Chapter 44: All the world's a stage, and all of us merely actors relying on our acting skills!

Old Zhu finished reading Qin Feng’s confidential memorial, a smile gradually blooming across his face.

The suggestions put forward by Qin Feng completely outclassed the Secretariat officials who had just been debating in the Wuying Hall by miles.

Those mediocre fools either knew only how to speak empty words without offering a single practical suggestion, or their proposals were entirely idealistic and extremely difficult to implement.

Yet the suggestions mentioned in Qin Feng’s memorial were nothing short of a gospel for the Huaixi commoners struck by the plague.

Words alone like "fundraising," "hospital," and "expert consultation" had already made Old Zhu’s eyes light up.

Initiate a nationwide fundraising campaign, build Vulcan Hospitals capable of accommodating plague patients, and summon the empire’s renowned physicians to provide methods for controlling the plague!

Old Zhu quickly extracted these key points from Qin Feng’s suggestions and hurriedly handed the memorial over to Zhu Biao for perusal.

"Eldest son, take a good look! These suggestions from Qin Feng are matters of utmost urgency that cannot brook a moment's delay!"

After reading Qin Feng’s confidential memorial, Zhu Biao was deeply shocked!

"Father, Teacher Qin’s suggestions are truly marvelous!"

"You must truly learn the art of statecraft from Qin Feng. When it comes to adaptability in the face of disasters, he is far more capable than either of us."

It was rare indeed for Zhu Biao to hear Old Zhu praise an official as having greater capability than himself.

"Right now, we must spend the treasury's silver on the cutting edge and implement these suggestions step by step according to Qin Feng's plan."

"This son understands."

"Qin Feng’s talent far surpasses those mediocre officials in the Secretariat. You tell me, what do we even need the Secretariat for? We might as well just abolish it."

Upon hearing Old Zhu’s words, Zhu Biao was greatly startled.

Ever since the Sui and Dynasty systems of the Three Departments and Six Ministries were established, they had been passed down and utilized right up to the present day. The most important purpose of this system was to provide performance evaluations for officials, preventing the imperial court from supporting idle personnel.

Yet this system had been handed down to the present day without a single person ever daring to abandon it, and yet Old Zhu suddenly wanted to abolish the Secretariat?

This was a tremendously weighty decision!

One could only say that in Old Zhu’s eyes, apart from easily giving rise to factional struggles, those officials in the Secretariat were utterly worthless!

Only when facing disasters could one truly perceive the genuine capabilities of officials.

Old Zhu had endured those mediocre talents for a long time. Once the disaster stabilized, he decided to completely reshuffle all the officials of the Three Departments and Six Ministries!

Those with ability would be promoted, while the incompetent fools would all be removed.

Zhu Biao said, "Father, the nation is in imminent peril right now. Abolishing officials at this juncture is likely to incite turmoil. It would not be too late for Father to dissolve it after the country is pacified."

Old Zhu said angrily, "Just now in the Wuying Hall, I had to listen to those pedantic scholars murmur endlessly for half a day without producing a single effective suggestion."

"Look again at the confidential memorial sent by Qin Feng—clear, lucid, and concise, it immediately resolved the plague issue for us."

"Compared to Qin Feng, those mediocre fools are as different as heaven and earth."

Zhu Biao smiled awkwardly and said, "Teacher Qin is, after all, a man of later generations; his foresight and vision are far beyond the reach of ordinary men."

Old Zhu sighed and said, "Eldest son, it seems I am becoming more and more dependent on Qin Feng! Nowadays, if anything happens, my heart feels entirely unsettled if I don't consult Qin Feng."

Zhu Biao smiled and said, "This just shows that Teacher Qin is someone capable of bringing true prosperity to our Great Ming!"

Old Zhu put Qin Feng’s confidential memorial away into a wooden box, nodded, and said, "May this era of prosperity arrive swiftly—at least before I close my eyes forever, let me witness this flourishing age of Great Ming!"

"Bah, bah, bah! Father, do not speak such nonsense; you will surely live to a hundred."

Old Zhu gave a wry smile, patted Zhu Biao on the shoulder, tears suddenly welling up in the corners of his eyes.

