"Your subject pays his respects to Your Majesty."
"Your guilty subjects, Fei Zhong and You Hun, pay their respects to Your Majesty."
Fei Zhong and You Hun wore plain clothes and wooden cangues. Zi Shou's heart lurched. This was bad.
"Fei Zhong and You Hun took bribes and perverted the law, and the Ministry of Punishments uncovered their crimes. I have been on leave lately, so I personally escorted them here to see Your Majesty."
"On leave?" Zi Shou looked Yang Ren up and down. "Enough leave. Since you're here, put in some overtime first and sort out the military affairs."
"I..."
Yang Ren wanted to speak but stopped, then wanted to speak again.
In theory, every official of Great Shang was a workaholic who loved overtime.
Although years of regular leave had improved their health and energy, their hearts remained deeply unsettled. With troubles at home and threats abroad, how could they enjoy a vacation in peace?
But...
He truly knew nothing about military affairs.
What little military knowledge he possessed had come from listening in when the Hall of Worthies recruited both civil and military talent.
"Yang Ren, why haven't you accepted the decree?"
Zi Shou slapped the desk. Put civil officials to military work and military officers to civil work, and chaos was bound to follow.
"I obey Your Majesty's decree."
Yang Ren had no choice but to try. At worst, he could ask veteran generals such as Wen Zhong and Lu Xiong more questions. Failing that, learning more was hardly a bad thing. At this critical hour of survival or destruction, one more person versed in military affairs could only help.
Zi Shou nodded. "Fei Zhong and You Hun have always disregarded minor details. They may fall short in small matters, but they have never failed