However, Ding Yun believed that with the advanced nature of those robots and mining equipment, they should be able to excavate the good stuff before being discovered.
As for the remaining low to mid-grade minerals,
they wouldn't fetch a high price anyway.
They could be kept for sustainable development.
This way, the mining speed could be increased by several times, and the chance of exposure would be even lower.
...
Meanwhile, in the capital.
With Emperor Minghui's compromise, the capital, which had been tense for half a month, finally returned to its original order. At the same time, those who had instigated the matter initially all knew the outcome: Emperor Minghui was also powerless.
Privately, they were very curious.
But no one dared to offend the Emperor openly at this time.
So, everyone quickly pretended to be deaf and mute, acting as if nothing had happened, with no one daring to bring it up or ask about it.
The capital, in less than two days,
had resumed its merry tune.
However, the anger that Emperor Minghui held in his heart had not yet been vented. In recent days, he had been like a firecracker in court, easily ignited. Even the censors, who had the privilege of impeaching without punishment for mistakes, had several of them beaten with thirty large planks.
Finding various excuses to beat them.
And no one dared to intercede for them.
Seeing this situation, the ministers felt that it could not continue. If it went on like this, who knew if the Emperor's next outburst would fall upon them.
So, after deliberating in private, they all felt that some blood needed to be shed to appease Emperor Minghui's anger.
As for who would spill blood,
there was already a batch of ready candidates in the imperial prison.
They were going to die sooner or later anyway, so it was better to have them contribute in advance to make their remaining days easier.
Thus, the next day, after discussing.
A minister presented a memorial, stating that a batch of death row inmates would be escorted into the capital for detention in the imperial prison soon. This would cause the prison to become somewhat cramped, and he inquired if the Crown Prince's officials could be housed elsewhere.
For example, moved to the Dali Temple.
His true intention was not just to relocate the Crown Prince's officials, but to remind Emperor Minghui that a large number of the Crown Prince's officials still needed to be dealt with.
Since this matter did not require repeated reminders, after that minister presented his memorial, no one seconded him. Instead, everyone remained silent, waiting for Emperor Minghui's reaction.
Hoping for the reaction they anticipated.
Upon hearing the minister mention the Crown Prince's officials, Emperor Minghui finally remembered that there was a group of people still imprisoned. He then thought of his son, the Crown Prince, who had been dead for over forty days, and whose tomb was nearing completion.
A wave of grief surged within him.
As the saying goes, the deceased are paramount. With the Crown Prince's death, Emperor Minghui's apprehension and dissatisfaction towards him had long since dissipated. Instead, fond memories grew deeper. He would occasionally recall, in dreams of decades past, the Crown Prince's cuteness at birth, his childish demands for affection when young, and his pretense of coolness like a little adult after starting school.
Alas, all these things had vanished with his death.
Completely gone.
The minister's sudden mention of the Crown Prince's officials had undoubtedly touched Emperor Minghui's tender spot. At the same time, due to his decades of ruling experience, he immediately deduced why the minister had said this.
Although he knew that their actions were understandable, Emperor Minghui still angrily rebuked him:
"I am not senile and do not need your reminder.
By imperial decree, Li Zhiqing has presumptuously interpreted my intentions and is guilty of gross disrespect. He is hereby demoted to the rank of a ninth-grade county magistrate in the Southern Frontier."
The position of county magistrate, incidentally, was not of fixed grade.
The lowest was ninth grade, the highest was seventh grade.
The specific grade depended mainly on the size of the county, its prosperity, and population. The difference between a lower county and an upper county was significant, with the highest grade reaching a seventh-grade county magistrate and the lowest a ninth-grade county magistrate.
The Southern Frontier was at the very edge of the frontier.
It was uncertain whether the county magistrate could even survive there.
Therefore, it was naturally considered a very low-grade county.
Li Zhiqing, who had spoken up to remind Emperor Minghui, was now completely stunned. He had thought that by stepping forward, he would at most receive twenty large planks, as that was the outcome for the censors a few days prior. If not for this, how would he have dared to take on this task?
But now, he was demoted directly from the imperial court to the frontier.
This was no different from dismissal.
He even doubted if he could reach the Southern Frontier alive, let alone survive there for a few more years.
He knew without a doubt that this was a huge loss.