Eldest son, how I wish you could live even longer than I!

……

Fengtian Hall.

Today’s early morning court session was the very day that Qin Feng and Old Zhu had previously agreed upon to rupture their ruler-subject relationship.

In the court, the officials spoke with vehement words, all accusing Li Tai of the various suspicious circumstances surrounding his death in prison, and pointing every spear of blame directly at Qin Feng.

Li Tai had died in such a suspicious manner entirely because he was implicated in Qin Feng’s embezzlement of the imperial treasury's silver.

Song Lian stepped out of the ranks and memorialized, "Your Majesty, Minister Li has already perished, leaving no living witness to confront! Qin Feng’s embezzlement of treasury silver cannot be investigated further, but he bears the gravest suspicion. We implore Your Majesty to strip Qin Feng of his official post and hand him over to the Dali Temple for trial."

Zhu Biao cupped his hands and said, "This son believes that Li Tai committed suicide out of fear of punishment and had nothing to do with Teacher Qin."

Hu Weiyong stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, matters have reached this point. If Qin Feng is not punished, I fear it will be difficult to convince the public. We implore Your Majesty to think three times."

Seeing the officials of the court arguing endlessly over his alleged embezzlement of the treasury silver, Qin Feng felt that the time had finally come for him to give full play to his acting skills.

All the world's a stage, and life is purely acting!

With a look of furious indignation, Qin Feng stared at Old Zhu and said, "What does Li Tai committing suicide out of fear of crime have to do with me?"

"Could it be that Your Majesty still believes I am suspected of embezzling treasury silver? Or that you intend to investigate and punish me?"

"You want to strip me of my office and dismiss me? Very well then! I care not for this official post anyway, lest I suffer your daily grievances!"

With that, Qin Feng began stripping off his official robes, causing a massive uproar throughout the court hall.

Old Zhu’s expression gradually turned dark with anger, and he roared toward Qin Feng, "Qin Feng! Have I granted you too much favor, that you now dare to be so presumptuous with me?"

Qin Feng sneered and said, "Your Majesty, my heart is utterly chilled! When you had use for me, you coaxed me at every turn and made me do your bidding. When you have no more use for me, you look for trouble with me at every turn!"

"Is there truly so little trust between ruler and subject? Are you green-eyed because my newspaper venture earns too much, fearing that my achievements might overshadow yours one day?"

"Is that why you wanted to join forces with those running dogs in the court to screw me over? When one wants to condemn someone, pretexts are never lacking!"

Old Zhu slammed the table and cursed furiously, "Audacious!!! Qin Feng, do you think I dare not sever your head? If not for my consideration of your merits in founding the newspaper and increasing the imperial treasury’s silver, I would have lopped off your head long ago!"

"Yet now you are so arrogant, uttering such wild and reckless words in the great hall. Even if I could tolerate you, the hundred officials cannot! Today I hereby strip you of your post as the Crown Prince’s Grand Tutor and relieve you of your management of river affairs and the Shanglin Park!"

"The newspaper was founded entirely by your own hands; I shall grant you one more chance to continue running it. Li Tai is dead, leaving no opposing witness, nor is there any way to prove your innocence. This time I shall not pursue the matter!"

"But if anyone should ever spread word again that you embezzled treasury silver, I shall definitely bring you to justice, and have you dragged outside the Meridian Gate to be beheaded as a public spectacle to set things right!"

Zhu Biao glanced at Qin Feng and immediately chimed in with his own acting performance.

"Father Emperor! Teacher Qin is wronged! Father Emperor cannot wrong an innocent man and chill the hearts of loyal ministers!"

Old Zhu cast a cold glance at Zhu Biao and roared, "Crown Prince!!! If you dare plead for Qin Feng one more time, I shall punish you along with him! Court is dismissed!!!"

With a majestic and thunderous shout, Old Zhu terrified the officials assembled in the court into utter silence.

Qin Feng thought to himself inwardly: Old Zhu and Zhu Biao’s acting skills are truly something else; if placed in later generations, they could definitely win an Oscar!