Inside Fengtian Hall, it was as if the space had been split into two distinct halves: one as scalding as boiling water, the other as freezing as an icy abyss.
The officials from humble backgrounds, led by Chief Grand Secretary Zhuge Huaijin, who had just knelt to express their gratitude, all had flushed faces and gleaming eyes. In the glances they exchanged, an unconcealable ambition danced. Once the floodgates of power were forcefully pried open by the Emperor's thunderous methods, these lower-tier officials, suppressed for over a decade or even decades, would turn into a torrential flood, desperately seeking to wash away the dams built by the aristocratic families.
On the other side, the aristocratic grandees, with Second Grand Secretary Zhang Wuji as their backbone, had ashen faces and twitching eyes. The gazes they directed at Zhuge Huaijin and his faction were no longer filled with their usual high-and-mighty disdain, but rather an undisguised, almost tangible, chilling murderous intent.
This was no longer a mere disagreement in political views; this was digging up the ancestral graves of their noble clans!
Zhuge Huaijin felt the prickly glares at his back, but he did not care in the slightest. His slightly hunched spine was now perfectly straight, and it felt as though a raging fire was burning within his heart.
Come! Hate me! You giant rats who gorge on the blood and sweat of the people! Zhuge Huaijin screamed madly in his heart. I have studied the sages' texts for thirty years, and it was absolutely not to watch the commoners of the Great Zhou sell their sons and daughters while the meat and wine rot behind your vermilion gates! As long as I can snatch the grassroots judicial and taxation powers from your hands, even if I am hacked to pieces by your blades today, I will die a worthy death!
Upon the dragon throne, Wang Hao took in all the surging undercurrents below. He knew very well that what he had just thrown out was not only a bloody piece of meat, but also a double-edged sword.
Since my beloved subjects have no objections, Wang Hao's voice echoed through the great hall, carrying an unquestionable dominance, then the cabinet shall draft a charter for the structure and personnel of the Great Zhou General Taxation Bureau as soon as possible. As for the first Director-General of this Taxation Bureau...
Wang Hao's gaze pierced through the crowd and landed precisely on Zhuge Huaijin. The corners of his mouth curled into a meaningful arc. Beloved Subject Zhuge, the first director must possess absolute authority. How about the Chief Grand Secretary take on this role concurrently?
Zhuge Huaijin did not hesitate for a moment. He took a sudden step forward, his knees smashing heavily onto the golden floor tiles, and kowtowed until his forehead struck the ground. His voice was hoarse: This old subject obeys the decree! Even if my body is ground to dust and my bones shattered, I will definitely collect the commercial taxes of this world for Your Majesty and the Great Zhou, bringing every last copper into the state treasury!
Good! Wang Hao nodded in satisfaction.
Zhang Wuji took a deep breath, forcing his heart, which felt like it was about to burst, to calm down.
I cannot panic! I absolutely must not break formation first!
Zhang Wuji's hands were tightly clenched together within his wide sleeves. He was, after all, an old fox who had navigated the treacherous sea of officialdom for forty years. Although the Emperor's chain of stratagems today had caught him off guard, he quickly found the blind spot to break the deadlock.
Hmph, greenhorn brat, do you think you can win just by pushing out this old fool Zhuge Huaijin to be your spear? Do not forget, you personally said this Taxation Bureau falls under the cabinet's jurisdiction! As long as it remains under the cabinet's control, I, as the Second Grand Secretary, can ally with the Ministry of Personnel. I have plenty of ways to tamper with personnel transfers, funding allocations, and the drafting of regulations. I will make sure this Taxation Bureau cannot mobilize a single soldier or get a single tael of silver approved! It will be turned completely into a dead office!
Thinking of this, Zhang Wuji's heart settled slightly. He knew he could not continue to entangle himself in the matter of the Taxation Bureau right now. He had to shift the battlefield immediately and seize the next crucial high ground of power to stabilize the currently crumbling morale of the aristocratic faction.
Your Majesty.
Zhang Wuji stepped forward once more. This time, his tone had completely returned to its usual placid calmness, as if the political earthquake that just occurred had never happened at all.
Since the matter of the Five Wards Cavalry Command and the newly established bureau has already received the imperial ruling, we subjects shall naturally do our utmost to handle it properly. However, there is currently another vital military and state matter that brooks no delay.
