Liu Min thanked the emperor for his grace and returned to the ranks, as did Shen Duan.
With this interlude, the atmosphere in the hall eased somewhat.
Kou Yuan stood at the head of the Ministry of Revenue's ranks, his expression unchanged, but his eyes turned toward Qi Zhao.
Qi Zhao understood. Court Tablet in hand, he stepped out of the ranks and walked into the center of the hall.
He first bowed toward the Imperial Throne, then straightened and spoke in a voice that carried throughout the hall:
"Your Majesty, there is a matter your subject cannot leave unspoken."
Emperor Jing of Zhou was in a fine mood and raised a hand. "Granted."
"Your subject has heard that the Ministry of War recently sent an official communication to the Ministry of Personnel's Selection Bureau concerning the reassignment of an officer to the Ningxia Garrison.
"The officer in question is Zhou Quan, Garrison Vice Commander of Datong Prefecture, proposed for appointment as Commander-in-Chief of the Ningxia Garrison."
Having said this, Qi Zhao turned to face the assembled officials.
"Though Zhou Quan has past achievements to his credit, he has spent years in the frontier garrisons and done nothing of note in recent years.
"Yet mere days after the Ministry of War's communication reached the Ministry of Personnel, the Selection Bureau approved it. Such speed is unprecedented."
"Your subject asks: the Ministry of War's communication went into the Selection Bureau without passing through the Directorate of Transmission or undergoing Memorial Drafting in the Grand Secretariat, going straight in and straight out. What precedent permits this?"
"Your subject asks again: Zhou Quan has languished in Datong Prefecture for years. Why has he received this promotion at precisely this moment? Is it because of his achievements, or because of his connections?"
After posing