Martial Cultivator

Before the young Lord Warden Commander had even returned to the Divine Capital, a piece of news had already arrived ahead of him, once again shaking the court and political circles of the Divine Capital.

The garrison commander of Jiang'an Commandery in Xinliu Prefecture, Su Tong, had been publicly executed by order of the young Lord Warden Commander just days prior. His severed head was then hung above the city gate for three days.

Whether Su Tong was guilty or not was another matter entirely. The mere fact that he held authority over the frontier troops made the matter extremely delicate. Su Tong fell under the jurisdiction of the Great General's Office of the Northern Frontier. Even if he had been guilty, it should have been up to the Great General's Office to make that judgment, and then to deliver him to the Divine Capital. There was absolutely no precedent for what Chen Chao had done, executing him directly without first notifying the Great General's Office or His Highness the Crown Prince in the Divine Capital.

There had already been quite a few officials in the court who disliked this young Lord Warden Commander. Now, they seized this opportunity to launch an impeachment.

At the morning court session that day, aside from the Ministry of War remaining silent and the Ministry of Works traditionally not involving itself in such matters, officials from the other four ministries, more than a dozen in total, stepped forward to kneel in protest, demanding that His Highness the Crown Prince punish Chen Chao for his transgressions.

The court was in a state of high tension. Some officials grew so agitated as they spoke that they seemed ready to hurl themselves at the columns in the hall. The veteran generals of the Ministry of War, all of whom had retired from the northern front, merely sneered coldly in response. They had fought in the North for a long time, they naturally knew about many things too. They were not unfamiliar with Su Tong's deeds over the years. Though Su Tong did not fall under their Ministry of War's purview, they had long been aware of what kind of man he was. His death, in their eyes, was nothing less than gratifying.

As for why the Ministry of War remained silent, it was largely due to their wariness of these scholarly officials. This lot, when displeased, would raise their voices and jab their fingers in one's face to scold. Fighting? These martial artists were not afraid of that. But arguing? Forget it. When it came to verbal sparring, only that young Lord Warden Commander was truly in his element.

Seeing the situation on the court floor, His Highness the Crown Prince was deeply troubled. Yet he could not avoid giving an answer, and no solution came to mind. As the Crown Prince racked his brain, he suddenly fainted on the spot during court.

Seeing this, the palace attendants hurried to summon the imperial physicians, while the officials stood there stunned. In the end, they could only watch helplessly as the attendants carried His Highness away.

Say what you will, but such scenes would have been unthinkable back then.

In the following days, many officials crowded outside the palace gates, seeking news of the Crown Prince's condition from the imperial physicians. The answer was always the same: His Highness was gravely ill from excessive worry and would likely be unable to preside over court affairs for some time.

His Highness the Crown Prince issued a decree delegating most matters of state to the Premier. As for the case regarding Chen Chao, it would be put aside for now.

......

......

The Vice Minister of Personnel, Shi Jian, had entered officialdom during the reign of Emperor Lingzong. After many years of toil and setbacks, he finally secured his place in the Ministry of Personnel. During the recent great purge, the former Vice Minister of Personnel had been implicated, and Shi Jian had smoothly ascended to the position. In the matter of Su Tong, he was among the most vehement officials speaking out.

After the fall of the Shen Family, most schemers had already fallen silent. The Divine Capital had enjoyed a brief period of peace. No one had expected that after the Su Tong incident, a new group would jump out again.

But this new group was different, they were not backed by hidden hands. Most were of humble origin, thus harder to handle. Mishandling them would chill the hearts of these genuine scholars. If the people's loyalty were lost, His Highness the Crown Prince would have no idea how to pick up the pieces.

Shi Jian himself did not hail from any great family. The Shi Family of Dongyang was a modest family in the South; neither prominent nor obscure. His ancestors had produced no illustrious figures. Shi Jian was already the highest-ranking member of his family within the court. Therefore, when he stepped forward this time, no one thought too much, they simply saw it as a sincere and heartfelt stand. But in doing so, Shi Jian's prestige, both in court and among the people, rose greatly. After His Highness the Crown Prince feigned illness and collapsed, Shi Jian submitted his resignation that very day. Though it was not approved, he had not reported to the Ministry of Personnel since.

He did not set foot beyond the front gate, yet over the past few days, many officials had come to visit him. Shi Jian did not refuse a single one, receiving all guests and pouring out his grievances against Chen Chao, weeping bitterly on several occasions. Word of this spread quickly, and many officials came to admire this Vice Minister Shi in private, moved by his integrity.

In just a few short days, the man had earned the reputation of 'Sage Shi'. It was said that some poets had even written verses praising him, which quickly spread through the city's streets and alleys.

That morning, the gates of the Shi Residence opened once more. A stately elder in fine robes stepped inside. Shi Jian greeted him immediately, smiling broadly. "Brother Huacai, it has truly been a long time!"

The elder's name was Zheng Huacai. He now served in the Ministry of Rites and was an old acquaintance of Shi Jian.

Zheng Huacai apologized with a bow. "Brother Shi, the Ministry of Rites has been swamped these past few days. Otherwise, I would have visited much sooner."

Shi Jian laughed heartily and ordered tea to be prepared, guiding his old friend into the side hall.

Even before the tea arrived, Zheng Huacai spoke first. "Brother Shi, your indignant resignation has made you the talk of the Divine Capital. People say you are a true man of virtue. That in our Great Liang, there is no one else like you."

