Jeune Premier ministre, un ermite

Chapitre 115

When Wei Zijun entered the Taiji Hall, the civil and military officials on both sides were already seated in their respective positions. Wei Zijun's seat was the first civil official's seat on the left, right next to the emperor's throne.

Just after dawn, Li Tianqi entered surrounded by a group of eunuchs. When he first saw the man sitting there calmly, a smile appeared on his lips, but when he thought of the decision he had to make today, that smile froze on his lips.

After the assembled officials stood and shouted "Long live the Emperor!", Li Tianqi slowly spoke, "What matters do you, my esteemed ministers, wish to report today?"

"Your Majesty," Wu Qiaoshi stepped forward and said, "Regarding the matter of Prince Feng assaulting a third-rank official of the imperial court in the street, please ask the Ministry of Justice to provide a reply as soon as possible."

Li Tianqi glanced at him. "My dear minister, I have already investigated this matter. It was because the Prince of Feng thought someone was abducting a woman in the street, so he bravely intervened to help. It was only because the Prince of Feng did not recognize him that a small misunderstanding occurred. This matter should not be mentioned again. From now on, you should all respect each other and not fuss over such trivial matters. You should prioritize the greater good of the nation. However, as for you, I don't know how you raised your son. A dignified third-rank official beating a woman in the street is a disgrace to the court. You should give your son more guidance in the future, and make sure he is more careful about his words and actions when traveling."

"Yes, Your Majesty, I am ashamed. I have failed in my duty to raise my son." Wu Qiaoshi retreated dejectedly.

"Your Majesty," Zhang Shi stepped forward, "I have something to report."

"Speak." Li Tianqi glanced at Zhang Shi, his expression unfriendly. Although he was filled with resentment, state affairs could not be delayed.

Zhang Shi reported: "Since the late emperor continued to promote the equal-field system, the phenomenon of wealthy families encroaching on large amounts of land has become more and more common. Originally, it was stipulated that each adult male would receive 100 mu of land, but now each adult male receives less than 30 mu. Especially in some narrow villages, many people have no land and live in poverty. I beg Your Majesty to revise the equal-field system and return fertile land to the people."

Li Tianqi hummed in agreement, his brows furrowed. This matter indeed troubled him. When he first heard of it, he hadn't slept a wink all night, worried about the people's livelihood. However, seizing land from high-ranking officials and wealthy individuals would inevitably anger the local authorities, especially since many court officials held fertile land and would certainly object. Zhang Shi's proposal today was merely an attempt to bring the issue into the open and force everyone to resolve this difficult problem.

Li Tianqi surveyed his ministers, "My esteemed ministers, do you have any methods to ensure that all my people have land and can live in peace and prosperity?"

The crowd remained silent. Minister Wei Xiaozhong said tremblingly, "Your Majesty, you can change the number of mu of land per adult male to 50 mu per adult male, and those landless people will then have land."

Upon hearing this, Li Tianqi laughed in anger, "I'm sorry to have come up with such a method, but it's still better than those who dare not speak out." He then coldly swept his gaze across the assembled officials, "Why are you all mute? Do you all have too much land in your hands?"

Immediately, all the officials knelt down, saying, "We dare not."

Li Tianqi waved his hand in disgust, "Get up, all of you. Kneeling won't solve anything." He turned to Wei Zijun, "King Feng, tell me your thoughts."

Upon hearing this, Wei Zijun felt indignant on behalf of the people and spoke out: "Wei Feng believes that the land should be surveyed. Apart from the portion that should be allocated to high-ranking officials, all the land that has been seized or occupied under the guise of building official residences should be confiscated and redistributed."

“Your Majesty, I disagree with what King Feng said.” Wu Qiaoshi stepped forward and said, “Those who possess land are generally ministers of the state or wealthy merchants. They are the lifeblood of the country and should not be easily offended.”

Wei Zijun chuckled, “Minister Wu, do you know what the lifeblood of a nation is? Merchants and wealthy families, as well as the officials of the state, all come from the people. Wei Feng believes that the people are the lifeblood of the nation. Do you agree, Minister?” He then turned to the assembled officials, “Agriculture is the foundation of the nation. If the equal-field system is destroyed, tenant farmers will be impoverished. How can they then provide their own armor and weapons and support their own guards? Our Great Yu still maintains the Fubing system①. The common people become soldiers when they take to the horse and farmers when they are laid down. If the people are not protected, the army will be weak. If the army is weak, the nation will not be strong. Therefore, protecting the equal-field system is fundamental. Do any of you colleagues have any objections?”

