Chapter 27: The Contest of Wits Between Ruler and Minister (Part 1)
Yue Fei (image)
Chongzhen 1st Year
February 19th.
Early morning.
Taihe Dian Hall
Yang Reform sat on the throne, with a cold smile in his heart.
Yesterday night, Yang reform had a dream and went to Baidu, copied a song, preparing for today to deal with these Ming dynasty elites, let them sing well.
No need to start with Yang's reform, naturally there will be a small eunuch starting the song, and then the ministers begin singing "Zheng Qi Ge". Not to mention, this group of ministers seems to have practiced for many days, their voices are neat and loud, the more you listen, the more momentum. A majestic atmosphere bursts out, but unfortunately, the people who sing have a belly full of "male thieves and female prostitutes".
The man embezzled state funds. Oh, that's called corruption, no, it's called "misappropriation", how can it be considered embezzlement? Even more so, it cannot be considered theft.
The Women's Rights Protection Committee lodged a protest: In this time and place, there are no female comrades in office, how can you count us together with them? This is a slander and hostility towards our female comrades.
So that's it! Then he is a "male thief" after all.
The song is over.
"Gentlemen, this 'Song of Righteous Energy' gets better with each singing. I suppose the righteous energy in your hearts is growing stronger."
……
A group of ministers below said "dare not", but in their hearts they were secretly pleased.
"I have obtained another song today, compared to 'Zheng Qi Ge', this song is about 'dedicating one's life to the country'. I hope you all can be like what is sung in this song and dedicate your lives to the country. Hmm, Da Ban, first distribute these lyrics to everyone to read and memorize."
After finishing speaking, Wang Chengen ordered the small eunuchs to distribute the lyrics to the various ministers.
Originally, Yang Reform had anticipated that these ministers would have objections to singing new songs. Unexpectedly, a group of people were silent, holding the lyrics and reading them seriously. Not one person came out in opposition. As the saying goes: "The unusual is ominous." In his heart, Yang Reform thought this matter had a "plot", unfortunately, he didn't know what kind of plot it was.
The song that was passed down is the one sung by Tu Honggang, "Jing Zhong Bao Guo". This song requires the singer to have a full and strong breath. Hehe, Yang Reform looked at this group of "old guys in their seventies and eighties" and asked them to sing "Jing Zhong Bao Guo" with full breath, it's likely to take their old lives away.
Yang intends to thoroughly torment this group of old guys.
The lead singer was a small eunuch, who had a good voice and was also clever. Yang Reform had specially found him to be in charge of leading the singing at dawn. Early in the morning before it got light, Yang Reform called this little eunuch to "teach" him how to sing "Jing Zhong Bao Guo". In fact, Yang Reform himself only knew a few sentences of the song. However, he roughly knew the tune and after teaching the little eunuch several times, the little eunuch was indeed clever and learned it quickly. But his voice had some "eunuch characteristics" and when singing this heroic song with a "killing spirit", it sounded a bit incongruous.
"Wolf smoke rises in Jiangshan North...". The little eunuch sang the opening of "Loyal Heart Reports to the Country" with a "eunuch characteristic" voice.
"Wolf... smoke... rise Jiangshan... northward gaze..." The ministers followed and sang this "Loyal Heart Reports to the Country".
"The dragon rises, the horse neighs loudly, the sword's energy is like frost..." The little eunuch's voice was fairly loud, but it couldn't be described as bold and stirring. It had a hint of sharpness to it.
"The dragon rises... The horse whinnies... The sword's energy is like frost." The ministers continued to recite it as if reading a book.
……
"My heart is like the boundless Yellow River water..."
……
"Who can withstand twenty years of turmoil..."
……
"With hatred and desire, the long sword points forward..."
……
"How many loyal souls and bones of compatriots are buried in a foreign land..."
Tú Hónggāng's singing of "Jīng Zhōng Bàoguó" is magnificent and stirring, with the sound of golden spears and iron horses, and the spirit of fierce battle.
Alas, in the grand hall of Taihe Gate, a small eunuch led a group of "male thieves" ministers to sing, it was a pitiful sight, sparse and disorderly. With great difficulty, they finally finished singing once.
"My dear sirs, your singing is really too terrible. How about trying again? This song is so grand and majestic, how can you sing it so badly? Don't you want to be loyal to our great Ming dynasty?"
Yang Reform put on this hat, what a big deal! If it's not for the great Ming dynasty's loyalty and patriotism, what is it? Treason! The crowd of officials immediately knelt down to the ground, shouting "dare not". Then came again.
Yang smiled in his heart as he watched these officials sing "Jing Zhong Bao Guo" again.
These ministers are all advanced in years, and many of them are seventy or eighty years old. How can they sing this song that requires full-bodied energy? With just a little effort, each one of them is like a pig's liver slapped on their face, turning color.
……
Three rounds of singing have come down. The crowd of officials can no longer find a single normal face. Each and every one of them has a pig liver face. This makes Yang Reform extremely happy. Thinking to himself, you guys made me unhappy, I'll make you guys uncomfortable too.
"My dear colleagues, how is this song?" Yang asked with a smile, opening his eyes and looking at the group of officials.
