National Division

Chapter 92 Shen Xian: That's right... (This chapter contains 4,200 words.)
Inside the hall, the atmosphere was almost frozen solid.

Cui Yan's face was gloomy as he slowly turned his head, his gaze coldly fixed on the tall, slender young man, revealing his true intentions!
The Empress's face was grim, and her gaze towards Cui Yan's phoenix eyes was now tinged with coldness.

The reason she kept this person as prime minister was simply because the Yuqing Sect was too powerful, and she didn't want to go too far.

I don't want them to repeatedly show disrespect to the emperor and spout such nonsense. This is truly intolerable!

The eldest princess glanced at Shen Xian, whose face was cold and whose lips curled into a sneer, and said in a low voice, "Scholar Shen, it seems you have something to say?"

Shen Xian grunted in acknowledgment, a cold glint in his eyes. Stepping out of the court, he sneered, "What a grand and arrogant Minister Cui!"

Upon hearing this, all the officials in the hall turned to look at the speaker with either surprise or scrutiny.

Upon hearing this, Lu Dezhen turned his aged gaze to the young man and demanded, "Who are you? We, the prime ministers, are discussing matters in the same hall. How dare you act so presumptuously here!"

Shen Xian scoffed, "I am Shen Xian, the disciple of Xing Jin mentioned by Lord Cui, a scholar of Zhaowen Hall, and the son of the magistrate of Guhe County."

Yang Youxing turned to look at the young man, his eyes narrowing slightly, a hint of amusement appearing in them.

Meanwhile, Cai Heng, Yao Zhiwei, Xu Shi, and other close advisors of the Empress looked at the tall, slender, and dashing young man with varying expressions.

When the Empress saw the young man with a refined and upright demeanor, like a pine or bamboo, she felt somewhat at ease for some reason.

Cui Yan's words were harsh and aggressive, and she was somewhat at a loss for how to respond.

Cui Yan was famous in the imperial court for his eloquence from an early age.

A hint of a smile played on Yao Zhiwei's eyes as she deliberately asked, "Scholar Shen, what do you have to say?"

He was also curious about the officials the Empress had chosen this time, but judging from the "Policy on Governance," this person should not be an uneducated and incompetent person.

"Lord Cui has openly slandered me. According to the laws of our dynasty, I should defend myself." Shen Xian's expression was indifferent, and his voice was as firm as metal.

Xue Zhihua looked at the outstanding young man, her clear eyes bright as a mirror.

Upon hearing this, the Empress was overjoyed and said, "Scholar Shen, you may speak freely in front of all the ministers."

"Your Majesty, I thank you." Shen Xian bowed to the Empress and thanked her, then said, "Lord Cui said that the Empress appointed the son of a county magistrate and suddenly promoted him to the fifth rank. Does Lord Cui know the details? With the Empress's wisdom, she ruled the country alongside the two emperors. How could she be misled by a petty person?"

Cui Yan coldly looked at Shen Xian and rebuked him: "You despicable people, with your clever words and flattering appearance, have deceived the Empress. She was not careful and was misled by you!"

"Without any investigation, you presumptuously draw conclusions, yet you dare to say you've misled the Emperor?" Shen Xian's gaze was deep and dark, like black water, as he rebuked, "Is this how you rose to the position of Prime Minister, relying solely on the Cui family's name?"

Upon hearing this, Cui Yan's face turned ashen, and he roared, "You brat, how dare you!"

Cai Heng stared intently at the young man, his heart trembling slightly.

Yao Zhiwei and Xu Shi had strange expressions.

This Scholar Shen truly made a striking first impression!
Lu Dezhen's face was ashen as he rebuked, "How dare you! You, a mere fifth-rank official, dare to be so disrespectful to the prime minister?"

Shen Xian said loudly, "According to the laws of the Great Jing Kingdom, officials of the fifth rank and above may speak on the merits and demerits of the government. I am an official of the fifth rank, serving in the presence of the emperor, and have the right to offer advice. Do you intend to block the channels of communication?"

Cui Yan waved his hand, stopping Lu Dezhen from making any further explanation. He looked at Shen Xian with disdain and said coldly, "I was selected by the late emperor and rose through the ranks to become prime minister. I dare not say that I have made outstanding contributions, but I have served him diligently and conscientiously. How dare a mere child presume to make such comments?"

