Sheng Fu

Yuwen Jun's interest in watching the song and dance came to an abrupt end. After a glance, the dancers and musicians stopped at the same time, bowed slightly, and slowly left the stage.

In Yuwen Jun's memory, this was the first time Li Hongshan had taken the initiative to seek his advice on a serious matter.

Moreover, these 600 people are destined to advance further in their official careers, or at the very least, remain unchanged and will not suffer any disasters.

Deciding the future and fate of so many officials is no small matter.

Li Hongshan glanced at the beautiful dancers who were leaving and jokingly asked, "Why did the show end? Weren't they supposed to keep playing music and dancing?"

Yuwen Jun grinned and said, "When one is indulging in pleasure, it is difficult to concentrate. As the saying goes, one cannot grasp the essentials when one is indulging in pleasure. Such important matters of state naturally require more caution."

Li Hongshan smiled without saying a word and placed a heavy scroll on Yuwen Jun's desk.

Yuwen Jun didn't mince words and said, "Grand Preceptor, please enjoy your drink."

"Let me take a closer look."

Immediately, Yuwen Jun exuded an aura of soaring heights, his eyes blazing with golden-red flames that seemed to see through the past, present, and future.

Looking at Yuwen Jun's serious expression, Li Hongshan felt a mix of emotions.

At such a young age, to wield such immense power is to say that Li Hongshan has fulfilled his childhood dream.

Being young at the height of one's career is undoubtedly one of the greatest blessings in life.

When Li Hongshan finished compiling this file, his first thought was to go to the capital and report to His Majesty the Emperor. However, upon further reflection, he realized that Yuwen Jun was the one pushing for the new policies, and it was obviously inconvenient for His Majesty the Emperor to express his opinion.

That's why Li Hongshan came to find Yuwen Jun.

It's simply a matter of order, and coincidentally, the current emperor doesn't want to be the first to make decisions on these matters.

In the end, this file will still be handed over to His Majesty the Emperor, and then to Prime Minister Qiu Qing or Bai Xiaowei.

However, for now, we can only let Yuwen Jun take a look first.

For no other reason than that Yuwen Jun is currently at the height of his power, and no one dares to challenge him.

After entering Lingxiao, Yuwen Jun's eyesight was far superior to before. He could not only read ten lines at a glance, but he could also understand all the text in the scroll with just one look.

"That's somewhat unexpected," Yuwen Jun said with a slightly serious expression.

"What is it that surprises Your Highness?" Li Hongshan asked instinctively.

Yuwen Jun closed the scroll, picked up the wine cup, took a sip, and said, "These more than six hundred officials, although their personal relationships are intricate, most of them seem to be quite mediocre in terms of talent, and they can never break out of a certain framework."

"Secondly, these five prefects all came from Bailu Academy, yet their political achievements are mediocre and unremarkable. If the official investigations show that these people are relatively mediocre, it is because their merits have been taken by high-ranking officials under various pretexts. However, this time, with Xingluo, Panlong, and Anlong investigating together, they are still so mediocre, which is really abnormal."

"Am I being too picky?"

Upon hearing this, Li Hongshan immediately burst into laughter, a hearty laugh filled with a strong sense of mockery.

Yuwen Jun also noticed the voice beyond the laughter. He subconsciously poured wine for the Grand Preceptor, bowed slightly, and said humbly, "There are many things I don't understand. I hope the Grand Preceptor can answer my questions and clear up my doubts."

In Li Hongshan's memory, this was probably the first time Yuwen Jun had ever been so polite to him.

At this moment, Li Hongshan was truly smug.

The hearty, mocking laughter didn't stop for a while.

After an unknown amount of time, Li Hongshan gradually calmed down, but his eyes still held a lot of teasing as he asked Yuwen Jun, "Your Highness is so quick-witted, do you really not understand?"

Yuwen Jun replied somewhat awkwardly, "Could it be that the situation these six hundred people are in is rather complicated and volatile, so they think it's better to remain still than to make a move?" Li Hongshan nodded subtly and smiled, "That's secondary."

"There are many situations in officialdom that cannot be explained but do exist."

"According to our secret observations, these 600 people do have mediocre political achievements and nothing remarkable, but they also have very clean backgrounds."

"To remain completely clean in officialdom is already a rare and valuable talent."

"Your Highness thinks these people are mediocre, not because they lack talent, nor because the political situation is complex and volatile."

"Instead, what they wanted to do was done by someone else first."

"Secondly, these 600 people have clean backgrounds, which means they have no powerful backers. Without powerful backers, they naturally dare not do what they believe is right."

"The most important point is that the officialdom itself is a battlefield. Many scholars who have just entered the officialdom are full of ambition in the early stages, but after being tempered in the officialdom, they either become depressed or lose their original intentions."

"There is a third possibility, which is neither being a mere figurehead nor an incompetent fool, but rather waiting for an opportunity while preserving oneself."

"But this opportunity is a bit uncertain."

"Many officials wait their whole lives but never get an opportunity, just like most merchants who wait their whole lives but never get a chance to make a fortune."

"It just so happens that in this era, His Highness is implementing new policies, so they have indirectly gotten this opportunity."

"If it weren't for Your Highness's new policies, they would have died without ever getting any chance."

"Even if they don't get any opportunities, the officialdom will continue to function as always, and the country will not change because they didn't get any opportunities."

"These people are good at hiding their talents. Perhaps among the six hundred people, there are one or two truly talented individuals. Of course, it's hard to draw a conclusion on this matter, but most of them, more or less, do have some talent."

"Even if I can't become a governor, I can still do a very good job as a prefect."

Upon hearing Li Hongshan's explanation, Yuwen Jun suddenly realized what was going on.

"Time will tell, and a person's true character will be revealed. Thank you for your guidance, Grand Preceptor," Yuwen Jun said thoughtfully, his face full of sincerity.

Li Hongshan laughed and said, "Your Highness has achieved success at a young age, so naturally you cannot understand the helplessness of most people when their luck is bad. A person who has always been arrogant and capable in battle will naturally not be able to see the various landscapes of those dark places."

"This is not Your Highness's fault; it's just that our life experiences are different."

"If I were Your Highness, I would have been strutting around like a peacock."

Yuwen Jun quickly raised his wine cup to toast Li Hongshan, and replied modestly, "I am deeply honored by the high regard of the Grand Preceptor."

"In fact, as a scholar, my knowledge is like a glimmer of light compared to that of the Grand Preceptor."

He returned the compliment with a smile, and Li Hongshan's smile grew even brighter. He laughed loudly, "Your Highness, there's no need to be modest. It's just that everyone sees different scenery."

"I'm afraid I can't possibly appreciate the magnificent and breathtaking scenery Your Highness has experienced."

As they talked, the two drank their wine in one gulp. After putting down their wine cups, Yuwen Jun suddenly had a whimsical idea and said, "There are only the two of us here. I wonder if the Grand Preceptor would be willing to add some more people to this list?"

"There are still some scholars in Zhengxiong Mountain."

"I once made a promise to Gu Qinghao, and there is still a bond between the Grand Preceptor and Gu Qinghao."

After speaking, Yuwen Jun looked at Li Hongshan with a lack of confidence. State affairs were not to be taken lightly, yet at this moment, Yuwen Jun harbored a hidden selfish motive. (End of Chapter)