128: Weapons ban

Chapter 127: Martial Prohibition Decree

Grand Court.

Civil and military officials stood in order, and the current emperor sat high on the dragon throne.

"If you have anything to report, step forward; if not, the court is dismissed!"

As soon as Liu Chengen's voice fell, amidst the slightly surprised gazes of many people, Xu Mujun stepped out from the ranks.

Ever since Xu Mujun returned to the capital half a year ago, he had never expressed any propositions in the court, just like a giant mascot.

But today was the first time he expounded his thoughts in the court, and it was unknown...

"Your Majesty!"

Xu Mujun said in a deep voice, "I have a record here that can be called shocking. Allow me to read it to the ministers."

"Please, Beloved Minister."

"On July 4th of the zhengyong seventh year, some Martial Forest figures got drunk and caused trouble in Yongxing Ward, killing two tavern waiters, seven guests in the same tavern, and three innocent passersby, severely injuring seventeen people, and clashing with the arriving Five Cities Patrol Command."

"On July 11th of the zhengyong seventh year, a conflict broke out between the Huwei Martial Arts Hall in Xingsheng Ward and the Yujian Martial Arts Hall in Kaiming Ward. Over 140 people from both sides engaged in a brawl, resulting in 17 deaths and 39 injuries!"

"On July 28th of the zhengyong seventh year, a swordsman from the Qingcheng Sect encountered an injustice in the city and drew his sword. He wiped out the Black Tiger Gang in Guangfu Ward, killing 17 people and destroying four houses, but at the same time, he also killed three innocent passersby!"

"On August 8th of the zhengyong seventh year, the notorious bandit Flying Bat Ke Zhenshan sneaked into the home of a wealthy merchant in Anren Ward to steal three hundred taels of gold. When discovered by the servants, he hastily knocked over a fire source, burning down seventeen houses."

"Fortunately, the houses in Anren Ward were all made of bluestone, and the fire prevention guards patrolled around, extinguishing the fire in time. Only twenty-one people were burned."

"The Flying Bat Ke Zhenshan was also captured by the Jinyi Guard."

"In the zhengyong seventh year..."

Xu Mujun was still reading some data, and after a long time, the surrounding ministers did not know what the Great General wanted to say, and could not help discussing in low voices.

"What is the Great General doing?"

"So many people died, does it have anything to do with today's grand court?"

"This old man also knows that Jianghu figures are relatively impulsive, but I didn't expect so many people to have died!"

"Could it be that Grand General Xu's memorial today is related to these Jianghu figures?"

"It's possible..."

Other officials were discussing animatedly, but several cabinet assistant ministers seemed to have thought of something.

The eyes of the four men, Lu Xiangqing, Li Yuanhao, Zheng Xuanyue, and Zheng Zongbing, flickered slightly. They looked at each other, not knowing what they were thinking.

The four of them glanced at Zheng Yi on the dragon throne one after another, guessing whether the proposal of Grand General Xu Mujun today was related to Zheng Yi, and whether it had obtained Zheng Yi's instigation?

After a full cup of tea's time, Xu Mujun finally stopped and put away the memorial in his hand.

"Fellow colleagues, in a short span of three months, more than three hundred people have lost their lives due to the misdeeds of Martial Forest figures, over a thousand people have been injured, and hundreds of houses have been destroyed..."

"If this goes on for long, won't the capital of our Great Yu Dynasty become a place that hides dirt and harbors corruption?"

Zheng Yi spoke at this time: "Minister Xu's words are extremely true. I actually didn't know that the capital's security would be affected so greatly by Jianghu figures."

"I wonder what solution Minister Xu has?"

Xu Mujun took out another memorial, held it high above his head, and said: "Your Majesty, I propose the issuance of the 'Martial Prohibition Decree'!"

"An uproar..."

As soon as his voice fell, the surrounding ministers showed shocked expressions and discussed animatedly.

"Martial Prohibition Decree? Absolutely not!"

"Martial Forest figures are inherently a pile of dry firewood. Grand General Xu's move is undoubtedly lighting a fire under this pile of dry firewood!"

"A Martial Prohibition Decree, does that mean not letting the men of our Great Yu practice martial arts?"

"What kind of good strategy does Grand General Xu actually have?"

"This, this is too extreme. A Martial Prohibition Decree... how could it ever be completely prohibited!"

