We have fought to the Arctic Circle, and you want me to inherit the throne?

"Huang Daban, why are you shaking?" Li Che asked in confusion.

"Well... my arms are a bit weak. Your Highness, please allow me to put this Tiger... Tiger-sama down first, and then report to Your Highness."

Huang Jin was sweating profusely, and her legs were trembling, but she had to hold them tightly together.

Eunuchs have one less thing than normal men, so they are prone to urinary leakage. After being frightened by the tiger in his arms, he felt that he had already leaked a lot.

"let it go."

"Thank you, Your Highness." Huang Jin breathed a sigh of relief and quickly put Xiaosong down.

Since Xiaosong can get close to Li Che, he is naturally not a good tiger, or he feels that the two-legged beast is afraid of him and becomes playful.

He actually lay directly at Huang Jin's feet and refused to leave.

Huang Jin had no choice. This ancestor was Li Che who loved tigers, and he couldn't just kick it away.

He could only bite the bullet and continue, "Your Majesty, considering that Your Highness has just arrived in Ninggu County and there are vacancies in various government offices, has selected some capable officials from the court to set up the Horse Supervision Office and other government offices."

Li Che glanced at Huang Jin slowly, thinking that it had finally arrived.

The art of being an emperor lies in balance. How can it be just rewards? There must be punishments.

The reason why he released the tiger to scare Huang Jin was to make him restrain himself and not go too far.

These so-called government offices are departments such as the Imperial Horse Inspection Office, which are directly under the jurisdiction of the imperial court and have no say in their own affairs.

To put it bluntly, it means to insert Emperor Qing's own people into Ninggu County and divide some of his power.

"This is what should be done." Li Che's expression remained unchanged.

When the enemy comes, we will fight him; when the water comes, we will block it with earth. If the King of Understanding wants to intervene, he is not without a plan to deal with it.

Next, I have plenty of ways to bypass these departments.

Huang Jin continued, "Your Highness is a prince, but you have never had a companion. His Majesty has specially selected a smart and loyal eunuch to stay by your side as your companion."

When Li Che heard this, his eyes suddenly became sharp.

Not all eunuchs are called Daban. Some eunuchs enter the palace to accompany the prince since childhood. When the prince grows up to become the emperor, the eunuch becomes the emperor's confidant.

The meaning of Otomo is to always accompany the emperor.

Li Che is already so old, but Emperor Qing suddenly appointed a eunuch as his chief companion, which does not mean much companionship.

Li Che felt a slight chill in his heart. They were placing eyes next to him, and the intention of surveillance was not concealed at all.

"I understand. Please thank my father for me." Li Che's eyes were slightly cold.

Huang Jin bowed quickly.

"Huang Daban, you've had a hard time on this journey. Go and rest first. I still have some business to attend to. I'll welcome you back tonight."

"Yes, Your Highness." Huang Jin saw that Li Che was unhappy and quickly bowed and took his leave.

Only the Wang father and son were left in the hall, waiting fearfully for Li Che's decision on their fate.

Li Che sat in his seat and remained silent for a long time.

The two men felt their hearts were jumping into their throats. This kind of silence was so unbearable that they might as well have swords placed directly on their necks.

After a moment, Li Che finally said calmly: "You two, do you want to live or die?"

Wang Yongnian shuddered, pulled his son and knelt on the ground: "You are a guilty subject, and you want to live."

Li Che sneered: "You are a dignified minister, and you are afraid of death."

Wang Yongnian lowered his head tightly, cold sweat dripping down his cheeks to the ground.

"Never mind. I am indeed short of men. Since you have been sentenced by the court, the case is closed."

Wang Yongnian had just breathed a sigh of relief when he heard Li Che say, "Although the death penalty can be temporarily avoided, the living punishment cannot be escaped!"

"From this day forward, your life belongs to me. From now on, you will have to work in shackles to atone for your sins. Are you willing?"

Wang Yongnian looked up in surprise: "Your Highness, what do you mean by working while wearing a cangue?"

Li Che said coldly: "Isn't what I said clear enough? I am working in chains!"

People in Daqing don’t understand the practice of wearing a cangue while working, but it was actually a method invented by Emperor Taizu of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang.

Zhu Yuanzhang hated corrupt officials and issued many laws to punish them. However, these laws were too harsh, or there were too many corrupt officials, which led to the situation where local government offices were empty.

The officials in the court all had their own duties and could not be transferred at will, so Zhu Yuanzhang allowed the officials in prison to continue to stay in their positions and serve while serving their sentences.

This led to a ridiculous scene in the Chu Ming government office.

An official, his hands and feet shackled, heard a righteous and majestic voice from above his head: "How much silver have you embezzled?"

When he was scolded and confessed his crimes honestly, he mustered up the courage to raise his head.

I actually saw a man wearing shackles, sitting in the lobby with a serious look on his face, and the juror next to him was dressed the same way.

Anyway, we are all corrupt officials and we are all family, so just try each other and don't be polite.

This situation was very common in the court of the early Ming Dynasty. Corrupt officials were lucky enough to be alive. They would just be wearing a shackle, and at least their heads were still on their necks for the time being.

But Daqing is not the Ming Dynasty. When Wang Yongnian understood what Li Che meant, his face turned red and he felt insulted.

I wanted to refute, but I didn't have the determination to die, so I could only remain silent.

"As for your son..." Li Che cast his gaze on Wang Xizheng, "Since he was implicated by you, he doesn't need to wear the shackles. He can start as a low-level official."

Wang Yongnian was slightly startled, then burst into tears: "I, your humble servant, thank you for your grace, Your Highness."

Wang Xizheng no longer had to wear a yoke and thus retained the hope of promotion. Li Che also left a way out for the Wang family.

Li Che looked at Wang Xizheng and asked, "What can you do? Can you write official documents?"

Wang Xizheng said dejectedly, "I don't know how to do this."

"Can you solve the case and protect the people?"

"This... won't happen either."

Li Che showed dissatisfaction. Could he be another Confucian scholar who only knew how to read books?

"You can't do this, you can't do that, what use are you?"

Wang Xizheng's face turned pale, but he still said stubbornly: "I have followed the teacher for many years. In addition to the teachings of the sages, I have also learned the skills of farmers."

"Farmer family? Taoyuan Sect?" Li Che's eyes widened. "Who is Tao Qian to you?"

"It's the master."

Li Che suddenly stood up and staggered forward to help Wang Xizheng up: "You are actually a great disciple of Taoyuan, get up quickly."

Tao Qian, the leading figure of Daqing agronomy!

Although the Confucian scholars of this school also respected Confucianism, they were more focused on the study of agronomy.

At first, Li Che had thought of bringing Tao Qian along, but the old man had too high a status among the scholars, so he eventually gave up.

Wang Xizheng was confused by Li Che's attitude and was suddenly at a loss.

If he had been to Sichuan, he would know that Li Che's unique skill was a skill called "face changing".

Then, Li Che asked again, "How are you these days, Master?"

"Thank you for your remembrance, Your Highness. My master is in good health." Wang Xizheng said respectfully.

"How are your fellow apprentices? Are there any talented people who haven't yet entered officialdom?" Li Che shook Wang Xizheng's hand and said solemnly, "I have always respected teachers. If there are any talented people, please feel free to recommend them. Ninggu County will definitely have a place among the sages of Taoyuan!"

A Utopia Talent (x)

All staff of Taoyuan Agricultural College (√)