Fan Li could no longer hold back and burst out laughing. With him taking the lead, quiet chuckles continuously sounded in the imperial court.
Xiang Chong's face turned green!
Did he not check the almanac before leaving home today?
How could it be that the first time he holds court to listen to governance matters, all he encounters is this kind of nonsense!?
"Sigh..." Even Chen Gonggong shook his head. Of all things the new emperor could've asked, why did it have to be about finance?
Everyone in Great Chu, from top to bottom, knew that Great Chu's prosperity and abundant reserves were entirely credited to the Fan clan's business conglomerate.
Through the Fan clan business conglomerate's powerful coordination capabilities, commercial goods flowed smoothly in Great Chu's domestic market, trade was prosperous, and prices were stable.
The commercial taxes Great Chu collected every year exceeded the sum of those collected by Great Han and Great Ming combined.
Xiang Chong forcefully endured the urge to smack the Minister of Finance dead. He questioned, "Where is the previous Minister of Finance? What were you doing before this? What achievements do you have that qualified you to replace the former minister?"
Sang Yang first kowtowed, then answered. "Your Majesty, I have never seen the former minister. I merely heard he retired and returned home due to old age. As for myself, I had no previous official positions. I spent my time at home reading books, with no accomplishments for the imperial court to speak of. It was only last month that I was summoned by Prime Minister Fan and appointed as Minister of Finance to enter court service."
Upon hearing this, Xiang Chong let out cold laughs in succession.
Good!
So he turned out to be someone who climbed the ranks due to connections, following the same path as Fan Li?
No matter how powerful the Fan clan currently was in Chu, couldn't he still take this chance to deal with Fan Li after catching him for graft and corruption?
"Your Majesty, please be cautious in your speech," Fan Li rarely revealed a solemn expression.
His reaction greatly exceeded Xiang Chong's expectations, causing the latter to think he touched a sore spot for Fan Li.
"Hmph, have I said anything incorrect? How can one of the Nine Ministers be selected from commoners? Does the court not have any qualified talents? Sang Yang? I have never heard of any prominent or reputable Sang clan in Great Chu!"
Xiang Chong's sharp and grating voice echoed repeatedly in the Golden Scales Hall.
Fan Li's expression darkened to an extreme point. But he didn't have an outburst. He only turned around to prop up Sang Yang who still kneeled on the ground.
"Master Sang... no, Mister Sang, please listen to my explanation..." Fan Li's tone was gentle and unhurried, even carrying a trace of apology. But Sang Yang shook his head.
Without even looking again at Xiang Chong on the dragon throne, he gave Fan Li a bitter smile.
"This Sang's origins are lowly and his learning shallow. I was already unworthy of this heavy responsibility. Having assumed the Minister of Finance role for over a month, I haven't accomplished anything either. Today, it happens that Your Majesty believes I am unqualified, so I might as well resign this office and return home to continue reading behind closed doors. The Golden Scales Hall is clearly not a place I deserve to be in..."
"Mister Sang, please do not say that! A gentleman existing between heaven and earth should understand that coming from humble origins is no disgrace. Being adaptable makes a man!" Fan Li consoled repeatedly and solemnly promised, "You were my chosen candidate for Minister of Finance. If you refuse to serve, I would rather leave the position vacant!"
"Hmph!"
Upon hearing this, Xiang Chong was very displeased. He was the emperor, yet Fan Li actually dared say he would keep Sang Yang's post for him right in front of his face?
"Many thanks, Duke. It's just that I have already understood this is not the right time to enter official service. I shall wait until the time is ripe in the future before coming to serve again."
As Sang Yang spoke, he deeply bowed to Fan Li before removing his court attire and hat when still in front of everyone, leaving only his plain clothes as he departed from the Golden Scales Hall.
"I, born of the countryside, am unfit for the Son of Heaven's court. Hahahaha!"
Without the constraints of his court robes, Sang Yang's previous proper and apologetic bearing disappeared. His entire being instead gained an unrestrained and carefree air.
A surge of dense azure spiritual energy suddenly erupted from his body, shooting straight towards the heavens!
The civil and military ministers were shocked speechless, with only Xiang Chong gaping in confusion. As for Fan Li and the officials, their gazes towards Sang Yang contained only regret and reluctance.
Azure spiritual energy billowed into the sky!
This was an extremely rich and pure righteous aura, the symbol of a Confucian or Taoist practitioner who achieved the Unity Realm!
Sang Yang was a first stage Unity Realm expert of Confucianism and Taoism!
"He is..." Xiang Chong unconsciously rose to his feet and walked over several steps, seemingly wanting to chase the long vanished Sang Yang.
Fan Li coldly glanced at Xiang Chong without explaining anything. The civil and military officials' gazes towards Xiang Chong no longer contained the slightest vestige of awe towards their emperor, only disdain hidden deep in their hearts!
"What exactly is going on here?" Xiang Chong asked with a flushed red face.
How could there have been a Unity Realm expert among his civil and military officials without him knowing?
One must know that Confucian or Taoist Unity Realm cultivators, especially in any of the Three Kingdoms, would definitely receive the utmost courtesy and invitation from the rulers!
Fan Li didn't speak. The civil and military officials also maintained their silence.
In the end, it was the Minister of the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs who stepped forward. As he was also of the imperial Xiang clan, he explained to Xiang Chong in an almost reprimanding tone.
The elderly Minister of the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs, legs trembling as he stood, said, "Your Majesty! Mister Sang Yang is a prodigy of Confucianism and Taoism. He was born in the lower classes so he had no money in his early years to attend the academies in Lu City to seek learning.
But even so, relying on his exceptionally rare talents, Mister Sang Yang spent a mere fifty years in near self-study to become the great Confucian scholar of his generation!
Presently at the Unity Realm first stage cultivation level, even the famed scholar Lü Chunqiu admits Sang Yang has the potential to definitely reach the Great Vehicle Realm before a hundred years old, entering the ranks of the strongest in the mortal realm!"
By this point, the Minister of the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs already had tears streaming down his face. How could one not feel furious over Chu losing such a talent!?
Xiang Chong gaped, rendered speechless for a long time. He merely wanted to make things difficult for Fan Li. How did he end up offending a future Great Vehicle Realm expert instead?
He was even more baffled. Wasn't Fan Li a treacherous official?
Treacherous officials should just properly do treacherous things. Recruiting talents should be a treacherous official's job too right? It was simply inconceivable!
"Even if Sang Yang has profound cultivation, he may not necessarily be suited for the Minister of Finance role. The Minister of Finance is in charge of finances..." Xiang Chong hardened his scalp to argue for himself.
Upon hearing this, the Minister of the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs repeatedly shook his head.
"After Master Sang Yang achieved success in Confucianism and Taoism, he began writing books and establishing his philosophies. His published works include"The Commercial Classics", "Treatise on Wealth", "Strategies for Enriching the People" and more!"
"The current Minister of Finance in Han as well as the current Minister of Revenue in Ming both proclaim themselves as Master Sang Yang's students!"