Chapter 1 A Royal Summons

"Greetings, Your Majesty."

Yuan Buyi was just about to have dinner when he received the summons. He dropped his chopsticks and hurried to the Hall of Diligent Governance.

"Grand Tutor, please rise."

Jiang Chen came from behind his desk and personally helped Yuan Buyi up.

Yuan Buyi was somewhat flattered and hastily said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

"Feng Jin, bring a stool for the Grand Tutor," Jiang Chen added.

Such preferential treatment surprised Yuan Buyi, and he became uneasy.

*Wouldn't His Majesty start acting strangely again?*

Although His Majesty had been acting like a wise ruler recently, what if he relapsed?

After a moment's thought, Yuan Buyi said, "Your Majesty summoned this old minister. May I ask what your orders are?"

Jiang Chen, seeing that Yuan Buyi was so straightforward, didn't beat around the bush. "I have a very important matter here that I would like the Grand Tutor to help with."

Yuan Buyi was very surprised, but after a moment's thought, he understood.

In the Great Wei court, there were only a few people whom Jiang Chen could trust.

Xu Changqing was still in Jinling, unable to be everywhere at once.

Ma Ren, with his upright and unyielding nature, was a good candidate for Censor-in-Chief.

That left only him.

Thinking of this, Yuan Buyi's old face turned red from the rush of blood, and he knelt on the ground.

"This old minister will spare no effort and will die only after accomplishing his task!"

"It's not that serious."

Jiang Chen laughed. "It will only make the Grand Tutor a little more tired."

Although he had been somewhat prepared, Yuan Buyi was still shocked when he heard Jiang Chen's words.

*He really wants me to be the Minister of Revenue?*

He had no experience in that area.

He wanted to decline, but when he looked up and saw the expectation on Jiang Chen's face, he couldn't bring himself to say the words of refusal.

After a slight hesitation, Yuan Buyi understood Jiang Chen's meaning.

*He wants me to implement the tax collection from the gentry and wealthy merchants during my temporary tenure as Minister of Revenue!*

Thinking of this, Yuan Buyi suddenly understood and said loudly, "Your subject will obey Your Majesty's orders!"

His words had two meanings: first, that he agreed to serve as Minister of Revenue; second, that after he became Minister of Revenue, he would listen to Jiang Chen's arrangements in everything.

Jiang Chen understood the meaning and laughed heartily. "Good, Grand Tutor, you are indeed a pillar of our Great Wei!"

Half an hour later, Yuan Buyi left the palace with a hint of surprise.

The next day at the morning court, the officials stood in their usual order, waiting for Jiang Chen to arrive.

If one looked closely, the five ministers present not only looked a little off, but even had dark circles under their eyes.

It seemed that they hadn't slept well all night.

Last night, they had received the news that Jiang Chen had summoned Yuan Buyi.

With their intelligence, they quickly guessed Jiang Chen's intention.

*He's not planning to choose from the candidates they recommended!*

How could that be?

If the important position of Minister of Revenue wasn't in their hands, their power would be greatly reduced!

The group held a meeting overnight to discuss how to prevent Yuan Buyi from becoming Minister of Revenue.

Hearing Feng Jin's footsteps, the ministers looked at each other and nodded secretly.

"His Majesty has arrived!"

With Feng Jin's announcement, Jiang Chen ascended the Dragon Throne.

After the cheers subsided, Feng Jin didn't say the usual "If there are any matters, report them; if not, dismiss the court," but instead Jiang Chen spoke.

"Gentlemen, yesterday Minister Du unfortunately passed away, leaving the position of Minister of Revenue vacant. Who do you think can take on this important task?"

The five ministers simultaneously rolled their eyes.

*What a pretense!*

He clearly already had a candidate, yet he was pretending to ask for their opinions.

Annoyed as they were, the ministers were still a little happy.

This gave them room to maneuver!

Minister of Personnel Yang Yongqi stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, the Minister of Revenue is in charge of important matters such as the Great Wei's money, grain, and taxes. Although this subject has no candidate to recommend, I believe that only someone with vigorous energy can take on this responsibility."

After speaking, Yang Yongqi glanced at Yuan Buyi as if inadvertently.

The requirement he mentioned was naturally aimed at Yuan Buyi.

Jiang Chen sneered inwardly, but smiled faintly on his face and said, "Minister Yang is somewhat right. Does any other minister have any suggestions?"

Minister of Rites Wen Fengli stepped forward at this time and said, "This subject believes that what Minister Yang said is very true. The position of Minister of Revenue is related to the stability of the Great Wei, and must be held by someone who is proficient in this field."

The other three ministers also stepped forward and expressed their views.

Each suggestion sounded normal.

But if one thought about it carefully, these suggestions combined seemed to be negating one person.

Some of the ministers who had caught on looked in Yuan Buyi's direction, feeling very strange.

*Why are the five ministers going against Grand Tutor Yuan?*

"Does any other minister have any suggestions?" Jiang Chen asked.

The hall was silent.

Firstly, they hadn't figured out Jiang Chen's intentions yet.

Secondly, the Minister of Revenue was the highest-ranking official in the court. What qualifications did they have to make suggestions?

Seeing that the five ministers had stepped forward, Jiang Chen chuckled.

"Since that's the case, then I'll talk about my views."

Jiang Chen's smiling expression made the five ministers' hearts clench.

*Something's not right! Very wrong!*

Every point they had just made was in opposition to Yuan Buyi.

But why didn't His Majesty have any reaction?

Could it be that Yuan Buyi was just a decoy?

At the thought of this possibility, the ministers quickly looked towards Yuan Buyi.

When they saw the smile on Yuan Buyi's face, their hearts sank.

*They had been tricked!*

Jiang Chen said, "Xu Changqing is young and vigorous, and has shown outstanding performance in the land redistribution in Jinling, demonstrating remarkable ability. I think he is the best candidate to serve as Minister of Revenue. What do you gentlemen think?"

*Boom!*

The ministers felt as if struck by lightning. They never expected that Jiang Chen would use a feint in such a major matter.

On the surface, he summoned Yuan Buyi to the palace.

In reality, he used Yuan Buyi to attract their attention.

The real target was Xu Changqing!

*They had been careless!*

The ministers were filled with regret.

Minister of Rites Wen Fengli suddenly thought of something and quickly stepped forward, saying, "Your Majesty, this subject believes that this matter is inappropriate."

"Although Lord Xu meets the requirements for Minister of Revenue, his younger sister is Consort Shu."

"Since the founding of our Great Wei, there has never been a precedent for a relative of the imperial family to serve as a minister. Please reconsider, Your Majesty!"

The other ministers' eyes lit up.

*That's right!*

How could they have forgotten this?

The ministers quickly stepped forward, echoing Wen Fengli's words.

Jiang Chen was not surprised by this.

He had discussed it with Yuan Buyi last night, and the conclusion they reached was that the biggest obstacle to Xu Changqing's appointment as minister was this.

Hearing Wen Fengli raise this reason, Jiang Chen looked at Yuan Buyi.

Yuan Buyi understood and immediately stepped forward.

"This subject believes that what the Minister said is utterly absurd!" Yuan Buyi objected with great vigor.

Wen Fengli and the others were already burning with anger from being tricked, and they couldn't help but lose their temper when they heard Yuan Buyi jump out.