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Chapter 39 Another Promotion
Before dawn, the Taiji Hall was already brightly lit.

The towering golden pillars with coiled dragons stand solemnly, and on the high steps deep within the palace, the throne, symbolizing supreme power, exudes a cold and majestic light.

Below, civil and military officials stood solemnly on both sides according to their rank, dressed in court robes of various colors, like a collection of colorful stones, yet unable to conceal the stagnant solemnity. The vast palace was so quiet that only the faint rustling of fabric and suppressed breathing could be heard. Every face was taut, awaiting the coming storm.

Sure enough, the silence of His Highness was instantly broken when a pale-faced, beardless eunuch uttered the words, "If you have something to report, speak now; if not, leave the court."

It's like pouring cold water into boiling oil!
"Your Highness!"

A civil official in a purple robe with a handsome beard stepped forward first, his voice filled with barely suppressed indignation, his gaze fixed on the thin figure in the front row on his left.
"I must impeach Wei Zheng, the Registrar of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices! His memorial yesterday, ostensibly aimed at 'intimidating foreign powers,' is in reality a scourge to the nation! Although the Turks have been causing sporadic disturbances on the border, their strength is far less than before. How can we so readily advocate war? War will only exhaust the people and waste resources! Our Great Tang has just been established, the people are impoverished, and the national treasury is empty. How can we withstand such a war of aggression? Wei Zheng's proposal is nothing but the work of a scholar who misleads the country, leaving the people in dire straits! His heart deserves to be condemned!"

Before he could finish speaking, another burly and imposing high-ranking official strode forward, speaking even louder and faster.
"I second your opinion! Chief Clerk Wei! What nonsense are you spouting about 'pacifying the interior by first deterring the exterior'? You're clearly using this as an excuse to stir up trouble and try to seize military power! The former officials of the Prince of Qin's mansion fought valiantly to bring us peace today! As for the Turkic affairs, generals like Cheng Zhijie, who have fought countless battles, are handling the strategy! You are just a surrendered official of the Eastern Palace, with no merit whatsoever. What right do you have to interfere in military affairs? Are you trying to fool our Great Tang into having no one to rely on?!"

This accusation was extremely malicious, directly characterizing Wei Zheng's proposal as having ulterior motives.

"Yes! That's exactly right!"

Another ruddy-faced, military-looking official shouted, "You, surnamed Wei! Do you know how many people die in war? How much money and food it costs? What? You, Wei Zheng, an outsider, are more eager to go and die than we are to do ourselves?!"

Immediately, public sentiment surged!
The attacks poured down on Wei Zheng like a torrential downpour.

"The costs are enormous, and the people's livelihoods are in dire straits!"

"They have ulterior motives and covet military power!"

"A surrendered official has overstepped his bounds and shaken the foundations of the nation!"

"Those who don't understand military affairs are just armchair strategists!"

His words were sharp and cutting, as if he wanted to devour Wei Zheng alive.

Wei Zheng stood alone in the center of the vortex, his thin body wrapped in a faded old blue official robe, but his back was straight. His face showed no fear, his eyes were like lightning, sweeping over the faces that were angry, mocking, or worried, ignoring the barrage of insults.

At that moment, his mind became perfectly clear.

"Hmph, just as Chen Guangrui predicted! These people keep talking about loyalty to the emperor and patriotism, but in reality they are just greedy for wealth and comfort, afraid of having their own homes and businesses destroyed! What about the foundation of the nation and the people's livelihood? They are just a pretext to cover up their selfishness!"

"So what if they're arguing like crazy? The key point is..."

Wei Zheng's gaze quietly shifted to the direction of the throne on the steps, whose face was obscured but which exuded a mountain-like pressure.

"...It depends on what His Highness the Crown Prince thinks!"

He lowered his eyes and remained silent, ignoring the spittle flying in the court, waiting for the final person to make the decisive decision.

Just then, an extremely strange voice, like a tiny drop of water or a faint whisper, suddenly rang out clearly deep in his ear. He felt a chill and thought to himself, "Here we go again."

"...Those who are driven by selfish motives, though their words may be stern, are already hollow inside; one can tell just by looking at their faces..."

