Chapter 27: The Six Ministries Decline

Just as the Emperor had sat down and was preparing to rest for a moment, Eunuch Qian entered carrying a secret report.

Sure enough, the Emperor asked the same question: "Where is the previous one?"

Eunuch Qian repeated Wei Zhishan's explanation verbatim.

Upon opening the envelope, there was an official document and a folded piece of paper inside.

Judging by the content written on the cover of the document, it appeared to be a New Year's greeting written by Meng Changqing to the Prefect of Liangzhou.

The Emperor unfolded the paper to read its contents; after only a few lines, his brow furrowed deeply, and he immediately opened the adjacent official document.

The document read: *The common people are inadequately clothed and lack permanent shelter; children fill their bellies with mud. In winter, they suffer from both hunger and cold; from spring to autumn, the wars are incessant.*

*The people have not a single day of peace in life, nor a single patch of pure land in death.*

Meng Changqing had written two full pages describing such tragedies.

Following that, he wrote that if the people of Beishan County wished to survive, their only option was to race against time to build a city wall.

Building on the original site was neither cost-effective nor safe due to numerous hidden risks; it would be better to simply push the city wall forward.

The Emperor finished reading the official document and then looked at the paper, which detailed the selected location for the new wall, the remaining time for construction, and the shortage of essential supplies.

Having read it all, he understood why the tenth secret report had been sent to the capital with such urgency, accompanying the Prefect of Liangzhou's memorial.

This Meng Changqing truly could not remain idle for even a moment.

"Go and summon the Grand Tutor and the Ministers of the Six Ministries."

"Yes." The eunuch delivering the command bowed and retreated at a normal pace, only to be suddenly urged by the Emperor, "Faster!"

Startled, the eunuch hurried his steps.

The Emperor paced within the Imperial Study, instructing Eunuch Qian to bring the map of Liangzhou before him so he could locate the construction site Meng Changqing had proposed.

"Such a blockade is indeed ingenious," the Emperor remarked, occasionally clapping his hands.

"Changqing, oh Changqing, do not just make things sound good on paper."

Because of the Emperor's urgent summons, the Ministers of the Six Ministries had not yet reached their respective offices before being hurriedly carried by sedan chairs to the palace gates.

The ministers were bewildered. Walking together as they entered the palace, they whispered among themselves, "Do any of you know why His Majesty has summoned us so urgently?"

They asked around, but no one knew the reason.

Upon entering the Imperial Study and seeing the Emperor's expression, the officials felt a sudden sense of familiarity.

It seemed that two years ago, when Meng Changqing was causing chaos from the Eastern Palace to the Imperial Manors, His Majesty had worn this exact expression.

They remembered how the Emperor had been deeply troubled back then, his reprimands never ceasing, yet his actions had never once stopped him.

"Greetings, Your Majesty."

The Emperor briefly shifted his gaze from the map. "Sit, my dear ministers."

"Your Majesty has summoned us; is there some important matter to discuss?"

The Emperor did not even look up. "We shall speak once the Grand Tutor arrives."

Sitting below, the ministers could not help but speculate.

To summon all six ministers and the old Grand Tutor meant this was no small matter.

It didn't seem like something Meng Changqing could have caused.

Some guessed that His Majesty might be intending to completely abolish the Three Departments system. After all, while the current dynasty followed the precedents of the previous one by establishing the Three Departments, to avoid the crises of the past and prevent officials from seizing absolute power, the departments had never been headed by permanent officials.

Perhaps His Majesty had finally resolved to make the change.

The Grand Tutor arrived slightly later; due to his advanced age, he only attended court occasionally, and the palace eunuchs had been sent to fetch him from his home.

Once everyone was assembled, the Emperor passed around the New Year's greeting written by Meng Changqing. "All of you, look at what is written here."

Forget the contents—just looking at the heading: *Meng Changqing, Magistrate of Beishan County, offers New Year's greetings to the High Official.*

What? Had Meng Changqing gone too far with his flattery in Liangzhou and been reported by the Prefect?

