PNB Chapter 443 Another fight broke out in the imperial court!
Chapter 443 Another fight broke out in the imperial court!
Dou Zhan resumed power and issued an edict:
No marriage alliances, no tributes, no ceding of territory, no reparations; the emperor guards the nation's gates, the monarch dies for the state.
Empress Li Yu issued an imperial edict:
In my Great Yue Dynasty, one can serve as an official in court or fight on the battlefield.
Women could wear phoenix coronet and embroidered robes when they got married, and men could wear the robes of a ninth-rank official when they came to marry them. They were one rank higher than the official they met, and they were exempt from kneeling and bowing on the wedding day.
Furthermore, the husband is subordinate to the wife, and if the husband is not legitimate, the wife can remarry.
If they really can't make ends meet, the government can take over and arrange a divorce.
Men's pleasures are unrelated, but women can be introduced to potential husbands by the government until they find a satisfactory one.
Once the order was given, the local customs immediately became more open and aggressive!
There are quite a few men who have affairs and are chased and beaten in the street by their wives, who scratch their heads and slap their faces.
"What a careless remark from the tortoise! Madam's toes are like shooting stars!! Well done!"
The old owner of the tea stall was laughing so hard he bent over, slapping the table and shouting, "Stir up the fire!"
The woman who used to suffer injustice and could only swallow her anger has now stood tall.
If any man dared to misbehave, he would be immediately dragged to the clan elders for a discussion.
If all else fails, they go to the county government office. The officials there are used to it and patiently mediate.
If mediation fails, they will impartially grant a divorce, and they have indeed helped countless helpless women find good husbands and become soldiers' wives!
"Your Majesty, now that the country is peaceful and prosperous, and the weather is favorable, it is time to start preparing the nursing homes in each prefecture."
Gao Mengli stood tall in the main hall, dressed in court attire, her voice clear and resonant: "In recent years, new regulations on divorce have been implemented, giving women a secure livelihood and soldiers no worries about their families while guarding the border."
This year, with granaries full and government coffers overflowing, it is the perfect opportunity to build a nursing home.
Taking in the orphaned, elderly, and disabled soldiers not only reassures the people but also demonstrates the benevolent rule of our dynasty.
These words came from Gao Mengli's mouth, but they were what Dou Zhan was thinking.
Soldiers guarding the border are there for a lifetime.
If they cannot return in their old age and have to struggle for a living, wouldn't that chill the hearts of countless soldiers?
If you have worries about what to do next, who would willingly go to the battlefield to kill the enemy?
Just as Dou Zhan was about to agree, the newly crowned third-ranked scholar stepped forward.
He wore a blue robe and had an arrogant expression. He raised his voice and said, "Your Majesty, I think Marquis Gao is mistaken. His words are somewhat short-sighted, like those of a woman!"
"Wow!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the entire hall erupted in uproar.
The third-ranking scholar, Na She, remained unmoved and continued, "It is the duty of soldiers to guard the border. Those who eat the emperor's food should be loyal to the emperor and do their utmost."
If one relies on the imperial court for everything, and even in old age demands grain from the national treasury to build a nursing home, wouldn't that foster a lazy and indolent mindset?
He glanced at Gao Mengli, his tone laced with sarcasm: "Lord Gao only cares about the livelihood of his soldiers in their old age, but he doesn't think about how the national treasury needs to support and train soldiers, and provide disaster relief and assistance to the people."
Building this nursing home cost a fortune and only adds to the burden!
Besides, women who have lived in the inner quarters for so long, what do they know about the iron will and loyalty of soldiers on the frontier?
Our soldiers are loyal and brave in serving their country; how could they hesitate to fight because of their livelihood? Lord Gao, you underestimate the spirit of our men!
Upon hearing this, Dou Zhan's face darkened.
Those damned descendants of the Na family—if it weren't for the fact that their family controls one-fifth of the dynasty's resources, I would have chopped their heads off right now.
Several officials stepped forward from the right side of the court, all of whom were relatives, protégés, and former subordinates of the Na family.
The Vice Minister of Revenue bowed first: "Your Majesty, I believe that the third-ranked scholar's words are reasonable!"
“It is the duty of soldiers to be loyal to the emperor. The nursing home is very expensive and may deplete the treasury and harm the foundation of the country. Lord Gao’s move is somewhat ill-considered.”
Immediately afterwards, the official in charge of the Ministry of Rites also seconded the motion: "Women should be in charge of the household and manage the family affairs. Although Lord Gao is an outstanding woman."
However, the military and political affairs on the frontier are ultimately beyond the comprehension of women confined to their homes. If excessive leniency is shown, it might dampen the morale of the soldiers, which would be counterproductive.
Furthermore, a local official who had just been transferred back to Lingsi Prefecture, relying on the support of the Na family, spoke even more arrogantly: "That third-ranked scholar is absolutely right. The men of our dynasty are iron-blooded. How could they be afraid of war for the sake of what will happen after their deaths?"
