Yang Yongqi's heart was filled with indescribable feelings.

He had entered officialdom at the age of twenty through the imperial examinations and had toiled for thirty years to become the Minister of Appointments.

What virtue or ability did Yao Shouxin possess that he could become the Minister of War, in charge of all the military forces of the realm, at the age of thirty?

He was not convinced!

Thinking of this, Yang Yongqi turned his head and gave a look to Ouyang Shuo, the Vice Minister of Appointments behind him.

Ouyang Shuo was even more miserable than Yang Yongqi, having toiled for a full thirty-five years before being promoted to Vice Minister of Appointments by Yang Yongqi, who sympathized with him. Naturally, he was also unconvinced by Yao Shouxin's meteoric rise.

Ouyang Shuo stepped forward and said loudly, "Your Majesty, this humble subject believes that Yao Shouxin is currently not suitable for such an important position as Minister of War."

Swish!

The ministers, each with their own thoughts, focused their gazes on Ouyang Shuo.

Those ministers who were equally jealous of Yao Shouxin's rapid ascent were filled with admiration and excitement.

That's right!

They should object!

How could a young man in his thirties become the Minister of War?

They were not convinced!

The gazes of some other ministers, however, contained a different meaning.

Ouyang Shuo, what audacity!

Ever since the Mei family was overthrown, His Majesty was no longer the same as before.

His character had also changed from being indifferent to court affairs to being decisive and assertive.

Now that His Majesty wanted to promote Yao Shouxin, you actually dared to stand up and object. You truly knew it was an iron wall, yet you still insisted on kicking it.

Wasn't this just asking for trouble!

Jiang Chen looked at Ouyang Shuo and suddenly said, "Who are you?"

Ouyang Shuo's old face instantly flushed red with anger.

After thirty-five years in the court, serving through two emperors, His Majesty didn't even know his name!

Many ministers couldn't help but chuckle softly.

His Majesty's words were too harsh!

But to be honest, His Majesty was not wrong.

Although Ouyang Shuo had been in the court for thirty or fifty years, his presence was too weak!

Even after being promoted to Vice Minister of Appointments, he was usually just Yang Yongqi, the Minister of Appointments's yes-man.

Almost no one took him to heart.

Even the ministers were like this, let alone His Majesty?

"This subject is called Ouyang Shuo," Ouyang Shuo said, his face flushed.

"Oh, Ouyang Shuo. You said Yao Shouxin is not suitable to be Minister of War. What's the reason?"

Ouyang Shuo said, "Yao Shouxin is only thirty years old and has no military achievements. How can he bear the important responsibility of Minister of War?"

Jiang Chen did not respond to Ouyang Shuo but looked at the other ministers.

"What do you think?"

The ministers lowered their heads, afraid that Jiang Chen would see their thoughts on their faces.

Especially those ministers who had the same thoughts as Ouyang Shuo, wishing they could hide their heads.

Jiang Chen chuckled, "Ouyang Shuo, it seems that your statement is not very recognized by the ministers."

Ouyang Shuo was anxious and said, "Your Majesty, many of them actually have the same thoughts as this subject."

"Is that so? Then tell me who they are," Jiang Chen said.

Ouyang Shuo immediately looked at a minister standing in the same row as him and said, "Lord Li, we talked about this matter when we chatted last time. You said at the time that you were the first to be unconvinced that Yao Shouxin was the Minister of War, right?"

Lord Li's face changed, and then he decisively denied, "How can there be such a thing! Lord Ouyang, don't talk nonsense!"

Ouyang Shuo's eyes widened with anger, "Lord Li, have you forgotten? We were at the Wine Immortal Tavern..."

Before Ouyang Shuo could finish speaking, Lord Li flicked his sleeves and said, "Lord Ouyang must have misremembered. I don't drink!"

After speaking, Lord Li glared fiercely at Ouyang Shuo, then lowered his head.

Ouyang Shuo was choked and speechless, and quickly found the second minister.

"Lord Sun, when we were walking together this morning..."

Before Ouyang Shuo could finish speaking, Lord Sun denied, "Lord Ouyang, you misremembered. I didn't walk with you today."

Ouyang Shuo was stunned in place, and then looked at the third minister...

After looking for six ministers in a row, they all denied that they had ever said that they did not approve of Yao Shouxin, which made Ouyang Shuo feel unbelievable.

Thinking that he was the only minister in the entire court who was dissatisfied with His Majesty's decision, Ouyang Shuo trembled.

Wouldn't his position as Vice Minister be in jeopardy?

He quickly looked at Yang Yongqi, the Minister of Appointments in front of him, and said anxiously, "Lord Yang, you have the same idea, right? Otherwise, why did you wink at me just now?"

Yang Yongqi's expression changed drastically, and he scolded, "Lord Ouyang, are you senile? How could this official have such an idea? There is no such thing as winking!"

After speaking, Yang Yongqi respectfully said to Jiang Chen, "Your Majesty, this subject thinks that Lord Yao Shouxin is indeed suitable for the position of Minister of War. Although he is young, the Ministry of War needs energetic young people!"

Jiang Chen nodded with a smile, "Minister Yang's words are very agreeable to Our heart."

Afterwards, Jiang Chen looked at the dumbfounded Ouyang Shuo again.

"Ouyang Shuo, it seems that you are the only one in the entire court who disagrees with Our decision. You are a solitary minister, an upright minister!" Jiang Chen said with emotion.

This comment confused all the ministers.

Originally, they thought that Jiang Chen would be furious and even punish Ouyang Shuo.

But how did these words sound like praise?

Just as they were thinking, they saw Jiang Chen looking at Ma Ren, the Chief Imperial Censor beside him, and said loudly, "Minister Ma, doesn't your Censorate lack such talents?"

Ma Ren stood out and said, "Your Majesty is wise!"

Jiang Chen chuckled and said, "Since that's the case, Ouyang Shuo, after this morning's court session, go to Lord Ma's office to report."

"Your Majesty, this subject... this subject..."

Ouyang Shuo was so anxious that he couldn't speak.

He never expected that just because he objected to Jiang Chen's proposal, he would directly change from a popular Vice Minister of Appointments to an unpopular Imperial Censor.

The ministers also reacted at this time.

His Majesty was still the same His Majesty.

The ministers all knelt on the ground and shouted, "Your Majesty is wise!"

After the court session, except for the dispirited Ouyang Shuo, the faces of the other ministers were filled with contemplation.

From the Minister of Revenue Du Guangcheng's suicide in the main hall to the transfer of the Vice Minister of Appointments Ouyang Shuo to the Censorate today, even a blind person could see that Jiang Chen was dissatisfied with the Six Ministries.

Thinking of this, the minds of many ministers suddenly became active.

Wouldn't a major reshuffle of the Six Ministries mean that everyone would have a chance to enter them?

If they could find the faults of these ministers, and then report to His Majesty, they could not only drive away the ministers of the Six Ministries, but also show their faces in front of His Majesty. Wouldn't that be killing two birds with one stone?

Thinking of this, the ministers looked at the original subordinate officials of the Six Ministries with some ill intentions.

In the next few days of the morning court session, many ministers impeached the subordinate officials of the Six Ministries.

Jiang Chen, in the case of conclusive evidence, cleaned up a batch of ministers who were occupying positions and not doing anything.

Just as the cleanup was nearing completion, the envoys sent by the Quanrong were about to arrive in the capital.

The Minister of Rites, Wen Fengli, said to Jiang Chen, "Your Majesty, according to the usual practice, this subject must lead the honor guard out of the city to greet them. I wonder what Your Majesty thinks?"