freenovelworld Chapter 987 Even fewer people know that the Marquis of Anguo's true wish was to protect all wom
Chapter 987 Even fewer people know that the Marquis of Anguo's true wish was to protect all wom
"Our ancestors' rule was to make the country prosperous and the people healthy and well!"
Qin Haishan refused to budge an inch, "instead of clinging to a few moldy old books and watching the people suffer poverty and the national treasury become empty!"
"Your Majesty, I humbly request that an official from the Ministry of Revenue be dispatched to Qingyang immediately to audit the accounts!"
"If the data is accurate, Lin Wanzhi should be the most upright official since the founding of our Great Wu! She should be richly rewarded and promoted!"
With the two ministers facing off in court, the atmosphere in the court instantly became tense and confrontational.
The officials began whispering among themselves and quickly took sides.
"Minister Yan is right. Women interfering in politics will ultimately lead to chaos."
"But Minister Qin's words also make sense. Tax revenue in real money is a tangible achievement!"
"This matter is suspicious; there must be a reason behind it. A mere seventh-rank county magistrate could not possibly..."
"Pah, pah, pah! I think the two ministers are exaggerating. It's just a young woman in office, and they've made such a fuss. Sigh... the original two ministers retired to their hometowns, and these two are newly promoted, so they need some political achievements to promote themselves and get His Majesty's attention. That's why they're spouting nonsense..."
Just then, a military officer who had been silent stepped forward; it was General Murong.
"Your Majesty, I may be able to answer the question about how Minister Yan and Magistrate Lin were able to subdue the powerful local magistrates."
All eyes immediately turned to him.
General Murong said slowly, "Previously, Marquis Anguo received a private letter from Su Mingyue of Pingzhou."
The letter mentioned that her classmate Jin Lanlin Wanzhi was in dire straits in Qingyang County and her life was in danger.
"Marquis Anguo has always cherished talent and could not bear to see a talented female scholar's talent go to waste, so he dispatched one of his generals to Qingyang to protect her in secret."
"It was also stated that if any local forces dared to openly defy the imperial decrees, the court could suppress them on their behalf."
As soon as this statement came out, the whole hall was shocked!
Yan Song's face instantly turned extremely ugly.
All his questions were based on the premise that Lin Wanzhi was alone and could not possibly succeed.
Now General Murong has revealed his trump card. It turns out that behind Lin Wanzhi stands the Marquis of Anguo, the most untouchable figure in the entire Great Wu Dynasty!
With a fierce general under the command of Marquis Anguo, let alone the local tyrants, even the garrison of Qingzhou Prefecture would probably have to think twice!
This perfectly explains why Lin Wanzhi was able to implement the new policies with such swift and decisive measures!
The emperor suddenly realized what he meant, and then his face lit up with joy. He clapped his hands and laughed heartily: "Hahaha! Well done! Well done, Marquis of Anguo!"
"What a convenient way to suppress the situation!"
"I knew it! The female champion of our Great Wu is no ordinary person!"
"Minister Yan, do you still think that Lin Wanzhi is incapable of handling these matters?"
Yan Song's face turned from white to green, then from green to purple. He opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a single word.
Bai Lu has already taken action, so what else can I say?
The emperor was in a very good mood. He stood up, paced around the hall, and said with great enthusiasm, "When I overruled all objections and started the women's examination, I wanted to see just how brilliant the talents of women in the world could be!"
"Lin Wanzhi has not disappointed me!"
He looked at his ministers, his voice filled with undeniable authority: "Facts have proven that governing the world depends on talent and determination, not gender!"
"The appointment of women as officials is not a harbinger of disaster, but rather a great supplement to the talent selection process of our Great Wu Dynasty!"
"There is great potential, great potential indeed!"
Regardless of their inner thoughts, all the officials in the court could only bow and agree: "Your Majesty is wise!"
The emperor nodded, his gaze falling once more on General Murong, his tone full of praise and satisfaction: "Minister Bai, with her presence in Pingzhou, has kept the northern barbarians from looking south; she is a pillar of the nation."
"Now, she has the discerning eye to recognize talent and support promising young people, thus creating a capable minister for our Great Wu Dynasty. This is a blessing for the nation!"
"I am very pleased!"
He hesitated for a moment, then said loudly, "Issue my decree!"
All the ministers immediately bowed and stood at attention.
"Firstly, the censor, unafraid of public opinion, conducted on-site investigations, and his loyalty and integrity are commendable. He is rewarded with a thousand taels of gold and promoted one rank to Left Vice Censor-in-Chief!"
"Secondly, Lin Wanzhi, the magistrate of Qingyang County, has achieved outstanding political results and is a model for all officials. The Ministry of Personnel is instructed to discuss his promotion exceptionally, and the specific position will be determined after the Ministry of Revenue completes its review!"
