Chapter 30: I Even Dare to Strike the Face of the Current Emperor… Part 3

Ultimately, they were only brave when shouting slogans. When it came time to actually provide money or effort, they ran faster than anyone. After all, the Pure Stream party’s fertile lands and beautiful manors were all in the south; no matter how the fires of war burned, they would never reach them.

In the entire court of Great Chen, among the civil officials, the only one who truly did not fear Eastern Liao was him—the Great Treacherous Minister.

Gu Huaiyu pondered for a long while before saying, “This is a matter of great importance. It is best to summon the officials for a joint discussion.”

Upon hearing this, Yuan Zhuo immediately picked up his pen to draft the decree. But just as the cinnabar brush touched the paper, Gu Huaiyu added, “Include all military officers of the fifth rank and above in the meeting.”

“This…”

Yuan Zhuo’s pen stalled, and a small dot of cinnabar bled into the paper.

Eunuch Xu, who was serving nearby, turned pale. He said cautiously, “Lord Chancellor, have you forgotten the plaque inscribed by the Founding Emperor above the Xuande Gate?”

Two hundred years ago, the Founding Emperor of Great Chen had personally inscribed a plaque that still hung high over the Xuande Gate. It bore eight words: Civilian Governance for the Court, Martial Might for the Frontiers.

This was the ancestral law known to everyone in Great Chen—military officers were not permitted to participate in politics.

Gu Huaiyu’s expression remained indifferent. “Mmh. This Chancellor had indeed forgotten that plaque.”

Eunuch Xu and Yuan Zhuo exhaled in relief at the same time.

But then, Gu Huaiyu continued, “Men, go right now and take that plaque down for me.”

The hall fell into a sudden, deathly silence. The serving maids and eunuchs held their breath. This Lord Chancellor had always been unconventional and had committed countless acts of treason. But this time, daring to mess with the Founding Emperor’s legacy and shaking the very foundation of Great Chen was the ultimate sacrilege.

Gu Huaiyu had wanted to do this for a long time; he just hadn’t found the opportunity. He had Eunuch Xu to thank for the reminder.

He remained perfectly composed. “From this day forward, military officers may participate in government.”

Eunuch Xu collapsed to the floor, kowtowing repeatedly. “Lord Chancellor, please reconsider! That plaque was written by the Founding Emperor himself; it cannot be moved! This is a direct slap to the Founding Emperor’s face… the Pure Stream faction will surely attack in unison!”

Gu Huaiyu walked to the imperial desk and slowly adjusted his sleeves. “I even dare to strike the face of the current Son of Heaven…”

He reached out and patted Yuan Zhuo’s cheek with a medium force, saying dismissively, “Why would I fear moving a dead man’s plaque?”

Yuan Zhuo’s ears turned beet red instantly. His clear eyes stared straight at Gu Huaiyu. He felt as if the place where he had been touched had been branded by a hot iron; those fingers were warm and delicate, carrying a crisp, pleasant fragrance.

Eunuch Xu caught a glimpse of the Emperor’s expression and his heart went cold. It was over—this one was truly unreliable.

“Lord Chancellor! The Pure Stream faction…” He could only try to protect the Founding Emperor’s dignity himself.

“Let them come.”

Gu Huaiyu was noncommittal. He tapped his finger on the desk, signaling Yuan Zhuo to continue the decree. “As of today, the old rule of ‘Military Officers may not participate in politics’ is abolished. All military generals of the fifth rank and above may enter the court to discuss affairs.”

He had long since stopped caring about verbal or written attacks. With his notorious reputation, could it really get any worse?

Those Pure Stream scholars who claimed to be pro-war spent their days calling soldiers “military brutes,” looking down on everyone with their scholarly arrogance. Yet when the country faced disaster and the enemy was at the gates, did they not rely on those very “military brutes” to act as shields and die for them?

Now, he was merely breaking an “ancestral rule” to let military officers observe court discussions, yet those people acted as if their ancestral graves were being dug up. They made more noise than if Eastern Liao had actually invaded.

Yuan Zhuo quietly dipped his pen in ink and wrote it down, stroke by stroke.

Gu Huaiyu thought for a moment and said slowly, “The stipends of military officers shall be equal to civil officials of the same rank. They need not bow when meeting civil officials of equal rank.”

Yuan Zhuo didn’t even blink as he continued to write. It was as if no ancestral rules, no ancestors, and no words of the Founding Emperor mattered anymore; only what Gu Huaiyu said was law.

Eunuch Xu was kowtowing so hard his head was bleeding. His voice shook like a sieve. “Lord Chancellor, please reconsider! This… this is going to tear the heavens apart!”

The Pure Stream faction wouldn’t just be spitting insults; they would probably try to dig up Gu Huaiyu’s ancestral grave!

Yuan Zhuo finished the last character and lightly blew the ink dry. He looked up at Gu Huaiyu. In his eyes, there was no sign of the court’s storms or the vastness of the empire. They reflected only Gu Huaiyu.

Softly, he asked, “Does this satisfy the Chancellor?”

Gu Huaiyu nodded slightly, his voice devoid of emotion. “Indeed. Your Majesty is wise.”