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

three days later.

When the newly appointed Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) walked out of the main gate of the Beizhenfusi (Northern Garrison Command).

Their steps were unsteady and their faces were pale, as if they were recovering from a serious illness.

Their family members and servants who came to pick them up were so frightened they almost fainted.

They thought their young master had done something wrong and had been arrested by the Imperial Guards.

But when they received their official certificates from the Ministry of Personnel, everyone was stunned.

As per usual practice.

The best career path for a newly appointed Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) is to become a Shujishi (a probationary official) in the Hanlin Academy.

Secondly, he was assigned to one of the six departments as an insignificant manager.

The vast majority of people were appointed as county magistrates or assistant county officials, starting from the seventh rank and working their way up slowly.

But the official certificate issued by the Ministry of Personnel this time had such a high rank that everyone thought they were still dreaming.

The Censorate crammed in more than a dozen people at once.

Each of the six ministries had its own arrangements, and the Ministry of Justice alone had several assistant ministers appointed.

The Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Personnel each had several chief officials assigned to them.

In previous years, one would have had to serve at least three years in the Hanlin Academy before being eligible to compete for these positions.

This time, we'll skip all the steps and get it done in one go.

How could anyone not be excited?

By this calculation, the newly appointed top scholar, Huang Chao, actually holds the lowest official position, merely a seventh-rank county magistrate.

On the same day, two more imperial edicts that shook the court and the public were issued from the palace.

The first imperial edict was very simple.

All the girls selected in this imperial concubine selection were quite good, and they were all chosen as imperial concubines.

Among these more than one hundred people were both daughters of powerful regional military governors and daughters of noble families. According to ancestral rules, they should have been selected through a series of screenings, with a few eventually being chosen to be granted the titles of concubine or imperial consort, while the rest were sent back to their hometowns.

Chen Shao broke the ancestral rules once again.

Taking in over a hundred concubines at once is unprecedented in all dynasties.

However, this was at most a piece of gossip about the royal family and did not cause much of a stir.

The second card is the real trump card.

All eight princes who were sent to serve outside the capital were granted the title of Prince.

The eldest prince, Chen Jing, was enfeoffed as the Prince of Pinglu.

The second prince, Chen Shu, was enfeoffed as the King of Jingxiang.

The third prince, Chen Ke, was enfeoffed as the Prince of Huainan.

The Fourth Prince...

The imperial edict was written in a grand and solemn manner, saying that since the princes had been enfeoffed, they had been dutiful and dutiful, which pleased the emperor greatly. Therefore, the emperor specially conferred upon them the title of Prince to commend their virtue.

Anyone with a modicum of political awareness could see that Chen Shao was attempting to sow discord among the regional military governors.

We're really going to take action against them.

...

The Prime Minister's residence, study.

Han Cao placed the copies of the two imperial edicts on the table and looked up at Wu Xingyun, who was drinking tea.

He was both amused and exasperated.

"So, out of over a hundred women selected for the imperial examination, you're the only one who got eliminated?"

Wu Xingyun said calmly, "It's my own choice."

"You don't want to choose? Lord Wu, you went to such lengths to obtain the status of the Lin family's legitimate daughter, even changing the family genealogy for you. Why go through all that trouble if you don't want to choose?"

"Because it's no longer needed, I saw a kind of hope in Chen Shao that no one else had."

"What hope?"

"The hope of civilization, if he dies, it is a loss to the world."

"..."

Han Cao thought he had misheard.

What is this woman saying?

Is this still the Northern Barbarian Poison Master?

What is a "poisonous strategist"? It is a ruthless person who will stop at nothing and has no humanity whatsoever.

What kind of civilization is this? How much is it worth?

"Prime Minister Han, I have come to bid you farewell, and at the same time, I must give you a piece of advice: stop your underhanded tactics. Loyalty to the emperor and love for your country may save your life."

"???"

Han Cao was completely bewildered. You, a foreigner, are advising me to be loyal to the emperor and love my country?

No... this has nothing to do with anything.

This man, who had dominated the Great Yan court for decades, had his brain completely shut down.

Han Cao shook his head vigorously, ignoring her crazy ramblings.

"Let's get down to business. I can understand Chen Shao taking concubines; he wants to use these women to keep them in check. But why is he so impatient and eager to bestow titles of nobility upon his eight sons?"

