The doctor suffers from amnesia, but not complete amnesia.

“The eunuchs may not be very capable, but they are absolutely loyal to you, and Your Majesty has the extraordinary talent to govern the entire country. Therefore, as long as you make good use of these servants, both the court and the provinces will be under your control.”

Chapter 82 I, Qiao Yelan, am just a businessman

"What's the plan?"

The emperor was clearly very interested in this matter.

If he could rely on his own servants, he certainly wouldn't rely on others.

"In the imperial court, there are always officials who speak out and report on matters, all to keep Your Majesty's ears and eyes clear. But now the Prime Minister is powerful and wins over all the officials, so the officials who speak out will naturally be won over as well. Therefore, Your Majesty needs a new pair of eyes to keep an eye on them for you."

Qiao Yelan patiently guided him.

"Your Majesty certainly has many spies, but spies have existed for so many years, and a lot of information has been leaked outside. Many of the secret methods and techniques unique to spies have also been leaked. So those people all have some ways to block Your Majesty's eyes and ears—therefore you need a new secret spy organization."

"This new secret service organization cannot be entirely located outside the palace; otherwise, it will soon become the next secret service, with the possibility of being bribed and misled by others."

The emperor nodded solemnly, realizing that the spies' hauls were dwindling day by day, especially those sent to Longmen, who were bringing back almost no useful intelligence.

If a new secret organization needs to connect with the outside world, what could be more suitable than a eunuch?

While eunuchs may not be able to monitor others, allowing them to lead and supervise, and letting truly capable people do the work, can prevent them from being deceived by outsiders and secret agents working together.

The eunuchs were responsible for monitoring secret documents, and since they were directly under the emperor's command, it made it exponentially more difficult to bribe them.

The important question is whether to live in constant fear, earning a few coins from below and worrying about losing one's head, or to serve the emperor well, please him, and receive rewards—the difference is all too clear to eunuchs who have spent a long time in the palace.

"Since Minister Qiao was able to propose this method, he must be a capable person—how about entrusting the new Secret Service to Minister Qiao?"

"Your Majesty values ​​me, but I know my own abilities. I was born a commoner, and my family's scholarly traditions have influenced me. I was fortunate enough to be valued by the late Emperor, but in the end, I am just a merchant. I can only pick bones for Your Majesty, but I cannot use my nose to find those villains for Your Majesty."

Qiao Yelan said humbly.

"I want the position of Director of the Imperial Household Department so that I can openly expand the Imperial Household Department for Your Majesty and increase its business operations. The purpose is to help Your Majesty conceal the existence of this new secret intelligence agency—at least in the current situation, keeping it under the radar is more helpful to Your Majesty."

"When the time is right, I can naturally put myself in the spotlight to monitor all officials, listen to public opinion, and expose those scheming and despicable people—but I cannot do these things."

Qiao Yelan's meaning was clear: to establish a new secret intelligence organization, using the name of the Imperial Household Department, and spread it throughout the Great Yan. On the one hand, this would ensure that the emperor's money was safely returned to the palace, and on the other hand, it would also be able to monitor the world on behalf of the emperor.

"Moreover, my health has always been poor. Once Your Majesty's current problems are resolved, I hope Your Majesty will also allow me to retire and return to my hometown to enjoy my remaining years."

"You don't even look as old as me, and you're already thinking about enjoying your retirement? How lazy!"

The emperor laughed and scolded.

"Your Majesty is in good health and has the people of the land in your heart, so you are naturally diligent in your duties. But I am weak and only have my own little plot of land on my mind, so I am naturally lazy."

Qiao Yelan's shameless demeanor made the emperor shake his head.

"Very well, if you don't want to do it, then don't. Making money for me isn't an easy thing. As for the secret service under the Ministry of Works that you mentioned, I will arrange for someone to handle it. As for the eunuchs, I will issue an edict in the next few days to send them to the Ministry of Works."

"Your Majesty, I thank you."

"You just said that you asked a few eunuchs from my palace to go out and do some work. That was your first request. What other requests do you have? Please state them all at once."

The emperor waved his hand, his generosity making people feel uncomfortable.

"As for the rest, I'll go to the Imperial Household Department first, find out what it's currently lacking, and then I'll bring it up with Your Majesty."

"Very well, I am very pleased with my conversation with you today, my dear minister. — Li Fang."

"emperor."

Eunuch Li jogged into the pavilion.

"You will escort Minister Qiao out of the palace and give him a waist token, allowing him to enter the palace for an audience at any time. These days, you should not stay in the Directorate of Ceremonial, but stay by Minister Qiao's side. You are an old hand in the palace, and you are familiar with the rules and the people. Whenever Minister Qiao wants to enter the palace, you can arrange it directly."

"Your servant obeys the decree."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

The two immediately bowed.

"Alright, everyone, you can all leave now."

The emperor watched as Eunuch Li pushed Qiao Yelan out, and couldn't help but feel a pang of regret.

The late emperor's words were vague. At the time, he did not know who Qiao Yelan was and thought he was a highly respected old minister. That's why he had Eunuch Li welcome him into the palace in a grand manner, in order to intimidate others and let everyone know that he was on his side.

If I had known that Qiao Yelan was so talented, I shouldn't have made it public when he came to the capital. Instead, I should have secretly welcomed him. With my covert support, Qiao Yelan's rising force would have caught the Prime Minister's faction off guard.

However, the opportunity has already been missed, so there's no need to think about it anymore, and there are still opportunities to make amends.