Therefore, his complexion instantly lost all color, his lips trembled, and he even shivered slightly. His eyes involuntarily turned towards his mentor and the other individuals who had discussed this matter with him.
He desperately hoped they would intercede for him.
But how was that possible?
Other emperors, as they grew older, their hearts softened. After reaching a certain age, they would try not to act against ministers and nobles for the sake of their posthumous reputation.
But Emperor Minghui was an exception.
The older he got, the more ruthless he became.
Moreover, in his youth, he still followed the rules. In his old age, he often disregarded them, acting according to his own will and whims. Coupled with his decades of holding power and his stable position, the officials were helpless even if they were dissatisfied.
Given these preconditions,
who would dare to step forward.
To plead for someone they already considered a discarded pawn.
Seeing that everyone remained unmoved, Li Zhiqing, though desperate, dared not do anything. After all, he was only demoted. If he dared to overturn the table on the spot, not only his life but also the lives of his family members would be in question.
Therefore, he could only accept with a look of despair.
Just as the officials thought that Emperor Minghui would now proceed as they wished and vent his remaining anger on the Crown Prince's officials, Emperor Minghui again surprised them:
"The Crown Prince has been dead for forty days, and the Crown Prince's tomb is likely nearing its sealing ceremony. I do not wish for further bloodshed. I personally feel that if any of the Crown Prince's officials are willing to be buried with the Crown Prince, their families will be pardoned and allowed to return home, and they will not be beheaded or exiled!"
His words were hardly about voluntary choice.
Who could possibly refuse?
Voluntary meant only themselves would die; involuntary meant their entire families would die. Even the most fearful at this moment would have to choose to be "voluntary."
Who could not understand the priorities?
They were all going to die anyway. Rather than dragging everyone down with them, it was better to die alone and save the lives of their entire family. This way, even in death, their families would remember them and they would not be ashamed before their ancestors.
However, as soon as Emperor Minghui finished speaking, a commotion erupted from below. Subsequently, whether it was the ministers of the six ministries, the left and right chancellors, or the Grand Tutors, they all stepped forward. Though they had not consulted, they all spoke in unison:
"We implore Your Majesty to withdraw this decree!"
There was no other way. This matter was too significant. None of the civil and military officials present wished to see this happen.
Because it was a step backward in history,
and a sign of the revival of the ancient practice of human sacrifice.
Moreover, it could affect their life and death interests,
and even their posthumous reputation.
The thought that history books would record the revival of human sacrifice during their tenure as officials made them feel ashamed to face future generations.
And this was just the beginning.
Once this so-called "voluntary" human sacrifice began, would the Crown Princesses and consorts also have to be sacrificed later? When Emperor Minghui died in the future, would his childless consorts have to be sacrificed? Even his personal eunuchs and favored officials, would they have to be sacrificed? Would they have to be "voluntary"?
Sometimes, certain things cannot be controlled simply by thinking that this will be the only time and it won't happen again.
Once a precedent is set,
it might be difficult to stop.
If the Emperor could allow the Crown Prince's officials to be voluntarily sacrificed today, could wealthy merchants in the future tell someone who owed them a few taels of silver, "I'll waive your debt, but you must be voluntarily sacrificed, otherwise your family will be ruined and the debt must be repaid."
Would other aristocratic families and nobles follow suit?
If you, the Emperor, can volunteer without breaking the law,
why can't we?
It's all voluntary...
Considering these factors, the officials present reached a tacit understanding: it was better for all the Crown Prince's officials to be executed along with their families than to set a precedent for human sacrifice.
As the high-ranking officials above the second rank stepped forward to object,
the third and fourth-rank officials behind them also reacted.
They quickly added their support.
Seeing their united front, Emperor Minghui couldn't help but smile and mockingly say:
"You all seem to be quite united. I wonder if the Crown Prince's officials in the imperial prison will thank you when they hear about what happened in court today?"
There was no need to ask that...
It was definitely impossible to be grateful!
They probably wished they could bite them to death on the spot.
Even if those Crown Prince's officials in the imperial prison understood that Emperor Minghui's suggestion of voluntary sacrifice was inappropriate, especially given its extremely negative impact on future generations and the common people.
But under the temptation of sacrificing oneself to save one's entire family,
they would likely play dumb and pretend not to know.
After all, no matter how bad the impact, it wouldn't be as important as saving the lives of their entire families. If their own families were wiped out, they wouldn't be able to enjoy any positive impact, no matter how good it was.
