147: Go All In or Quit

Upon hearing the Emperor's command to behead Luan Yi, the civil and military officials throughout the court turned pale with fright. They dropped to their knees one after another in a scattered mass, pleading bitterly, "May Your Majesty calm your wrath!"

"Your Majesty!" Luan Yi remained entirely calm and unruffled, declaring with righteous indignation, "What the lord just said is entirely correct. The Holy Mother Church indeed has clear divisions of responsibility, and this is done solely for the development of the church, with not the slightest intention of rebellion. Luan considers himself clear of conscience, and even in death, he has no regrets!"

"Then go to die!" The Emperor could not even be bothered to look at him.

Luan Yi brushed away the golden-armored guards who came to seize him and walked straight toward the exit of the grand hall without looking back.

"Wait!" Wang Yun scrambled up from the floor. "May Your Majesty calm your wrath. This subject is willing to stake his life to guarantee that Ziqi harbors no ulterior motives!"

"We are likewise willing to guarantee it!" Yuan Feng, Yuan Wei, Yang Biao, Lu Zhi, Huangfu Song, Huangfu Jun... The highest-ranking officials of the court shouted in unison.

"Audacious!" Zhang Rang's shrill voice rang out at the opportune moment. "If the Holy Mother Church truly commits treason and rebellion, none of you would be able to bear the responsibility even if you were all put to death!"

The Emperor hesitated for a moment and shouted, "Execute him!"

"You cannot!" Wang Yun spoke again. "For Your Majesty to kill Ziqi is not because you suspect him of treacherous intentions, but rather out of fear of the Holy Mother Church itself. Since that is the case, Your Majesty need only spare Ziqi's life and order him to disband the Holy Mother Church. What does Your Majesty think?"

The Emperor's eyes lit up. Indeed! Why didn't I think of that? In this way, he could retain Luan Yi as a talent while eliminating any future troubles. Later on, by bestowing a high position upon Luan Yi and treating him generously, the man would surely turn his heart toward the imperial court and render greater service. "What the Central Gentlemen-at-the-Arms says is extremely reasonable. Since that is the case..."

"Your Majesty, the Holy Mother Church must never be abolished!"

"Ziqi, what kind of nonsense are you babbling!" Wang Yun was seized with panic upon hearing this.

"Your Majesty!" Luan Yi turned around, knelt back in his original spot, and cupped his hands. "The Holy Mother Church urges people to do good and helps people become virtuous; it is truly a nation-benefiting religion that propagates truth, goodness, and beauty. It must never be lightly abolished."

"You..." The Emperor's anger flared up again. "The Holy Mother Church and your life—only one of the two can survive. Since the Holy Mother Church survives, you must perish! Guards, drag Luan Yi out of my sight."

"Your Majesty, wait a moment!" Luan Yi shook off his arms, breaking free from the golden-armored guards, and continued, "The two can coexist. As the leader of the Holy Mother Church, this subject is willing to remain in the capital as a hostage and never leave without an imperial edict, thereby proving the innocence of the Holy Mother Church!"

"What?" The Emperor could not help but be stunned.

Yuan Wei's pupils trembled violently, and he glared angrily at Luan Yi.

Wang Yun chimed in on Luan Yi's behalf, "This method is exceptionally good! Keeping the sect leader in the capital as a hostage ensures complete security. This is a mutually beneficial strategy!"

The Emperor was also greatly tempted. With the sect leader as a hostage, the tense chord he held regarding the Holy Mother Church could finally be relaxed. "Well, that will do!" He nodded, turned back to ask Zhang Rang, "Father Zhang, what do you think?"

Zhang Rang's brow was tightly knitted. Originally, he thought Luan Yi would agree to disband the Holy Mother Church, after which he would raise difficulties for Luan Yi on the grounds that even though the sect was eliminated, its ideology still lingered. Never did he expect Luan Yi to take a different path and think of using himself as a hostage to preserve the Holy Mother Church. In this way, his meticulously crafted plan was completely disrupted, while Luan Yi had successfully dispelled the Emperor's vigilance. "This..." With no strategies left at his disposal, he could only follow the Emperor's wishes. "In that case, it is indeed comprehensive. Luan Yi's crime may be pardoned!"

"Attendant Zhang's words are quite mistaken!" Lu Zhi instantly grasped the crux of Zhang Rang's attempt to confuse the public and spoke up, "This subject dares to ask Lord Attendant, what crime did Ziqi commit?"

