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

Thus, a massive competition of feigned loyalty and intrigue unfolded instantly outside the training grounds and the Imperial Preceptor's residence, a scene both comical and absurd. The wealthy young men, usually adorned in finery, deliberately donned faded coarse cloth jackets; the usually glib-tongued江湖客 (jianghu ke, a term referring to江湖江湖客, a term referring to江湖江湖客, a term referring to江湖江湖客, a term referring to江湖江湖客, a term referring to江湖游) forced a serious expression; even several former officials from the previous dynasty deliberately suppressed their arrogance, walking with their heads down and chests hunched, speaking in a soft, humble tone, as if they wanted to have the words "loyalty to the emperor and serving the country" etched on their faces. Some leaned against the wall reciting lines silently, some repeatedly practiced bowing gestures, and others, in an effort to appear simple, deliberately rubbed mud and grime onto their new boots—everyone was putting on a great show.

Zhao Lingxi stood guard in the side hall, coldly observing this farce. She was getting annoyed by it and would mutter under her breath from time to time, "These people are never this dedicated to fighting, but they're all incredibly talented at acting."

Lin Yanzhou sat calmly at his desk, sipping his tea. Others might look at acting skills and resumes, but he looked at people's hearts. To him, these candidates who had gone to such lengths to disguise themselves were like running naked on stage, all their calculations and selfish motives laid bare.

The first was Zhou Huaiyuan, a former general from the border. He possessed solid military achievements and an upright demeanor. He constantly denounced Zhang Lin for wreaking havoc on the court, his words brimming with loyalty and righteousness; his acting was superb, fooling everyone present. However, he harbored immense ambition: feigning allegiance to the new court while secretly gathering Zhang Lin's former troops, lying in wait for his opportunity to seize power in the future.

When Zhou Huaiyuan entered the arena, his demeanor was perfectly poised, neither arrogant nor humble, but calm and dignified. He spoke clearly and logically about the border campaigns, readily recounting his military exploits; when discussing Zhang Lin's misrule, his voice was stern and filled with indignation, portraying him as someone wronged for his country and utterly devoted to his cause. Not only ordinary officials, but even seasoned veterans on duty, nodded in approval, recognizing him as a rare and loyal general.

But Lin Yanzhou saw through his calculations, his mind racing with schemes: Zhang Lin's downfall was only temporary; his old power base in the military was not yet destroyed. He was now lying low, feigning loyalty, infiltrating the National Defense Department to gain a foothold, secretly gathering his old subordinates and contacting the remaining forces. Given time, he would surely be able to turn the tables and return to his high position.

What's even more ridiculous is that while he verbally condemned Zhang Lin for bringing disaster to the country, he secretly felt grateful for Zhang Lin's past kindness in helping him, and plotted to gather strength for his former master's restoration.

Zhao Lingxi had already noticed the flaw in his repeated knuckle-rubbing gesture. She quietly leaned over and whispered to Lin Yanzhou, "Something's not right with this guy. He's too steady, too deliberately so. It's all an act of loyalty."

Lin Yanzhou remained calm and deliberately praised him, saying, "General Zhou has rendered meritorious service in guarding the pass and has the country at heart; he is truly rare."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Huaiyuan was overjoyed, certain that he had won the prize, but he maintained a solemn and loyal expression, becoming even more humble and respectful.

Just as he was basking in his success, waiting for the official position to be his, Lin Yanzhou abruptly changed the subject, casually posing a question: "Since you hate Zhang Lin for misleading the country, why have you been secretly corresponding with his former subordinates at the border? Why do you privately lament that you want to overturn the verdict on his former subordinates after the storm has passed?"

Zhou Huaiyuan froze, his pupils contracted sharply, and a crack appeared in the mask of loyalty on his face. His hands and feet turned ice-cold instantly, filled with disbelief—how could the other party know so much about these secret schemes hidden in his heart and never spoken to outsiders?

He frantically tried to explain and evade the issue, but his words came out incoherently, his usual smooth tongue completely failing him. Lin Yanzhou gave him no chance to argue, his tone calm yet utterly oppressive: "You have merit, but you also have selfish motives. You will not be convicted today, but you will never be employed again. Go back."

Zhou Huaiyuan's face turned deathly pale, his composed demeanor completely crumbling as he left the hall, utterly dejected. The official position he had been certain of was now gone in an instant, and his elaborate schemes for restoration had become a laughingstock—a stark contrast that slapped him in the face.

