Tang Chen: Starting from the Xuanwu Gate Incident

Chapter 56 Angry Rebuke of the Aristocratic Families

Shen Ce watched the show for a long time; what Wei Zheng and Cui were arguing about was nothing more than the number of official positions available.

During the Wude era, the country was settled, and the opportunity to directly recruit talented individuals into the shogunate was no longer available. Everything had to be done according to the law.

There are many ways to enter officialdom besides the imperial examination.

First, let's talk about hereditary privilege. This was a benefit for officials of the fifth rank and above. In addition, the sons of high-ranking officials could be selected for the Thousand Bulls or the Three Guards. Those with exceptional talent could be recruited by the court. Military merit was not suitable for scholars. Aristocratic families like the Cui family, which were outside the official ranks, would definitely not be interested in it. This was a sign of destroying one's own family reputation.

Shen Ce asked Wen Wuyi in a low voice and learned that in the past five years, only about thirty people had entered officialdom through the imperial examination.

No wonder, they lack ability themselves, their parents aren't capable enough, yet they still dream of becoming officials...

Then Shen Ce saw a young man dressed in white robes, who called himself Cui Min, jump out and bow to Wei Zheng with his hands clasped in a salute.

"I dare not presume to ask for your guidance. I, Wei, only know how to do things diligently. As for my learning, it is far inferior to that of those before you. Please speak freely, and we can discuss and learn together," Wei Zheng replied in a vigorous voice.

Cui Min straightened up, his gaze frank: "Since childhood, I have been studying, but I have never been able to understand the sentence in the Analects, Book 8, 'The ruler treats his ministers with propriety, and the ministers serve their ruler with loyalty.' Does Confucius mean that propriety and loyalty are reciprocal between ruler and minister? I would appreciate it if Lord Wei could enlighten me."

The hall fell silent. Cui Shousu picked up his wine cup and began to sip his tea, a cold glint flashing in his eyes, showing no sign of drunkenness.

Shen Ce felt a chill run down his spine. He exchanged a glance with Wen Wuyin, both of them seeing worry in each other's eyes. This was not a request for advice, but rather a handing Wei Zheng a knife.

These remarks could mean either that the court did not treat the powerful families of Shandong as it would treat its own subjects, or that Wei Zheng did not remain loyal to his many former lords. If it is the latter, then it is a blatant insult.

Wei Zheng could not afford to turn against him at this point, because if things escalated, the Cui clan could naturally frame the matter as a discussion of scholarship or an inquiry into the Cui clan's own experiences, and would certainly not have any intention of satirizing Wei Zheng.

Wei Zheng chuckled lightly, "That's one way to understand it."

Cui Hongli frankly replied, "Then I would like to ask: if a ruler treats his subjects with courtesy, the subject will naturally repay him with loyalty. But if a ruler does not treat his subjects with courtesy, what should the subject do?"

Wei Zheng first glanced at Cui Shousu, then looked directly at Cui Min, and after a moment of silence, said softly, "That depends on who you mean by 'minister'?"

After a long silence, Cui Shousu suddenly spoke up, "What does Lord Wei think?"

Wei Zheng straightened up and said loudly, "If a subject is an ordinary ruler, and the ruler does not treat him with propriety, he may remonstrate, argue, or leave. Confucius traveled to various states and never stayed with one ruler for the entire term. The reason the sage left was not because he was disloyal, but because his principles were different."

If this "subject" is not an individual, but a family or clan that has received the nation's favor and sustenance for generations, can the ruler's lack of courtesy be a reason for disloyalty?

Cui Min, kneeling at the lower end, gripped the brocade couch beneath his knees tightly with both hands when he heard Wei Zheng so easily refute the trap he had set, his face contorted with rage.

Although he was born into the Cui family, he was born out of wedlock, and none of his ancestors had served as officials. When the court sent people to appease him, they would surely make a deal with the Cui family. If he did not fulfill the task assigned by the clan elders at this time and did not win this round, he would have no chance to serve in the government in the future. Thinking of this, he prepared to take a risk.

He suddenly looked up: "Does Ruochen mean Duke Wei?"

