Gaozi II,' states: 'Shun rose from the fields, Fu Yue was raised from among the builders, Jiao Ge was raised from among the fish and salt merchants, Guan Zhong was raised from among the commoners, Sun Shu'ao was raised from the sea, and Baili Xi was raised from the marketplace.' Which of these sages did not come from humble origins?"

"But which of them doesn't have the talent to govern the country? You haven't even read the classics, yet you have the nerve to be a Grand Scholar of the Hongwen Hall. I'm ashamed for you! In my opinion, you don't need to beg for retirement. Just smash your head against this Taiji Hall and die. That way, you'll at least earn a reputation for chastity!"

"Yellow-mouthed kid!"

Chu Liang was so angry at Wen He's words that he trembled all over, and even the finger pointing at him was shaking.

"You old thief with the long beard!"

"You rude brat!"

"Shut up, you old dog!" Wen He also lost his temper.

"For your own selfish reasons, you forced His Majesty to abdicate and suppressed the loyal and upright. You are nothing but a parasite who takes advantage of his seniority!"

One person angrily shouted, "You little brat!"

One person retorted with a curse, calling him an "old dog parasite."

The old man and the young man were locked in a fierce debate in the Taiji Hall, their words flying everywhere, leaving all the officials and civil servants dumbfounded.

Since the founding of the Tang Dynasty, the Taiji Hall has never seen such a chaotic and rude scene.

"Gaoyang County!"

Wei Zheng stepped forward reluctantly, his tone somewhat serious.

"This is the place for court deliberations, not for quarrels in the marketplace. How can you be so presumptuous and disregard the proper etiquette between ruler and subject?"

As the Imperial Censor, in charge of court etiquette, he had no choice but to step in and stop it.

Wen He cupped his hands in greeting to Wei Zheng, but his tone still carried a hint of dissatisfaction: "Minister Wei, please forgive me. It is not that I was being rude, but Lord Chu's words were too absurd and aggressive. I was so agitated that I lost my composure. Besides, I was bitten by an old dog when I was a child, and I cannot bear to hear such barking. I hope you will understand."

"You...you...you're going to be the death of me!"

Chu Liang was so enraged by Wen He's veiled sarcasm that his face turned red. He couldn't catch his breath and staggered back two steps. Fortunately, the nobleman next to him caught him in time, preventing him from falling to the ground.

"Wen He, aren't you afraid of alienating yourself from all the scholars in the world with your unrestrained speech?"

After catching his breath, Chu Liang said through gritted teeth.

The "scholars of the world" he referred to clearly only included scions of aristocratic families, and he didn't take scholars from humble backgrounds seriously at all.

Just as Wen He was about to retort, she heard hurried footsteps outside the Taiji Hall. Immediately afterward, a captain of the Imperial Guard ran in, panting, and knelt on one knee before Li Shimin, his voice filled with panic.

"Your Majesty! Outside the Vermilion Bird Gate... outside the Vermilion Bird Gate, thousands of scholars from humble backgrounds and commoners have gathered. They hold petitions and shout, 'Your Majesty, please spare the scholar from Wen County!' 'Restore fairness to the imperial examinations!' They say they want to seek justice for the scholar from Gaoyang County and beg Your Majesty to summon them!"

These words were like a thunderclap, exploding throughout the Taiji Hall. The entire court was shocked, and Chu Liang's eyes widened in disbelief.

Those poor scholars who usually didn't even dare to raise their heads and speak dared to gather outside the Vermilion Bird Gate to petition for Wen He.

Li Shimin was also stunned, and then a complex light flashed in his eyes.

He looked at Wen He, who was calm below the steps, and then glanced at Chu Liang, who was pale-faced, and a group of nobles. Suddenly, he made a decision.

"This is treason! They are plotting a mass rebellion!"

Startled by the captain's words, Chu Liang's eyes widened. He pointed outside the hall and roared, his voice distorted with excitement.

He had already realized something.

He looked at Wen He in disbelief.

This child is incredibly bold.

Isn't he afraid of His Majesty's suspicion?
With so many people crowding outside the Vermilion Bird Gate, isn't he afraid of what people will say?
Wen He stood to the side, a cold smile playing on her lips, and stepped forward to ask the captain.

"Captain, tell me, are any of the students outside the Vermilion Bird Gate carrying weapons? Are any of them wearing armor?"

Although the Imperial Guard captain was still somewhat flustered, he answered truthfully.