Next up was Zhao Shoucheng, another top-notch actor. Compared to Zhou Huaiyuan's fierce and loyal character, he took the route of "repentant weakling".

A former chief clerk in the Ministry of War, with eight years of experience in the imperial court, he was familiar with the army's supplies, weaponry, organization, and deployment—his abilities were undeniable. Now, dressed in a plain, old robe, his face haggard and filled with remorse, his eyes reddened as soon as he sat down, his voice choked with emotion, every word a testament to his deep regret: "Back then, I was young and foolish, blindly following Zhang Lin and going astray. Now I have come to my senses and only wish to serve the country, to atone for my crimes, even if it means doing the lowest-level clerk work or the hardest, most tiring tasks, I am willing to do it."

Such sincere words of repentance would have moved anyone to pity, making them feel that he was genuinely repentant and a capable person. But Lin Yanzhou saw it clearly: he felt no remorse whatsoever, his mind was full of insidious schemes: first, to gain trust by feigning misery and repentance, then to infiltrate the core of the National Defense Department, take the opportunity to uncover Zhang Lin's secret accounts and networks, reactivate the dormant remnants of power, and use the opportunity of the new army's reshuffling to regain control of the court's resources.

Ironically, while he was crying and repenting, he was secretly plotting to silence all the minor figures who knew about his past once he had gained a foothold, thus completely whitewashing his dark history.

Lin Yanzhou devised a plan and immediately offered a bait, feigning to delegate authority: "Since you are genuinely repentant and familiar with the old affairs of the Ministry of War, then write down the complete list of all of Zhang Lin's former subordinates and secret contacts. As long as it is detailed and accurate, past transgressions will be overlooked, and you will be exceptionally recruited into the National Defense Department to handle important clerical duties."

Zhao Shoucheng was overjoyed, thinking the Grand Preceptor was foolish and easily deceived. He immediately knelt down and kowtowed in gratitude, wishing he could shout "Wise!" three times. He quickly accepted the order and withdrew, fully believing that his grand plan to turn the tide was about to succeed.

After he had walked away, Zhao Lingxi asked疑惑地问道, "You knew he was only pretending to repent, so why did you still make him write down the list?"

Lin Yanzhou smiled faintly, dismantling the scheme: Those who genuinely repent will reveal everything without reservation. Those with ulterior motives will only hand over useless pawns, completely concealing the true core of the conspiracy. The list he wrote isn't a confession; it's evidence of his crimes. Once he submits it, we can thoroughly investigate the flaws, follow the clues, and uncover all the remaining accomplices, wiping them out in one fell swoop.

Zhao Lingxi suddenly realized that this was not an examination interview at all, but a trap set by the Imperial Advisor to lure her into a snare.

Zheng Dehou, who appeared last, was the one who hid himself the best and disguised himself the most perfectly among the three.

He was over forty years old, with a gentle and modest temperament, speaking slowly and deliberately, and behaving with proper manners. During his fifteen years as a border supply officer, he handled countless provisions and weapons, and his account books were perfectly archived year after year without any errors. Looking at the entire examination, no one seemed more like a down-to-earth, diligent, and reliable grassroots official than him.

He only talked about military affairs and practical matters, never mentioning court intrigues. He appeared to be an honest man who only wanted to work peacefully and did not seek high office or wealth. Even Zhao Lingxi, after a preliminary observation, could not find any flaws in his behavior.

But Lin Yanzhou's mind-reading ability directly tore through his perfect facade.

Zheng Dehou harbored no ambition to seize power and restore the dynasty, but he concealed a grave crime that could shake the very foundations of the border defenses. Years ago, Zhang Lin had embezzled military funds and illegally manufactured prohibited weapons; all the secret ledgers and transaction records were entrusted to Zheng Dehou for safekeeping. After the fall of the previous dynasty, he kept this evidence hidden, living in constant fear that his crimes would be exposed and bring him down with him.

This desperate attempt to register for the exam, even at the cost of lowering himself to feign loyalty, was not out of a desire to serve the country, but rather to infiltrate the core of the National Defense Department, use his position to secretly destroy all sealed evidence of his crimes, completely erase his stain, and thus live a worry-free life, securely enjoying the iron rice bowl of the imperial court.

