Chapter 601: A Match for the World‑Shocking Wisdom

"His Majesty, I come from humble origins, and thanks to the court's enlightened governance, I have finally had a chance to rise…" Kang Chong had a mouthful of words he wanted to speak.

But as it neared his lips, only one sentence remained, "I, the servant, am willing to exhaust my abilities and not betray the trust His Majesty has placed!"

"Very well." Li Shimin nodded slowly, his gaze sweeping over the ministers in the hall, "Then let Kang Chong temporarily assume the post of Ministerial Attendant of the Ministry of Works, handling its affairs."

"The specific appointment documents will be issued by the Ministry of Personnel tomorrow; as for the vacant positions in the Ministry of Revenue, let your Ministry of Revenue nominate internally."

"I, the servant, thank Your Majesty!" Kang Chong again performed a solemn bow, his voice steady, revealing little emotion.

Yet his slightly trembling hands betrayed his feelings.

At the banquet, first Lai Ji, the top scholar, was parachuted into a powerful position in the Ministry of Works, then Hua Jinyan, seeing the shift, voluntarily resigned. Kang Chong, previously a minor figure in the Ministry of Revenue, instantly became a fourth‑rank Ministerial Attendant of the Ministry of Works.

The internal structure of the Ministry of Works was upended in a matter of jokes.

Wang Gui, the Minister of the Ministry of Works, still lowered his eyes, as if none of this concerned him.

Sitting behind him, Wang Chongli's complexion had turned ashen‑blue, fine beads of sweat beading at his temples, and he dared not even touch the wine cup before him.

Li Shimin took in the whole scene, said no more, and raised his cup with a smile, "Esteemed ministers, now that the dust has settled, let us officially begin the banquet."

"Today's Imperial Examination is auspicious, a day of celebration; do not let court affairs dampen the mood."

As the words fell, Kang Chong and Chen Yan each returned to their seats, and the banquet officially commenced.

Below, fifteen newly successful examinees, attending court for the first time, remained silent for a long while.

In just a few sentences, a Ministry of Works fourth‑rank Ministerial Attendant, powerful enough to be called omnipotent, was replaced like that......

The incident gave them a tremendous shock; though they did not know the details, it was enough to reveal the court's ruthlessness.

The Lai brothers silently exchanged a glance, then averted their eyes, cautiously joining the officials in eating and drinking.

They simultaneously recalled something Chen Yan had once said.

When you mix in the world, you must talk about influence, talk about background!

If you stand on the wrong side, no matter how glorious, it will end up empty.

If you stand on the right side, even if you are small now, the future will be boundless.

But if you don't pick a side......

Hehe!

The first to die are those people!

"......"

The banquet really had nothing special to discuss; it was just eating and drinking.

Moreover, Li Shimin was not the type to keep a stiff front; he could joke, so such banquets always had a relatively lively atmosphere.

Yet as the banquet neared its end, Chen Yan kept wondering what position he would lie in when he got home.

Du Ruhui suddenly gave him a look.

Chen Yan was startled, a bit confused.

What's up?

Sensing his confusion, Du Ruhui lightly lifted his hand and brought his palm down in a heavy slash.

Chen Yan blinked, and in an instant understood Du Ruhui's meaning.

Li Shimin also cast a meaning‑laden glance.

Chen Yan was speechless.

Can't such matters be discussed privately?

Moreover, why must I be the one to start this?

Is each of your mouths sewn shut by your own Tang dynasty shrew?

Chen Yan chose to watch and not take part in this matter.

Seeing he made no move, Li Shimin squinted and took the initiative: "Minister Chen, a few days ago I heard you partnered with the Crown Prince to open a Money Shop...... and in a single day amassed ten thousand guan of cash."

"Now, you and the Crown Prince could truly be called wealthy enough to rival a nation!"

Chen Yan: "......"

Upon hearing this, Dou Dan's eyes lit up; before anyone could react, he rose, clasped his hands, and said, "His Majesty, I was just about to speak on this matter."

Li Shimin frowned, feeling a bit impatient.

He didn't know what this fellow intended by suddenly jumping out.

Meanwhile, Cheng Yaojin, gloating, said to the nearby Yuchi Gong, "Old Black Yuchi, watch closely; I think there's a good show coming."

Yuchi Gong instinctively nodded, "I have the same feeling."

Chen Yan sighed, having roughly guessed what Dou Dan intended.

All one can say...... the damned ghost will eventually die!

"His Majesty, I wish to impeach Minister of Revenue Chen Yan; not only does he contest the people for profit, but also deceives the Crown Prince, opening a so‑called Money Shop under the royal name, not only extorting wealth on a large scale, but, more reprehensibly, using the money taken from the populace to lend out at exorbitant interest for personal gain."

Dou Dan straightened his chest, speaking freely before the officials, completely unaware of the pitying glances from several senior officials ahead: "As Minister of Revenue, Chen Yan knows the law yet breaks it, and repeatedly refuses to amend his ways!"

"Everyone, may I ask you, what does ten thousand guan of cash represent? How much is the Tang Treasury's annual fiscal revenue?"

"Even if fully converted, it's less than twenty million guan!"

"Yet Minister Chen Yan, merely by his title, gained the trust of countless commoners and collected over five years' worth of taxes for the Tang."

"How laughable is that?"

Chen Yan found it tedious, even too lazy to say anything.

Life's road is long, there are too many things to do; why bother quarreling with a dead man?

This Dou Dan...... is a match for the world‑shocking wisdom of Gao Yang when he was being foolish!

Li Shimin's murderous glint vanished from his eyes, but outwardly he smiled and said, "Minister Dou, continue; I am listening."

Dou Dan loudly said, "His Majesty, I earnestly request the severe punishment of Minister of Revenue Chen Yan; he must no longer deceive the Crown Prince, exploiting the royal name to swindle the people for huge profit!"

"Crown Prince, what do you have to say?" Li Shimin said without turning his head.

Li Chengqian pondered briefly, let out a long sigh, "Father Emperor, I have nothing to say. I miss my mother dearly, but as your elder, before the civil and military officials, I cannot break protocol."

"Otherwise, Mr. Li should punish me."

The Crown Prince's junior tutor Li Gang twitched the corner of his eye.

He actually wants to say, "Go ahead and scold me."

Because I also quite want to scold.

Damn it, how can one person be so stupid to this degree?

Li Gang truly doesn't understand.

"What do all of you ministers think?" Li Shimin chuckled lowly, looking around at the officials.

The great hall, which had been noisy, was now utterly quiet; not a single person spoke.

Dou Dan was a bit stunned.

Why is everyone's reaction different from what I imagined?

Shouldn't they be all excited?

Should everyone together verbally condemn and write scathing critiques of Chen Yan, sending him to the gallows?

The Ministry of Revenue is now almost entirely under Chen Yan's control; if Chen Yan falls, how many positions would become vacant!

Aren't the benefits already laid out?

Why?

"Lord Dou!"

"I have a matter I do not understand; may I ask Lord Dou to clear it up?"

Chen Yan could treat Dou Dan like a monkey and ignore him, but Kang Chong could not stand it and immediately stepped forward to ask.

Depriving Dou Dan of a chance to speak, Kang Chong directly asked: "Lord Dou, I would like to understand, what exactly is usury, what is called competing with the people for profit?"

"......."