Even emperors have it tough, so don't be too picky about the entries.

Chen Shao entered from the side of the hall with steady steps, lifted his robe, and sat down domineeringly on the dragon throne.

They got straight to the point, skipping all the pleasantries.

"Today's court assembly will discuss several matters. The first is the appointment and removal of Hai Rui."

Hai Rui made a special trip out of prison today. He walked out from the last seat and knelt down in the hall.

"I hereby appoint you as the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. You shall assume office immediately."

"The Ministry of Personnel is in charge of the assessment, appointment, removal, and transfer of officials throughout the country, and is the head of the six ministries."

"You should know the weighty responsibility I have entrusted to you!"

Hai Rui kowtowed, his voice steady and neither humble nor arrogant.

"Your subject will certainly not fail in his mission!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than someone voiced their objection.

"Your Majesty! Hai Rui is an unknown person who has never held any official position or received any official rank."

"The Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel is a crucial second-rank position, in charge of the evaluation and appointment of officials throughout the country. How can a commoner with no qualifications be suddenly appointed to this post?"

"If this precedent is set, it will likely discourage scholars throughout the land. Your Majesty, please reconsider!"

Before Chen Shao could speak, Han Cao had already stepped forward.

That is incorrect.

"Although Hai Rui has no official rank, I have personally witnessed his talent and character."

"The Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel is in charge of personnel selection and performance evaluation. What is needed is not the eight-legged essay, but keen insight and upright character. Hai Rui has both of these qualities."

"I have served as an official in the court for most of my life and consider myself to have seen countless people. Today, I am willing to use this official hat to vouch for Hai Rui. If anyone is dissatisfied, come at me first."

The entire hall erupted in uproar.

It's an open secret that the Prime Minister and His Majesty are at odds.

Unexpectedly, he was the first to stand up and speak.

They still took the power from him.

Immediately, no one dared to speak out.

Chen Shao nodded in satisfaction; keeping Han Cao around would still be quite useful.

As long as he doesn't cause any trouble, it will save us a lot of trouble.

Eunuch Wei unfolded the imperial edict, and Hai Rui knelt to receive the seal of office, officially becoming the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel of the Great Yan Dynasty.

The second thing, of course, was this unprecedented imperial examination.

Yesterday, Shen Qingci handed over a folded document, which clearly recorded the performance of each student.

Shen Qingci read out the top ten.

Without a doubt, Huang Chao is number one.

Among these ten people, almost all of them came from humble backgrounds and poor families. Their writing was solid, and their policy proposals were incisive and addressed the current problems.

The expressions on the faces of the officials in the hall were beyond just ugly.

Chen Shao was holding an exam paper in his hand.

"This is the essay written by this year's top scholar. Pass it down and show it to the esteemed officials."

Huang Chao's three policies on land reclamation were extremely bold.

When the officials received the documents, they all had almost the same expression: curiosity, shock, and speechlessness.

Chen Shao took in everyone's reactions.

After the exam papers had been circulated and returned to him, he slowly and deliberately spoke:

"My esteemed ministers, what are your thoughts on Huang Chao's article?"

"I think it's excellent, insightful and every word is precious."

"Compared to those flowery articles that pile up rhetoric and talk about morality, this policy essay at least speaks in plain language and proposes practical solutions."

"His Majesty!"

Officials from prominent and wealthy families naturally could not tolerate this.

Someone immediately stepped forward.

"The 'Three Strategies for Military Colonization' mentions registering households and clearing land, joint guarantee and denunciation, and granting land based on military merit. While there is some merit to these measures, they are perhaps too radical."

"If this method is implemented, everyone in the world will feel insecure. This article may be a strategy for the top scholar, but it should not be promoted."

Once someone starts, countless others immediately chime in.

"Your Majesty, the powerful families are not the enemies of the court, but the foundation of the court."

"Since the founding of the dynasty by Emperor Taizu, which family hasn't contributed money and grain, and whose sons have joined the army and politics to help the court stabilize the Great Yan dynasty?"

