Free Web NovelChapter 1236: Chapter 1215: Consensus
Zhao Cheng cursed Zhao Hanzhang fiercely, but Zhao Hanzhang wasn’t angry at all; she was just a facade, a pretext to curse Yuan Gang and others.
Yuan Gang and others naturally didn’t want to stand there being scolded, so they listed how many people died and how many clans were wiped out due to the rebellions caused by the barbarians like the Xiongnu, the Xianbei, and the Jie Clan over the past ten years.
"Such barbarians, strong when adhered to, and aggressive when weak, should be exterminated to prevent future troubles."
Zhao Cheng was so angry at such remarks that he nearly spat blood, pointed at Yuan Gang’s nose, and cursed, "We Huaxia people have never spoken of exterminating clans; all things under heaven, since born into the world, should have a place to dwell, even maggots. One cannot dislike and kill them just because they are maggots. Such thinking makes you worse than animals."
Upon hearing this, those who held similar views to Yuan Gang immediately shrank their heads, quietly took a step back, and stopped talking.
Zhao Hanzhang, on the side, nodded repeatedly. Curse, curse, if you can curse, curse a bit more.
Yuan Gang was highlighted, and with his eyes red, he argued with Zhao Cheng, "I am not like you all, fishing for fame and reputations. If I can forever remove future troubles for posterity, I am willing to bear this infamy."
"Being lenient with the enemy is standing against yourself and your descendants."
"The world is vast, although your life is short, your opponents are many. Do you intend to annihilate each clan you encounter?" Zhao Cheng said coldly, "Where is the morality in that, where is the compassion?"
Yuan Gang scoffed, "When the Xiongnu marched south, did they ever show morality and compassion? Talking about morality and compassion with the enemy, has Zhao Ji drank the book stultified?"
He abruptly turned his head to Zhao Hanzhang and asked, "Does General Zhao also worship morality and compassion? The greatest taboo for those in leadership is a merciful heart, as they say, ’Mercy does not govern troops’..."
Zhao Hanzhang: "Mr. Yuan, ’Mercy does not govern troops’ means that a leader should not disregard military regulations due to sympathy. Who said generals must not have compassion?"
"Without compassion, how can I be of one heart and mind with my comrades and achieve such merit?" she said, "Because of compassion, I can understand the hardships of soldiers and the suffering of the people, and thus fight more courageously against the enemy."
"I understand Mr. Yuan’s concern about the Hu Clan potentially invading south again when I’m weak in the future, but there are many ways to solve this problem; clan extermination is the worst option, and too inhumane."
"Everything in this world has pros and cons; this is two-sided," Zhao Hanzhang said slowly, "Killing too many will arouse murderous instincts in people’s hearts; I feel I’m much fiercer now than I used to be, Ji Yuan, Ming Yu, if I go on a killing spree in the future and can’t stop myself, you must persuade me more."
Ji Yuan and Ming Yu immediately bowed respectfully and responded, "Yes."
The crowd: ...
Very well, this topic has successfully ended.
Yuan Gang swallowed his saliva, his face slightly flushed as he retreated to one side.
Only then did Zhao Hanzhang turn and say: "Ladies and gentlemen, please be seated. Today is considered a feast to welcome you, no need to be as nervous as in the court council, let’s just talk about daily matters."
Among those present, very few had attended court, so everyone silently found a place to sit down.
Zhao Hanzhang sat at the head, raised her glass for a round to toast everyone, then asked Zhou Qi and others, "Are there any younger family members holding official positions in the court now?"
Indeed there were, but not at the central level; mostly in local places, and all in the various counties of Jiangnan, basically unable to reach Jiangbei.
The Lu Family was also in such circumstances, which astonished Zhao Hanzhang; surprisingly, the Jiang Family had them, as the Jiang Family Master stated, several younger members of the family secretly crossed the river to Yu State two years ago to participate in the talent recruitment exam and luckily passed, being appointed as County Magistrates.
However, those two younger family members were from very distant branches, previously unknown to the Jiang Family Master himself, until he met with Jiang Pu who advanced to the capital early, learning the news from him yesterday.
Zhao Hanzhang nodded slightly, asked several more families, and found the situation was generally the same.
She then asked, "When was the last time each family had officials in the court, and how many were there?"
Before the Xiongnu annihilation war, Jiangnan people also had positions in the court, such as Zhou Qi’s father, who served as an Imperial Censor in the Jin Court for many years.
But for Jiangnan people, from fourth rank to third rank is a tremendous threshold, and no one has been able to cross it to this day.
No matter how talented they are, or how prestigious their family status in Wu and Chu, it’s difficult to surpass the Central Plains aristocracy, as the Central Justices deadlock their path to promotion during evaluations.
This is also a major reason for the alienation between Jiangnan aristocracy and the court.
After the chaos of Yongjia, those officials who followed the former emperor in Yan State were mostly slaughtered, the Jiangnan people serving in the court then couldn’t escape either. Thereafter, besides inviting some old ministers and hermits to emerge, Zhao Hanzhang mainly promoted her own personnel.
