Chapter 406: Deliberations on Attacking Eastern Tomb
The next day at court.
The court captain reported that Eastern Tomb individuals had been spotted in the capital last night. After a half-night investigation, a courtyard full of Eastern Tomb Kingdom people was discovered in an alley in the western part of the capital. According to the thorough investigation, this group of Eastern Tomb people had been lurking in the capital for at least two months.
"These people have no small ambitions!" Yun Chu spoke coldly from behind the curtain. "The Eastern Tomb Kingdom has infiltrated our Great Jin capital—their wolfish ambitions are clear. Do you still believe we need not go to war with Eastern Tomb?"
The issue of war with Eastern Tomb Kingdom was brought up almost every court session.
But previously, Yun Chu had never expressed her opinion. This time, however, before anyone else could speak, she was the first to state her position.
Those belonging to her faction immediately stepped forward.
The first was Junior Tutor Nie Zhou: "I advocate for war! The Eastern Tomb Kingdom has repeatedly harassed our coastal cities, nearly abducted Her Highness the Eldest Princess, and the former Crown Prince died in a naval battle with Eastern Tomb... Great Jin and Eastern Tomb share a blood debt. If we do not avenge this, how can Great Jin claim to be the most powerful nation in the Central Plains?"
"I second the motion." Lord Xiang followed suit. "With so many Eastern Tomb people hiding in the capital, once their numbers grow large enough, they will inevitably cause numerous incidents. When the capital falls into chaos from within, the nation will follow. This battle must be fought!"
"The two ministers speak too lightly." The Minister of Revenue stepped forward. "War requires silver and provisions—where will these come from?"
"To attack Eastern Tomb, we must engage in naval warfare!" another minister interjected. "Eastern Tomb excels at naval combat, while our Great Jin soldiers are skilled in cavalry and land battles. In such a confrontation, Great Jin would be at a disadvantage—how is that different from sending our men to their deaths?"
The Empress Dowager's faction and the Regent's faction refused to yield to each other.
The neutral faction remained silent for the time being.
But from their expressions, Yun Chu could tell that the scholars did not want this war.
From behind the beaded curtain, she stood up and spoke slowly: "Fifty years ago, during Emperor Chongde's reign, Great Jin launched multiple campaigns. The common people suffered greatly from war and deeply cherish the hard-won peace. Therefore, I can understand your reluctance to go to war. With a new emperor on the throne and political reforms underway, who doesn't wish for stability and prosperity? But Eastern Tomb has taken advantage of this vulnerability to openly provoke Great Jin. They are like a blade hanging over the heads of Great Jin's subjects—sooner or later, that blade will fall, if not on us, then on our descendants."
"I know most of you don't believe Eastern Tomb can cause any real trouble. How do we describe Eastern Tomb? A tiny territory—very fitting. Yet it is this tiny territory that killed the former Crown Prince..."
At this point, Yun Chu fell silent.
She was unwilling to admit that Chu Yi was dead, but since everyone believed he was, she could only pretend he was gone.
"Eastern Tomb relies on that vast ocean to brazenly provoke Great Jin, because they know Great Jin is unwilling to go to war. No matter how they plunder the resources along our coast, Great Jin will never truly send troops... Their ambitions grow day by day. When the day comes that we are evenly matched, it won't be us considering whether to launch a campaign—it will be Eastern Tomb striking first, forcing all of Great Jin to take up arms in defense..."Her measured tone spoke of ironclad facts, rendering the civil and military officials speechless.
The great hall was so quiet one could hear a pin drop.
"Therefore, this war cannot be avoided by the Great Jin," Yun Chu continued. "Either we fight it now, or our descendants will have to fight it. I ask you, esteemed ministers, would you willingly send the children you've raised with such care onto the battlefield?"
The inherent passion in the scholars' proud bones was awakened.
Since ancient times, scholars had looked down upon military men, considering them crude and resolving matters only through brute force.
But now, the Eastern Tomb Kingdom had danced its way to the imperial city itself. To still advocate for peace at this point wasn't magnanimity—it was cowardice.
How could the most powerful kingdom in the Central Plains be so spineless?
Chief Li stepped forward: "Your subject supports going to war and is willing to contribute my humble efforts."
As the leader of the scholars, his stance prompted other scholars to step forward and second the motion.
The military officials at court had long been restless: "Fight, we must fight! Let's teach those bastards a lesson and wipe them out!"
"Excellent!" Chu Hongyu clapped his hands. "Since the vast majority of my esteemed ministers support going to war, the minority shall yield to the majority. This matter is settled."
The Minister of Revenue glanced at Chu Rui.
He stepped forward, cupping his hands: "This old minister does not oppose going to war, but as the old saying goes, war requires silver and provisions. Where will these come from?"
The Minister of War stepped forward: "Moreover, naval warfare is indeed a major problem. If we don't devise a solution, countless Great Jin soldiers will be sacrificed."
Chu Hongyu immediately spoke up: "Don't panic, my esteemed ministers. Regarding naval warfare, I have preliminary ideas."
The Minister of Works silently lowered his head.
The young emperor attended morning court sessions, spent afternoons amusing himself at their residences, and slept at night. He didn't believe the emperor had time to ponder such matters of state.
But he wouldn't voice these thoughts.
The Empress Dowager had bestowed gifts upon his wife—having accepted favors, he could only silently guard this great secret.
"I have a solution for the provisions," Yun Chu declared. "As for the silver needed for the war, I'll trouble the Minister of Revenue to put more thought into that."
The Minister of Revenue was speechless.
He couldn't refuse.
Because the Empress Dowager, a mere woman, had taken charge of provisions. If he, as Minister of Revenue, couldn't even gather the silver, wouldn't that make him appear incompetent?
The morning court session concluded.
The Minister of Revenue looked toward Chu Rui.
Among the Six Ministries, the Ministry of Revenue managed funds, households, and land—the most valued functional department. He had become the Regent's man two years earlier.
Chu Rui spoke calmly: "Since the Emperor and Empress Dowager have spoken, the Minister of Revenue should gather more silver. The Great Jin cannot lose this war."
His reason for not advocating war was fear of exhausting the people and resources, worried that when he eventually ascended the throne, he would inherit a devastated Great Jin.
But Yun Chu was right—since this war was inevitable sooner or later, better sooner than later.
If they lost, the young emperor and empress dowager would face public condemnation.
If they won, he would inherit a Great Jin receiving tribute from all nations when he took over.
Either way, he stood to benefit.
The Minister of Revenue accepted the order and went to handle it.
Chu Rui walked outside and summoned Lord Lin: "What has the Emperor been up to these days?"
Lord Lin replied: "The Emperor remains the same as previous days—every afternoon he takes a group of study companions to Minister Chen's residence for amusement..."
Chu Rui sneered.
Useless mud that won't stick to walls, rotten wood that cannot be carved.
And Yun Chu didn't even bother to rein him in.Oh, Yun Chu probably wouldn't interfere.
After all, he's not his biological son. If Chu Hongyu proves truly incompetent, Yun Chu likely intends... to support his own young biological son in taking the throne?
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