Chapter 433 - 362: Why Bother with Such Pretense
Chapter 433: Chapter 362: Why Bother with Such Pretense
The slightest misstep could lead to the nobles banding together to cause trouble. The entire Qin Kingdom could fracture, and the other Allied States would be even more likely to take advantage of the weakness.
However, the Sovereign of Qin issued a Holy Decree to recruit Guest Ministers from the Allied States.
The Sovereign of Qin used the three-tiered Guest Minister system that Xiao Mo had proposed as a foundation, establishing even more specific regulations.
Broadly speaking, it came down to three points.
First, appointments were based solely on talent. Regardless of one’s background—be it a fallen noble, a commoner, or even a foreign spy—anyone with genuine ability could be hired.
Second, merit was paramount, not empty reputation. The only real currency for advancement was "merit," especially military achievements and tangible policy results. Those who only spoke of benevolence and morality would find it difficult to gain a foothold in the Qin Kingdom.
Third, the Sovereign of Qin deliberately intensified the competition among the Guest Ministers.
Because Guest Ministers were transient, their positions and titles could not be inherited. A high official today could be dismissed tomorrow for a failure.
Thus, Xiao Mo could already envision the ruthless competition among the Guest Ministers, where ’the capable rise, the average yield, and the mediocre fall.’
Of course, the Qin Kingdom would absolutely not be stingy with capable Guest Ministers, granting them ample rewards and respect.
As for the recruitment channels for Guest Ministers, there were two main paths.
Both recommendations from others and self-promotion were acceptable.
The Sovereign of Qin specially authorized certain officials to assess potential Guest Ministers.
Those who passed the assessment would be granted the status of "Guest Minister."
They would then be recommended to the Sovereign of Qin.
The Sovereign of Qin would test them by assigning them specific government tasks, such as serving as an envoy to another state, acting as a military advisor, leading troops in battle, or overseeing a particular project.
If they distinguished themselves during this probation, they would be granted a substantive post and a title.
The highest they could rise was to the rank of Prime Minister.
Of course.
If a Guest Minister performed meritorious service, the one who recommended them would also receive a reward.
After this edict was announced, news of the Qin Kingdom’s recruitment of Guest Ministers spread far and wide.
Some talented individuals from the Allied States who were in the Qin Kingdom’s Imperial City wrote directly to Prince Shuang’s Mansion, requesting an audience with the Frost King.
Xiao Mo, naturally, did not refuse them.
And Xiao Mo truly did discover several outstanding individuals.
The first was a man named Bai Qi. Bai Qi was originally from the Qin Kingdom. He had been strong since he was young but lost his father at an early age.
When he was thirteen, a young master from a wealthy family humiliated his mother. Bai Qi beat the young master to death and fled with his mother to the Qi Kingdom, where they remained for seven years.
A few months ago, a relative passed away, so he risked returning to the Qin Kingdom to attend the funeral.
Hearing that the Qin Kingdom was widely recruiting Guest Ministers, Bai Qi wanted to try his luck.
Although Bai Qi’s Realm was only at Qi Cultivation, his talent was not lacking; he simply lacked resources. Moreover, he was a grand strategist and well-versed in the art of war.
However, the man’s belligerence was too strong; he still needed to be tempered and polished.
But barring any accidents, his future accomplishments would be considerable.
The second person was named Zhang Yi.
This man was eloquent and hailed from the Chu Kingdom. He was already three hundred years old.
Zhang Yi was the descendant of a noble family and was at the Dragon Gate Realm. He had once studied the Art of Cross and Vertical under Gui Guzi and was a member of the School of Diplomacy.
In his early years, he had been unsuccessful in persuading the various Dukes. He was humiliated in the Chu Kingdom and was even framed, causing his family to scatter. Zhang Yi also left Chu and came to the Qin Kingdom.
Zhang Yi knew when to advance and when to retreat, understood propriety, possessed both courage and cunning, and had an exceptionally sharp judgment of the political situation.
The third person was named Baili Xi.
Baili Xi was born in the Yu Kingdom to a poor family. He was even a mortal, without a Spirit Root, and was unable to cultivate.
He was now sixty years old.
In this world, a sixty-year-old man who couldn’t cultivate was practically buried up to his neck.
When a Maid reported to Xiao Mo that "an old man over sixty years of age wishes to interview for the position of Guest Minister," Xiao Mo was stunned.
But Xiao Mo still felt he should meet the man, so he allowed him into the mansion.
As it turned out, Xiao Mo discovered the man was widely read, had a profound understanding of the human heart, was skilled at analyzing human nature, and possessed especially deep insights into internal affairs! He was a capable minister who could govern a nation.
After Xiao Mo made him a Guest Minister, Baili Xi strongly recommended Uncle Jian.
Xiao Mo had someone take Baili Xi’s letter to bring Uncle Jian back to the Qin Kingdom.
Seeing that the world-renowned Frost King had accepted Guest Ministers in such a short time, many people thought they could do it too and flocked to Prince Shuang’s Mansion to recommend themselves.
But most were cunning and untalented individuals merely hoping to gain some benefit.
