Chapter 16: The Council’s Test

The next morning, Li Wei entered the council chamber with calm resolve. The air was thick with tension, as nobles whispered amongst themselves, casting wary glances in his direction. Chancellor Wu sat at the far end of the table, his expression smug.

Li Wei took his seat at the head of the table, flanked by General Cao Ren and Old Zhang. "I've called this meeting to address the concerns raised about my recent reforms," he began, his voice firm. "There are those who believe that these changes are reckless. I'm here to prove otherwise."

Chancellor Wu leaned back in his chair, his tone dripping with false concern. "Your Majesty, we all appreciate your vision. But the treasury is not limitless. Investing so heavily in untested projects could leave us vulnerable to threats from rival kingdoms."

Li Wei met Wu's gaze evenly. "Thank you, Chancellor. Let me show you why these investments are far from reckless."

He motioned to the door, and several villagers from Tianxi entered, carrying sacks of grain. Uncle Bo stepped forward, bowing deeply. "Your Majesty, nobles of the court, this is what we've achieved thanks to the new water wheel. Our harvest is not only larger, but we've also saved time and energy. For the first time in years, we have enough to feed our families and pay our taxes."

The nobles murmured in surprise as the villagers poured the grain onto the table, demonstrating the abundance they had produced. Even some of Wu's supporters couldn't hide their admiration.

Li Wei turned to the council. "This is the power of innovation. A single water wheel has transformed a struggling village into a thriving one. Imagine what we could achieve if we expanded these efforts across the kingdom."

General Cao Ren stood, his deep voice commanding attention. "With surplus food, our soldiers are better fed and more prepared for battle. These reforms strengthen our military, not weaken it."

Chancellor Wu's face darkened as he realized his argument was crumbling. He attempted one last rebuttal. "Your Majesty, even with these small successes, the cost"

Li Wei cut him off, his voice firm. "The cost of doing nothing is far greater. If we let our kingdom stagnate, we'll fall to enemies stronger than us. Change is our only path forward."

One by one, the nobles began to nod, their skepticism replaced with respect. Wu, seeing his influence wane, clenched his fists but said nothing.

As the meeting concluded, Lin Mei approached Li Wei, a sly smile on her lips. "Well done, Your Majesty. You've shown them that you're not just a dreamer, you're a leader."

Li Wei smiled, though his resolve remained sharp. He knew this victory was just the beginning. The road ahead was long, and Wu would not give up easily. But for the first time, Li Wei felt the winds of change truly begin to shift in his favor.