Shuhan

Inside the towering imperial palace, in the magnificent hall, the emperor sat on the dragon throne with a calm face and deep eyes, as if he could see through all the troubles in the world.

Outside the palace, in the courtyard, many young men from noble families were dressed in gorgeous clothes, jade belts and golden hooks, all of them looking heroic. However, they were very angry because the emperor ignored their requests for reform of the imperial examination system.

The sunlight filtered through the carved window lattices and sprinkled onto the bluestone floor of the hall, creating mottled shadows, but it could not illuminate the gloom in the hearts of these children from aristocratic families.

They either clenched their fists, with their knuckles turning white from the force; or they frowned, with resentment and anger flashing in their eyes.

However, despite the turbulent waves in their hearts, no one dared to lose their temper in front of the emperor. After all, the majesty of the dragon throne was something they could not shake.

At this moment, a young man from an aristocratic family, dressed in a brocade robe and with a sinister face, had a cunning light flashing in his eyes.

He whispered to several companions beside him, and there was a hint of conspiracy in his words.

Although the sound was soft, it was like the sound of a poisonous snake spitting out its tongue, which made people shudder.

"Everyone, His Majesty has turned a deaf ear to our words, so why don't we try another way? Let the students of the Imperial Academy make a joint appeal to the Emperor, so that he can know the so-called 'public opinion'. At the same time, let those peasants preparing for the imperial examinations make a fool of themselves, so that everyone in the world can see that they are not qualified to be officials at all, and being an official is the natural duty of children of noble families like us!"

As soon as these words were spoken, they immediately attracted a lot of agreement.

The children of the noble families nodded one after another, their eyes sparkling with excitement and anticipation.

They began to plot how to use the innocence and enthusiasm of the students to achieve their own goals.

Under the instigation of the aristocratic families, some students who were originally full of enthusiasm and had the ideal of governing the country were confused by this undercurrent.

Among them, some have handsome faces, with a scholarly air between their brows; some are tall and strong, with eyes sparkling with longing for the future.

However, under the sweet talk of the aristocratic families, they began to think that the imperial examination system would rob them of their positions as officials, and an inexplicable fear and anger surged in their hearts.

"Humph, the imperial examination system? That's just a trick to give those peasants a chance to climb over our heads! We are children of noble families, born noble, how can we compete with those lowly people?"

A confused student said angrily, his eyes full of disdain and contempt for the imperial examination system.

At the same time, the noble families did not stop their steps.

They secretly bribed the desperate criminals to pretend to be people taking the imperial examinations and blend in with the candidates.

These desperate criminals all had hideous faces, and their eyes revealed ferocity and cruelty.

They were dressed in tattered clothes, but that couldn't hide their banditry.

On the day of the imperial examination, the streets of various counties in Luoyang were bustling with people, and candidates walked to the examination halls in an endless stream.

However, under the watchful eyes of the public, those desperate criminals disguised as candidates began to act recklessly.

They committed rape, looting, and all sorts of evil, even murder.

For a time, people in the capital were in a panic and the common people stayed indoors for fear of the disaster.

An elderly man stood trembling on the street, looking at the chaotic scene, his eyes full of fear and helplessness.

He murmured to himself, "How did the world become like this? The imperial examination system was originally intended to select talents, but now it has become a tool for the children of aristocratic families to fight for power and profit."

However, those students who were instigated by the aristocratic families did not feel the slightest guilt or uneasiness when they saw this scene.

On the contrary, they felt that this was a "gift" from the aristocratic family, giving them the opportunity to prove their "nobility."

They walked out of the examination halls one after another and joined the ranks of those who petitioned the emperor to abolish the imperial examination system and return to the recommendation system.

In the hall, all the ministers knelt on the ground and made a joint appeal: "Your Majesty, the imperial examination system has disrupted the government and caused chaos in the world. Please abolish the imperial examination system and return to the recommendation system. On the grounds that the laws of our ancestors cannot be changed, you can calm the people's hearts."

The emperor sat upright on the dragon throne, his face as calm as water, but his eyes were deep and unfathomable.

