Chapter 539: A Bad Thing? Or a Good Thing?

At the end of the fifth year of Zhenguan, Li Shimin was already vastly different from how he was at the beginning of the fourth year of Zhenguan.

In the fourth year of Zhenguan, he even had to scrimp and save to hold a birthday banquet for Empress Changsun.

But now, Li Shimin's hallmark is being a ruthless spendthrift!

Since a flood of money was poured in, the intelligence organization that Chen Yan originally proposed—once ignored as a ragtag group—has now taken shape, overseen by Li Shimin's cousin Li Daozong.

Two days ago, after Li Shimin found the Ministry of Works problematic and Duan Lun proved incompetent, he ordered Li Daozong to conduct a covert investigation of the Ministry of Works.

Today, Li Daozong submitted the preliminary information.

Li Shimin pinched the thick folded document in his hand, a wry smile tugging at his mouth.

If there's no problem, why use such a thick folded document for merely preliminary information?

Even without reading it, Li Shimin could guess that its contents were likely far from simple.

"Is this what you uncovered within two days?"

He didn't open the document immediately, but instead asked Li Daozong a question.

"Yes, Your Majesty… indeed it is."

Unable to read Li Shimin's mind, Li Daozong answered honestly.

"Good! Very good!"

It was unclear whether Li Shimin was praising the ragtag group's efficiency or mocking the Ministry of Works.

He calmly opened the document and read it word by word, causing Wushe and Li Daozong below to tremble with fear.

Because they knew how shocking the contents were, they feared Li Shimin's wrath might implicate them.

Yet what weighed heavier on them was that Li Shimin showed no outward anger; after reading, his eyes merely deepened.

"Tell me… is it only the Ministry of Works that has problems, or do all Six Ministries have issues?"

A brief silence fell in the hall, and Li Shimin calmly posed a question.

Wushe and Li Daozong exchanged glances; after a moment's hesitation, Li Daozong stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty… two days ago, Minister Chen, on his first day in the Ministry of Revenue, uncovered many individuals; today evidence was found and sent to Dali Temple. This is the result of Dai Zhou's thorough investigation two years ago…"

Implication: both the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Revenue are like this; the other four ministries are uncertain.

Li Shimin nodded slightly, "Conduct covert investigations, keep them quiet; I'll await next year's Imperial Examination results!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

The two clasped their hands and slowly stepped back.

Do we even need to say we're waiting for next year's Imperial Examination results?

Next spring's Imperial Examination will undoubtedly be extraordinary; now, who in the Court doesn't know that Chen Yan built a library that shattered the aristocracy's monopoly on knowledge?

In just one year, countless children of humble families have been immersed there, studying tirelessly!

If the results are good, the Court will undergo another massive purge.

If the results are unsatisfactory, then with a trove of evidence in hand, we will not be at Li Shimin's mercy in whatever we do.

In this Court, corrupt officials sometimes need not be eliminated!

"......"

"Ministry of Revenue."

According to Dai Zhou's arrangement, today Chen Yan officially assumed the daily duties of the Minister of Revenue.

Of course, Dai Zhou was watching from the side.

He would not deny or question Chen Yan's decisions, but would occasionally offer his own views and suggestions.

Chen Yan couldn't help but feel that having such a leader was truly comfortable.

When faced with truly indecisive matters, he would also consult Dai Zhou.

However, Chen Yan did not expect that Dai Zhou was also unnerved by Chen Yan's line of thinking.

Clearly, an ordinary matter, in Chen Yan's hands, can always be approached from a different angle, yielding a solution that contradicts their thinking yet is better.

It seemed Dai Zhou was teaching Chen Yan, but in fact the two were learning from each other.

At this moment, Han Zhongliang knocked and entered, seeing Chen Yan seated in Dai Zhou's spot, his expression unchanged.

"Grand Secretary, Minister Chen, the corrupt official reported by Kang Chong two days ago has been identified; the evidence and the culprit have been transferred to Dali Temple… As for the vacant position, who would be most suitable to fill it?"

"Draft a list and let him decide."

Dai Zhou waved his hand without hesitation.

Han Zhongliang, being clever, after readily accepting Chen Yan's request, guessed what Han Zhongliang might have understood, so he didn't bother to conceal anything.

"Yes, Grand Secretary, I will now take my leave."

Han Zhongliang, unsurprised, made a double bow with both hands and withdrew.

"Dai Gong… have you felt any improvement in your health these past two days?"

After Han Zhongliang left, Chen Yan set aside the document in his hand and turned to ask Dai Zhou about his condition.

"Don't mention it; these past two days, with you handling the official duties and your acupuncture and medicine, I indeed feel a bit lighter."

Speaking of it, Dai Zhou's expression brightened, "I used to feel a massive stone pressing on my chest, and now it seems that stone is slowly moving away."

"All thanks to you!"

"You're being modest, Dai Gong." Chen Yan said with a smile, waving his hand, "Your words that day made a lot of sense; we're all on the same web, and from now on we'll essentially work together. To me, it's a trivial task, so you need not be overly grateful."

Dai Zhou, never one to be fussy, simply gave a faint nod, silently keeping the gratitude in his heart.

"By the way, Dai Gong, do you know where you'll be transferred to?"

Chen Yan recalled something and asked curiously.

"I'm not going anywhere; I'll just take over Wei Zheng's position," Dai Zhou said calmly.

Upon hearing this, Chen Yan was stunned, then laughed brightly, "Then I should congratulate you, Dai Gong. The current Secretariat Director isn't a simple role; it's not a position anyone unrelated to His Majesty's absolute trust can attain."

In the past, moving from Minister of Revenue to Secretariat Director would undoubtedly be a demotion.

After all, how could the Secretariat Director possibly compare to the Minister of Revenue?

But since the Tang Dynasty Daily came under the Secretariat Director's control, what this position represents is no longer so simple.

With the Tang Dynasty Daily expanding day by day, although the current Secretariat Director is half a rank lower than the Minister of Revenue in official grade, the power he wields is by no means small.

Moreover, he is highly favored by Li Shimin!

How to say it? Dai Zhou's transfer to Secretariat Director is neither a promotion nor a demotion, but his prospects have undoubtedly improved greatly, worthy of a congratulatory remark.

「Tsk~」

Dai Zhou didn't care about that, he stroked his chin and said, "Recently, the situation in the Court has been changing over and over; I have a feeling that something big is about to happen—aside from the changes in the positions of Wang Gui and Wei Zheng."

"Recently, let's keep a low profile and just follow the goal you set."

Chen Yan raised his eyebrows, "I actually have a different view from Lord Dai; lately my left eyelid keeps twitching—I think something good might happen soon."

「...... 」