"You have received the Emperor's favor for generations, yet you have no heart to repay it. You hold high positions but only engage in empty talk. If the late Emperor were still alive, he would probably regret being deceived by your empty reputation!" Shen Xian said in a light tone, mockingly.

Upon hearing this, Cui Yan's expression changed drastically, and his eyes seemed to devour someone.

Yao Zhiwei and Xu Shi exchanged a glance and thought to themselves, "Leaving aside his real talent and learning, his eloquence alone is enough to qualify him as a scholar of the Zhaowen Pavilion."

After a brief silence, Shen Xian’s voice rang out in the empty hall: “Emperor Taizong of this dynasty once said that prime ministers must rise from the local government and generals must rise from the ranks. Although I do not know your resume, Prime Minister Cui, I can tell at a glance that you have never served in the local government. You entered officialdom through hereditary privilege and are completely ignorant of practical matters, which is why you are laughed at.”

Then, he looked at Wei Xueqian, the Minister of War, who was watching coldly from the sidelines, and asked, "Lord Wei, have I said anything wrong?"

Just now, I heard this person speaking to the Empress Dowager. He must be the Minister of War of the current dynasty, and his surname is Wei.
Wei Xueqian's purplish-red face suddenly froze. Facing the gazes of everyone in the hall, he said frankly, "Prime Minister Cui started as an advisor, often accompanying the late emperor. Later, he was trusted and relied upon, serving in the central government and eventually reaching the highest level."

"That's right," Shen Xian said calmly.

Wei Xueqian: "???"

Shen Xian scoffed, "He's nothing but a fraud, relying on the name of the Cui family of Boling to deceive the world! The late emperor treated scholars well, promoting them step by step, to show his intention of spending a fortune to buy talent and to recruit the best people in the country. However, he didn't realize that his own abilities were limited and the emperor's grace was boundless. At this time of chaos caused by evil spirits and internal and external troubles, as a prime minister, instead of thinking about strategies for maintaining peace and pacifying the borders, he roared in front of the emperor, making grand pronouncements and talking nonsense about virtuous ministers and villains! Even in the Zhenyuan and Hongxi reigns, were there any prime ministers who were so incompetent?"

Upon hearing this, the prime ministers in the hall were all shaken and looked at the young man.

This is because Shen Xian's words were well-founded, logical, and perfectly matched, clearly demonstrating his scholarly talent.

In this light, the selection of scholars from the Zhaowen Academy to serve as academicians was not actually a chaotic decision.

King Zhao Yang Youxing, whose expression had been nonchalant, suddenly became serious, and for the first time looked directly at the young man.

This person truly has a silver tongue, and his words are incredibly sharp.

"The great sage Zhuge Liang of the previous dynasty advocated for befriending virtuous ministers and keeping away from petty men. He launched six expeditions to Qishan to support the Shu Han dynasty, truly dedicating himself to the cause until his death." Shen Xian's gaze swept over the people present, finally settling on Cui Yan's face. He chuckled and said, "As for Lord Cui? Hmm?"

"Gentlemen, you can laugh."

Shen Xian looked at the ministers with strange expressions, and Yao Zhiwei could barely suppress the corners of her mouth.

Upon hearing Shen Xianyu's final words, the Princess couldn't help but chuckle.

The woman was already beautiful, but now she was like a snowflake after a storm, her radiance beyond compare.

In the vast Qian Yuan Hall, only this noble lady of noble birth could remain so composed. The other prime ministers showed no reaction, clearly demonstrating that she had long since honed her composure.

But she still received a stern look from the Empress, who scolded her, "Court officials are discussing matters and laughing in public. What kind of behavior is this?"

The princess quickly composed herself, looking like a child caught doing something wrong by her mother. Her eyes and brows were quite mischievous as she clasped her hands and stammered, "Your subject knows her mistake."

This scene left the Empress feeling both doting and helpless.

Her daughter...

But in the eyes of King Zhao Yang Youxing, his gaze was already fixed on the scene, his spirit captivated.

Xue Zhi looked at Shen Xian with a strange expression; this was yet another instance of her being taught a lesson in Shen Xian's sharp tongue.

His words were truly like knives.

