EBE Chapter 141 A Battle of Wits, Neither Will Give an Edge
Chapter 141 A Battle of Wits, Neither Will Give an Edge
"In my opinion, we should hold back for now and wait for Wuming to come up with a new story. Once he does, we can send people to observe the content of the new storybook and report it to the court in a timely manner. There might be some unexpected good news. However, we should also send people to protect Zhiyu Bookstore and Wuming properly afterward."
Zhao Taifu's words were agreed upon by the Prime Minister and others.
"Grand Tutor Zhao is right."
But their agreement was useless; ultimately, it depended on the emperor's decision.
At that moment, the emperor was sitting on the dragon throne, pondering their words.
"Your Majesty, why go through all this trouble?" The Grand Tutor did not want to miss this opportunity, so he tried his best to persuade the Emperor to agree to his idea.
"If what the Grand Tutor says is true, some people in Bianjing have already read this story, and they can naturally see how white sugar is made. You can stop one person, but can you stop a group of people?"
"What's so difficult about that? We just need to bring Wuming under the control of the court, and then send people to take his books back from the people."
"Does the Grand Tutor mean to destroy all these sold storybooks?" Grand Tutor Zhao sneered.
At this moment, Grand Tutor Zhao and Grand Preceptor Zhao were arguing fiercely in the main hall. No one dared to go forward to disturb them. They could only watch as the two of them engaged in a heated debate, neither willing to give in.
These ministers, fearing that the war would spread to them, kept their distance.
"Why not?" The Grand Tutor, displeased by Zhao Taifu's cold snort, continued to argue.
As soon as the Grand Tutor finished speaking, the Crown Prince, who was sitting in his chair, frowned upon hearing what he said, but he remained silent.
"Please don't argue, both of you. This matter still needs to be discussed. The most important thing right now is to discuss a solution to the white sugar issue."
At this moment, the Prime Minister stepped forward and separated the two.
I couldn't help but wipe a bead of sweat from my brow.
These two are quite old, yet they're still so robust, and when they start cursing, they're incredibly ruthless.
These two often argued in court, each time until they were red in the face, and the other ministers naturally dared not step forward to stop them.
The emperor would not try to persuade them, but would quietly watch them argue, only speaking up when the argument went on for too long and the emperor could no longer bear it.
However, I didn't expect the Prime Minister to step forward and dissuade me at this time.
The Prime Minister stepped forward and said these words. The Grand Tutor and Grand Preceptor Zhao snorted coldly at each other and turned their heads away from each other.
Seeing that the argument had subsided, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
"The Prime Minister is right. I came here today to discuss the matter of refined sugar with you, not to have you argue in the Imperial Study!" The Emperor slammed his hand on the dragon throne and angrily addressed the ministers below.
The ministers were so frightened by the emperor's outburst that they all knelt down, and even Eunuch Fude, who was standing to the side, quickly knelt down as well.
"Your Majesty, please calm down!" Everyone said in unison, their voices echoing throughout the entire Imperial Study.
The ministers below all knelt on the ground, while the emperor's majestic gaze swept across every corner of the court.
An eerie silence fell over the imperial study at that moment.
At this moment, the emperor spoke up, "The matter of refined sugar cannot be delayed, and normally the sugar is managed by the Salt and Iron Department of the Three Offices, Lance!"
The emperor changed the subject and looked at the young man kneeling and bowing beside him.
"The minister is here."
"I remember you haven't taken office yet?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"I hereby appoint you to the Ministry of Salt and Iron as the Deputy Salt and Iron Commissioner, a fifth-rank official, to assist the Salt and Iron Commissioner in the production of refined sugar. Also, I hereby appoint white sugar as the official sugar, which must not be sold privately. Anyone who sells private sugar will be severely punished!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty, I accept the decree!" Lan Sinian kowtowed to the emperor in gratitude.
The officials below him had different expressions, but all of them stared intently at Lance, like prey.
Throughout history, newly appointed top scholars in the imperial examinations would typically begin their careers in the Hanlin Academy, primarily as compilers, holding the rank of sixth grade.
Unexpectedly, this newly appointed top scholar has won the emperor's favor. He has been appointed as the deputy salt and iron commissioner of the Ministry of Salt and Iron, a position with limitless potential.
Some officials stared at his back like wolves, thinking that they might have a woman of suitable age in their own homes. If they could marry their daughters to him, it might be a good deal.
These ministers did not reveal their true intentions openly, but as colleagues serving in the same court, they naturally understood each other's thoughts.
Lance Nian seemed oblivious to the gaze that was about to pierce through his back, and stood up calmly.
Everyone was very envious, because Lance's job was a very good job!
However, the Prime Minister seemed to be overthinking things. "Your Majesty still needs to discuss this matter carefully. The allocation of white sugar must be done properly."
The emperor did not refute, "This is also the reason why I summoned you all here so late at night, to properly handle the matter of Shantou white sugar. This matter cannot be taken lightly."
He could already foresee the future, the scenario of Jinchao improving society through refined sugar.
Inside the Imperial Study, after a night of discussion, everyone finally came up with a concrete plan for implementation.
The next day, everyone knew that officials of the third rank or above had entered the palace late the previous night to discuss important matters with the emperor.
They were simply very curious about what they were talking about that had alarmed all officials of the third rank and above.
Although the prime minister and others had stayed up all night without sleeping, they went straight to court the next day without returning to their residences.
But that couldn't dampen their burning, passionate spirits.
Officials who were not in the Imperial Study that night, seeing the Prime Minister and Grand Tutor with dark circles under their eyes but full of energy and in a very good mood, were not only surprised but also curious about what had happened the night before.
The minor officials exchanged glances, seeing the longing in each other's eyes.
Why would the emperor summon a third-rank official in the dead of night? Please tell me!
They didn't have much doubt for long; soon after the court session, they learned what it was about.
Not long after the emperor went to court, he spoke of the decisions he had made the previous night in the imperial study with the prime minister and others.
These words shocked all the civil and military officials.
However, the ministers' focus was on "refined sugar".
"It's refined sugar?! Our Jin Kingdom can make refined sugar now?!"
"His Majesty said this refined sugar is even better than that from Fulin Kingdom?!"
"When will mass production begin? When it comes out, I'll buy an ounce of refined sugar to try, no matter how expensive it is."
"Come on, how much silver do you have to buy that? It would take me half a year's salary to buy just one tael of refined sugar from Fulin Kingdom!"
"It must have been inspired by that storybook! Who acted so quickly! Oh, it's actually the newly appointed top scholar who hasn't even taken office yet! No wonder I saw a new face outside the main hall of the court assembly today. I wondered who it was!"
"What? The newly appointed top scholar is now a fifth-rank official, currently serving as the Deputy Salt and Iron Commissioner!" A certain poor official, who had been lamenting this, had achieved nothing in the past five years and remained a sixth-rank official!
"He's really young and promising!"
Some people are so angry they're grinding their teeth, and so regretful they're practically green with envy.
"Oh dear! I've read that storybook before. If I had known, I would have studied it too. Maybe I would have been promoted by now!"