Chapter 851

Xiao Ming sat on the dragon throne, watching his officials.

In the grand hall, civil and military officials stood in two rows. At this moment, Pang Yukun was elaborating, with a pained expression, on the seven disadvantages of the feudal lords to the Great Yu Empire.

After Pang Yukun, Fei Ji also led a group of officials to present a memorial, explicitly stating that feudal lords were a cancer to the nation.

“Your Majesty, how long has it been since the northern war ended? Now, the south is once again engulfed in war. If this continues, when will the Great Yu Empire ever become wealthy and powerful? I believe the time has come when we can no longer tolerate the feudal lords continuing to wreak havoc,” Fei Ji said passionately.

Niu Ben and Luo Quan exchanged glances. Both were old foxes and immediately understood the play unfolding in the court today.

Pang Yukun and Fei Ji were both using the current chaos in the State of Chu as a pretext for reducing the power of the feudal lords.

After a moment of contemplation, Niu Ben said, “Your Majesty, I believe what Senior Grand Secretary Pang and Elder Fei say is absolutely correct. The tragedy of the feudal lords’ rebellion cannot be repeated. Moreover, to counter the threat of Western powers, the Great Yu Empire must be united from top to bottom; there can no longer be a state within a state.”

“I second that,” Luo Quan said at the opportune moment.

First the Grand Secretaries, then the chief generals of the Grand Council and the General Staff Department. Now, even the most foolish official in the court understood what was happening.

After driving out the barbarians, the Emperor now intended to unify the Great Yu Empire and thoroughly resolve the problem of the feudal lords.

After a brief silence, officials stepped forward one by one, denouncing the harms of the feudal lords. The entire court was fervent.

In the southwestern corner of the Zhengda Guangming Hall, a reporter from the “Qingzhou Daily” was furiously writing. The content of today’s court assembly would appear in tomorrow’s newspaper.

Facing the agitated officials and generals, Xiao Ming smiled. This was the effect he wanted.

Although it was somewhat shameless to incite officials to step forward and denounce the harms of the feudal lords, as an emperor, how could he not be cunning?

“All you beloved ministers, even so, the Prince of Yong and the Prince of Huainan both rendered great service to the nation in the northern war. Would such an action not make me break my promise?” Xiao Ming appeared somewhat hesitant.

Pang Yukun said, “Since ancient times, rewards and punishments must be clear. After the northern war, Your Majesty already gave them appropriate rewards. Now, reducing their power is for the eternal foundation of the Great Yu Empire. Why should Your Majesty worry?”

“That’s right, Your Majesty. If the Prince of Yong and the Prince of Huainan truly harbor great righteousness, they should consider the future of the Great Yu Empire, not their own selfish interests,” Fei Ji said.

Xiao Ming sighed. He said, “This matter is truly difficult for me. Let’s discuss it another day.”

With that, he waved his hand, announcing the adjournment of court. Today’s objective had been achieved. He now wanted to send a signal to the feudal lords, making them ponder what they should do now.

After all, before formally issuing an imperial decree, the initiative was entirely in his hands.

After court adjourned, Xiao Ming headed to the imperial study. At this point, a newspaper reporter returned to the newspaper office with his manuscript. After printing the first copy, he immediately sent it to the palace.

“Your Majesty, once this newspaper is released tomorrow, the whole world will know and rejoice,” Qian Dafu said, handing the newspaper to Xiao Ming. “I, your old servant, am not worried about this matter of reducing feudal lords’ power, but Imperial Consort is now pregnant…”

Xiao Ming frowned. Reducing the power of feudal lords would inevitably affect Cui Xue’er. However, how could he disregard the Great Yu Empire’s current situation for the sake of familial affection?

“The Imperial Consort will understand my painstaking efforts. She is a sensible person,” Xiao Ming said. He had made up his mind on this matter and would not change it because of Cui Xue’er.

Qian Dafu nodded. He said no more.

After reviewing the newspaper, Xiao Ming was satisfied with its content. The front-page report meticulously documented the court’s discussion on reducing feudal lords’ power. At the same time, the journalist who wrote the article offered some of his own opinions, analyzing the disadvantages of feudal lords, which met his requirements.

Handing the newspaper to Qian Dafu, Xiao Ming said, “Send it to the newspaper office. Have them publish it tomorrow.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Qian Dafu responded and left.

After seeing Qian Dafu off, Xiao Ming turned and headed to the imperial harem. For these past few years, he had rarely had time to spend with his family due to state affairs.

Many times, he would come and go in a hurry.

Today’s reminder from Qian Dafu made him suddenly feel that he should have spoken to Cui Xue’er about some matters beforehand, lest she be caught off guard. At the same time, he also hoped Cui Xue’er could play some role in this matter, after all, she was also the Prince of Huainan’s daughter.

Pacing to the bedchamber, a small figure suddenly rushed towards him. At the same time, a childish voice chirped, “Imperial Father!”

“Come, Imperial Father will hold you.” Xiao Ming smiled gently, embracing Xiao Yi, who was now over three years old.

Time passed quickly. Xiao Yi had now reached the age for kindergarten in modern times. To prevent Xiao Yi from being influenced by the Great Yu Empire’s backward culture, he and Fei Yuer were preparing to personally teach him.

Fei Yuer, Cui Xue’er, Lu Luo, and Ziyuan sat in the pavilion, looking tenderly at the father and son. Although Xiao Ming spent little time with Xiao Yi, Xiao Yi loved clinging to his imperial father the most.

“Your Majesty is busy with countless duties. Why do you have time to come to the garden at this hour today?” Fei Yuer asked with a smile.

Xiao Ming looked at Xiao Yi. The little fellow’s eyebrows and mouth were very much like Fei Yuer’s, while his eyes and mouth resembled his own. Overall, he looked more like Fei Yuer, which proved the saying that sons resemble their mothers.

He walked over and sat beside the four. Glancing at Cui Xue’er’s seven-month pregnant belly, he said, “I have something to say to Imperial Consort today.”

Fei Yuer’s eyes darted around. She was very intelligent and vaguely guessed what Xiao Ming was going to say. She smiled at Xiao Yi and said, “Yi’er, don’t cling to your imperial father anymore. Let’s go to the lake and watch the fish together.”

As she spoke, Fei Yuer winked at Lu Luo and Ziyuan.

The two understood and rose, following Fei Yuer.

Xiao Yi was a bit unwilling. He grabbed Xiao Ming’s hand and said, “Imperial Father, Imperial Father, play with me for a while, just for a while.”

Xiao Ming stroked Xiao Yi’s small head. The little fellow, with wide eyes, looked at him pitifully. He said helplessly, “You go first. How about Imperial Father plays with you all morning today?”

“Imperial Father’s word is bond!” Xiao Yi immediately bounced and ran towards the lake.

After three years of interacting, Cui Xue’er and Xiao Ming were no longer strangers. Because of the child in her belly, she felt an added layer of intimacy with Xiao Ming. Precisely because of this, she could sometimes guess Xiao Ming’s thoughts.

Now that only the two of them remained, she suddenly sighed, “Is Your Majesty finally going to reduce the power of the feudal lords?”

“I presume you guessed that. You’ve been worried about this ever since you entered the palace, haven’t you?”

Cui Xue’er nodded, lamenting, “Although that is true, how can I, your humble concubine, bear to see my husband and my father at odds?”

“Therefore, I want you to write a letter to the Prince of Huainan. Tell him that as long as he surrenders his military power, I will not touch him, and the State of Huainan will remain his feudal state.”