Chapter 253

Chapter 253: Purge the Emperor’s Side!

When they met Ye Tianming, An Yan and the others felt rather complicated emotions.

An Yan in particular had originally wanted to assist Yang Jia in thoroughly reforming the Guanxuan Academy, but never expected things to turn out the way they did.

And when he came here, he had also heard that this young master now wanted to reform the Guanxuan Academy.

He naturally had some anticipation about this, though more than anything he felt uneasy, because he wasn’t sure whether this young master was acting on a whim or truly wanted to reform things.

Ye Tianming glanced at the people in the hall and smiled, “Welcome, all of you.”

An Yan said directly, “Young master, do you intend to carry out reforms?”

Ye Tianming nodded, “Yes.”

An Yan looked Ye Tianming straight in the eye, “Are you serious?”

Ye Tianming said, “Of course.”

An Yan looked at Ye Tianming without saying a word.

Ye Tianming smiled, “If I weren’t serious, why would I have called you all here? For fun?”

An Yan said in a measured tone, “How does young master plan to go about the reforms?”

Ye Tianming said, “What do you all think?”

Fazhen immediately said, “Personally, I think the Guanxuan laws of our Guanxuan universe are actually quite well developed. The problem lies with those who enforce them. If the enforcers are unjust, then even the best laws are useless. To address this, we first need to solve a systemic issue, which is placing constraints on the enforcers so they can’t do as they please.”

An Yan also gave a slight nod, “That’s right, it’s mainly a human problem. What we need to solve first is this human problem. But frankly speaking, so-called internal self-regulation is complete nonsense. I’ve never seen internal oversight that actually works.”

The group began to discuss among themselves. Both An Yan and Fazhen had a great deal of theory to offer, and once they got going, the words just kept flowing.

After talking for a while, the group suddenly noticed that Ye Tianming hadn’t said a single word. They all fell quiet and looked over at him.

An Yan looked at Ye Tianming, “Young master, what do you think?”

Ye Tianming said, “You’ve all made valid points, but I want to ask, have any of you actually put any of this into practice?”

Everyone froze.

Ye Tianming smiled, “I know your ambitions, and I know your intentions are good. But do you truly understand what the Academy is like right now? Do you know how vast the Guanxuan universe is?”

Everyone fell silent.

Ye Tianming said slowly, “Reform is something that must happen, but you must not rush, yet you also cannot afford to be too slow. We need to find the right balance. Fazhen, starting tomorrow, you will take a post at the ‘Judicial Court’ and begin by familiarizing yourself with all the cases that have piled up over the years……”

Then he turned to An Yan, “As for you, start as a clerical member of the Cabinet. I’m currently rebuilding the Cabinet and there’s a great deal to be done. You’ll be in charge of organizing and compiling everything.”

An Yan hesitated for a moment, then nodded, “Alright.”

Ye Tianming knew that An Yan had big ambitions and wouldn’t be satisfied with a minor Cabinet position. He smiled, “Don’t underestimate this role. The responsibilities of a Cabinet member are broad and specific, covering administration, management, finance, and more. It’s all-encompassing and full of tedious details. Doing it well is no simple matter.”

An Yan took a deep breath and nodded, “I understand.”

Ye Tianming nodded, then looked over at Fang Xiao and his granddaughter. Looking at the two of them, he smiled, “Elder Fang Xiao, you’ll go to the Inspection Court. I’ll assign several strong individuals to accompany you. You’ll be in charge of overhauling the Inspection Court. I need you to help me cultivate a group of outstanding and upright inspectors.”

Fang Xiao stared at Ye Tianming, “You’re really giving me that authority? I should say upfront, I tend to rub people the wrong way when I work. There will definitely be people coming to you to complain about me.”

Ye Tianming nodded, “I’ll back you up.”

He knew well that someone like Fang Xiao was a sharp blade. Used well, it could cut through anything. Of course, a blade like that also needed someone to support it, otherwise it would easily break.

Just like Fang Xiao’s ancestor Fang Yu in the old days, without the Guanxuan Sword Master backing him, Fang Yu wouldn’t have been able to accomplish anything of substance.

“What about me, what about me?”

Fang Qian suddenly spoke up.

Ye Tianming looked at Fang Qian and smiled, “As for you, how about staying with your grandfather at the Inspection Court as a junior staff member?”

“Just a staff member?”

Fang Qian was clearly expecting more and didn’t look particularly pleased.

“Idiot!”

Fang Xiao suddenly shot her a glare, “Young master is giving you a chance to train and grow.”

Fang Qian giggled, “I know…….”

Then she suddenly looked at Ye Tianming, “Young master, I always thought you were a good-for-nothing before, but now it seems like maybe you’re not quite as useless as I thought.”

Ye Tianming, “…….”

Fang Xiao’s face darkened. This little troublemaker, some things you keep to yourself, you don’t actually say them out loud!

Fang Qian also realized she’d misspoken, but she was quite composed about it, “Young master, I’m sorry, I won’t say it out loud next time.”

Ye Tianming smiled, “It’s fine. I’m someone who can take criticism, say whatever you like.”

The group looked at Ye Tianming, all of them a little curious. They found that this young master really did seem somehow different.

Shortly after, An Yan and the others all went to take up their posts, leaving only Qingshu of Tianxing Civilization in the hall.

Qingshu was also looking at Ye Tianming with curiosity. This young master was completely different from what she had heard.

Ye Tianming smiled, “Miss Qingshu, as for you, how about going to the Literary Academy to study under Master Gu Chen for a period of time?”

“Gu Chen?”

Qingshu’s eyes lit up, “Really?”

Gu Chen had a very prominent reputation in the real world, and within the Literary Academy he commanded enormous prestige, deeply respected by the Academy’s disciples.