Zhang Rang was left speechless. "This..."

Lu Zhi pressed on aggressively, "Everyone heard it clearly. Wei Ning's accusations against Ziqi were entirely groundless and constituted a false accusation. Therefore, this subject requests Your Majesty to punish Wei Ning for falsely accusing a high-ranking official of the imperial court."

"That is true!" The Emperor immediately issued an imperial decree, "The criminal Wei Ning, having first falsely accused the General Pacifying the East and subsequently missing provisions and pay during a time of war between two armies, has committed an unforgivable crime. Guards, drag him out and behead him in public tomorrow at noon."

The two golden-armored guards in the grand hall who had previously been detaining Luan Yi had not yet left and happened to seize Wei Ning. They grabbed Wei Ning by the shoulders, dragging him toward the door like a dead pig, thinking to themselves: Luan Yi is ridiculously strong, so it was only natural we couldn't drag him. But if we can't even drag this pretty boy, where would we put our faces? Thinking of this, they exerted more and more force.

"Your Majesty, spare my life!" Wei Ning kicked his legs incessantly, and in his desperation, he cried out, "Lord Zhang, save me!"

Zhang Rang's heart skipped a beat. Seeing the Emperor glaring at him, anger welled up within him. "Your Majesty, do not listen to this boy's nonsense."

The Emperor knew the situation well, but out of consideration for Zhang Rang's usual meritorious service, he did not blame him further, merely saying, "Father Zhang, conduct yourself well."

Zhang Rang gave a submissive assent.

As Wei Ning was dragged away, Lu Zhi spoke up once more, "Your Majesty. Ziqi is not only innocent, but he has also rendered outstanding military service in suppressing the rebellion. Your Majesty should reward him according to his merits. Otherwise, it will surely chill the hearts of the generals on the battlefield!"

"What Minister Lu says is entirely reasonable!" Huangfu Song stepped out of the ranks to submit his opinion.

"This..." The Emperor habitually tilted his head to glance at Zhang Rang.

Zhang Rang said decisively, "Luan Yi is a hostage of the Holy Mother Church in the capital. How can he be appointed to an official post again?"

"Are there any regulations clearly stating that a hostage cannot be appointed to a position?" Lu Zhi was well-versed in legal codes and naturally knew that no such provision existed.

Zhang Rang was momentarily tongue-tied and argued sophistically, "I ask Minister Lu, in which dynasty or generation since the founding of our Great Han has a hostage entered the court to serve as an official? There are none! With precedent being thus, Luan Yi cannot be granted an exception either."

"It is true that our dynasty has no precedent of a hostage serving as an official." Lu Zhi had to concede this point. "However, for thousands of years, those serving as hostages in the court have mostly been princes of vassal states or sons of foreign chieftains. Never has anyone entered as a hostage under the title of the leader of the Great Han's Holy Mother Church like Ziqi. Since it is the Great Han's Holy Mother Church, the leader is also a subject of the Great Han, and one who is exceptionally talented may naturally serve as an official."

"You are twisting words..."

Seeing Zhang Rang and Lu Zhi arguing until their faces were red, the Emperor's mind raced as he pondered a strategy for reconciliation. Lu Zhi felt that Luan Yi had merit and should be rewarded—a view the Emperor deeply agreed with. However, Zhang Rang believed that since Luan Yi was a hostage, he should not enter the court as an official.

"Is there no win-win solution?" The Emperor rolled his eyes, and a plan came to mind. "You two, stop arguing. I have a plan! Since that is the case, relieve Luan Yi of his post as General Pacifying the East and appoint him to the position of Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince. What do all of you think?"

"Hmm?" Lu Zhi and Zhang Rang were stunned simultaneously.

One must admit that the Emperor's method was truly subtle. The position of Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince carried a stipend of 1,500석 (shi), and although it was equal in rank to the General Pacifying the East, it was, after all, a civil post. There was an ancient saying about moving from military command to the premiership, and shifting from a military post to an equivalent civil post could be seen by outsiders as a promotion. But had he truly been promoted? Of course not. The General Pacifying the East was, after all, a major general wielding military power, whereas the Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince? To put it bluntly, it was the teacher of the crown prince. However, the Great Han dynasty did not even have a crown prince, so the Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince was a title as empty as it could possibly get—essentially just a nominal official title.

Regarding the Emperor's choice, Zhang Rang reluctantly agreed. Since it was an empty title anyway, it would pose no threat to him.

