These words of Gao Yang suddenly rang out in the Golden Luan Hall, startling all the officials.
They all stared wide-eyed at Gao Yang.
In just a few sentences, they felt a bone-chilling coldness.
First give him a few taels of silver and let him go. Then see which relatives or friends he turns to and eliminate them all.
Even when the little boy suddenly appeared, it was considered abnormal. They had to strictly check under the bed, the rice vat, and the closet for his younger siblings.
When making the move, stab each of his chest on the left and right. Make sure it's a fatal blow!
Cruel!
Too cruel!
Wang Zhong looked at Gao Yang in horror, his heart trembling wildly.
"Has the Gao family, a century-old military family, produced such a sinister descendant?"
"If he gains power, won't even the earthworms of the old Wang family be split in half?"
Not to mention Wang Zhong, even Gao Feng felt a chill.
These words came from his son?
For a moment, the gazes of all the civil and military officials were fixed on Gao Yang.
Qin Zhenguo, the Great General of the Right Wei Army of the Great Qian, said, "Your Majesty, what the son of Minister Gao said makes sense. If the father of the little boy knew to eradicate the roots, there wouldn't be the disaster of extermination today."
"I agree."
These words also brought Wu Zhao back to her senses.
She looked around, her beautiful face carrying a hint of interest.
This question is neither difficult nor simple. The main issue is that in the Great Qian, kindness and righteousness prevail, and there are too many talented people bound by rules and customs.
If it were really for revenge of extermination, not to mention the little boy, even the ants in the enemy's mansion would have to be cut in half.
But it's just a hypothetical situation. For the so-called kindness, morality, and reputation, few people would publicly choose to eradicate the roots.
Not to mention someone like Gao Yang, who first gives a few taels of silver and sees which relatives or friends he turns to and eliminates them all.
Even the sudden appearance of the little boy was just something she said, and even she, the one who set the question, didn't think deeply about it.
But Gao Yang noticed even this point. Who was the sudden appearance of the little boy protecting?
Failing to eradicate the roots will put oneself and one's family in danger.
In Wu Zhao's eyes, this is a very stupid thing.
This Gao Yang is somewhat interesting.
"If the roots are not eradicated, they will grow again with the spring breeze. If the father of the little boy had been determined to eradicate 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 addressed to all the officials, and the second sentence was directed at Gao Yang.
Gao Feng looked surprised.
Was this disobedient son satisfactory to Her Majesty the Empress?
Although Gao Feng found it quite hard to believe, this was a great thing for the Duke of Dingguo's Mansion.
Wu Zhao looked at Gao Yang and said indifferently, "The first question was just a small test of mine."
"But to become an official of my Great Qian and plead for the people, it's not that simple."
Gao Yang looked at Wu Zhao, first glanced at the long legs hidden beneath the dragon robe, and then said, "Please bestow the question, Your Majesty."
"I am willing to serve Your Majesty with all my heart."
This empress is somewhat interesting. Instead of testing the Four Books, Five Classics, poetry, and classics, it's these strange questions.
He was really curious about what the next question of Wu Zhao would be.
Wu Zhao's phoenix eyes swept towards the officials, "This question is not only for the son of Minister Gao. All my dear officials can also speak freely. Whoever satisfies me, I will surely reuse!"
As soon as these words were spoken, some officials of low status had their eyes light up and were eager to have a try.
If they could be reused by Wu Zhao, they would surely rise rapidly in their careers!
Wu Zhao spoke indifferently, "You are a tea merchant from another place and contracted a barren mountain in a remote and poor area of Jiangnan. But if you want to grow tea, you have to clear the land first. However, the local people are extremely lazy. Not only are they unwilling to clear the land, even if a few are recruited, they work extremely sluggishly. As the time for growing tea is approaching, what should be done?"
As Wu Zhao spoke indifferently, for a moment, all the civil and military officials frowned.
This question was one of her finale questions. Whoever could hand in a perfect answer must have astonishing talent!
Her phoenix eyes swept across the court, and all the officials lowered their heads.
Even Cui Xinghe frowned tightly.
This question was rather difficult to solve.
A tea merchant from another place went to a remote and poor area of Jiangnan and contracted a barren mountain.
There are three difficulties in this.
First, the tea merchant is a stranger in the area and has no great support except for money.
Second, the local people are naturally lazy. Clearing the land is hard and tiring. It's very difficult to recruit people unless with high wages!
