The Empress remarried, and I retaliated by wiping out the court.

Ye Wudao's words startled Cai Wenyuan.

He hurriedly pleaded, "Your Majesty, you mustn't!"

"Although all the officials have been dismissed, behind them are deeply entrenched powerful families, a vast network of protégés and former subordinates, and countless connections and interests! If Your Majesty were to select new officials from the Imperial Academy, it would be tantamount to completely abandoning the existing court structure!"

Cai Wenyuan gritted his teeth, his tone becoming much more forceful, and said:

"This isn't simply replacing a few officials; it's going against the entire old dynasty!"

After listening quietly to Cai Wenyuan's words, Ye Wudao said slowly, "Does this mean that if I don't establish a new court, the old court won't stand against me?"

Since things had come to this point, Chief Minister Cai simply confessed as well:

"Your Majesty misunderstands. There are many officials in the court who are truly capable. If you were to remove them all from the court, the political situation would inevitably become unstable, and the empire... might even collapse! It's even possible that some might resort to desperate measures!"

"They dare!"

A murderous aura gradually formed in Ye Wudao's eyes. He said:

"Anyone who dares to act rashly in desperation, I will kill them! I'll slaughter them all, leaving a vast expanse of white!"

Cai Wenyuan listened with trepidation: "Your Majesty, please be careful with your words! This old minister has a few words from the bottom of my heart that I wish to say to Your Majesty!"

"If His Majesty were to appoint a student from the Imperial Academy as Vice Minister of Revenue today, countless people would say he lacks the qualifications, ability, and virtue!"

"He had no protégés or former subordinates, no powerful family support, and even a minor clerk in the Ministry of Revenue might not obey his orders!"

"His Majesty ordered him to allocate grain, but the officials below only paid lip service to it. His Majesty ordered him to audit the accounts, but those officials who have been in charge of the accounts for many years deliberately delayed. His Majesty ordered him to collect taxes, but the local officials simply did not listen to his orders!"

Cai Wenyuan's voice grew increasingly deep.

"A newly appointed official is nothing but a piece of scrap metal if no one obeys him! Without sufficient connections, experience, and prestige, even if His Majesty appoints them personally, they may not be able to truly control the Six Ministries!"

At this point, a hint of worry appeared in Cai Wenyuan's eyes.

"Moreover, if Your Majesty were to truly establish a new court, the eight great families, the gentry of Jiangnan, and officials throughout the land would all believe that Your Majesty is shaking the foundations they have built over hundreds of years, and they would not stand idly by!"

Cai Wenyuan looked at Ye Wudao and said, word by word:

"Your Majesty, at that time, you will no longer be facing hundreds of court officials who have resigned."

"But it's the entire gentry and aristocratic families of the world!"

The room fell silent upon hearing this.

Many students at the Imperial College changed their expressions.

Good heavens!

What did they all hear?

Is this something that students like them can listen to?

They were even wondering if they would be silenced.

Ye Wudao stared blankly at Cai Wenyuan, then suddenly smiled.

"Chancellor Cai has misunderstood. Politics is a game of compromise! Of course I know that powerful families cannot be wiped out in a day, nor can all officials be replaced overnight."

Cai Wenyuan's expression softened slightly, but Ye Wudao's next words stunned him once again.

"Therefore, I never intended to completely turn against them immediately."

"If we can cooperate, then we will."

"Use it if you can."

"If you can compromise, then compromise."

Ye Wudao stood with his hands behind his back.

"However, the prerequisite for compromise is—I have the right to say no!"

He glanced at the students filling the room.

"If these are the only people I have under my command, then they have chosen me."

"But if I have another group of people under my command... then I will choose them!"

"I do not intend to wage war against the gentry of the world; I merely want them to know that the world—does not depend on them!"

Upon hearing this, Cai Wenyuan was stunned for a long time before suddenly realizing what was happening.

He seemed to understand why that old fox Xiao Linyuan had suffered a loss at Ye Wudao's hands, and he also understood why this eighteen-year-old youth could stir up the entire court!

This child is terrifying!

With a fist salute clasped, Cai Wenyuan said in a deep voice:

"I am willing to go through fire and water for Your Majesty!"

Ye Wudao turned around, looked at the young students in front of him, and slowly spoke:

"Remember, I don't care about your background, whether you are from a noble family, or whether you have powerful backers."

"As long as you have the ability, I dare to use you!"

"Now that the six ministries are vacant, we will select new officials from among you!"

"Since the court has no one capable of serving, then I will personally—build a new court!"

boom!

It felt as if the hearts of all the students had been violently struck.

I will never forget the kindness shown to me.

They spend their whole lives studying, but how many of them end up becoming officials?

What lay before them was a path to heaven!

Ye Wudao looked at them and suddenly became serious.

"I know what some of you are thinking. You think that scions of noble families are born into privilege, that official positions belong to them, and that even if you are talented, you can only live at the mercy of others for the rest of your lives. But let me tell you—"

"Are kings and nobles born with a special destiny?"

"If you are unwilling to spend your lives confined to the study of books, then rise up! Follow me and break this monopoly of power held by aristocratic families!"

boom!

In an instant, the entire Imperial College was in an uproar!

"Are kings and nobles born with a special destiny?"

I don't know who shouted it first.

Followed by.

The second person...

The third person...

More and more students suddenly raised their heads, their eyes gleaming with an unprecedented light.

"Are kings and nobles born with a special destiny?"

The shouts grew louder and louder.

Those students from impoverished families all blushed and trembled with excitement.

Ye Wudao looked at the bustling crowd in front of him, and a slow smile appeared on his lips.

This is exactly the effect he wanted.

They are young people, a group of people who have not been completely assimilated by officialdom. As long as they are given an opportunity, they will seize it firmly. What I need to do is create that opportunity for them!

…………

Three hours later, a new court team was formed.

Ye Wudao did not convene a court assembly or consult with powerful ministers and aristocratic families. He simply asked, "What are your skills?" and then redistributed thousands of students from the Imperial Academy according to their abilities.

Those who can do accounting, go to the Ministry of Revenue.

Those who understand the law should go to the Ministry of Justice.

Those knowledgeable in agriculture, sericulture, and water conservancy should go to the Ministry of Works.

Those knowledgeable in military affairs should go to the Ministry of War.

Those well-versed in etiquette and literature should go to the Ministry of Rites.

Those who had expertise in the appointment and removal of officials and local governance were sent to the Ministry of Personnel.

Within just three hours, the officials of the six ministries were quickly filled.

Minister of Personnel Su Wensheng, Minister of Revenue Chen Anyan, Minister of Rites Zhao Wenqian, Minister of War Han Ce, Minister of Justice Xie Jingxing, and Minister of Works Lin Xiuyuan.

They were all very young, yet on this day, they became highly influential officials in the Great Yan Dynasty.

No one knows whether these young people can govern the country well or support the Great Qian Dynasty.

But everyone knew one thing: Ye Wudao finally had his own court!

Ye Wudao looked at the group of young officials kneeling before him and slowly spoke:

"From this day forward, you are all subjects of the Great Yan Dynasty."

"I don't ask who your ancestors were; I only ask you, can you govern this empire well for me?!"

Everyone said in unison:

"We, your humble servants... are willing to die for Your Majesty!"