The ministers in the imperial court were all well-read in history books and had been through hundreds of battles.
In their political career, they had seen countless conflicts and even experienced many open and secret struggles. The nature of human beings was that of beasts. The lowly ones fought for petty benefits, while the superior ones fought for power and lust. It had always been like this since ancient times. It was like a curse that lingered around the entire race.
Even at the most critical moment of the War of the Heaven's Origin, the ministers in the court still had their own selfishness and schemes. The political stage of the Imperium had always been filled with dramas. Over the years, all kinds of people had been active in the golden palace in front of the emperor.
There were scheming and astute officials, scheming and ruthless officials, tough and capable officials, mediocre and mediocre officials, and daring traitors … there were many, many.
Those people carried out their own schemes and schemes in the golden palace for interests and ambitions. Some succeeded, and some failed. There was nothing new in the imperial palace. What happened every day was almost a repeat of the past. The place was like a miniature of everybody's desires. It carried infinite darkness and attracted all kinds of ambitious and dreamers …
However, there were few people like Sun Lang, the Shentse General.
Yes, there were too few of them. Even with the decades of experience that the ministers in front of the palace had, they had never seen an important minister of the Imperium as … unique as Sun Lang.
Let's put it this way. The man was so unscrupulous and domineering that he was even grinning in the court and fighting in private that he disregarded the rules of the court and did not care about the dignity of an important minister of the Imperium at all. Such a lawless guy had rarely been seen in the history of the Imperium in the past hundreds of years.
However, what was most intriguing was that he had just played an embarrassing game of politics.
Yes, it could not have been more embarrassing.
It must be noted that although the Imperium did not have the word 'hype', the concept had been around for a long time. A similar word was called 'hype', which meant that the conspirators would seize the hidden benefits and achieve their own unspeakable purposes by making up some nonsense such as' the soldiers of the army ',' the stone man has only one eye ',' the Rising King of Chu ',' the Violet is the best in the world ', and so on.
After thousands of years of evolution, everybody was very familiar with such tricks.
For example, if a highly respected and meritorious official was ostracized by the court officials and ignored by the emperor for some reason, he was unwilling to retire to the CPPCC and directly asked for power, but it would not look good on his face. What should he do?
Hype. Spend money to buy a bunch of idle people to spread rumors about the injustice of the Imperial Court and the darkness of the officialdom. As a result, the heroes could not achieve their goals and the meritorious ministers were only sad. In the long run, the Imperium would be doomed.
When the hype was almost done, this important minister of the Imperial Court could instruct his henchmen to come forward and report that the public opinion was boiling, the allies were surprised, and everyone was saying that the Imperium was ignoring the meritorious ministers, making everyone lose face. Your Majesty, you have to follow the voice of the masses and give this minister an important task, which would also show that the Imperium's system was superior. Your Majesty, you know how to use people well.
Wouldn't that be wonderful? Once this started, other political allies and temporary allies who had made deals with friends beforehand would swarm forward to review and then quarrel with the opposition on the spot. After winning the quarrel, they would take advantage of the situation and force the Emperor into a corner. The Martial Arts Hall would study and decide, and all parties would reach a consensus. Your Majesty, you would stamp your seal, and then it would be settled.
This was a more standard way of playing and rhythm.
The ministers had been in the political arena for a long time and knew this way of playing. That was why they felt very subtle and awkward at this time because General Shentse's approach was indeed … awkward.
Because there were no henchmen, no script, no arrangements, and no allies.
Wow, what the hell are you doing? Two days ago, you stirred up trouble in the Imperial Capital and even personally smashed the venues of a few marquises. Many people also f * cking saw with their own eyes that you pressed a few famous consecrators of the Chenwu Marquis Family to the ground and beat them up!
You made such a big fuss that everyone knows you're trying to hype things up. One look and we'll know what you're trying to do!
That's why can't you be more careful? Can't you cover it up a little?
Didn't you have a lot of fun with Android Pangji and the others before? Can't you let them come out and say what you just said? Why do you have to say it yourself? Please act more realistically!
That's probably how it feels.
General Shentse Sun Lang instigated his subordinates to spread rumors and hype things up in the Imperial Capital. Then, he personally mentioned this matter in the Imperial Court, saying that Your Majesty has been very aggressive recently, saying that Your Majesty has no tolerance for others. I'm thinking that Your Majesty should smash their little faces. Why don't you just give me a super awesome job to do?
