The two million taels of silver he extorted from the salt merchants in Jiangnan last time were used to enrich the imperial treasury without getting his hands dirty. It was truly a brilliant move.

This tactic can be harmful and should not be used frequently; it should only be used in the most critical situations.

Wouldn't it be more profitable to raise sheep until they're big and fat before slaughtering them?

As he was lost in thought, Han Fu humbly replied:

"In other words, it was Her Majesty the Empress who gave me guidance, otherwise my trip would have been in vain."

Lu Xingjian felt a slight unease.

The crooked idea of ​​"selling official positions" was originally suggested to Han Fu by Wanwan.

Finally, it was this emperor who expanded the scope, extending it from Huguang to the wealthy southern regions, as well as northern areas such as Shaanxi, Shaanxi, and the Nine Border Regions.

She wouldn't consult her husband first about her thoughts.

A barely perceptible hint of coldness flashed in Lu Xingjian's eyes, but his expression remained unchanged.

Instead, he kindly rewarded Han Fu with many gifts and gave him a few days off to rest and recuperate.

Han Fu was flattered and deeply grateful.

He was even more excited to see the Emperor personally see him off.

The Emperor's excessive enthusiasm is truly... making it difficult for his subjects to accept, haha.

I, Lao Han, am truly in the Emperor's heart.

Han Fu seemed to see a bright and promising future beckoning him, and he couldn't suppress the smile on his face.

At the entrance of Xiaoyuan Garden, Su Wanwan arrived with twelve young ladies-in-waiting.

Lu Xingjian spotted Su Wanwan immediately, but pretended not to see her.

Han Fu was a sensible person. Upon seeing this scene, he quickly stepped forward to pay his respects to the Empress.

After Su Wanwan and the other young ladies paid their respects to Lu Xingjian, seeing Han Fu's beaming face, she smiled and said:

"So it's Lord Han. It seems you have brought good news for His Majesty."

Han Fu was respectful and humble: "Thanks to the Emperor and the Empress, the mission was completed successfully."

If it weren't for the fact that the trusted men of Marquis Dingxi Jiang He were all wiped out by the newly appointed General Commander of Guangdong and Guangxi, this mission could not have been completed so smoothly.

Han Fu was just picking up a free lunch.

Therefore, the one who truly had the courage was the one who dared to urgently replace the commander-in-chief of Guangdong and Guangxi.

Only by employing the right people can this task be accomplished successfully.

Su Wanwan's smile remained unchanged:

"It was His Majesty's strategic planning and Lord Han's meritorious work in managing the grain reserves; it has nothing to do with me."

The urgent replacement of the commander-in-chief of Guangdong and Guangxi was the result of discussions between her and Liu Jin.

However, what outsiders don't know is that she doesn't want to be branded as a "hen crowing at dawn" interfering in politics.

Given the Empress's flattery, the Emperor should have said something to appease her.

Lu Xingjian didn't even glance at her, instead looking at the officials waiting in the distance outside the door and asking:

"what for?"

Meng Yue replied cautiously:

"It is the newly appointed Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, Han Ding, and the Left Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, Zhang Cai, who have come to kowtow to the Emperor to express their gratitude."

Lu Xingjian raised his eyelids, called the two over, and asked in a calm voice:

"Are both of you from the same hometown as Minister Liu?"

The air suddenly turned several degrees colder.

The two officials, one around seventy years old, had faces etched with the marks of time and sorrow.

He was around fifty years old, with a fair complexion, a tall and handsome figure, thick eyebrows and beard, and a vibrant spirit.

The elderly and distressed Han Ding had cold sweat soaking his back.

It is common knowledge that Liu Jin is now forming cliques, suppressing dissent, and planting his henchmen and cronies throughout the court.

But when the emperor asked this question, it might not have been without the intention of holding him accountable.

The Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue was the third-highest-ranking official in the Ministry, a high-ranking official of the second rank.

He was only one rank lower than a capable minister like Han Fu.

Han Ding had held a sinecure for many years, but he was promoted to Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue because of Liu Jin's nepotism, which made him feel somewhat guilty and ashamed.

Han Ding fell to the ground and kowtowed, his voice aged and sorrowful:

"The old minister Han Ding is from Qingyang, Shaanxi, and is indeed a fellow townsman of Minister Liu."

Han Ding came from a poor family and was an angry young man. He offended powerful people by making outrageous remarks and was demoted to a sinecure in the Nanjing Office of the Court of State Affairs for many years.

Thanks to the recommendation of Liu Neixiang, a fellow townsman, he was able to get promoted.

He was still hesitant about whether to betray his principles and join the eunuch faction that he had once despised in his youth.

His children and grandchildren, however, strongly advised him to be pragmatic and seek refuge with Liu Jin.

What's the use of integrity? Does he expect to sit on the sidelines his whole life, while his children and grandchildren can't even afford a fur coat for winter?

Joining the service of Minister Liu not only brings promotion and wealth, but also ensures the well-being of one's descendants. Why not do it?

Will saving gas bring us a full stomach or warm clothes?

Decades of hardship had worn down Han Ding's former sharpness and integrity, and shaken his original beliefs.

Even an upright and honest official like Grand Secretary Su ended up being forced to retire.

What principles could an old minister, half-buried in the ground, possibly uphold?

Han Ding finally convinced himself to accept the appointment, taking a solid step towards siding with Liu Jin.

Unexpectedly, the young emperor was as clear-headed as a mirror and immediately saw through the inside story.

This made Han Ding lose face, and his defenses crumbled instantly.

The shame of being a traitor and the name of the eunuch faction will likely forever nail him to the pillar of shame.

Thinking of this, Han Ding's eyes reddened, and tears streamed down his face.

Old Han, where has that spirit of "a scholar can be killed but not humiliated" gone?

With half his body buried in the ground, how did you become the kind of person you used to hate the most?

Where did that young, spirited, and idealistic scholar go?

Zhang Cai, on the other hand, was radiant and spirited, bowing with neither arrogance nor servility.

"Your Majesty, I, Zhang Cai, am from Gongchang Prefecture. When Lord Yang Yiqing was in charge of the three border regions, he recommended me to succeed him."

Lu Xingjian frowned slightly, his eyes subtly glancing at Su Wanwan out of the corner of his eye.

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