He glanced at the ministers and children of noble families in the hall, and he already knew the mastermind behind all this.

However, he did not explode immediately. Instead, he remained silent for a moment and slowly said, "The imperial examination system was established by me personally, with the aim of selecting talents from all over the world to serve the country. Although there are twists and turns now, I have made up my mind that the imperial examination system cannot be abolished."

The emperor's words were so powerful that the hall suddenly fell silent.

The children of the noble families looked at each other, and an ominous premonition arose in their hearts.

They originally thought that with the advice of the students and the disruption of the desperate criminals, they could force the emperor to abolish the imperial examination system.

However, they never expected that the emperor would stand so firmly on the side of the imperial examination system.

At this time, a young man from a noble family dressed in gorgeous clothes suddenly stood up.

He had a handsome face, but there was a sinister gleam in his eyes.

He bowed to the emperor and said, "Your Majesty, although the imperial examination system is intended to select talents, it has actually been controlled by the aristocratic families. How can those peasants be capable of governing the country? Please think twice before acting."

Upon hearing this, the emperor frowned slightly and a hint of displeasure flashed in his eyes.

He glanced coldly at the son of an aristocratic family and said in a deep voice, "Control by aristocratic families? Humph! Since I ascended the throne, I have been committed to breaking the monopoly of aristocratic families and selecting truly talented people. The imperial examination system is my reform. If you sons of aristocratic families are really talented in governing the country, why should you be afraid of the imperial examination? I want to see how many of you can stand out in the imperial examination with your real talents and knowledge!"

The emperor's words were like a bolt from the blue, making the eardrums of everyone in the hall buzz.

The children of the noble families looked at each other, and an unprecedented panic surged in their hearts.

They knew that the emperor had seen through their conspiracy, and that his determination on the imperial examination system was much stronger than they had imagined.

At this time, outside the hall, the sun was still shining brightly, but inside the hall, there was an atmosphere of depression and tension.

The children of noble families lowered their heads, not daring to look the emperor directly in the eye.

They knew that they had already lost the battle over the imperial examination system.

And those students who were instigated by the aristocratic families now felt unprecedented confusion and regret.

They began to realize that they were being used by the aristocratic families and became tools for them to fight for power and profit.

They looked at the emperor's firm and deep eyes, and an inexplicable respect and guilt surged in their hearts.

Finally, the emperor waved his hand and said in a deep voice: "The matter has been decided. There is no need to discuss it further. The imperial examination system will continue to be implemented. I will personally supervise it to ensure fairness and justice. If the children of the noble families are dissatisfied, they can use their real talents and knowledge to compete in the imperial examination!"

Inside the hall, all the ministers responded in unison, feeling a sense of respect and admiration for the emperor.

The children of the noble families could only walk out of the hall dejectedly, their hearts filled with resentment and helplessness.

From this moment on, the imperial examination system will become an insurmountable gap for them, and the glory and status of their aristocratic families will face unprecedented challenges.

. . .

In the palace, the flickering candlelight illuminated Liu Chan's slightly pensive face.

He sat on the dragon throne, his hands gently folded, his eyes deep, as if he could penetrate the heavy curtains of the palace and look directly into the hidden corners of those aristocratic families.

He already knew clearly about the aristocratic family's plot.

Liu Chan was in a different position, so he naturally understood why they rebelled - it was simply for their own selfish interests, for the power and interests passed down from generation to generation, and they did not want to see a new selection system disrupt their existing order.

The imperial examination system, a new policy aimed at selecting talents from all over the world and breaking the monopoly of aristocratic families, was like a fresh spring breeze that tried to blow away the corruption in the court.

However, wherever this spring breeze reaches, it will inevitably cause a strong backlash from those with vested interests. The aristocratic families are intertwined and powerful. If they dare to obstruct the implementation of the imperial examination system, Liu Chan has already made up his mind to kill them.

He secretly swore that if anyone dared to break the law, he would make sure they died without a burial place to serve as a warning to others.

