After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times

Zhao Hanzhang, of course, knew this as well, so she agreed with Zhao Shen’s opinion. This time, she needed to station a large number of troops, and it required someone who understood her to execute it.

Currently, Zhao Shen was the best candidate.

Suppressing his inner excitement, Zhao Shen asked, "Will I remain ungraded?"

Zhao Hanzhang said calmly, "The Nine-Rank Merit System has long been merely nominal for me; before long, it will disappear even in name."

Zhao Shen felt indescribably complex inside and asked, "What about the Recruitment Exam? Will the Great General not allow me to participate?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Hanzhang burst into laughter and said to him, "If Cousin Shen wants to give it a try, you may. I will issue a Recruitment Order before the year ends, commanding each region to hold a recruitment event at the State Mansion next spring. After selecting the talented, they will be sent to Luoyang and tested again in the autumn."

"However, I don’t think Cousin Shen needs to prove himself this way. I have already seen your abilities."

Zhao Shen’s breath quickened slightly, and his eyes moistened. He rose and bowed deeply to her, "How dare I not comply?"

Zhao Hanzhang’s lips curved slightly, and she waved her hand, saying, "Cousin Shen, go prepare. We have chosen a day and will soon be ready to move to Luoyang."

Zhao Shen bowed and withdrew. Exiting the main gate, he took a deep breath, feeling refreshed. Although it was late autumn, he felt as if the air was filled with the sweet scent of flowers.

He couldn’t help but smile, swinging his sleeves with his hands behind his back, striding home.

There were many pedestrians on the road. These two streets were home to high-ranking officials and Great Generals, over half of whom were to move with Zhao Hanzhang to Luoyang. Young and strong men in the city rushed here looking for work.

A line of strong men stood beneath the wall. Soon, a servant opened the door, glanced around, clapped his hands, and called out, "Need ten strong men to move heavy objects, twenty cents a day, who will come?"

The people squatting under the wall immediately surged, raising their hands and shouting, "Me, me, me..."

Feeling triumphant, Zhao Shen was bumped on the shoulder, staggered twice, and was nearly engulfed by the crowd.

His follower, Da An, helped him up, pulling his hand to squeeze out, grumbling, "I wonder what’s made you so pleased. As soon as you come out, your eyes look to the sky, and we mere mortals are beneath your sight. With so many people ahead, you still push in. Isn’t that asking to be bumped?"

Zhao Shen was rescued and adjusted his jade crown, stopping Da An, "Shut your mouth. Chatter any more, and I’ll forbid you to speak for ten days."

Da An immediately closed his mouth, though his expression was very animated. Zhao Shen regretted his own intelligence, which allowed him to read Da An’s expressions. So, he turned his face away, not looking at him, "Your face is too noisy. Tone down the expressions, or I’ll also forbid you to speak for ten days."

Da An almost ran out of breath, nearly fainting.

Filled with joy, Zhao Shen went back to tell his father, "Father, I’ve become an Assistant Minister."

Being a Vice Minister of the Ministry of War could almost be on par with a State Governor. Zhao Shen directly omitted "almost," equating it to standing on par with his father.

Zhao Ming looked up at him upon hearing this, nodded, and said, "Very well. It seems you enjoy raising soldiers. Now you’ll be responsible for the logistics and training of troops across the land. You should be pleased, shouldn’t you?"

What’s the fun in managing a mere thousand people?

Zhao Shen regained his composure, almost losing his breath. His inner joy faded briefly, but he quickly comforted himself.

He couldn’t think too deeply along his father’s line of thought. He had to continue with his original thoughts, "No need for grading, regardless of lineage, but to employ talent based on ability and virtue. Have the aristocratic families no objections?"

Zhao Ming replied, "The world is in chaos, and the Great General holds enormous military power. Even if they have objections, they have to keep them to themselves."

"But now that the conflict is resolved and the world is temporarily stable, I’m afraid..." Zhao Shen lowered his voice, saying, "With the emperor being young, a power struggle is inevitable. Then, can the Recruitment Exam completely replace the Nine-Rank Merit System?"

Zhao Ming’s lips curved as he asked, "So, do you think the Recruitment Exam is better than the Nine-Rank Merit System?"

Zhao Shen said, "If grading were in place, with the Zhao Family’s lineage, the highest I could become would be a Prefectural Governor, and Father... already exceeding a State Governor."

It’s such a mess. The Nine-Rank Merit System restricts the highest position one can attain upon entering an official career, not because of lack of talent, but because your family background only allows that much.

"Even you think this way. How about others?" Zhao Ming said, "Now the number of scholars benefiting from the Recruitment Exam across the land corresponds to the number of opponents against reverting to the Nine-Rank Merit System."

He continued, "Few can attain the position of a Prime Minister through grading, while countless scholars have the ego and talent to become marquises and ministers merely through their abilities. So, even if there are opposers, as long as the military power is mainly in the hands of the Great General, no one can go against her."

Zhao Shen thought about it and found it to be true.

From Zhao Hanzhang’s current arrangements, it was evident she understood this point well, so she controlled all military power she could in her own hands.

Zhao Hanzhang not only held military power in her own hands but political power as well.

Before setting out, her decrees—or rather, the decrees she signed on behalf of the Little Emperor—were being issued successively. She appointed Ming Yu as Secretary of the Imperial Secretariat, Ji Yuan as Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, and with Fu Tinghan as Chief of Staff, it meant the three major figures among the hundred officials were all her confidants.

Her dominance even surpassed that of the former Prince East Sea.

When Prince East Sea was in power, although many officials became his confidants, there were still ministers like Wang Yan and Gou Xi left by the previous emperor who did not fully obey Prince East Sea.

But now, the former officials of the court had been cleansed repeatedly, and those still active in the court could be counted on two hands.

Upon examination, it turned out that most of the court officials were appointed by Zhao Hanzhang, not to mention those like Ji Yuan and Ming Yu, who were previously Zhao Hanzhang’s advisers, weren’t they?

With the issuance of appointment letters, even the Little Emperor, who wasn’t too involved in state matters, was forced to approach Zhao Hanzhang to express his opposition.

Zhao Hanzhang placed the reviewed memorials aside leisurely, picked up a new one while looking up at him, and smiled, asking, "Who invited Your Majesty to be a mediator?"

The Little Emperor nervously clenched his fists and said softly, "It... it is my own idea. After all, Ji Yuan and Ming Yu have low statuses, just commoners. Suddenly promoted to Secretary of the Imperial Secretariat and Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, I’m afraid the people won’t be convinced."

In a hushed tone, he added, "Moreover, Fu Zhi is the rightful Secretary. Although Fu Zhongshu is far away in Yongzhou, the late emperor did not remove his position."

Zhao Hanzhang chuckled and said, "Ji Yuan and Ming Yu followed me in countless battles, achieving prominent merits. This is something everyone knows about, so how could they not be convinced? As for lineage, I select talents without regard for family background, only for ability and virtue."

"Fu Zhongshu is indeed a good official, but he is overwhelmed with affairs in Yongzhou, truly unable to find time for court matters." Zhao Hanzhang said gently, "Your Majesty may choose not to use Ji Yuan and Ming Yu, but with so many memorials, I cannot handle them all. Why not, Your Majesty take care of some too? As long as you and I manage state affairs well, what does it matter if there is no Secretary of the Imperial Secretariat or Minister of the Imperial Secretariat?"