Golden Ranking Appears, My Empress Turns Out to Be Wu Zhao

[Nine Provinces – Renowned Minister Ranking]

[In the vast lands of Nine Provinces, amidst the many kingdoms and dynasties, countless wise and foolish Emperors have risen. Naturally, many talented ministers have also emerged]

[Some excel in governance, others in reform. Some would rather die than surrender their integrity, while others save their nations from crises]

[The Heaven Dao now establishes the Renowned Minister Ranking]

[All ministers serving under the various Royal and Imperial Courts of Nine Provinces's kingdoms and dynasties may be ranked, based on their administrative skill, statecraft, strategic prowess, strength, and potential]

[This ranking includes only ten names. All those who make the ranking shall receive a Heaven Dao Reward]

[The ranking will be updated once every year]

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Renowned Minister Ranking?

Interesting. The Renowned Marshal Ranking had already been revealed, now it was finally time for the civil ministers of each nation!

This time, quite a few people had indeed guessed correctly.

Previously, the ranking focused on the Demon Dao Land Immortals of Nine Provinces.

Now, it was finally the civil ministers of the kingdoms and dynasties that took the stage.

In an instant, every Royal and Imperial Court across Nine Provinces was in an uproar.

Even the smallest nation had ministers worthy of praise.

Perhaps, one or two truly had a chance to be ranked among the renowned ministers of Nine Provinces.

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Former Southern Song Imperial Palace.

Temujin sat high upon the dragon throne, his complexion pale.

These past days, his temper has been exceptionally bad.

The dynasty he had fought so hard to build was suddenly snatched away by the Vast Sea Dynasty.

All those years of effort had ended up as someone else's spoils.

How could someone as proud and ambitious as him bear this?

However, if he wanted to strike back, his current forces were still insufficient.

Every passing moment of waiting felt like a year.

"National Master, has Yelu Chucai responded?"

"I've waited long enough, I'm running out of patience."

"Khan, the Prime Minister, has already assembled 200,000 troops. They will soon arrive to rendezvous with you!"

"Hahaha, good! With those 200,000 troops, plus the remaining 100,000 under Prince Ruyang, we will have the power to counterattack!"

"The Prime Minister has not disappointed me!"

Hearing that Yelu Chucai, the Prime Minister of the Yuan Dynasty, had handled matters to his satisfaction, Temujin immediately burst into laughter.

Just then, the ranking manifested in the skies above.

The Nine Provinces Renowned Minister Ranking was about to be announced.

He felt a sudden stir in his heart.

His eyes flickered, and a trace of excitement flashed across his face.

"National Master, with Prime Minister Yelu's talents, he should definitely be ranked in the Renowned Minister Ranking, no?"

Temujin had absolute confidence in his Prime Minister's abilities.

With Yelu Chucai managing internal affairs, he never had to worry while campaigning on the battlefield.

There was always ample money, food, and soldiers.

His trust in Yelu Chucai surpassed even that of his most loyal generals.

"You are absolutely right, Khan. With the Prime Minister's capabilities, only a few other Prime Ministers from other nations might compare."

"Be it in strategy or governance, he is flawless."

"The Prime Minister will certainly be ranked!"

The National Master, Phagpa, spoke with full confidence.

He had interacted with Yelu Chucai before. Although their political ideologies differed, even he had to admit the man's exceptional administrative skill.

Across all of Nine Provinces, there were few who could rival him.

"Hahaha, good. With Yelu Chucai on the ranking, my Yuan Dynasty can finally recover some morale!"

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Sui Dynasty.

Imperial Palace.

Emperor Yang Guang wore a grim expression, his eyes filled with hatred.

"Li Shimin, you destroyed over 200,000 of my troops. I will tear you to pieces!"

"And Yuwen Chengdu, you useless wretch! I placed such high hopes in you, and this is how you repay me?"

"If you hadn't died in battle already, I would have had you drawn and quartered!"

More than 200,000 of the Sui Army had been annihilated by the Tang Dynasty, severing the final lifeline of the Sui Dynasty.

From this point on, the Sui Dynasty had no power to launch offensives.

They could only be beaten, with no hope of striking back.

The sheer frustration of it all was unbearable for Yang Guang.

Now, he found fault with everyone he saw.

Even toward Yuwen Tuo, standing below, his expression was filled with displeasure.

If not for Yuwen Tuo's Mythical Realm strength, he would've long since turned against him.

Of course, Yuwen Tuo had also completely lost hope in Yang Guang.

This was a man beyond redemption. No matter how good the cards in his hand, he would always play them into the ground.

The elite troops Yuwen Tuo had painstakingly gathered were wiped out in one fell swoop.

If it had just been a few thousand, there might've been hope for resurgence.

But twenty to thirty thousand? Their foundations had been completely destroyed.

Forget about vying for supremacy over Nine Provinces.

Even suppressing domestic rebellions would now be extremely difficult.

And as strong as Yuwen Tuo was, he would never lower himself to crush weaklings personally.

If he really did disregard the rules and act, the other God Demon Realm cultivators across Nine Provinces would unite to punish him.

"Hm? The Renowned Minister Ranking?"

"Supreme Master, which of our Sui Dynasty's ministers might be eligible?"

As the ranking reappeared, Yang Guang narrowed his eyes.

"Ministers?"

Yuwen Tuo paused.

Eligible ministers? Gao Ying, Yang Su, and Yang Lin all had potential.

Unfortunately, only Yang Lin was still alive.

Even then, Yang Lin was more of a general than a civil minister. He fell a bit short of the title.

Of course, these were thoughts he kept to himself.

