Chapter 136: Sophistry in the Imperial Court!

“All right. Lord Li is here now, so if anyone has something to say, speak up.”

The Second Li sat upright upon the imperial throne, his face expressionless. No one could tell what he was thinking.

The moment he finished speaking, a fourth-rank official stepped forward and said, “Your Majesty, a merchant alliance has recently appeared within the city. It has been confirmed that it was established single-handedly by Physician Li. The alliance’s emergence has had a tremendous impact on commerce in Chang’an, both positive and negative.

“On the positive side, the alliance has invented many new products, all of which are highly beneficial to the lives of ordinary people, and their prices are fair. Moreover, the people within the alliance are unfailingly courteous, which is worthy of praise in itself. It is also the first organization to combine many different kinds of shops under unified management—in other words, this so-called group enterprise. It has set an excellent example for the commercial world.

“Therefore, I admit that the alliance’s appearance has brought considerable benefits to commerce. However, some of its practices are excessively severe. For example, it allows women to engage in business openly, permits common people to file reports at will, and has established a system of rewards and punishments. All of these have seriously disrupted the order of the marketplace. Many merchants have already come to me to complain. It can be said that the merchants of Chang’an are now filled with resentment!”

The Second Li nodded silently and asked, “Lord Li, what do you have to say?”

Li Yi let out a cold laugh. He understood now. This was merely a test. Otherwise, they would not have begun by praising the merchant alliance. Even their accusations had been deliberately vague. Clearly, they were only trying to probe his limits.

Most importantly, the alliance’s backing was simply too powerful. They did not dare go too far. Since that was the case, Li Yi had nothing to fear.

With a faint smile, he replied calmly, “Your Majesty, to be honest, I have not understood a single word this gentleman has said—except for the parts in which he praised the merchant alliance, of course.”

His words drew a burst of laughter from the military officials. They were all the sort who enjoyed watching a spectacle and never feared that matters might grow too serious.

After a brief pause, Li Yi continued, “First, this gentleman objects to women engaging in commerce. On that point, I am truly puzzled. Which law of the Great Tang explicitly states that women may not conduct business?

“Yes, you may say that women are expected to observe the three obediences and four virtues, and should not casually show themselves in public. But among all you honorable gentlemen, whose household does not have several maids?

“So you are allowed to keep beautiful women hidden away in your own homes, yet they are forbidden to earn a living through their own efforts? They have not stolen anything, nor robbed anyone. They have not violated the principles of womanly conduct. They are merely conducting honest business. In what way does that obstruct you?”

“You… you… uncouth!”

The official who had just submitted the memorial was so enraged by Li Yi’s relentless mockery that he could barely speak.

From his seat above, the Second Li watched with barely suppressed amusement. No one could match Li Yi’s tongue.

“Ahem. Lord Li, do not be discourteous.”

Li Yi gave a gentlemanly bow. “As Your Majesty commands.”

Then, smiling broadly, he turned to the censor and said, “Very well, sir. Let us discuss your second point. You claim that allowing common people to file reports at will is improper. I cannot agree.

“How exactly is it improper to let the people report matters freely? Are you afraid that merchants have somehow acquired the authority of officials? That is absurd. Does making a report grant someone power? Even children know to complain to each other’s parents when they get into a fight. How is reporting a merchant any different?

“And you say that the system of rewards and punishments is unacceptable. That is even more ridiculous. Let us begin with the rewards. If a merchant is willing to spend his own money to reward the people, how does that concern you?

“I know what you truly object to is the punishment. But the merchants never explicitly said that they would impose fines or anything of the sort. They merely stated that anyone who violated their rules would henceforth be forbidden from buying or selling goods within the Golden Cauldron.

“Is even that unacceptable? You cause trouble in someone else’s establishment, and then refuse to let them decline your patronage? That makes no sense at all.

“As for the other punishments, none of them violate the law. You may investigate for yourself if you do not believe me.

“And finally, you claim that every merchant in the commercial world is now bitterly resentful. How is it that I know nothing of this? All I know is that after the alliance appeared, many merchants adapted with the times and promptly adjusted their businesses. In the end, they won the unanimous approval of the people, and their trade flourished.

