Governing the country, enriching the people, an unparalleled imperial tutor

Lin Yanzhou discovered that the ancient capital monopoly tactics and the modern stock market tactics were taught by the same master, just different names for the same thing. One hoarded grain to raise prices, and the other speculated on expectations. The level of ruthlessness was the same in ancient and modern times.

Those four grain merchants who controlled the capital's grain market hoarded their grain, holding the people's livelihood in their hands, displaying an arrogant attitude of "if you don't eat, plenty of others will." In response, Lin Yanzhou simply used a combination of modern market regulation strategies.

Inside the Zichen Hall, all the officials stood in solemn rows, utterly silent. All eyes were fixed on Lin Yanzhou, filled with a mixture of fear, awe, and complex emotions, but none that showed disrespect.

Emperor Jinghe immediately announced: "According to the late emperor's edict, the immortal Lin Yanzhou shall be the National Preceptor of Xuan Shuo. Seeing the National Preceptor is as if seeing the late emperor."

The powerful minister Zhang Lin, who was at the head of the group, had an old face that was ashen and black. His cheeks were sore from clenching his teeth, and his chest was heaving. He looked as if he had swallowed a piece of scalding hot bitterness and had no way to express his suffering.

He had held absolute power in the court for decades, manipulating all officials and always dominating them. Yet today, he had been defeated by a commoner who appeared out of nowhere. He was filled with resentment, but he couldn't defy the bet he had made in public. He could only bow in humiliation, relinquish his military power, and request permission to reflect on his actions in seclusion for three months.

The other ministers looked at each other, and seeing that Zhang Lin showed no signs of retaliation, they dared not speak rashly. After all, due to the prevailing perception in ancient times, people held an unparalleled reverence for deities.

Lin Yanzhou looked at his suppressed and resentful appearance, waiting for an opportunity to retaliate, but his heart was unmoved, and he even wanted to laugh a little.

Want to lie low and gather strength for a comeback? Fine, you hold back for now. This is a good opportunity for me to completely reshuffle the court and then wipe them all out in one fell swoop.

Just as Zhang Lin bowed his head in defeat and lost all his arrogance, the cold, mechanical system notification sounded precisely in Lin Yanzhou's mind.

The detection host has completed a phase of predicament: quelling the grain shortage in the capital and consolidating the foundation of the young emperor's power.

Mission complete. Reward 1: Unlock Talent Assist - Mind Reading Three Times Daily: Accurately reads the target's current core thoughts in a single instance.

Reward 2: Unlock two-way time travel permission: the ratio of ancient to modern time is 30 days: 1 day, you can travel freely back and forth, and you can bring one item with you on each trip.

A gentle, warm current flowed through his limbs and bones, and Lin Yanzhou's vision instantly became clear.

He subconsciously glanced at Zhang Lin, who was bowing his head respectfully below the steps. The resentment and vicious schemes in the other man's heart were as clear as black and white on paper.

This brat has bullied me! I have spent three months making thorough preparations, and with the support of external forces, I will surely settle accounts with this person and overthrow the regime!

Lin Yanzhou smiled faintly to himself, completely unperturbed.

With mind-reading abilities at my fingertips, the thoughts of these seasoned officials in the imperial court are as naked as if they were running naked in front of me.

Despite the initial victory, Lin Yanzhou remained completely unfazed. He knew all too well that the current stability was merely a facade. The Xuan Shuo court had been plagued by decades of corruption, with powerful officials deeply entrenched and corrupt bureaucrats rampant. While the surface appeared calm, undercurrents were surging. To truly secure his position, he needed to strike while the iron was hot, thoroughly reforming the military, systems, and personnel.

He immediately requested permission from Emperor Jinghe to move to the Imperial Preceptor's residence and secretly summon two loyal and key officials who had been suppressed by Zhang Lin for many years—Censor Zhou Yan and Shen Qing, the principal of the Ministry of Revenue. These two were rare upright officials in the court, honest, upright, and loyal, with practical talents, but no factional backing. For many years, they had been deliberately suppressed by Zhang Lin, making them the "marginal pragmatists" of the court.