"It's understandable that he wants to incite infighting, but isn't he afraid of pushing others to rebel and causing a rebellion like the War of the Eight Princes?"

"Even if Weibo and Lulong are incompetent, there are still six others."

If these princes were truly capable of seizing power from the regional military governors, they would inevitably rise up in rebellion.

If we can't seize it, that would be even more troublesome.

Which warlord doesn't know how to use the emperor to command the feudal lords?

"What's the difference between opposing or not opposing?" Wu Xingyun asked instead of answering.

"They wouldn't dare to rebel against them, and they wouldn't pay taxes or grain if they didn't rebel."

"Chen Shao dares to force them, so of course he's not afraid of them rebelling."

"With those hostages?"

"No, it's because of his personal charisma."

"..."

Han Cao was utterly speechless.

Wu Xingyun rose to take his leave, saying, "I am going back to Northern Mang to persuade the Empress to cease hostilities. Prime Minister Han, you should think carefully about your actions."

"!!!"

Han Cao's mind went blank, and he couldn't help but ask:

"You...you wouldn't happen to be a spy Chen Shaozao sent to Northern Mang, would you?"

"I am a native of Northern Mang."

"What exactly did he do to you? Why did your personality suddenly change so drastically?"

Wu Xingyun had already reached the door when she heard this, and she shook her head slightly.

"What exactly did you do? What exactly... Heh."

After saying that, he turned and left, extremely decisively.

"What is it? Tell me!"

Wu Xingyun has already gone far away.

Han Cao sat there listlessly, staring blankly at the ceiling.

"Could there really be witchcraft involved? This is clearly someone casting a spell on us!"

Not long after, the Emperor came again to report in a low voice. Han Cao was taken aback, then said:

"Let them in."

The visitors were representatives of the four major families: Gu, Lu, Zhu, and Zhang.

As soon as they saw Han Cao, they all knelt down.

"Prime Minister Han, you must do us justice!"

"That tyrant doesn't even bother with trials anymore; he kills people whenever he wants. What kind of emperor is he?!"

"Our four families have contributed money and grain to support the imperial court. We have done our part, but we have also worked hard. To kill us like this is clearly an attack on us."

Chen Shao killed four people in the imperial court. These families had been operating in the court for generations, and their power was deeply entrenched.

How many of the lower and middle-ranking officials in the Six Ministries were their protégés or former associates?

How many grain merchants, salt merchants, and money shops in the capital are actually controlled by them?

No emperor in any dynasty would dare to kill so casually!

Han Cao said in a deep voice:

"What do you want to do?"

"As long as Prime Minister Han agrees, we can immediately contact other powerful families and increase the price of rice in the capital tenfold."

"Inciting unrest and spreading rumors..."

The group spoke at length, claiming they had numerous ways to check and balance the imperial court.

They undermined the treasury, used their relatives to disrupt the court, smeared the emperor to seize the right to interpret the Mandate of Heaven, and mobilized their networks to engage in passive resistance, preventing government orders from leaving the palace.

In short, it was all about non-violent non-cooperation, forcing the emperor to beg them.

In extreme cases, it could directly support the rise and fall of the most powerful and influential families.

Han Cao was secretly astonished upon hearing this.

No wonder Chen Shao was so eager to target them.

Their energy is simply immense.

He suddenly realized that what Wu Xingyun said wasn't without reason.

Chen Shao is now completely reckless. The War of the Eight Princes? That's chaotic enough, isn't it? Add the powerful clans to the mix, and what can they possibly do?

It will bounce back after hitting bottom.

Moreover, with the Northern Barbarians eyeing them covetously, these powerful families may not necessarily be of one mind.

He pondered for a moment, then slowly smiled and said:

"This multi-pronged approach is enough to give Chen Shao a headache."

"I will be waiting in the shadows to make my move. You can go ahead and do it without any worries."

Upon hearing this, the group was overjoyed and repeatedly bowed in gratitude.

Although Han Cao has recently fallen from grace, he remains a pillar of the court, and no one can challenge his prowess.

With Han Cao's help, great things can be accomplished.

Perhaps... this opportunity could really be used to directly change dynasties.

Han Cao personally escorted them out of the study.

Once the figure disappeared from sight, his smile vanished.

He called out to the butler:

"Prepare the sedan chair; I am going to the palace to meet the Emperor!"