Although the Ministry of Personnel Selection was leisurely, it still had real work to do.
He wasn't in a hurry to act. As a newcomer, the best approach was to observe like he did in the Ministry of Rites, and avoid meddling.
The work should be left to the subordinates first.
After getting familiar with everything, it wouldn't be too late to decide what to do.
Chu Zhiyuan sat behind his desk, listening calmly to Ouyang Xun's report.
Ouyang Xun clearly and methodically explained the duties of the Ministry of Personnel Selection.
Chu Zhiyuan nodded occasionally as Ouyang Xun spoke, refraining from interrupting.
After Ouyang Xun finished, Chu Zhiyuan nodded: "Lord Ouyang, proceed according to the established procedures."
"Yes."
Chu Zhiyuan waved his hand.
Ouyang Xun returned to the first desk on the left and began to immerse himself in his work.
Chu Zhiyuan flipped through the scrolls on his desk one by one.
He asked Ouyang Xun about anything he didn't understand, showing a willingness to learn from his subordinates.
If he were to become emperor, he needed to understand how the Six Ministries operated and the conditions of the various prefectures and cities throughout the realm.
He couldn't be ignorant; that would make him a muddle-headed emperor.
Becoming emperor before understanding everything would easily lead to mistakes with far-reaching consequences.
An emperor wasn't a mere warrior who wielded the Son of Heaven's sword to kill people, but someone who governed the country and won the hearts of the people.
He now possessed a sharp mind and boundless energy, and while he wasn't afraid of governing the country, he lacked confidence and wanted to learn more.
The first step was to understand how the Six Ministries and the imperial court operated, and what the rules were.
The second step was to understand the current state of Da Jing, the real situation.
These two points couldn't be achieved through supernatural senses alone.
He needed to study diligently and conduct thorough research, which could also be considered a form of cultivation.
During this time, he also needed to recruit capable officials, powerful assistants, and confidants.
Gao Lingfeng could be considered one, and this Ouyang Xun seemed shrewd and capable as well, but he needed further observation.
He needed to discover more talented officials.
The Ministry of Personnel was the best place to do so, as it allowed him to understand the performance of officials throughout the realm.
Although it was superficial, it was far better than knowing nothing at all.
With his current ability to remember everything he saw, it wouldn't be difficult to memorize the performance of officials at all levels throughout the realm.
Thinking of this, he inexplicably thought of Huang Shirong.
Huang Shirong possessed the ability to remember everything she saw and could handle the affairs of the Zhenwu Division with ease. Not only was her martial skill formidable, but her administrative talent was also exceptional.
Compared to the Zhenwu Division, the officialdom was more suitable for her, but unfortunately, she was a woman.
He shook his head at this thought.
A grand hall not far from the Flying Heaven Sect's Heavenly Saber Pavilion was the Sect Leader's Hall.
At this moment, the hall was shrouded in gloom and despair, the atmosphere extremely oppressive.
Lu Donghu, sitting in the main seat, remained silent, his handsome face filled with melancholy.
On either side, two elders and four middle-aged men sat in grand master chairs.
The four middle-aged men hung their heads in silence, while the two elders stroked their beards, frowning and glaring.
The silver-faced elder said in a deep voice: "Sect Leader, we can't go in anymore! No matter how many times we go in, the result will be the same!"
"Senior Brother Qu," the square-faced elder on the opposite side frowned, "If we don't go in, what do we do? Are we just not going to the secret realm?"
"But going in is suicide!" The silver-faced elder said irritably: "Who dares to go in now? I certainly don't dare!"
"But if we don't figure out how to deal with them, are we just going to keep dragging this on? These demon beasts won't die on their own!"
"Then we can't rashly go in!"
"Uncle Qu, Uncle Liu," Lu Donghu waved his hand.
The two elders glared at each other like fighting cocks, then turned their gaze back to Lu Donghu.
Lu Donghu said: "Let's hold off for now and ask for outside help."
"The imperial court?" Another gaunt elder said in a deep voice: "The imperial court can't be relied on."
The silver-faced elder said coldly: "The imperial court is cunning enough. After learning about this secret realm, they deliberately didn't rush to send people to explore it. Now I finally understand why they weren't in a hurry."
Lu Donghu said calmly: "Because they know the danger."
