Chương 502: Conferring Official Titles

"Foreign Affairs Office!"

The eunuch's shrill voice pierced the silence, echoing through the empty palace.

A moment later, Liu Ce, dressed in a black robe with twelve dragon patterns and wearing a crown, slowly walked into the hall.

His face was calm as he glanced at the officials below him, then walked step by step to the dragon throne and sat down on it.

The armrests of the dragon throne were icy cold, yet they made one exceptionally clear-headed.

"The emperor brings prosperity to the land!" the palace attendant proclaimed loudly, his voice booming like a bell.

All the officials rose in unison, the rustling of their robes creating a continuous sound.

Everyone turned north and bowed towards the throne.

"bye!"

Hundreds of people simultaneously knelt down, cupped their hands in front of their bodies, and slowly touched their foreheads to the ground, holding the position for three breaths.

The gold bricks were icy cold; you could feel the chill even through the court robes, yet no one dared to shiver.

After the kowtow ceremony was completed, a unified shout erupted from the hall:

"Long live!"

The sound waves shook the dust off the palace beams, and the lingering echoes of the chime bells resonated slightly in the air, reaching the steps outside the palace...

"prosper!"

The officials rose, bowed their heads, and returned to their seats, restoring the previous silence to the hall.

The gilded dragon throne gleamed coldly in the rising sun. Liu Ce sat upright on it, his fingertips lightly tapping the armrests.

Below, civil and military officials stood ramrod straight according to their rank, their faces obscured by ivory tablets, yet they couldn't hide the furtive glances directed at the throne. Today was the first formal appointment of prime ministers and officials since the founding of the nation. Who would enter the core of the government, who would wield real power, and who would be sidelined—it all depended on this morning.

In the ranks of military officers, Cheng Yaojin stood crookedly, his feet shuffling on the ground. He nudged Qin Qiong beside him with his elbow and said in a voice barely above a whisper:

"Hey, Second Brother Qin, what do you think His Majesty will assign me? He won't make me guard the city gates, will he? That would be such a waste of my talents! I, Old Cheng, am a Duke, how humiliating would it be to guard the city gates!"

Qin Qiong ignored him, but a smile secretly crept onto his lips.

Yuchi Gong leaned closer and whispered, "Don't worry, His Majesty will definitely not forget you. If all else fails, we can both work in the Imperial Kitchen and eat there every day—how wonderful that would be!"

Cheng Yaojin's eyes lit up: "This is great! The braised pork knuckle from the imperial kitchen is much more fragrant than the ones at home! The few I brought home last time, my boys fought over them and almost ate the whole plate."

The three were whispering amongst themselves when Zhao Yun suddenly glared at them from the front.

Zhao Yun turned around, his eyes glaring at him, clearly saying, "Can't you three shut up? This is the imperial court, not a marketplace!"

The three quickly shut their mouths and pretended to be serious. Cheng Yaojin even raised his scepter higher, covering half of his face.

The civil officials' side was also not peaceful.

Several senior officials from prominent families huddled together, whispering, "His Majesty's plan to establish a Ministry of Agriculture and a Ministry of Commerce—is he really going to let those peasants and merchants become officials? Merchants are the lowest class; how can they be allowed to enter the inner court?"

"Hmph, what kind of behavior is this! Scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, merchants are the lowest in the hierarchy, how can they possibly be officials? These are the words of the sages, an unchanging rule for thousands of years."

"Throughout history, merchants have valued profit over righteousness. Letting them manage the national treasury is like putting rats in a rice jar!"

"Don't talk nonsense. You all know His Majesty's temper. Be careful what you say. Have you forgotten how those guys were scolded and ran away with their tails between their legs last time?"

"Alas, the world is going to the dogs, the world is going to the dogs..."

"Shh! Don't talk nonsense... be careful what you say!"

"But... if word gets out that a merchant is becoming an official..."

"What if word gets out? His Majesty said, the capable rise, the mediocre fall. If you're better than him, you go; if you're not, shut up."

The man shrank back and fell silent.

The senior officials immediately shut their mouths and dared not utter another word.

The Grand Herald stepped forward carrying a thick stack of imperial edicts, which were almost half his height and looked very heavy.

He cleared his throat, and his aged yet resonant voice instantly drowned out all the whispers, echoing throughout the hall:

"The imperial edict reads: 'With the founding of the nation and the establishment of its institutions, everything is in need of rebuilding. It is necessary to select virtuous and capable officials, without being bound by convention, to jointly assist in governing the country. The officials are hereby appointed, each to their respective duties. This is the imperial decree!'"

The hall fell silent instantly, even the sound of breathing subsided. Everyone pricked up their ears, waiting for the names that would decide their fate to be read out one by one.

He unfolded the first imperial edict and read it aloud:

"On the day of Renshen in the first month of the first year of the reign of Emperor Shenwu, the Emperor said:" Consult Xun Yu: You possess the talent of a king's advisor and the strategic vision to govern the world. You demonstrated your abilities in the Han Dynasty; now, assisting me, your contributions are immense. Your overall command and central coordination are unparalleled; your institutional development, talent selection, and overall governance are all executed with utmost precision.

You are of upright character, selfless, and enjoy enduring prestige, trusted and respected by all officials, both civil and military.

I hereby appoint you as the Minister of State Affairs, a first-rank official, in charge of all national affairs. You must strictly adhere to the rule of having no independent decision-making power, and report all matters to me personally, becoming the most reliable executor of my will. Strive to fulfill this duty and do not disappoint my expectations.

Kudos to you!"

After the imperial edict was read, all the officials nodded in unison, and no one raised any objection.

Xun Yu had followed Liu Ce for many years, from Youzhou to Luoyang, and was one of the behind-the-scenes stewards. He was responsible for the grain, logistics, and personnel, and it was well-deserved that he was in charge of the overall political affairs.

Moreover, he was a man who did not compete or fight, did not form cliques or seek personal gain, and was devoted to the public good. No one in the court dared to disobey him.

Despite his gentle and soft-spoken manner, he is incredibly decisive and efficient when it comes to handling government affairs, and no one dares to fool him.

Xun Yu strode forward, knelt, and kowtowed, his voice steady and powerful: "Your subject Xun Yu obeys the decree! I will certainly not fail Your Majesty's trust, and will devote myself wholeheartedly to the cause until my dying breath! As long as I have a breath left, the government affairs office will not be in chaos!"

Everyone in the hall nodded in agreement, thinking to themselves that this first imperial edict was truly well-deserved.

Liu Ce nodded slightly: "Rise."

...

"On the day of Renshen in the first month of the first year of the reign of Emperor Shenwu, the Emperor said:" Consult Jia Xu: You are meticulous, insightful, perceptive, and able to discern the subtle signs of things...

I hereby appoint you as the Director of the Royal Statistical and Audit Office, a first-rank official, in charge of all statistical and auditing affairs nationwide. You must diligently perform your duties, serve as my eyes and ears, and effectively utilize your independent armed forces and the power of arrest to deter corrupt officials throughout the land. Strive to fulfill your duties and do not fail my expectations.

So be it.

Upon hearing this, the entire Deyang Palace fell silent for three seconds, even the sound of breathing became several degrees lighter.

That silence wasn't respect, it was fear.

Many officials who had previously embezzled money or taken advantage of public funds turned pale instantly, their palms broke out in a cold sweat, and their backs were soaked with cold sweat, their undershirts sticking to their bodies.

Who is Jia Xu? Who doesn't know Jia Xu's methods?

That's a ruthless strategist! He's the kind of person who kills without a knife, able to destroy families with just a few words.