The ministers were all awestruck by the king's aura and impressed by his insightful remarks, and not one of them dared to voice any objection.

Wei Zijun turned to Li Tianqi and said, "Your Majesty, none of the ministers have objected. Please make the decision."

Li Tianqi looked at her, and they exchanged a glance. "In that case, as the King of Wind said, the Ministry of Works will send people to survey the land tomorrow."

After the discussion of state affairs was completed, Li Tianqi looked at Wei Zijun and said, "King Feng is truly a meritorious official of our Dayu. First, he proposed a good strategy for flood control, then a plan to enrich the people, and now he has resolved the crisis of our equal-field system. He deserves to be commended."

The ministers echoed in unison.

Li Tianqi looked at her and suddenly said, "King Feng, I remember that King Feng is not yet married."

Wei Zijun's lips twitched. Was Li Tianqi just bored? Didn't he know best whether she was married or not? But she still answered, "Your Majesty, Wei Feng has never married."

"Oh dear, King Feng is so busy with state affairs that he has even neglected his own life's most important matter," Li Tianqi sighed.

Wei Zijun felt her eyelids twitch twice; she didn't seem as noble as he had described.

"I have been thinking of the Prince of Feng. He has been enfeoffed as a prince for many days but has not yet taken a wife. Today, I bestow Princess Shangluo upon the Prince of Feng in marriage. Let the wedding date be set after the Prince of Feng's coming-of-age ceremony."

These words sparked a flurry of discussion among the officials. Wei Zijun, as if struck by a thunderbolt, immediately rose to her feet.

"Your Majesty, Wei Feng has no intention of marrying yet."

Li Tianqi glanced at her. "My words are law, they have already been spoken. Do you expect me to take them back?"

“Then, Your Majesty, please rescind your decree.” Wei Zijun said neither humbly nor arrogantly.

A hint of anger rose in Li Tianqi's eyes. "King Feng, do you think Princess Shangluo is not a good match for you?"

"Your Majesty, it is beyond Wei Feng's reach."

“If that is the case, King Feng need not worry. I think this marriage is a perfect match.”

"Your Majesty, no, Wei Feng really doesn't want to get married so early."

Li Tianqi sneered, "Finally admitting it, you don't want to? Does the Wind King know what responsibility is? A true man should be responsible for his words and deeds, but the Wind King wants to run away?"

Wei Zijun was taken aback. She was running away? She did want to run away. That Princess Shangluo was too infatuated, and she didn't want to hurt her. "In short, Wei Feng cannot get married."

"Wei Feng, do you intend to defy the imperial decree?"

“Your Majesty, it is not that Wei Feng wants to disobey the imperial decree, but this matter is of great importance. Your Majesty has not asked Wei Feng’s opinion, nor has Wei Feng informed his parents. How can we act so hastily? Please, Your Majesty, rescind your order.”

"What if you don't accept it?" Li Tianqi said coldly, hating him for doing things and then being irresponsible, for seducing his sister and then irresponsibly running away from it, truly despicable.

"Your Majesty, it seems that when we made peace, there was no clause about a marriage alliance. Your Majesty can bestow a marriage as you please, but have you asked Wei Feng if he is willing? Can the Son of Heaven disregard people's marital happiness? Can he just trade it away as he pleases? Can there be happiness in spending one's life with someone one does not love?"

“Your Majesty, the Wind King defied the imperial decree in court, showing contempt for the monarch, and should be punished,” someone suggested.

"Shut up—" Li Tianqi vented his anger on the man.

"Wei Feng, do you know the consequences of defying an imperial decree in court?" Li Tianqi roared furiously, his eyes practically spitting fire.

"Wei Feng is unaware; please make yourself at home, Your Majesty."

"You...you..." Li Tianqi roared, "Guards—drag Wei Feng out and give him twenty strokes of the cane—"

As soon as she finished speaking, several guards immediately surrounded and tried to pull Wei Zijun away. Wei Zijun angrily waved her hand, knocking the guards to the ground. "Li Tianqi, don't humiliate me. I haven't sold myself to you yet, and I still have my own autonomy. How can you punish me with a beating as you please?"

“Wei Zijun—I can’t control you!” Li Tianqi roared, “but I can make your father take the punishment for you.”

"How dare you—" Wei Zijun raised an eyebrow and glared angrily.