Crown Prince of the Empire, I quit!

Chapter 1261 New Regulations

"We obey your order! Your Majesty is wise!" The thunderous cheers rang out, with more real awe and shock than before.

The court meeting ended, and under the emperor's will, the empire's machine began to speed up again in a painful but extremely efficient manner.

……

Half a month later, in the imperial study.

Under bright candlelight, Qin Ming continued to review memorials. The newly appointed Minister of Personnel and the Chief Censor stood respectfully below, reporting on the progress of filling vacancies and the names of the first batch of "Inspector Censors" to be dispatched.

Qin Ming carefully reviewed the document, peppering it with pointed questions that cut to the heart of the matter. Though nervous, the newly appointed Minister of Personnel answered fluently, evidently having painstakingly researched the resumes, achievements, and reputations of his chosen officials. A subtle flicker of satisfaction flashed in Qin Ming's eyes.

"Very good. Issue the appointments according to this list. Tell them that I am watching them." Qin Ming closed the roster, his tone calm but heavy.

"The minister obeys the order."

The Chief Censor presented the secret memorial of the Inspector Censor on the channel regulations and the first phase of the inspection plan, with the focus on the Jiangnan grain transport and the prefectures and counties along the river, which had just experienced severe pain.

Qin Ming quickly scanned the document and made several revisions. "The scope of the inspection will be expanded to all prefectures nationwide. The primary focus will be on the implementation of the 'Performance Evaluation Law' and the suffering of the people, followed by corruption. I want capable officials, not just honest ones. If you encounter mediocre officials or those who are just sitting there doing nothing, report them as well!"

"Yes! Your Majesty!"

After the two men left, Qin Ming rubbed his brow, a trace of imperceptible fatigue on his face, but his eyes remained sharp. He picked up another secret report, a summary of local reactions to the new policy submitted directly by the Commander of the Tingfeng Guard.

Secret reports indicate that the new policies are facing immense resistance, yet no one dares to openly resist. Officials are forced to focus their attention on official duties, significantly improving efficiency, but resentment and anxiety still simmer. The advancement of humble individuals has disrupted the existing power structure, sparking jealousy and rejection from established factions, leading to frequent friction. The excessive power of the patrolling censors has aroused widespread wariness and resistance among local officials... Within two weeks of the "Dengwengu" (Dengwengu), dozens of complaints have been filed, a mix of authenticity and falsehood, requiring considerable effort to sift through...

There were many problems and difficulties. But Qin Ming was not surprised, nor did he flinch. He knew that after scraping the bone to cure the poison, there would be pain. Breaking down the old world and establishing a new order was never a feast.

He picked up his red pen and wrote on a report about a local official's passive response to the "Performance Evaluation Law": "Lazy governance is a sin. Dismissal and investigation."

On another secret report about two merchants attacking each other in a bid for military supplies, he wrote: "Investigate! If it's a false accusation, they will be held guilty!"

On a complaint about a poor county magistrate being sidelined and squeezed out by local tyrants and clerks, he wrote: "Order the Imperial Inspector to investigate secretly. If the facts are true, the tyrants will be brought to justice, the clerks will be exiled, and if the county magistrate is incompetent, he will be dismissed as well!"

His instructions were still cold, precise, and decisive, like precise surgical operations, removing every lesion in the implementation of the new policies.

Qin Ming dealt with the oppressive officials in Jiangnan, Longxi, and the Central Plains with swift action. The bloody massacre of heads once again shocked the court and the people. After a brief period of distortion, the implementation of the new policies seemed to be forcibly put back on track. However, after experiencing a series of severe pains, the body of the empire, while outwardly stable, was increasingly turbulent undercurrents.

At court, the surviving officials grew increasingly cautious. They carefully weighed their words in their memorials and treaded cautiously in their actions, fearing that one misstep would lead to the fate of their colleagues, whose property had been confiscated and their families exterminated. Political discussions, once vibrant, now became dull and oppressive, as if everyone was wearing invisible shackles. Beneath the apparent efficiency lay a near-rigid obedience and a busyness driven by fear.

