Great Court.

The civil and military officials arrayed themselves in order, while the current Emperor sat high on the Dragon Throne.

“Present your concerns or retire from court!”

As soon as Liu Cheng’en finished speaking, Xu Mujun stepped forward amidst the slightly surprised gazes of many.

Since Xu Mujun returned to the capital half a year ago, he had never expressed any stance in the Imperial Court, much like a giant mascot.

But today, it was his first time expressing his thoughts in court, though no one knew…

“Your Majesty!”

Xu Mujun said solemnly, “I have a record here, one that is shocking, allow me to read it to the ministers.”

“Please do, Aiqing.”

“7th Year of Zhengyong, July 4th, martial artists caused a disturbance while drunk in Yongxing Square, killed two inn servants, seven fellow guests, three innocent passersby, and injured seventeen, clashing with the Five Cities Military Department upon their arrival.”

“7th Year of Zhengyong, July 11th, Huwei Martial Arts Hall in Xingsheng Square and Jade Sword Martial Arts Hall in Kaiming Square clashed, over one hundred and forty people engaged in a brawl, resulting in seventeen deaths and thirty-nine injuries!”

“7th Year of Zhengyong, July 28th, a swordsman from Qingcheng Sect faced injustice in the city and drew his sword. He eradicated the Black Tiger Gang in Guangfu Square, killing seventeen, damaging four houses but also killing three innocent passersby!”

“7th Year of Zhengyong, August 8th, the notorious thief Flying Bat, Ke Zhenshan, infiltrated a wealthy merchant’s house in Anren Square, stealing three hundred taels of gold, was discovered by the servants, and in haste, knocked over a fire source, burning seventeen houses.”

“Fortunately, houses in Anren Square were made of Bluestone, the fire brigade patrolled nearby, promptly extinguished the fire, resulting in only twenty-one burn injuries.”

“Flying Bat, Ke Zhenshan, was also apprehended by the Embroidered Uniform Guard.”

“7th Year of Zhengyong…”

Xu Mujun continued reading various statistics while the ministers, bewildered by the general’s intent, whispered among themselves.

“What’s the Grand General doing?”

“Has this many died anything to do with today’s Great Court?”

“Even I know martial artists are impulsive, but I didn’t expect so many deaths!”

“Could it be that the report from Grand General Xu today is related to these martial artists?”

“Possibly…”

Other officials whispered among themselves, while several Cabinet ministers seemed to have figured something out.

Lu Xiangqing, Li Yuanhao, Zheng Xuanyue, and Zheng Zongbing’s eyes flickered, exchanging glances, pondering their thoughts.

The four glanced at Zheng Yi on the Dragon Throne, speculating whether Grand General Xu Mujun’s proposal today was related to Zheng Yi, and if it had his approval?

After a full cup of tea’s time, Xu Mujun finally stopped, putting away the report in his hand.

“Fellow colleagues, in just three months, over three hundred people have died due to the reckless actions of martial artists, more than a thousand injured, and over a hundred houses destroyed…”

“If this continues for long, won’t the Great Yu Imperial City become a haven for crime?”

Zheng Yi then spoke, “Xu Aiqing is absolutely right, I had no idea the city’s security would be so affected by martial artists.”

“I wonder, Xu Aiqing, what solutions do you have?”

Xu Mujun took out another report, holding it high above his head, “Your Majesty, I propose to issue the ‘Ban Martial Order’!”

“Ah…”

As soon as he spoke, numerous ministers around him were astonished and began to discuss.

“Ban Martial Order? Absolutely not!”

“Martial artists are like dry kindling, with Grand General Xu’s action, it’s like adding fuel to a roaring fire!”

“Ban Martial Order, does it mean no men of Great Yu can practice martial arts?”

“What exactly is Grand General Xu’s strategy?”

“This is too extreme, Ban Martial Order… how can it possibly be enforced?”

The ministerial discussions did not disrupt the dialogue between Xu Mujun and Zheng Yi.

