Chapter 24

Those who did not come to the court were Li Tianba's confidantes. After Zhao Hao dismissed the group of Li Tianba's confidants, he glanced outside of the hall. He expected some people to be coming soon.

Although the officials who had attended court were not Li Tianba's confidants, they were all coerced to his side through flattery and bribery. At this moment, they all looked terrified.

"Your Majesty, don't do it."

"Yesterday you cut off the prime minister and six other ministers. The imperial court's foundation was hurt. Today if you let off this group of officials, then the whole country will be completely paralyzed."

"W beg the emperor for mercy. Give them a chance, and we will immediately go to inform them and let them come to the court even with their illnesses."

The officials knelt down on the ground and gathered up the courage to intercede. They all felt that if they let things go on with the current rhythm, soon, they would be next in line to be dismissed or even worse- chopped up.

"I already dismissed them and now you want me to go back on my word? You want to turn me into a joke right?" Zhao Hao's expression was cold.

"Your Highness, even if you hate Marshal Li, such a move will cause great chaos in the country. As a member of the royal family, you really should think about this."

"Yes, please think twice, Your Highness."

The two officials said again.

"Oh, think twice? Do I still have to consider whether to let Li Tianba's gangsters continue to occupy my world?" Zhao Hao sneered, looked at the several officials who were begging for mercy and then he added: "I see your faces are pale. Some of you are even shaking, it seems you all might be sick too. Do you also want to take a leave?"

"Thank you, Your Highness, for your concern but we are okay."

The officials yelled quickly, their faces changed from white to purple, and their bodies shook more severely.

Zhao Hao straightened up, picked up the four treasures of the study, and moved his hand up and down writing up an imperial edict. He picked it up and read it out loud: "Some officials are seriously ill, and they are afraid that they will not be able to work on the affairs of the country effectively. I am considerate of the officials and therefore give a special decree: Every one of the sick officials will be allowed to serve as an eighth-rank official to fulfill their wish of service at a lower level. A black donkey and a sack of rice will be rewarded to them."

After reading it, he took out the jade seal and stamped it.

The officials were all dumbfounded.

" Damn! They've been demoted down to the eighth level!"

Their current rank was either 2nd or 3rd rank. Being demoted down to 8th rank meant that they couldn't even serve as 7th-rank county magistrates.

"The emperor is kind."

Despite their inner thoughts, they could only outwardly praise Zhao Hao's decision.

"Report!"

At this time, a sharp and long voice came from outside the court: "Luo Tie, Zhu Quan, Wu Yonggang, Fan Mou, Liu Xuezhi, Yang Daning and others are here."

"Bring them all in." Zhao Hao said.

Under the leadership of Bu Jian, more than a hundred people dressed as civilians swarmed into the Golden Phoenix Temple.

These people were the surviving remnants who were loyal to the royal family. They were all officials in the court before but after Li Tianba took power, some of them were unwilling to go against their original allegiance and be associated with him.

After Zhao Hao discussed with Bu Jian late last night, he asked him to call all these people back.

This group of old loyal officials who had not been killed knew that the only descendant of the royal family's orthodoxy was planning to reorganize the government and build a new court. Of course, they were extremely excited.

"We see the emperor, long live the emperor, long live the emperor."

"We see the emperor, long live the emperor, long live the emperor."

Every one of them stepped into the Golden Phoenix Temple, and knelt down under the throne with sincere and respectful faces, shouting neatly and loudly.

Outside the gate at noon, the bodies of Li Tianba's family were still being whipped. Everyone didn't know Zhao Hao's specific strength and whether he could beat Li Tianba, but they had already seen Zhao Hao's determination.

Looking at the demeanor of the newly arrived group, Zhao Hao felt excited. These were his officials. Standing up, he said loudly: "Everyone, I call you back to the court. I hope to get your support. I hope you won't let me down."

"Long live the emperor, long live."

"Long live the emperor, long live."

The newly appointed officials immediately replied

Zhao Hao was not wordy and began to assign them to their positions one by one.

"Luo Tie, you are a former high-ranking official of the Ministry of War, and you are well-versed in all matters of the Ministry of War. I appoint you as the minister of the Ministry of War, temporarily acting as the secretary of the Ministry of War."

"Zhu Quan, I appoint you as the minister of the household department, temporarily acting as the secretary of the household department."

"Wu Yonggang, I appoint you as the minister of the criminal ministry and temporarily the secretary of the criminal ministry."

"Fan Mou, I appoint you as a minister of the Ministry of Etiquette, temporarily acting as a book minister."

...

[Ding!]

[Congratulations, you have completed the main mission and have obtained an emperor gift package.]

After assigning the ministers their roles, the system prompted the completion of the main task.

Zhao Hao was however not overwhelmed. Although the court regime was already in his hands, it was hard to say whether he could hold it firmly and how long he could hold it because Li Tianba was currently leading his army back to the kingdom!

[Ding!]

[New mission Issued.]