As expected by Wang Lin, the imperial edict was issued both at home and abroad, and the news spread throughout the world. While many foreigners were delighted, it also caused quite a stir in the court.
In one day, more than half of the courtiers came forward to oppose this matter.
There were various reasons for opposition, but the cabinet remained strangely silent, and the five cabinet ministers were collectively speechless.
However, although there were many opponents, a few of them came out to support the selection of foreigners as officials in the court.
The leaders among them are Na Min and Sun Zhiliang, the former chief officers of the Sixth Department who were demoted not long ago.
In the past, one of these two people was the Minister of the Ministry of Justice and the other was the Minister of the Ministry of Husbandry.
It had only been a few days since he was demoted to the rank of Second Minister under the pretext of the emperor.
Their successors, Gong Chao, the Minister of Hubu, and Jiang Wanhai, the Minister of Punishment, offended the emperor because of Cheng Yuanjing's incident, and were punished with imperial rods and fines. They obviously lost points in the emperor's heart, which made Na Min and Sun Zhiliang see their comebacks.
hope.
Of course, one of the reasons why they support it is that the veterans of the cabinet support it, so they are the mouthpiece of the cabinet. The second factor is that they believe that allowing foreigners to serve as officials in the court will add fresh blood, which will be beneficial to the people above the court.
Updating is not without its merits.
In the past few days, the emperor had ignored the overwhelming opposition.
These people didn't move, so Wang Lin couldn't find an excuse to attack.
For two full hours, everyone was noisy and arguing.
Wang Lin's expression changed slightly, but he said calmly: "How do you say that?"
This is obviously a bit too strong.
Nowadays, my country, Yan, is opening up territory. It is the time to employ people. It is the way to make a strong country when it is open to all rivers and attracts talents from all over the world to be used by my country, Yan.
Everyone stared at Yu Zhongchao who lay prone on the ground with incredulous eyes.
On top of Danqi, he sat on the dragon chair. After the ministers had finished paying their congratulations, he looked around the ministers, focusing mainly on Chen Zixuan and other six ministers.
Not only did he achieve his goal of retiring back to the mountains to enjoy glory and wealth, but he also left a great reputation for his innocence and uprightness in both the government and the public. It can be said that he never suffered a loss.
Li Gang and others were also very shocked. Today, Yu Zhongchao behaved uncharacteristically, and actually used the pretense of resigning and returning home to blackmail the emperor into making concessions?
How could people like Li Gang know that Yu Zhongchao clearly wanted to go into seclusion sincerely?
What does this person want to do when he stands up now?
But on the face, Wang Lin smiled slightly and said: "Ai Qing, please tell me if you have anything to say. At today's meeting in court, you and I, the monarch and our ministers, should know that everything we say is for the sake of national affairs and not for personal selfishness."
The ministers were as silent as a bird, as they all realized that the debate between Hua and Yi had changed.
Listening to these blind and arrogant words inherent in the so-called Celestial Empire, Na Min couldn't help but sneer and said: "Foreign races were officials in both the Han and Tang Dynasties. Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, Li Shimin, believed that since ancient times, the Chinese territory respected the Han people and despised them.
Although they were foreigners, he treated them all equally.
Opponents insisted that China and the barbarians were incompatible, and allowing foreigners to serve as officials was an insult to the country and shaken the foundation of Han rule.
The distinction between Chinese and foreigners that you are so boastful about and are not ashamed to deceive here is really inconsistent with the trend and is extremely ridiculous."
Wang Lin fell silent.
What's more important is that your so-called foreign races, whether they are Xixia, Mongolia, Gaochang, Koryo, or Khitan, are now either my subjects, Dayan, or citizens of Dayan's vassal!
The expressions of Li Gang and others changed drastically, and Zongze couldn't help but go out and reprimand: "Yu Zhongchao, you are so presumptuous!"
Such a large territory requires a large number of talents to manage to ensure that the Great Yan River is eternal.
Yu Zhongchao tremblingly took off his official hat and placed it beside him.
As soon as this statement came out, it was conclusive and justified.
His Majesty has said that as far as Dayan is concerned, no matter what race or origin, as long as he is a citizen of Dayan, all those who are loyal to the imperial court must be treated equally!
In the future, our country, Yan, will return to the prosperity of the Han and Tang Dynasties, and its territory will be extremely vast. Within the territory of our country, Yan, in this land, the people who survive and reproduce are not just our Han people. Are those foreigners not the people of Dayan?
, but you can’t be loyal to your family, country and the world?
It is because of His Majesty's openness to all rivers that the great Yan Dynasty is now enjoying a prosperous age that is rare to see in a century! You are opposing for the sake of opposition, and you really have ulterior motives!"
"I just heard what your majesty and your lord, Mr. Sun, said. Although it seems reasonable, it actually seems to be putting the cart before the horse.
For this reason, Wang Lin even stopped attending two court meetings.
He was originally the crown prince of Xiongnu, but he later led his entire tribe to surrender to the Han.
Zhang Jun, Ma Kuo, Han Ting, Gu Qingchuan, Liu Qi, Yue Fei and others came out one after another and angrily shouted: "How outrageous! Yu Zhongchao, how dare you slander Sheng Gong in public?"
Yu Zhongchao took a deep breath, bowed and said: "Your Majesty, I believe that it is absolutely impossible to absorb foreigners as officials and shake the country's foundation!"
Didn't His Majesty say this in front of all the civil and military ministers of the court that day? Could it be that I made it up?"
Wang Lin looked deeply at Yu Zhongchao, who seemed to be trembling and frail, with a trace of contempt in his eyes. All these things, if he guessed correctly, this old thief was probably using this to deliberately offend the emperor, and then beg for his bones to achieve his goals.