"Furthermore, a golden plaque recognizing him as the most upright official in the land will be bestowed upon him, and an imperial envoy will deliver it to Qingyang to commemorate his achievements!"
"Third,"
The emperor paused, his smile widening, "Marquis Anguo, Bailu, is a man of great character and wisdom, whose contributions to the nation are invaluable, and who shares my burdens."
"A special grant of 200,000 military funds, 1,000 bolts of brocade, and 10 chests of jewels!"
"And convey my imperial edict, telling her that I am very satisfied with the general she sent to Qingyang!"
"Have her continue to look after Lin Wanzhi, so that my female scholar doesn't suffer any injustice!"
"My lord, I obey your order!"
Once the decree is issued, the dust settles.
Pingzhou, winter, is warm like spring.
Inside a huge bronze brazier, silver charcoal was burning brightly.
A huge, meticulously drawn map of Pingzhou on cowhide hung on the wall, covered with dense markings in cinnabar and ink.
In front of the geomantic map, a woman dressed in a silver-white outfit stood by the window.
She wasn't wearing the elaborate court robes of a marquis; her neat and tidy attire made her look even more dashing.
She was tall and slender with broad shoulders and a narrow waist. Her long, jet-black hair was tied up with a single white jade hairpin and hung down to her waist.
Even just a glimpse of his back reveals an aura of profound composure and absolute authority.
She was none other than Bai Lu, the Marquis of Anguo, whom all the officials in the court held in awe.
There was a gentle knock on the study door, and Su Mingyue walked in briskly, carrying a bright yellow imperial edict and a gift list.
Her face was filled with barely suppressed joy and excitement.
"My lord, the imperial decree from the capital has arrived."
Bai Lu slowly turned around.
"Oh? What did His Majesty say?"
The voice was clear and cold, yet it sounded like jade striking each other.
Su Mingyue held the imperial edict high above her head, then lowered it again, and repeated its contents with a smile: "His Majesty greatly appreciates your discerning eye and your ability to select talents for the country, and hereby bestows upon Pingzhou military funds of 200,000, 1,000 bolts of brocade, and 10 boxes of jewels."
"The most important thing is His Majesty's verbal decree..."
She mimicked the tone of the imperial eunuch, with a touch of playfulness: "Tell Marquis Anguo that I am very satisfied with the general she sent to Qingyang!"
"Have her continue to look after Lin Wanzhi, so that my female scholar doesn't suffer any injustice!"
When the word "wronged" was mentioned, Su Mingyue couldn't help but laugh.
With Bai Qi's strength and the powerful banner of Marquis Anguo, in Qingyang County, only others would suffer injustice; how could Lin Wanzhi possibly suffer injustice?
His Majesty's verbal edict, with its bias and tacit approval, carries profound implications.
Su Mingyue said excitedly, "My lord, your move was truly a stroke of genius! I was a little worried when you only asked me to write one letter."
"I never expected that Wanzhi would actually do it!"
"She not only established herself firmly in Qingyang County, but also achieved such remarkable political achievements that she caused a sensation in the imperial court!"
"Now, with His Majesty's golden words, Wanzhi's future is bright!"
She was genuinely happy for her friend.
Lin Wanzhi's success was also due to her recommendation of Bai Lu.
However, there was no joy on Bai Lu's face.
Her expression remained calm and composed, as if the 200,000 military supplies and the emperor's praise were nothing more than a gentle breeze across a lake, unable to stir up even the slightest ripple.
She walked to the table, picked up the teapot, poured herself and Su Mingyue each a cup of hot tea, and said calmly, "Mingyue, do you think this is purely a good thing?"
Su Mingyue was taken aback, and the smile on her face faded slightly: "Does the Marquis mean...?"
Bai Lu picked up her teacup. "You only saw His Majesty's praise, but you also saw the crushing defeat of Yan Song and the other conservatives."
"But have you ever thought that from today onwards, Lin Wanzhi will no longer be that insignificant county magistrate who lives in a remote corner and is ignored by everyone?"
"She became a banner. A banner personally raised by His Majesty to fight against the conservative forces in the court and to prove that women can achieve great things in officialdom."
Su Mingyue was incredibly intelligent and immediately grasped the deeper meaning, her expression gradually becoming serious: "I understand."
"Being a flag may be incredibly prestigious, but it also means... you'll become the primary target of all hostile forces."
"When the wind blows, the flag will be the first to fall!"
"Exactly."
Bai Lu nodded, a hint of approval flashing in her eyes. "She got through the hurdle in the capital city by relying on my reputation and her own talent. But that was just the beginning."
