"You!" Song Yue's face turned from green to red, then from red to white.
"Very well! What a fine Wei Zi'an! Only today have I finally seen you for what you are!
You hold office in the Ministry of Personnel, wielding the seal of official selection. The promotion and demotion of officials throughout the realm hinge on a single thought of yours.
And even that is not enough?!
Now you stretch your claws into my Ministry of War! Wei Nisheng, you have secured the Ministry of Personnel, yet still scheme for the Ministry of War. What is the meaning of this?!
Today you demand a Duty Room in the Ministry of War. Tomorrow, I fear, you will demand command of every army in the realm!
Did Lord Feng teach you to be so greedy?!"
"Greedy?" Wei Nisheng was not angered. Instead, he chuckled.
"What my teacher taught me..." Wei Nisheng slowly rose.
The scarlet robe and the purple robe were finally level.
"My teacher taught me that an official must not shirk his duties, evade blame, or abandon public justice over private grudges.
Today, an envoy has been detained, Frontier Reports delayed, and military merit left unrecognized...
Were my teacher still alive, he would surely slam his hand on the desk, and his first question would not be, 'Who is greedy and who is not?'!"
"But since you have asked, Grand Secretary, I shall answer." Wei Nisheng spoke slowly.
"What I, Wei Zi'an, seek amounts to only three things.
The free passage of military intelligence: whether Frontier Reports reach the Capital swiftly or slowly, all under heaven should be able to see.
Rewards for frontier commanders: soldiers stake their lives, and their achievements must not go to waste.
Clarity for His Highness: what the Regent hears must not be filtered