"...A general should be chosen for his combination of virtue and ability, and for his selflessness and impartiality... He should not be bound by factional or private considerations..."

"...Opportunity knocks but once, decisive action must be taken...It is my duty, how can I fear the opinions of others!"

The voice did not come from the outside world, but arose spontaneously from the depths of his heart. It was both strange and familiar, carrying an unquestionable majesty and a righteous spirit!
It seemed a title was approaching him:

Human Resources Official!
Wei Zheng felt a sudden boom in his mind, as if something long buried had been completely awakened and illuminated!
The meaning behind that voice was so clear! So perfectly aligned with the current situation!
He subconsciously scanned the faces of those who vehemently opposed him again, and sure enough, beneath their righteous and stern exteriors, he glimpsed the underlying colors of greed, fear, or rage!

This feeling made his already unyielding belief, like tempered steel, suddenly become indestructible!

He took a deep breath, stepped forward, and a thunderous growl from his throat instantly drowned out all the noise!
"Everyone!"

The sound was like metal shattering! The palace fell silent!
"You all keep saying you're acting in His Highness's best interests, in the nation's best interests, and in the people's best interests! Is that really true?"

Wei Zheng's gaze was piercing, directly targeting the speakers who had just spoken, "Do any of you dare to look directly into His Highness's eyes, into the eyes of this court of loyal officials, and into the eyes of the common people of the land?!"

He abruptly held up his tattered, incomplete memorial, his voice resolute:
"The national treasury is empty? Then we should purge the parasites even more! Those rats who use the guise of repairing the Qin King's Mansion and rewarding meritorious officials to line their own pockets and drain the foundation of the country are the real bloodsuckers! Every single piece of their gold and silver jewelry is made from the people's hard-earned money. Shouldn't it be confiscated and used to strengthen the country and secure the borders?!"

"The Turks are invading? We should seize the opportunity to strike! Only by eliminating the border threat with lightning speed can we secure decades of peace! If we wait until their army is pressing in and their forces reach the Jing River, then we can talk about using force, which will cost our national strength a hundred or a thousand times more!"

"I am a surrendered official? Yet my heart is as clear as the sun and moon! My proposal is not for personal gain or glory, but solely for strengthening the foundation of the Tang Dynasty, deterring foreign aggression, and safeguarding the peace and security of the nation! If you doubt my loyalty simply because I come from the Eastern Palace, and judge the country's strategies based on factionalism, what kind of logic is that?!"

He surveyed the entire hall, his eyes sharp as knives, and spoke each word deliberately:
"As for who is qualified to lead troops... it is based on merit, strategy, and responsibility! Not on where they come from! Nor on whether they have enjoyed a few years of leisure!"

"Today's struggle boils down to one thing: whether to fight or not! Whether to fight or not! Whether to fight or not! Whether to fight for the public good or for personal gain! Your Highness! Your subject, Wei Zheng, humbly requests Your Highness to make the decisive decision!" After speaking, he ignored the uproar among the officials and stood upright, like a stubborn javelin stuck in a raging storm!
He had already said everything, right and wrong! Victory and defeat depended entirely on a single thought! The guiding voice in his ear gradually faded away, leaving behind an unprecedented clarity and determination.

The air in the hall seemed to freeze. All eyes were fixed on the throne.

One hour, two hours... The sun rose higher and higher, and the blazing light poured in through the palace gates, casting the shadows of the officials long, long, on the smooth, cold gold brick floor.

The debate seemed to have exhausted everyone's energy; the opponents remained indignant, yet also felt a profound sense of powerlessness. Wei Zheng, like a stubborn rock, remained unmoved no matter how much the wind and waves raged.

A deep and authoritative voice finally broke the silence from the throne.

"All right."

The voice wasn't loud, yet it carried the weight of ending everything.

"Minister Wei's proposal on 'intimidating foreign powers'..." A brief pause was enough to make everyone's hearts leap into their throats. "...It perfectly aligns with my intentions! Granted!"

Boom! The two simple words, "Granted!", struck the long-silent Taiji Hall like a thunderclap!
The shock made many people's heads buzz! Especially those former officials of the Qin Prince's mansion who had jumped the highest earlier, their faces instantly drained of color, their eyes filled with horror and disbelief!