"Reporting to the county magistrate, the students only had paper and pens in their hands. None of them carried weapons or armor, nor did they clash with the Imperial Guards. They simply knelt neatly outside the door, requesting an audience with His Majesty."

"hehe."

Wen He turned to look at Chu Liang, her eyes full of mockery.

"Lord Chu, you heard this. You only have paper and pen in your hands, and you don't bring a single weapon. Is this what you call treason?"

"I have read through all the history books and have never heard of anyone rebelling with pen and paper. In my opinion, you are either senile or deliberately confusing right and wrong, trying to use the name of 'rebellion' to suppress the poor scholars of the world!"

"enough!"

Li Shimin suddenly stood up from his throne, the hem of his dragon robe sweeping across the steps with his movement, his deep, angry voice echoing in the hall.

Upon seeing this, everyone quickly bowed and paid their respects. Even Chu Liang, who was still furious, had to suppress his anger, bend over and lower his head, and dared not be presumptuous anymore.

Li Shimin's gaze swept over the officials in the hall, finally landing on Wen He, and he spoke slowly.

"Thousands of scholars have gathered outside the Vermilion Bird Gate. This is no small matter. I want to go and see for myself what these poor scholars are petitioning for."

"Your Majesty!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than Changsun Wuji strode out of the class and bowed to offer his advice.

"There are many people mixed together outside the Vermilion Bird Gate. Although it is a petition by scholars, it is hard to guarantee that there are treacherous people among them. If anything goes wrong, we will be guilty of death! I beg Your Majesty to reconsider. Perhaps you could send us to appease them and report the students' demands to Your Majesty."

Other nobles and ministers echoed this sentiment, and even Wei Zheng frowned and offered his advice.

"Your Majesty is the most honored ruler, and your safety is a matter of great importance to the nation and its people. You should not take any risks lightly."

Li Shimin did not respond immediately, but looked at Wen He.

Wen He had already told him about this matter, so he barely spoke after going to court today.

We've been waiting for this moment.

He stepped forward, bowed, and addressed the audience.

“Your Majesty, the concerns of Vice Minister Changsun and the other officials are not without merit. However, if Your Majesty avoids meeting them out of fear, it will only make the students feel that Your Majesty is unwilling to listen to the voices of those from humble backgrounds, which will discourage the scholars of the world.”

"The Imperial Guards have now secretly deployed inside and outside the Vermilion Bird Gate. I have ordered Zhang Wenxiao to personally lead the team. Anyone who makes any unusual movements can be apprehended on the spot. With the Imperial Guards protecting His Majesty, there will be no danger whatsoever."

These words were spoken both to the officials and to confirm with Li Shimin.

Li Shimin sighed inwardly.

Li Shimin nodded, his tone firm.

“Wen He is absolutely right. As the Emperor of the Great Tang, I should listen to the will of the people. How can I avoid meeting them because of some speculation? Besides, with a hundred Imperial Guards protecting me, what do I have to fear?”

He looked at Changsun Wuji and continued.

"Fuji, there is no need to worry. My mind is made up. All of you will come with me to the Vermilion Bird Gate to see for yourselves the demands of these scholars from humble backgrounds, and let the world know that I am not a ruler who listens to only one side."

Seeing that His Majesty's attitude was resolute, and having heard that the 100 cavalry had been deployed, Changsun Wuji did not try to persuade him further and could only bow and accept the decree.

"Your subject obeys the decree and is willing to accompany Your Majesty."

The other ministers also bowed in agreement, but Chu Liang and several nobles looked grim.

They originally intended to use the pretext of "begging for retirement" to force His Majesty to deal with Wen He, but they did not expect that thousands of scholars would suddenly appear outside the Vermilion Bird Gate to show their support, and they did not expect that His Majesty would go there in person.

The situation has completely slipped out of their control.

Chu Liang tried to stop him, but it was too late.

Wen He followed behind the officials, watching Li Shimin's upright figure, and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Today's game is finally coming to an end.

Outside the Vermilion Bird Gate, the morning light shone on the dense crowd of people, their blue scholar robes stretching as far as the eye could see.

Meng Zhou supported Wu Sheng beside him, his legs trembling uncontrollably.

At first, as Wen He had instructed, he contacted hundreds of impoverished scholars, hoping to use their influence to support Wen He.

Unexpectedly, after the news spread, commoners, scholars, and unsuccessful candidates in Chang'an spontaneously came to the scene.

