Chương 573: Year-End Summary + New Year's Pie-in-the-Sky Event

The voices of hundreds of people mingled together, buzzing like a pot of boiling porridge.

Today's court assembly is a regular one, not a grand one, but the number of officials present is even greater than at a grand one.

Today is the "Year-End Summary + New Year's Pie-in-the-Sky Conference" to mark the launch of the second five-year plan of the Great Han Dynasty.

The civil and military officials were all dressed impeccably, their court robes crisp and their official boots gleaming. They held thick tablets and small notebooks in their hands, just like the workers waiting for their bosses to give them their year-end bonuses.

The senior officials in the front row, each with a hand warmer in their hand, the charcoal in the brazier glowing red, stroked their beards and whispered about last year's achievements, praising each other with restrained smiles on their faces...

Young officials in the back row secretly passed notes with messages like, "Do you think I'll get a promotion this year?" or "I think it's unlikely; your performance isn't outstanding enough," discussing whether they could get a promotion and a raise this year.

The most lively place was the military officers' quarters. Cheng Yaojin and Yuchi Gong were at it again, pushing and shoving each other, neither willing to give in. Cheng Yaojin and Yuchi Gong were arguing so fiercely that Guan Yu turned around and glared at them, which finally shut them up, but they were still exchanging glances.

At exactly nine o'clock in the morning, the eunuch's high-pitched announcement rang out, piercing through the entire hall: "His Majesty has arrived!"

The officials immediately fell silent, stood at attention, and remained completely still, not daring to even cough.

The fighting looks they had just been giving each other instantly vanished, and they all became obedient.

Liu Ce slowly walked onto the dragon throne. His black dragon robe with twelve symbols accentuated his tall and straight figure. The twelve tassels on his crown swayed gently, shimmering and reflecting a shimmering light under the candlelight.

He is thirty-two years old this year, in the prime of his life. He has been in this chaotic world for sixteen years. Eight years of military campaigns and five years of diligent governance have left his eyes with wrinkles and wrinkles. His cheekbones are higher than before, but his eyes are more determined than ever before, like two flames that never go out.

"All of you, rise." Liu Ce's voice was not loud, but it had a penetrating power, like an invisible knife cutting through the air and clearly reaching every corner of the hall.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

The officials shouted "Long live the Emperor!" and stood up in unison. After the rustling sound of their robes, the entire Taiji Hall became so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Hundreds of people stood there, not one moving, not one making a sound.

Liu Ce slowly stood up, walked to the Nine Dragon Steps in front of the Imperial Palace, put his hands behind his back, and slowly swept his gaze over everyone below the steps, from left to right and from right to left.

He paused, a wicked smile playing on his lips, his eyes narrowing like a cunning fox:

"At that time, I said that I wanted to ensure that the people had enough to eat, that the country had money to spend, and that the army was capable of fighting. As a result, many people whispered among themselves that Your Majesty was young and impetuous, that you were taking too big a step and were likely to break your own balls, and that the pie in the sky was too big for you to reach."

"Pfft—" Someone couldn't help but burst out laughing, and like a floodgate being opened, the entire hall erupted in uncontrollable laughter.

Xun Yu's face turned as red as a monkey's bottom. He quickly lowered his head and pretended to tidy up his official tablet. The tips of his ears were bright red. He had indeed secretly said this to Fang Xuanling back then. He never expected that His Majesty would know!

Fang Xuanling also lowered his head, his shoulders shrugging as he suppressed a laugh.

Du Ruhui fared even worse, bursting out laughing before Xun You stepped on his foot, quickly stopping him.

Liu Ce raised his hand to suppress the laughter, and it immediately stopped.

He straightened his back, his voice suddenly rising, filled with barely suppressed pride, like a general reviewing his victorious army:

"But today! We not only cooked the pancakes perfectly, but they're also big and fragrant, with eggs and meat added—ten times better than what I boasted about back then!"

"Good! Good! Good!"

The military officers erupted in thunderous applause first, with Cheng Yaojin clapping the loudest until his palms turned red, repeatedly shouting, "Your Majesty is awesome! Your Majesty is mighty!"

The civil officials also applauded, their faces full of pride.

No matter how many days and nights of overtime I worked, how many arguments I had, or how many times I was overwhelmed with stress, it was all worth it.

Liu Ce raised his hand to signal for quiet, pointed in the direction outside the hall, and started counting on his fingers to give everyone a real account.

If you count one finger, you can say one thing; if you count two fingers, you can say two things.

His voice was loud and clear, and his language was so plain that everyone could understand him perfectly:

"Twenty highways across the country are now open, with a rest station every ten miles where you can eat, stay, and take a bath, and there are also soldiers patrolling."

Those former bandits have now become innkeepers and coachmen, earning more than they did robbing, and without the constant fear.

"Five years ago, the Yellow River breached its banks, causing floods that displaced hundreds of thousands of people, forcing them to sell their children. Now? We've built a thousand-mile-long dike along the Yellow River and planted millions of protective forests, and the Yellow River hasn't flooded for five whole years!"

Five years ago, scions of powerful families monopolized officialdom, while those from humble backgrounds, no matter how capable they were, could only become lowly clerks running errands and had to bow their heads to everyone.

And now? Five imperial examinations have produced 1, 037 successful candidates, 623 of whom came from humble backgrounds! These people are now distributed across various departments of the imperial court, their futures limitless.

At this point, Liu Ce glanced at the few remaining representatives of aristocratic families at the corner of the hall.

Those men immediately lowered their heads, gripped their tablets tightly, their palms sweating. The once glorious aristocratic families had long since been subdued. Seventy percent of their land had been confiscated, and their sons who wanted to become officials had to take the imperial examinations alongside those from poor families. They no longer had any of their former privileges.

When you meet a colleague from a poor family, you have to take the initiative to greet them, otherwise they won't pay any attention to you.

"Today, I want to thank you all once again!"

Liu Ce's voice suddenly softened, and his eyes also became gentle.

He bowed deeply to the officials below him, bending at a ninety-degree angle.

"It is through your tireless efforts day and night, and the hard work of hundreds of millions of people, that we have the Han Dynasty we have today. I thank you."

"His Majesty!"

Xun Yu was the first to kneel down with a thud: "We have only done our duty! It is all thanks to Your Majesty's wisdom! Without Your Majesty, there would be no Han Dynasty today! We are willing to serve Your Majesty with all our might, even unto death!"

"We second that suggestion! Your Majesty is wise!"

All the civil and military officials knelt down in unison, their shouts of "Long live the Emperor!" deafening and echoing throughout the palace and the entire capital city of Luoyang. Even the common people on the streets stopped and bowed in the direction of the palace.

Vegetable vendors put down their carrying poles, and water carriers put down their buckets, all bowing towards the imperial city.