Upon hearing Shen Xian's words, Cui Yan, despite his good composure, turned pale and red-faced, with veins throbbing on his forehead. He coldly said, "National policies are discussed by court officials and prime ministers. How could a country bumpkin like you know anything about them?"

"The Great Rui has invaded the border, and the Khitan are in turmoil. As the Grand Secretary, does Prime Minister Cui have any strategies to defeat the enemy in front of the Empress Dowager and his colleagues?" Shen Xian asked. The Grand Secretary is an elegant and ancient title for the Chancellor, while the Grand Secretary is an elegant title for the Attendant-in-Ordinary.

Cui Yan was momentarily speechless. His expression turned serious as he composed himself and said, "When the magistrate is wise and his ministers are enlightened, and the people are of one mind, and the emperor's virtue spreads far and wide, the enemy will not dare to invade. As for the enemy attacking, we should repair our armor and weapons, select good generals, and meet the enemy."

"Then there isn't one." Shen Xian's tone betrayed his disappointment.

Cui Yan: "..."

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something in his defense, but all his explanations became pale and powerless in the face of "that's not true".

Shen Xian said calmly, "If it exists, it exists; if it doesn't exist, it doesn't exist. Making something out of nothing and speaking evasively only disgraces the reputation of the Cui family's ancestors."

Upon hearing this, Cui Yan's face grew even more unpleasant, as if he had swallowed a fly, and his lips trembled as he spoke.

In his desperation, how could he come up with a strategy to defeat the enemy? Weren't these plans devised by the Ministry of War and the military officers?
Lu Dezhen couldn't help but chime in, "Could it be that you, a mere scholar, possess a strategy to defeat an enemy state?"

"What Prime Minister Cui said earlier is that national policies are to be discussed by the chief ministers in the Hall of State Affairs. As a chief minister, Prime Minister Cui should have some plans. It is astonishing that a chief minister has no strategy to defeat the enemy." Shen Xian's face was ashen, but suddenly his gaze turned intensely to Lu Dezhen, startling the latter. He said, "As for me, Shen, of course I do. Otherwise, why would the Empress favor me? How could I, who am not even twenty years old, be promoted to the fifth rank?"

The Empress looked at the young man, her beautiful eyes flickering, and thought to herself, could it be that Shen Muzhi really has a plan to defeat the enemy?

The princess, with her beautiful face and smiling eyes, looked at the young man and said, "This is Lord Lu Dezhen, the Chamberlain of the Imperial Secretariat."

Xue Zhihua's lips twitched. Was Her Highness the Princess afraid that Shen Xian wouldn't be able to name names when she scolded him?

"The surname Lu?" Beneath Shen Xian's sword-like brows, his clear, cold eyes seemed to flicker for a moment as he asked, "Is the magistrate of Guhe County a member of the Lu clan?"

The eldest princess added, "Magistrate Lu is indeed a member of the Lu clan."

“That’s right.” Shen Xian nodded.

Lu Dezhen: "..."

The eldest princess: "???"

That's right, that sentence... truly conveyed three parts contempt, three parts predictability, and four parts undisguised sarcasm.

Grand Secretary Cai Heng raised his droopy, aged eyelids and stared intently at the young man, his gaze complex.

Everyone involuntarily waited for him to speak.

"Magistrate Lu has been a mere figurehead in Guhe County, ignoring the suffering of the people. In the imperial court, he and his cronies, acquaintances, and support each other." Shen Xian remained silent for a moment, then sneered, "It seems the Lu family's traditions are so consistent; like father, like son!"

Upon hearing this, Lu Dezhen's face turned furious, and his lips trembled with rage as he said, "How dare you, you brat, insult the reputation of the Lu family!"

Shen Xian said, "I have not disgraced you. What truly disgraces the Lu family's reputation is you, Lord Lu, and incompetent officials like Magistrate Lu!"

He then said, "I believe that the ancestors of the Lu family, even in the afterlife, are ashamed of you!"

Upon hearing this, Lu Dezhen felt dizzy and opened his mouth, wanting to curse but unable to utter a word.

Cui Yan stared at Shen Xian with a cold gaze and said, "If you think you can seize the fifth rank and bewitch the world just by using your words, then you are sorely mistaken."