Liu Cheng’en quickly took Xu Mujun’s report and handed it to Zheng Yi.

Zheng Yi opened it and saw its contents, identical to what had been discussed in the last few days.

Zheng Yi had synthesized the opinions of several people and past experiences for this Ban Martial Order.

He couldn’t be the one to initiate it, so Xu Mujun had to take the lead.

“Your Majesty, the Ban Martial Order I present is not entirely prohibitive but rather a targeted restriction and regulation.”

Xu Mujun said, “I wish to assemble people from the Ministry of War to form a new organization, the ‘Martial Arts Department’, dedicated to managing Great Yu martial artists.”

“All Great Yu martial artists must go to the Martial Arts Department to register and receive the ‘Martial Artist Certificate’, allowing them to travel and be awarded positions according to their Martial Dao cultivation.”

“A three-month time limit, all martial artists in the capital must register, otherwise it will be viewed as a challenge to Great Yu Law, upon discovery, they will be expelled from the capital or face corresponding penalties.”

“For wild martial artists unwilling to register, there is a way to handle them. As long as they don’t carry swords or similar weapons, they will be regarded as civilians and can move freely in the capital.”

“All these management projects have been written into the report, please inspect them, Your Majesty.”

Zheng Yi pretended to browse the report, although he had already reviewed its contents, mostly drafted under his guidance.

Whether it was the management of martial artists, their treatment, or status, he had given detailed explanations.

A straightforward policy, the so-called Ban Martial Order is not entirely prohibitive.

But only banned in the capital!

Anyone entering the capital must not carry swords or similar weapons.

Except for qualified martial artists registered with the Martial Arts Department!

In other words, martial artists from other places wishing to enter the capital must either register as official martial artists of the Martial Arts Department or temporarily store their weapons outside the city.

This way, the threat of martial artists can be minimized.

The destructive power of a martial artist with weapons compared to one without will undoubtedly decrease greatly.

Moreover, unarmed martial artists will find themselves disadvantaged in facing official crackdowns.

The main objective is also to prevent martial artists from assassinating important figures!

Regarding the registration of martial artists, Zheng Yi had described it in detail.

The simplest is of course name, gender, age, deeper would be their sect, any travel permits, any verification from fellow disciples, etc.

Furthermore, martial arts halls, gangs, sects within the capital must register.

Otherwise, they must either relocate from the capital or wait for the Imperial Guard’s crackdown!

No third path available!

Moreover, once becoming an official martial artist, Zheng Yi offered substantial benefits.

Recorded by the Martial Arts Department, Third-grade Martial Artists can receive a monthly salary of twenty taels of silver.

Second-grade Martial Artists, fifty taels per month.

First-grade Martial Artists, one hundred taels per month.

Grandmaster Realm Martial Artists, three hundred taels per month.

Innate Realm, face-to-face talk.

Most importantly, these stipends are given free of charge!

That is to say, as long as you register as an official martial artist in the Martial Arts Department, you can receive these stipends every month without having to do anything!

Free!

It is undoubtably a temptation for every martial artist.

Of course, there’s no such thing as a free lunch in the world.

The free ones are actually the most expensive!

Giving stipends is just a way to attract these martial artists.

Subsequent measures will subdue these martial artists, slowly converting them into loyal supporters of the Imperial Court of Great Yu.

As for martial artists who are unwilling to join the Martial Arts Department, it’s straightforward.

Either don’t enter the Capital City, or hand over your weapons if you do enter.

Such measures can minimize the threat posed by martial artists.

Zheng Yi tossed Xu Mujun’s memorial onto the table and said, “Show it to the several Cabinet Ministers.”

“Understood!”

Liu Cheng’en took the memorial and quickly walked to Lord Lu Xiangqing and others, handing it over.

There was only one memorial, and the three old men squeezed together reluctantly to review it.

As for Prince Bing, he stood still, lost in thought.

“Your Majesty.”