In the secret chamber of the Imperial Preceptor's residence, isolated from all eyes and ears, Lin Yanzhou sat upright in the main seat, getting straight to the point, finalizing the three major reform plans, proceeding step by step to thoroughly solidify the foundation of imperial power.

The first step was to firmly grasp military power and secure the safety of the palace.

The root cause of chaos lies in the fact that military power is not in one's own hands. My idol once said: "Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun"—this is an eternal truth!

Despite strong opposition, Lin Yanzhou recommended Princess Zhao Lingxi, a woman of both literary and martial talents, with a strong character and unwavering loyalty to her brother, to take full command of the Imperial Guards, reorganize the new Beijing Garrison, and assume control of all military defenses in the capital. While a woman commanding the military might seem unconventional, it was actually the most stable approach. The Princess had no powerful relatives or factions, and her sole purpose was to protect her brother and solidify imperial power, thus eliminating the possibility of powerful ministers seizing military control at its source.

The second step is to select loyal ministers and build a core group of loyal officials.

It was suggested that Emperor Jinghe issue an edict to promote Zhou Yan to the position of Second Grand Secretary, overseeing all personnel and administration in the court; and to promote Shen Qing to the position of Vice Minister of War, in charge of the nation's military. These personnel changes, which would elevate him to such a high position, would directly disrupt the court structure that Zhang Lin had controlled for many years, finally allowing the young emperor to have his own loyal civil and military forces.

The third step was to reform the imperial examination system and revitalize the talent pool in the imperial court.

The imperial examination system had long become the private domain of powerful families, rife with cheating and empty talk that harmed the country, leaving poor scholars with no hope of advancement. Lin Yanzhou personally drafted new regulations, abolishing the privilege of recommendation, reducing empty Confucian classics questions, adding practical essays on current affairs, people's livelihood, and military and political affairs, separating civil and military examinations, strictly investigating cheating in the examination halls, and building a fair channel for advancement for poor families across the country.

The old forces cannot be eradicated; only a continuous stream of new, humble talents can gradually dilute the power of the old officials and completely change this stagnant pool.

He knew that simply eliminating powerful officials and promoting loyal ones was far from enough. The court was full of corrupt officials and countless parasites lurking in the shadows. Only a decisive and ruthless deterrent could completely seize control of the court and prevent the hidden dangers of treacherous officials banding together to rebel.

Therefore, he deliberately used the prestigious title of "the late emperor's dream and the mandate of heaven to assist him" to give himself a sacred filter. He claimed that he could receive the spirit of the late emperor and see through all the good and evil deeds in the court. He said that everything he said was the late emperor's last words, and no one dared to question him easily.

Once the system was in place and personnel were settled, the court structure was completely renewed. With his mind-reading ability in hand, Lin Yanzhou finally began a true, thunderous purge.

The candlelight flickered in the secret room. After Zhou Yan and Shen Qing left, Lin Yanzhou sat alone in the darkness, pondering the system prompt.

One item may be carried on a single round trip. He suddenly smiled.

What can I bring back in modern times? Guns? I can't find any. Medicine? That might be useful... What else can I bring back?

The mind-reading ability was used only once. What were those ministers who were bowing their heads respectfully in the hall thinking?

Who embezzled the disaster relief funds? Who accepted bribes from the grain merchants? Who tipped off Zhang Lin?

Zhang Lin's study was tightly shut. He wasn't "reflecting on his mistakes behind closed doors," but rather writing a letter. The letter contained only a few words: "We will meet at the Northern Pass in three months, cleanse the emperor's side, and share the world together." He sealed it with sealing wax, handed it to his confidant, prepared a carriage to carry the gifts, and hurried off to the Northern Barbarians.