Shi Jian shook his head. "It's all empty flattery, this old man was simply unable to stomach such arrogance and lawlessness. That Chen Chao thinks of himself above all because of his imperial bloodline and His Majesty's favor, rose swiftly to high office while still young. Now, he acts with utter impunity. Today, he kills Su Tong on a whim. Tomorrow, who's to say he won't kill another court official just as casually? This kind of precedent must not be set. If it spreads, what becomes of the rules and traditions that our Great Liang has followed for over two hundred years?"

Zheng Huacai nodded gravely, then sighed. "You're absolutely right. The problem is, far too many in the court are intimidated by that martial artist. Far too few dare to speak out."

Shi Jian sneered. "Ever since His Majesty ascended the throne, the court has changed little by little. Back in the reign of Emperor Lingzong, would things ever have come to this? All this decay in courtly conduct, if I may speak plainly, began with His Majesty himself!"

Zheng Huacai's expression changed slightly, but he still nodded and said, "During the reign of Emperor Lingzong, the realm was governed with benevolence. Back then, we scholars still had a voice. Alas, now..."

"Some say it is the tide of the times, that it cannot be changed? How could that be so?" "His Highness the Crown Prince possesses the very demeanor of Emperor Lingzong in his prime. If he could secure the throne, he would surely restore the virtuous ethos of Lingzong's reign. But with a powerful subject like Chen Chao in the way, if such a man is not removed, Great Liang is in peril!"

Shi Jian slammed a heavy fist on the table, his face brimming with fury.

Zheng Huacai hesitated for a moment before saying, "Though His Highness the Crown Prince now oversees state affairs, in truth he wields little power. I fear he too is subject to others' control."

"Which is exactly why we subjects should shoulder the burden for His Highness the Crown Prince!"

Shi Jian's expression was ugly as he fixed his gaze on Zheng Huacai.

"But what can we scholars even do?"

Zheng Huacai let out a sigh. Since the Great Liang Emperor ascended the throne, military officials had been heavily favored, and the status of civil officials had steadily declined.

By now, civil officials had little voice left in court. Even if they had the will, they lacked the means.

Shi Jian frowned. "Brother Huacai, must one use a saber to kill?" "That Chen Chao's status is already precarious, and now he behaves so wantonly, can you really say this man has no ambitions for the throne?"

Zheng Huacai was momentarily stunned. He furrowed his brows and said, "Impossible. Back then, when His Majesty wished to pass the throne to him, he refused. If he truly desired the throne, why would he have done that?"

"Brother Huacai, how could you be so muddleheaded! Back then, his footing in court was not yet secure. Had he accepted, he would have faced endless opposition. That's why he chose to step back. But now that his wings have grown strong, of course he will grow ambitious!"

Shi Jian sighed. "If the Grand Historian were still alive, he would surely have seen through that man's wolfish ambitions!"

Zheng Huacai instinctively nodded. "Brother Shi, there may be some truth in your words."

"He now commands overwhelming power and authority. If we try to uncover evidence of his usurpation, it would be near impossible. But since we can't find it, we can fabricate it ourselves..."

Shi Jian's expression turned serious.

"No, absolutely not, Brother Shi! You're talking about framing Chen Chao, how can that be right?"

Zheng Huacai shook his head, unable to agree with Shi Jian's proposition.

"Brother Huacai! These are extraordinary times, we must take extraordinary measures! If we keep hesitating, the Great Liang's foundation may collapse in our very hands. Do you truly wish to stand by and watch such a result unfold?!"

Shi Jian grew incomparably solemn, his voice low and firm. "I only speak so candidly because I regard Brother Huacai as a true confidant. This matter may be dishonorable, but I do not care for reputation. I only wish to see it done. Once it is done, I, Shi Jian, will willingly die. I ask only that Brother Huacai lend me a hand!"

Zheng Huacai looked at Shi Jian, visibly moved. His eyes turned red, and just as he parted his lips to speak. But before he could say anything, a laughter suddenly sounded out in the side-hall, "Vice Minister Shi is truly a fine schemer. This official is impressed.'

"Who is it?!"

Shi Jian shot to his feet, his face turning pale.

He had already dismissed his attendants to speak privately with an old friend. Who could have appeared here, and when?

But the moment he saw who it was, his expression grew even uglier.

That pale-faced young man in black robes, with a saber at his waist and black official boots on his feet. What made it even stranger was that behind him stood several officials from the Warden Office.

By now, portraits of the Lord Warden Commander lined the streets and alleys. Countless women sought his likeness. Shi Jian had naturally seen them as well.

"Vice Minister Shi, if there's anything more you'd like to say, feel free. I'll just sit here and listen. I won't interrupt."

Chen Chao made himself comfortable in a seat to the side, looking calmly at this celebrated figure of the Divine Capital.

Shi Jian shouted in fury, "Chen Chao! Even if you're the Lord Warden Commander, what right do you have to trespass into this official's residence?!"

Having returned quietly to the Divine Capital, Chen Chao looked innocently at this Vice Minister of Personnel, "So what Vice Minister Shi means to say is, it's permissible for you to fabricate charges against this official, but not permissible for this official to intrude Vice Minister Shi's residence?"

Chen Chao narrowed his eyes and smiled. "Tell me, does such logic exist anywhere under Heaven?"