"Oh." Chen Mo became interested and said, "Let’s hear it."

"The best performer here is the Imperial Examination Champion Guo Ning, but I would rather recommend eighth-ranked Sun City. His policy discussions provide solutions to the issues currently facing the Court. Although some of his ideas are still somewhat rough, if he’s sent to the provinces for one or two years of practical experience, he will certainly be of great use.

Besides Sun City, the essays by Qin Shi, ranked thirty-seventh, are also interesting. He has unique insights into issues of public welfare, and if sent to the North, he will surely shine brightly."

Geng Songfu mentioned several individuals whose policy discussions were quite good.

Zuo Lianglun naturally prioritized those with high examination scores.

Meanwhile, Chen Cultivator focused on virtues such as benevolence, righteousness, reason, wisdom, and faith—Confucian ideals—and awarded high scores to those who highlighted these qualities in their exams.

People like Guo Xian, ranked forty-seventh, and Jiang Quyang, ranked seventy-eighth.

Chen Mo memorized the names of these individuals and then inquired about those who shone in the provincial exams but failed the national exams.

No one fit that category.

It seems the provincial exam rankings weren’t inflated.

Afterward, Chen Mo asked about those who passed the provincial exams but failed the national exams and who among them were worth utilizing.

Though he had previously declared that anyone who passed the provincial exams could hold office, it was necessary to select a few notable individuals for special assignments.

Upon this remark, all three fell into silence.

After all, everyone noteworthy in the provincial exam had also passed the national exam; thus the trio struggled to recall anyone else.

Yet, since Chen Mo had asked, they strained their minds to suggest a few names.

Geng Songfu said, "There are a few, like Lin Zhong from Fengzhou, Wang Hai from Jiangdong, and Li Linyi from Gaozhou..."

Upon hearing this, Chen Mo took out a map of the North and said, "In that case, let’s arrange them first. Where do you think it would be best to appoint them?"

Geng Songfu immediately stood up and gathered around.

Then, they exchanged remarks and discussed some personnel arrangements.

Geng Songfu and Zuo Lianglun were experts in managing state affairs. With them sharing the burden, Chen Mo immediately felt much more relaxed.

They continued their discussion until noon.

When Chen Mo planned to appoint those who passed the imperial examination as high officials in the Court, both Geng Songfu and Chen Cultivator objected.

Traditionally, no matter how accomplished one’s academic status, one doesn’t become a high official immediately. They are usually arranged into Hanlin Academy as compilers (Secondary Sixth Grade) or editors (Seventh Grade).

Those in second and third-class who wish to remain in the Capital are also instituted into Hanlin Academy.

And new graduates who cannot stay in the Capital are uniformly appointed by the Ministry of Personnel into a reserve pool, with terms potentially spanning three to five years or as long as seven to eight years. Most are then dispersed to various states and counties to serve as Seventh-Grade County Magistrates.

Of course, different periods warrant different arrangements.

In today’s turbulent times, there’s no need to wait for the reserve; those are appointed locally as Prefects or Prefectures, albeit as external postings.

The reasoning is no more than to foster resilience, sharpen their disposition, and increase work experience. This way, when they eventually hold high ranks, they can manage affairs with poise, free from impulsive decisions.

Appointing them as high officials right away doesn’t yield satisfactory results.

"I understand all that you have said." After all, even employment has probationary periods, Chen Mo reflected, "However, the Court faces substantial personnel shortages, and if they enter Hanlin Academy, the Court’s staff will be severely inadequate."

Geng Songfu offered a solution, suggesting to invite retired or demoted officials back to the Capital for appointments.

When Xu Guozhong was in power, many officials were dissatisfied with him, but had no means to resist, so they simply retired home.

Also, others oppressed by Xu Guozhong can now be promoted.

Let them temporarily fill these vacant positions, and once the national exam graduates complete their training, replacements can be made.

Chen Cultivator also provided a suggestion.

That the Dragon Return Mountain harbors many recluses.

Apart from those chasing vain glory, some are indeed capable of governance.

Chen Mo nodded, his bright eyes flickering beneath his arched brow.

He had previously commanded the Emperor to summon all the Vassal Kings and Fifth-Grade and above officials to the Capital.

