RPAGF Chapter 249 Court Debate (4)
Chapter 249 Court Debate (4)
The Minister of War stood tall with his arms crossed, his towering frame conveying a sense of composure, yet his eyes betrayed hesitation. On one hand, he felt that military generals should be courageous and fearless, and should not be intimidated by the unknown;
On the other hand, he also knew that war was costly and damaging to the people, and that if he acted rashly and caused a conflict between the two countries, his soldiers and countless civilians would suffer.
He muttered in a low voice, "This matter needs further consideration," and then fell silent.
The Imperial Censor snorted coldly, attempting to maintain the dignity of the court: "Cui Zhihao, your blatant protection suggests you might be in cahoots with this woman."
But there was a hint of panic in his stern rebuke. He knew that if it really caused trouble in the outside world, he would not be able to bear the responsibility of supervision. His eyes darted back and forth between Cui Zhihao and Shi Wanxia, trying to find a flaw.
Some hot-blooded young officials were about to argue when an older minister tugged at their sleeves, signaling them to be quiet.
Although they were unwilling and felt that a woman had disrupted the court and caused them to lose face, they dared not act rashly in the face of this decision that concerned the fate of the nation. They could only bite their lower lips in resentment, their eyes filled with frustration and helplessness.
Seeing the ministers' varying reactions, Shi Wanxia calmed herself down. She took a few light steps forward and bowed slightly, her demeanor elegant and graceful, neither humble nor arrogant.
"My lords," she said softly, her voice clear yet firm, "what Lord Cui said is absolutely true. I came here alone, with no intention of disturbing the court, but I am concerned about the suffering of the people. No matter where they are, they all yearn for food, clothing, wealth, and peace for their country."
Looking at the Minister of Rites, her gaze was clear and open: "Your Excellency, the essence of rites is to respect people and the world. If we abandon exchanges and mutual learning because of my status as a woman and my foreign origin, wouldn't that be a loss of the inclusive spirit of a great nation? I am willing to share what I have learned to help Cangling prosper. Isn't this also a practice of rites?"
Turning to the Minister of Revenue, she said slowly, "I know well that Your Excellency is worried about money and grain. The commercial methods I brought have already shown initial results in Xinyang. If they are implemented, taxes will surely increase, the people will become wealthy, and the national treasury will be full. I will certainly not put Your Excellency in a difficult position."
Facing the Minister of War, she said solemnly, "General, although I am powerless, I understand the preciousness of peace."
“My hometown protects its people and spares no effort to drive away the enemy from thousands of miles away, precisely because it values the strength of every individual. If Cangling has a strong army and prosperous people, what is there to fear from foreign enemies? The agricultural and commercial policies I propose can lay the foundation for military preparedness.”
Facing the censor's questioning, she straightened her back and said, "Your Excellency, the innocent are innocent. My relationship with Lord Cui is merely based on shared ideals and a desire for national prosperity; there is absolutely no personal affection between us. Your Excellency is fair and just; if you examine my actions closely, you will know that what I say is true."
Finally, Shi Wanxia looked around at everyone and said earnestly, "My lords, I am willing to use my sincerity and knowledge to add luster to Cangling. I hope you will no longer be blinded by prejudice and will discuss good strategies for the prosperity of the nation." After speaking, she stood quietly, waiting for everyone to make a decision.
The ministers looked at each other, pondered for a moment, and then began to ask a series of pointed questions.
The Minister of Rites was the first to speak out. He coughed lightly, his expression slightly arrogant: "Hmph, you keep saying that you can help with diplomacy, but you are just a woman who has never been involved in our country's foreign affairs. How would you know the depth and benefits of our country's interactions with other countries?"
"Is this just empty talk, all talk and no action?" His words were full of doubt, and he still harbored resentment towards women's involvement in politics and their interference in the affairs of the Ministry of Rites.
The Minister of Revenue stroked his beard, speaking with deep concern: "While your proposed commercial methods have achieved some success in Xinyang, there are many uncertainties if they are implemented nationwide. Furthermore, what effective strategies do you have to address the issues of market regulation and the rampant profiteering among merchants?"
