TFWYH – Chapter 797 The Ten Great Families

In truth, Su Qing didn’t even need to mention it.

Ling Yu moved far faster than she expected.

As soon as he finished writing the memorial, he didn’t even wait until the next day. He immediately submitted it to the palace.

The Emperor always read Ling Yu’s memorials first.

“A martial arts academy?”

Inside the Hall of Diligent Governance, the Emperor looked at the memorial, a trace of confusion flashing across his eyes.

But the further he read, the more serious his expression became.

After finishing the memorial, he summoned the Shadow Master and asked,

“Tell me honestly. Is it really that difficult for ordinary commoners to learn martial arts?”

The Shadow Master pondered for a moment before nodding.

“Very difficult.”

“As difficult as reaching the heavens.”

“Why?” the Emperor asked, puzzled. “Don’t those blasted martial arts families take in disciples? How can it still be so difficult?”

The Tian Dynasty did indeed have what were known as martial arts clans, the most famous being the Ten Great Martial Families.

Throughout the realm, all land belonged to the Emperor.

If he truly wanted to deal with the Ten Great Families, they would have been wiped out long ago.

The only reason he had tolerated them was because he had heard they accepted disciples and taught martial arts.

What did that mean?

Free martial arts instructors.

After all, the people they trained would eventually serve the imperial court.

For that reason alone, the Emperor had always turned a blind eye to the martial arts families.

Otherwise, how could a ruler tolerate another powerful faction existing within his own realm?

In any dynasty, no ruler liked organizations beyond his direct control.

The Emperor was no exception.

The Shadow Master answered truthfully,

“The Ten Great Families choose disciples based first on natural talent and aptitude, and second on character.”

“They look down on associating with the imperial court and are strongly opposed to serving the government. Over time, the disciples they train have inherited the same beliefs.”

“Pah! Beliefs?”

The Emperor exploded with anger.

“If they refuse to serve me, then what’s the point of keeping them around?”

The Shadow Master blinked and continued honestly,

“They call their indifference to fame and fortune ‘integrity.’ I’m merely stating the facts.”

So… please don’t yell at me. It’s rather frightening.

“Ridiculous!”

The Emperor pointed outside as he began cursing.

“They stand on Tian Dynasty soil! They’re subjects of the Tian Dynasty!”

“A true man should stand tall beneath heaven and earth. Instead of serving his country and protecting its people, they hide away in their little corners of the world, living carefree lives while calling that ‘integrity’?”

“What a joke!”

“A bunch of shameless hypocrites! I’m embarrassed on their behalf!”

How could he not be furious?

All this time, he had never known.

Every martial examination still attracted a fair number of candidates.

But now the Shadow Master was telling him that the Ten Great Families were like this.

Forget about them personally serving the court…

Not even a single one of their disciples did?

The thought of countless ordinary people being denied the opportunity to learn martial arts made the Emperor’s heart ache with anger.

How many talented people has this delayed?

Huangfu Yi would grow old one day.

When foreign enemies invaded in the future, were they still supposed to send that old man onto the battlefield?

The more the Emperor thought about it, the more his heart hurt.

After pacing back and forth several times, he stopped in front of the Shadow Master again.

“Tell me honestly.”

“Among all the candidates who’ve taken the imperial martial examinations over these past years…”

“How many came from the Ten Great Families?”

The Shadow Master glanced at him cautiously.

“Not… a single one.”

The Emperor staggered backward several steps, clutching his chest.

“Why didn’t you tell me this?”

The Shadow Master maintained his usual honest expression.

“You never asked.”

The Emperor: …

So because I didn’t ask… you simply didn’t mention it?

This is something this important!

Are you trying to make me die from anger?

The Emperor pointed at him from afar, speechless.

In the end, he flicked his sleeve and returned to his desk.

Spreading out a sheet of imperial paper, he began drafting an edict.

Since the Ten Great Families were so unappreciative of imperial favor, there was no need to keep showing them any respect.

A bunch of bastards.

Put kindly, they called themselves wandering heroes of the martial world.

Put bluntly…

Weren’t they just bandits and thugs?

Over the years, just how many crimes had the Ten Great Families committed?

They fought, killed, seized property by force, and bullied others with their strength.