My father, Gao Huan, is an invincible prince!

Chapter 53 Now that I have come here, I shall carry out groundbreaking reforms!

The black cloth was suddenly pulled back, and the stench of blood mixed with the cool fragrance of camphor wood pierced the nostrils like a sharp blade, filling the entire hall.

Seeing Gao Cheng's deliberately mysterious demeanor, Li Xian and Cui Kai both frowned.

However, out of consideration for propriety, he still lowered his head and glanced at the black lacquered wooden box.

"what!"

But that single glance was enough to make both of them cry out in alarm, leaping abruptly from their seats, their faces turning deathly pale.

Li Xian stared intently at the human head with its beard and hair standing on end in the box, his pupils shrinking as his eyes were filled with disbelief and terror.

After a long pause, he struggled to clear his throat and managed to squeeze out a trembling voice: "This...this is...Zheng...Zheng Delin's head?"

"Indeed!"

Gao Cheng nodded slightly, a cold smile playing on his lips: "This is Zheng Delin, the current head of the Lianshan branch of the northern ancestral home of the Zheng family in Xingyang. The rebellion in Henan was instigated by this scoundrel. Now, all 321 members of his clan have been executed, leaving no one alive."

"What?"

Upon hearing this, the two were struck dumb, losing all trace of their former dignified demeanor and displaying only utter shock and panic.

"You...you..."

Cui Kai staggered back several steps, barely managing to steady himself by grabbing a pillar in the corridor. His voice trembled as he said, "Three hundred and twenty-one people, including the Shanfang lineage... not a single one survived? Gao Zihui! How dare you do this, how dare you do this? They are a century-old prominent family, are you not afraid of the united hatred of all the families in Hebei and their severing of ties with the Gao family?"

Gao Cheng raised an eyebrow and retorted, "Why wouldn't I dare? The Zheng family instigated a popular uprising and intercepted military supplies, their actions bordering on treason. I am acting on the Emperor's orders to oversee the affairs of Ye and to conduct a royal inspection tour. What is there to fear in punishing this traitor?"

He paused, his tone growing increasingly chilling: "Such heinous crimes, let alone just a branch of the Northern ancestral family, even the entire Zheng clan of Xingyang, I dare to exterminate their nine generations!"

Upon hearing this, Li Xian and Cui Kai both swallowed hard.

As they looked up, they saw deep fear in each other's eyes.

They originally thought that Gao Cheng was new to the area and his foundation was not yet stable, so he would not dare to make any rash moves against the powerful families of Hebei.

Unexpectedly, this young man was so ruthless, killing the head of a family without hesitation and wiping out a century-old clan without batting an eye.

How domineering!

Seeing the two men's pale faces, Gao Cheng couldn't help but sneer inwardly.

He immediately leaned back on the couch, and asked with a leisurely smile, "If you two uncles feel that I have been too ruthless, you might as well ask yourselves, if you were in this position today, would you have tolerated Zheng's antics?"

"This...I'll wait...I..."

Upon hearing this, the two were even more confused and stammered, unsure of what to say.

After all, if they were in a different place, they would probably find it difficult to tolerate such rebellious behavior, but such things are ultimately not easy to say out loud.

Gao Cheng took in the entire situation of the two men, knowing that the time was right. He no longer concealed anything, revealing his true colors as he said, "My two uncles, things have come to this point, so I might as well speak frankly. My trip to Ye this time is not merely to take charge of Ye's affairs, but to carry out groundbreaking reforms. Therefore, those who understand the times should be granted high-ranking positions and generous salaries, enjoying hereditary honors; those who oppose this will be exemplified by this box."

Having said that, he leaned back on the couch and said leisurely, "Both of you uncles are intelligent men. I imagine your two families do not wish to follow in the footsteps of the Zheng family, do you?"

Upon hearing this, Li Xian and Cui Kai were shocked, and cold sweat instantly soaked their backs.

Li Xian quickly forced a smile and said, "Your Highness... what do you mean by that? Our illustrious families in Hebei have been utterly loyal to the Gao family all these years, and have had no other intentions!"