Since the confidentiality has already been lost, why not go a little further?

Startling the snake might cost you the chance to hunt secretly, but the snake will also react more violently, creating more openings for your plan.

Thinking of this, he waved his hand, and a little eunuch came over.

"Someone, immediately announce that I have appointed Qiao Yelan in white as the Director of the Imperial Household Department, a third-rank official, in charge of all matters of the Imperial Household Department, and he may act at his own discretion in all related matters."

The situation in the capital is about to change!

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“Lord Qiao, I have delivered your message. My godson said he will definitely not let this opportunity slip by.”

Back at the royal villa, Eunuch Li said quietly.

"Okay, thank you very much, Eunuch Li. This will make things much easier for me from now on."

Qiao Yelan nodded.

"However, Mr. Qiao, this position in the inner palace, connecting the inside and outside of the palace, is already a lucrative post. Not to mention, the subordinates can also command secret agents and report directly to His Majesty. Why doesn't His Majesty hand it over to Eunuch Zheng? He is a senior eunuch who has grown up with His Majesty since childhood."

Qiao Yelan glanced at Eunuch Li, a half-smile on her face.

That one glance sent chills down Eunuch Li's spine; he realized he had asked the wrong question.

“There’s nothing strange about it. It’s precisely because Eunuch Zheng grew up alongside His Majesty that His Majesty won’t let him come to the Imperial Household Department to work with me—because he can’t bear to part with him.”

"Reluctant to part with it?"

"Of course I'm reluctant to part with him—Eunuch Li, who do you think the Emperor trusts most in the entire Great Yan?"

Qiao Yelan asked leisurely.

Meanwhile, Eunuch Li seemed to be deep in thought.

When it comes to the emperor's trust, among all the civil and military officials, concubines, and empresses, who can compare to Eunuch Zheng?

"The new Shaofu is a department where it's easy to make merits, and His Majesty relies on it. But this place is too crucial. It's so crucial that if you make a mistake, it won't be a small one. At the very least, you'll lose your head."

At this point, he actually smiled.

"Those who dare to come should be mentally prepared."

“Lord Qiao, since he dares to make the choice, I believe he is not so naive—putting aside everything else, I do have a good eye for people.”

"Then this servant will take his leave. If Lord Qiao needs anything, please just give the order."

After Li Gonggong finished speaking, he bowed and withdrew, maintaining a high level of respect and fear towards Qiao Yelan.

As a eunuch who had served two emperors, he knew very well that the temperaments and personalities of the late emperor and the current emperor were very different.

Qiao Yelan, on the other hand, gained the complete trust and reliance of both emperors with just one conversation.

It's easy to make people equally disgusted, but to make people equally appreciative is something that can't be described with just a few words.

Especially His Majesty, he knew all too well how suspicious the other party was—the person who could make His Majesty so happy now must be very capable.

Qiao Yelan didn't care about Eunuch Li's attitude. After all, this old eunuch no longer had the ambition to climb any higher and only wanted to settle down safely. Such a person was difficult to manipulate unless some excessive means were used.

The Tower of Babel operates on a win-win policy; why would it force anyone to do something against their will?

However, the emperor sent Eunuch Li over not only to make it easier for him to enter the palace, but also because he was going to start doing what Qiao Yelan had suggested—using eunuchs to monitor those who worked for him.

With Eunuch Li around, he knew perfectly well who had visited him and who he had visited.

We can't go to the Ministry of Rites or the Imperial Household Department for the time being.

Qiao Yelan pondered to himself.

The Grand Tutor is currently carrying a huge burden of criticism, and his support for Wei Yanwu is obvious to everyone, not just the Emperor.

So this man, who was clearly on par with the prime minister, was now directly sent to the Ministry of Rites by the emperor, his energy completely diverted to the Year Beast.

But there's no rush, there will always be a chance to go—even if we can't go, it's not a big deal, since Wei Yanwu himself has no idea about it, and Qiao Yelan doesn't care what the Grand Tutor thinks.

Now, we should think about how to help the emperor stabilize the current political situation.

He took out the information that the God of the Year God had given him and began to read it carefully.

The military of the Great Yan Dynasty never participated in politics, so the Ministry of War always remained aloof. As for the Ministry of Rites, because of the fall of [Jie], the threat of [Sui] greatly increased, so a large part of its functions were transferred to the Si Sui Tai. At this time, the Si Sui Tai was about to replace the Six Ministries.

The remaining Ministry of Revenue and Ministry of Personnel were both civil officials controlled by the Prime Minister. One was in charge of the purse strings, and the other was in charge of personnel assessment. If the Prime Minister controlled these two, then the civil officials would naturally be controlled as well.

The Ministry of Works has always been His Majesty's people, since a large portion of it was originally transferred from the Imperial Household Department. The Ministry of Justice, on the other hand, is notoriously ruthless; aside from sentencing and execution, they don't interfere in anything else.

Besides the Six Ministries, there was another special institution—the Dali Temple.

The Dali Temple is a special investigative agency under the Ministry of Justice. Although nominally under the Ministry of Justice's control, it actually operates with great freedom.

Because the people in Dali Temple are all Celestial Masters.

Many difficult cases are either involving powerful figures or are extremely bizarre. Therefore, having a Celestial Master with a special status in the Great Yan Dynasty investigate them can better and more directly uncover the truth of the case. After all, they don't care about offending the powerful figures, and the common people both respect and fear them. They dare to hide many things from the constables, but they dare not hide them from the Celestial Master.