Chapter 301: Chapter 238: Take back our territory! First update

Translator: 549690339

After he saw that Jiang Bin stopped talking, Pei Xuanjing withdrew his gaze and glanced around. He took in the expressions of all the officials without seeming to care.

Despite the fury and dissatisfaction of these people, there were only a few who dared to meet Pei Xuanjing’s gaze.

As for a few individual officials who dared to face Pei Xuanjing, he noted their faces. Not that he planned revenge, but he felt that these people had determination and valor—qualities that might prove useful in the future.

Standing tall on the plaza, Pei Xuanjing overlooked all four directions with an imposing gaze that could not be easily challenged.

The whole sight was a profound show of a single man’s power.

His voice once again resounded in the plaza. Although he didn’t use any True Qi, his words clearly reached everyone’s ears.

As is usual, when a strong man speaks, all fall silent. So everyone on the plaza quieted down, waiting for Pei Xuanjing to continue.

“Today, I am here for three reasons. I’ve already discussed and acted upon the first two. Now, I will talk about the third one.”

Upon hearing this, all gathered at the plaza were immediately captivated by Pei Xuanjing’s words, eager to know what he intended to do next.

After all, both issues previously raised by Pei Xuanjing were of great importance and could cause considerable turmoil.

Now, the third matter he had chosen to discuss last was undoubtedly of utmost importance.

“Six hundred years ago, the former dynasty acted unjustly and oppressed the people. A group of rebels rose against it and, led by the first Emperor of the Great Ming, ousted the dynasty and liberated the kingdom. And so the six hundred year reign of the Great Ming began.” , declared Pei Xuanjing.

Hearing Pei Xuanjing suddenly recount the history of the Great Ming Empire, many began frowning in confusion, wondering why he would bring up these historical events.

Even though opinions about the first Emperor of the Great Ming varied widely, no one dared deny his feat of expelling invaders and liberating the kingdom. Even officials who secretly thought of him as a tyrant held this view.

Because this was the founding principle of the Great Ming Empire, a point of legal and moral principles, no one dared to question it. A denial would be seen as a rejection of their own identity and a challenge to the royal family—a course of action that invited severe punishment.

While they were puzzling over his words, Pei Xuanjing continued: “The first Emperor of the Great Ming was indeed a great ruler. But the overthrowing of the former dynasty wasn’t his Ione achievement. Countless heroes and upright individuals sacrificed their lives for this cause. This is a fact acknowledged by the emperor himself. Is there anyone here who would deny this?”

All heads nodded in agreement, and no objections were voiced. Pei Xuanjing was right. This was a fact personally confirmed by the emperor in his first imperial decree, a decree which still remains in the possession ot tne royal tami1Y today.

Pei Xuanjing paused, then continued: “Reward be given to those who merit it, punishment to those who offend. When the first emperor ascended the throne, he not only rewarded those who had contributed to his cause but also extended his gratitude to the large number of people who had helped him expel the invaders but did not wish to receive rewards. The Great Ming kingdom belonged not only to him but also to those heroes.”

“In line with the first emperor’s decree, no matter when or who the emperor might be, as long as the Great Ming continues to exist, these people could rightfully claim their share from the kingdom whenever they wish. ”

On hearing Pei Xuanjing’s words, everyone began to understand what he was getting at.

Upon overthrowing the former dynasty, the first Emperor of the Great Ming wanted not only to confer nobility but also to reward the powerhouse individuals from the martial world, thus bringing them into his fold.

Although these factions of the martial world rejected the emperor’s offer, he still left a promise to them. He even had his words engraved onto a stone monument, and this monument was erected in front of the ancestral shrine as a declaration of his will.

Even though six hundred years had passed, and even though a number of elder statesmen were dismissed during the later years of his reign, the monument was left intact, either out of negligence or intention.

In the past, that monument was considered insignificant and taken for granted. However, with Pei Xuanjing’s recent reference, it had become undeniable proof that silenced any opposition and left them without an argument.

Pei Xuanjing’s words resonated through the plaza once more: “Back then, the heroes did not ask for anything. However, today, the Great Ming has broken its promise… As much as the kingdom belongs to the Great Ming, it also belongs to us. Just because we did not ask for anything back then, doesn’t mean we wouldn’t ask for it now. Thus, I, on behalf of the Shenxiao Sect, am here to reclaim our share of the kingdom.”

Boom!

Everyone gathered in the plaza changed countenance dramatically. No one could have anticipated that Pei Xuanjing would say something so shocking, stirring tumult throughout the crowd.

While they were astounded by his statement, they could not deny that he was right.

The Shenxiao Sect played a significant role in overthrowing the former dynasty. If one were to truly calculate, according to the ancestral order left by the first Emperor of the Great Ming, they undeniably had a share in the kingdom.

Not just the Shenxiao Sect, but also most of the factions present at the plaza could rightfully claim a share of the kingdom.

“You…”, Xuan Zheng, tried to rebuke Pei Xuanjing upon hearing his words, but he couldn’t utter a single word.

This stone monument was considered the testament of the first Emperor and was placed in the ancestral shrine.

Not only was it a demonstration of the emperor’s achievements, but it also represented the legitimacy of Great Ming’s royal family, symbolising their endorsement by the martial factions.

But, who would have thought, that today it has turned into a weapon for Pei Xuanjing to use against them.

Although Xuan Zheng was furious, he didn’t dare to deny what Pei Xuanjing said.

Even if denied, the stone monument still existed and even without the monument, he couldn’t deny a principle that is a fundamental part of the Great Ming’s legal system.

If he were to deny outright, without Pei Xuanjing needing to say anything, there would undoubtedly be countless people ready to overthrow him, Xuan Zheng.

Regardless of the others’ thoughts, Pei Xuanjing boldly asked again: “Today, with the entire Great Ming royal family gathered, all the officials in attendance, and the main participants from all sides witnessing, I, the Long Life Son of the Shenxiao Sect, ask: Does the ancestral decree left by the first emperor of the Great Ming hold true?”

Does the ancestral decree of the first emperor of the Great Ming hold true?

These words made all the nobility blanch. Some wore anxious expressions, some appeared lost, some were panic-stricken, some were livid, and some…

But everything was quiet, and no one dared to utter a word..