As for Lu Zhi! He agreed with both hands raised. As to why he agreed to such an extent? Who was Lu Zhi? A great scholar of the current dynasty, whose strategic overview, as could be seen from his game of chess, was far stronger than Zhang Rang's. The Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince currently seemed like a useless, empty position, but what about the future? What about after there was a crown prince? What after the Emperor passed away and the crown prince ascended the throne? One must remember that throughout successive dynasties, newly ascended emperors would always entrust heavy responsibilities to their former teachers.

Thinking of this, Lu Zhi could not help casting a glance at the Emperor, praising inwardly: Your Majesty, oh Your Majesty, you are paving the way for your descendants! The world calls you muddle-headed, yet they do not know how astute you are at this moment. What a brilliant scheme, a truly wonderful scheme! "Your Majesty is wise!" Lu Zhi fell to his knees in worship.

The civil and military officials throughout the hall all bowed down. "Your Majesty is wise!"

"Haha..." The Emperor laughed excitedly. Even he could not remember when the hundred officials had last chanted "Wise" in unison. Was it ten years ago, or on the day of his own ascension to the throne? "Father Zhang, draft an imperial decree immediately. Bestow upon Luan Ziqi the title of Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince and grant him a mansion in the city of Luoyang."

"Understood!"

"Dismiss court..." Upon the Emperor's order, the grand audience was finally concluded. The Emperor walked with light steps back toward the inner court, followed closely by Zhang Rang, who did not forget to glare angrily at Luan Yi before leaving. Scholars like Lu Zhi and Yuan Wei stepped forward to congratulate Luan Yi, which made Zhang Rang vaguely feel that his agreement to appoint Luan Yi as Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince had been far too rash. The Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince was clearly an empty title; what was there to celebrate? He could not figure it out, but that did not mean others could not see through it. He needed to hurry back to the inner court to consult Zhao Zhong and the others and see what insights they might have. Thinking of this, his pace quickened by a few notches.

Inside the grand hall, Lu Zhi, Wang Yun, and Cai邕 surrounded Luan Yi eight layers deep, offering congratulations. Luan Yi cupped his hands in greeting to each of them.

At that moment, Yuan Wei barged over, pulled Luan Yi aside, and said with an angry expression, "Ziqi, you were far too rash today! Why didn't you speak according to our previously agreed plan, leaving the rest of us at a complete loss? This old man originally intended for Ziqi to continue serving as a regional governor, wielding troops so that we would have mutual support in the future. Now look at what has happened—you've become the Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince, trapped in the capital just like the rest of us with little room to accomplish anything."

Luan Yi smiled and uttered just a single sentence, which immediately set Yuan Wei's mind considerably at ease. He said, "Your Excellency the Minister, rest assured. As long as the Holy Mother Church exists, the state of Jinan will forever possess Your Excellency's powerful army."

Yuan Wei pondered for a moment, then his expression cleared. He smiled, patted Luan Yi on the shoulder, and said, "Ziqi considers things comprehensively. With that, this old man can rest easy!" Having spoken, he flicked his sleeves behind his back and walked away.

After conversing a while longer with the various lords, it was long past the official working hours, and the officials departed one after another. Because the imperial decree had not yet been issued, Luan Yi was required by law to return to the dungeon for a short while, remaining there until the imperial decree was stamped before he could be released without charges.

While Luan Yi was being led back to the dungeon, Zhang Rang summoned Zhao Zhong, Xia Yun, Guo Sheng, Sun Zhang, Bi Lan, Li Song, Duan Gui, Gao Wang, Zhang Gong, Han Kui, and Song Dian to inquire about the implications and stakes of rewarding Luan Yi.

As soon as Zhao Zhong heard that Luan Yi had been appointed Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince, he let out a loud cry of dismay, "Lord Zhang is truly lost in the fog of the situation! Once Luan Yi becomes the Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince, he will be the teacher of the crown prince in the future. After the crown prince ascends the throne, he will be the crown prince's closest confidant. By that time, since we bear a grudge against him, will he give us a good life? He will undoubtedly turn around and drive us to our deaths!"

"Oh no!" Zhang Rang turned pale with fright. "The Emperor has spoken with golden words; it cannot be altered now! What is to be done?"

Duan Gui was the most ruthless of them all. "Under the present circumstances, our only option is to strike first!"

"What?"

"Lord Zhang, if you hesitate to make a decision, you will only invite disaster!"