"In the past, her enemies were the landlords and powerful families in Qingyang County, and the short-sighted prefect of Qingzhou."
"Bai Qi alone, with his sword, could wipe out these people."
She then changed the subject, becoming sharp: "But from now on, her enemies will be powerful figures in the court with deep-rooted influence, like Yan Song, and powerful families whose interests are spread throughout Jiangnan and who see the new policies as a monstrous threat."
“These people’s methods are not as simple as just sending a few servants to guard the house.”
"They will trip you up with the most insidious tricks when you can't see them!"
“They might even use excessive praise to push her into a helpless and isolated situation.”
"These are problems that Bai Qi's sword cannot solve."
Listening to Bai Lu's analysis, Su Mingyue felt a chill run down her spine.
She thought her friend had broken free of the predicament and had a bright future ahead, but little did she know that this was just the beginning of a real crisis.
"Then... what should we do?"
Su Mingyue asked anxiously, "Should we... recall General Bai?"
"Or, should we send some more people over?"
"No need."
Bai Lu waved her hand, her tone resolute, "Bai Qi cannot be transferred back."
"His Majesty's decree, ostensibly for care, is in reality for surveillance and protection."
"He was both protecting Lin Wanzhi and declaring to the world that Lin Wanzhi was his person, and that touching her was touching Bai Lu."
"This is the protective shield that Lin Wanzhi needs most right now."
She put down her teacup, walked to the huge geomantic map, and her gaze fell on that small area in Jiangnan.
"As for the rest... we don't need to get involved."
"No need to get involved?"
Su Mingyue was greatly surprised, "But, Lord Marquis, Wanzhi, she..."
How many times does a piece of raw jade need to be meticulously carved and polished before it becomes a timeless masterpiece?
"How many times must a fine sword be tempered in fierce fire and forged through countless hammer blows before it can cut through iron like mud?"
"I lent her the east wind and helped her light the first fire."
"I'll give her a powerful backer, so she'll be spared from the trouble caused by reckless individuals!"
“I have cleared all the obstacles outside the rules for her.”
"The road ahead... haha, this is a road she must walk herself."
"If she can't even get through these, then she's nothing special and not worth my time."
"But what if..."
A faint yet incredibly moving smile finally appeared on Bai Lu's lips. "If she can emerge stronger and more radiant from this storm, rather than be broken, then..."
She didn't finish her sentence, but Su Mingyue already understood completely.
Marquis Anguo was not looking for a disciple who needed protection; she was looking for an ally who could stand shoulder to shoulder with her, and perhaps one day in the future, stand alone on another battlefield.
If a woman wanted to rise in the ranks, especially in ancient times, she had to have special abilities.
The governance of Qingyang was merely the first answer sheet that Lin Wanzhi submitted.
"I understand, my lord."
Su Mingyue took a deep breath. "Mingyue has overthought things. I believe in Wanzhi; she will definitely not let you down."
Bai Lu hummed in agreement.
Su Mingyue accepted the order and left the study, her admiration for the Marquis's foresight growing ever stronger.
As soon as she stepped into the courtyard, she saw a petite figure standing under a hardy plum tree, looking up as if she were carefully counting the flower buds on the bare branches.
She was a little girl who was about nine years old.
She wore an exquisite white fox fur cloak, which covered her completely, leaving only her delicate, beautiful face exposed.
Her eyebrows and eyes were seven or eight parts similar to those of Marquis Bai Lu of Anguo, but she lacked the sharpness of her mother who had been through many battles, and had more of a childlike curiosity and innocence.
Her skin was so fair it was almost transparent, like thin ice in winter that could be broken at the slightest touch. Despite being at such a tender age, her brows held a calmness and scholarly air that belied her age.
It was January.
"Princess Jiyue".
Su Mingyue stepped forward and bowed with a smile.
“Aunt Mingyue.”
Bai Yiyue turned her head, her voice as clear as a nightingale's, "Is Mother looking at that map again?"
"Yes."
Su Mingyue replied softly, "The Marquis always has so many things to worry about."
Bai Yiyue nodded, then sighed like a little adult: "I know, Mother has the world on her mind."
Her gaze returned to the plum branch, and she murmured to herself, "As Mencius said, 'When poor, one should cultivate one's own virtue; when successful, one should benefit all under heaven.' Mother... was that kind of person who benefited all under heaven when successful."
Su Mingyue looked at the girl in front of her, who was so young yet so eloquent and knowledgeable, and felt a surge of affection for her.
The outside world only knows that Marquis Anguo Bailu has made great military achievements and is famous far and wide, but few people know how much effort she has put into her daughter.
Few people know that Marquis Anguo's true wish was to protect all women in the world.