diymy Chapter 122 A Cup of Wine to Release Military Power
Chapter 122 A Cup of Wine to Release Military Power
Chapter 122 Releasing Military Power Over a Cup of Wine (Part 1)
Military generals taking the imperial examination in classical texts?
As soon as Zhao Kuangyin finished speaking, the officials in the hall seemed to wake from a dream. A month ago, the emperor had indeed issued this decree.
However, during this period, the attention of the court and the public was completely drawn to the controversy surrounding the new imperial examination policy, and they almost forgot about this matter.
However, Shi Shouxin and the others dared not forget. When Zhao Kuangyin brought up the matter again, their rough faces instantly fell, and their brows were full of bitterness.
Studying was far too difficult for them. Although Murong Yanzhao had given them a special warning that day, they only managed to endure it for two or three days before completely forgetting about it.
Just as they were feeling anxious and flustered, someone stood up and spoke up for them.
Prime Minister Wang Pu strode out of the ranks, raised his hand, and said, "Your Majesty, the military examination can be held at any time, but the new civil service examination policy is a matter of great importance concerning the foundation of the nation. It should be decided first and foremost. Do not let trivial matters delay the important affairs of the country!"
The civil officials echoed their sentiments urgently: "Your Majesty, the prince's words are absolutely right! We implore Your Majesty to first decide on the new policies!"
In the past, they certainly wouldn't have spoken up for those military officers; they would have just watched this scene with schadenfreude.
However, Zhao Dezhao's new civil service examination policy made these civil officials break with precedent.
The new imperial examination system must be abolished as soon as possible, without any delay, lest things get complicated.
Zhao Dezhao remained silent, coldly observing the scene.
Zhao Kuangyin, seated on his throne, instantly darkened his expression, his aura growing increasingly oppressive. He spoke in an unfriendly tone, "What is the meaning of this, my lords!"
"A month ago, I decreed that today would be the day of the imperial examination for military officers. Now that the month has passed, if it is not held on time, wouldn't that be accusing me of breaking my word?"
"This matter needs no further discussion; proceed according to my decree!"
The emperor was furious, and all the ministers were silenced. No matter how unwilling they were, they dared not refute him and could only retreat and stand with their heads bowed.
"Your Majesty is wise! In my opinion, since this is a palace examination, rewards and punishments should be clearly distinguished."
At that moment, Shen Yilun stepped out of the ranks, raised his hand, and said, "Anyone who fails the palace examination should be punished according to the law, as a warning to others!"
Upon hearing this, Fan Zhi and the others' eyes lit up, and they all realized what he meant.
Since the new imperial examination policy cannot be discussed for the time being, let's settle for second best and reduce the arrogance of these military generals!
They had long been fed up with the arrogance of the military generals, and now that such a great opportunity was before them, how could they ignore it?
Therefore, all the civil officials stepped forward and unanimously remonstrated, saying, "Your Majesty, what Lord Shen said is absolutely right! Those who fail the palace examination are disrespectful to the Emperor's decree and disregard the court's regulations, and should be punished according to the law! This will set an example for others!"
Upon hearing this, the military officers' expressions changed drastically, and their eyes widened in anger.
Shi Shouxin, Gao Huaide, and the others were not going to tolerate them. They rolled up their sleeves and pointed at Fan Zhi and the others, cursing back.
The atmosphere inside the hall instantly became tense again, and it looked like things were about to descend into chaos once more.
"That's enough!"
Zhao Kuangyin slammed his hand on the imperial desk and angrily shouted, "Those who fail the palace examination will be punished by me. No need for further explanation!"
Having said that, Zhao Kuangyin gave his ministers no chance to object, and immediately waved his hand, saying, "Guards, bring all the wooden tables, writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones needed for the palace examination into the hall!"
"Here you go!"
The eunuchs dared not delay and quickly responded, soon moving dozens of wooden tables, writing brushes, ink, paper and inkstones into the hall and arranging them neatly.
Zhao Kuangyin immediately issued an edict ordering all military officers of the third rank and above to take the exam in turn. He also appointed Fan Zhi and Shen Yilun to supervise the exam and strictly monitor the entire process. Anyone found to have violated the rules would be dealt with on the spot.