Ye Tianming nodded, “Spend some time learning from him first. As for what comes after, I’ll arrange something for you then.”

Qingshu nodded, “Alright.”

After Qingshu and the others left, Ye Tianming was alone in the hall. He hadn’t assigned An Yan and the others to important positions on purpose. He wanted them to be patient and steady. Besides, placing them in important positions now could actually harm them, because it would be like putting them over an open flame.

Furthermore, An Yan and the others were all too young and had too many ideas. If they were given power now, serious problems could easily arise, and once problems arose, it would truly end up hurting them.

In truth, he knew he had the same issue himself, but An Yan and the others were different from him, because he, Ye Tianming, had the luxury of making mistakes.

After all, he was now the young master of the Yang family. Any mistake he made could be pushed upward, attributed to the will of the Guanxuan Sword Master…… but An Yan and the others had no such luxury. They had no room for error. The moment they made a mistake, they would be set upon from all sides.

Political struggle was never just about fighting and killing.

It still came down to not having enough strength!

Ye Tianming decided to pay a visit to the Sword Sect, hoping to secure their support. With the Sword Sect behind him, his reforms within the Academy would go far more smoothly.

Shortly after, Ye Tianming arrived at the Sword Sect. The moment he got there, he felt a powerful sword dao aura, and from deep within the Sword Sect, the sound of sword cries rang out from time to time.

He had barely stepped into the Sword Sect when a young sword cultivator appeared before him. The young cultivator saw him and was momentarily stunned, then said, “Young master?”

Ye Tianming gave a slight nod.

The young sword cultivator looked at Ye Tianming, “Is there something young master needs?”

Ye Tianming said, “I’d like to see your sect master.”

The young sword cultivator shook his head, “Young master, the sect master is not in the sect.”

Ye Tianming asked, “Do you know where she is?”

The young sword cultivator shook his head, “I don’t. The sect master hasn’t appeared in a very, very long time.”

After a brief silence, Ye Tianming said, “Then who is currently in charge of the Sword Sect?”

The young sword cultivator said, “Senior sister Ye Zhuxin.”

Ye Tianming said, “I’d like to see her.”

The young sword cultivator hesitated, then said, “Senior sister Ye Zhuxin is in closed-door cultivation.”

Ye Tianming smiled, “That’s fine then, I’ll just take a look around the Sword Sect.”

With that, he began walking into the Sword Sect.

The young sword cultivator suddenly stepped in front of Ye Tianming, “Young master, the Sword Sect has rules. There are certain areas that are off-limits.”

“Oh?”

Ye Tianming looked at the young sword cultivator, “Even I can’t go?”

The young sword cultivator showed no fear, meeting Ye Tianming’s gaze directly, “That’s correct, young master, you cannot either. These are the rules. If you force your way in, then I will have to offend you.”

As he spoke, his left thumb pressed against the hilt of his sword, ready to draw at any moment.

Ye Tianming suddenly reached out and pressed down.

Boom!

The young sword cultivator was instantly crushed to his knees by a terrifying force.

The young sword cultivator was stunned.

Ye Tianming looked at him, “Someone your age with cultivation like yours is clearly no fool. I’d wager someone above you deliberately put you up to this, with the aim of stirring up conflict between me and the Sword Sect. Am I right?”

The young sword cultivator’s expression immediately changed, “I……”

Ye Tianming smiled, “You’ve underestimated the Sword Sect’s leadership, and you’ve underestimated me.”

At that moment, a streak of sword light suddenly descended before Ye Tianming, and a woman slowly stepped out. It was none other than the current vice sect master of the Sword Sect, Ye Zhuxin, once a supreme genius of the Ye family.

Ye Zhuxin looked at Ye Tianming and smiled gently, “Greetings, young master.”

With that, she gave a bow.

Ye Tianming glanced at the young sword cultivator beside them. Ye Zhuxin raised her hand and swept it through the air.

The young sword cultivator was immediately pinned in place by a streak of sword light.

Ye Zhuxin looked at Ye Tianming, “I hadn’t expected that someone’s reach had extended even into my Sword Sect.”

Ye Tianming smiled, “Miss Ye, shall we talk?”

Ye Zhuxin nodded, “Of course.”

The two walked toward a nearby mountain.

Along the way, Ye Zhuxin said, “Young master, please speak freely if you have something to say.”

Ye Tianming said, “I’m hoping the Sword Sect can help me.”

Ye Zhuxin said, “Young master, with all due respect, you have not yet formally taken command of the Guanxuan universe. By the rules, the Sword Sect has the right to decline your orders.”

Ye Tianming said, “This is a request.”

Ye Zhuxin turned to look at Ye Tianming, “With the sword young master holds, you should have no rivals in this universe.”

Ye Tianming said quietly, “Miss, you know this, and so do our opponents. Yet they still dare to make their moves. So tell me…..why is that?”

Ye Zhuxin’s brows furrowed.

Clearly, the other side had no fear of the sword in Ye Tianming’s hands.

Just then, an elderly man suddenly appeared before the two of them. He bowed deeply to Ye Tianming, “Young master, the Expeditionary Army refuses to comply. They say young master has no authority to command the Expeditionary Army, and furthermore they say…….”

Ye Tianming smiled, “Say what?”

The old man said gravely, “They say young master is surrounded by treacherous advisors who are inciting young master to recklessly pursue reforms, destabilizing the Academy. They demand young master remove these individuals, otherwise……. they will purge the young master’s inner circle themselves!”

After hearing this, Ye Tianming sighed inwardly. What a bunch of nonsense. The Guanxuan Sword Master had only been gone for a thousand years, and already the Academy had descended into this much chaos.

This mess, he truly had no desire to clean up.