The discussions of the surrounding ministers did not interrupt the dialogue between Xu Mujun and Zheng Yi.

Liu Chengen hurried down and handed the memorial in Xu Mujun's hand to Zheng Yi.

Zheng Yi opened it and took a look. The content inside was identical to what they had discussed a few days ago.

For this Martial Prohibition Decree, Zheng Yi had integrated the opinions of several people, as well as much experience from his past and present lives.

It was inconvenient for him to step forward for this matter, so he could only let Xu Mujun make a move.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the Martial Prohibition Decree I offer is not a complete ban, but a targeted ban and management."

Xu Mujun said: "I intend to mobilize a batch of people from the Ministry of War to form a new institution, the 'Shangwu Division', dedicated to managing Great Yu Martial Artists."

"All Great Yu Martial Artists must go to the Shangwu Division institution to register and obtain the 'Martial Artist Certificate' issued by our Great Yu Shangwu Division. Traveling the world with this, they can be granted military official positions corresponding to their martial Dao cultivation."

"Within a time limit of three months, all Martial Artists in the capital must go register. Otherwise, it will be regarded as a challenge to the laws of our Great Yu. Once verified, they will be expelled from the capital or given corresponding punishments."

"As for these wild Martial Artists who are unwilling to go to the Shangwu Division for registration, there is also a way to deal with them. As long as they do not carry weapons such as sabers and swords, they can be regarded as ordinary citizens and travel together in the capital."

"All such management items have been written into the memorial by me. Please examine it clearly, Your Majesty."

Zheng Yi pretended to flip through the memorial. He had already read its contents, and the main items were drafted under his instigation.

Whether it was the management of Martial Artists, or their treatment and status, he had made detailed explanations.

It was a very simple policy. The so-called Martial Prohibition Decree was not a complete ban.

But rather only banning it in the capital!

Anyone entering the capital was prohibited from carrying weapons such as sabers and swords.

Except for qualified Martial Artists registered in the Great Yu Shangwu Division!

That is to say, Martial Artists from other places wanting to enter the capital must either register to become official Martial Artists of the Shangwu Division or temporarily store their weapons like sabers and swords outside the city.

In this way, the threat of Jianghu Martial Artists can be reduced to the maximum extent.

Compared with a Martial Artist with weapons, a Martial Artist without weapons will undoubtedly have their lethality greatly reduced.

Moreover, Martial Artists without weapons will undoubtedly fall into a disadvantage when facing official encirclement and suppression.

Most importantly, this can also prevent Martial Artists from assassinating important figures!

Regarding the registration of Martial Artists, Zheng Yi also made a detailed description.

The simplest ones were of course name, gender, age, etc., and a step further was what Sect they came from, whether they had a travel pass, whether they had proof from Senior Brothers and sisters, etc.

As for the martial arts halls, Gangs, Sects, etc. in the capital area, all must register.

Otherwise, they must either move away from the capital or wait for the imperial guards to encircle and suppress them!

There is no third path to take!

And once they became official Martial Artists, Zheng Yi also gave quite generous treatment.

Once recruited by the Shangwu Division, a Third-Rank Martial Artist could receive a stipend of twenty taels of silver per month.

A Second-Rank Martial Artist, fifty taels per month.

A First-Rank Martial Artist, one hundred taels per month.

A Grandmaster Realm Martial Artist, three hundred taels per month.

The Innate Realm, negotiable in person.

Most importantly, these stipends were given gratuitously!

That is to say, as long as you register as an official Martial Artist of the Shangwu Division, you can get this much stipend in a month without doing anything!

Given for free!

For every Martial Artist, this was undoubtedly a temptation.

Of course, there is no such thing as a free lunch in this world.

What is free is actually the most expensive!

Giving stipends was just to attract these Martial Artists over.

Subsequent measures would subdue these Martial Artists and slowly transform them into loyal supporters of the Great Yu Dynasty.

As for Martial Artists who were unwilling to join the Shangwu Division, it was also very simple.

Either do not enter the capital, or after entering the capital, carrying weapons is prohibited.

With such measures, the threat of Martial Artists could be minimized.

Zheng Yi threw Xu Mujun's memorial onto the table and said: "Let the cabinet ministers take a look."

"Understood!"

