Let's just drift through life together in this quick transmigration story.

Chapter 720 Phoenix Returns to Its Nest (6)

The next day at court, Shangguan Yi handed out a large stick covered in thorns to each official at the entrance of the main hall.

Xiong Bufan sat on the dragon throne. If these people started arguing again today, she would let them fight each other, and then send the one who fought the most hard to disaster relief. He was physically strong and could withstand disaster relief.

Shangguan Yi looked at the assembled officials with worry, hoping that they wouldn't be ruined.

The civil official looked at the big stick, and even though he didn't want to take it, he was forced to put it in his hand.

So, as soon as the court session began, someone raised a question: "Your Majesty, what is this stick for?"

"You'll find out soon enough. Now, let's go to court."

My esteemed ministers, have you decided who will go to provide disaster relief?

Civil official A: "Your Majesty, it would be best to send out a military general."

Civil official B: "Yes, Your Majesty, I think so too."

The military officers were unhappy. Everyone knew that in the absence of food and money, disaster relief and flood control were difficult tasks that were both laborious and thankless.

"Your Majesty, send Civil Official A. He's eloquent and will surely be able to rally the people."

Civil official A: "Your Majesty, please don't listen to their nonsense. As a mere civil official, I can only watch from the sidelines."

"Your Majesty, let her go."

......

The current court is like a marketplace with constant bickering, giving Xiong Bufan a headache.

Xiong Bufan: "Stop arguing. Let the civil officials fight each other, and the military officers argue with each other. Once everything is settled, I'll know the outcome."

The censor was the first to object, "Your Majesty, is there anything wrong with this?"

If they really start fighting and arguing, how are they any different from street thugs?

Xiong Bufan sat in the chair and said, "How do you know if there's a difference if you don't argue?"

"Whoever wins the fight, or wins the argument, I'll follow their advice."

"Absurd, this is utterly absurd!"

Xiong Bufan ignored what they said and sat quietly on the dragon throne. Seeing that no one was making a move, he said, "If there's no more noise, then let's adjourn the court."

One of the military officers spoke first to his colleague: "You're shameless; you're always making things difficult for me."

"How can you talk like that? I'm still your boss."

Once one person starts arguing, the others also start pretending to argue. But as they argue, they accidentally blurt out their true feelings, and it turns into a real argument.

The civil officials dared not make a move, hiding all the sticks behind their backs, fearing that their colleagues would misunderstand.

After being quietly insulted by the military officer, the civil official became so angry that his face turned red and he started to insult back. Unable to win the argument, the military officer threatened to take action, so the civil official had to take out something like a spiked club.

In the end, the entire court was in chaos, and everyone could clearly see the inner workings of their respective cliques.

Xiong Bufan sat in the main seat, watching this farce unfold as if he were an outsider.

Enraged by the insults, the military officer Su Yang grabbed a large stick and smashed it over the head of a civil official. Just as the official was about to die, he closed his eyes in despair, thinking, "My life is over."

With a "bang," Su Yang's big stick was knocked aside, and Su Yang was also pulled to the ground by the force.

Civil official Bing's eyes were filled with the joy of surviving a disaster. She looked in the direction from which the weapon had come. It turned out to be a stick thrown by their emperor that had saved her life.

Seeing that no more people were dying, Xiong Bufan remained seated on the dragon throne, quietly watching the spectacle.

Su Yang got up from the ground, looked at the stick that had been knocked away, and stood obediently to the side, neither cursing nor hitting anyone.

I'm just a little curious about when their Majesty acquired such superb martial arts skills.

The fight lasted from noon until afternoon. The last general won by beating his opponent, but he was also bruised and swollen.

The civil official was so angry that his mouth was dry and his face was covered in bruises.

"Your Majesty, I recommend Vice Minister Zhao. He is both a man of great literary talent and martial prowess, and is clearly a talent for disaster relief."

When Vice Minister Zhao heard that his name had been called, he pointed at the military officer and cursed, "You scoundrel, you scoundrel!"

Xiong Bufan nodded, "Then let Vice Minister Zhao go, but who will accompany him?"

Zhao, the Vice Minister, quickly replied, "Your Majesty, let General Su go with me."

This is the kind of thing where they'd rather die than let someone else get dragged down with them.

Xiong Bufan: "Granted."

Su Yang: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I don't want to go."

Now that we have people to provide disaster relief, we don't know where to find the money for it. We can't expect Xiong Bufan to pay for it.

Xiong Bufan didn't have the money to give them.

"Regarding the disaster relief funds, what are your thoughts?"

The civil and military officials fell silent. They no longer wanted to argue or fight; whatever His Majesty said was law.

Seeing that no one answered him, Xiong Bufan asked calmly, "Where is the Minister of Revenue?"

Liu Tong, whose name was called, trembled and said, "Your Majesty."

"Go and arrange the distribution of disaster relief funds and grain. I want to see the grain and silver on their way within ten days."

"Your Majesty, we simply cannot produce that much at once. I can only try my best to raise more."

The country spends money everywhere. Although Liu Tong may have been embezzling a little in the past, he couldn't possibly afford to give up all this money at once, even if he went bankrupt.

Xiong Bufan: "Either we raise the funds, or we raid your home."

The horrific scene of his home being ransacked lingered in his mind. At this moment, Liu Tong could only kneel down and express his gratitude. He considered all the ways to plunder the property in his mind. If all else failed, he would suggest that His Majesty increase the taxes on the people.

The people of the capital have always been wealthy, and people in other places can also be squeezed out of their wealth.

Xiong Bufan was very satisfied that he had resolved a major problem during court today.

With a palace attendant's announcement, "Court adjourned—", Xiong Bufan gracefully left the main hall.

The ministers stood there for a moment to catch their breath before putting down their sticks and leaving the place that was known as a nightmare.

They never imagined that their colleagues, who usually harbored ill intentions but were always polite on the surface, would be so ruthless, hitting people to the point of death and insulting them with venom.

Now that court is over, they don't know how to face their colleagues.

Liu Tong is now physically and mentally exhausted. He has been scolded and beaten, and has also been assigned tasks by His Majesty. Life is really too bitter.

When Liu Tong came out, the servant Liu Da at the door quickly went to greet him, "Sir, are you alright?"

"go home."

Shangguan Yi kept following Xiong Bufan. His Majesty's actions today were truly unacceptable. If this continued, it would likely break the hearts of the ministers.

Xiong Bufan went to the Imperial Study and began to arrange for someone to serve him a meal.

After a long day at work, one needs to eat something good in the evening to soothe one's weary soul.

Shangguan Yi stood next to Xiong Bufan, serving her food, but kept hesitating to speak.

But as long as she didn't say anything, Xiong Bufan pretended not to know and kept eating, as nothing was more important than eating.

Kongkong didn't really understand what Xiong Bufan was thinking. After all, after consulting all the history books, there was no emperor who would let his ministers argue and fight in the main hall. Every time, they would just exchange a few words and then have a friendly exchange.