Third, even if recruited with high wages, the people will slack off.
What Wu Zhao wants is not only to solve this matter but also to have an optimal answer to demonstrate ability.
This question is very challenging.
Wang Zhong didn't know the twists and turns. He directly said, "Your Majesty, what's so difficult about this? If no one responds at double the wages, then triple it!"
"With heavy money, aren't you afraid that there will be no people responding to clear the land?"
Wu Zhao shook her head, "General Wang, your words are wrong. Since it's a merchant, naturally they value profits. Triple the wages. Although there will be people responding, won't the cost increase significantly?"
"Furthermore, as I said, even if the people go to work, most of them are lazy. The tea merchant has no foundation in Jiangnan and it's difficult to restrain them. How to solve this?"
Upon hearing this, Wang Zhong's face changed.
What he thought was still too shallow.
"It was this general's lack of consideration, but Your Majesty, this question is too difficult."
"It's a remote and poor area, and the people are naturally lazy. If the wages aren't increased, how could there be people responding?"
"And laziness is human nature. In a remote and poor area like this, the people must be even lazier. This slackness is simply impossible to curb!"
"This question has no solution."
As soon as Wang Zhong said this, all the officials nodded in agreement.
This was exactly what they were thinking.
Wu Zhao's face was cold, and a thick sense of dignity surrounded her.
She said indifferently, "Since it's a selection for great talents for the country and the people, how could it be too simple? In the world of the Great Qian, there are numerous administrative affairs that are more difficult to handle than this. Could they all be left unattended?"
"This general dares not!" Wang Zhong hurriedly knelt down.
At this moment, under the thick dignity surrounding Wu Zhao, all the officials lowered their heads.
Wu Zhao continued, "For this question, clearing the land is not difficult, and farming is not difficult. But it's very difficult to complete the land clearing at the lowest cost and the fastest speed."
"Cui dear minister, you are the number one scholar of my Great Qian. It is said that you composed poems at the age of eight and mastered the classics at the age of twelve. You are one of the four literary talents of Chang'an and have astonishing literary talent. Do you have a solution?"
Wu Zhao asked indifferently, her gaze falling on Cui Xinghe.
Cui Xinghe frowned tightly and then shook his head with a wry smile, "Your Majesty, I haven't thought it through yet. But give me another stick of incense time, and I will surely give Your Majesty a satisfactory answer."
The solution in his heart was a bit more brilliant than Wang Zhong's, but it definitely wouldn't satisfy Wu Zhao.
He needed to think more.
Wu Zhao's eyes were cold and she only said indifferently, "Then Minister Cui, think again."
Immediately after, she turned her eyes to an old Confucian scholar with grizzled hair.
"Mr. Zhou, you are a university scholar of the Hanlin Academy and a literary giant of my Great Qian."
"Do you have a solution?"
Mr. Zhou's body trembled and then shook his head in embarrassment.
"This old minister doesn't have a better way yet."
What he thought was similar to Wang Zhong, that was to increase the money.
But this point was obviously rejected by Wu Zhao.
The coldness in Wu Zhao's eyes grew stronger, but it wasn't revealed.
Finally, she turned her eyes to Gao Yang and said indifferently, "Gao Yang, do you have a solution?"
Gao Yang shook his head, "I also need to think."
Although he wasn't happy with Cui Xinghe, after all, this Cui Xinghe was a talent of the number one scholar.
Not to mention this Mr. Zhou, who was no simple either. A Confucian scholar of the Hanlin Academy and a literary giant.
They all needed to think. If he blurted out the answer, it would be too offensive.
Although he wasn't happy with these two, there was no need to make enemies in public.
This didn't conform to Gao Yang's way of dealing with people in his previous life.
Wu Zhao's mouth curved up, "Oh?"
"You answered my imperial proclamation for seeking talents. I treat you differently from others. If you can't think of a solution, then I will charge you with the crime of deceiving the emperor."
"Where are the Black Ice Guards?"
Wu Zhao said solemnly.
Outside the hall, several armed forbidden troops entered the hall, their faces cold.
Gao Feng's body trembled.
The crime of deceiving the emperor would implicate the entire Gao family.
Would the century-old foundation of the Gao family be ruined just like this!
Just as he was about to step forward to plead guilty, a voice came from behind.
"Your Majesty, I suddenly thought of a few strategies. It seems they can solve this question."