“Reporting to Your Majesty, the Grand Marshal and the Imperial Grand Secretary request an audience.”

Just as Shentu Yang was gradually closing the distance, a young eunuch outside the door suddenly announced that Huo Quan and Zhao Bushi had arrived for an audience.

Yin Shuhuai and Shentu Yang exchanged a glance. Shentu Yang obediently stepped back to a lower position, remarking carelessly, “Why did the two of them come over together?”

If it could be said that Shentu Yang and the Imperial Grand Secretary Zhao Bushi disliked each other due to their opposing political stances, then Huo Quan and Zhao Bushi disliked each other simply because their temperaments clashed. Even though Zhao Bushi’s position as Imperial Grand Secretary had been recommended by Huo Yan right before his death, Zhao Bushi had never let go of his disdain and wariness toward the Huo clan.

He had criticized Marquis Wen of Wei, Huo Yan, in public countless times for obstinately forcing the aristocratic families into rebellion, thereby plunging the country into war and causing the common people immense suffering, showing absolutely no regard for the favor Huo Yan had shown him by recommending him. This was also the main reason Huo Quan detested Zhao Bushi; he felt that Zhao Bushi was nothing but an ungrateful ingrate.

However, Zhao Bushi believed that his position as Imperial Grand Secretary had been granted by the Emperor. Even if Huo Yan had shown him favor by recommending him, the exact reason Huo Yan had done so was because of his upright character and his absolute refusal to sacrifice public duty for private interests. Therefore, Zhao Bushi would only ever hold himself accountable to the Emperor and the common people, and anyone else could forget about using past favors to demand payback from him! He, Zhao Bushi, would absolutely never bend the law for personal relationships!

Hearing these words made Huo Quan even angrier! Who asked you to bend the law for personal relationships? Who asked you to sacrifice public duty for private interests? You fame-seeking hypocrite, just to promote your own reputation, you actually climbed over the head of the very person who recommended you, why do you have to put on such a dramatic performance?

Faced with Huo Quan’s furious scolding, Zhao Bushi had responded with utter disdain, stating that if you had no intention of forming a faction for private gain, why did you have to use your late father’s recommendation to threaten me into repaying the Huo family?

The moment those words came out, Huo Quan was instantly left speechless. He could only lamely explain that he had absolutely no intention of forming a faction for private gain. But forget about whether Zhao Bushi believed this, it was likely that almost no one in the world would believe it.

Furthermore, the moment Zhao Bushi entered the court, he managed to offend both the Grand Marshal and the Prime Minister indiscriminately. Clearly, this fiercely loyal and upright Imperial Grand Secretary not only firmly believed that all powerful officials harbored treasonous intentions, but he also universally detested the way these powerful officials monopolized power, formed factions, acted arbitrarily, bullied the imperial family, and even arrogantly carried swords and wore shoes straight up into the grand hall.

Therefore, Shentu Yang was genuinely curious as to how these two had ended up walking together.

Zhao Bushi kept his eyes straight ahead, and the moment he walked through the door, he knelt to confess his guilt to the Emperor. “The court’s promotion of the water-powered spinning wheel was a measure to store wealth among the people. Yet the various commanderies and counties completely ignored the court’s imperial edict, converting wheat fields to mulberry orchards, which drove the local citizens to rise up in rebellion. As the Imperial Grand Secretary, I bear the responsibility for failing in my duties of oversight, and I beg Your Majesty for punishment.”

Shentu Yang let out a mocking laugh, evaluating the situation with the attitude of an onlooker who loves watching trouble unfold, “This confession is quite accurate. The duty of the Imperial Grand Secretary is to oversee all officials. Yet you allowed the regional powerful houses and scholar clans to do whatever they pleased right under your nose, throwing the people into chaos. It seems the Imperial Grand Secretary truly has nothing but a sharp tongue that works in every situation.”

Zhao Bushi glared at him furiously. “I am confessing my guilt to His Majesty. Before His Majesty has even spoken a word, how can a rebellious usurper like you inappropriately take over the Emperor’s role?”