So-called impartiality, for the sake of the common people.
Most of it was just because the matter didn't happen to them, and it wasn't themselves or their families being sacrificed.
If the Crown Prince's officials were replaced by the officials present,
and if they were all in the imperial prison, and they were given a choice now: either they sacrifice themselves, or their entire families would be executed.
Most of them would probably choose to sacrifice themselves.
But such a thing would clearly not happen, so even though Emperor Minghui said this, the officials did not back down.
"The system of human sacrifice must not be reopened..."
"I believe they will understand our hardships!"
"Reopening human sacrifice is truly the act of a tyrant like Jie and Zhou!"
...
Emperor Minghui's suggestion at this moment was merely a way to prompt discussion, to gauge the attitude of the officials, and to make plans for his own future. But now, it seemed the officials' attitude was very firm. So, after watching the officials bicker for a while from his dragon throne, he could only sigh:
"I have no intention of reopening the system of human sacrifice.
I merely did not want my son to be too lonely and wanted to find some acquaintances to accompany him. Since everyone opposes it, this matter is dropped. Come, deliver the imperial decree. All the Crown Prince's officials in the imperial prison will be executed and exiled according to the law.
Also, inform the officials of the court's decision to them.
So they can die knowing the reason.
Court is dismissed!"
With that, Emperor Minghui stood up directly. The head eunuch by his side promptly announced the adjournment of the court.
Although the officials were dejected, they were helpless.
And they could only console themselves by thinking that even if the people in the imperial prison knew about what happened in court today and cursed them, they would have a clear conscience. Moreover, those Crown Prince's officials in the imperial prison would not live for many more days. Even if they knew and cursed them, what of it?
After the morning court ended,
less than an hour later,
an imperial decree was delivered to the imperial prison.
At the same time, a surveillance robot that had been guarding the area immediately contacted Ding Yun through the communication satellite that Ding Yun had purchased along with the mining robots and launched into space. It then live-streamed the scene to her.
So that she could know the specific situation.
And approximately when her family would be executed.
Thus, not only did the people in the imperial prison know what had transpired in the morning court, and that they had almost had the opportunity to sacrifice themselves to save their entire families, only to have it thwarted by all the officials, but Ding Yun also learned of it simultaneously.
And then the imperial prison was filled with curses.
The ancestors of the ministers were all cursed.
At the same time, some people continuously kowtowed, expressing their willingness to be buried with the Crown Prince. Even more resolute individuals directly threw themselves against walls and committed suicide, hoping to express their stance.
To demonstrate their determination to be sacrificed.
But this was clearly futile. The decree had already been issued, and the Emperor's word was final; how could it be easily changed? Even if he wanted to change it, the officials would not agree.
Meanwhile, Ding Yun, watching the live broadcast, began to consider what method to use to raid the execution ground.
The simplest method would undoubtedly be to use bodyguard robots to directly raid the execution ground, escape, and hide. The drawback was that it might not provide enough deterrence. The court would only consider them rebels and would hunt them down. In the future, their families might only be able to live in seclusion in the mountains and forests.
There would be trouble with future family lineage and so on.
A more sophisticated method would probably involve using some high-end weapons, creating some lightning and fire, or laser cannons and shells, to intimidate the court.
Or directly blowing up the imperial palace would also work. The point was to let them know that she was not to be trifled with. This might improve the situation, at least she wouldn't have to live in hiding.
But this was not absolute.
After all, no one could guarantee that Emperor Minghui wouldn't be insane or have a sudden whim and insist on a fight to the death.
Who knew how many innocent people would be harmed.
Apart from these two basic methods, others would involve creating illusions, using high-tech weapons to disguise herself or her bodyguard robots as gods or immortals, which might have some effect.
But there was also a possibility that it would only fool the common folk, and the court would still pursue them.
Considering this, Ding Yun was truly having a headache.
Because there was no perfect solution to this matter. After all, her own father had not truly violated any laws or been framed.
If he were framed, it would be easier to find evidence to help clear his name.
But he was purely the target of the Emperor's displeasure.
In such a situation, seeking a resolution through legitimate channels was impossible.
Other than forcibly rescuing him, there was no other way. But forcibly rescuing him would inevitably lead to consequences. That was why it was said that there was no perfect solution to this matter.