It was too blatant, too straightforward, too undisguised, too crude, and too careless.
Too arrogant.
The mood of the officials was very subtle.
They first glanced at General Shentse. His back was so tall and straight, like the jade pillar that held up the sky and the golden beam that held up the sea. This powerful and tenacious man stood silently like this, giving most people a silent back. But many people could draw strength from this back and be encouraged by his emotions. That kind of spirit of caring for the country and the people and of looking up without shame infected everyone.
It was as if the suggestion he had just made was completely selfless and completely for the benefit of the country.
They glanced at the Emperor again.
They saw the Emperor's face that was as cold as a mountain. The Emperor's gaze was as bone-chilling as the ice floating on the ocean of the extreme north and emitted a coldness that made people feel cold all over.
Then they understood that Sun Lang could do whatever he wanted.
The Emperor was indeed as disgusted as if he had eaten feces.
It was indeed as Pangji had worried before. The Emperor knew Sun Lang's movements like the back of his hand, but did not make a move and allowed the other party to build momentum. He did indeed have an ulterior motive. He had long decided on this plan.
The selection of talents was the Empire's grand martial ceremony that was held once every three years. For a powerful military country that had established itself through martial arts, its importance and political significance went without saying. To be able to control and lead the selection was not only a supreme honor, it also meant incalculable benefits and benefits. This was what every ambitious official of the Empire dreamed of … almost no one could refuse it.
According to common sense, he would absolutely not take the initiative to throw this extremely plump piece of meat into Sun Lang's dog mouth. Not to mention taking the initiative to give it to him, even if Sun Lang used all his means to get a share of it, he would absolutely not let him do as he wished … After all, Sun Lang was the greatest enemy that threatened the country. As the Emperor, how could he allow him to increase his influence and power?
Logically speaking, that was how it was.
But the situation this time was out of the ordinary.
Leading this year's military selection was no longer a supreme honor, but an extremely fatal trap … Especially for Sun Lang, it was even more so.
The Military Selections would gather all the heroes in the world in the imperial capital. After the second round of examinations, three hundred people would be selected. Their names would be inscribed on the golden roll, and their names would be announced by Wu Hua. From then on, they would have a meteoric rise. They would sell their martial arts to the imperial family and officially step into the officialdom.
And what all the martial artists in the world flocked to the most was the Imperial Army.
The top three in the Court Examination had been decided. From the top three scholars to the top three scholars, all the scholars would be given the title of Imperial Army by the Imperial Court. From then on, they would be the Emperor's students. The Empire established itself through martial arts, so the importance of the Imperial Army was even more self-evident. However …
The Emperor looked at Sun Lang and laughed coldly in his heart. Anger and hatred intertwined. Even though it had been two years since that incident, he still remembered how he had lost his composure and fell to the ground when the news came. Other than shock, he was extremely furious, regretful, and terrified. This was the ultimate humiliation as a ruler.
This person had committed an unforgivable crime against the Empire.
Sun Lang … you will pay in the end.
Even though he thought this, he still felt very uncomfortable and even disgusted.
It was as if he had eaten feces.
Two days ago, when Sun Lang was stirring up trouble in the capital, he already had an idea in his heart. The Emperor had already decided on a plan. Once Sun Lang made a ruckus in the court today, he would be able to take advantage of the situation and stuff the military selection, this poison wrapped in honey, directly into Sun Lang's hands. Presiding over the military selection, what kind of honour and respect was this? It could be said that the Emperor's favour was vast and mighty. No one would be able to find fault with it.
And Sun Lang would not even have an excuse to refuse.
But even so, when Sun Lang said, "I, Sun Lang, want power", the Emperor still felt extremely unhappy.
He even felt a little uneasy.
Could it be that you have already guessed my plan?
No, that's not possible. And … even if you have guessed it, so what?
This time, you have to accept it whether you want to or not. Sun Lang, you have to pay for what you have done. Back then, you committed a serious crime against the Empire. Now, you have to pay the price.
Thinking of this, the Emperor slowly said, "General, it has been almost ten days since you returned to the Imperial Court. If you are not given an important task, there will indeed be rumors … So, I have indeed been negligent. What does the general want to do?"
Sun Lang stood straight and said, "Reporting to Your Majesty!
I am a brick of the Empire. Wherever the Empire needs me, I will move there!