Shentu Yang raised an eyebrow, speaking to the Yin Emperor in a highly manipulative tone, “Your Majesty, look at him. He claims to be here to confess his guilt, yet he dares to bellow and act rudely right in front of Your Majesty. With such arrogant defiance, how does this look like someone confessing his guilt?”

Zhao Bushi was driven past the point of endurance, pointing directly at Shentu Yang’s nose as he shouted angrily, “Traitor, stop trying to drive a wedge between me and His Majesty.”

Shentu Yang replied with a pleasant smile, “I merely recounted the actions the Imperial Grand Secretary has taken right in front of His Majesty, yet the Imperial Grand Secretary actually believes I am driving a wedge between you?”

These words were truly designed to inflict maximum psychological damage. If looks could kill, Shentu Yang would surely have been sliced into a thousand pieces by Zhao Bushi.

Left with no alternative, Yin Shuhuai had to stand forward to calm both sides. “What guilt does the Imperial Grand Secretary bear? Today, the regional powerful figures occupy their own lands like independent states and have ignored the court for a very long time. How could the strength of the Imperial Grand Secretary alone turn the tides of the world? The fact that you could restrain your own family to strictly abide by the court’s laws and regulations is already no easy feat. There is truly no need to demand absolute perfection.”

These words from Yin Shuhuai were indeed from the bottom of his heart. This time, when the regional powerful houses coveted the profits of mulberry and hemp, completely ignoring the court’s edict to convert wheat fields to mulberry orchards, most of the aristocratic clans in the court acted in collusion. Yet the Huo faction led by Grand Marshal Huo Quan, and the Guangling Zhao clan led by Imperial Grand Secretary Zhao Bushi, were the only two major aristocratic families that had meticulously followed the court’s regulations.

If it could be said that Huo Quan behaved this way because he had followed Huo Yan’s instructions and already intended to fully dedicate his loyalty to the Emperor, combined with the fact that Nanyang fell within the Henan region where Shentu Yang stood watching like a tiger with an army of two hundred thousand men, preventing the Guanzhong scholar clans from daring to act recklessly. The Guangling Zhao clan to which Zhao Bushi belonged was located very far from the capital, a place where even the court’s reach fell short. Yet the Zhao family was still able to resist the temptation of the immense profits from planting mulberry and hemp, meticulously assisting the court in completing the promotion of the new agricultural tools and the planting of winter wheat. From this, one could see just how much control Zhao Bushi held over the Guangling Zhao clan, and it proved that Zhao Bushi was exactly as Huo Yan had described, a scholar-official who kept the common people in his heart and possessed a fiercely loyal and upright character.

One had to admit, when it came to reading people, the old man truly possessed flawless judgment.

Hearing this, Zhao Bushi covered his face and let out a long sigh of deep shame, “For Your Majesty to show such leniency truly fills this old servant with overwhelming shame.”

As the Imperial Grand Secretary, he was unable to strictly investigate all officials and could only restrain himself, which was already a very serious neglect of duty. If His Majesty did not punish him severely, how could he justify it to the civil and military officials?

Yin Shuhuai smiled upon hearing this, comforting him, “If my dear minister feels uneasy, you might as well make up for your past mistakes with new merits.”

Zhao Bushi’s eyes lit up, and he immediately looked at Yin Shuhuai with great hope, “What does Your Majesty mean?”

In order to appease the common people, Yin Shuhuai had issued an edict during the court session, commanding that those who destroyed the fields of the citizens must compensate the people with a year’s worth of rations. This matter involved a massive amount of money and grain, and it required dispatching an official of high reputation, absolute integrity, and complete honesty to supervise the process, ensuring that every single cent of the compensation grain fell safely into the hands of the people.

As the Imperial Grand Secretary, Zhao Bushi was one of the Three Grand Ministers, possessing the authority to oversee all officials, and his personal moral conduct and integrity were beyond reproach. Yin Shuhuai wished to hand this matter over to Zhao Bushi to handle. However, he did not know if Zhao Bushi would dare to offend the aristocratic families of the entire realm for the sake of the common people.

Zhao Bushi was just worrying over the lack of an opportunity to make up for his mistakes with new merits. Hearing these words, he immediately bowed down in deep respect, stating, “Your Majesty may rest assured. This minister will surely fulfill his duties to the absolute best of his ability, forcing the regional powerful houses and scholar clans to compensate the people.”

