Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 659: Chapter 322: Originally, It Was a Single Move _3

"Not only will they not participate themselves, but they will also prevent the impoverished scholars who wish to take the civil examination from participating." Zheng Xilin said, "They don’t openly oppose the civil examination, but they will secretly ensure that no one in Jinling City takes the exam."

Although Zheng Xilin didn’t specify what methods those people would use, Zhao Yao could roughly guess.

"So that’s their plan."

Zheng Xilin said with a playful tone, "Whether or not to participate in the civil examination depends on the students’ own willingness. If none of the students are willing to take part, the court and local government cannot force them, can they?"

Zhao Yao sneered, "This move is indeed powerful. If no candidates wish to participate, then the examination cannot proceed."

"Not just in Jinling, other places will follow suit."

Zhao Yao suddenly laughed disdainfully, "I really don’t know if I should call them foolish, or if they underestimate my father the Emperor too much."

Hearing Zhao Yao’s words, Zheng Xilin raised his eyebrows slightly and said, "Do you think this strategy of theirs won’t work?"

"Perhaps in Jinling and Suzhou, this strategy might succeed, but what awaits them afterward is probably something they haven’t considered."

Zheng Xilin feigned curiosity and asked, "What awaits them?"

"All of the officials in Jinling and Suzhou will be dismissed. At that time, my father will transfer officials from other places to take over these two areas." Zhao Yao said, "Of course, my father cannot dismiss all the officials at once, but he will certainly make an example of some. With my father’s methods, the ones he chooses will be no ordinary people—they won’t be able to withstand it."

"Your father is a man who holds grudges; offending him never ends well."

Zhao Yao nodded in agreement, "That’s right." After speaking, he thought of Li Jue, whom he met at the First Tower, "Uncle, the Cao Group and Salt Gang in Jinling and Suzhou are controlled by the family clans, aren’t they?"

"Indeed, the family clans have inseparable ties with the Cao Group and Salt Gang."

Seeing Zhao Yao’s contemplative face, Zheng Xilin asked, "What’s wrong?"

"I have a feeling that I can’t quite describe."

Just as he spoke, Tong Xi walked in. He first saluted Zhao Yao and Zheng Xilin, then dutifully reported, "Your Highness, some people have brought several individuals from Lingnan and Japan, just as you requested."

"They arrived so quickly?" Zhao Yao exclaimed in surprise and stood up, "Bring them to see me." After he finished speaking, he hurriedly said to Zheng Xilin, "It was Second Uncle who sent them over."

"People from Lingnan and Japan?"

"Uncle, I’ll explain later, I need to meet them first." After saying this, Zhao Yao returned to his own chamber.

A moment later, Tong Xi led in two individuals from Lingnan and two from Japan.

Upon seeing Zhao Yao, the four of them hurried to bow and salute him. Their salutation was very standard, showing that they had been specially taught before. In addition, their official language skills were quite good—not very standard, but understandable to Zhao Yao.

Zhao Yao instructed Tong Xi to first take the two from Lingnan away, and he began questioning the two from Japan.

These two Japanese had lived in the Great Zhou for many years and were very proficient in the official language, so there was no need to find someone to interpret. They were once pirates, captured by fishermen from East Wu.

The fishermen from East Wu didn’t kill them but made them slaves. These two were the best among many slaves, mainly because they were smart and quickly learned the Great Zhou language.

Being intelligent, hardworking, and honest, they had been quite valued by their master over the years. They lived well in the Great Zhou and did not want to return to Japan.

Before coming to the Great Zhou, they had traveled across various parts of Japan doing petty theft, so they were relatively familiar with other areas in Japan.

Zhao Yao first inquired about the places where the Gold Mountain and Silver Mountain were located, though he did not mention the mountains by name.

By coincidence, the areas of the Gold Mountain and Silver Mountain were not far from these two individuals’ hometowns. Zhao Yao felt extremely lucky. He then asked about affairs within Japan.

When thinking about the impoverishment within their own country, the two first looked terrified and then truthfully relayed all they knew, saw, and heard to Zhao Yao.

"Your Highness, when the humble slaves left Japan, the Emperor was already old. We do not know who the current Emperor in Japan is."

"Before you left Japan, how many sons did the Emperor have?" Japan is such a tiny place, and yet their ruler dared to call himself Emperor—that’s quite ambitious.

"He had four sons."

"Tell me about these four people."

"The humble slaves know only bits and pieces we’ve heard from others."

"It’s alright, just tell me what you’ve heard."

"Yes, Your Highness."

The two men took turns telling Zhao Yao about the four sons of the Japanese Emperor. The first son was born to the Empress, of average capability, and not favored by the Emperor. The second son was in poor health and often recuperated outside. The third son was skilled in both literature and martial arts, and his mother was also highly favored but was a palace maid. The youngest son was known as a young general.

After listening, Zhao Yao speculated in his mind that the current Emperor was likely the second son.

He then asked if the two men still remembered the way back to Japan, to which they replied they did.

Zhao Yao questioned them for a long time, only stopping before dinner, telling them to rest.

With these two individuals, the plan to go to Japan could be advanced.