The doctor suffers from amnesia, but not complete amnesia.

"Your Majesty, I humbly request that you restrain the Imperial Guards from their actions."

Upon hearing this, some court officials showed a hint of joy in their eyes, while many others looked on with doubt.

Why is Prime Minister Cai acting so impulsively at this time, hoping that the emperor will restrain himself?

"Your Majesty, the New Year is approaching, but the officials of the Dali Temple and the Jingzhao Prefecture have all gone out in droves, and the people are already talking about it. Yesterday, the Imperial Guards also mobilized in large numbers, which has caused even more panic among the people. I implore Your Majesty to at least make the Imperial Guards act more cautiously."

"Prime Minister, you are mistaken. The people are in a state of panic because the massacre of the entire family has not been solved. It is the officials and Imperial Guards patrolling the streets and investigating the criminals that will actually make the people feel at ease."

The emperor clearly had no intention of restraining the Imperial Guards.

“Your Majesty, the patrols by officials do indeed bring a sense of security to the people. That is why I thought it was feasible when Your Majesty ordered the officials from the Court of Judicial Review and the Prefectural Governor’s Office to search the area. However, the Imperial Guards are, after all, an army. Their swords are sharp and their armor is cold, which inevitably brings fear to the people.”

Cai Yan naturally had his own way of dealing with it.

At this moment, Gao Cheng, the Minister of Personnel, also stepped forward.

“Your Majesty, Prime Minister Cai’s words are quite reasonable. The bloodshed still needs to be investigated, but the New Year is approaching, and it is best not to make the people uneasy, at least before the New Year.”

Then, several vice ministers and senior officials from the Ministry of Personnel also stepped forward to agree.

Minister of Revenue Chen Fan had also realized what was happening by this time.

Upon receiving the news that Zhu Ronghui's entire family had been wiped out, he immediately realized that Cai Yan was not responsible. When he heard the news yesterday that Zhu Ronghui had been bribed, he was thrown into a panic and wanted to have a good discussion with Cai Yan.

The servants sent to report that the Prime Minister's residence was completely surrounded by the Imperial Guards. Minister Chen was so frightened that he thought he had suffered a cardiac arrest and immediately stopped what he was doing. He only breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that Cai Yan was safe and sound at today's court assembly.

Cai Yan's suggestion that the Imperial Guards should restrain themselves is clearly an attempt to stall for time, and Gao Cheng's words also make it clear that he hopes to delay until after the New Year—which is exactly what Chen Fan intends to do.

Now that these two have started, it's time for us to take the lead—this is how it always goes in blocking the emperor's decrees.

Just as Chen Fan was about to step out of the line and join in, a voice made him freeze.

"What's the point of this?"

The Grand Tutor, who had been feigning deafness and dumbness in the imperial court and concurrently served as the Minister of Rites, stepped forward and glanced sideways at Cai Yan.

“Our Great Yan was founded on military strength. All men of Great Yan, the best of whom are ennobled through military merit. If the common people feel fear and dread when they see the army of Great Yan, instead of honor and envy, then this old minister thinks that the Ministry of War should investigate whether some scum have infiltrated the ranks.”

The Minister of War, who only ever stood up when it came to asking for military funds, immediately glared angrily at Cai Yan.

"Your Majesty, there are absolutely no such people in our Great Yan army who oppress the people, let alone Your Majesty's Imperial Guards. If there are such people, I request that Prime Minister Cai provide evidence, and I will immediately deal with them according to military law!"

He took a step forward and said coldly.

With just one sentence, the Grand Tutor helped the Emperor align himself with the previously neutral Ministry of War, placing it on the opposite side of Cai Yan.

He already said that he was just too lazy to get involved. To be honest, he had seen through Cai Yan's tricks back then.

"Your Majesty, the Ministry of Justice bears the responsibility for these three massacres that have occurred in succession. However, at the end of the year, manpower is tight. I implore Your Majesty to allow the Imperial Guards to continue to cooperate with the Prefectural Governor of the Capital and the Court of Judicial Review so that the culprits can be brought to justice as soon as possible."