Better to let Yang Guang amuse himself.

Seeing Yuwen Tuo remain silent, Yang Guang assumed he didn't know either.

Yang Guang then proudly said:

"Supreme Master, what about Pei Ju? Is he qualified?"

Yuwen Tuo's expression changed.

Pei Ju?

Wasn't that Evil King Shi Zhixuan?

Others might not know, but as someone in the God Demon Realm, how could Yuwen Tuo not be aware of Pei Ju's true identity?

The Evil King had never done anything to harm the Sui Dynasty, so Yuwen Tuo had simply turned a blind eye.

But now...

Yang Guang actually believed Pei Ju to be a worthy minister?

If he ever learned the truth, it would be an absolute joke!

"There's also Yu Shiji and Yuwen Shu!"

"Too bad the Yuwen Clan betrayed me, and Yuwen Shu was executed by my own hand, such a pity!"

"But Yu Shiji is decent. He could definitely make the ranking!"

Yang Guang said excitedly.

Yuwen Tuo scoffed.

Yu Shiji? Him, on the ranking?

What a joke!

Even Yuwen Shu wasn't worthy during his lifetime.

As for Pei Ju, he was talented, but due to the nature of the ranking, he could never be chosen.

It seemed the Sui Dynasty would once again miss out on this ranking.

Even Yuwen Tuo couldn't help feeling sorrow for the Sui Dynasty.

A once great dynasty of Nine Provinces, now brought to the brink of collapse by Yang Guang.

If the Former Emperor could see this, he'd probably rise from the Imperial Mausoleum and slap Yang Guang to death!

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Northern Song Imperial Palace.

"Hahaha, the Renowned Minister Ranking! Excellent! It's finally here! This time, several of my Song Dynasty's ministers will surely be ranked!"

Emperor Zhao Ji was overjoyed.

In his eyes, the ministers he favored were all worthy of being on the ranking.

He couldn't help but imagine the entire ranking filled with officials from the Northern Song Dynasty.

Beside him, Huang Shang was speechless.

The current Imperial Court was dominated by corrupt officials. Where would any renowned minister be found?

Only Zhao Ji himself remained ignorant.

In Huang Shang's view, Zhao Ji was like a man pretending to be asleep.

No matter how loudly others call, one cannot wake a man who pretends to sleep.

"Minister Huang, among officials like Cai Jing, Wang Fu, Tong Guan, Liang Shicheng, Zhu Mian, and Li Bangyan, who do you think qualifies?"

"No, Cai Jing absolutely cannot be on the ranking."

"Though the man has some ability, he has already betrayed me. If not for the power he holds, I would have killed him myself!"

"Even so, he is not worthy of the Renowned Minister Ranking!"

Zhao Ji's eyes flashed with hatred as he spoke of Cai Jing.

Huang Shang didn't know how to respond.

All the names Zhao Ji mentioned were either traitors or miserly sycophants. How could any be called renowned?

Even those with real talent had long been sidelined by Zhao Ji.

Seeing Zhao Ji so excited, Huang Shang decided not to ruin his mood.

What a peculiar Emperor.

As long as he was happy, that was enough.

Though he was a foolish Emperor, he was still a step better than Sui Emperor Yang Guang.

Thinking of Yang Guang reminded him of Yuwen Tuo.

And suddenly, he realized that he and Yuwen Tuo were both men adrift in misfortune.

No matter how talented they were, they had no place to display their worth.

Compared to Yuan Tiangang, Phagpa, Dark One, and Black Shadow, the two of them were far more bitterly fated.

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Tang Imperial Palace, Taiji Hall.

"Congratulations, Your Majesty! This time, the Renowned Minister Ranking will surely feature many of our Tang Dynasty's ministers!"

"Hahaha, Master Yuan is right!"

"My loyal ministers, Changsun Wuji, Wei Zheng, possess world-shaking talents. Gao Shilian and Xiao Yu are equally capable."

"Each of them has immense ability. They've helped me solve countless problems."

"The Renowned Minister Ranking absolutely must include them!"

Li Shimin was full of confidence.

It was precisely with the help of these trusted officials that he had risen from a minor noble to Emperor.

Compared to the so-called ministers of other dynasties, his men were vastly superior.

"Your Majesty, we mustn't underestimate the others either."

"Li Si of Qin Dynasty, Yelu Chucai of Yuan Dynasty, Zhang Juzheng of Ming Dynasty, and even ministers of the mysterious Vast Sea Dynasty, all of them are forces to be reckoned with."

Yuan Tiangang, who oversaw the Bad People, naturally knew many hidden truths.

Each name he mentioned had achievements and talents that shook the world.

They were in no way inferior to the likes of Changsun Wuji.

In some ways, they might even surpass them.

And surely, there were more yet to rise.

As Nine Provinces entered a new era of struggle, countless renowned ministers, marshals, and generals would shine across the land.

"Master Yuan is right. I am confident, but not arrogant."

"We must not overlook the ministers of the other dynasties."

Li Shimin spoke solemnly.

One of his greatest strengths, and something other Emperors lacked, was his ability to listen to advice.

Even Zhu Houzhao fell short in this regard.

Whether Ying Zheng, Temujin, or Zhu Houzhao, once they made up their minds, not even ten oxen could drag them back.

They were incapable of heeding others' counsel.

But Li Shimin was different.

Even if he felt discomfort, he could correct himself in time.

If Yang Guang were in Li Shimin's position, he would be arrogant, full of self-importance, and dismissive of all his opponents.

Li Shimin, however, took every rival seriously.

And always sought solutions in advance.