Yin Shuhuai was also worried that Zhao Bushi might be isolated and lacked the energy to be in multiple places at once, so he prepared to find him several assistants. He then looked toward Shentu Yang, smiling with a warm expression as he asked, “Could the Prime Minister dispatch one thousand armored soldiers to escort Imperial Grand Secretary Zhao to the various commanderies and counties, to supervise the powerful houses and scholar clans as they compensate the people?”

Dispatching subordinate officials to suppress local unrest was originally the duty of the Prime Minister. Shentu Yang naturally would not refuse. Furthermore, he had long found those regional powerful houses an eyesore. Even if the Emperor had not mentioned it, he had wanted to find an opportunity to send people to give them a thorough warning. He immediately stated, “I will have Gao Jingde lead one thousand cavalrymen to escort the Imperial Grand Secretary. If the regional powerful houses dare to use their influence to bully others, I will let them taste whether the swords and blades of my Yan State are sharp.”

Hearing this, Yin Shuhuai smiled and said, “In that case, the safety of the Imperial Grand Secretary will be completely secure.”

Zhao Bushi looked sideways at Shentu Yang. He could not help but suspect deep down that the reason Shentu Yang’s attitude was so proactive was that he wanted to use the excuse of providing protection to actually find an opportunity to kill him to vent his anger, and then pin the blame onto the local powerful clans when the time came.

Shentu Yang let out a cold snort. “Why must the Imperial Grand Secretary measure the mind of a gentleman with the thoughts of a petty scoundrel? If I wanted to kill you, why would I need to find an excuse? Furthermore, you are afraid that my men will make a move in the dark to harm you, but if I swapped them for the Grand Marshal’s men, would you not be afraid then?”

Zhao Bushi turned his head to look at Huo Quan, completely speechless.

Yin Shuhuai could not help but laugh out loud, immediately saying, “The Imperial Grand Secretary has no need to worry. The Prime Minister is a true hero, and he will certainly not commit the actions of a petty scoundrel.”

However, words alone were no proof. A thought stirred within Yin Shuhuai’s mind, and he suddenly spoke up, “I have one more matter that I wish to entrust to the Imperial Grand Secretary.”

Yin Shuhuai was talking about the matter of inserting personnel into the imperial envoy’s team. Before his death, Marquis Wen of Wei had recommended eight young court officials to Yin Shuhuai. These eight young officials all came from aristocratic backgrounds, were young and capable, and were determined to serve the country. It was just that they were young and lacked practical experience. Yin Shuhuai hoped that Zhao Bushi could take these eight officials along on his mission to the various regions. On one hand, these officials could help Zhao Bushi share some of the public duties and pressure, and on the other hand, it was also to allow them to experience the hardships of the common people’s lives.

Furthermore, Shentu Yang’s men would surely not murder one of the Three Grand Ministers of the court right in front of eight young sons of aristocratic families, unless they could kill every single person all at once to silence them. But was that even possible?

Hearing the Emperor’s arrangements, Zhao Bushi instantly let out a sigh of relief. He immediately stood up and accepted every single instruction.

Having finished explaining the serious business, Yin Shuhuai finally had the mood to look toward Huo Quan. He wondered what important matter had brought the Grand Marshal into the palace.

Huo Quan stared blankly for a moment before he suddenly remembered the true purpose of his visit to the palace. “I wanted to request Your Majesty to recruit talents and enlist capable individuals!”

This idea had actually been suggested to him by Fan Juan. Fan Juan also felt that ever since the Emperor had taken personal control of the government, he actually lacked reliable, capable confidants to use, which resulted in the court politics being entirely controlled by mediocre individuals. They had managed to turn such a wonderful policy that benefited the nation and the people, like promoting the water-powered spinning wheel, into a farcical tragedy where official oppression drove the people to rebel. Consequently, he had privately convinced his old master’s son, Huo Quan, to step forward and suggest that the Emperor recruit talents and enlist capable individuals. “…Your Majesty can issue an edict, allowing the civil and military officials, as well as the governors of the various regional commanderies and states, to recommend individuals who are virtuous, upright, straightforward, and dare to offer blunt criticism to enter the court.”

