To be honest, admitting that one had been sidelined by ministers was, under normal circumstances, something a Pharaoh should never say out loud.
Why was that?
Because the Pharaoh was the Son of Horus, the incarnation of a god upon the earth.
In other words, in the eyes of the common people, the Pharaoh was a godlike existence.
Just like the sanctification of noble bloodlines in medieval Europe, and the concept of the Son of Heaven, such claims, although they were truths in the Age of Gods, were also the foundation that feudal systems used to maintain their rule.
After all, if you did not claim the Mandate of Heaven, why should I listen to you and become your subject?
However, for Nitocris to say this now posed no problem.
The reason lay in that unbelievable assassination.
In the eyes of the people, it was a divine judgment upon corrupt officials, and also a symbol of the Pharaoh's identity as the Son of God.
After all, if the Pharaoh were not the Son of Horus, why would Horus pass judgment on those sinners for you?
Because of this, Nitocris's explosive revelation did nothing to damage her sacred authority.
Instead, people began to feel that the deaths of those corrupt officials were the price they had paid for recklessly usurping the power of a divine child.
Nitocris continued speaking.
"Even now, this situation has only been slightly alleviated, because those who seek to sideline me and seize the authority that rightfully belongs to the Pharaoh are not just one or two people, but almost the entire bureaucratic system!"
"Their ultimate goal is to completely seize the Pharaoh's authority into their own hands.
And what does that mean? Only I, the Pharaoh of Egypt, can protect your interests. But when I completely lose power, to what kind of fate will you be reduced?!"
"My dearest people! Sidelining the Pharaoh is only the first step of their conspiracy, indeed, a trivial first step!
Their true goal is to completely control all of Egypt and turn every one of you into their slaves!
All the policies established by the great Pharaohs of the past, which benefited the people, will be overturned!
That is the real reason they want to strip the Pharaoh of power!"
This news was simply too shocking for the people.
If there were only one or two corrupt individuals among the officials, or even just a portion of them, they would find it easier to believe, or rather, that was what they had always assumed.
But the idea that the entire government had conspired to sideline the Pharaoh and exploit the nation sounded unbelievable no matter how one thought about it.
"How is that possible?! They already have so much!"
Below the stage, an Egyptian man shouted loudly, "Even their dogs eat better food than we do.
Why would they still want to take away our black bread that doesn't even taste good?"
"Because they are greedy! Because their greed is endless!" Nitocris replied in a loud voice.
"These corrupted noble officials are the most insatiable group of people in this world. They are like pigs, whether it is delicacies or rotten slop, they will devour it all!"
"In the past, their ancestors followed the Pharaohs into battle and made great contributions to the unification of Egypt.
That is why they were originally granted status and power.
But as time passed, they became corrupted and degenerate. In their hearts, there is only their own benefit, no Pharaoh, no people, no Egypt."
"They first monopolized the power to become bureaucrats. Haven't you noticed? For a long time, the entire bureaucratic system has been occupied by them.
The sons of nobles remain nobles, the sons of officials remain officials.
Even when ordinary people are fortunate enough to become clerks or minor officials, they have basically lost all opportunities to rise."
"And for them, that is still not enough. They want even more."
"Wealth, any wealth at all! Even a single copper coin is something they seek to plunder!
They may feed their dogs the most precious food in the world, yet they will seize the last copper coin from the poorest Egyptian, then turn that person into their slave!"
Most of the people believed Nitocris's words.
After all, much of what she said was true, though perhaps some details were exaggerated.
But as long as people followed her line of thought, they would find that everything the Pharaoh said made sense.
Rigid class structures, nobles ruling for generations, greedy exploitation…
One had to remember that in Egypt, the only lineage meant to rule eternally was the Pharaoh's own.
"Damn those bastards!" the people cried out. "Remove them! Dismiss them!"
At this moment, the officials seated below the stage were already trembling like leaves.
Being stared at by tens of thousands of hateful, furious, contemptuous gazes, although these gazes came from the very commoners they once despised, filled them with fear.
And what about the guards responsible for maintaining order?
The ordinary soldiers were furious. As soldiers and warriors of the Pharaoh, they felt utterly ashamed.
They believed they had been deceived by these officials, watching the Pharaoh be sidelined without knowing anything.
If the Pharaoh had not spoken out, they did not know how long the truth would have been hidden from them.
If not for their duty to maintain order, they would have rushed forward with their swords and taught those officials a harsh lesson.
And their commanders?
Among them were those who had long been bribed.
But now, seeing the anger of the people and the eagerness of their subordinates, they panicked, wishing the golden coins they had once accepted would simply disappear.
As for the promises they had made to the officials, naturally, those had never existed.
Standing on the high platform, watching the officials below filled with fear and the masses inflamed with emotion, Nitocris knew her goal had been achieved.
Thus, she finally revealed her true purpose.
"People of Egypt, as a puppet Pharaoh in name only, whose decrees cannot even leave the palace, the only way for me to change this situation is to seek help from you, who have always remained loyal to me."
"As children of Ra, you once unified Upper and Lower Egypt under the leadership of the Pharaohs. You built magnificent tombs and statues.
You achieved countless feats that even the Ennead would marvel at. And today, once again, it is your turn to contribute to this great nation!"
"We are forever the Pharaoh's loyal servants!" The Pharaoh's recognition made them cheer.
"People of Egypt! Are you willing to become slaves under the tyranny of these officials?!" Nitocris shouted.
"Of course we are not!"
"Do you want those bloated, greedy nobles to take away your last copper coin?!"
"Of course we do not!"
"Very well! Are you willing, for your bread, your beer, your private property, your lands, your estates, your slaves, your wealth, the Pharaoh, and the glory of Egypt, to pass judgment upon these criminals?!"
The people of Memphis cheered. Those already gathered in the square, and the tens of thousands who had just rushed over upon hearing the news, roared and shouted.
The sound waves seemed powerful enough to overturn the towering pillars of the palace,
"Yes! Yes! Yes! We are willing!"
"Judgment! Judgment! Judgment! Judge the criminals!"
The assembly that had originally been meant to appoint officials had now completely turned into a public trial.