Chapter 133.2 This Fake Is Real (2/2)
Chapter 133.2 This Fake Is Real (2/2)
“That’s right. We will never agree to it! The Great Qing Empire is Zhu’s empire! How dare an outsider like you dare steal the empire?” the Minister of Rites said angrily.
“So, all that you care about is the emperor’s bloodline and not the commoners’ lives! Whether those poor souls live or die is something unrelated to you, right?” Wang Ke questioned them sternly.
“We…!” Everyone was at a loss for words.
“Humph, you? You forgot, didn’t you? Zhu Yan is not the one who feeds you, but the Great Qing Empire does! You are loyal to the Great Qing Empire, not to Zhu Yan’s bloodline!” Wang Ke shouted at them.
“Isn’t it the same?” the Vice-minister of Revenue retorted.
“It’s different! Completely different!” Wang Ke answered back, “Zhu Yan is Zhu Yan! The Great Qing is the Great Qing! The empire is not a piece of Zhu Yan’s body, while Zhu Yan is indeed a part of the Great Qing Empire! The empire includes Zhu Yan, including you and millions of people! Those millions of people are the most important part of the empire! Your loyalty doesn’t belong to Zhu Yan, but to the people, to the world! You should uphold conscience for heaven and earth; you should secure life and fortune for the people, to continue the lost teachings following the steps of past sages, and to establish peace for all generations! You are not Zhu Yan’s pet dogs! You are not your own! You belong to the world! You are part of the people too! Why did you become Zhu Yan’s dogs? Ask yourselves, are you fit to wear the ministerial robes on you? Are you being worthy to serve the people? Huh?” Wang Ke continued while shouting nonstop.
His loud voice was like the strikes of deafening bells blasting their ears. Only Zhu Yan was looking at Wang Ke with eyes wide in disbelief. You are darn good at bluffing, aren’t cha? You just erased by name from the Great Qing Empire!
“You are lacking as officials of the empire! Think again. Where did your salary come from? Where did all your riches come from?” Wang Ke continued to question them.
“It was given by the imperial court…!” an official answered softly.
Wang Ke replied, “That’s right. Can you speak louder? Where did the imperial court get the money from, if the court was the one handing the money? Zhu Yan pulled it out of a magical hat? No! It came from the people! The tax was given by the people! The money they paid fed you! It’s the people’s lifeblood! They were the ones who gave you good lives; they painstakingly scraped that money and gave it to you! It wasn’t Zhu Yan, but the people!
“And now, the people are suffering while oppressed by the military clans; it’s a living hell! And yet, they suffer right before your eyes, and you don’t even care! All you say is, ‘I can’t do anything!’ Is that all? Is that excuse enough to spare you from doing anything?” said Wang Ke in a mocking tone.
The old men looked down with heavy hearts.
“Remember! Your salary comes from the people’s lifeblood! It is easy to deceive people but difficult to deceive Heaven! You act while Heaven is watching! Nothing you did is hidden before the eyes of Heaven. You are pests! All of you!” Wang Ke rebuked them.
Some of the old men wiped their tears.
Zhu Yan was stunned by the situation. What’s the purpose of scolding this bunch of old men?
“Wang Ke, tell us then… What can we do?” the Vice-minister of Revenue asked, gnashing his teeth.
Wang Ke answered solemnly, “The Great Qing is already in a deep mess; we must do all we can to prevent it from descending into a greater chaos. We need to help the people. The quickest way is to declare that the Great Qing Empire still stands; the central government still holds power in the Qing Capital!
“You are all veterans of the imperial court; your students and followers hold positions all across the empire; write them letters immediately, asking them to declare their support for the Wang Clan to succeed the throne, all to quickly stabilize the Great Qing and restore order. Ensure that rebels are barred from recruiting more soldiers and their supplies cut off. Sever their roots, and they will wither on their own! That way the people will have a chance to live their peaceful lives once again!”
“Wang Ke! You want them to validate this fake edict?” Zhu Yan cried out angrily.
All the elderly officials looked at Wang Ke.
Wang Ke pulled his big cousin-brother closer and said, “Of course, we can’t do this according to this imperial edict; I’m already an immortal sect disciple, so I can’t take over the throne. That is why I’m going to hand over my throne to your Great General. He will inherit the Great Qing Empire!”
