Iron Dynasty Chapter 1057

“This is what you deserve. Do you really think I can't see through the thoughts hidden in your heart?”

Xiao Ming sat himself down, sipped some tea, and shot Pang Yukun a frosty glare.

An awkward chuckle escaped Pang Yukun. He had deliberately ignited the divide between nobles and commoners, unable to stomach the deeds of certain old nobles any longer.

Moreover, under the guise of serving the public good, he pursued his own agenda too, since the officials who had stuck with Xiao Ming from the start resented how these old nobles reaped benefits without effort and still scorned them openly. How could those from the original six prefectures possibly endure such disdain?

Prior to storming into the Imperial Study with his charges, officials from the six prefectures had long been seething with anger and pressed him to give those old nobles a harsh lesson. That pressure finally steeled his resolve to launch his attack using the clash between noble and poor students, targeting the old nobles under Fei Pei and Duke Tang.

He never anticipated Xiao Ming blowing the incident into such a massive uproar. Yet, it perfectly matched their desires. Previously, many six-prefecture officials had envied Xiao Ming's leniency toward the old nobles. But now, this explosive approach reignited their full admiration for him.

“Your Majesty’s vision pierces like a blazing torch. My petty schemes can never escape Your Majesty’s notice. Yet, without punishing these evildoers, the common folk will fault Your Majesty for letting their children bully the lowly, convinced that Your Majesty is no longer the ruler who crushed mighty clans, shared out the land, and championed the world's ordinary people.”

“That's exactly why I'm issuing this imperial edict. Why else would I stir up such a storm? For me, the Empire's millions of subjects outweigh those who feed off the Empire, draw from it, and still sabotage it.”

“Your Majesty speaks the unvarnished truth. The realm belongs to everyone. That was my hope from the outset,” Pang Yukun replied with delight. Despite the icy glares—overt and covert—from nobles en route to the palace, satisfaction filled him. After all, he and the old nobles had always clashed. Instead, this event revealed the Emperor's unchanged core resolve.

“Daring to curb imperial power? Utter treachery!” Qian Dafu bellowed. “With the Empire's wealth surging, some grow bold and unruly. It's high time they learned their place.”

Xiao Ming's brows arched. Such developments didn't shock him, for he knew the rising Merchant Parliament had already disseminated its notions. Fools still treated the Cao father-and-son's ravings as sacred writ.

Furthermore, as science and culture advanced, the Empire's worldview evolved. The old notion of a domed sky over square earth had yielded to astronomy, and folks now grasped the reality of diverse nations abroad.

Thus, minds across the land shifted dramatically. In this storm of clashing ideas, conflicting beliefs would only multiply.

“No need to overreact. Some still fancy the Western moon rounder, much like brothel-goers who swear wild blooms outshine home roses.” Xiao Ming stated coolly.

Pang Yukun's weathered face turned crimson. Xiao Ming's crude analogy rang true nonetheless. “What’s unattainable always glitters brightest, but their prized weeds could well poison the Empire.”

“Exactly. I won't risk the Empire's destiny on their childish fantasies. The European foes crave only our downfall. Should the Empire weaken, they'll swarm like wolves, stripping us to the bone and dooming us to eternal shame.” Xiao Ming remarked steadily.

He knew full well the old nobles' true nature. Their cries to limit imperial power served only their greed, never the nation or its people.

Should such individuals seize control of the Empire's authority, could the Empire truly prosper in the future? Some might even trade away the Empire's vital interests for mere Western handouts.

This very concern drove him to resolve on bolstering imperial authority throughout his rule and naming Xiao Yi as Crown Prince. He sought to shatter the reckless dreams harbored by certain fools.

Yet he grasped a harsh truth: clinging to hereditary succession could allow his incompetent heirs to bring ruin upon the Empire.

Hence, even with Xiao Yi named Crown Prince, it guaranteed nothing about him ascending as the next sovereign.

Ruling this vast land demanded outshining elite officials in administrative prowess. Triumph meant claiming the throne; failure required yielding it to a superior successor.

Simply put, the throne would cease being the Xiao clan's private inheritance, transforming into the Empire's supreme leadership mantle.

“Your Majesty’s foresight always outstrips mine,” Pang Yukun sighed deeply. He questioned, “Then, how shall we handle these troublemakers? Must we allow their preposterous notions to spread unchecked?”

“Absolutely not. Not all can separate truth from lies, and ordinary folk fall easy prey to schemers with hidden agendas. Upon capturing the ringleaders, probe their backgrounds first, preventing Merchant Parliament holdouts from exploiting the chaos to destabilize the realm.”

Pausing briefly, he went on, “Furthermore, Li Ran has been removed from office. This time, select a truly capable leader for the Ministry of News. Beyond overseeing newspaper content, it must shoulder an additional vital task.”

“Please guide me, Your Majesty.”

After brief reflection, Xiao Ming stated, “Promoting New Confucianism alongside the Empire’s uplifting principles.”

Pang Yukun paused in shock. “Wasn’t that Ge Yiren’s duty in the past?” he remarked.

“It differs entirely. Ge Yiren leaned only on his stature as a leading Confucian master, but the Ministry of News commands the newspapers, unleashing far mightier propaganda. Besides, telegraph networks now relay news across cities in a single night, enabling local outlets to print and distribute it promptly the very same day,” Xiao Ming explained.

Pang Yukun nodded in agreement. “Telegraphs prove invaluable. They deliver court directives swiftly to every province while amplifying newspapers’ reach. The masses now place great faith in the press. Mastering the newspapers equates to granting the court a direct voice among the people, funneling imperial commands into their ears whenever needed.”

Hailing from the modern age, Xiao Ming fully comprehended media’s formidable might. He warned, “The Ministry of News may seem modest, yet its influence looms enormous. We must firmly grip the newspaper operations, lest adversaries wield them and unleash dire repercussions.”

“Understood, Your Majesty,” Pang Yukun replied.

Lifting his teacup for a sip and pondering briefly, Xiao Ming added, “Incidentally, the Empire’s coffers are steadily brimming. It’s prime time to launch welfare initiatives, letting the common folk savor the fruits of our realm’s progress. This will surely capture the people’s unwavering loyalty.”