Qinzheng Hall.

Fair-faced palace maids moved gracefully, refilling tea for the important ministers in the room.

Jiang Chen sat behind the imperial desk.

He explained to the Grand Tutor Yuan before him, "Minister Yuan, I was just speaking in anger. Don't take it seriously."

"The South is the granary of Great Wei, related to the lifeline of the nation. I won't rashly start a war."

Hearing this, Yuan Buyi smirked wryly.

He understood the subtext of His Majesty's words. 'Not rashly start a war' did not mean he would never use force.

If those powerful clans in the South went too far and crossed His Majesty's bottom line, he was afraid this one would immediately flip the table and explode!

Thinking of that scene, Yuan Buyi sighed deeply.

He only hoped things would not reach this point; otherwise, the people of the southern prefectures would be the ones to suffer in the end!

Jiang Chen knew that Yuan Buyi was not a warmonger and changed the subject, "Since Mei Wenshi pleaded illness, the Ministry of Revenue has entered a state of semi-paralysis."

"It's okay for a short time, but if it lasts too long, there will be major problems for the court. Does any minister have a solution?"

Regarding the country's fate, Yuan Buyi immediately composed himself and stopped thinking about irrelevant matters.

After a moment, he took the initiative and said, "Your Majesty, in this humble subject’s opinion, the most important thing at present is to stabilize the army in Yun Province!"

"As long as the military power is not chaotic, the situation will still be under our control!"

Jiang Chen's face was cold as he nodded, "Minister is right. Military power cannot be chaotic!"

"Mei Wenshi is now cornered and setting fires everywhere, trying to force me to bow my head and welcome him back to the court. I won't let him get his wish!"

"Minister Yuan, you will now depart for Yun Province to investigate the military pay and the financial shortfall, and you must find Mei Wenshi's weakness."

Yuan Buyi did not decline and knelt down to accept the order directly, "This subject obeys the decree and will certainly not fail Your Majesty's entrustment!"

After speaking, he turned directly, ready to set off for Yun Province.

His decisive manner made the ministers in the hall look sideways.

But Jiang Chen naturally couldn't let Yuan Buyi go empty-handed.

Yun Province was dangerous. If he didn't make some preparations, he was afraid this old Grand Tutor would be taken care of as soon as he arrived.

"Minister Yuan, wait! I will send a team of Imperial Guards with you, and grant you the power to 'execute first, report later,' so that those short-sighted dogs don't obstruct your work."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Yuan Buyi thanked him.

After arranging this matter, Jiang Chen also drew some manpower from the Hanlin Academy, the Ministry of Works, and other departments to begin dealing with the mess in the South.

The officials he chose were all from humble backgrounds who had passed the imperial examination, with clean backgrounds and unwavering loyalty.

Jiang Chen was preparing to take advantage of Mei Wenshi's challenge to place these people in key positions in various departments to replace those disloyal officials!

Jiang Chen never showed mercy to traitors!

And his first target was the Ministry of Revenue!

East of the imperial city, the Zhao residence.

Several teams of armored and armed Imperial Guards were surrounding the place, standing ready.

Among them, the leading team, holding a battering ram, took the lead in breaking open the gate of the residence and began the arrest.

At the same time, a eunuch wearing a blue court uniform also walked out of the team and shouted:

"By His Majesty's decree, Zhao Qing, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, has neglected his duties and caused a great disaster!"

"From today onwards, he is stripped of his official position and sent to the Ministry of Justice. His family members will be exiled to the frontier, and his descendants will be barred from taking the imperial examination for three generations! By imperial decree!"

As the voice fell.

Zhao Qing, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, who was being held down in the courtyard, immediately revealed a ferocious look and roared, "I don't believe it! How could His Majesty treat me like this?"

"You brutes, let go of this official! This official wants to see His Majesty! This official wants to see His Majes... Wuwu!"

A burly Imperial Guard stuffed Zhao Qing's mouth with a rag and threw him into a prison cart like livestock.

This old fellow was too noisy and interfered with the work. He would be quiet once locked up.

Xu Mu was also on the scene. Jiang Chen had specially sent him to oversee the operation.

Seeing this scene, he was very satisfied with the Imperial Guard's response.

They had to be ruthless when dealing with these treacherous officials who dared to oppose His Majesty!

After a while, after all the crying Zhao family members were pushed into the prison cart, the Imperial Guards withdrew their troops and set off for the Ministry of Justice.

During the escort, the people along the way pointed and whispered, their faces filled with criticism.

"This tyrant has once again confiscated the home of an official today. He is truly heartless!"

"Hiss, that's the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. Can such a high-ranking official not escape the tyrant's clutches?"

"Alas, to be fair, this Zhao guy made a mistake by neglecting his duties, and His Majesty is not wrong to punish him!"

"What kind of fairness is that? The tyrant wants to kill, and he can just find a reason. Who dares to investigate the truth? Maybe Lord Zhao was wronged!"

"Stop talking. Do you not want your heads? That tyrant has confiscated dozens of homes today, and the entire imperial road is full of prison carts!"

"If you are discovered by those black-skinned constables for criticizing the emperor, how many heads do you have to be cut off?"

'...'

The house confiscation action continued until curfew.

This imperial city was in turmoil.

All officials were afraid, wondering if they would be next.

And some of Mei Wenshi's accomplices had already made arrangements for their affairs, preparing to send some younger generations out to leave descendants for the family.

The Mei residence.

"Father, what should we do now?"

"The dog emperor is like a madman, biting whoever he catches. The people in the Ministry of Revenue are almost all arrested by him. If this continues, our plan will not be able to be implemented!" Mei Kang said irritably.

Mei Wenshi, dressed in a plain Confucian robe, held a cup of tea and said calmly, "Who said the plan can't be implemented?"

"The current emperor seems strong, but he is actually in a precarious situation. As the saying goes, the just cause enjoys abundant support, while an unjust one finds little. His arbitrary and reckless actions, using his power to suppress others, will only lose the hearts of officials and the people."

"When the court and the public are completely disappointed with this tyrant, that will be our chance!"

Mei Kang was still unwilling and frowned, "But if we let this dog emperor arrest people, our losses will be great."

Mei Wenshi knew the quality of his son and was not surprised that he would ask such a stupid question.

He only sighed and explained, "Kang'er, to achieve great things, you must not be confined to these small gains!"

"If I didn't use the Ministry of Revenue as bait, how could the emperor be hooked and start a massacre?"

"Moreover, slaughtering the main officials of the Ministry of Revenue, on the surface, it is us who are losing, but in fact, the emperor himself is the one who is most deeply injured!"

As he spoke, Mei Wenshi put down the porcelain cup, and a cold light flashed in his eyes, saying;

"Taxes and silver are related to the lifeblood of the country. If the emperor slaughters the Ministry of Revenue, the national finances will inevitably stall!"

"At that time, the entire Great Wei will fall into chaos. If the emperor doesn't want to lose his dragon chair, he must welcome your father back to the court!"

Mei Kang understood, and his eyes flashed with excitement!

He seemed eager to see Jiang Chen bowing his head.

But then, he frowned and said, "Father, there is another matter. Yuan Buyi has gone to Yun Province!"

"Yun Province?" Mei Wenshi smiled confidently and said, "Let him go. If I dare to do it, I am not afraid of being investigated!"