In the end, Xiao Mo decided to let Xiahou Nan help him "interview" them, sending these people to Xiahou Nan’s mansion in West City.
If Xiahou Nan felt someone was suitable, he would then meet them himself.
And after Xiao Mo recommended Bai Qi and the others to the Sovereign of Qin, the Sovereign was overjoyed and spoke with Zhang Yi and Baili Xi through the night.
As for Bai Qi, the King of Qin also felt the young man’s edge was too sharp and needed tempering. He sent him to the Northern Wilderness Army, planning to make him Xiao Mo’s Vice General in the future.
Furthermore, the Sovereign of Qin had Xiao Mo select his own core team, a matter that also had Xiao Shi’s blessing.
Xiao Mo knew that the Sovereign of Qin and his own father wanted him to take over the Northern Wilderness Army in the future.
Since the New Year was approaching, the Sovereign of Qin simply had some of Xiao Mo’s old acquaintances return to the city.
This included Xiao Yang, Xiao Fu, and others who had studied Fist Technique with Xiao Mo, as well as his contemporaries from the Iron Tiger Army.
Among his Xiao clansmen, only Xiao Yang, Xiao Fu, and Xiao Dashi impressed Xiao Mo enough for him to take them on as subordinates.
As for Xiao Mo’s contemporaries from the Iron Tiger Army, men like Zhao Wei and Xu Yongsheng had, after all, left the Iron Tiger Army alive. Their cultivation talent and skills in marching and warfare were already considerable, and the years of training had made them even more mature. Xiao Mo naturally accepted them all.
They all stayed with Xiahou Nan in West City. Xiao Mo had General Xiahou give them some lessons, and Xiao Mo himself would often go find them for a drink.
Just ten days before the New Year, Eldest Princess Ji Yue of the Jin Kingdom arrived in the Qin Kingdom’s Imperial City.
The Eldest Princess arrived half a year early, first, to learn the customs of the Qin Kingdom, and second, to demonstrate the sincerity of the Jin Kingdom.
With the future Second Imperial Consort having arrived, Xiao Mo and Qin Siyao naturally had to pay a visit to the Second Prince’s Mansion.
The Second Prince and the future Imperial Consort personally received Xiao Mo and Qin Siyao.
Although this Eldest Princess’s beauty truly couldn’t compare to Qin Siyao’s—she was perhaps only eighty percent as beautiful.
But Qin Siyao was hailed as the number one beauty in the Allied States, so for Ji Yue to possess eighty percent of Qin Siyao’s looks already made her beautiful enough to topple cities and nations.
Moreover, the Eldest Princess had a gentle and elegant temperament. Her way of treating people made one feel as if bathed in a spring breeze. Her every move exuded the grace of a highborn lady. She truly did not bring shame to the Jin Kingdom’s Royal Family, and was more than worthy of being the Second Imperial Consort. On top of that, she got along exceptionally well with Qin Siyao.
After Qin Siyao and Xiao Mo came out, Qin Siyao muttered nonstop, "’Sister Ji Yue is such a wonderful person. How did she end up stuck on a pile of cow dung like my brother?’"
Xiao Mo, on the other hand, felt that the Second Prince was a perfectly good match for the Princess of Jin.
But... for some reason, Xiao Mo felt a distance between the Second Prince and the Princess of Jin.
’It’s not just because he dislikes the marriage,’ Xiao Mo thought. ’It seems more like a loathing that comes from the bottom of his heart.’
...
「Second Prince’s Mansion.」
After seeing Xiao Mo and Qin Siyao out of the mansion, Princess Ji Yue of Jin returned to the courtyard.
"Have Siyao and the others left?"
In the courtyard, the Second Prince, Qin Jingyuan, picked up his wine cup and drained it in one gulp.
Qin Jingyuan was not usually a heavy drinker, but ever since the engagement, he had been drinking alone every day, as if trying to numb himself.
"Yes, Husband. The Princess and the others have left." Ji Yue nodded.
"Mm," Qin Jingyuan said, downing another cup.
Seeing the white snow falling ceaselessly on her husband’s shoulders, Ji Yue slipped the cloak from her own and walked behind Qin Jingyuan, intending to place it over him.
"Don’t touch me!"
The moment the Eldest Princess’s hand accidentally brushed against Qin Jingyuan’s shoulder, he shot to his feet.
Ji Yue’s delicate body trembled slightly. She bit her lip, standing frozen in place.
"You’re nothing but a pawn! This marriage wasn’t your choice either, so why the hypocritical act? Get out!"
Qin Jingyuan roared at Ji Yue.
Ji Yue’s hands trembled, her eyes filled with tears. She slowly spoke, "The snow is heavy and the weather is cold. Husband, please take care of your health..."
Ji Yue gave a slight bow, clutched the cloak, and retreated into her room.
The white snow drifting down from the sky grew heavier.
Qin Jingyuan sat on the stone bench, cup after cup.
Finally, the man simply tossed the cup aside, lay down in the snow, and, raising the wine jug, drank directly from it until he was gradually buried by the falling white flakes.