……
After a pause, someone spoke up: "Your Majesty, this song is bold and stirring, with a heroic spirit that's reminiscent of the battlefield. I felt like I was back on the battlefield when I heard it... It's truly a great song... But may I ask Your Majesty, who wrote this song?"
Yang thought of saying it was Tu Honggang's song, but then he thought, where in the world would he find a Tu Honggang? What if others asked questions and exposed him? It seemed that he had to brazenly register first.
"This song was written by me, how is it?" As he said this, Yang's face turned slightly red.
"Your Majesty is wise, I dare to ask Your Majesty, is this song written in memory of and in praise of Yue Fei and Yue Yun of the Southern Song Dynasty who fought against the Jin people?" This minister was quite perceptive, immediately recognizing the origin and allusion of the song.
"Heh heh, how did you see through it?" Yang Reform didn't know the name of this minister, so he just addressed him as "Your Excellency".
"I humbly report to Your Majesty, from these four characters 'Jing Zhong Bao Guo', I feel that it may be related to the matter of Yue's mother's tattoo, although the words are different, but the meaning is the same. Moreover, I also found that in this phrase, 'Ma Ti Nan Qu Ren Bei Wang' (Horse hoof goes south, people look north), isn't it saying that the northern expedition will not succeed, looking back to the north with a heart full of distress?" The minister explained with great satisfaction.
"It makes sense, and I'm glad you understand my intention. This song of mine was inspired by Yue Fei and Yue Yun's northern expedition against the Jin dynasty. I felt Yue Yun's extraordinary passion and loyalty to the country, which is why I wrote this song. It's meant to encourage people today to learn from Yue Yun's spirit of loyalty and integrity... Thinking about Yue Fei's northern expedition, he fought against the Jin to reclaim our lost territory, but unfortunately, the Southern Song dynasty was corrupt and incompetent, leading to the wrongful death of a great general. I truly regret this. I won't be like those incompetent people who destroy their own country. I also hope that you all can learn from Yue Yun's spirit of loyalty and dedication... Thinking about Yue Fei's northern expedition, he fought against the Jin, but today our great Ming dynasty is at war with the Eastern Barbarians, who claim to be the Jin. Therefore, I have decided to use Yue Yun's spirit of loyalty and dedication to suppress the Eastern Barbarians. I want to use this song to inspire the 'Yue Yuns' of our dynasty to be loyal and dedicated to the country. I won't be stingy with rewards and titles, nor will I follow in the footsteps of the Southern Song dynasty by randomly killing loyal officials. My goal is to eventually launch a northern expedition, eliminate the Eastern Barbarians who dare to call themselves the Jin, and bring peace to our great Ming dynasty."
The ministers in the great hall dropped their jaws to the ground.
I didn't expect this young man to have such ideas and sentiments. To be honest, I really didn't see it coming. But thinking about it, the emperor's words do make some sense. When Yue Fei marched north to fight against the Jin, wasn't that Eastern Barbarian daring to call itself the Jin? Isn't that like saying our Great Ming Dynasty is the Southern Song? Where would we put the face of our Heavenly Kingdom? How can we, as a group of high-ranking officials, bear this? Of course, we must find our own "Yue Pengju" to suppress the Jin. Not bad, good thinking.
"Your Majesty is truly a wise ruler!......"
"I humbly report to Your Majesty, this idea is truly brilliant..."
"Your Majesty is wise, we cannot wait..."
"I humbly report to Your Majesty, this song is truly good and should be promoted among all civil and military officials..."
"I beg to report to Your Majesty, I will definitely sing and learn every day, studying the spirit of Yue Fei's loyalty and dedication to the country..."
……
Flattery is pouring in.
Yang secretly rejoiced in his heart, thinking to himself: "I'm a 21st-century man, and as soon as I make my move, you old fossils won't know what hit you. Heh heh, try fighting me, and I'll play you all to death."
"Very well! All of you think it's good, I also think it's not bad. Since that's the case, why don't we sing a few more times for me to listen?" Yang Reform smiled and wanted to hear the song again.
The crowd of officials immediately turned into pig liver faces, this song requires a full and robust tone, overflowing with heroic passion, in order to have the kind of murderous aura on the battlefield. Asking us old men to sing this song is really asking for our lives. And it's not enough once, but several times? Will everyone still be alive after singing?
But still have to sing, just now was praising this song is good, want to learn it, now don't sing, isn't slapping one's own face?
Then the officials sang a few more times, finally someone couldn't hold on anymore and fell down. Yang was satisfied with this result. It's considered as dodging a disaster. He secretly felt pleased in his heart.
Then it's time to discuss state affairs.
……
"I have something important to report."
"Go ahead, what is it? Don't read that long and tedious memorial, just say what's on your mind." Yang hated those lengthy memorials the most. Listening to them for half a day still wouldn't make him understand what they were saying. What a waste of time and energy.
"Yes, Your Majesty, the Left Commander-in-Chief of Ping Liao General Army, Mao Wenlong, requests a response." This minister summarized this memorial with just one short sentence.
Mao Wenlong? Yang Reform is a headache just by listening to it. Originally in history, Mao Wenlong should have died under the knife of Yuan Chonghuan. Now Yuan Chonghuan, this big deceiver, has been "anti-deceived" by Yang Reform, and it's unlikely that he can kill Mao Wenlong again. This also makes what originally belonged to Yuan Chonghuan fall on his own head.