Zhang Wuji raised his head slightly, glancing at the Minister of War from the corner of his eye, and continued, The position of Director of the Bureau of Equipment and Communications under the Ministry of War has been left vacant. The Bureau of Equipment and Communications manages the world's courier stations, official roads, horse dispatching, and the transmission of military reports. It is the major artery for the circulation of the Great Zhou's political and military decrees. Its implications are extremely significant, and it cannot be without a master for even a single day.
I have discussed this with the Ministry of Personnel, and we propose to recommend the Ministry of War's Vice Director, Cui Yuanshan, a descendant of the Qinghe Cui clan, to be promoted to Director of the Bureau of Equipment and Communications. Cui Yuanshan is mature and prudent, well-versed in the methods of dispatch, and will certainly be able to...
Cough, cough—
Just as Zhang Wuji prepared to secure this key position—which controlled the nation's logistics and information lifeline—in one vigorous effort, a somewhat teasing cough suddenly rang out abruptly on the silent imperial steps.
This cough forcefully cut off Zhang Wuji's words.
The brows of all the civil officials present instantly shot up, and countless gazes filled with disgust pierced toward the imperial steps like sharp swords in unison.
During the grand court assembly, when the Second Grand Secretary was memorializing the throne, who would dare to casually interrupt besides the Emperor, the supreme ruler, and the Chief Grand Secretary? This was simply blatant insubordination!
However, when the officials clearly saw the person who made the sound, the air seemed to freeze instantly.
The one who interrupted Zhang Wuji was none other than the Seal-Holding Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, the Inner Minister—Sun Li.
Sun Li was seen wearing a bright red python robe, leisurely flicking a snow-white horsetail whisk in his hand. Wearing black boots with white soles, he slowly walked down the white marble imperial steps.
And behind Sun Li, five figures took a step forward simultaneously.
Supervising Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial and Seal-Holding Eunuch of the Inner Treasury, Hai Dafu!
Superintendent of the Eastern Depot and Brush-Holding Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, Wei Zhongxian!
Superintendent of the Western Depot and Brush-Holding Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, Yu Huatian!
Seal-Holding Eunuch of the Directorate of Imperial Horses and Brush-Holding Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, Cao Zhengchun!
Seal-Holding Eunuch of the Purified Army and Brush-Holding Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, Cao Shaoqin!
These six supreme eunuchs, whose power overwhelmed the inner court, had unprecedentedly appeared in the imperial court all at the same time.
Second Grand Secretary Zhang, our humble self heard you speaking so livelily just now, I really couldn't hold it in any longer. Sun Li walked over with a smiling face, stopping less than five steps away from Zhang Wuji. Our humble self has a few words; I wonder if it is appropriate to speak them?
Zhang Wuji's expression instantly darkened to the extreme. He stared fixedly at Sun Li and coldly spat out three words: It is not.
Inner court servants are forbidden from interfering in politics! This is the ironclad law established by the founding Emperor!
An aristocratic imperial censor from the Chief Surveillance Bureau immediately jumped out like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. Pointing right at Sun Li's nose, spit flying, he cursed loudly: Eunuch Sun! This Fengtian Hall is a sacred place for civil and martial officials to discuss major affairs of the state! The Emperor has not even spoken yet; as a mere inner court servant, step down at once!
Insolent!
A sharp shout, like the sound of tearing silk, suddenly exploded.
The Superintendent of the Western Depot, Yu Huatian, who had been keeping his eyes narrowed, suddenly opened his long, phoenix-like eyes. In an instant, a terrifying killing intent, like tangible ice water, splashed directly onto the censor's face.
Yu Huatian lifted his chin slightly, looking at the imperial censor as if he were a dead fly. His voice was cold to the extreme: The Directorate of Ceremonial is the central hub of His Majesty's Inner Court, wielding the red brush on behalf of the Son of Heaven! We servants act solely upon His Majesty's will. The Emperor hasn't even allowed a mad dog like you to bark, yet you dare to criticize the Inner Court here? Are you trying to deceive the sovereign, or are you simply tired of living?!
You... you... Terrified by Yu Huatian's murderous aura, the censor stumbled back repeatedly. His face was deathly pale, and the finger he pointed at Yu Huatian trembled violently. Arrogant eunuch! Such an arrogant eunuch! Your Majesty, I beseech you to execute this treacherous eunuch faction that ruins the nation and plagues the people!
Seeing that the imperial court was on the verge of erupting into an all-out brawl between the civil officials and the eunuchs, Wang Hao, who sat composedly upon the dragon throne, finally spoke in a slow, deliberate tone.
Enough. All of you, shut your mouths.