These words shocked everyone present. Cui Dunli, the second son of the emperor, was particularly embarrassed. The envoy had come to the Cui family with the mission of delivering an imperial decree to him, and this unpleasant incident, if it got out, would make it impossible for him to serve as an official in the court.

"Insolence! Lord Wei is the Emperor's special envoy, sent by imperial decree!" Cui Dunli stood up angrily, pointing at Cui Min and shouting, "When did my Cui family produce such an impudent person as you? Guards, take him away!"

When the Cui clan members outside the hall heard Cui Dunli from the second branch say this, they hesitated and quickly looked at the clan elders.

After receiving a hint from Cui Shousu, the group entered the room and dragged the "drunk" Cui Min away.

Cui Shousu rose and bowed to Wei Zheng, saying apologetically, "The members of my clan rarely drink alcohol. I have lost my composure today. Please forgive me, Lord Wei."

After he finished speaking, no one else brought up a new topic, which shows that although the person is gone, the problem remains.

Wei Zheng remained silent for a long time, his face cold.

Since Cui Min started asking questions, Shen Ce remained silent, partly because no one was asking him, and partly because he felt his status wasn't high enough.

But by this time, Cui's problem had already involved the mission. As the deputy, he naturally had to make a statement.

"Damn it, I'm just so angry!" Ignoring Wen Wuyin's advice, he rose and went into the hall, bowing to everyone in turn, and frankly said:

"I am Shen Ce, a junior, and my position is lowly and my words carry little weight. I should not show off in front of you all. But Brother Cui Min's question just now has something on my mind that I must say."

All eyes once again fell on the green-robed official at the lower seat. Cui Shousu looked up at Shen Ce below the hall: "Vice Envoy, please speak."

Shen Ce straightened his clothes, glanced at everyone present, and said loudly, "Those who have received the country's favor for generations should not be disloyal because the ruler does not act according to propriety. He then asked if this 'minister' referred to Duke Wei himself."

He paused, then his voice suddenly rose: "This junior would like to ask Master Cui, and all the talented young men of the Cui family present, the Cui family has lived in Boling for generations. Since the Jin dynasty moved south, the family has served ten dynasties, including Zhao, the Three Wei, the Two Yan, Qin, Qi, Zhou, and Sui."

Over the centuries, the divine artifacts changed hands several times, and the state changed hands several times.

Of the Cui family members, who died for the Jin dynasty?

Is there anyone willing to die for Wei?

Is there anyone who can defend the city for Northern Qi?

Is there anyone who will fight against the Sui Dynasty for the Northern Zhou?

Shen Ce's voice drowned out the lingering foul sounds in Qinghui Hall, each word piercing the hearts of those present like awls.

Cui Shousu, the clan elder, had lost the rosy glow from his face and now looked rather pale. The wine in his cup had spilled onto the ground, but he was completely unaware of it.

Seeing that no one answered, Shen Ce took a few steps forward, stood in front of Cui Shousu, and pressed him again:

"When the Jin dynasty fell, the Cui family served as officials in the Wei dynasty."

When Wei divided the country into east and west, the Cui family had people on both sides;

"When the state of Qi fell, the Cui family held official positions in the Zhou dynasty."

"When the Zhou dynasty fell, the Cui family served as officials in the Sui dynasty."

"When the Sui Dynasty fell, the Cui family held official positions in the Tang Dynasty."

"Over the centuries, to which family has the Cui family truly remained loyal?"

"I, Shen, am of limited talent and ambition; I humbly request Lord Cui's reply!"

Cui Shousu clenched his fists, his eyes fixed on Shen Ce below. He wanted to answer, but he couldn't. His Cui family had been a powerful clan for generations, and their loyalty was not to the emperor.

The Cui clan members on both sides stared intently at Shen Ce, but couldn't utter a single word.

Seeing the situation reversed, Cui Dunli, with no elders or juniors of the Cui family daring to step forward and answer, forced himself to stand up and stood in front of Shen Ce.

"I, the Cui family, am not only loyal to the emperor, but also to the common people around us and to all the scholars in the world."

Shen Ce quickly stepped forward to help Cui Dunli up, and said in a low voice, "Lord Cui, I am not here to question the Cui family. I only want to ask, you Cui family use the word 'loyalty' to question my Duke Wei, have you ever measured yourselves with that standard of loyalty?"