Chapter 477: Chapter 262: Dog Eat Dog
These days, the atmosphere at court is extremely tense, with the Crown Prince’s faction and Prince Dai’s faction fiercely clashing. If it’s not you biting me, it’s me biting you, biting viciously. Both sides have taken a piece of flesh from one another.
The officials who remain neutral or support the Fourth Prince or other princes watch the battles between the Crown Prince’s faction and Prince Dai’s faction as if they are watching a monkey show.
The members of the Crown Prince’s faction and Prince Dai’s faction dare not make too much of a fuss. If they go too far, the emperor will not easily spare them.
Thanks to the factions of the Crown Prince and Prince Dai, the emperor has enjoyed quite a show lately and is in a very pleasant mood. Of course, what delights the emperor the most is that he can arrange for scholars from humble backgrounds to fill the vacant official positions.
As the Crown Prince’s faction and Prince Dai’s faction bite at each other, numerous officials have been demoted, sent to outlying posts, imprisoned, or worse, exiled to Lingnan. This has led to many vacant positions in the court.
Regardless if they belong to the Crown Prince’s faction or Prince Dai’s faction, all the ministers come from noble families or official families, and not one from a humble background. Some of these vacancies are indeed key positions.
When the emperor appointed officials from humble backgrounds to fill these positions, many ministers naturally saw his intention. Even if they noticed, they couldn’t stop it. Moreover, the losses this time were from the Crown Prince and Prince Dai’s people, not theirs, so they saw no need to speak up.
Many ministers speculate whether the mutual biting between the Crown Prince’s faction and Prince Dai’s faction is the emperor’s scheme, just to arrange for officials from humble backgrounds to ascend.
The emperor’s move is truly high-level. Not only did it legitimately suppress the forces of the Crown Prince’s faction and Prince Dai’s faction, but it also smoothly supported officials from humble backgrounds to rise.
Now in the court, officials from humble backgrounds are increasing, yet most are not in key positions, only those with great talent are assigned to important roles. The ministers can all see the emperor’s intention, but they don’t take it to heart. To be precise, they are quite disdainful, as they feel the emperor’s actions are futile.
Since ancient times, the officials in the court or in local governments have been from noble families or official families, with few from humble backgrounds. Furthermore, emperors of every dynasty wished to replace noble lineage with humble lineage, but what was the result? All failed.
Using scholars from humble backgrounds to counter those from noble lineage is no different than smashing an egg against a rock.
The ministers mock the emperor in their hearts and are waiting to see his show.
The Crown Prince’s faction and Prince Dai’s faction have lost some officials, but it’s not a major issue for them. Because those truly holding key positions of real power weren’t affected, moreover, the emperor wouldn’t dare to easily touch them.
Scholars of the Imperial College, upon learning that some officials from humble backgrounds have taken key positions, are filled with hope and enthusiasm.
In the Imperial Study at Chengguang Hall, the emperor, with his feet on the imperial desk, swings cheerfully. His face is full of smiles, humming happily a little tune that is recently popular in the capital.
Prime Minister He and Grandmaster Liu, upon seeing the emperor’s bubbling joy, were full of helplessness in their eyes.
"Your Majesty, aren’t you happy a bit too early?" Prime Minister He couldn’t help but dampen the emperor’s mood upon seeing his happy demeanor.
Grandmaster Liu chimed in, saying, "This time, it was the Crown Prince’s and Prince Dai’s people tearing at each other, not your strategy, what are you so pleased about?"
While gnawing on an apple, the emperor said, "Why shouldn’t I be pleased, this time their mutual biting allowed me to smoothly arrange for officials from humble backgrounds to be promoted."
Prime Minister He continued to pour cold water, "Your Majesty, the officials affected this time are mostly small fry."
"Small fry is great," the emperor munched on his apple, "small fry can become big fish and big meat in the future."
Seeing the emperor’s smug look, Grandmaster Liu found him very irksome.
"Your Majesty, these small fry may not turn into big fish and big meat."
He continued, "Or before they become big fish and big meat, they have already been recruited by noble families, as such things frequently occur."
Prime Minister He followed Grandmaster Liu’s point, saying, "It’s not easy to want humble lineage to replace noble lineage, after all, the previous dynasty tried and failed."
Grandmaster Liu added, "The former emperor established the Imperial College, using the method of appointing scholars from the college as officials, it’s a good idea, but to be frank, it’s hard to overthrow the noble lineage."
Prime Minister He sighed deeply and said, "Alas, ultimately, it’s not a good strategy."
"Then you all should come up with a good strategy for me," the emperor glared at Prime Minister He and his peers, speaking irritably, "If you can come up with a good strategy, I will worship you."