Martial Cultivator

A spring rain began to fall silently without any warning, starting from last night until early morning. By then, the entire Divine Capital had become damp. This was not the first spring rain of the Great Liang Dynasty, so nobody paid it much heed. However, for no reason, as the various officials of the Divine Capital hurried to the imperial city for a court session, news came from the palace that the court session would be suspended for the day, without any explanation. This unexpected announcement set the minds of the court officials abuzz with speculation.

Upon learning that court would not convene that day, the Grand Historian turned and headed to the duty room adjacent to the imperial city, where the Premier was stationed today.

Arriving at the duty room, after asking someone to report his arrival, the Grand Historian stood on the steps, gazing thoughtfully while looking at the spring rain.

Before long, an official from the duty room came to welcome the Grand Historian inside. There, the Grand Historian saw the Premier currently seated by a small stove, warming himself by the fire.

Seeing the Grand Historian enter, the Premier poured him a cup of hot tea and lamented, ”This spring rain makes it feel like we’ve returned to early winter in the blink of an eye. It’s really cold.”

As soon as the Grand Historian sat down, he got straight to the point and asked, ”Why isn’t there a court session today?”

The Premier smiled and looked somewhat oddly at his old friend, then asked, ”What makes you think I would know?”

The Grand Historian said crossly, ”You’re the Premier. If you don’t know, who else would?”

The Premier took a sip of hot tea, feeling the warmth slowly circulating through his body. Then he said, ”After serving as an official in the court for so many years, you still don’t understand. We subjects are not regarded as highly as those martial artists in the eyes of His Majesty, let alone be considered his right-hand men. There’s no chance for us to hear any discussions spoken in confidence. In the Great Liang Dynasty, there were only two right-hand men before: one was the Great General, and the other was the Lord Warden Commander. Now, only one remains, and that’s the current Great General.”

The Grand Historian said with some dissatisfaction, ”His Majesty is too biased. Martial artists defend the country, while literati govern it. There shouldn’t be a distinction in importance. Besides, entrusting the affairs of the country to these martial artists, can they handle it properly?”

The Premier said rather helplessly, ”It’s fortunate that His Majesty is broad-minded. Otherwise, if your words reached His Majesty’s ears, it wouldn’t end well for you.”

The Grand Historian suddenly smiled indifferently. ”This old man isn’t scared of that. You may hold the prestigious position of Premier, but ultimately, it’s all up to His Majesty’s word. As for me, the Grand Historian, even if it were the founding emperor himself, it’s not a position he can dismiss just because he wants to.”

The position of the Grand Historian, except for the first one in each dynasty who required recommendation from court officials, was hereditary. It was the same as the throne, unless the dynasty fell, the Grand Historian would keep the same surname.

The Premier waved his hand, pretending to be annoyed. ”You’re amazing, alright.”

The Grand Historian chuckled heartily, took another sip of hot tea, and then asked again, ”Do you truly not know what’s going on?”

The Premier shook his head and whispered, ”His Majesty has always been like this, unlike ordinary emperors. If he doesn’t want to say something, no one can know. Whatever he wants to do, even if the sky were to fall, he’d still do it. Last year, when he went alone to the Northern Frontier, despite the strong dissuasion from the court officials, several people even committed suicide outside the palace gates. But His Majesty insisted on going, didn’t he? Later, when he decided to uproot the Xia Family, who had connections with the foreign lands, didn’t he uproot them just like that?”

The Grand Historian’s expression was complicated. After a moment of silence, he said, ”I still disagree with His Majesty going alone to the Northern Frontier. If it weren’t for your intervention, I might have been one of those who died outside the palace gates. As for uprooting the Xia Family, I believe it was necessary. They enjoyed the benefits of our Great Liang but didn’t act like Great Liang’s citizens. They deserved to be killed!”

The Premier sighed, ”You need to change your temper. Otherwise, you’ll suffer.”

The Grand Historian shrugged, ”My family has always been like this. Otherwise, we wouldn’t deserve to hold this historian’s brush.”

The Premier was in no hurry to speak, he just poured another cup of tea for this old friend.

After some thought, the Grand Historian pulled out a report from his robe and handed it to the Premier.

The Premier did not take it. He already knew what it contained. ”Do you still think that matter is inappropriate?”

The Grand Historian said calmly, ”Although that young martial artist has some achievements, he shouldn’t be given such an honor. He’s still young and already a bit arrogant. With His Majesty’s favor, he’ll likely become even more conceited in the future.”

The Premier said softly, ”But do you think even if you submit this memorial, you can make His Majesty change his mind and revoke the favor he has already bestowed?”

The Grand Historian frowned, ”Regardless, I disagree with this matter, so I must speak out.”

Glancing around the room, which was empty at the moment, the Premier lowered his voice, ”Actually, we both know that His Majesty is intentionally elevating the status of military officials in the Great Liang Dynasty. But now, with the recent victory in the Northern Frontier, it’s the trend of the times. Who in court dares to oppose it?” ”If you’re really dissatisfied, what if His Majesty says we should go to the Northern Frontier and guard the Great Wall for a few days? How would you respond?”

”The reward His Majesty bestowed upon the Great General is already done. Besides, didn’t all the officials gather to send him off? Isn’t that enough?” ”He, Chen Chao, didn’t go to the North. What virtues or abilities does he have?” The Grand Historian furrowed his brows, saying solemnly, ”I’m not speaking up for us civil officials. I just feel that His Majesty’s actions are not right.”

The Premier sighed again. He had sighed a lot today. He knew that no matter how he advised, he could not persuade this old friend anymore. So he did not say much more, just took the report and said, ”I’ll help you submit this report, but this matter ends here. Don’t think about going to the palace gates to remonstrate again. It’s just risking your life. His Majesty won’t have any feelings about it.”

The Grand Historian nodded slowly. He was silent for a long time, then lifted the cup of hot tea in front of him and drank it all in one gulp. He said softly, ”Would we see such a scenery if the late Crown Prince hadn’t died prematurely?”

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