Iron Dynasty Chapter 1049

All the ministers in Zhengda Guangming Hall held their breaths tight. The atmosphere felt frozen stiff, and each one could almost hear their own pounding heartbeats.

From the moment Xiao Ming claimed the throne, the Empire battled north and south, seizing enormous lands. As a result, court debates centered mainly on external issues.

Seeing so many officials convicted right in front of them today sent chills racing down their backs. After all, how many courtiers stayed completely untainted?

“Your Majesty, as head of the Fei family, I failed to discipline my clansman properly. I deserve to die ten thousand deaths!”

As turmoil gripped everyone's hearts, Fei Ji dropped suddenly to his knees, tears pouring down his cheeks. Every minister's gaze shifted to Fei Ji. Some officials breathed sighs of relief, but others grew terrified, their faces draining of color.

Xiao Ming let out a sneer. Fei Ji might be his father-in-law, yet ruler and subject defined their roles. He declared, “Then explain the full details of this incident to me.”

Fei Ji hung his head low. Xiao Ming's straightforward tone warned of looming catastrophe. Even if he escaped blame this time, the Fei family could lose half its power.

After brief hesitation, he resolved to sacrifice a pawn to protect the king. He knew Xiao Ming more deeply than anyone. This Emperor appeared indifferent to state matters, but actually stayed razor-sharp and held unbreakable principles.

Crossing that forbidden line spelled disaster. The Fei family now basked in harsh light, yet one nod from Xiao Ming could obliterate their mighty clan entirely.

“Did you all catch Elder Fei’s words?” Xiao Ming swept his gaze over the ministers. “Today, speak openly on this issue and lay it all out.”

Pang Yukun eyed the kneeling Fei Ji before advancing. “Your Majesty, Fei Tong’s attack stemmed from poor upbringing and spoiled arrogance, but the root cause lies in noble-poor divides. From what I’ve heard, Qingzhou Senior School separates poor students from noble ones. Unofficially, nobles claim the east seats, poor take west. Noble students bully poor ones using their clout time and again.”

Pausing briefly, he added, “Yesterday’s stabbing by Fei Tong looked random, but it brewed inevitably. Many poor students quit the school over unbearable harassment through the years. Common folk gripe endlessly about such unfairness. I urge Your Majesty to probe deeply.”

Zhan Xingchang strode forward next, proclaiming loudly, “Your Majesty, noble-common splits plague not just schools but the whole realm. Empire tech and culture advanced swiftly lately, yet Great Yu’s elite families cling to old mindsets. With education spreading, public awareness grows. Fail to adjust to changing times and locales, and catastrophe looms ahead.”

Once those two spoke, courtiers buzzed in hushed discussions, faces showing varied reactions.

Ge Yiren rose slowly then. “Your Majesty, I believe a sovereign’s role upholds ritual, distinction, and proper names. Ritual means conduct rules: sovereign guides subjects, father guides son, husband guides wife. Distinction marks sovereign from subject. Names denote duke, marquis, earl, viscount, baron.”

Facing Pang Yukun, Ge Yiren pressed on, “With Empire lands vast and populace huge, all under Your Majesty’s rule—via Cabinet oversight of officials, officials of commoners. That’s ‘nobles rule commons, commons sustain nobles.’ Confucius noted, ‘Heaven high above, earth low below; thus creative and receptive set. High and low ordered; noble and common positions fixed.’ Sovereign-subject order, noble-common gap, stands eternal like heaven and earth. Weak Zhou still commanded feudal lords’ respect through this.”

“Elder Ge speaks truth. Noble-common divide, high-low differences form core ritual. Sages from antiquity never ignored it. Please reconsider, Your Majesty.” Wang Chengye, Minister of Rites, advanced.

Xiao Ming’s brows knit tightly. Centuries back, Ge Yiren’s speech might earn applause, fitting that crude, dark age to stabilize rule.

But times transformed utterly now. The eighteenth century dawned. Clinging to scholar-gentry and feudal thought for governance rang obsolete.

In this near-modern age, rallying commoners to unlock their power strengthened state and folk far more. Stuffy scholar-gentry deserved history’s trash bin.

Today’s court saw Ge Yiren and Wang Chengye boldly channeling scholar-gentry ethos, fueling Xiao Ming’s rage. It revealed New Confucianism’s push tangled with their selfish gains.

Stifling his fury, Xiao Ming replied, “Elder Ge, your classic quotes ring solid. You live up to scholarly fame. Yet every phrase pulls the Empire backward!”

As he spoke, Xiao Ming pounded the chair arm in wrath and rose. “Back as Prince of Qi, six prefectures starved amid ruin and woe. Qingzhou elites plotted darkly, scheming inside and out. Without harnessing public will, befriending masses, granting true gains to bind hearts, crushing elites to claim this soil, Great Yu would long serve barbarians’ sport. There I learned: people bear nation like water bears boat. We steer it, so revere them always.”

Striding before Ge Yiren and Wang Chengye, Xiao Ming circled them slowly. “I penned these truths in New Confucianism, yet Elder Ge recalls none. If your praised ritual worked so well, why history’s dynastic falls and villainous aides? Mere nonsense. I hold only: people-aligned dynasties thrive, people-opposed ones crumble.”

Silence gripped the ministers post-speech. Tears welled in Yang Chengye’s eyes. He bowed deeply. “Your Majesty’s wisdom stirs this official deeply. Empire blesses with Your Majesty; people bless too.”

Ge Yiren and Wang Chengye looked ghastly. Xiao Ming’s retort slapped them publicly before all.

A cryptic smile played on Xiao Ming’s lips as he eyed Ge Yiren. “Elder Ge, lacking full grasp of New Confucianism, return home for deep study. Grasp it fully, then resume court. Abolish the Ministry of Rites too!”

Wang Chengye paled at those words, knees buckling. He crashed to the floor with a thud.