Nine dragons fight for the throne, I don't want to sit on this throne

Li Bi immediately retorted with a sneer, "Benevolence is for obedient people, not for stubborn enemies!

"Dugu Jia and his mother represent the previous dynasty. If we don't completely eradicate them, are we going to leave them around so they can make a comeback in the future?"

"Your Majesty, in troubled times, severe punishments must be used. If you are lenient now, you will suffer the consequences in the future!"

"Master Li!"

Liao Qian refused to budge, his voice becoming stern: "You keep saying you're thinking about your majesty's country, but do you know that even if you conquer the country, how can you rule it?"

"Now that the world is stable and everything needs to be rebuilt, our top priority is to win over the people and maintain order!"

"Aside from momentary gratification and allowing people like Lord Li, who are eager to show off their achievements, to kill the previous dynasty's royal family, what real benefits does it bring to the country and the people?"

"It will only increase panic and make the unattached areas even more alienated!"

"You... Liao Qian! Stop slandering me!"

Li Bi's sore spot was touched, especially the four words "eager to show off", which made his face turn red instantly, and the wound on his back also hurt sharply due to excitement.

He pointed at Liao Qian, his fingers trembling with anger. "I, Li Bi, am loyal to Your Majesty. Heaven and earth bear witness to this! How can you slander me like this?"

Just as the two were about to engage in personal attacks, another official stood up. He was Zhang Yi, the Shaoqing of the Taichang Temple.

He was a more moderate person and tried to mediate, but he still stood on Liao Qian's side:

"Your Majesty, Lord Li and Lord Liao are both considering the country, but from different perspectives."

"I think what Liao Xueshi said is not without reason."

"Dugu Jia and his mother were indeed powerless to save the situation. Killing them was easy, but the consequences would be the iron pen of history and the words of scholars throughout the world."

"If Your Majesty could show tolerance at this time and emulate the ancient sage kings, he would be imprisoned or demoted to a commoner."

"Not only can this eliminate the threat, it can also demonstrate Your Majesty's magnanimity and win the hearts of the people. This is the best strategy to defeat the enemy without fighting!"

"Master Zhang, your words are too scholarly!"

Wang Yu interrupted Zhang Yi gruffly, "What do you mean by the iron pen of history, or the opinions of the literati? The victors are kings and the losers are bandits! History is written by the victors!"

"As long as the Great Chu Empire remains forever secure, your Majesty will have the final say on how future history books will comment on it."

"Keeping them here is the real hidden danger! Those old ministers with ulterior motives need just such a banner!"

"Only by completely burning this flag can we stop everyone from thinking about it!"

"Lord Wang! How can you be so disrespectful to the opinions of the scholars?"

The one who spoke this time was Xu Chun, a doctor of the Imperial College, an elderly minister, whose beard trembled with anger.

"How can one govern a country and bring peace to the world without regard for morality and the people's support?"

"Your Majesty! I beg you to reconsider! The Han Dynasty has been established for hundreds of years, and its benevolence has spread throughout the world."

"Suddenly killing the last monarch and the Queen Mother will chill the hearts of loyal and righteous people throughout the world and may also provoke unnecessary unrest!"

"Now that Chang'an has just been established and the four sides have not yet attached themselves to it, we should focus on appeasement and stability!"

"Dr. Xu! You keep talking about being gentle, but do you know that being kind to your enemies is being cruel to yourself?"

Zhao Ming retorted sharply, "Now that Chang'an City is under your majesty's control and you have a large army at your disposal, who dares to cause chaos?"

"This is a perfect opportunity to discern clearly who are truly loyal and who harbor ulterior motives! Those who advocate for a softer approach, are they perhaps still harboring second thoughts themselves?"

"Zhao Ming! Don't judge others by your own standards!"

Liao Qian angrily retorted: "We are upholding impartiality and making suggestions for the country. How can we allow you to slander us wantonly?"

"Whether it is slander or not, you all know it in your hearts!" Li Bi replied sinisterly.

Suddenly, the throne room was in an uproar.

The surrender faction, led by Li Bi, Wang Yu, Zhao Ming, and Zhang Tao, and the opposition faction, represented by Liao Qian, Zhang Yi, and Xu Chun, each held their own views and engaged in a fierce debate.

One side quoted from classics and talked about benevolence, human nature and historical criticism.

The other side emphasizes hidden dangers, realities, and deterrence.

The rhetoric became increasingly sharp and the atmosphere became increasingly heated, gradually evolving from a policy debate into mutual attacks and even taking on the flavor of personal attacks.

The originally solemn and dignified court was now as noisy as a market.

"Kill! Must kill! This is necessary to consolidate the foundation of the country!"

"Don't kill! This is a great opportunity to demonstrate your saintly virtue!"

"You are so pedantic and ignorant of the times!"

"You are seeking credit and currying favor with your superiors, and your intentions are not right!"

His saliva was flying and his face was red.

The centrists and silent officials were terrified and at a loss as to what to do. They could only shrink as much as possible and reduce their presence, for fear of being swept into this fierce vortex.

Chu Ning, sitting on the throne, watched coldly from beginning to end this fierce quarrel that he had personally provoked and concerned two lives or even more lives.

There was no expression on his face, neither approval of the loyalty of Li Bi and others, nor impatience with the pedantry of Liao Qian and others.

His fingers were still on the armrest of the throne, maintaining that slow and regular tapping motion.

It was as if His Highness's chaotic dispute, which was enough to impress any monarch, was just a farce that had nothing to do with him.

His deep gaze swept across the face of every speaker like a hawk.

Observe their expressions, analyze their words, and try to figure out their true intentions and positions hidden behind their words.

The eagerness and ruthlessness of Li Bi and others, the perseverance and ideals of Liao Qian and others, and the fear and hesitation in the eyes of those silent ones.

All of this was clearly reflected in his eyes, which were like cold ponds.

Until both sides argued until they were hoarse and almost rolled up their sleeves to fight, and the chaos in the hall reached a climax, the regular knocking sound came to an abrupt end.

Such a tiny movement seemed to carry invisible magic.

The eunuch who had been standing by the imperial steps immediately understood what was going on, gathered his strength, and shouted sharply:

"quiet--!"

Like cold water poured into boiling oil, the quarrel in the hall died down instantly.

Everyone seemed to be strangled by the neck, and suddenly came to their senses, realizing where they were and what they were doing.

They hurriedly straightened their clothes, suppressed their anger, lowered their heads again, and anxiously waited for the final decision from the throne.

The suffocating silence returned to the Golden Palace once again, leaving only the aftermath of the fierce argument and countless wildly beating hearts.

Chu Ning slowly stood up.

His movements were not fast, but they carried a sense of oppression that came from being in control of the overall situation.

The hem of his dark formal attire brushed lightly against the imperial steps. He walked to the edge of the imperial steps and looked down at the silent ministers below.

The quarrel is over, the drama has been watched, and the positions that need to be distinguished are roughly clear.

Now, it is time for him to put an end to this dispute and the fate of Dugu Jia and Liu Xiang.

All the people who were supposed to oppose him appeared. He only needed to capture these people and Dugu Jia and his mother in one fell swoop, and Chang'an City would fall completely into his hands!