"I am not saying this to claim credit for the aristocratic families, but simply to tell Your Majesty that the court cannot do without the aristocratic families, just as a boat cannot do without water."

"Your Excellency can rectify official corruption, punish corruption, and conduct land surveys—these are all things that should be done, and I, your old minister, support them. But you must not take a drastic step and cut off the roots of the powerful families!"

"If handled improperly, it could incite rebellion throughout the land!"

"At that time, the strife among the powerful families will reignite. How will Your Majesty handle this?"

"Governing a large country is like cooking a small fish; only by proceeding steadily and surely can we ensure the peace and stability of the realm!"

These words are extremely bold.

Seven parts reasoning, three parts threat.

The achievements of the aristocratic families were highlighted, while their bottom line was implied.

It's almost as if the saying "water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it" is true.

They even subtly suggested negotiating terms, proposing to take a step back and address official corruption.

Fortunately, with the lessons learned from the past, no one dared to remonstrate to the death.

Chen Shao slammed his hand on the armrest of the dragon throne and stood up abruptly.

Undisguised rage.

"Is the country at peace?"

"Millions of refugees have fled to the north, leaving the land barren for thousands of miles. The iron cavalry of the Northern Barbarians are pressing in, eyeing us covetously."

"The regional military governors hold considerable power, and their orders do not extend beyond the prefectures and counties. You tell me you want to ensure peace and stability for the country?"

"This is your damn peace! Fields stretching to the horizon, servants everywhere, wine warmed by stoves in high-walled courtyards—who cares about the starving corpses littering the land outside? This is no peace for the country!"

"You aristocratic families are like water, you're too good at embellishing yourselves. The common people are the water, you're not qualified."

"I have only been on the throne for a short time, and my very first decree has been obstructed by you all."

"If you dare to offer advice today, are you planning to rebel tomorrow?!"

"How about you two take the throne?"

This was the first time the ministers had seen Chen Shao so enraged, and they were all trembling with fear. This man was truly capable of killing.

Those who offered advice, in particular, are already filled with regret, wondering if they had acted rashly.

Why not let him implement it? He can always back down when he encounters difficulties.

Chen Shao raised his hand, and Eunuch Wei immediately understood, placing a teacup on the ground.

boom!

Without hesitation, Chen Shao threw the object at one of the officials who was offering advice.

boom! boom! boom!

Four times in a row, without stopping.

[Throw a cup as a signal], and anyone hit by it will die!

Chen Shao didn't smash things blindly; he smashed them in a planned way.

These four men were officials from the four major families of Gu, Lu, Zhu, and Zhang in Jiangnan.

The signal is very clear: resist or I'll take action against you.

"Drag him out and feed him to the dogs!"

"Advice! Advice! But there's not a single constructive word in your advice!"

Chen Shao walked to the center of the court officials.

He sneered:

"The three policies on military settlement are new policies, and none of them will be changed. The land survey will be conducted thoroughly, and not a single acre will be missing. Joint liaison and denunciation will be carried out without any case being suppressed. Military merit will be rewarded with land, and not an inch will be left behind."

"The entire Great Yan has gone north, to the vassal states, and this is all the land we have left, and you still dare to oppose me."

"I ask you, whose empire is this, truly?"

He suddenly turned his head to look at Han Cao.

"Could the world be ruled by the Han family?"

...Damn it, they're calling on me again," Han Cao cursed inwardly, and knelt down with a thud.

"Can the world be ruled by the Zhao, Huang, Gu, or Zhang family?"

No one dared to answer.

"If you dare not speak, then shut your mouths."

"Otherwise, don't blame me for wiping out your entire family!"

"The Yellow Dynasty!"

Huang Chao immediately stepped forward and knelt down.

"Your subject is here."

"I will first grant you a county as an example for the rest of the country. Anyone who obstructs this will be executed without mercy!"