Gao Yang's words suddenly rang out in the Golden Luan Hall, startling all the officials.
They widened their eyes and stared at Gao Yang.
In just a few sentences, they felt a bone-chilling coldness.
First, give him a few pieces of silver and let him go, then see where he seeks refuge, and eliminate those too.
He even believed the sudden appearance of the little boy to be unusual and suggested thoroughly checking under the bed, inside rice barrels, and cabinets for his siblings.
When taking action, strike one blade to the left chest, one to the right, ensuring a deadly blow!
Cruel!
Too cruel!
Wang Zhong looked at Gao Yang with shock and fear, his heart shaking.
"A hundred years of the Gao family's military heritage, and there's such a treacherous descendant?"
"If he takes power, will the Wang family's worms be split in half?"
Not only Wang Zhong, even Gao Feng felt a chill.
These words, they came from his son?
For a moment, all the civil and military officials focused their attention on Gao Yang.
General Qin Zhengguo of the Right Wei Guard spoke, "Your Majesty, the words of High Minister Gao's son are not without merit. If the little boy's father had understood the principle of eliminating the roots, there would have been no family destruction today."
"I agree."
This made Wu Zhao snap back to attention.
Her gaze swept over, and her beautiful face showed a look of intrigue.
This question was neither too difficult nor too simple; the main issue was that the state of Da Qian valued benevolence and righteousness, and many talented people were bound by rules and social conventions.
If revenge for a family's destruction was truly the goal, forget the boy, even the ants in the enemy's household would be cut in half.
But in the case of a hypothetical situation, for the sake of so-called benevolence and reputation, few would openly choose to eliminate the roots.
Not to mention someone like Gao Yang, who would first give silver, then observe where he sought refuge and eliminate them all.
Even the sudden appearance of the little boy was something Wu Zhao had casually mentioned, without considering it deeply.
Yet Gao Yang had noticed this detail—who was the little boy protecting by suddenly appearing?
Failing to eliminate the roots would place oneself and one's family in danger.
This, in Wu Zhao's eyes, was a very foolish act.
This Gao Yang was interesting.
"Failing to eliminate the roots, and the spring wind blows again—the little boy's father, if he had been ruthless and eliminated the roots back then, how could there be today's disaster?"
"I am very satisfied with your answer to the first question."
Wu Zhao's first sentence was directed at the officials, and the second was aimed at Gao Yang.
Gao Feng looked on in disbelief.
This son of mine has pleased the Empress?
Though Gao Feng found it hard to believe, it was a great thing for the Gao family.
Wu Zhao's gaze turned to Gao Yang, and she spoke indifferently, "The first question was just a small test from me."
"But if you want to become an official of Da Qian and serve the people, it's not so simple."
Gao Yang looked at Wu Zhao, first sweeping his eyes over her long legs hidden under the dragon robe, then said, "Please, Your Majesty, give me the next question."
"I am willing to serve Your Majesty with all my strength."
This Empress was interesting. She didn't test the Four Books and Five Classics, nor poetry and Confucian classics, but instead, she asked these strange and peculiar questions.
He was genuinely curious about what her next question would be.
Wu Zhao's phoenix eyes swept over the officials, "This question is not just for Gao Minister's son. All you officials may speak freely. Those who satisfy me will be promoted!"
As soon as these words were spoken, some lower-ranking officials lit up with excitement.
If they could be favored by Wu Zhao, they could rise to great heights!
Wu Zhao's voice was calm as she spoke, "You are a foreign tea merchant who has contracted a barren mountain in the impoverished lands of Jiangnan. But to plant tea, you must first clear the land. However, the local people are extremely lazy. Not only do they refuse to clear the land, even when you hire a few, they work lazily. The tea planting season is fast approaching—what should be done?"
As Wu Zhao spoke softly, the entire court frowned.
This question was one of her final tests. Whoever could answer it perfectly would undoubtedly be a talent of extraordinary caliber!
Her phoenix eyes scanned the court, and all the officials bowed their heads in silence.
Even Cui Xinghe frowned deeply.
This question was indeed a tough one.
The foreign tea merchant traveled to Jiangnan's desolate, remote mountains and contracted the barren land.
There were three major difficulties here.
First, the foreign tea merchant was unfamiliar with the area and had no significant support apart from his wealth.
Second, the local people were naturally lazy, and land reclamation was a difficult and exhausting task. Unless they were offered high wages, it would be hard to find laborers.