Liu Chengen took the memorial and hurried to the front of Lu Xiangqing and the others, handing it over.

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

As for Prince Bing, he stood in place, not knowing what he was thinking.

"Your Majesty."

After a cup of tea's time, the three old men rubbed their eyes, and Lu Xiangqing even handed the memorial to Li Changfeng, the Minister of War behind him.

The Shangwu Division was placed under the Ministry of War, so Li Changfeng naturally had the qualification to view it.

Soon, the ministers of the Six Ministries, as well as several important civil and military ministers, finished reading the memorial and all fell silent without a word.

Zheng Yi asked: "Beloved ministers, do you have any opinions on this 'Martial Prohibition Decree'?"

"Your Majesty."

Lu Xiangqing took the lead and said: "This move has a high possibility of pushing many Martial Artists to the opposite side of the court, which is unfavorable to the country."

Li Yuanhao also said: "Your Majesty, this move may stir up turmoil among Martial Artists, which is unfavorable to the security of the capital."

After thinking for a moment, Zheng Xuanyue asked: "Your Majesty, does this policy only take effect in the capital, or will it be implemented nationwide?"

"It only takes effect in the capital for the time being."

Zheng Yi said: "Minister Xu, can you resolve the doubts for the lords?"

"Understood!"

Xu Mujun said: "Swordsmen use martial arts to violate prohibitions, and the capital, as the center of our Great Yu, must manage these Martial Artists."

"Registering them is undoubtedly the most convenient method."

"Once a Martial Artist commits a crime, we can search according to the registered contents of the Shangwu Division, thereby quickly locking onto the target."

"Moreover, after registration, these Martial Artists can be managed and won over, thereby making these Martial Artists existences similar to the Hall of Offerings, serving our Great Yu!"

"As for the worries of Lord Lu and Lord Li, they also make sense, but that is just the chaos of the Early Stage."

"Compared with the stability of the capital, what do a few Martial Artists amount to?"

"Besides, I have also specified in the memorial that those who are unwilling to register with the Shangwu Division can simply hand over their weapons, or be forbidden to enter the capital. What is so difficult about this?"

"Unless..."

Xu Mujun said coldly: "These Martial Artists have other purposes and are plotting in secret!"

"These people are the ones we will suppress with bloodshed!"

In an instant, a chill suddenly appeared inside the entire grand hall, and many civil officials were scared into shivering all over.

It was as if standing before them was not Xu Mujun, but a fierce tiger ruling over the mountains and forests!

As soon as his voice fell, someone stepped out from the military officials' camp, precisely General Jinpeng.

He bowed and said: "Your Majesty, I second the motion!"

"I second the motion!"

"I second the motion!"

General after general from the military officials' camp stepped out of the ranks, echoing Xu Mujun's proposal.

In the civil officials' camp, officials also continuously stepped out.

"I second the motion!"

"I second the motion!"

Wang Anshi, Yuan Qichang, and Cai Dashi, the three cabinet walkers, also stepped out one after another.

"I second the motion!"

"I second the motion!"

Seeing this, the complexions of the remaining four cabinet assistant ministers changed slightly.

Since when had Xu Mujun and Your Majesty won over so many officials!

Zheng Xuanyue took the lead in stepping out of the ranks and said: "Your Majesty, I second the motion!"

"I second the motion!"

"I second the motion!"

As soon as he moved, more than a dozen figures appeared again in the civil officials' camp behind him, all seconding Xu Mujun's proposal.

Swept by Zheng Yi's gaze, Zheng Zongbing could only helplessly cup his fists and say: "Your Majesty, this prince also seconds the motion!"

"I second the motion!"

"I second the motion!"

Immediately, several members of the imperial clan also stepped out of the ranks to second Xu Mujun's proposal.

In the end, only Lu Xiangqing and Li Yuanhao remained in the entire grand hall, along with more than thirty officials behind them.

Lu Xiangqing and Li Yuanhao could only say helplessly: "Your Majesty, I second the motion."

"We second the motion!"

"Since that's the case..."

Zheng Yi said indifferently: "Leave this matter to Minister Xu. However, be mindful that Martial Artists are inherently unruly people. Do not be too fierce when acting; strive to achieve minimal casualties."

"In addition, I will also send people to assist you all."

"After Minister Xu has prepared everything, issue the announcement."

"This subject obeys the decree!"

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