Yuan Xiu's smile vanished instantly, and he frowned, saying, "Since I assumed power, I have worked hard for the Great Jing for seven or eight years. Can't I even take a break?"

Wen Tai, however, remained calm and said, "Everyone says it's good to be an emperor, but they don't know that besides enjoying pleasure, being an emperor also comes with many responsibilities. Being an emperor is not an easy job! If a ruler only cares about enjoying himself, then it is the common people who will suffer!"

Yuan Xiu said in a deep voice, "Left Prime Minister, are you teaching me how to be an emperor?"

"I wouldn't dare."

Wen Tai clasped his hands and said, "What I have said are conclusions drawn by benevolent rulers and sages throughout history."

Yuan Xiu approached Wen Tai and said firmly, "My mind is made up!"

Wen Tai said, "Then please allow me to go home and farm, Your Majesty!"

"Wen Tai, how dare you force me?!" Yuan Xiu roared in anger.

Upon seeing this, all the officials immediately lowered their heads, and even Yuan Li turned his face away, not daring to breathe loudly.

This was the first time anyone present had ever seen Yuan Xiu and Wen Tai have such a tense relationship.

They knew that Yuan Xiu was targeting Wen Tai, trying to weaken his power as prime minister.

However, it only weakens and suppresses the power of the Left Prime Minister's office, rather than seizing it.

Even if we want to seize it, it must be a gradual process.

Otherwise, the imperial court will inevitably be thrown into turmoil.

Moreover, if Wen Tai really just quits his job and hands over all the things he has to do to the Central Secretariat, the Central Secretariat really won't be able to handle it.

Yuan Xiu intended for Yuan Li, Xu Shouli, and the other two to gradually take over Wen Tai's work, slowly eroding the power of the Left Party officials. This would minimize the impact on the court's situation.

Wen Tai's fair face had darkened somewhat as he said, "I have no intention of coercing Your Majesty. As I have said, an emperor can enjoy himself, but he cannot indulge in pleasure alone. I have no objection to Your Majesty's establishment of the Central Secretariat, but the practice of holding court every ten days should not be allowed. Please consider how many emperors throughout history have been diligent at first but then become lax, leading their descendants to follow suit and causing the empire to decline from its peak."

"Your Majesty, I cannot stand by and watch you suffer the same fate!"

Wen Tai's words made sense, but in Yuan Xiu's mind, Wen Tai simply wanted him to continue attending court.

As long as the court assemblies continue, the format of deliberations and memorials in the court will remain unchanged, and all government decrees will still come from him and Wen Tai, while the so-called Central Secretariat and Central Ministers will be mere figureheads.

However, with fewer court assemblies, the sense of ceremony and authority of the assemblies would weaken. Once the officials got used to the central government's mode of deliberation and reporting, Wen Tai would lose power, and the Left Chancellor would become just an empty title, just like the Right Chancellor.

Wen Tai is playing a game of strategy with Yuan Xiu.

Yuan Xiu sighed deeply, his expression softening. Though he thought that way, he said aloud, "Left Prime Minister, I know you are loyal. But a ruler's word is law. I have already spoken in front of all the officials. If I change my mind now, how will they view me? And how will they view you?"

"In the mighty Great Jing Dynasty, who ultimately has the final say, the Emperor or the Left Chancellor?"

"Your Majesty!" Wen Tai immediately knelt down and kowtowed, saying, "Then please, Your Majesty, shorten the interval between court assemblies, please... hold court assemblies every three days!"

Yuan Xiu said, "Seven days."

Wen Tai said: "Five days!"

"Seven days, just seven days!" Yuan Xiu helped Wen Tai up and said sincerely, "Left Prime Minister, please don't make things difficult for me anymore!"

Wen Tai sighed, gritting his teeth, and said, "Your Majesty, I thank you for adopting my suggestion!"

"Very well, this matter is settled, everyone is happy!" Yuan Xiu smiled, took Wen Tai's hand and faced the officials, saying with a smile, "The Great Jing's land belongs to me and you, my subjects. May the ruler and his subjects live in harmony, and may the Great Jing last ten thousand years!"

The officials immediately kowtowed and shouted.

"Long live Your Majesty!!!"

"May the Great Jing Dynasty live ten thousand years!!!"

...

With the establishment of the central government, undercurrents were swirling within the court.

That very night, officials from the Left Party rushed to the Left Prime Minister's residence, only to find the gates tightly shut and Wen Tai refusing to see them.

Unable to see Wen Tai, the officials lingered, refusing to leave. It wasn't until late at night that Yu Changsi finally came out and earnestly advised them, "What you want to say and what you're worried about, the Left Prime Minister knows. He will make his own decision. Please go back!"

"Mr. Yu, please let us see the Left Prime Minister!"

"The establishment of the Central Secretariat came out of nowhere. Who knows what they're planning to do tomorrow? We need to come up with a plan quickly, or it might be too late!"

"Mr. Yu, we can't rest easy until we see the Left Prime Minister!"

Yu Changsi's expression was serious as he said sternly, "But your arrival at this time is precisely putting the Left Prime Minister in an unjust position!"

"Mr. Yu..."

"All of you, shout!" Yu Changsi suddenly shouted.

Du Yuhe, who had been silently mingling in the crowd, stepped forward and said, "Mr. Yu."

Yu Changsi questioned, "Lord Du Yu, how can you be so impatient?"

"I...I..." Du Yuhe was speechless when asked the question. He glanced around at everyone and said, "Everyone is quite anxious. This atmosphere...I can't stop it!"

"Don't you understand the Left Prime Minister? Go back!" Yu Changsi turned around and walked up the steps, saying, "Just like before, do what you were doing. Remember, you are officials of the Great Jing!"

Seeing Yu Changsi's resolute attitude, Du Yuhe calmed down and helped shout, "Go back, go back!! The Left Prime Minister won't abandon us!!"

After persuading the officials to leave, Yu Changsi went to Wen Tai's study and saw Wen Tai writing a list.

"Have they all gone back?" Wen Tai asked.

"I've gone back."

Yu Changsi shook his head and said, "Du Yu and that guy also came to join in the fun."

Wen Tai said, "This man is becoming increasingly unreliable. If it weren't for the fact that he has a good son, the emperor would probably be the first to punish him."

Yu Changsi said, "It's a pity he doesn't realize it yet; he'll get into trouble sooner or later."

Wen Tai said, "To us, Du Yuhe is not very useful; we should just focus on supporting his son. But in other people's eyes, Du Yuhe is my right-hand man, so we can throw him out to show weakness when necessary."

Yu Chang thought for a moment and said, "He probably doesn't need us to throw anything away. We can just leave it to him when the central government takes action against him."

You're right.

Wen Tai nodded and handed the completed list to Yu Changsi, saying, "This is my draft list of grassroots officials in the central government. Take a look."

Yu Changsi took the list and looked at it carefully, saying, "It includes our people and people from the other side, it's impartial and there's nothing wrong with this list."

Wen Tai smiled and said, "If there are no changes, send it to the Ministry of Personnel tomorrow morning and hand it directly to Minister Chen."

"Understood." Yu Changsi carefully reviewed the list again and said, "Minister Chen has been quite obedient these past two years, but I wonder if his thoughts will change after the establishment of the Central Secretariat."

Wen Tai pointed at the list in Yu Changsi's hand from a distance and said, "So this list is also a touchstone."