This Prefect of Liangzhou was, after all, an old acquaintance of General Meng; to complain to His Majesty over such a trivial matter showed a complete lack of magnanimity.

But as they flipped through the contents, their thoughts shifted abruptly. *Good, quite good, Meng Changqing—he truly never knows how to behave.*

He knew His Majesty had sent him to Liangzhou to avoid the Xiao family, yet looking at this, he was determined to carve out a Beishan County for himself.

The greeting was passed around until it returned to the Emperor's desk.

"What are your thoughts, my ministers?" the Emperor asked.

The ministers looked toward the Grand Tutor. Since none of them understood the Emperor's true intentions, no one wanted to speak first.

Seeing their silence, the Emperor began calling on them by name. "Ministry of War."

Shi Wanshan, the Minister of War, spoke cautiously, "Reporting to Your Majesty, Changqing's intention would benefit the borderlands, and I support it. However, the exact location of the new site still requires careful deliberation."

The Emperor passed the paper around again. The Minister of Revenue grew anxious; how many days had Meng Changqing even spent in Beishan County? Yet he dared to demand so much.

Furthermore, building forty miles of city walls in two months—he had never heard of anyone possessing such ability. The boy was too arrogant.

Relying on the merits of his father and brothers and the Emperor's favor, he treated matters of state like a game; it was truly disappointing.

"Minister Zhu, I see you look unwell."

The Minister of Revenue stood up to reply, "Reporting to Your Majesty, there have been constant wars at the borders in recent years, and the national treasury is not wealthy. Moreover, while the population has grown in recent years, most of that growth is in the south; the population in the north has not increased. If we were to conscript laborers from the south, there would not be enough time. I believe Changqing's request is inappropriate. I do not believe that forty miles of city walls can be built within two months. It would be better to let him settle—"

The Emperor raised his hand, cutting him off directly. "Bring up the map."

The Emperor had already marked the location of the proposed wall on the map with cinnabar. "Come closer, ministers, and see if that wall is truly necessary to build."

Upon seeing it, the Minister of War realized the location was indeed excellent. "Your Majesty! If this wall is completed, it will be of great benefit to Liangzhou!"

"What do the other ministers think?" the Emperor asked.

"Minister Shi is absolutely correct." Every official present could see the benefits, but they also understood how difficult it would be to build such a wall.

"Then, how shall it be built?" the Emperor asked again.

None of the six ministers wanted to be the first to speak.

"If no conclusion can be reached through discussion, then you ministers shall remain here with me indefinitely."

The Minister of Personnel said, "Your Majesty, in my view, this matter should be handed to the Ministry of Works."

The Minister of Rites immediately echoed him, "I also believe it should be so. Construction is fundamentally the responsibility of the Ministry of Works. Changqing is young; letting him preside over it would be too risky. The officials of the Ministry of Works are more steady."

The Minister of Works did not want the task, primarily because he knew he wouldn't be able to execute it well. "Your Majesty, although construction is the responsibility of my ministry, the location of Beishan County is unique. It would be better to hand it to the Ministry of War."

The Grand Tutor had not spoken since entering. Sitting in his chair, he asked Eunuch Qian for the two items Meng Changqing had written and studied them repeatedly.

"Your Majesty," the Minister of War also did not want to take it on, "my ministry truly cannot spare the manpower."

"I understand," the Emperor said. "Everyone says this matter would be beneficial if accomplished, yet no one wants to take the lead. Then what use do I have for you?"

The six ministers knelt in unison. "We are guilty, Your Majesty."

"Since Changqing is already in Beishan County, he must understand the local conditions. To have such a plan and guarantee completion within two months—why does Your Majesty not trust him?" The Minister of War decisively pushed the responsibility toward the Ministry of Revenue. "Minister Zhu, do not simply cry poverty. Our Great Liang is not so destitute that we cannot afford the things Changqing requires, can we?"

"Your Majesty," the Minister of Revenue was about to speak, but upon seeing the Emperor's grim expression—and realizing that the items Meng Changqing requested were indeed not much in the context of the entire Great Liang—he immediately changed his tune, "We can afford it."