txolops Chapter 177 First Steps into the Imperial Court
Chapter 177 First Steps into the Imperial Court
Taibai paused on the cloud, lightly made a hand seal, and his true form quietly swapped with a clone a thousand miles away.
For nearly two decades, although he had never personally set foot in the temples of the Shang Dynasty, he had a clear understanding of the dynasty's structure and organization through his avatar.
Today, the Shang dynasty indeed resembles a primordial behemoth, dominating the Central Plains.
The imperial guards of Chaoge were far more impressive than ever before, and none of the feudal lords from all directions dared to look them in the eye.
But the reality is quite different; the most fatal flaw lies in the long-standing struggle between the monarchy and the nobility.
Although the rulers of the reigns of Wu Ding and Di Yi had made a conscious effort to subtly strip the nobility of their power, the results were minimal.
By the time Emperor Xin ascended the throne, the power of the nobility had become deeply entrenched and unwieldy.
The Nine-Room Hall was entirely a place where the aristocracy ruled.
They treated ordinary people like dirt, deciding their life and death as easily as crushing insects and ants.
Therefore, as soon as Di Xin ascended the throne, he launched a fierce attack on this impregnable aristocratic fortress with a resolute and decisive attitude.
As a result, in the imperial court, no matter whether the emperor's proposals were beneficial to the country and the people, the nobles would rise up and obstruct them.
If it weren't for the presence of key ministers like Grand Tutor Wen Zhong and Uncle Bi Qian, who exerted their prestige and loyalty to maintain order, the Shang Dynasty would probably have fallen into chaos long ago.
Wen Zhong, Bi Qian, and others, due to their positions, had in fact already severed their path to nobility.
Today, a grand ceremony is being held, and many powerful figures are gathering.
Inside the nine-room hall, civil and military officials stood in rows, the atmosphere solemn yet tinged with restlessness.
Di Xin sat on the throne, his face calm, but there was a lingering melancholy between his brows. The heroic spirit he had shown in his early years of conquering the Eastern Yi had been worn away.
"Your Majesty, my master is a man of profound spiritual attainment."
The secret iron-smelting technique was taught to me by my master. My master was not only proficient in Taoist arts and crafts, but also possessed extraordinary talent and strategies for governing the country.
Today, I take the liberty of recommending my senior brother to Your Majesty, hoping that with his talents and learning, he can assist Your Majesty in securing the stability of our Shang dynasty.
Before the words had even finished, a torrent of opposition had already erupted.
From the rear of the procession, a dozen or so ministers dressed in magnificent robes stepped forward, and the one in the lead proclaimed in a loud voice:
"Your Majesty, you must not! Even if Grand Tutor Master is indeed a disciple of a sage, our Shang Dynasty has its own ancestral rules and regulations for selecting and employing officials."
How can the established laws of our ancestors be violated because of the words of one person? Your Majesty, please reconsider!
"We second that proposal!"
"Those who follow the path of immortality should cultivate themselves in the mountains and forests. How can they easily meddle in worldly affairs, let alone the affairs of the imperial court? If this precedent is set, the consequences will be endless!"
Bigan glared angrily, stepped forward, and faced the group of noble ministers directly, saying:
"Absurd! The immortal is willing to descend the mountain to assist the wise ruler, which demonstrates the king's benevolence to all. What are your true intentions in obstructing the path of the virtuous?"
"The Grand Tutor recommends virtuous and capable individuals without regard to kinship, yet you all keep using ancestral rules as an excuse. Does that mean ancestral rules forbid the virtuous and capable from serving the country?"
Loyal ministers such as Shang Rong and Mei Bo also spoke out, offering sharp rebuttals.
In an instant, a noisy commotion broke out in the Nine-Room Hall.
Looking at the extremely familiar chaotic scene before him, Di Xin felt his head buzzing.
He pressed his fingers hard against his brow, his gaze growing cold, already considering calling in armored soldiers to guard the palace and forcefully suppress the commotion.
Just as the chaos reached its peak, and Emperor Xin was about to unleash his fury, Venus, who had been waiting quietly outside the Nine-Room Palace, suddenly caused an earthquake.
He no longer waited for the summons. Facing the gazes of the guards with halberds on both sides, he calmly stepped over the high threshold and into the heart of the power struggle in the world.
The light in the hall suddenly brightened, and all the ministers' eyes were instantly drawn to the Taoist priest who had suddenly barged in.
The opposing noble ministers were stunned for a moment, then an even larger wave of impeachments erupted:
"How dare you trespass into the Nine-Room Palace without His Majesty's permission! This is a grave offense of disrespect. Your Majesty, please expel this person immediately and punish him according to the law!"
