To my surprise, Liang Xiao merely nodded and said, "I will go."
Liang Qing was both surprised and delighted.
He had originally thought Liang Xiao would refuse again and hadn't intended to force him.
Since his grandson had readily agreed to participate in the poetry competition, it meant he truly possessed talent!
The next day, the court assembly proceeded as usual.
Xiao Qing, with a look of confidence, gazed at the civil and military officials below the platform.
"Although the nation enjoys peace and prosperity, many corrupt officials and scoundrels have still emerged. I have pondered deeply and finally understood that treating symptoms will not cure the root cause; we need to administer medicine precisely for the ailment."
The officials chimed in, "Your Majesty is wise!"
"Do any of my ministers have a good strategy to resolve the issue of corrupt officials and scoundrels?" Xiao Qing asked with a smile.
The officials exchanged glances.
The Minister of Personnel stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, the nation has laws, and there are also supervising censors..."
"Yet corrupt officials and scoundrels continue to emerge endlessly, corroding the court," Xiao Qing stated gravely.
The assembled officials were ashamed and dared not retort.
Only then did Xiao Qing continue, "From this day forward, all of you ministers shall compile a complete list of your descendants, clan members, and former subordinates. These lists will be submitted for my review and that of the officials. Anyone found to have concealed information or falsified records will be immediately dismissed from office upon discovery!"
The statement sent shockwaves through the court and the country!
What was the Emperor intending to do?
Wang Canghai was the first to comprehend, his face beaming with joy, "Our Emperor is wise!"
The rest of the officials, realizing the implications, also cried out, "Our Emperor is wise."
Xiao Qing continued gravely, "These relationships will be compiled into charts and presented to all officials for perusal. Henceforth, whenever someone is recommended for office, or petitions for promotion or reward, their case will be compared against these charts, and then I and the ministers will make the final decision."
"Furthermore, the court will henceforth implement a more stringent accountability system. If an official who has been recommended commits any wrongdoing, their recommender will also be subject to investigation, with the Emperor and the Prime Minister deciding the punishment."
As soon as the words fell, over half of the officials below the platform broke out in a sweat like pouring rain!
This was intended to sever their path of nepotism and cronyism!
Xiao Qing's approach was gentle, yet it was entirely justifiable and left no room for objection!
Wang Canghai, tears streaming down his face, declared, "Our Emperor truly possesses the qualities of a sage ruler. Great Qian is secure!"
Led by Wang Canghai, Liang Qing and others prostrated themselves, overcome with emotion and shedding tears.
This was an unprecedented move by the previous emperors of Great Qian, truly ingenious!
The other officials, seeing this, also kowtowed, praising Xiao Qing's wisdom.
Even Ning Xuejun and Ding Wu Yi, who were positioned behind the screen near Xiao Qing, exchanged tearful glances and nodded slightly, silently praying and seeking solace for the departed Emperor's spirit.
They believed that this measure would effectively combat the prevalence of corruption.
Those officials who engaged in nepotism, fearing implication by corrupt elements, would have to carefully weigh their decisions and make recommendations with greater caution!
Brilliant!
Xiao Qing gazed at the excited officials below, feeling immensely proud.
He couldn't help but want to laugh and cry at the same time.
Liang Xiao's smile, which made one feel as if basking in a spring breeze, and his figure clad in white robes, lingered in his mind.
It was precisely the three essays provided by Liang Xiao that had greatly inspired Xiao Qing!
Gaining the recognition of everyone indicated that Liang Xiao's suggestions were indeed feasible.
Not all the civil and military officials were corrupt. For example, Prime Minister Wang Canghai was a renowned minister of this era, upright in his conduct, and one of the four great pillars appointed by the late Emperor, commanding universal respect.
With such individuals assisting him in implementing this policy, success was within reach!
"Liang Xiao..."
At this moment, Xiao Qing could no longer hear the officials' praise; he merely murmured his name in his heart.
No matter what, he would find a way to bring him into the court to serve as an official sooner or later!
"It's not that I'm ungrateful, but you offended me first, mistaking me for a eunuch and saying I still sucked on a pacifier... You owe me for this lifetime!"
Xiao Qing muttered to himself, finally finding a reason to "coerce" Liang Xiao.
