Chapter 11: The Emperor Guards the Gates, The King Sacrifices for the Realm

The words had barely been spoken when Tang Yu interrupted, her voice cutting through:
“Today, I restore your position and issue a new order. I appoint you as Junior Minister of Works, Third Rank. Receive the decree!”

What!
The crowd was stunned!
Especially Su Huan, who never imagined the Emperor would spare him from imprisonment and instead appoint him to such a high office. What on earth was happening?
Ye Yue couldn’t help but laugh aloud. Though Tang Yu often appeared unrestrained and mischievous, her moves were always ingenious, able to adapt to any situation.

If she wished to stir things up, dismissing officials so publicly—though abrupt—was sometimes a calculated strategy.
If dissatisfied, why serve as an official?

The Junior Minister of Works was utterly dumbfounded, his mind buzzing.
“You—you—you, this is not according to the rules!”
Tang Yu’s brow furrowed slightly, her voice stern:
“I am the Son of Heaven. My rules are the rules!”

How could the officials bear this? They immediately protested:
“Your Majesty, the Junior Minister of Works holds a crucial position. Such actions will throw the Ministry into chaos.
No one understands this post better than the current minister!”
“Your Majesty, we cannot accept this!”
“Your Majesty, if you replace us all, the ministries will be left empty and the court will be thrown into turmoil.”

Driven to desperation, the ministers resisted, fearing they would be the next to lose their post.
They invoked all six ministries, as if threatening a mass resignation.

Tang Yu let out a cold laugh.
The six ministries conspiring together, threatening collective resignation—do they think I have no one left to use?

“Fine! Then let me ask the people of this land.
Throughout history, those who take the first place in the imperial exams are mostly from poor families, burning the midnight oil for decades, hoping for that single moment to gain a name and serve in office, to bring honor to their ancestors. Is that not so?”

The commoners looked at each other, dumbstruck. The words were true, and echoed their own hopes.
Yet because of the Emperor, who heeded slander, scholars now seemed worthless.
Was there still hope for those impoverished scholars?
Tang Yu was both the cause and the speaker of these matters.

“Yes, yes!”
One commoner stammered out a reply.

Tang Yu swept her sleeve, speaking righteously:
“Do you believe yourselves to be any less than these dignitaries before you?”

Less?
“No!”
Su Huan was the first to answer, his eyes brimming with defiance.
He had studied the classics, surpassed the powerful, and won first place—a testament to his worth.

“Good!”
Tang Yu’s gaze was full of appreciation. She had long taken notice of this year’s imperial exam and heard much of Su Huan.
Winning first place was impressive, and his essay on waterworks was worth a thousand times more than the idle Junior Minister of Works.
Though his experience was shallow, his talent made him more than suitable for the role.

“I will not let you lose hope again.
There is a saying: take from the people, use for the people.
Everything in Great Xia exists because of its people.
Henceforth, I will abolish the hereditary posts of the privileged and appoint top scholars from the imperial exams, regardless of their background!
Ten years of hard study will finally bring forth a day of recognition.
Scholars of the land need never bow for a handful of rice, nor bend to the powerful.
Great Xia shall, under my guidance, march towards peace.”

“I have let you lose heart.”
Tang Yu’s voice was weighted with emotion, and she stepped back, bowing deeply to the crowd before her.

The Son of Heaven bows?
The common people were struck with awe, tears welling without warning.
Seeing the Emperor’s bow, they knelt as one in fear and reverence.

“Your Majesty, I am just a villager. I do not deserve such an honor!”
“Your Majesty!”
Cries echoed throughout, mingled with tears. Had the Emperor truly changed?
In all dynasties, which ruler had gone so far?

“No, you are worthy of this bow from me.
I have wronged Great Xia, wronged its people. Please believe me—now, every citizen of Great Xia will have their day.
I promise that within ten years, scholars will be everywhere, and Great Xia will be brimming with talent.
No more will the people go hungry or cold!”

Tang Yu’s gaze was resolute, her words deliberate:
“I will not cede land, pay indemnities, make peace through marriage, nor offer tribute.
From this day forward, the Son of Heaven will guard the nation’s gates, and the ruler will die for the realm.”

Tears blurred the eyes of the people, and they unconsciously recited those words, their gaze filled with hope.
Our Emperor has truly changed.
The Son of Heaven guards the nation’s gates, the ruler dies for the realm.
Such words—even the Supreme Emperor would not dare utter such bold vows.

Every gesture of Tang Yu carried the natural authority of a monarch, inspiring genuine loyalty and irresistible awe among the people.
A sense of faith arose within them; they believed—believed their Emperor could do it.

“The Son of Heaven has changed, Great Xia has changed!”
“Great Xia, Great Xia has finally changed!”

Cries of admiration and excitement resounded across the land.
The six ministries were utterly dumbfounded!
The situation had reversed; Tang Yu now commanded the voice of the people and their reverence. Their protests were like droplets falling into a roaring river—utterly powerless.

This—this—this!
“Hurry, report to Prime Minister Su!”
“Announce the decree!”

At Tang Yu’s command, Tang Zhengde stepped forward with the imperial edict and read aloud:
“Shi Lei is appointed Minister of Revenue, and…”
He recited for more than three minutes. None of the names belonged to the privileged; all were scholars distinguished by their success in the imperial exams.
Tang Yu had already ordered envoys to their hometowns, bringing them to court for office.

With this, she had completely removed all of Su Li’s confidants from the six ministries.
It was a sweeping reform, cutting out the rot with bold strokes.
Better to remove the poison than let it fester; a full purge and new blood was precisely Tang Yu’s intention.
She had known of the six ministries’ plans early on—any fool could guess trouble was brewing. As it happened, Tang Zhengde had already compiled a list of qualified disciples.
Upon review, all were outstanding talents, so she replaced everyone.

The appointments were handed out like scattering sesame seeds—transforming stone into soldiers, leaving all astounded.
So arbitrary, so against custom?
But recalling Tang Yu’s words—that her rules were the rules—left everyone at a loss for response.

Tang Yu’s gaze turned cold, threatening:
“Remember this: Great Xia lacks none of you.
As for you, best run far away; if I discover any movement from you, there will be no mercy!”

The Junior Minister of Works erupted in fury, his voice rising as he shouted:
“You tyrant, you foolish ruler!”

Tang Yu looked at him, half amused, as if watching a fool.
“So what if I am a tyrant? Great Xia is my realm.
If I kill you, who dares challenge me?”

She was like a rogue—a law unto herself.
“You—you—you!”
Tang Yu could not be bothered with his stammering. With a wave, she ordered Murong Yun to strip their official robes and drive them out of Great Xia.

Su Huan’s eyes were red, his voice trembling:
“I accept the decree, I thank…thank Your Majesty.”
At last, his cries became uncontrollable. Who said men do not shed tears? It is only because they have not reached the depths of sorrow.

“Mother, mother, did you see? Your son finally has his day.
Mother, you need never worry for me again, mother… mother!”