When the map is unrolled, the dagger is revealed

Zhang Wuji's eye twitched imperceptibly. He knew he could no longer dwell on this topic. Talking about political compromise to a suicidal mad dog was like playing a lute to a cow.

He immediately shot a glance behind him.

"Utter nonsense!" A Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, wearing a peacock rank badge, immediately stepped forward and cursed, pointing right at Zhuge Huaijin's nose. "Lord Zhuge, you are making baseless accusations! Grand Secretary Zhang is a veteran minister of three reigns who has given his all to the imperial court until his dying breath. How can you allow his spotless reputation to be smeared! I fear certain people are trying to use this opportunity to eliminate dissidents and form their own self-serving factions!"

"Bullshit!" A young Supervising Secretary from a humble background jumped out without hesitation. "The Chief Minister is fiercely impartial. Are the embezzled silver taels fake? You noble clans have monopolized the court and shielded each other. You should have been executed long ago!"

"Ignorant brat, how dare you speak so recklessly of state affairs!"

"Old fool, you dare to embezzle but don't dare to admit it!"

For a time, the entire Fengtian Hall descended into complete chaos. The upright officials representing the interests of the humble scholars began to launch a frantic verbal assault, voicing their agreement with Zhuge Huaijin one after another. Meanwhile, the high-ranking ministers from noble families, along with their disciples and former subordinates, jumped out to accuse the Chief Minister of acting too hastily and harboring ulterior motives.

The war of words escalated into personal attacks, and a few hot-tempered individuals even started rolling up their sleeves.

Within the civil official faction, under the clash of class interests, a bottomless rift had finally been violently carved out by the blade that was Zhuge Huaijin.

Wang Hao looked down at this scene from his high vantage point, like a spectator watching a performance in a colosseum.

Bite each other, bite as hard as you can. If the civil officials don't fight among themselves, how can the emperor sit securely? Zhang Wuji, oh Zhang Wuji, your proud political wisdom is nothing more than this in the face of the stone of absolute justice that I have set up.

Seeing that the timing was about right, he knew that if he didn't stop them now, this court assembly would likely devolve into an all-out brawl, which was a fine tradition of the Great Xia.

"Enough."

Wang Hao's voice was not loud, and his tone could even be described as flat. But the moment he spat out that word, the Eastern Depot Director Wei Zhongxian and the Western Depot Director Yu Huatian, who had been standing as still as wooden posts, simultaneously let out a cold snort.

These two cold snorts, laced with the profound and sinister internal energy of martial arts masters, acted like two invisible ice picks, instantly piercing the ears of every arguing official.

It was as if a paralyzing spell had been cast over the grand hall; the arguing stopped abruptly. All the officials awoke as if from a dream, hastily retreating to their original positions and kneeling on the ground. "We have lost our decorum, Your Majesty, please forgive us!"

Wang Hao sat up slightly, wearing an elusive, faint smile on his face. "My beloved subject Zhuge thoroughly investigates deficits and hates evil as his enemy; this is utmost loyalty to the state, and I am greatly comforted. My beloved subject Zhang is an experienced statesman who considers the big picture for the sake of the court's stability; this is truly a blessing for the empire. Both of you are my indispensable ministers. Why harm your harmony over a few account books?"

Zhang Wuji kept his head bowed, but his heart suddenly sank. The emperor was trying to smooth things over? No, that's not right! Given the young emperor's thunderous methods last night, how could he possibly back down at this critical juncture?

Sure enough, Wang Hao's next words caused a layer of cold sweat to instantly seep from Zhang Wuji's back.

"Since the accounts are complicated, let the Three Judicial Offices slowly verify them, under the supervision of the Eastern Depot. You must investigate to the very bottom, but you must not implicate the innocent." Wang Hao casually hung the bomb, which could detonate the court at any moment, in mid-air. He neither detonated it nor defused it; he just left it hanging over the heads of the noble faction officials.

