Everyone present heard the mockery in Cao Xiangqian's words. Xu Zhiwen sneered, "How will it be, exactly? We'll have to wait and see the real results. Let's just hope you don't use 'I'm just a crude oaf' as an excuse in the end."
It was Ancient Wen Heng's first time seeing these high officials clash head-on at such close range. But this Mr. Xu from the Astronomical Bureau seemed to be digging traps for people with every word he spoke, just waiting to watch the drama unfold.
Cao Xiangqian said with brimming confidence, "Today, I'll let you all see just how a crude oaf manages the Ministry of War. But if your other ministries lose to our Ministry of War, you might not be able to save face."
This remark offended everyone from the other ministries present. They all got fired up, preparing to nitpick the accounts.
One after another, the ledgers were opened. The courtyard of the Ministry of War filled with the CLACK-CLACK-CLACK of abacuses.