Building nursing homes would only be a waste of money; it would be far more practical to use all the grain and silver for military pay!
As soon as these people spoke, the court was immediately divided into two factions.
The chubby girl bared her teeth in anger and drew her sword from her waist with a clang!
"Oh dear, General Hua, His Majesty allows you to carry a sword to court, but you cannot display your weapon in the main hall!"
What, you want to kill this old man?
The chubby girl, Hua Mengxi (who took her father's surname after the missing-toothed man), glared angrily, pointed her sword directly at the Vice Minister of Revenue, and roared: "You old fool, it's easy for you to talk when you're not the one suffering!"
"Military pay must be replenished, but the soldiers' future must be taken care of!"
While our soldiers fight and freeze on the front lines, you're busy scheming for provisions in the court. Why don't you mention that the ill-gotten gains of that clan are enough to build ten nursing homes?
The chubby girl's sword swept across the minister's robe, startling him so much that he retreated repeatedly, shouting in a fierce but cowardly tone, "Insolence! Using weapons in the imperial court is a grave disrespect!"
Dou Zhan frowned and shouted, "Hua Mengxi, sheath your sword!"
"Humph!"
The chubby girl gave Dou Zhan a vicious snort and shoved her sword back into its sheath with a clang.
Swords and knives are prohibited, but fists and kicks shouldn't be subject to any regulations, right?
She gave Qian Yan'er a wink, and the two of them rubbed their hands together, then seized the Vice Minister of Revenue and started a physical fight!
As soon as Zhou Miao saw the fat girl take the lead, he gave Zhang Zhi and Jiang Bei a wink, then pressed Na She down and quickly pinned him to the gold brick floor, reaching out to strike his vitals!
The imperial court was instantly thrown into chaos.
The disciples of the Na family cried out and tried to step forward to break up the fight, but were blocked by several military officers with their arms outstretched, each with fierce eyes, and none of them dared to approach.
The historian, Qin Shen, was all smiles as he read this. He quickly dipped his brush in ink and began to write fluently and elegantly on the history book.
In the winter of the 235th year of the Yue Dynasty, the court discussed building a nursing home, but the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue opposed it, denouncing it as a waste of money.
The newly appointed third-ranked scholar, Na She, seconded the motion, mocking Marquis Gao Mengli for her short-sightedness.
Before he could finish speaking, General Hua Mengxi was enraged. He drew his sword but then sheathed it, thinking to himself that while swords and knives were forbidden, fists and feet were unimpeded. So he and Qian Yan'er grabbed the Vice Minister and began to fight hand-to-hand.
Seeing this, Zhou Miao gestured to Zhang Zhi and Jiang Bei, and the three of them went up together to press the amnesty.
Pressing down on the gold brick ground, the attack went straight for the vital points, and the third-ranked scholar cried out in pain, losing all his dignity.
The disciples of the Na family tried to help, but were blocked by a military general with his arm across their shoulders. His eyes were fierce, and no one dared to approach.
The court was in an uproar. Robes fluttered, shouts, pleas for mercy, and calls to mediate were all mixed together, and the golden brick floor thudded, making it sound like a martial arts drill.
Emperor Dou Zhan sat upright on the dragon throne, smiling and observing silently without uttering a word. When the guards tried to step forward, the emperor stopped them with his eyes.
The Minister of Revenue was so anxious that he jumped up and down, stamping his feet and shouting, "Manners! Manners!", but no one paid any attention.
Gao Hou Mengli stood in the hall, smiling but silent, observing from the sidelines.
Soon after, the Vice Minister begged for mercy, and Na She relented, at which point General Hua and the others stopped.
Lin Xi glanced at the group of scholars, whose faces were bruised and swollen, and burst out laughing.
But it was too inappropriate for him to hold back, making it too difficult for him.
Gao Mengli gently patted his arm and whispered, "Xixi, go upstairs, or we'll be late for the opening!"
She's the one who caused the mess, and it's not appropriate for her to back down now.
Lin Xi immediately nodded and bowed to the high-ranking official: "Your Majesty, if there is nothing else, we will take our leave!"
They're very busy; the restaurants and eateries in Ling'an Prefecture are opening today.
Damn it, nobody told them they had to get up at four in the morning for court.
For the past six months, I have worked diligently every day, rain or shine, only to find that my annual salary is only six hundred taels of silver.
If it weren't for Dou Zhan promoting him and Meng Li to the rank of Marquis after the situation stabilized, he would have fired Dou Zhan long ago.
Lin Xi couldn't help but cast a sympathetic glance at Dou Zhan.
Emperors died young because they didn't sleep enough and were overworked to death!
Dou Zhan is diligent and hardworking, but he doesn't seem like he'll live a long life!