After discovering the secret realm, they were extremely excited and kept the news tightly under wraps, fearing that the imperial court would find out, fearing that others would know.
As a result, they did obtain many good things, and even acquired several natural treasures.
But the cost was the loss of many experts from within the sect.
The secret realm contained both natural treasures and great dangers.
Grandmasters personally escorted them, but even grandmasters couldn't guarantee complete safety against those demon beasts.
These demon beasts possessed all sorts of strange abilities, making them impossible to guard against.
Over the past few years, the losses of experts far exceeded the losses in the Zhenwu Division.
The overall strength of the Flying Heaven Sect hadn't improved much, and was even less than if they had focused all their efforts on developing the Zhenwu Division.
A while ago, the imperial court learned of the existence of this secret realm.
They were immediately on high alert, thinking that the imperial court would shamelessly seize this secret realm.
As a result, the imperial court only sent two grandmasters to take a look, and then there was no further movement.
Lu Donghu now understood the reason.
The imperial court had experience and knew that new secret realms were full of danger, so they let the Flying Heaven Sect take the lead in exploring while they stayed behind.
He originally thought that the Flying Heaven Sect could withstand this danger, but now it seemed that he had overestimated himself.
A newly appeared type of demon beast was invisible and impossible to guard against. Even grandmasters couldn't discover or sense them.
The two grandmasters, Liu and Qu, had almost lost their lives.
The total annihilation of several grandmasters and Xiantian experts had a great impact on the strength of the Flying Heaven Sect.
Two grandmasters, unwilling to accept this, entered again after recovering from their injuries, but were still ambushed and seriously injured, almost losing their lives.
One advocated for going in again, while the other advocated against rash action.
Grandmasters were also afraid of death. Liu Ruixiang, who advocated for going in, wasn't unafraid of death, but because his son had died in it.
He was consumed by anger and wanted revenge.
The white-faced elder, Qu Qianbi, said in a deep voice: "In fact, sending grandmasters from the imperial court would yield the same result."
He looked at Liu Ruixiang: "Junior Brother Liu, do you think we are inferior to the imperial court's grandmasters?"
Liu Ruixiang snorted: "Six of one, half a dozen of the other."
Qu Qianbi said: "So if we can't do anything about these demon beasts, the imperial court will be the same. There's no need to ask the imperial court for help, we'll only be ridiculed by them."
The imperial court must be waiting to see the Flying Heaven Sect's joke.
They would laugh at the Flying Heaven Sect's incompetence, that even when a pie fell from the sky, they didn't have the ability to eat it.
"Uncle Qu, Uncle Liu," Lu Donghu said: "The imperial court still has experts."
"What experts?!" Qu Qianbi said disdainfully: "When they encounter those demon beasts, they will also be disoriented and even unable to discover them, and they will also lose their lives!"
"Senior Brother Qu!" Liu Ruixiang said coldly: "Are we just not going to enter the secret realm forever, and just watch as their corpses are exposed in the wilderness?"
"..." Lu Donghu remained silent.
How could he not want to bring back the bones of those dead disciples and bury them in peace?
But risking the loss of a grandmaster to do such a thing was simply not worth it.
"Sect Leader, Qu Ying requests an audience!" A clear and pleasant voice came from outside.
"Qu Ying, come in and speak!" Lu Donghu immediately smiled.
He looked at Qu Qianbi and smiled: "Uncle Qu, Xiao Ying has finally returned, don't scold her."
Qu Qianbi immediately smiled, but quickly restrained himself, suppressing his joy, and stroked his beard, grunting: "So rash and impetuous. We told her to go and come back quickly,
But she's been dawdling for so long before returning. If I don't scold her, who will I scold!"
Qu Ying lifted the curtain and strode into the hall.
She wore a blue robe, dressed as a man, with a slender figure carrying a jade green long saber on her back. She had the demeanor of a swordsman, heroic and full of spirit.
After entering, she cupped her fist and greeted everyone one by one.
Qu Qianbi said unhappily: "You still know to come back!"
"Grandpa, I've really broadened my horizons this time!"
Qu Ying couldn't wait to tell them about her experiences along the way.
They had all watched her grow up, and she didn't stand on ceremony, recounting the events as they happened.
