Chapter 53 You're All Muted

"All of you shut up for me!" Jiang Chen rapped on the table.

Yang Yongqi and Wei Zhengli immediately closed their mouths, but their gazes at Jiang Chen were full of anticipation.

They both hoped that Jiang Chen would support their methods.

After a moment of contemplation, Jiang Chen said, "Minister Yang, you are the Minister of Personnel, so naturally, the matter of appointing officials is up to you."

Yang Yongqi's face immediately lit up with joy, his voice filled with happiness, "Your subject obeys!"

Wei Zhengli, standing to the side, felt anxious. If the matter of appointing officials was left to Yang Yongqi, then what would he, the Minister of Works, gain?

"Your Majesty, agricultural matters cannot be determined by academic qualifications!"

Wei Zhengli tried hard to come up with a reason, "Many scholars and young students are not diligent in their limbs and cannot distinguish the five grains. If they are appointed to village or county positions, I fear it would be detrimental to Your Majesty's plan."

Jiang Chen had naturally considered this point as well.

He nodded and said to Yang Yongqi, who was wearing a victor's expression, "Minister Yang, Minister Wei is right. When you appoint officials to various positions, you cannot only consider academic qualifications. You need to consider everything comprehensively."

The joy on Yang Yongqi's face stiffened for a moment, but this was Jiang Chen's order, so he could only say, "Your subject obeys."

Jiang Chen nodded and looked at Wei Zhengli again, "Minister Wei, what you said just now was very correct, so the village and county positions will be appointed by you personally."

Wei Zhengli was immediately overjoyed, "Your Majesty is wise!"

After saying that, he glanced at Yang Yongqi triumphantly.

Although Yang Yongqi appointed the prefectural and state officials, Jiang Chen had previously said that these people would eventually be promoted from the county and village positions.

As long as he controlled the power to appoint these people, the Agricultural Affairs Department would still be under his control in the future.

Jiang Chen was too lazy to look at their expressions and pointed to the joint letters of opposition he had received earlier, "I only have one request: anyone whose name is on these is not allowed to be selected!"

Yang Yongqi and Wei Zhengli rarely showed the same look of surprise.

When they realized that this was Jiang Chen's punishment, they were shocked.

They had thought that His Majesty had changed his nature and was ignoring these people.

They didn't expect him to be waiting for them here!

Thinking of this, they were shocked again.

Doesn't this mean that His Majesty had already thought of this step? Otherwise, why wouldn't he have punished them at the time?

His Majesty's mind is much deeper than before!

This thought appeared in Yang Yongqi and Wei Zhengli's minds at the same time.

Watching Yang Yongqi and Wei Zhengli leave, one with a solemn face and the other with a smile, Jiang Chen's eyes were somewhat deep.

Jiang Chen saw the open and covert struggles between Yang Yongqi and Wei Zhengli.

This situation did not exist before.

This situation only appeared after he had removed three of the six ministers.

A stern look flashed in Jiang Chen's eyes.

If it doesn't delay important matters, then you can fight.

But if it delays important matters, then don't blame me for being impolite!

In the following half month, village head selections and appointments were completed in various villages in Da Wei.

The local students and scholars lost all of their usual composure as they competed for this position.

This was a chance to rise to the sky in a single bound!

While most of the students and scholars were competing, about a thousand or so of them were directly driven out by the local yamen runners.

"You cannot serve as county or village heads."

These students and scholars were extremely surprised and said angrily, "Why? Didn't you say that as long as you are a student or scholar, you can participate in the selection?"

The yamen runner repeated the county magistrate's words, "The imperial edict does say so, but you just can't!"

"His Majesty said that all those who signed the joint letter of opposition are not allowed to participate!"

"What?!"

This news was like a bolt from the blue for these students and scholars.

They were very dissatisfied, but they could only swallow this bitter fruit.

Before, they could still use the power of all the students and scholars of Da Wei to gain momentum.

But now, most of the students and scholars are vying for positions in the Agricultural Affairs Department, and no one is standing with them anymore.

If they dared to cause trouble again, the court would be the first to deal with them.

Understanding this, these students and scholars were on the verge of tears.

Why were they in such a hurry to create a joint letter of opposition?

Now, they have directly cut off their path to officialdom.

Amidst the sighs of these scholars, the selection of village heads in each village was gradually completed.

And after these village heads officially took office, the effect was immediately apparent.

For the common people in the villages, not to mention scholars, even students were figures they couldn't afford to offend.

With these people tracking the use of public farming tools and oxen, no one dared to have any crooked thoughts.

They even caught a few corrupt people who had privately detained public farming tools and oxen.

After receiving these memorials, Jiang Chen was furious.

"So audacious!"

In the Qianqing Palace, Jiang Chen threw the memorials in front of Wu Zuo, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice.

"Investigate! Investigate this thoroughly for me!"

"As long as it is verified, kill without mercy!"

The ministers were all startled.

Killing a village chief for a few farming tools or an ox seemed like too much of a punishment.

A minister stood up and said, "Your Majesty, these people may have been confused for a moment, and these farming tools and oxen are not worth much. Please have mercy, Your Majesty, and spare their lives."

Jiang Chen glanced at the minister and suddenly a cold light flashed across his eyes, "It seems that you are from one of these villages, aren't you?"

"Could this village chief have something to do with you?"

The minister didn't expect Jiang Chen's memory to be so good and was so frightened that his face turned ashen.

"Your Majesty, spare me!"

Jiang Chen said angrily, "Drag him out and behead him!"

Shi Ping immediately came in with guards and dragged the minister out.

The hall was silent.

No one dared to say a word of persuasion, because everyone felt the killing intent contained in Jiang Chen's body.

"These things may not be worth much to you, but to those old and weak, they are things that can guarantee their lives!"

"My Da Wei does not need ministers who ignore the old and weak!"

Jiang Chen swept his icy gaze over the ministers.

"Anyone who has the same thoughts as that person just now, get out of here immediately!"

Swept by Jiang Chen's gaze, the ministers all lowered their heads, and no one dared to speak.

"Withdraw!"

Back in the Qianzheng Palace, Jiang Chen had just taken two sips of tea to suppress his anger when Feng Jin came in to report.

"Your Majesty, Lord Xu Changqing requests an audience."

"Xu Changqing?"

Jiang Chen frowned, he remembered that he was too angry today and didn't have time to let the ministers present their memorials.

Waving his hand, Jiang Chen said, "Let him in."

Xu Changqing quickly came in, holding a memorial in his hand.

"Minister Xu, what is it?" Jiang Chen asked.

"Please take a look, Your Majesty."

Xu Changqing handed the memorial to Feng Jin, and then Feng Jin handed it to Jiang Chen.