"Completely loyal, with absolutely no other intentions?"

Upon hearing this, Gao Cheng immediately sneered and demanded, "If they are so loyal to the Gao family, why did they join forces with the Zheng family to intercept military supplies and force me to submit? If they are so loyal, why did they sit idly by and watch the chaos erupt in Hanoi, watching from the sidelines?"

Upon hearing this question, the two were speechless, their expressions changing repeatedly, and they lowered their heads, not daring to meet Gao Cheng's gaze.

The hall fell silent instantly, save for the incessant chirping of cicadas outside the window, which only amplified the chill in the air.

Seeing this, Gao Cheng stopped looking at the two men and turned to Gao Yang, saying, "Second Brother, fetch the imperial edict."

Upon hearing this, Gao Yang first glanced at the two of them with disdain before stepping forward to take the silk book that Gao Cheng had prepared and handing it to Gao Cheng.

Gao Cheng then casually picked out a card, first displaying it in front of Li and Cui, and then slowly said: "The Director of the Secretariat, who is in charge of all affairs of the Secretariat."

After saying that, he drew another card and said to the two men, "The Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel is in charge of central government affairs and is the highest-ranking assistant official in the Ministry of Personnel."

He then drew his sword again and said slowly, "The Imperial Censor is in charge of supervising all officials and impeaching those who break the law."

"......"

Gao Cheng read through all the imperial edicts one by one.

A short while later, all the imperial edicts were laid out on the table, each stamped with the bright red seal of the powerful government, except for the name field, which was completely blank.

Li Xian and Cui Kai were still somewhat confused by Gao Cheng's actions.

However, after hearing Gao Cheng describe the official positions, his breathing suddenly became rapid, and his gaze became fixed on the imperial edicts, his greed evident in his eyes.

This is because these powers are precisely what the powerful families of Hebei have been dreaming of since the Hebei Incident.

During the Heyin Incident, Erzhu Rong slaughtered all the nobles and officials in Luoyang, and the powerful families of Hebei also lost their power in the court.

For years, he could only be subordinate to the nobles of the Six Garrisons, holding sinecure positions such as local prefects and governors.

I have never seen such central power as the Director of the Secretariat or the Vice Director of the Ministry of Personnel.

But now, these things are right in front of them, seemingly within easy reach.

How could they not be excited?

As Gao Cheng gazed at the undisguised greed in their eyes, a cold smile crept onto his lips.

Without further delay, he took another wooden box, opened it, and presented the Emperor's Seal with both hands. He dipped it in cinnabar and stamped it on the edict one by one.

The bright red ink stains on the silk book stung the eyes of Li Xian and Cui Kai.

"This is my sincere intention."

After Gao Cheng stamped the edict, he pushed it in front of the two men and laughed, "In the end, what you all wanted—to send Zheng Dache into Jinyang and cause this disturbance in Hanoi—wasn't it this very thing?"

"Therefore, I have already prepared everything for you."

Li Xian and Cui Kai stared at the imperial edict stamped with the imperial seal, feeling their mouths dry and their hearts pounding. They instinctively reached out to take it.

"However..."

At this moment, Gao Cheng suddenly changed the subject, saying, "Whether you can truly obtain this item depends on your abilities and attitude. For these positions are already occupied."

Upon hearing this, the two men snapped back to their senses, a hint of hesitation appearing on their faces.

They certainly understood Gao Cheng's unspoken meaning, since these official positions were now firmly controlled by the nobles of Ye and their cronies.

In other words, Gao Cheng intends to use them as a weapon to fight to the death against the likes of Sun Teng and Sima Ziru.

Such a price is considerable.

But the allure of these official positions is so strong that even knowing they are in a pit of fire, they can't help but want to jump in.

Therefore, the two of them were now in a dilemma.

My heart is fluttering, yet I hesitate.

I want it, but I'm also afraid.

Gao Cheng took in the changing expressions of the two men without urging them on.

This is because he is well aware that although aristocratic families have always waited for the best price to come to them, they can also be tempted when the price is right in front of them.

After all, greed is something that has always been part of human nature.