“The current court is just like a pool of stagnant water. The civil and military officials all occupy their positions without doing any real work, and their hearts have long since been filled to the brim with petty private gains, possessing absolutely no regard for the grand overview of the realm. Only if Your Majesty recruits talents and accepts individuals who are determined to forge ahead into the court to serve as officials can you completely alter the stale and corrupt signs of the government.”

Furthermore, a new Emperor brings a new court of ministers. The Emperor had just taken personal control of the government, so he naturally needed to select his own loyal and capable forces. If Huo Quan stepped forward to advise the Emperor at this moment, earnestly requesting His Majesty to recruit talents, he would not only cater perfectly to the Emperor’s desires, but he could also use the opportunity to showcase the broad-mindedness and loyalty of the Huo family, using practical actions to counter Zhao Bushi’s angry accusations that the Huo family was forming a faction for private gain.

His Huo family was by no means forming a faction for private gain; rather, they hoped that the brilliant talents of the world could all be put to use by the Emperor.

Yin Shuhuai looked at Huo Quan with quite a bit of surprise, truly not expecting that Huo Quan would put forward such a suggestion at this specific moment. One had to realize that just now, a massive incident had occurred where court officials executed orders so poorly that they forced the common people into rebellion. If Huo Quan stood forward at this moment to suggest that the Emperor recruit talents, he would be tossing the faces of the civil and military officials right under everyone’s feet to be stomped on. He would be pointing directly at their noses to mock them for their absolute incompetence, which was the exact reason the Emperor had to recruit new talents. This was bound to offend the entire court of officials.

Even Zhao Bushi and Shentu Yang looked toward Huo Quan with expressions of utter surprise.

Huo Quan threw his chest out and held his head high, speaking with exceptional pride, “My Huo family has always been fiercely loyal, and we are willing to go through fire and water for Your Majesty without a moment’s hesitation.” So what if he offended the entire court of officials and the aristocratic nobility? When his father was alive, he had already finished offending every single one of them anyway, so what did he have left to fear?

Since the atmosphere had already been built up to this exact point, Yin Shuhuai was instantly delighted, praising him repeatedly, “Good, good, good! The Grand Marshal is truly a loyal minister.”

Since Huo Quan was so utterly selfless, Yin Shuhuai immediately handed the responsibility of recruiting talents over to Huo Quan to manage.

Standing to the side, Shentu Yang offered a remark that was neither hot nor cold, “Appointing officials, recommending talents, and evaluating the hundred officials, are these not originally the duties of the Prime Minister? For the Grand Marshal to inappropriately take over my role, could it be that you wish to become the Prime Minister?”

Huo Quan’s expression stiffened. He had no intention of offending Shentu Yang. He could only make an excuse, “This minister has absolutely no such intention. It was His Majesty who handed this heavy responsibility over to me.”

The moment these words were spoken, Shentu Yang grew even angrier. He looked toward Yin Shuhuai with a face full of resentment, looking exactly as if he were accusing a unfaithful partner who loves the new and loathes the old.

Yin Shuhuai also wore a face full of awkwardness, “The Huo clan has operated within the court for many years, and they are far more familiar with the brilliant talents of the realm. Furthermore, this matter was originally brought forward by the Grand Marshal…”

Shentu Yang spoke with a faint, mocking smile, “Has Your Majesty ever heard the saying by Confucius: ‘He who does not hold the position does not plan its policies’?”

Yin Shuhuai immediately comforted him, saying, “It was my lack of thorough consideration. We should have the Prime Minister and the Grand Marshal jointly manage this matter, how about that?”

Shentu Yang remained thoroughly dissatisfied, because Huo Quan had overstepped his authority. Furthermore, it was precisely Yin Shuhuai’s blatant favoritism toward Huo Quan that caused a deep sense of jealousy to spring up within his heart!

In an instant, the three men fell inexplicably into a highly bizarre, tense standoff.

Zhao Bushi kept his eyes fixed firmly downward, thoroughly enjoying the spectacle.