"We can't just focus on making money and ignore the hidden dangers, plunging the Chinese economy into chaos." Clearly, he was worried that the new policies would trigger an uncontrollable business crisis, jeopardizing the foundation of the national treasury.
The Minister of War frowned deeply and spoke in a booming voice: "If your agricultural and commercial policies are to be implemented, the allocation of manpower and resources will be enormous. Will this affect the preparation of our army's military supplies? The situation on the border is delicate at the moment. If we miss the opportunity to fight, can you bear the responsibility?"
His concerns about military logistical support prevented him from easily making a decision.
The Imperial Censor, with his piercing gaze, stared intently at Shi Wanxia and loudly questioned, "Your origins are unknown, yet you are here spouting such lofty pronouncements. Even if Cui Zhihao vouches for you, who can know your true purpose?"
"If there are foreign powers manipulating things behind the scenes, trying to disrupt our dynasty, how would you explain that?" He was determined to uncover any possible "conspiracy" and safeguard the stability of the court.
Several young officials joined in the commotion, one of them shouting, "You say you're willing to add luster to Cangling, but if these measures don't work out, are you prepared to bear the consequences? You can't just walk away and leave us with a mess to clean up!"
His words were full of resistance to unknown risks and resentment at being implicated.
Shi Wanxia slightly raised her chin, her eyes firm and composed, and spoke calmly and unhurriedly.
Looking at the Minister of Rites, she bowed gracefully and replied, "Your Excellency, although I am a woman and do not directly handle foreign affairs, I have traveled to many places and have a wealth of knowledge. I know the customs, etiquette, and interests of many countries, which can help you plan ahead."
"Moreover, women are meticulous and insightful, and may have unique skills in observing people's expressions and dealing with situations. They can make up for shortcomings in foreign affairs and make interactions smoother. This is by no means just theoretical."
Facing the Minister of Revenue, she said sincerely, “Your Excellency’s concerns are very valid. There are indeed uncertainties in promoting commerce nationwide. As for market supervision, I have detailed regulations, from guild self-discipline to government supervision, to curb chaos through a two-pronged approach. As for merchants’ pursuit of profit, we will regulate through taxation and guide through credit rating to ensure market order. In this way, we can both increase revenue and stabilize the economy, and never allow hidden dangers to arise.”
When responding to the Minister of War, she stood tall and spoke with conviction: "General, the development of agriculture and commerce can complement military preparations. Boosting agriculture and production will ensure sufficient food supplies and stabilize the morale of the army; thriving commerce will increase tax revenue and provide ample funds for military needs."
"Put manpower into priority for the border regions; coordinate material resources and plan for future military supplies. This is for the long-term benefit of Cangling, and will not only not miss the opportunity to fight, but will also enhance our combat strength."
Looking directly into the scrutiny of the Censor-in-Chief, her gaze was frank: "Your Excellency, I came to Cangling alone, and was kindly taken in by His Majesty and all of you. Lord Cui spoke out for justice, simply because he cared about the fate of the nation. All my words and plans were for the benefit of Cangling, and I had no other intentions. If there is any wrongdoing, I am willing to accept severe punishment, and Heaven and Earth can bear witness."
Finally, she turned to the young officials who were egging her on, a smile playing on her lips, neither humble nor arrogant: "Gentlemen of talent, since I have offered my suggestions, I will follow up on them throughout the process. If the results are not satisfactory, I will summarize and review them, and do my best to remedy the situation. I will not shirk responsibility, and I will stand with Cang Ling through thick and thin. I hope you will all wait and see."
The ministers reacted with varying expressions and attitudes upon hearing Shi Wanxia's response.
The Minister of Rites blushed and paled in turns. Although he was still somewhat unwilling, he had to admit that there was some truth to what she said.
His tone softened slightly: "Hmph, although it sounds reasonable, there will be many difficulties in its implementation... However, we can discuss it later."
The hand stroking his beard no longer moved with the same rigidity as before, clearly indicating that his attitude had softened.