"Chong-er, good job!"
Wang Gen made no effort to conceal his praise. In the situation just now, even Wang Gen had believed that Wang Chong had been tricked, but with a twist of fate, Wang Chong had shone brilliantly on the first day of the court assembly, winning the admiration of all the officials.
There was a massive gap between the martial path and the civil path, especially when it came to participating in politics. Thus, the majority of the generals were silent, only occasionally speaking up when it came to military matters. But in this aspect, Wang Chong was able to switch freely.
High above the hall, on the high steps, the Holy Emperor stood motionless, his might as imposing as a mountain. It was impossible to fathom his emotions. But Gao Lishi imperceptibly nodded his head. Although Wang Chong had the problem of letting his emotions affect his decisions, whether it was in internal affairs or military affairs, Wang Chong was truly a formidable expert.
The meeting in Ji County quickly concluded, and the hostility directed at Wang Chong had clearly lessened. Some of the civil officials would occasionally mention Wang Chong with a hint of respect, a stark contrast from before.
As time passed, there were fewer and fewer matters that needed to be discussed in court. In this aspect, the Tang Dynasty was still extremely efficient, and it was precisely because of this efficiency that the Holy Emperor had separated much of the government from the Tang Dynasty.
As Wang Chong silently observed everything, he gradually gained an understanding of how the Imperial Court participated in politics and its various mysterious procedures. Before he knew it, the sun had risen, and it was time to dismiss the court.
"Your Majesty! This subject has a memorial! "
At this moment, an official that Wang Chong had no impression of suddenly walked out of the ranks. Holding the ceremonial tablet in his hand, he respectfully bowed.
"His Majesty has an order. Speak!"
Gao Lishi glanced at the Holy Emperor of the Tang dynasty sitting on the Dragon Throne and suddenly said.
"Your Majesty, now that the Tang dynasty is at peace, all the barbarians around the Tang dynasty have been intimidated by the power of the Tang dynasty, and all the barbarians around the Tang dynasty have surrendered to the power of the Tang dynasty. Moreover, the imperial court has also signed an agreement with all the states to trade with each other. In order to reduce the taxes and corvee labor of the people, I propose to disband the prefectural armies, and after giving them a certain amount of compensation, let them return to their villages to farm and engage in production!"
Boom!
As soon as the official finished speaking, the entire court exploded. All of the generals glared at the official angrily. Even Wang Chong's expression changed in that instant.
"Your Majesty, I object!"
"Ridiculous! The prefectural army system was established by Emperor Gaozu and Emperor Taizong. A single strand of hair can affect the state. This subject objects! "
"Disband the prefectural armies, unless I die! You civil officials just want to target us generals! You've already transferred the Young Marquis back, and the protectorate armies have already been disbanded. What else do you want!
"Since all of you speak so clearly and logically, why don't you just disband all the soldiers and generals? If something happens, you civil officials will personally go into battle!"
… …
It was like a hornet's nest had been poked in the hall, and all the generals of the military were enraged. Even Minister of War Zhangchou Jianqiong had a hint of anger in his eyes.
"Bastard! So are you generals trying to blackmail the Imperial Court? "
Another civil official stepped out of the ranks and harshly rebuked.
"Civil officials rule the country while generals guard the borders. This is everyone's duty. If we do as you say, then you generals should be the ones to rule the country! Ever since the founding of the Tang dynasty, it has been at war year after year, leaving the country empty of resources and wasting resources. Isn't this the perfect time to disband the prefectural armies and improve the lives of the people? "
A third unfamiliar civil official stepped out of the ranks.
Then came a fifth, a sixth … More and more civil officials joined in the crusade against the generals. This was especially true for that blackmailing general, whose body was covered in cuts and bruises.
Although civil officials were powerless on the battlefield and no match for generals, the Imperial Court was not a battlefield, and martial strength was useless here. No matter how high or low a general's cultivation level was, they could not gain the slightest advantage here.
"Your Majesty! This subject has a memorial! This subject wishes to impeach General Zheng for using alarmist words to mislead the people and harm the state! This subject also wishes to accuse him of dereliction of duty! "
On the other side, King Qi signaled with his eyes, and his civil officials added fuel to the fire, joining in the crusade against the generals.
In the Imperial Court, if The King of Song could be said to be a staunch hawk of war, then King Qi was a staunch hawk of war. On this point, he and these civil officials were of the same lineage, and they coincidentally had the same views.
Wang Chong stood at the very end of the ranks, his pupils constricting as he watched the civil officials attack the generals, his eyes turning colder and colder.
The army in Khorasan had already retreated, and the various protectorate armies had been reduced. The Confucian army supervisors had even infiltrated the various ranks of the army, and the army had been forced to retreat again and again. Wang Chong had never imagined that they would be so unforgiving as to use the prefectural armies as an example.
If the protectorate armies of the border prefectures were disbanded, the elite soldiers of the prefectural armies could be drawn from the prefectural armies and quickly restored to their previous state of complete victory. But if even the prefectural armies were disbanded, the Great Tang's foundation would be severed.
The debate between the civil and military officials grew more and more intense, and just when all the generals were being attacked and condemned by the civil officials, a resounding voice resounded through the hall.