Subsequently, Wang Hao's gaze slowly swept across the ministers, his eyes gradually shifting from gentle to as sharp as a blade. "Today, I have a more important matter to discuss with you all."

"Last night, the Commander of the Wardens' Offices of the Five Cities, the Left and Right Vice Commanders, and the City-Patrolling Censors, totaling twenty-four officials, were apprehended by the Embroidered Uniform Guard on suspicion of treason and corruption. Even death would not be enough for these twenty-four, but the security of the capital cannot be neglected for a single day."

Wang Hao leaned forward slightly, his tone carrying an irresistible coercion. "Especially the Wardens' Offices of the Five Cities, which controls the security of the capital's nine gates, fire and theft prevention, street clearing, and even shoulders the collection of market taxes inside and outside the capital. These positions are extremely critical and cannot be left without leaders for a single day. My beloved subjects, do you have any suitable candidates to recommend?"

The map was unrolled, and the dagger was revealed!

Zhang Wuji jerked his head up, his pupils contracting violently. It was only at this moment that he awoke as if from a dream and thoroughly saw through the chain of venomous schemes concocted by the young man on the dragon throne!

Zhuge Huaijin's account books, the arrests last night, the court recommendations today, and even the fierce factional dispute just now that almost got out of control... they were all smoke screens released by the emperor! They were covering fire deliberately created by the emperor!

The emperor's true target was not those corrupt officials at all, but crucial departments like the Wardens' Offices of the Five Cities!

The Wardens' Offices of the Five Cities were nominally just street-patrolling runners, but in political struggles, they were the capital's city management, police force, and tax bureau all rolled into one! To control the Wardens' Offices of the Five Cities was to control all the diverse people and street intelligence of the capital, to control an endless stream of gray income, and more importantly, at critical moments, it was an armed force that could instantly lock down the city streets and control the residences of the ministers!

For so many years, the Wardens' Offices of the Five Cities had been firmly controlled by the noble factions like Zhang Wuji's, serving as a hidden card for them to check imperial power. Last night, the Embroidered Uniform Guard had uprooted its high-ranking officials with lightning speed, and now, the emperor was actually going to reshuffle the deck right here at the court assembly!

He absolutely could not let the emperor's people take control of the Wardens' Offices of the Five Cities! Otherwise, every move the officials made in the capital, even which concubine's room they visited at night, would be seen clearly by the emperor!

Zhang Wuji's reaction was incredibly swift. He completely disregarded saving face and immediately turned his head, staring fixedly at the Minister of Personnel with a sharp gaze. The Ministry of Personnel controlled the promotion and appointment of officials worldwide; this was the last line of defense that the noble faction absolutely had to hold.

The Minister of Personnel was extremely slick. Catching Zhang Wuji's eye, he immediately understood. He took a step forward, even speaking up before Zhuge Huaijin could open his mouth, and loudly memorialized, "Reporting to Your Majesty! I believe that the Director of the Bureau of Operations in the Ministry of War, Li..."

He wanted to cut the Gordian knot and directly throw out the name of an official who appeared neutral but secretly relied on the noble families. As long as they followed the normal personnel recommendation process, with the noble faction's numerical advantage in the court, they could absolutely seize back the Wardens' Offices of the Five Cities!

However, before he could finish his sentence, he was coldly interrupted by Wang Hao.

"Hold on."

Wang Hao didn't even spare a glance at the Minister of Personnel. He slowly stood up, looking down at Zhang Wuji from above, the corners of his mouth curling into a bone-chilling arc.

"It seems the Minister of Personnel did not understand my meaning. Before recommending candidates, I would like to first change the rules of the Wardens' Offices of the Five Cities."

The grand hall fell into deathly silence once again.

Zhang Wuji's heart sank completely to the bottom. He looked at the young Son of Heaven on the dragon throne, who resembled an awakened true dragon, and an unprecedented sense of crisis surged into his heart.

Change the rules?

The Emperor no longer wanted to play the game by the rules they had set. The Emperor was ready to flip the table.