A gorgeous turn.
However, compared with the surging tide of opponents, the few supporters led by Na Min and Sun Zhiliang are really alone, and the difference in strength is too great.
"Your Majesty, no one can make mistakes without being a sage, and the sage once again said that knowing your mistakes can greatly improve things!" Yu Zhongchao decided to add another fire.
"Spring and Autumn" says, if you advance into China, China will follow you. This is the saying of the sages.
In history, the earliest record of a foreigner serving as a high-ranking official can be regarded as Jin Ri (jīn mìdī), the Hun prince during the Han Dynasty.
However, what disappointed him was that these six people had obviously learned a lesson from the experience. Although all six people came forward to express their opposition, they did not come forward to make suggestions at the face-to-face meeting.
What is the foundation of the country? We, the Yan Dynasty, are a Han dynasty, with hundreds of millions of Han people as the foundation of our country. So, what are the foreign races? The foreign races are the tribes that we, the Yan Dynasty, conquered, and they should be surrendered and submitted to for generations. Although they are also people, the number of people is equal.
How can a mere foreign barbarian be compared with our Chinese Miao descendants?
Just as the Liao people were like this, so were the Jin people. The world is so big that all countries regard their own people as their ruling tribe.
He thought that the risk of contradicting the emperor in such a court dispute was extremely small. The most likely possibility for the emperor would be to allow him to resign.
Please ask your majesty to allow you to beg for the bones!"
Wang Lin waved his hand and said coldly: "Yu Zhongchao, are you blaming me?"
Even Wang Lin couldn't help but applaud and cheered: "Well said! As far as I am concerned, whether they are Han people, Mongolians, Uighurs, Xixia or Tubo people, or even Korean people, etc., everything is controlled by the Yan court.
All the people of all ethnic groups below are my subjects. Not only will I treat them equally, but I will also give them the opportunity to serve their country!
The world is so big, so vast. If we only rely on Han officials to govern it, we, the Yan Dynasty, can only stay in a corner of the Central Plains and be a small country.
But at the third court meeting, despite repeated strong objections from Li Gang and other cabinet veterans, the emperor finally attended the court meeting. He also knew that blindly avoiding some conflicts was not the answer.
Yu Zhongchao was unafraid and said calmly: "I am passionate and loyal to His Majesty, how can I talk about slandering the Holy Gong?
Seeing that the emperor was angry, Yu Zhongchao fell to the ground and said, "Your Majesty, I am old and ill. Now I have offended Your Majesty by speaking out. I should plead guilty."
As for the Tang Dynasty, there were countless foreign officials in high positions. Do you need me to list them one by one?
As Na Min and Sun Zhiliang said, if we don't even have this kind of ambition, how can we restore the prosperity of the Han and Tang Dynasties and create great achievements for all generations?"
The emperor made the greatest mental preparation.
The emperor and his ministers looked around and saw that it was Yu Zhongchao, the imperial censor who had been unable to go to court for many times because he had been ill.
Sun Zhiliang also said proudly: "Now that the next generation of heroes has opened up new territories, the territory of Yan has suddenly increased dramatically in just a few years.
When Wang Lin heard this, his expression immediately turned cold.
Wang Lin laughed loudly, but his voice was extremely cold.
In the barbarian land, only the foreigners understand the feelings of their own people, and they represent the court in governing the place, and are far more reliable than Han officials.
The generous words of the emperor, Namin and Sun Zhiliang made all the opponents speechless and gradually fell silent.
There was silence for a while, and suddenly a trembling voice came from the crowd: "Your Majesty, I have a few words to say, is it okay?"
Wang Lin sneered in his heart. This old thief changed his mind. This was obviously a deliberate attempt to offend him... It was clear that the drunkard didn't care about drinking. What on earth did he want to do?
It also has a hint of coercion.
Before his death, Emperor Wu made him a general of chariots and cavalry, treating him as a lonely and important minister.
Besides, Your Majesty himself has said that people who are not of my race will have different hearts. But this time Your Majesty wants to appoint a foreign race as an official in the dynasty. Isn’t it putting the cart before the horse and being inconsistent?”
Seeing that the emperor's face remained unchanged and indifferent, Yu Zhongchao's eyes flashed, and he suddenly said with emotion: "Your Majesty, if I dare to be brave, please take back your life! It is absolutely impossible for a foreigner to enter the court as an official!"
We, the scholars, who have been studying hard for ten years may not be able to advance to the imperial examination. Why do these foreigners get something for nothing and occupy our position in the Great Yan Dynasty? Please do not chill the hearts of Han scholars all over the world!"
On the contrary, some middle- and lower-level officials in the Sixth Department and the Third Law Department began to tremble, as if they had been given blood, and they jumped out to offer suggestions, provoking an almost endless debate between China and Yi.
Wang Lin's mouth twitched, and his heart was immediately filled with vigilance.
Wang Lin cast his deep eyes on Zhongchao.
After a long time, he suddenly laughed loudly: "The speaker is not guilty. I and Yu Aiqing have different views. We have our own arguments, which is harmless. How can Aiqing be an official for the country? I don't allow it. Well, since Aiqing is ill.
, it’s better to go back home to rest and recuperate for the time being.”
As soon as Wang Lin finished speaking, not because of Zhong Chao's disagreement, Yang Yizhong, the commander of the Royal Forest Army who was on duty in the palace, waved his hand and ordered the palace guards to come forward, set Yu Zhong Chao up, and walked out of the palace.
Yu Zhongchao struggled desperately and shouted: "Your Majesty, please allow me to beg for my bones!"