The Minister of Justice immediately stepped forward.

"I second the proposal."

The Minister of Works, who had always been the emperor's henchman, expressed his attitude with just three simple words.

Cai Yan was stunned, Gao Cheng was dumbfounded, and Chen Fan was completely dumbfounded.

The other court officials naturally followed the prevailing opinion. They had previously helped Cai Yan because Cai Yan's group was the loudest, but now that the emperor's side was the loudest, and with the Grand Tutor and the Ministry of War also stepping forward, they hurriedly pledged their loyalty to His Majesty.

The situation was already overwhelming, and whether the Ministry of Revenue stepped forward or not, or whether it stood up for Cai Yan, it would be of no use.

Chen Fan sighed softly. The Ministry of Revenue was already going through a turbulent time, so how could he dare to step forward and participate in a choice that was bound to fail?

"Your subject seconds this proposal."

Amidst Chen Fan's barely audible voice, Qiao Yelan's lips curled up slightly.

The last nail in Tsai Ing-wen's coffin has been laid.

Now, it's time to type it in myself.

------------------------------------------------

"The expression on Cai Yan's face today made me eat an extra bowl of rice at noon."

In the back garden, the emperor's hearty laughter made it clear to Wang Zhi, who was serving there, just how good the emperor's mood was.

"Your Majesty, Prime Minister Cai's defeat today is the perfect opportunity for us to make our move—it's time to completely sever ties between Chen Fan and Cai Yan."

"Oh? So this is your true plan, my dear minister?"

"Your Majesty is truly insightful. Your Majesty saw through my little trick at a glance—Cai Yan's method of controlling the court is to have both the purse strings and the power to appoint officials. If he holds both of these, it will be difficult for us to suppress him using conventional means except by resorting to force."

Qiao Yelan said respectfully.

"In court today, the Grand Tutor sided with His Majesty before the Ministry of Revenue could express its opinion, and also rallied the Ministry of War, along with the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Works. After Chen Fan realized that it would be useless for him to stand up and support Cai Yan, he chose to stand with His Majesty with the political opportunism of an old minister."

“Chen Fan can understand this behavior, Cai Yan can understand it, and His Majesty can understand it—but can the officials in the court, and the officials under the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Personnel, really understand it? In addition, His Majesty’s suppression of Cai Yan and Gao Cheng today will only mislead their thinking.”

What do they know?

They only think that if the ship is sinking, those who run first will live, and those who run later will die.

Look, Minister Chen has already run away and sided directly with His Majesty.

Ships always start to leak from the bottom hold. If even those below don't believe that those above are still united, how can this interest group continue to exist?

Qiao Yelan said that he has always been good at dividing people.

"So, you mean you want to first single out Chen Fan, the Minister of Revenue, and use the smuggling issue to remove this crippled Ministry of Revenue, and then focus on dealing with Cai Yan?"

"Your Majesty, quite the opposite. At this time, we should strike while the iron is hot, first take down Gao Cheng, the Minister of Personnel, and then slowly deal with Minister Chen of the Ministry of Revenue."

"Oh? Why is that?"

Qiao Yelan's words surprised the emperor; the other party's thoughts were completely unexpected.

"Because we really have something on Minister Chen."

Qiao Yelan laughed.

"Among Cai Yan, Gao Cheng, and Chen Fan, Cai Yan and Gao Cheng are the closest. Because Gao Cheng lacks ability, he got to this position by virtue of his seniority and Cai Yan's support, so he always follows Cai Yan's lead. Chen Fan is indeed capable, but correspondingly, he is also coveting Cai Yan's position."

“Previously, I relied on Cai Yan’s fear of Chen Fan to sow discord between the two. But after the Zhu Ronghui case, these two will realize that their understanding is wrong and will be eager to meet to clarify the truth of what happened during this period. So I say, I hope Your Majesty will have the Imperial Guards arrest the gatekeeper of the Cai residence in a grand manner.”

