AWB Chapter 176 Chunyu Yue: Damn it! When have I ever been insulted like this!
Chapter 176 Chunyu Yue: Damn it! When have I ever been insulted like this!
humiliation!
Disdain!
Chunyu Yue's face instantly turned a deep liver color, and his whole body began to tremble violently!
He dedicated his life to passing on Confucianism and considered himself a disciple of the sage!
Today, however, it was done by an unknown nobody!
He publicly criticized someone for not even having read all the Confucian classics!
Hey!
When have I ever been insulted like this!
A surge of blood rushed to Chunyu Yue's head!
He suddenly raised his hand, pointing at Zhang Fan, his eyes bloodshot, his lips trembling, but he couldn't utter a complete sound.
"You...you...you...you..."
finally.
Chunyu Yue rolled his eyes and, with a muffled groan, fell straight backward!
"Thump!"
This Confucian scholar fainted from anger in front of tens of thousands of people!
This scene was completely unexpected!
All the civil officials were stunned, their faces turning pale with shock.
Chunyu Yue!
You are a representative of Confucianism!
How could he... just like that... collapse?
Unlike the civil officials who were utterly horrified, the military officers were in a completely different situation.
After a brief moment of surprise, everyone burst into laughter!
"Hahaha! What a sharp tongue!"
"They give up just because they can't win an argument? These pedantic scholars have no backbone!"
Rough laughter rose and fell!
Seeing these civil officials humiliated made them feel even more pleased than if they had won a battle!
The scholars and common people below the stage cheered and cursed when they saw Chunyu Yue fall!
"Good riddance! That old stubborn man deserved it!"
"They deserve to obstruct our future!"
"The Immortal Master is mighty! He was rendered speechless and died on the spot!"
In the simple values of ordinary people, fainting when they can't reason with someone is ironclad proof of their insecurity and failure.
If Chunyu Yue were still conscious at this moment, hearing all the curses in the room, he probably wouldn't just faint from anger!
Instead, they'd be so angry they'd die on the spot!
The reputation he built up over his entire life!
At this moment, it completely collapsed among the people!
Several nearby officials rushed over in a flurry, pinching his philtrum and patting his back!
The scene was quite chaotic at one point.
The remaining civil officials were leaderless, and their faces were all grim!
They instinctively turned their gaze to Li Si.
"Lord Li Si! Please speak!"
An official nudged Li Si, "We can't let that brat get any more arrogant!"
Li Si frowned almost imperceptibly!
Turning to the side, with impeccable politeness, I gently pushed the person's hand away.
He then resumed his placid expression, as if he were completely detached from the situation.
A bunch of idiots!
Still don't understand?
His Majesty is clearly on Zhang Fan's side. If I go up now, wouldn't I be courting death?
Furthermore, what do the interests of you powerful families have to do with me, Li Si?
I didn't climb up here because of my family's influence!
In the midst of this awkward silence, a middle-aged official stepped forward from the crowd.
This man is none other than the Junior Minister of the Imperial Household—Zong Yu!
In charge of the royal family's private finances and handicraft manufacturing!
Equivalent to a head butler, holding an extraordinary position!
Zong first bowed deeply to Ying Zheng before turning to the crowd.
He said in a loud voice:
"Your Majesty, Dr. Chunyu is advanced in years and suffered a sudden attack of qi and blood. Please forgive him!"
"However, what the immortal master just said was indeed a wake-up call, and it promptly enlightened us."
His words not only gave Chunyu Yue a way out, but also cleverly acknowledged that Zhang Fan's words made sense.
It doesn't seem so stubborn!
Then, he changed the subject:
"However, what the Immortal Master said is the Great Dao!"
"But since we use the method of recommendation, not all those we recommend are entirely useless!"
"For an official, while classical texts and policy discussions are important, the ability to 'govern the country' is fundamental!"
"Empty talk harms the country, while hard work builds it!"
He bowed and said:
"Your subject here wishes to recommend one person!"
"This man is my nephew, Tan Feng!"
"He possesses both virtue and talent, and is renowned for his filial piety and integrity. He is also quite knowledgeable in agriculture, water conservancy, and divination!"
"In my opinion, the second round should be a battle of wits!"
"How about we have a competition on the topic of 'governing a country'?"
What a brilliant plan!
This preserved their dignity while creating opportunities for their own people!
On the high platform.
"Ahem!"
Ying Zheng quickly suppressed the smile on his lips.
He glanced at Zong Yu and uttered a single word indifferently:
"allow!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a young man dressed in a scholar's robe walked out from behind Zong Yu and stepped onto the high platform.
This person was none other than Tan Feng.
He was handsome and had a refined and gentle demeanor. After taking the stage, he first bowed deeply to Ying Zheng!
He then nodded slightly to Zhang Fan, displaying great poise.
However, the moment he looked up at Zhang Fan...
Deep within those gentle eyes, however, flashed a hint of coldness and greed.
Wu Liang, the Prefect of Grain Supply, is dead!
That lucrative post of the nation's granary was thus opened up!
Today is the best chance to achieve instant success!
As long as you step on this so-called immortal master to rise to power!
That spot is mine!
Thinking of this!
Tan Feng's heart was filled with a mixture of murderous intent and desire, but his face still wore that gentle smile of a gentleman.
On the high platform.
Ying Zheng swept his gaze across the entire room, finally settling on Li Si, the Minister of Justice.
He spoke slowly.
"The debate just now was about the fundamental principles of selecting officials!"
"This debate is about how officials should be used!"
"In that case, let Li Si set the questions to ensure fairness!"
Upon hearing this, Li Si's old face immediately darkened!
He cursed Zong Yu, that old fox, in his heart for putting him in such a predicament.
His Majesty has entrusted him with setting the questions; if the questions are too easy, it would be disrespectful to the monarch.
Favoring either side will inevitably draw criticism!
He dared not delay and immediately stepped forward and bowed:
"My lord, I obey your order."
Li Si stood with his head bowed, his mind racing.
He had to find a problem that could test his true abilities, leave the court speechless, and also address His Majesty's deepest concerns.
A moment later.
His eyes suddenly lit up, and he slowly raised his head, his voice steady and clear.
"Your Majesty, I have a question!"
"The heartland of my Great Qin—the Guanzhong Plain, the eight hundred li of Qin land, is a land of plenty, but the Wei River is unpredictable, and there have been many floods year after year."
"The construction of flood control dikes has consumed countless amounts of money, grain, and manpower, resulting in consecutive years of deficits in the national treasury!"
"However, the war in the north has not ended, and the Xiongnu have repeatedly invaded the borders, resulting in enormous military expenditures!"
He paused, then continued.
"The imperial court attempted to raise funds and levy grain from local gentry to fund the dike construction, but repeatedly failed, achieving little success!"
"Gentlemen, what should we do in this situation?"
These words immediately sparked a flurry of discussion among the people below the stage!
"Yes, there was a major flood in my area two years ago; the fields were all submerged!"
"Repairing the dike is a matter of life and death; it cannot be delayed!"
"But the imperial court has no money either, what can we do?"
The officials were even more alarmed!
They immediately recognized the voice as the urgent report that had been sent a few days earlier!
The officials were all at a loss!
How could Zhang Fan, that greenhorn, possibly answer that?