I will not be picky because of the benefits! "
The Emperor said indifferently, "General, you really understand the principle of righteousness."
Sun Lang smiled and said, "What I said is true. Even if you want me to raise a horse, I will have no complaints."
Hearing this, the Empress glared fiercely at Sun Lang. She had heard Sun Lang talk about the modified Journey to the West, so she could understand the extremely vicious political metaphor hidden in this thief's words.
But the Emperor did not understand. He said sarcastically, "With the general's reputation, merit, and talent, I do not dare to use a sledgehammer to crack a nut."
Sun Lang nodded and said, "I like people like Your Majesty who know what to do."
"…"
The Emperor stood up and took two steps forward. He looked around at the officials in the hall and thought for a moment.
When he saw that Sun Lang had come prepared, there was indeed some hesitation in his heart. But in the end, hatred and ambition still overwhelmed everything. He thought about the flawless plan he had deduced, and thought about the solemn promise of his partner. He had thought hard about it for many days, and it was indeed the most suitable plan to deal with Sun Lang.
So he made up his mind.
The Emperor said indifferently, "After the victory of the war, I pardoned the world, opened the Enquiries, and took the people to rule. The last Military Selection took place one year before the year of the victory. It is held once every three years. Calculating, the date of the new Military Selection is near …"
The Emperor spoke very slowly, and he had the style of a leader. He was neither too fast nor too slow, and he talked a lot to pave the way. He never went straight to the point.
But when he said this, many people's faces had changed drastically.
One of the most important skills of an official was to observe people's words and expressions. Not only did they have to figure out the thoughts of their superiors, but they also had to figure out the thoughts of the big boss, the Emperor.
Moreover, the Emperor's meaning was very obvious this time.
He mentioned the Military Selection … That was enough.
Many eyes were focused on Sun Lang.
Some were surprised, some were happy, some were confused, but most of them were hostile.
The significance of the Military Selection was too great, and the benefits it contained were too many. Leading a Military Selection could completely allow Sun Lang, an important official who had left the court for two years and missed the day of his triumphant return, to form an unusually tight network of relationships. This would make up for his unstable foundation in one fell swoop.
It must be known that back then, Sun Lang was a peerless general whose achievements surpassed the six armies. Even though the empire had deliberately suppressed him in these two years, two years of time was really too short. It was so short that it was not enough for him to be completely forgotten. It was so short that a single military selection was enough for him to revive the illustrious reputation of the past.
In the court where the political situation was stable and balanced, and where the interests had long been divided, a huge figure who had been missing for two years and had become powerful again was bound to steal the vested interests of others. Just this alone was enough to gain endless hostility and countless potential enemies.
It was enough to immediately destroy the relatively friendly atmosphere that Sun Lang had purposely built after his return to the court, and cause many people who had maintained a neutral position to take a hostile stance against him.
Of course, many smart people sank into deep thought after being surprised.
Was this the Emperor's plan to drive a wedge between them?
It was indeed a very effective method, but was it not too risky?
Although the goal of driving a wedge between them had been achieved, the leadership of the Military Selection would be handed over to Sun Lang, giving him the perfect opportunity to make up for his foundation and grow stronger …
In this deathly silence, the Emperor continued, "The Military Selection this time is the first Imperial Examination after the great war. The Empire has ended the war, and the people have rested. We have moved from a time of war to a time of rest. Weapons have been stored away, and horses have been set free. The policy of the court has changed from total war to living with the people. Therefore, this examination is of great significance. The court is watching us, and the foreign countries are also watching us …"
The gaze of the Emperor naturally fell on Sun Lang.
He asked, "General Shentse, Minister Sun, your talent is unparalleled, your achievements are illustrious, and you have sufficient prestige. Your abilities are known by the court and the people. You have done countless great deeds for the Empire, and the Great War of Tianyuan was ended by your hands. I believe that in the first Imperial Examination after the victory, you will be the chief examiner."
A strange smile appeared on the Emperor's face.
"I wonder, what do you think?"
The gaze of the Emperor and his subject met. Sun Lang's face was filled with an innocent smile.
But before he could speak, someone shouted loudly, "This absolutely cannot be done!
I object! "
Someone had already jumped out.
At the same time, a series of clamorous noises could be heard.
The Emperor smiled proudly in his heart.
From now on, bite, Sun Lang, you should have a taste of what it is like to struggle.
This is only the beginning.