The thought of Liang Xiao playfully teasing him made Xiao Qing sulk. He wanted to tie him up and bring him to the palace, then crack open his head to see how many more statecraft strategies he harbored...
"Tonight, I'll go see him again. I'm just concerned about a future renowned minister..." Xiao Qing resolved, starting to plan.
"Achoo!"
In the courtyard, Liang Xiao sneezed heartily.
Yue Lian anxiously said, "Young master, let me add another layer of clothing for you!"
Liang Xiao shook his head, "No need, I'm quite warm. Perhaps someone is speaking ill of me."
Liang Xiao was in a good mood today. Under the pretext of attending the poetry competition that evening, he had sent someone to ask Zhuo Zifang for leave, and Zhuo Zifang had actually agreed.
"No need to write today," Liang Xiao thought gleefully.
An hour later, Zhuo Zifang appeared in Liang Xiao's courtyard with a smile.
"Liang Xiao, you personally promised old me a 'hush money' payment every day!"
Liang Xiao's brow twitched, "Don't you need to attend the court assembly?"
Zhuo Zifang stroked his beard and smiled, "I have long retired and returned to my village. I now hold only an honorary position. You are always absorbed in your studies and unaware of such matters."
This old fellow had actually come all the way to the Liang residence!
Liang Xiao, resigned, invited Zhuo Zifang into the room.
Zhuo Zifang personally ground ink for Liang Xiao, reminding him, "You must use your right hand."
Liang Xiao rolled his eyes, switched his left hand for his right, and with a flourish of his brush, wrote:
[Heaven and earth have a righteous spirit, composed of myriad forms. ]
Zhuo Zifang was immediately overjoyed. Then his eyes darted, and he feigned displeasure, "It's too short, write more!"
Liang Xiao suppressed the urge to pin Zhuo Zifang onto the table and force him to copy the Four Books and Five Classics a hundred times, and added another line.
[Below it forms the rivers and mountains, above it, the sun and stars. ]
"This is a poem, isn't it? Finish it quickly," Zhuo Zifang urged.
"That's all," Liang Xiao replied, shaking his head.
"Add a bit more, and each line will count as one day! One extra line is three days, otherwise, it's just one day. What a waste," Zhuo Zifang began to haggle.
Liang Xiao pondered for a moment, then continued.
[Heaven and earth have a righteous spirit, composed of myriad forms. Below it forms the rivers and mountains, above it, the sun and stars. In people, it is called the noble spirit, vast and filling the heavens and earth. The imperial path should be clear and peaceful, embracing harmony and emitting brilliance. When times are dire, integrity is revealed, each etched in vermilion ink. ]
Liang Xiao finally stopped writing and declared, "Enough! Five lines, five days!"
Zhuo Zifang did not respond to Liang Xiao, for his eyes were wide with astonishment!
"What immense and noble spirit this is!"
In a daze, he seemed to see a noble spirit filling heaven and earth, undergoing myriad transformations, finally manifesting as Liang Xiao himself.
Zhuo Zifang was on the verge of tears.
The nation's fortune was immense to have such a talented individual!
"I still feel there's more I could say," Zhuo Zifang marveled repeatedly.
Liang Xiao deliberately put on a stern face and said, "If you push your luck any further, I will truly be angry."
Zhuo Zifang then became obedient, picked up the calligraphy and examined it, unable to put it down.
"During these five days, you can go to the Imperial Academy, but you are free to move about in your study."
Zhuo Zifang left, completely satisfied.
In the evening, Luo Qingxue arrived as scheduled, her expression indifferent, and looked at Liang Xiao, "Poetry is spontaneous creation. I shall see if you truly possess talent."
"If you believe I will definitely compose poems and couplets at the assembly, then you are mistaken," Liang Xiao said with a smile.
"What do you mean?" Luo Qingxue frowned slightly.
"As you yourself said, it is spontaneous creation. If these people displease me, I cannot guarantee how your poetry competition will conclude."
Luo Qingxue said coldly, "As you wish."
As night fell, carriages from the Liang and Luo residences set off for the Imperial Academy.
In the main hall of the Liang residence, Liang Qing knelt before Xiao Qing, his face filled with apprehension, "Your Majesty, my grandson went to the Imperial Academy today with his fiancée to participate in the poetry competition..."