Chapter 1802: Movement from the Confucian Sect! (1/2)
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
Time slowly passed. The first court session of the Great Tang after the rebellion was bound to attract the attention of countless people, and after about one hour, a messenger bird came from the direction of the Imperial Palace and descended into a lush plum forest on the northwestern side of the Imperial Palace.
Sword Ghost received the letter and very quickly came forward to report it, bowing as he spoke.
”Young Master, we've just received word that in today's court session, Wang Chong came forward and submitted a memorial requesting that the Sage Emperor issue a general amnesty pardoning all those who took part in the rebellion excepting the main culprits of the First Prince, Second Prince, and Third Prince. Due to the King of Foreign Lands' earnest pleading, the Sage Emperor agreed, and Prime Minister Li Linfu is preparing the relevant documents. The general amnesty will probably be announced soon!”
The room inside the thatched hall was spacious and bright, clean and simple. Seated in the direct north and south were Master Zhu and Li Junxian, both wearing Confucian robes. Hearing Sword Ghost's report, Li Junxian instantly frowned.
”With things settled, I was already planning to have you submit a memorial to the Sage Emperor requesting a general amnesty, but alas, you don't have enough weight. Moreover, the Sage Emperor has always been an aggressive sovereign, so there is no guarantee that he would listen to you.”
Master Zhu had a straight back and a hearty complexion, seeming not at all like someone more than a hundred years old.
”But I didn't think that the boy from the Wang Clan would react even faster than we did. He's the leader of the militarists and one of the pacifiers of this rebellion. I can tell just from what he's said today that it will be harder and harder for us to suppress him.”
Li Junxian said nothing, but his handsome eyebrows creased even more.
In this coup, Wang Chong had put on a dazzling performance, and while the Sage Emperor had changed a lot, he had still been an unabashed member of the war faction in the past. This was one of the reasons Li Junxian had not gone to court today. Thus, Li Junxian was startled to hear Sword Ghost's report.
The coup was the most sensitive matter of all, particularly as the First Prince had colluded with factions that reached from the capital to the border, including many great clans. At a time like this, anyone who dared to speak up for these people would be considered one of the First Prince's fellow conspirators and be suspected of participating in the rebellion. In all of the Great Tang, Wang Chong was probably the only one who was capable of preventing this matter from getting any worse.
Moreover, Wang Chong had also been the one to save those officials from their imprisonment in Taihe Palace. He was the only one capable of soothing their anger.
”I truly didn't think that, in the end, he would win!”
After a long period of silence, Li Junxian sighed. Wang Chong's chances of winning in the Rebellion of the Three Princes were minuscule, and there had been a greater chance that he and the entire Wang Clan would be turned to dust in the wind. But in the end, he had won.
”We've already missed the best chance. I worry now that the Rebellion of the Three Princes is only the beginning, and they might use this momentum to go on the offensive, expanding the size of the army and the power of the militarists. All of our previous efforts will be for nothing!”
After a few moments of silence, Master Zhu said, ”It's not just a possibility. It is a certainty!
”Our plans succeeded in disbanding three hundred thousand soldiers, dissolving the prefectural armies, and switching out many of the officers in the army. Given that Wang Clan boy's previous style, he's definitely going to use this chance to expand and restore the army. If my guess is right, it will be the turn of the Confucian Sect to go on the defensive.”
The thatched hall was quiet. Even Sword Ghost outside had his brows furrowed, his heart heavy.
”Senior Brother, is there no other way?” Li Junxian said.
”The only path left is to go on the offensive!” Master Zhu softly said, his words instantly catching the attention of Li Junxian and Sword Ghost.
”Senior Brother, what do you mean?” Li Junxian probed.
”In this situation, if we want to avoid all our previous work being undone, we can't let the Sage Emperor favor that Wang Clan boy. While everyone is focused on the Rebellion of the Three Princes, we should go on the offensive and use this chance to solidify the status of the Confucian Sect. This is our last chance!” Master Zhu said.
”Junxian, you should have made progress in the various foreign countries, yes?”
Master Zhu glanced at Li Junxian.
Buzz!
Li Junxian shivered in realization.
”Senior Brother, thank you for your instruction. Junxian understands how to proceed.”
Li Junxian bowed and left the thatched hall.
……
Wang Chong's memorial proved highly effective. A few days later, the Imperial Court formally announced a general amnesty. All the accomplices in the Rebellion of the Three Princes were to be judged lightly and forgiven for their misdeeds. With the Sage Emperor's approval, the Court of Judicial Review, the Imperial Clan Court, and the Bureau of Punishments dropped their investigations.
Under Wang Chong's strenuous efforts, the negative effects of the Rebellion of the Three Princes were slowly minimized. A few days later, as everyone was still discussing the aftermath of the Rebellion of the Three Princes, another matter captured the attention of the capital's residents.
”Stand aside! Stand aside!”
In various parts of the capital, Confucians parted the crowd and posted announcements right next to the posters regarding the Rebellion of the Three Princes.