Chapter 2214

Zhu Yanyi nodded slightly. "Your Majesty understands your duty. That is good."

"Understanding duty is one thing," Yu Hua sighed, his voice heavy with helplessness. "But I truly have no one to use. Two-thirds of the scholars and officials in Great Yu are controlled by the Mohist School. On my side, I am truly empty-handed."

As an emperor, having no capable subordinates was a profound sorrow.

Zhu Yanyi pondered for a moment. "This is indeed important. Do you not plan to hold a special imperial examination next year?"

"The special examination is part of the solution, but cultivating talent takes time." Under the guidance of Ouyang Mingyue and others, Yu Hua had developed his own thoughts recently.

Zhu Yanyi thought for a while, then said seriously, "Distant water cannot quench a nearby fire."

"Exactly. Your Seat, do you have any method?" Yu Hua looked eager to learn.

Zhu Yanyi looked at her, speechless. "Why don't you ask your other three teachers?"

"Teacher Ouyang taught me how to be a good emperor, including how to know and use people well. I learned much from him.

Teacher Wuqing taught me that an emperor must be decisive, or chaos will follow.

Teacher Yan taught me the role of law in Great Yong. But none of them taught me how to solve the current crisis. Your Seat, you taught me about people's livelihood. For the sake of the people, you should give me a hint, shouldn't you?"

Yu Hua finished speaking, a hint of cunning appearing on his face.

Zhu Yanyi laughed. "So you were waiting for me. It seems you learned well from Teacher Ouyang." She paused, then said, "Actually, there is a method."

"Please teach me, Your Seat." In front of Zhu Yanyi, she was not an emperor, but a humble student.

Zhu Yanyi looked at Yu Hua and spoke slowly. "It is simple. Two words: Divide."

"Divide?" Yu Hua looked confused. "Please explain in detail, Your Seat."

"The Mohist School controls two-thirds of the scholars and officials. This means one-third are not under their control.

First, you must understand this one-third and bring them under your control. Even if some are mediocre, they may be useful later. So, first, win the hearts of this one-third.

Second, use this one-third to divide the other two-thirds. I do not believe there is no talent among the one-third. I also do not believe the two-thirds are united as one heart.

So, as long as you find one person with talent and ambition, you can breathe easier. As long as such a person exists, others will see the benefits of following you. Then, hearts among the two-thirds will naturally move. Once they move, the rest will be easy.

After the special examination, care for your imperial students. The two-thirds will gradually defect. You do not need them all to defect. Just a few will cause the Mohist School to divide itself. You need do nothing.

This is an open conspiracy. However, you must choose the right person to execute this early stage. They must be wise, talented, ambitious, and able to judge the situation."

Zhu Yanyi did not know much about such matters, but having read many history books, she understood some principles of ruler-minister relations.

Yu Hua listened and began to ponder. She had to admit that Zhu Yanyi’s words gave her a new perspective. If executed well, she would not fear having no one to use.

Zhu Yanyi added, "By the way, I brought five people back this time. They are from the Sage Academy. Two went to the border with the National Guard General. If extraordinary people appear, they will handle it. Three are currently at my residence. In the future, I will have them take turns protecting Your Majesty in the shadows. If anyone extraordinary comes to harm you, they will act. Otherwise, they will not interfere. I will bring these three to meet you tomorrow."

"Thank you for your trouble, Your Seat." Yu Hua was truly grateful.

Zhu Yanyi waved her hand. "I have done what I can. Whether Great Yu develops depends on you. When Great Yu truly develops, the Sage Academy will send students every year to reside here as National Guardians. You should keep this in mind."

Yu Hua understood this naturally. The Great Yu plane was close to the Sage Plane, but the Sage Plane had never forced them to submit. This was the benevolence of the Sage Plane. But now that such incidents had occurred, and they had helped the Yu family stabilize the Great Yu plane and the dynasty, they would not work for free. It was inevitable that the Great Yu plane would become a subordinate plane of the Sage Plane. Yu Hua accepted this naturally. "I will follow your arrangements, Your Seat."

Zhu Yanyi smiled faintly. "You do not need to find another place for them to live. Use the former State Preceptor’s mansion you gave me last time. Modify it into the Guardian Mansion. They will not interfere in other matters. This is your plane. The initiative remains with you."

Zhu Yanyi spoke plainly. Some things needed to be told to Yu Hua to prevent her from overthinking later.

Yu Hua nodded in understanding. His tense mood relaxed. Having a National Guardian Mansion was better than encountering another fraudulent State Preceptor in the future.

Moreover, the Great Yu Dynasty now had a guarantee. He would not worry about being helpless when extraordinary events occurred.

Most importantly, Yu Hua understood that cultivators like Zhu Yanyi would only stay in their world briefly, mainly for training. They had no interest in imperial power or wealth. They were largely uninterested in things in the Great Yu plane. Under such circumstances, how could Yu Hua disagree with becoming a subordinate plane of the Sage Plane?

Seeing Yu Hua agree so directly, Zhu Yanyi smiled. "Well, since you have no objections, do not worry about other things. Just rule your country well."

Zhu Yanyi smiled. Since the Great Yu Dynasty would become a subordinate plane of the Sage Plane, she had to help them.

Yan Aohan saw Zhu Yanyi’s expression and knew she was thinking of something else. On the way back, he asked, "Ani, what do you plan to do?"