After the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, the three old men rubbed their eyes, Lu Xiangqing handed the memorial to Li Changfeng, the Minister of War behind him.

Since the Martial Arts Department is under the Ministry of War, Li Changfeng naturally has the right to review it.

Soon, the Ministers of the Six Ministries and several important civil and military officials all finished reading the memorial and remained silent.

Zheng Yi asked, “My dear ministers, what are your opinions on this ‘Ban Martial Order’?”

“Your Majesty.”

Lu Xiangqing responded first, “Such a move might force many martial artists into opposition to the Imperial Court, which is detrimental to the country.”

Li Yuanhao also said, “Your Majesty, this move might incite martial artists to cause unrest, adversely affecting the security of the Capital City.”

Zheng Xuanyue thought for a moment and asked, “Your Majesty, will this strategy be implemented only in the Capital City, or nationwide?”

“For now, only in the Capital City.”

Zheng Yi said, “Xu Aiqing, could you clarify for the several ministers?”

“Understood!”

Xu Mujun said, “Warriors defy bans with their martial skills, and as the center of our Great Yu, the Capital City must manage these martial artists.”

“Registering them is undoubtedly the most convenient method.”

“Once a martial artist commits an offense, we can quickly locate the target based on the registered information in the Martial Arts Department.”

“Furthermore, after registration, we can manage and entice these martial artists, eventually turning them into entities similar to the Sacrificial Institute, serving Great Yu!”

“As for the concerns of Lord Lu and Lord Li, they are indeed valid, but it’s merely initial chaos.”

“Compared to the stability of the Capital City, what do a few martial artists count for?”

“Besides, I’ve clearly stated in the memorial that those unwilling to register can hand over their weapons or be prohibited from entering the Capital City—is this difficult?”

“Unless…”

Xu Mujun said coldly, “Those martial artists have other motives, scheming in the shadows!”

“These individuals are the ones we must bloodily suppress!”

Instantly, a chill enveloped the great hall, causing many civil servants to shiver in fear.

It was as if the one standing before them wasn’t Xu Mujun, but a fierce tiger proudly dominating the forest!

Just as he finished speaking, someone from the military officer faction stood up—it was the Illustrious Martial General, Jin Peng.

He bent over and said, “Your Majesty, Your servant concurs!”

“Your servant concurs!”

“Your servant concurs!”

One after another, generals from the military officer faction stood out, endorsing Xu Mujun’s proposal.

In the civil servant faction, officials continuously stood out as well.

“Your servant concurs!”

“Your servant concurs!”

Wang Anshi, Yuan Qichang, and Cai Dashi, the three Cabinet Ministers, also emerged successively.

“Your servant concurs!”

“Your servant concurs!”

Seeing this, the remaining four Cabinet Ministers’ expressions slightly changed.

Since when have Xu Mujun and Your Majesty managed to garner so much support from the officials!

Zheng Xuanyue was the first to step forward, “Your Majesty, Your servant concurs!”

“Your servant concurs!”

“Your servant concurs!”

Upon his action, ten or more figures from the civil servant faction behind him appeared again, all endorsing Xu Mujun’s proposal.

Under Zheng Yi’s gaze, Zheng Zongbing could only reluctantly bow and said, “Your Majesty, I also concur!”

“Your servant concurs!”

“Your servant concurs!”

Members of the Royal Family immediately stepped out, endorsing Xu Mujun’s proposal.

In the end, only Lu Xiangqing and Li Yuanhao were left in the great hall, along with more than thirty officials behind them.

Lu Xiangqing and Li Yuanhao could only reluctantly say, “Your Majesty, Your servants concur.”

“Your servants concur!”

“Since that’s the case…”

Zheng Yi said calmly, “This matter will be entrusted to Xu Aiqing, but be mindful that martial artists are inherently unruly, and try not to be overly harsh, aiming for minimal casualties.”

“Moreover, I will also send people to assist you.”

“Once Xu Aiqing has prepared everything, the announcement can be made.”

“Your servant, follow the command!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep