Grand Secretariat Vote

The officials of the Left Prime Minister Faction dearly wanted to carve up Xiang Prefecture's offices, but when they remembered that one of the Ten Old Masters of the Metropolitan Graduates was stationed there, Fang Yun's chances of succeeding in a Literary Battle for a Prefecture were extremely low. The officials therefore suppressed the irritation and anxiety in their hearts and waited quietly for the Left Prime Minister's response.

After quite a while, the Left Prime Minister still did not speak.

Fang Yun continued, "As for the fourth harm, this so-called discord among the Human Race is even more self-deception. When has the Human Race ever lived in complete harmony? Even during the Battle of Two Worlds Mountain, there were a few who cut corners and shirked work, who clung to life and feared death. Where do you think those Rebel Species came from? We of the Human Race must compete not only with the Demon Barbarians outside, but also engage in healthy competition within! This Literary Battle is precisely a method of healthy competition that reduces internal strife. If Literary Battles were truly as Vice Minister Ou claims, would the sages have permitted them?"

Ou Mo said, "This official reiterates that the present time is unsuitable for a Literary Battle, because the Second Battle of Two Worlds Mountain will soon break out!"

"Decades ago, Qing Kingdom knew perfectly well that the Thousand-Year Non-Aggression Pact was about to expire, yet it still waged a Literary Battle against our Jing Kingdom! Has Vice Minister Ou utterly forgotten this matter?" Qiao Juze asked.

"That was then; this is now!" Ou Mo helplessly quoted the famous words from the Book of Mencius.

"Hmph!" Several officials snorted repeatedly, utterly disdainful of Ou Mo.

Had today's court assembly not involved such grave matters, someone would