Di Hedong moved quickly. The very next day, on the evening of July 21, Pan Long was strolling through South Xia City when he heard people excitedly discussing the Crown Prince's petition.
"Have you heard? His Highness the Crown Prince joined several veteran ministers in petitioning His Majesty today. They hope he'll postpone the comprehensive asset investigation and return to the earlier approach of investigating step by step, from the bottom up." In the tavern, a plump middle-aged man's wrinkles seemed ready to burst into smiles. "What wonderful news!"
"What's so wonderful about it?" asked another plump man at his table. "They're still going to investigate in the end!"
A scholar at the next table sneered. "If you had to choose between falling ill three times over three years and coming down with three illnesses at once, which would you pick?"
"Spread them out, of course!" The plump man suddenly understood. "I get it! Even if they investigate later, the local constables will have finished what they're busy with now. If they handle the investigation, they'll be much friendlier, and there'll be room to negotiate."
"Negotiation is secondary, really," the scholar said. "The Reform is a matter of national importance, and we common people ought to support it. But the people are the foundation of the state. The Reform is meant to enrich the people and strengthen the nation, not bring ruin to the nation and suffering to its people. One of Great Xia's fundamental policies is respect for the people's rights. It's an ironclad rule the Martial Emperor and Chancellor Wen wrote into the very opening preface of the Great Xia Code, with not a single word to be changed. Some time ago, those investigating officials used the hunt for the remnants of the Hundred Schools as a pretext