"Since Your Majesty ascended the throne, you have brought the great clans to heel and promoted men from humble families with tremendous fanfare, yet accomplished nothing."
"Year after year, examinations admit men as gentlemen, yet not one comes from a humble family. The classics are recited at the Imperial Academy, yet not a common scholar's voice is heard! Your Majesty sent famous scholars throughout the country to oversee instruction, but their halls are packed with distinguished friends; they open their doors to lecture, yet scholars from humble families cannot even enter!"
"Yesterday, Your Majesty moved the great clans of Wu territory to Ping Province; today, you move the great clans of the Shu lands to Sha Province."
"And tomorrow, powerful clans from Jiangdong will hold the offices of Ping Province, while prestigious families from the Shu lands will occupy the petty clerkships of Sha Province."
"Within a century, they will be the powerful clans of Ping Province and the prestigious families of Sha Province."
"Your Majesty's governance is like pushing a boat over dry land: labor without achievement! Yi's way lay not in shooting; Zaofu's art lay not in driving; Xi Zhong's skill lay not in chopping and carving!"
"Failing to grasp the root of any matter and dwelling only on the surface-this is one of the ways monarchs have brought their countries to ruin since ancient times!"
Yellow Gate Gentleman Zou Gui stammered as he read the memorial, glancing from time to time at Cao Mao beside him, his forehead already covered in cold sweat.
Cao Mao sat in the seat of honor, sipping the tea in his hand, his expression perfectly calm.
He glanced at Zou Gui.
"Why did you stop? Keep reading."
Zou Gui continued reading the memorial.
Even after he finished, Zou Gui still felt lingering