If they adhered to the Holy Decree to arrive in the Capital, it meant they accepted his rule, thus those officials were still usable.

...

After lunch, Chen Mo led Geng Songfu and the others to the Capital to meet the Emperor.

Upon arriving at Tianchuan, Chen Mo enacted major changes.

He replaced the palace gates’ guards with the Chen Army soldiers.

The Imperial Guards in the palace were also switched to Xianzhen Guard Soldiers.

The commander of the Imperial Guard remained Yang Wei, but the guards beneath him were no longer the previous personnel.

Along with the change in palace guards, Chen Mo also revamped the eunuchs and palace maids. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

This ensured that any whiff of disturbance within the palace would not escape Chen Mo’s attention.

Similarly, no matter what occurred in the palace, if Chen Mo didn’t permit it, it would not exit the palace.

All in all, every department within the palace was under Chen Mo’s strict control.

However, Chen Mo didn’t create an oppressive atmosphere in the palace; he merely replaced the personnel without restricting the physical freedom of Emperor Yong’an and his people.

Meeting the Emperor was merely a formality; the final decision-making power still rested with Chen Mo.

Emperor Yong’an expressed no objections to Chen Mo’s arrangements.

After the meeting, a palace maid quickly approached, whispering softly into Chen Mo’s ear.

Chen Mo coughed lightly and said, "Chancellor Geng, kindly proceed to Han Yuan Hall; the King has other matters to handle."

After meeting Emperor Yong’an, Geng Songfu could officially commence his duties.

Without further thought, Geng Songfu and the rest felt eager to acquaint themselves with the Six Ministries.

The layout of Tianchuan City’s Imperial Palace is akin to that of Luonan’s Imperial Palace, with the Empress Dowager’s bedroom also called Shoukang Palace.

At the moment, Liang Ji was seated on the Master’s Chair, her brush dancing upon the canvas, her gorgeous lotus-like face full of charm and grace, her phoenix brows alternately furrowing and relaxing. As Chen Mo approached, Liang Ji completed her final stroke.

Just then, a palace maid swiftly entered the hall and softly announced, "Empress Dowager, King Wei is here."

"Let him in."

"I have seen the Empress Dowager." Quickly, Chen Mo stood before Liang Ji, after a formal bow, he walked up, suddenly grasping Madam Mei’s soft, snow-white, delicate hand, "Yoyoyo, did you miss the King?"

Liang Ji’s face turned angry as she pulled her hand away. This man was becoming increasingly presumptuous, unlike in Luonan where he would at least feign propriety at times. Since arriving in Tianchuan, he hadn’t even bothered with pleasantries before touching her.

Liang Ji pointed at the canvas with her slender fingers, "What do you think?"

Chen Mo tilted his head for a look and saw a painting of a young man dressed in a Python Robe, seated on a white horse, holding a longbow, radiating indescribable majesty and martial prowess. Who else could it be?

Chen Mo raised an eyebrow and commented, "It’s lifelike and vivid, fluid and flowing, painting like the person depicted. I didn’t expect my dear Yoyo to have such talent."

"Who is yours?" Liang Ji’s lush, elegant face turned crimson as this shameless man had no sense of shame. She was the current Empress Dowager, not his possession.

"Of course, it’s the Empress Dowager. Right now, even if I were to stay overnight at Shoukang Palace, reveling every night, there’s no issue. Moreover, aside from me, who would dare touch the Empress Dowager, and even if that person tried, without my permission, they couldn’t lay a finger on the Empress Dowager."

Chen Mo embraced Liang Ji’s rounded shoulder, taking her to the bed to sit down, gently exploring under her palace skirt, surveying the Great Song’s domain.

Liang Ji’s delicate body trembled, her eyes like silk, thinking this man was too dominant. Since that night, he truly considered her his property, guarding her fiercely; even that person wanting a meeting with her was denied.

Yet, this fortified her resolve, instinctively struggling momentarily, then saying, "Don’t act recklessly, the Empress has matters to discuss with you."

"What matters?" Chen Mo asked.

Liang Ji began to speak slowly.

It turned out to be issues within the Harem concerning the concubines.