Third, even if high wages were offered, the people would still work half-heartedly and be lazy.
Wu Zetian's goal was not only to solve this problem but also to find the most optimal solution, showcasing her ability.
This was a highly challenging question.
Wang Zhong, however, did not fully understand the complexities and immediately spoke up, "Your Majesty, what's so difficult about this? If no one responds to the wages at one times the pay, offer two or three times the wage!"
"With such a large amount of money, how could the people not respond to the reclamation efforts?"
Wu Zetian shook her head. "General Wang, your suggestion is flawed. As a merchant, one should seek substantial profits. While offering three times the wage may attract some people, the cost would rise significantly."
"Furthermore, as I said, even if the people come to work, most will be lazy. The tea merchant has no foundation in Jiangnan, so it will be difficult to control them. How do you resolve this?"
Wang Zhong's expression changed as he realized his mistake.
His thinking was too shallow.
"It was my mistake, but Your Majesty, this question is too difficult."
"The local area is a poor, remote place, and the people are lazy by nature. How can you expect them to respond if you don't increase the wages?"
"Laziness is in human nature, and in such a poor, remote area, the people will only become lazier. It's nearly impossible to curb this kind of work reluctance!"
"This problem has no solution."
Once Wang Zhong spoke, the officials nodded in agreement.
This was exactly what they all had in mind.
Wu Zetian's face grew colder, her presence radiating with intense authority.
She calmly replied, "If we are to select talents for the country and the people, it cannot be too simple. In the vast Da Qian empire, there are numerous complicated state affairs that are much more difficult than this one. Should we simply ignore them?"
"I dare not!" Wang Zhong quickly knelt.
At that moment, under Wu Zetian's overwhelming presence, all the officials bowed their heads.
Wu Zetian continued, "This task, land reclamation is not difficult, nor is farming. But completing the reclamation at the lowest cost and the fastest speed is a true challenge."
"Cui Aiqing, you are the top scholar of Da Qian. It is said that you wrote poetry at eight, mastered the classics at twelve, and are one of the four great talents of Chang'an, with impressive literary skills. Do you have a solution?"
Wu Zetian asked indifferently, her gaze fixed on Cui Xinghe.
Cui Xinghe furrowed his brow and then smiled wryly, shaking his head. "Your Majesty, I have not yet figured it out, but if you give me a moment, I will surely present a satisfactory answer."
His plan, though a bit more sophisticated than Wang Zhong's, would certainly not satisfy Wu Zetian.
He needed more time to think.
Wu Zetian's gaze turned cold as she simply said, "Then take your time, Cui Aiqing."
Next, her gaze fell upon an elderly scholar with graying hair.
"Old Master Zhou, you are a grand scholar of the Hanlin Academy, a giant of Da Qian's literary world."
"Do you have a solution?"
Old Master Zhou froze for a moment, then awkwardly shook his head.
"I do not have a better solution, Your Majesty."
His thoughts were similar to Wang Zhong's—offering more money.
But this approach had clearly been rejected by Wu Zetian.
Wu Zetian's coldness intensified, though she did not reveal it.
Finally, her gaze turned to Gao Yang, and she said indifferently, "Gao Yang, do you have a solution?"
Gao Yang shook his head. "I also need to think."
Although he was displeased with Cui Xinghe, after all, Cui was the top scholar.
Moreover, Old Master Zhou was no simple figure, being a great scholar of the Hanlin Academy, a giant of the literary world.
They both needed to think more. If Gao Yang spoke too quickly, he might offend them.
Even though he was not fond of the two, there was no need to make enemies in public.
This was not in line with Gao Yang's way of handling things in his previous life.
Wu Zetian smiled faintly. "Oh?"
"You have answered my imperial edict, Gao Yang. I am different from others when it comes to you. If you can't come up with an answer, I will charge you with the crime of deceiving the emperor."
"Where are the Black Ice Guards?"
Wu Zetian spoke authoritatively.
Outside the hall, several heavily armed guards stepped into the hall, their faces cold.
Gao Yang's body trembled.
The crime of deceiving the emperor could lead to the ruin of his entire family.
Would the Gao family's century-old foundation be destroyed just like that?
He was about to stand up and plead for mercy when he suddenly heard a voice from behind.
"Your Majesty, this humble subject has just thought of a few strategies. It seems that they might solve this problem."