Wang Hao's voice was not loud, but it instantly forced the two factions, who had been at each other's throats just a moment prior, to swallow their fury and stand down.
young master of the Shen family—a figure of immense power and wealth beyond measure—and awakened the "Destined Ultimate Villain System"! His starting scenario? Running into his icy fiancée who shows up with a mountain-descending divine doctor to break off their engagement. The divine doctor arrogantly taunts: "What does your Shen family have besides a bit of stinking money? You're not even worthy of tying Qingxue's shoelaces!" Shen Fei just smiled. He completely defied the usual script: "Fine, I agree to break off the engagement. Also, notify the finance department to withdraw all investments from the Su family." Minutes later, with its capital chain severed, the Su Group teetered on the brink of bankruptcy! The once aloof and proud ice queen CEO was thrown into utter panic. That very night, she went to Shen Fei's villa, casting aside all dignity to beg and plead desperately... From then on, in this world teeming with Sons of Destiny, Shen Fei embarked on a path of extreme dimensional suppression! A mountain-descending divine doctor? Peerless medical skills? Shen Fei: "Reporting you for practicing medicine without a license! I'll gladly take your ancient medicinal cauldron and twin sister assassins." The Crooked-Smiling Dragon King? Commanding a hundred thousand soldiers with a single order? Shen Fei: "Illegal assembly and suspected treason! Let a fleet of attack helicopters sanitize the area and teach you what the state apparatus really means!" A reborn tycoon? Knows all the golden opportunities of the next decade? Shen Fei: "A trillion in capital to reverse and pump the stock market, making you blow your margin and jump on the very first day of your rebirth!" What Chosen Ones? What bearers of Heavenly Fortune? In Shen Fei's eyes, they're all just chives (i.e., suckers/marks) waiting to be harvested! Shen Fei: "Sorry, but as the Destined Ultimate Villain, I don't play by the rules of honor. I only play the game of dimensional suppression."
ing gift was a patch of barren land, and disciples were all picked up along the way. He spent fifty years diligently building three "ramshackle little sects," thinking he could finally live a carefree life relying on his disciples. But right at the fifty-year mark, he was suddenly swept away by a spatial rift and exiled to the Chaos Desolation, the Disorderly Ruins. There was no spiritual energy there, only slaughter. Relying on the cultivation feedback from his disciples, Gu Changyuan hacked his way through a sea of blood for eleven hundred years. When the system finally fished him back out, he discovered the ramshackle little sects he'd built back then had developed a rather... unusual style. Hold on... I vanished for a thousand years, so how did my ramshackle little sects become holy lands?!
rowess are unmatched, commanding a million-strong army! Yet, the Emperor wants to depose him for the sake of a false prince? Hold on, are you throwing me into some female-oriented romance plot? How can I tolerate this? With a grand wave of his hand—the Nine Clan Extraction Technique! Slander the Emperor? Very well, all of you shall die! ... The False Prince: "Although I am not the biological son, Father and Mother love me more. The throne should be mine!" The Female Lead: "Qin Xiao, you are the Emperor, and I am a commoner. If you wish to marry me, you must abdicate. Otherwise, you will never have me!" The Empress: "After we divorce, you must give me half the empire!" The Transmigrator Consort: "You worthless Emperor, why should I kneel to you? All men are equal—I advise you to be kind!" The Great General: "The enemy general is my childhood sweetheart. For her sake, I willingly abandon the frontier defenses!" The Retired Emperor: "Although Yu'er was adopted, I prefer him. Qin Xiao, you should abdicate and let him become Emperor!" ... Very well! So this is how you want to play? Facing this twisted world of female-oriented tropes, Qin Xiao grins and raises his hand to unleash—the Nine Clan Extraction Technique! I am the Emperor. Why would I bother reasoning with you? Seal the gates! Leave none alive!
e school belle recognized by the whole school, a genius girl from the kendo club. She also has a hidden identity, the youngest legendary demon hunter. Chen Shuo just transmigrated and found himself turned into a weak, helpless little vampire. He was caught by Su Xiyen and taken home at the very beginning. Since then, Chen Shuo's life creed only had two items. "First, classmate Su Xiyen is always right." "Second, if classmate Su Xiyen is wrong, please refer back to item one." Many years later, Chen Shuo, who had turned back into a human, led a pair of twins to appear in front of all the vampires to share the secret of how he turned back into a human. "It's simple, I tricked a female demon hunter into becoming my wife!"