“The only merchants whose businesses have declined are those who had problems of their own and refused to mend their ways, because the people no longer wished to buy from them. So those men went to you, and that is why you submitted this memorial today.

“Oh, I see now. Sir, I believe you may have gotten yourself into trouble. There are two possibilities.

“First, those merchants deceived you, and you were unaware of the truth. If that is the case, I advise you to return home and investigate their backgrounds carefully. As a censor, you have been extraordinarily negligent.

“The second possibility is that you accepted benefits from them. In that case, you are all in league with one another, conspiring to deceive His Majesty!”

When Li Yi finished speaking, a flicker of panic crossed the official’s eyes. He immediately fell to his knees and blurted out, “Your Majesty, I do not know them! They never gave me any money! Your Majesty, I am innocent! Your Majesty!”

The Second Li’s brows drew together. He detested officials who possessed neither integrity nor backbone. With an impatient wave of his hand, he ordered, “Guards, take him away and have the Supreme Court investigate him!”

The Supreme Court of the Tang dynasty was the central judicial institution, primarily responsible for hearing cases involving central officials who faced sentences of penal servitude or worse.

It appeared that the Second Li was serious this time.

After the official was dragged away, the gaze of every minister in the court toward Li Yi changed. This young man, who looked harmless and was still so young, was ruthless indeed. The man had merely reported him, yet Li Yi had sent him straight to prison.

Those with sharper minds also noticed that Li Yi’s words had been reasonable, well-founded, and measured. Without revealing the slightest trace, he had explained away every accusation against himself, while quietly turning the spearhead toward his opponent. Such meticulous calculation was far from ordinary.

Some remembered the brilliance Li Yi had displayed while breaking the case involving the remnants of Li Jiancheng’s faction. Others recalled the scene in which he had argued Confucius Scholar Kong to the point of vomiting blood.

This was a terrifyingly clever man.

Without realizing it, everyone took a step back.

Among the military officials, General Li Jing could not help smiling. He was beginning to admire his grandson. When it came to warfare, he could perhaps crush Li Yi completely. When it came to the art of serving as an official, Li Yi was no match for him either.

But if the matter concerned intelligence and quick thinking alone, Li Jing had no choice but to admit defeat.

Cheng Yaojin stood with his mouth hanging open. It was the first time he had seen Li Yi debate someone in court, and he had to admit that Li Yi’s battle had been exhilarating beyond words.

Among the civil officials, Fang Xuanling maintained his usual gentle smile, though no one knew what he was thinking. Changsun Wuji wore an expressionless face as well, but the way his hands alternately clenched and relaxed revealed that his heart was far from calm.

Even the Second Li was somewhat surprised. He had known that Li Yi was eloquent, but he had never expected him to be this formidable.

With a faint smile, he continued, “Does anyone else have a problem?”

After waiting for a moment, the Second Li saw another official step out from among the civil ministers. Once he had approached, the official submitted his memorial.

“Your Majesty, I have heard that the Golden Cauldron Charitable Foundation intends to establish nursing homes and orphanages in Chang’an and throughout the empire, and that this undertaking is to be led by Princess Changle. I wish to ask Physician Li whether this is true.”

The Second Li narrowed his eyes and looked toward Li Yi.

Li Yi exhaled softly and gathered his attention. At last, it had come. He knew that this was the true matter of the day.

Everyone’s attention turned toward him.

Li Yi spoke slowly. “It is true.”

“Then I must oppose it. Establishing orphanages and nursing homes in Chang’an and throughout the empire is a matter of state administration. It is already unacceptable to entrust such work to private citizens, let alone to a woman. This matter is absolutely impermissible!”

As soon as the censor finished speaking, a succession of civil officials stepped forward and said in unison, “I also believe this matter is improper!”

At once, the atmosphere in the court grew tense and oppressive.

Li Yi became serious as well. This was the true power of the civil officials. The matter of the merchant alliance had involved interests that were too broad, so they had merely cast out a scapegoat. But now, it was time to seize a share of the feast, and the civil officials were naturally prepared to exert their influence.

The power of connections—that was what made the civil officials so formidable.

Li Yi drew a deep breath and said in a clear voice, “Your Majesty, I see nothing improper about it.”

The moment the words left his mouth, every gaze in the court focused on him.

For the first time, Li Yi felt the pressure of being watched by all.