He remembered Shen Xian, the son of the county magistrate of Guhe!
"These words are also for Prime Minister Cui. I hope you will not use your words to your advantage, to distort the truth, for justice is clear and there are gods watching over you. Do you really think no one can stop you?"

Cui Yan stared intently at the young man, his aged eyes narrowed slightly, his killing intent undisguised.

The clan leaders of the five surnames and seven prominent families held the power of life and death over their clans; they were hardly benevolent men and women.

Shen Xian smiled faintly, like a gentle breeze, and ignored it, saying, "As for the 'Policy on Public Security' that I submitted earlier, I suppose Prime Minister Cui has not read it."

Yao Zhiwei, his aged face beaming with smiles, joined in the fun, picked up the copied memorial, and said, "The memorial is right here. Prime Minister Cui may wish to read it before making any further plans."

Cui Yan waved his hand and said coldly, "It's all just empty talk, nothing of substance. Why should I bother reading it?"

Shen Xian chuckled and said, "To presume to judge someone's talent without even reading the memorial is truly the nature of Prime Minister Cui. He talks a lot about benevolence and righteousness, but in reality, he's all empty talk, only good at currying favor and spouting nonsense!"

Upon hearing this, Cui Yan's face darkened like iron. He said, "Your memorial is full of petty words. Why should I allow it to sully my eyes and ears?"

"Then what is Prime Minister Cui?" Shen Xian stared intently at Cui Yan and said, "He is neither capable of assisting the king in governing the country and saving the people, nor of fighting in battle to quell rebellions. Prime Minister Cui is old, yet he can make arbitrary comments about the people in the court and speak recklessly about the virtues of the emperor with just a few words. He speaks the words of a petty person. If you were not surnamed Cui, would the officials in the court even know who you are?"

Do you all agree?

As Shen Xian spoke, his gaze swept over the ministers and Prince Zhao, Yang Youxing: "I am ashamed that you talented men are associating with such mediocre people!"

Upon hearing this, Cai Heng, Yao Zhiwei, Xu Shi, and others were deeply shaken.

Wei Cong frowned, his lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but he remained silent for a moment.

Although the young man before him spoke fiercely, every word was like a knife, like a storm, almost tearing Cui Xiang to pieces.

Today, Prime Minister Cui spoke frankly and offended the Empress Dowager, and his words were also quite inappropriate.

In short, the fault lies with the party in the first place.

Cui Yan felt a surge of anger rising within him, rushing to his head, his beard trembling with rage. He stammered, "You, you..."

It could be said that Cui Yan was so angry that he was gradually losing his mind. His usual eloquence was gone, and he couldn't utter a single word at this moment.

Because in past debates, others were often hesitant to be so sharp-tongued due to Cui Yan's prestigious family background.

Shen Xian not only refuted Cui Yan's words one by one, but also directly criticized his principles of conduct and family management in front of everyone, saying that his so-called noble and prominent status was just a disgrace to his ancestors.

It can be said that this has never happened before in Cui Yan's past.

If it were just a common peddler, Cui Yan would simply laugh it off, regarding them as foolish men and women.

Even a common peddler wouldn't say something like that.

"You, what are you?" Shen Xian's face was ashen, his gaze piercing, and he said coldly, "You old scoundrel with a white beard and white hair! You have contributed nothing to the country and have no reputation among scholars. You have only learned some of the classics from your family, and even if you don't say that most of them are just your limited understanding, you are still not very skilled. Yet you dare to show off your limited knowledge here?"

Cui Yan was so angry that he could barely catch his breath, felt dizzy, and his vision blurred.

Lu Dezhen stood by, raging in a fit of impotence: "You, you, how dare you!"

Shen Xian ignored Lu Dezhen, turned around, looked up at the beautiful woman sitting on the golden throne, and cupped his hands, saying: "Cui and Lu have usurped the positions of prime minister, nominally serving as ministers, but in reality they are traitors to the country. They are in cahoots and do the same evil deeds. I believe that they should be removed from their positions as prime ministers to set the record straight for the people!"

He felt it was necessary to introduce the Ming Dynasty's censors and the online atmosphere of later generations to the Great Jing Dynasty, so that these so-called officials could experience what it meant to be an online troll or a keyboard warrior!
(End of this chapter)