Your Highness... has actually sided entirely with Wei Zheng!

Before anyone could recover from their shock, Li Shimin's unfathomable gaze swept across the hall, and he directly posed an even more crucial question.

"Who is capable of shouldering this heavy responsibility and leading the troops into battle?"

All eyes instantly turned back to Wei Zheng!
The people in the Prince of Qin's mansion were somewhat gloating, after all, if they didn't take action, who else could fight this battle?
Wei Zheng did not hesitate for a moment! He took a step forward, his finger like a sharp sword, pointing forcefully at the figure in the right-hand ranks of military officers—the one who had just been looking worried.
"Your Majesty! Minister of War Li Jing, also known as Li Yaoshi, is unparalleled in military strategy and has made outstanding contributions. Moreover, he is known for his clear distinction between public and private matters and his profound understanding of righteousness! I believe that only Minister Li is capable of shouldering this heavy responsibility and swiftly quelling the northern threat!"

"Li Jing?!"

The hall erupted in uproar once again!

Countless gazes turned to the person whose name had been called! Minister of War, Li Jing!
Li Jing himself was struck dumb! He had just heard that the memorial had been approved, and he was still worried about Wei Zheng, and even admired Wei Zheng's unyielding spirit.

He was suddenly chosen at this moment, and given the position of marshal, which was crucial to the fate of the nation and would inevitably involve fierce battles.

His mind was buzzing; the words "good-for-nothing" that Cheng Yaojin had used yesterday were still causing him a dull ache.

I acted impulsively at the time, I really did act impulsively.

Wei Zheng really recommended him?! And at such a critical juncture! He was completely unprepared! He hadn't even fully recovered from the anxiety he felt at the inn last night!
I acted impulsively yesterday; I wasn't actually prepared!
However, the surprise came too quickly.

On his throne, Li Shimin's gaze fell on Li Jing's blank and bewildered face, then swept over Wei Zheng's resolute and determined countenance. A barely perceptible smile seemed to appear at the corners of his mouth, before he instantly regained his dignified composure.

"Very well!" The voice was firm and resolute, the imperial decree unchangeable! "Pharmacist Li, heed the imperial decree!"

Li Jing was jolted awake and almost staggered out of the ranks, bowing deeply: "Your subject... Your subject is here!" His voice trembled, the huge surprise causing him to completely lose his composure.

"Li Jing is hereby appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Daizhou Road Army! Prepare immediately to lead all armies in a sweeping campaign against the Turks! Strive to secure victory in one battle and demonstrate the might of our nation!"

"Your Majesty, I obey your decree! Thank you for your great favor!"

Li Jing's voice was filled with unbelievable excitement, his body trembling slightly, his mind still reeling. The Commander-in-Chief of the Daizhou Army! This was a commander-in-chief in charge of an entire region! Holding the power of life and death! His power far surpassed that of a mere Minister of War!
The worries and hesitations of the past few days vanished with this imperial decree.

The decree was not yet finished.

"Wei Zheng!" "Your subject is here!" Wei Zheng bowed. "Wei Zheng is hereby promoted to Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel! He will participate in the deliberation of state affairs and assist in military matters!"

His words were golden and astonishing!
The entire Taiji Hall was deathly silent for a moment, then with a "buzz," an uncontrollable uproar swept through the entire space like a tangible tsunami!

Every minister, whether a former official of the Qin King's mansion, a remnant of the Eastern Palace, or a neutral official, had an expression of undisguised extreme shock on their face!

The first large-scale court meeting since the new crown prince took over the reins of the court!

Wei Zheng's "alarmist advice" was not only adopted, but he and Li Jing, a centrist, were both given unprecedented promotions! The signal this sent was too clear and too shocking!

Some were consumed by jealousy, some were speechless with astonishment, and some looked on with despair.

In the center of the hall, Li Jing, who had just been granted a high-ranking official position, remained in a bowing posture to express his gratitude, but his expression was extremely strange.

At that moment, he thought of Chen Guangrui.

(End of this chapter)