Looking at the seemingly honest man before him, who spoke eloquently about military deployment, Lin Yanzhou felt only coldness in his heart. The most terrifying people are never the blatant traitors, but these hypocrites who lurk in the shadows, appearing harmless yet holding crucial evidence of crimes.

Lin Yanzhou did not expose him on the spot, but continued to ask questions gently and talk as usual. Finally, he said in a low voice, "You are highly qualified and experienced. Go back and wait for further notice. The important task of subsequent arms inspection and food inventory may need to be entrusted to you."

Zheng Dehou felt a great weight lifted from his shoulders and was secretly delighted. He assumed he had perfectly fooled everyone, bowed respectfully, and withdrew without revealing the slightest flaw.

The three men left one after another, bringing all three elaborate charades to a close. Outsiders only saw the Imperial Advisor as gentle, tolerant, and appreciative of talent, but only Lin Yanzhou and Zhao Lingxi knew that these three most skilled actors of the night had all fallen into a trap, waiting for the right moment to close the net and convict them.

Evil lurks in the shadows, while virtuous generals emerge one after another. The subsequent test-takers form a stark contrast to the three drama queens, each one sincere, pure, and hardworking.

Li Tiezhu, a hunter from Qingshi Pass, is taciturn, hardworking, and only talks about killing the enemy and defending the land on the battlefield, not about fame or future. His only thought is to serve as a good soldier, earn money to support his family, and protect his hometown. He was exceptionally recruited into the archer team for training. A retired veteran with a missing arm is disabled but determined. He is familiar with border formations and only wants to contribute his remaining energy to serve his country. A seasoned veteran of the desert has traveled to all the tribes of the Northern Barbarians and knows all the mountain routes by heart. He is an irreplaceable border guide.

The most touching story is that of the white-haired centurion who guarded the border for twenty-two years. Two years after retiring from the army, well past sixty and at the age of retirement, he heard that the Imperial Advisor was reorganizing the army and guarding the country. Without hesitation, he threw down his hoe and walked eighty miles of mountain road to the capital. He was not eloquent, and had no flowery words; he simply repeated one sentence: "I can no longer lead the vanguard, but I know how to read the terrain. I can teach new recruits how to survive, kill the enemy, and defend the border."

He was pure and clear-headed, without a trace of selfishness, only wishing to protect the Xuan Shuo land for a while longer if he had the strength. Lin Yanzhou immediately made an exception and hired him as a city defense instructor, allowing his lifelong battlefield experience to be passed on.

The four-day recruitment period ended in the blink of an eye, and the court's talent pool was fully replenished. There were thirty-six civil officials, all upright, capable, and well-versed in governance; and seventy-two military officials, mostly rising stars from humble backgrounds, daring to fight and loyal to the battlefield. Together, the civil and military officials made up exactly one hundred and eight generals.

The moment the roster was completed, Zhou Yan and Shen Qing both stopped, staring at the neat numbers with astonishment, exclaiming that Heaven had blessed Xuan Shuo, a stroke of luck that was a once-in-a-century occurrence. The young Emperor Zhao Yan personally reviewed the roster, looking at the pages filled with the clean and sincere names of his ministers, free from the impurities of the previous dynasty's loyalists. His heart, which had been tense for many days, finally settled, and his eyes were filled with relief and peace of mind.

The lanterns under the eaves swayed gently in the evening breeze, and the patrolling soldiers marched in neat and steady steps, giving the entire capital a renewed sense of peace and tranquility.

Lin Yanzhou extracted the resumes of Zhou Huaiyuan, Zhao Shoucheng, and Zheng Dehou separately and filed them in a secret archive, quietly waiting for them to slip up and make mistakes on their own. These three would later indeed become the catalyst for the downfall of Xuan Shuo.

The world praises the Grand Preceptor for his discerning eye in recognizing talent and recruiting virtuous and capable officials, who gathered 108 wise ministers and generals to stabilize the court and protect the country. However, some secretly questioned his decision, feeling that he was too lenient and indulgent, letting go of several of Zhang Lin's former officials.

Only Lin Yanzhou knew the truth.

He never condoned evil; he simply understood the principle of "catching a cheat at the root" and "striking the snake at its vital point." Letting them lie low today was to lure them out, expose all their remaining associates, and wipe them out in one fell swoop, eliminating any future troubles.

Others judge people by their actions, words, and resumes. But he, with his mind-reading ability, can discern the true nature of a person at a glance.