AWB Chapter 173 is unseemly! It's unseemly indeed!
Chapter 173 is unseemly! It's unseemly indeed!
Faced with kneeling officials in opposition!
Zhang Fan showed no fear; instead, a cold smile appeared on his face.
He ignored the clamoring Xun Gui and instead focused his attention on Chunyu Yue, who was in charge.
He spoke loudly, his voice drowning out the noise:
"Lord Chunyu, you say that those selected through the recommendation system are virtuous and capable individuals who understand etiquette and righteousness?"
He pointed sharply at the two headless corpses still bleeding below the platform, his voice turning stern!
"Then please tell me about Wu Liang, the Prefect of Grain Supply who was just executed by His Majesty himself!"
"And that Minister of Personnel, Luo Lang—aren't they all 'talented individuals' you've nominated?"
"Which of them isn't a scion of a prestigious family?"
"Their 'moral character' is to disregard human life and traffic people!"
"Their 'family tradition' is nothing but thievery and prostitution, exploiting and oppressing the people!"
"Is this the very system of recommendation you're so proud of, the pillars of the Qin state you've chosen for us?!"
Zhang Fan's question left all the opponents speechless.
Chunyu Yue's face flushed instantly upon facing the reality before him.
He was speechless for a moment, and could only point at Zhang Fan with a trembling finger.
He forcefully defended himself, saying:
"This...this is an isolated case! It's their moral failings that have tarnished the family's reputation!"
"How can we negate the entire election system because of this!"
"An isolated case?"
Zhang Fan sneered.
"Wu Liang is an isolated case, and Luo Lang is also an isolated case!"
"Were all the officials involved in this matter, as shown on the screen just now, at the 'Good Children's Hall' in Shangdang County, also isolated cases?"
"Lord Chunyu, you've listed far too many 'exceptional cases'!"
He changed the subject, no longer arguing with Chunyu Yue, but instead looked at another person in the line of officials.
"You gentlemen all say that those from humble backgrounds lack understanding of the bigger picture and are incapable of governing a country!"
"Then I would like to ask a question!"
Zhang Fan's voice carried clearly throughout the entire venue.
"My Prime Minister Li Si of the Great Qin Dynasty was originally a commoner from Shangcai in the State of Chu!"
"Starting from a lowly official position, do you, esteemed officials, consider Prime Minister Li to be nothing more than an ignorant country bumpkin?"
These words shocked everyone present!
Li Si, who was trying to make himself less noticeable among the officials, was greatly alarmed and cried out in distress.
How did you drag me into this again?
He instinctively wanted to back away!
But when he looked up, he met Ying Zheng's warning gaze, which was directed at the dragon throne.
Li Si was instantly jolted, his scalp tingling.
He immediately understood that he had to make a statement on the spot.
After weighing the pros and cons, Li Si quickly straightened his clothes and stepped out of the queue.
He first bowed to Ying Zheng, then turned to the officials and spoke in a steady voice:
"You flatter me, Lord Zhang!"
"His humble origins are common knowledge!"
"Without His Majesty's exceptional promotion, how could Li Si be where he is today?"
"Your Majesty's wisdom lies precisely in accepting talented individuals from all over the world, regardless of their background!"
"Why should a hero's origins be questioned?"
These words were very well-considered, affirming Ying Zheng while also expressing support for the principle of "appointing only the talented."
At the same time, it avoided direct confrontation with the entire aristocratic class.
But his words were enough.
Even the current prime minister personally agreed that "heroes are not judged by their origins."
This rendered Chunyu Yue and others' theories of "bloodline" and "family tradition" instantly pale and powerless.
Chunyu Yue's face turned pale and then red after being rebuked by Li Si's words!
Knowing he couldn't win the argument, he decided to attack Zhang Fan directly!
"What a glib-tongued brat!"
Chunyu Yue pointed at Zhang Fan's nose and shouted sternly,
"No matter how eloquent you are, it doesn't change the fact that you have an unknown background and your behavior is vulgar!"
"You come from neither a distinguished family nor have any formal training; your words are full of fallacies and heresies, and you have absolutely no virtue whatsoever!"
"A madman who doesn't even understand the classics of poetry, history, rites, and change!"
"How dare you presume to discuss national policy here? It's utterly ridiculous!"
Chunyu Yue's personal attack was immediately echoed by all the opposition officials.
"That's right! What does a mere sorcerer know about governing a country!"
"You don't even understand basic etiquette, yet you expect the whole world to learn from you?"
"It's nothing more than relying on some illusion magic to attract attention!"
They found a new direction for their attack, no longer focusing on the system itself, but instead mocking and belittling Zhang Fan's personal abilities and knowledge.
In an instant, the entire square was filled with mockery and disdain for Zhang Fan.
However, Zhang Fan did not get angry in the face of these attacks, but instead laughed.
A slow, gentle smile curved the corners of his lips.
This is exactly what I've been waiting for!
It's finally here!
"Oh?"
Zhang Fan spoke, his voice not loud, but carrying a sense of composure.
"In your opinion, esteemed gentlemen, I, Zhang Fan, am nothing more than an ignorant and incompetent swindler who only knows how to talk big?"
"Exactly!" Chunyu Yue said, raising his head.
"it is good."
Zhang Fan nodded, his smile widening.
"If that's the case, then just talking without doing anything will indeed be hard to convince people."
Instead of immediately issuing a challenge, he turned to the eunuch beside him and said loudly:
"My lords, you must be tired after kneeling for so long!"
"Guards, please offer seats to these esteemed guests!"
This sudden action stunned everyone.
Should seats be offered to the officials?
What is his identity?
His Majesty hasn't even sat down yet!
But before everyone could react, something even more astonishing happened.
Ying Zheng actually nodded slightly, signaling the eunuch to do as he was told!
quickly!
Dozens of mats were brought up and placed in front of the officials.
The kneeling officials looked at each other, unsure whether to sit or not, creating an extremely awkward situation.
Finally, led by Chunyu Yue, everyone took their seats!
Zhang Fan looked at them, and the smile on his face became meaningful.
He slowly walked up to the group of officials.
Then, he slowly and deliberately said, word by word:
What I wanted to say was!
He paused, his gaze sweeping from Chunyu Yue across the faces of every civil official.
Calmly said,
"I mean, everyone here... is trash!"
"..."
"..."
The entire venue was deathly silent.
Time seemed to freeze at that moment.
Whether it was the officials on the stage, the common people below, or even Ying Zheng standing there, they all thought they had misheard.
Those words, so lightly yet so clearly, entered everyone's ears.
The deathly silence lasted only a moment.
The next moment, it was a volcanic eruption of completely out-of-control rage!
Holy crap!!!
I wonder which official, who usually pays attention to his demeanor, blurted out such a vulgar and obscene word!
These words were like igniting a powder keg!
"You brat! How dare you insult me!!"
"That's uncivilized! Who do you think you are!"
"Kill him! Your Majesty! Please kill this madman immediately!"
This is utterly disgraceful!
Absolutely no manners!
These officials, who are usually aloof and pampered, have completely broken down at this moment!
They were so angry they were trembling, their faces turning a deep purple!
He pointed at Zhang Fan's nose and started cursing, spewing all sorts of vulgarities. He was no longer the image of a high-ranking official!
They're a bunch of scoundrels who've had their tails stepped on!
Only the historian in the corner had a green glint in his eyes, and his carving knife left afterimages as he swung it!