The general and the others were stunned.
Our Clan Lord is awesome indeed! He bluffed until all these stubborn old men started to shed tears endlessly.
“Him?” The officials looked at his big cousin-brother.
Wang Ke continued to persuade them, “That’s right. Everyone, the question remains… Do you remember your original motivation? Why did you become officials? Don’t you want to do something for the people? That’s right, you can choose to ignore it! The Great Qing is over and done with as it is! Wait for this catastrophe to continue wreaking havoc on this beloved land of yours! Some of your clan members might survive, but what about the innocent people? The people who gave you the authority? Everyone, the Great Qing Empire needs you, ministers who dare to speak up, to protect! That bast*rd Zhu Yan doesn’t need protecting, but the empire does!”
The officials remained silent—
But Zhu Yan was about to fly into a rage. Freaking hell! You are the bast*rd.
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Wang Ke continued, “Zhu Yan brought destruction to the Great Qing, and you share part of the responsibility! You indulged him all these years! Now is the time for you to save the Great Qing! Take note, your name will be recorded in history if you succeed! Your descendants will enjoy the glory years down the road and live a smooth life! You will become role models of the empire and receive praise upon praise from the people! You will do them a great service once you establish a peaceful empire!”
Those words moved the old men’s hearts.
Some were convinced by Wang Ke’s reasoning. Those who were more concerned about their own personal benefit were only convinced by that last line of reasoning.
Yeah, considering these chaotic times, even if my clan is somewhere else and not trapped like myself, would they be absolutely safe?They could be killed by rebel armies later!And then everything would be over…
But if I follow Wang Ke and support the Wang Clan’s reign, I will become a great contributor to a peaceful empire! My clan would then prosper for many generations!
Some officials who were lured by the potential gains were quick to speak up.
An elderly official said, “Wang Ke, you’re right. The Great Qing was already heading toward her grave under the rule of that fatuous and self-indulgent Zhu Yan, but I did nothing about it… I failed the Great Qing, I failed its people. I’m not worthy of my salary and the ministerial robe! I’ve already forgotten my ambition when I first stepped into office. You woke me up! I must stop going with the flow, in a blur. I will cooperate with your initiative and acknowledge this edict as the real thing! I want to do something for the people! I want to do something according to my original motivation! I support the Wang Clan to take over the Great Qing Empire!”
“Minister of Rites! Thank you for your willingness to do something for the people! I thank you on their behalf!” Wang Ke said seriously.
“I’m also willing to acknowledge this imperial edict as authentic! I shall write letters to all my past followers and students to rally their support for Wang Clan’s cause to save the Great Qing Empire!”
“I’m also willing to recognize the imperial edict as real! I will inform my nephew who is leading an army out there, to stop him from joining any military clans and serve the Great Qing Empire instead!”
“We acknowledge this imperial edict!”
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The old officials declared their support, taking the edict as authentic.
“To uphold the conscience of heaven and earth! Secure life and fortune for the people! Continue the lost teachings for the sake of the past sages! Establish peace for all generations!”
“Our salary is the people’s lifeblood! It is easy to deceive people but difficult to deceive Heaven itself!”
“We act and Heaven watches!”
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The old men were filled with passion and fervor. They were willing to use all their connections to support Wang Ke’s big cousin-brother to take the throne and give validity to the fake edict! They were willing to carry the crumbled Great Qing Empire on their own shoulders.
Even the Vice-minister of Revenue who had taken Zhu Yan along had a fervent look. They were acting like brainwashed by some multi-level marketing expert; they pledged their services as though running on steroids.
“It’s fake! It’s fake! Wang Ke said it already! The edict is fake!” Zhu Yan raged on, “Have you lost your minds?”
Unfortunately for him, the old men’s voices drowned his cries.
Zhu Yan was going mad as he looked at those elderly officials going all out to support Wang Ke’s clan. You’re all insane!Wang Ke is just bluffing to gain benefits out of you!
Zhu Yan flipped his hood back and leaped toward Wang Ke. “Wang Ke, you’re such a bully!”