The number of people has now reached at least several thousand, and even the area under the trees across the street is packed with people, completely beyond his control.

"Brother Meng, this...this won't go wrong, will it?"

Wu Sheng's voice tightened, and he quietly tugged at Meng Zhou's sleeve.

"With so many people, if someone with ulterior motives infiltrates, even if they only offend the emperor, we'll all lose our heads!"

The more he thought about it, the more frightened he became, his eyes constantly scanning the perimeter of the crowd, afraid of seeing any unusual activity.

Seeing this, Fan Biao quickly stepped forward to comfort him, though his own palms were sweating: "What are you filming? Our young master has already made arrangements. The Hundred Riders have already set up sentries in the teahouses and restaurants on both sides of the Vermilion Bird Gate. There are also many brothers in plain clothes mixed in with the crowd. As long as anyone dares to carry weapons or make any unusual moves, they can be taken down on the spot. It will not disturb His Majesty at all."

These words were spoken both to Wu Sheng and Meng Zhou, and also to reassure himself.

Although he believed in Wen He's plan, he had never seen such a grand scene before.

Meng Zhou and the others breathed a sigh of relief.

Just as I was about to give a few more instructions, I suddenly heard the sound of armor clanging in unison from the palace road in the distance. Immediately afterwards, the Imperial Guards lined up in ceremonial procession.

The bright yellow imperial carriage slowly made its way in, surrounded by a hundred officials.

"Your Majesty is here!"

Gao Yue's clear voice pierced through the crowd, instantly silencing all whispers.

More than 10,000 scholars turned around in unison and bowed in the direction of the imperial carriage.

"Your humble servant Meng Zhou (Wu Sheng...) respectfully inquires of Your Majesty's well-being!"

Amidst the rising and falling sounds of bowing, the scholar in the blue cloth robe announced his name and bowed.

One after another, they rose and fell in an instant.

Li Shimin raised his hand from the imperial carriage, his voice gentle yet carrying the majesty of an emperor.

"All students, please rise."

Gao Yue immediately stepped forward and loudly repeated the imperial edict: "His Majesty commands, all students, rise!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

The scholars responded in unison, slowly rose, and gazed intently at Li Shimin on the imperial carriage, their eyes filled with anticipation and excitement.

Since the Wei and Jin dynasties, scholars from humble backgrounds have never had such an opportunity to directly face the emperor and express their grievances.

Meng Zhou took a deep breath and, as Wen He had instructed beforehand, stepped out from the crowd and bowed to the imperial carriage.

"This humble subject, Meng Zhou, a student of the Imperial Academy, has risked his life to bring students from Chang'an to the Vermilion Bird Gate today, only to beg Your Majesty to do justice for us and for the students of Gaoyang County."

Li Shimin looked at Meng Zhou below the steps, then glanced at the densely packed students behind him.

I was also somewhat shocked.

This Wen He has truly given me a demonstration of the people's will!

"I already know what you all are asking for."

He paused, then suddenly raised his voice so that everyone present could hear him clearly.

"I hereby issue this decree: From this day forward, the imperial examinations of the Great Tang Dynasty shall be conducted equally for all, regardless of whether one comes from a humble or noble family. All candidates shall be selected based on their talent and learning. Anyone who engages in favoritism, abuses power for personal gain, or is of noble birth or official rank shall be severely punished without exception!"

"Your Majesty, Holy Might!"

As soon as he finished speaking, thousands of scholars knelt down again, and cheers erupted like thunder. Many even had tears in their eyes.

But just then, someone in the crowd suddenly shouted.

"Your Majesty! The Hongwen Academy has always been monopolized by the sons of nobles and officials, leaving scholars from humble backgrounds with no opportunity to even enter and study there. Such an academy should be abolished!"

These words immediately caused a great stir, with many scholars echoing them.

"Abolish the Hongwen Academy! Give us back a fair opportunity to study!"

"Yes! The Hongwen Academy has become a backyard garden for nobles and officials; what use is it now?"

The officials beside the imperial carriage immediately erupted in uproar. Changsun Wuji and the others were about to speak up to stop them when they saw Chu Liang, who had just followed the officials up to the Zhuque Gate tower.

Suddenly, his body swayed, his face turned deathly pale, and he felt a sharp pain in his chest. He coughed up a mouthful of blood, which splattered onto the railing in front of him, the bright red blood glaringly bright.

(End of this chapter)