The emperor nodded; this was the limitation of the civil officials.

They can use rules to constrain their own decrees, but correspondingly, they must also abide by the rules; otherwise, the emperor could also disregard them.

The Imperial Guards arrested people from the Cai family under the pretext of investigating a case. It didn't matter who they arrested; what mattered was confirming that the Cai family was involved in these matters. Whether it was smuggling or a massacre, once they were implicated, the only thing they could do was to remain as innocent as possible.

Therefore, Cai Yan dared not go to Chen Fan, and Chen Fan dared not go to Cai Yan.

Qiao Yelan managed to create a fog of war between the two partners using only methods within the bounds of the rules.

The only place they could meet was during court assemblies.

Today's assembly, with its actions and choices, will allow this fog of war to gradually spread throughout the entire Tsai party.

"Then why target Gao Cheng first?"

"Because I can use my methods to sow discord between Cai Yan and Chen Fan, but it is difficult for me to sow discord between Cai Yan and Gao Cheng—and more importantly, Your Majesty, which do you think is more important to you now, money or talent?"

The emperor paused, his eyes narrowing.

"You needed money before because you needed money to buy people's hearts. The purpose of buying people's hearts was to win over talent—talent that could replace the Tsai party."

Qiao Yelan patiently helped the late emperor complete the teaching task that His Majesty had not yet finished.

"The Ministry of Revenue's goal is to make money, and Chen Fan is very good at making money. Therefore, he was able to run the Ministry of Revenue in an ironclad manner because he had both ability and money. As a result, almost the entire Ministry of Revenue fell into a systemic corruption."

"The Ministry of Personnel is in charge of the imperial examinations and talent assessments, but Gao Cheng himself does not have enough ability—therefore, the Ministry of Personnel itself is full of dissent, but Cai Yan is powerful, so no one dares to oppose this Minister Gao."

The emperor's expression shifted from confusion to realization, and then to seriousness.

"Therefore, the change of officials in the Ministry of Revenue can be said to have far-reaching consequences. If Chen Fan falls, it means that the entire Ministry of Revenue may be wiped out. And if officials are to be transferred from other places to fill the vacancies, it will inevitably have to go through the Ministry of Personnel, which is still controlled by Cai Yan. In that case, His Majesty's plans during this period will be in vain."

“Now, the Cai Party is already collapsing, not to mention the others who have been suppressed all these years. Now that Cai Yan and Gao Cheng are teetering on the brink of collapse, some people will surely come to Your Majesty’s aid. As long as Your Majesty seizes the opportunity, Your Majesty will be able to regain control of the Ministry of Personnel.”

Qiao Yelan's reasoned and well-founded words convinced the emperor more and more.

"With control over the source of talent, Your Majesty will have much to do whether you are dealing with the Ministry of Revenue or reforming the court. This is because the people selected are all loyal to Your Majesty and have received Your Majesty's favor. The situation where the court is controlled by Cai Yan will never happen again."

"Your words are excellent."

The emperor clapped his hands in admiration, praising it as absolutely wonderful.

Qiao Yelan simply bowed respectfully, saying he was ashamed and unworthy of such praise.

Just like the question he asked the Grand Tutor, who could replace Cai Yan?

The prerequisite for dealing with someone is that someone can replace them—Gao Cheng has someone who can replace him, so he can be dealt with, but Chen Fan does not, so he cannot be dealt with.

Therefore, Qiao Yelan always carefully protected Wei Yanwu's right of succession.

Because he also needs to always have someone to replace him.

Chapter Ninety-One Useless People

"In that case, let's let Chen Fan go for now and deal with Gao Cheng and Cai Yan first. We can deal with the Ministry of Revenue's dirty business after I take control of the Ministry of Personnel and start the civil service examinations."

The emperor finally decided on the order of precedence.

“Cai Yan has been manipulating the court for a long time and has many factions. You only managed to put him in his current situation because you had the advantage of striking first. Now is the time to strike while the iron is hot and make sure he never has a chance to recover!”