Qin Ming sat upright on the dragon throne, his gaze coldly surveying the hushed officials below. He had naturally sensed this change. Fear was his tool for enforcing discipline, but he knew it alone couldn't sustain the vitality of an empire. However, he had no other options at the moment. Troubled times call for harsh punishments, and deep-seated illnesses require drastic measures. Any slackness could undo all his previous efforts.

After court dismissed that day, Qin Ming didn't immediately return to the imperial study. Instead, he strolled to the observatory in the northeast corner of the palace. This spot, at its highest point, commanded a commanding view of most of the capital. It was dusk, and the setting sun stained the vast city in a warm golden glow. Smoke curled from cooking fires, and the faint hustle and bustle of the city life was faintly audible, creating a scene of peace and tranquility.

But Qin Ming's gaze passed beyond the prosperity before him, and cast towards the more distant south and west. The empire's territory was too vast. The majesty of the court and the emperor's will, emanating from the capital, passed through layers of transmission, and by the time they reached those border prefectures and counties, how much of it would remain?

"Your Majesty." Ying Qi appeared behind him silently like a ghost.

"Speak." Qin Ming didn't turn around.

"A summary of secret reports from inspectors throughout the country." Ying Qi handed over a small scroll of bamboo slips. "The new policies are being implemented, but resistance persists. Many people pretend to obey, but secretly disobey, especially in Jiangnan, Jingchu, and Shuzhong. Old officials and local tyrants are deeply entrenched, and many newly appointed officials from humble backgrounds are sidelined, isolated, or even... suffer 'accidents.' Three incidents, two fatalities and one serious injury, were reported as the result of accidents or sudden illness."

Qin Ming took the bamboo slips and ran his fingertips across the cold marks. There was no fluctuation in his eyes, only the air around him seemed to be a little colder.

"anything else?"

"The people...are complaining." Ying Qi's voice remained flat. "The 'Performance Evaluation Law' is being implemented with great urgency. Officials, driven by their desire for performance, are inevitably treating the people harshly. Forced conscription and forced labor are likely not isolated cases. The number of people complaining and crying out for justice at the 'Dengwen Drum' is increasing day by day. However... these complaints are also mixed with a large number of false accusations and attacks, making it difficult to distinguish truth from falsehood. Local officials are overwhelmed by the pressure and are filled with resentment."

Qin Ming was silent for a moment. All of this was within his expectations. Breaking down an old world inevitably brings pain and chaos. The demons and monsters of those places will never willingly leave the stage of history.

"There's one more thing." Ying Qi hesitated.

"speak."

"General Zhi of the Beiting Protectorate has sent an urgent report from eight hundred miles away." Ying Qi handed over another sealed letter. "The former land of the sacred tree has ostensibly submitted, but the people still secretly worship their former master, Hua Yunhong. There are also rumors...that Hua Yunhong is not dead, but is hiding among the people, waiting for an opportunity to restore the country. What's more, border patrols have spotted small groups of unidentified cavalry traveling back and forth, seemingly connected to certain powerful people within the territory."

Qin Ming unfolded the secret letter and quickly scanned it. Meng Zhi's handwriting was rough and urgent. He reported in detail the unusual movements on the border and the undercurrents among the people, requesting additional troops for a thorough investigation.

"Hua Yunhong..." Qin Ming whispered the name, a cold smile curling his lips. Even in death, his shadow still loomed over that land, a banner that united all those unwilling to accept their fate.

He put the secret letter away and cast his gaze into the distance once more. In the south, new policies were thwarted, and stubborn administrative problems remained. The Qiang tribes in the west, though temporarily in retreat, clung to their ambitions. In the north, the people's hearts were still swaying, and undercurrents were surging. And at court, officials were silent, their energy waning...