Gao Yang's words suddenly echoed within Jinluan Hall, startling all the officials.

They all widened their eyes and looked at Gao Yang.

In just a few short sentences, they felt a bone-chilling coldness.

Better to live a lifetime with guilt than to live a lifetime in fear!

When taking action, a stab to the left and right chest, and even one to the buttocks, must ensure a kill with one strike!

Ruthless!

Too ruthless!

Wang Zhong looked at Gao Yang with a face full of fear, his heart trembling wildly.

"A hundred years of the Gao Clan as a military family, and they have such a sinister descendant?"

"If he were to gain power, wouldn't the Wang family's earthworms be cut in half?"

Not to mention Wang Zhong, even Gao Feng felt a chill.

These words actually came from his son?

For a moment, the eyes of all the civil and military officials were fixed on Gao Yang.

Qin Zhenguo, the Grand General of the Youwei Guard, spoke, "Your Majesty, what the son of Vice Minister Gao said is not without reason. If it's a great enmity, then there is no distinction between old and young."

"I agree."

These words also brought Wu Zhao back to her senses.

She glanced around with interest on her beautiful face.

This Gao Yang is quite interesting.

"When facing enemies, one should not hesitate, but be ruthless!"

"Your answer to the first question pleases me."

Wu Zhao's first sentence was directed at the officials, the second was directed at Gao Yang.

Gao Feng was astonished.

This unfilial son pleased Her Majesty the Empress?

Although Gao Feng found it hard to believe, this was undoubtedly a great thing for Duke Dingguo Manor.

Wu Zhao looked at Gao Yang and said calmly, "The first question was just a small test from me."

"But to become an official of Great Qian and serve the people, it is not that simple."

Gao Yang looked at Wu Zhao, first glancing at those long legs hidden beneath the dragon robe, then said, "I ask Your Majesty to grant the question."

"This humble subject is willing to serve Your Majesty with all my might."

This Empress is quite interesting, not testing the Four Books and Five Classics, poetry, or classics, but rather these strange questions.

He was indeed curious about what Wu Zhao's next question would be.

Wu Zhao's phoenix eyes swept over the officials, "This question is not only for the son of Vice Minister Gao, but all of you may speak freely. Whoever pleases me will be greatly employed!"

Upon hearing this, some officials of lower status brightened up, eager to try.

If they could gain Wu Zhao's favor, they could surely rise rapidly!

Wu Zhao spoke calmly, "You are a tea merchant from another region, who has contracted a barren mountain in the remote mountains of Jiangnan. But to plant tea, you must first clear the land. However, the local people are extremely lazy, unwilling to clear the land. Even if a few are hired, they work very lazily. As the time to plant tea approaches, what should be done?"

As Wu Zhao spoke calmly, all the civil and military officials frowned.

This question was one of her final tests, and whoever could answer it perfectly must possess extraordinary talent!

Her phoenix eyes swept across the court, and all the officials lowered their heads.

Even Cui Xinghe furrowed his brows tightly.

This question was indeed somewhat difficult.

A tea merchant from another region going to the remote mountains of Jiangnan to contract barren land.

There are three main difficulties here.

First, the tea merchant from another region is unfamiliar with the place, and apart from money, has little support.

Second, the local people are inherently lazy, and clearing the land is hard and tiring. Unless they are hired with high wages, it is difficult to recruit people!

Third, even if hired with high wages, the people would still work sluggishly.

Wu Zhao not only wanted this issue resolved but also sought the optimal solution that demonstrated capability.

This question was very challenging.

Wang Zhong didn't quite understand the intricacies and spoke directly, "Your Majesty, what's so difficult about this? If no one comes for double the wages, then offer triple!"

"With heavy rewards, surely there will be people willing to respond and clear the land?"

Wu Zhao shook her head, "General Wang, your words are mistaken. As a merchant, profit is paramount. Triple wages may attract people, but wouldn't the costs increase significantly?"

"Moreover, as I said, even if people come to work, they are mostly lazy. The tea merchant has no foundation in Jiangnan and cannot enforce discipline. How do you solve this?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Zhong's face changed.

He realized his thinking was too shallow.

"It was my oversight, but Your Majesty's question is too difficult."

"The remote mountains have inherently lazy people. If wages aren't increased, how can anyone be willing to work?"

"And laziness is a human nature. In such remote mountains, the people must be even lazier, making it difficult to curb their sluggish work!"

"This question is unsolvable."

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As Wang Zhong spoke, the officials nodded in agreement.

This was exactly what they thought.

Wu Zhao's expression was cold, surrounded by an aura of intense authority.

She said calmly, "Since this is a selection for great talents for the country and the people, how can it be too simple? In Great Qian, there are countless governmental affairs more difficult than this. Should we just ignore them all?"

"I dare not!" Wang Zhong hurriedly knelt.

At this moment, under Wu Zhao's overwhelming authority, all the officials lowered their heads.

Wu Zhao continued, "This question, clearing the land is not difficult, planting is not difficult, but to do it at the lowest cost and fastest speed is very difficult."

"Cui Aiqing, you are the top scholar of Great Qian, said to have composed poetry at eight and read the classics at twelve, one of the Four Great Talents of Chang'an, with remarkable literary talent. Do you have a solution?"

Wu Zhao asked calmly, her gaze falling on Cui Xinghe.

Cui Xinghe furrowed his brows tightly, then shook his head with a bitter smile, "Your Majesty, I have not yet thought of a solution, but if given the time of a stick of incense, I will surely provide Your Majesty with a satisfactory answer."

The plan in his mind, though more advanced than Wang Zhong's, would certainly not satisfy Wu Zhao.

He needed more time to think.

Wu Zhao's eyes were cold, but she only said calmly, "Then think again, Cui Aiqing."

Then she looked at an elderly scholar with white hair.

"Elder Zhou, you are the Grand Academician of the Hanlin Academy, a giant in the literary world of Great Qian."

"Do you have a solution?"

Elder Zhou was startled, then shook his head in embarrassment.

"This old minister has not yet found a better way."

What he thought was similar to Wang Zhong's, which was to increase the pay.

But this point had clearly been rejected by Wu Zhao.

The coldness in Wu Zhao's eyes grew stronger, though it was not apparent.

Finally, she looked at Gao Yang and said calmly, "Gao Yang, do you have a solution?"

Gao Yang shook his head, "I need to think about it too."

Although he was displeased with Cui Xinghe, Cui Xinghe was indeed a top scholar.

Moreover, Elder Zhou was no simple figure, a great scholar of the Hanlin Academy, a giant in the literary world.

They needed time to think, and if he spoke out immediately, it would offend them.

Though he was displeased with these two, there was no need to make enemies publicly.

This did not align with Gao Yang's way of dealing with people in his previous life.

Wu Zhao's lips curled slightly, "Oh?"

"You have revealed my Talent-Seeking Edict, and I treat you differently from others. If you cannot come up with a solution, I will charge you with the crime of deceiving the sovereign."

"Black Ice Guard, where are you?"

Wu Zhao commanded with authority.

Outside the hall, several armed Imperial Guards entered, their faces cold.

Gao Feng's body trembled.

The crime of deceiving the sovereign could implicate the entire Gao Clan.

Would the century-old foundation of the Gao Clan be destroyed just like that?

He was about to step forward to plead guilty when he heard a voice from behind.

"Your Majesty, this humble subject suddenly thought of a few strategies that might solve this problem."