As he spoke, he neatly laid out all the necessary items for the palace examination on the imperial desk.
Seeing this, Shi Shouxin and the others had no choice but to obey orders, no matter how helpless they were.
"Clang!"
With the sound of a gong, the imperial examination officially began.
The examination for this palace was to test poetry and prose. When the eunuch loudly read out the examination requirements, the military officers were completely confused.
Upon seeing the questions on the exam paper, they looked at each other blankly, unsure of how to begin.
Some people, after writing their names in a crooked and messy way, can no longer write a single word.
There are also those like Fu Zhaoshou, whose faces are full of disdain and resentment. He picks up a brush, scribbles a few strokes on the exam paper, throws the brush down, closes his eyes to rest, and vents his dissatisfaction in this way.
Zhao Dezhao naturally didn't understand these so-called classics, but he still filled the paper with writing.
The hall was completely silent; the time it takes for ten incense sticks to burn passed in the blink of an eye.
"Time's up, stop writing!"
At Zhao Kuangyin's command, the generals felt as if they had been granted a pardon. They put down their brushes, breathed a long sigh of relief, and their faces were full of relief.
Fan Zhi and Shen Yilun stepped forward and graded the papers on the spot. After flipping through each paper, smiles appeared on their faces.
Before long, the grading was completed. Fan Zhi, holding the examination papers, bowed and reported to Zhao Kuangyin: "Your Majesty, the palace examination has been completed. Of the seventeen military officers of the third rank and above who participated in the palace examination, only eight barely passed, while the remaining nine all failed."
He paused, then read out the names of those who failed the exam: "Shi Shouxin, Gao Huaide, Zhang Qiong—a total of nine generals, all of whom failed!"
At first, when they heard their own names, the generals were somewhat dismissive, but when they heard what Fan Zhi and the others said next, their expressions changed drastically!
"Your Majesty! All the military officers have failed the palace examination, which shows that they have no regard for Your Majesty's decree, no respect for the monarch, and no contempt for the rules of the court. According to the law, they should be executed!"
When the civil officials heard that all the generals of the Imperial Guards had failed the exam, they were once again in an uproar and stepped forward to strongly remonstrate.
They knew, of course, that it was unlikely that the emperor would execute these founding heroes.
But this kind of thing is like bargaining. If you don't ask for a higher price, how can you have room to bargain?
But just as they were waiting for the emperor to bargain, Zhao Kuangyin, sitting on his throne, coldly uttered two words: "Granted!"
"6
The imperial court fell into a deathly silence; you could hear a pin drop.
All the court officials, regardless of their status or position, even Zhao Guangyi and Zhao Pu, stared at Zhao Kuangyin in disbelief.
The military officers who failed the exam, including Shi Shouxin, were struck dumb, standing there in disbelief!
Your Majesty, are you really going to kill them?
"What are you standing there for? Anyone who fails the palace examination will be executed!" Zhao Kuangyin sat upright on the dragon throne and gave the order again with a blank expression.
Dozens of armored imperial guards rushed into the hall without saying a word.
The clanging sound of swords being drawn startled Shi Shouxin and the others. They realized that the emperor was serious and took a step back, their eyes filled with horror.
Fear, unease, and anxiety instantly filled the nerves of each of them.
"Father!"
At this critical moment, Zhao Dezhao quickly stepped forward, knelt on both knees, his eyes filled with sorrow, and pleaded loudly, "Father, have mercy! How dare the generals disregard your decree? It's just that the generals are illiterate. Please remember their past merits and punish them leniently!"
Zhao Dezhao's words were like a lifeline, instantly waking up Shi Shouxin and the others who were in despair.
They immediately came to their senses and knelt down in fear, saying, "We know our crimes and beg Your Majesty for mercy!"
Even the military officers who had managed to pass the palace examination by sheer luck stepped forward and knelt down, pleading for their colleagues: "We beg Your Majesty to show mercy!"
The hall fell silent once more.
Zhao Kuangyin sat upright on the dragon throne, his face terribly gloomy. He remained silent, his gaze slowly sweeping over the military generals and civil officials in the hall. The oppressive atmosphere around him was so low that it was hard to breathe.
