N-A-A Chapter 946 Wu She’s frank advice!
Chapter 946 Wu She’s frank advice!
"How can they so easily believe that the court has the ability and determination to carry out this long-term plan? Your Majesty has always cared for the people. I believe that the current priority is to ensure that the people are well fed and clothed, and to restore their vitality. Once people's livelihoods are stable, the imperial examinations will be a natural outcome. Rushing now will only lead to half the result with twice the effort, and may even invite criticism from the people that your Majesty is too ambitious and uncaring about the people's efforts."
"Third, there are concerns about external threats and security. The world is still unstable, and powerful enemies abound. Although the Chu army was recently defeated, it still has strength and may have the opportunity to strike back. If Your Majesty opens the imperial examinations now, there's no guarantee that other factions won't send spies to masquerade as students. If these people were to infiltrate key positions at court or even at the local level through the imperial examinations, wouldn't all our future military and political movements be transparent, directly disclosed to the enemy? This would be a breach of confidentiality and carry enormous risks. Furthermore, Your Majesty, please forgive me for being frank. With the current complex interplay of power and the continued influence of local powerful families, can the core of the imperial examinations—fairness and impartiality—be truly guaranteed during their initial launch? How can we ensure that examiners are not solicited? How can we ensure that aristocratic families don't monopolize the quota? If this issue isn't addressed, the prestigious reputation of the imperial examinations could become a breeding ground for corruption, discouraging scholars from around the world."
Wu She spoke eloquently and analyzed the three fatal hidden dangers of regional balance, people's livelihood opportunities, and national security and institutional fairness one by one in front of the hall. His sharp words and profound thoughts directly shocked everyone present.
After Wu She confidently laid out the three hidden concerns that could shake the nation's foundation, a deathly silence descended upon the hall. The air seemed frozen, and only the faint sound of carriages and horses in the distance outside reminded everyone that daily life in the new capital continued. Within, a fierce battle was underway, with the fate of the dynasty at stake. The moment his words fell, before Gao Yao could even recover from his deafening speech or utter a single judgmental word, Wu She stepped forward without hesitation. With a thud, he dropped to his knees, pressing his forehead firmly against the cold gold brick.
This kneeling was heavy and resolute. He knew full well that his words had gone far beyond the bounds of a mere minister's "advice." They were questioning the sovereign's highest decisions, probing the most vulnerable points of a nascent regime, and even subtly touching upon "factional strife," a taboo subject for any monarch. Wu She knew exactly what he had said and the grave consequences it could entail—from dismissal from office and stripping of his title to severe dismemberment and even the involvement of his family. Therefore, without hesitation, he resolutely and humbly prepared to accept any possible punishment. This was no hypocritical performance, but rather a necessary act of submission and procedural affirmation of the imperial authority, after a loyal minister had fulfilled his duties, amidst a vast power imbalance.
Gao Yao, sitting on the throne, gazed deeply at Wu She, who lay prostrate on the ground. His voice was slightly low, and it was impossible to tell whether he was happy or angry. He simply asked calmly, "Wu She, why are you kneeling?"
Wu She didn't raise his head. His voice, muffled but clear through the gold bricks, said, "Your Majesty, Wu She knows that what he said just now was a bit presumptuous and undermined the dignity of His Majesty. Therefore, I kneel down and accept the punishment."
"Oh?" Gao Yao's eyebrows twitched slightly, as if he was more interested. "You know that what you said might be a bit excessive, but you still dare to say it? Could it be... you are really not afraid of death?" The tone of this last question suddenly became heavier, carrying an invisible pressure that enveloped the entire hall, and also made Xiao He, Zhang Liang and others who were watching feel nervous.
Wu She, lying prone on the ground, was filled with turmoil. How could he not fear death? He had a wife, children, and unfinished ambitions at home. But a stronger sense of responsibility drove him.
He took a deep breath, remaining in a kneeling position, but his voice rose slightly, filled with a desperate earnestness: "Your Majesty, please understand! I'm afraid, of course I'm afraid of death. But now that Your Majesty has just officially been crowned king and established your capital in Weiyang Palace, you have the entire world in your sights, and the weight of our nation and our people on your shoulders. This is the crucial moment for our dynasty to establish its eternal foundation. What's needed is a clear understanding and careful preparation. There must be no blind optimism!"
He paused briefly, as if gathering his courage, and then quoted Gao Yao's words: "Your Majesty has repeatedly taught us that those in power should 'prepare for a rainy day', avoid 'blind optimism', and 'think twice before acting'. Your Majesty's wise words, we must all remember them daily! It is precisely because we remember them that I deeply understand that at this moment, although some of my words may sound harsh and even presumptuous, for the long-term stability of the court, in order to live up to Your Majesty's trust, I... have to speak! If we are afraid to speak out, and this policy is forced through with hidden dangers, if it causes a disaster in the future and undermines the foundation of the country, that would be our greatest dereliction of duty and the greatest disloyalty to Your Majesty and the court!"
These words, resoundingly, fully demonstrate the patriotic heart and courage of a loyal minister. He did not defend himself, but instead justified his actions by citing Gao Yao's own philosophy of governance. This was both a brilliant strategic approach and a true expression of his inner thoughts.
Gao Yao's expression remained expressionless as he listened to Wu She's heartfelt statement. He didn't immediately comment on Wu She's remarks. Instead, he slowly shifted his gaze from Wu She to, like a searchlight, the silent Xiao He, Han Xin, Cao Shen, Zhang Liang, and the others. His gaze held a clear questioning tone: "What do you think of the three major risks Wu She raised? Do you see them too but choose to remain silent, or do you think Wu She is just exaggerating?"
Facing Gao Yao's deep, oppressive gaze, Xiao He, Cao Shen, and Zhang Liang, the civil officials skilled in statecraft, all visibly avoided his gaze, some slightly lowering their gazes to their tablets, or subtly shifting their gazes to the side. Even the usually composed Han Xin shifted his stance somewhat uncomfortably. For a moment, no one dared to meet Gao Yao's gaze directly.
Gao Yao was a man of considerable stature, and he naturally understood the complex psychology of Xiao He and the others at that moment. He fully understood that, with the abilities of Xiao He and Zhang Liang, the meticulousness of Cao Shen, and the strategic tactician Han Xin, they couldn't have been unaware of the regional imbalances, inappropriate timing, and security concerns Wu She had pointed out. In some respects, they might even have seen things more deeply than Wu She did. However, the fact that they had chosen to echo or remain silent before Wu She spoke out wasn't a sign of disloyalty to themselves or to the newly born dynasty.