"Judging from his appearance, he's nothing more than a rustic woodcutter. How could he possess even a trace of otherworldly grace? He's surely a fraudster. Could it be that Grand Tutor has been deceived by him?"
"He trespassed into the solemn court assembly, disregarding the laws and regulations of the royal court. Such arrogance is unacceptable; he cannot be a good minister! He must not be employed!"
Taibai seemed oblivious to all the slander and accusations around him, and steadily walked towards the throne.
But deep within his Dao heart, a chilling killing intent had already solidified.
In his eyes, this group of corrupt officials who only knew how to protect their own selfish interests were no different from the dead.
However, this is the palace of the human emperor, shrouded and protected by the aura of human destiny. To take action here would result in a severe backlash.
Reaching the foot of the imperial steps, Taibai raised one palm to his chest and performed the Taoist kowtow:
"I am a Taoist practitioner from Wuyi Mountain, and I am a disciple of the Jade Pure Primordial Heavenly Venerable. I have come here today to pay my respects to the Human Emperor."
Grateful that the Emperor was a wise and benevolent ruler of his time, I wish to go to the Shang Dynasty and do my utmost.
"I humbly request the position of Imperial Preceptor to assist Your Majesty in stabilizing the nation. I earnestly request Your Majesty's permission."
"Arrogant! The position of Imperial Preceptor is so prestigious; how dare you claim it as your own?"
"Does this mean that the disciples of a sage can be so arrogant and rude? Where is the proper etiquette? Where is the established system?!"
"Your Majesty, this man must not be allowed to live!"
Ministers who supported Wen Zhong also refuted him, and the two sides became increasingly heated in their arguments, spitting as they spoke, and even pushing each other.
"That's enough!"
A loud shout rang out from the palace roof, and Emperor Xin suddenly stood up from his throne, bracing himself against the table with both arms.
"Look at you all! What kind of behavior is this! Is this Nine-Room Palace a place for your noisy marketplace? Do you even have the slightest resemblance to the pillars of the Yin Shang Dynasty?!"
In an instant, all the arguments came to an abrupt halt.
Seeing this scene in the court, Taibai couldn't help but sigh inwardly, realizing that the direction of the Yin Shang court was indeed somewhat unexpected.
The only thing that remained unchanged was Di Xin's majesty.
This is not only because he is the reincarnation of the ancestral witch Dijiang, but also because of his innate kingly aura.
After calming the assembled officials, Emperor Xin turned his gaze to Taibai, his meaning clear: he wanted to see Taibai's abilities firsthand before he could entrust him with important responsibilities with peace of mind.
Taibai understood, and with a flick of his sleeve, a gust of wind suddenly arose from the ground, causing several ministers to stumble and fall.
"You all know my identity. From this day forward, I will serve as the Grand Preceptor of the Yin Shang Dynasty. Who agrees, and who disagrees?"
"The Shang Dynasty was the overlord of all humankind, and the position of Grand Preceptor should rightfully be held by a human. How dare you overstep your bounds!"
The one who stepped forward was Wei Zi Qi, the elder brother of Emperor Xin. He was also the leader of the old aristocracy and had the right to inherit the throne.
"I am indeed no ordinary person. But you may go to the Nuwa Temple and see if my statue is enshrined there."
Before he finished speaking, Taibai raised his hand and swept it towards the sky, and a scene of light and shadow appeared, which was the scene in the Nuwa Temple.
He did not use any killing or magical powers, and given his karmic ties with the human race, this act of manifestation naturally did not attract the attention of the human community.
Upon seeing this scene, the assembled officials were initially silent, but then erupted into a clamor.
That was not out of fear, but out of shock.
Although the human race has existed for hundreds of thousands of years, the myths and legends from the very beginning of its existence have been passed down orally from generation to generation to this day.
At this moment, everyone understood who this person was.
"From this day forward, Taibai shall be the Grand Preceptor of the Yin Shang Dynasty, second only to me in rank. Do any of you have any objections?"
"We are no different; Your Majesty is wise!"
Just when everyone thought the storm had passed, hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the Nine-Room Hall, and an urgent military report broke the tranquility of the hall.
A soldier stumbled in, carrying oracle bones, and hurriedly reported:
"Your Majesty, I implore Yuan Futong of Beihai to join forces with seventy-two other lords in a rebellion! The northern frontier is in grave danger! I earnestly request Your Majesty to send reinforcements immediately!"