After a long silence, Zhao Kuangyin spoke again, this time addressing Fan Zhi: "In your opinion, Prime Minister Fan, should I execute those who fail the palace examination this time?"
Fan Zhi was taken aback. Seeing that the emperor's expression was genuine and that his brows were filled with murderous intent, he realized he had guessed the emperor's intentions and immediately gritted his teeth and said, "Your Majesty! Only by executing him can we set an example and warn all the military generals in the land!"
"very good----"
Zhao Kuangyin responded with a meaningful sound.
Shi Shouxin and the other unsuccessful candidates instantly felt their hearts sink to the bottom, their faces turning ashen.
But then, Zhao Kuangyin abruptly changed the subject, asking, "In this palace examination, I and the Prince of Wugong also participated. Did Chancellor Fan review our examination papers? What were the results?"
Fan Zhi quickly replied, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty's answer sheet this time is exceptionally well-written, extraordinary, and every word is a gem; it should be ranked first in the first category!"
"As for Your Highness—" Fan Zhi hesitated for a moment, glanced at Zhao Dezhao kneeling on the ground, but still said, "Although Your Highness's writing is a bit rough and not even a fraction as good as His Majesty's, it is still barely passable and can be selected as qualified."
"Oh? Is that really true?"
Zhao Kuangyin nodded slightly, his tone revealing neither joy nor anger: "In that case, bring out my examination paper and check the word count in public to see if it meets the requirements of the palace examination."
Fan Zhi was stunned for a moment, and a sense of foreboding suddenly rose in his heart.
As expected, after Zhao Kuangyin's examination paper was brought out and the number of papers was counted in front of everyone, Fan Zhi's face turned deathly pale.
This time—he misjudged the Emperor's intentions!
Although Zhao Kuangyin's poems and essays were exceptionally well-written, their word count was exactly one character short of the requirements for the palace examination!
A single word makes all the difference!
"Your Majesty—this—" Fan Zhi stammered, his face pale, unsure how to begin.
"It seems I've failed the exam too?"
Zhao Kuangyin looked at Fan Zhi's pale face, then at the assembled officials in the hall. His tone suddenly turned cold, and he questioned sharply, "Since that's the case, and according to what you all say, those who fail the exam should be executed, then I—"
At this point, Zhao Kuangyin slammed his fist on the imperial desk and roared, "Shouldn't they also be executed?!"
When the emperor flew into a rage, all the ministers were terrified. They immediately knelt on both knees, not daring to breathe, and cried out in unison, "Your Majesty, please forgive us! We were foolish! We misspoke! Please forgive us!"
Now that things have come to this, everyone understands what really happened.
There was no such thing as "the good bow is put away after the birds are all gone"; the Emperor never intended to punish these military officers from the very beginning!
The previous scene was nothing more than a performance put on by the emperor to silence the criticisms of his civil officials.
"So—the Emperor still has our hearts."
After realizing this, Shi Shouxin and the others felt as if they had been granted a pardon and breathed a long sigh of relief.
Get up.
Zhao Kuangyin waved his hand, dismissing the imperial guards, and then looked at Shi Shouxin and the other generals, his tone noticeably gentler: "You generals have fought on the battlefield and rendered meritorious service to the Song Dynasty. Your merits outweigh your faults. As punishment for failing the palace examination, you will be fined three months' salary."
"Thank you for your mercy, Your Majesty!"
Shi Shouxin and the others stood up, wiping the cold sweat from their brows, and finally felt relieved.
Anyone who saw Zhao Kuangyin's previous demeanor would have thought that the emperor was serious today and intended to "discard the good bow after the birds are gone." Although they were relieved, the generals still looked at Zhao Kuangyin with a mixture of fear and awe.
The previous scene made it clear to them that, given Zhao Kuangyin's prestige in the Imperial Guards, it wouldn't be difficult to move against them, even if it took some effort.
Thinking of this, the generals couldn't help but feel a chill.
Zhao Kuangyin, however, seemed to have seen through the thoughts of his generals. He immediately smiled faintly and said loudly, "Let's adjourn the court for today."
He paused, then glanced at Shi Shouxin and the others, adding, "Shi Shouxin, Gao Huaide, and the other generals, stay and have a few drinks with me."
Now that the hammering is done, it's time to serve the main course —