"Your Majesty! This subject objects! "
This voice caused the entire hall to fall deathly still, all voices of debate vanishing as the generals looked in Wang Chong's direction, their faces filled with excitement and morale.
"The King of Foreign Lands!"
In the entire military, Wang Chong possessed the supreme status. Although he had only been rising for a very short time, in terms of influence, not even the Protector-Generals and Great Generals of the two border generals could compare to him.
Wang Chong alone carried more weight than all the generals in the hall. Moreover, Wang Chong had an illustrious background, and his grandfather, Wang Jiuling, was a virtuous minister revered by all the people of the Tang Dynasty. No general could compare to him.
"Lord Wang, what is the meaning of this?"
At this moment, the unfamiliar civil official who had proposed the reduction of the prefectural armies turned to Wang Chong, and the others began to look at Wang Chong. The hall was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop, and the tension in the air had become subtle.
"Your Majesty, this subject believes that the proposal to reduce the prefectural armies is unnecessary and can be annulled!"
Wang Chong ignored the civil official, instead turning to the Holy Emperor.
"Wang Chong! You're impudent! The various protectorates go to war year after year, placing an enormous burden on the common people. Do you still want to continue like this? "
Another civil official stepped forward, thoroughly infuriated by Wang Chong's attitude.
"So, you mean that when the soldiers risk their lives on the border to protect the country, they are indulging in extravagant pleasures and preying on the common people?"
Wang Chong turned his head and indifferently glanced at the civil official, his eyes as cold as ice.
The civil official's expression froze, and he was momentarily speechless. No matter how bold he was, no matter how dissatisfied he was with the militarists, he would never dare to say such a thing.
"Your Majesty! This subject denounces these civil officials who spread lies to mislead the people and harm the state! Your Majesty, I request that they be stripped of their posts and punished severely! "
Wang Chong coldly said.
From the moment he stepped into the hall until now, Wang Chong had given the impression of a gentle and dignified person, but the proposal to disband the prefectural armies had thoroughly infuriated him. This was the first time Wang Chong was denouncing a civil official of the court after being conferred the title of King, and he was denouncing ten-some people at once.
In a flash, the aggressive momentum of the civil officials was greatly suppressed. Although Wang Chong was participating in the court as an Advisor-in-Waiting, his status was still there. He was the King of Foreign Lands, the first of the Tang Dynasty, personally conferred by the Holy Emperor, and his status was not something that an ordinary person could compare to.
Of all the officials of the court, not even Wang Chong's Big Uncle Wang Chong had a status equal to Wang Chong, let alone the others.
"Wang Chong! Impudent! This old man knows that you've just been conferred the title of King and are in the prime of your youth. But this is your first court session, and yet you already know how to use your status to bully the other officials. You're simply too daring. The imperial censors were approved by Emperor Gaozu and Emperor Taizong, and they were also adopted by the sovereigns of all dynasties. To block the channels of speech is tantamount to deceiving the Emperor and bringing disaster to the Tang Dynasty. Your Majesty, this old subject denounces King Wang Chong of Foreign Lands for daring to block the channels of speech. This old subject requests that Your Majesty take back his title, demote him to a commoner, and never employ him again! "
All of a sudden, an old voice sounded. In the upper reaches of the hall, near the white jade steps and where the Holy Emperor was seated, the Grand Preceptor, who had been meditating this entire time in his rosewood armchair, suddenly stood up and turned to look at Wang Chong, his expression frigid.
The Grand Preceptor, Zhan Zhongmi!
The head of the civil officials of the Tang Dynasty!
The moment the Grand Preceptor spoke, the entire hall seemed to be swept through by a cold gust of wind, plunging from the lively early spring into the biting cold of winter. The entire court fell silent out of fear, and even the generals did not dare to speak. Even The King of Song slightly paled. The Grand Preceptor was a person of virtue, prestige, and enormous influence. If Wang Chong did not respond well, it would affect his future career and prospects.
The King of Song was concerned about Wang Chong's prospects, but Wang Chong's thoughts were completely different from The King of Song's.
"Hmph!"
Wang Chong coldly snorted. Even in front of this esteemed Grand Preceptor of the Tang Dynasty, he showed no intention of backing down. The prefectural armies were the foundation of the empire, and the Confucians had gone too far, even wanting to tamper with the militarists' foundation. Let alone the Grand Preceptor, even if his status was ten times more formidable, he would still not back down.
This was no longer a simple dispute between civil and military officials, a dispute between militarists and Confucians. It was shaking the foundation of the empire. If even Wang Chong backed down, the Tang Dynasty might not be far from destruction.
"Grand Preceptor, you are a senior of two dynasties, and Wang Chong has always treated you with great respect! I didn't think that your selfishness would be so heavy that you would sacrifice the public for your own selfishness. This is truly too disappointing, simply shameless! "
To everyone's surprise, Wang Chong stepped forward in his crimson imperial robe, his first words causing an uproar in the hall.
"Chong-er!"
Wang Gen hurriedly called out, his face paling. The Grand Preceptor's status was extremely important, and he had far too much influence. He could not be directly contradicted, and Wang Chong was still too young.
"Impudent! Not even Wang Bowu would dare to act like this today! Is this how he taught you?! "
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