In fact, Liu Chan had asked the people from the Military Affairs Bureau to keep a record of those who had been making trouble in secret these days.

Not dealing with them now does not mean that we won’t deal with them.

But the time has not come yet.

At this time, Liu Chan turned his head and looked at a beauty in palace dress standing next to him.

She has a graceful figure, and the gorgeous palace dress perfectly outlines her elegant figure.

The palace dress was mainly dark purple, embroidered with auspicious cloud patterns outlined in gold thread, making it look both noble and mysterious.

Her hair was as black as ink, carefully tied into a complicated bun, with several jeweled hairpins inserted in it. It swayed gently with her slightest movements, emitting a faint luster.

This is Zhou Che, who is in charge of supervising all officials in the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Zhou Che's face was pretty and dignified, with a heroic air between her brows. Her eyes were firm and deep, as if she could see into people's hearts.

There is always a faint smile on the corner of her mouth, but behind that smile lies an unknown tenacity and determination.

The Jianjunsi was originally a tool for infiltrating enemy countries. After the enemy countries were destroyed, the people in the Jianjunsi were transformed into a secret agency similar to the Jinyiwei of the Ming Dynasty, responsible for monitoring all officials and the world.

Their existence is like the eyes and ears of the emperor, always alert to any disturbance in the court.

Liu Chan looked at Zhou Che and said slowly, "The implementation of the imperial examination system will certainly be full of difficulties. Those aristocratic families will definitely try their best to obstruct it. As the person in charge of the Military Affairs Department, you must keep your eyes open to see who dares to make trouble. It is our responsibility to prevent it before it happens."

His voice was low and powerful, and every word revealed unquestionable firmness.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Che nodded immediately, and a hint of determination flashed in her eyes.

She knew very well that the implementation of the imperial examination system was not only related to the future of the country, but also to the authority and status of the emperor.

As the head of the Jianjunsi, she must go all out to ensure the smooth implementation of the imperial examination system.

"Your Majesty, rest assured. I will do my best to supervise all officials and ensure that the implementation of the imperial examination system is not obstructed." Zhou Che's voice was crisp and firm, and her tone was full of loyalty to the emperor and love for the country.

Liu Chan nodded with satisfaction, and then said: "Also, you should pay close attention to the situation in Xuzhou. Cao Zhen is entrenched in Xuzhou City, struggling to survive. Originally, the Han army could have captured it in one fell swoop, but I ordered to surround it instead of attacking. Do you know why?"

Zhou Che was slightly stunned, then nodded thoughtfully.

She understood that the emperor's move must have a deeper meaning.

She said softly, "Your Majesty wants to give the noble families the hope of unrest, so that they will think they have an opportunity and expose those who are colluding with Cao Zhen."

Liu Chan smiled slightly and looked at Zhou Che with admiration.

He said, "That's right. Anyone who dares to collude with Cao Zhen will be punished with the death of all nine generations of his clan. This is also a means for me to weaken the noble families. You must closely monitor the movements of Xuzhou, and report immediately if you find anyone colluding with Cao Zhen."

There must be a reason to exterminate a clan.

If this reason is not convincing enough, it will naturally not convince the public.

Zhou Che accepted the order solemnly, and a cold light flashed in her eyes.

She knew very well that this was not just a struggle for power, but also a contest for the future of the country.

As the head of the Military Affairs Department, she must always remain vigilant to ensure the peace and stability of the country.

At this time, the atmosphere in the palace seemed a little solemn.

In the flickering candlelight, the figures of Liu Chan and Zhou Che appeared particularly determined.

They all knew that the implementation of the imperial examination system and the situation in Xuzhou were major events concerning the future of the country and could not tolerate any negligence.

Liu Chan took a deep breath and said slowly: "Che'er, you have a heavy burden on your shoulders."

Zhou Che felt warm in her heart, she felt the emperor's trust and expectations for her.

She nodded firmly and said, "Your Majesty, rest assured. I will live up to your trust and do my best to serve you."

After saying that, Zhou Che turned and left. Her figure looked particularly agile under the candlelight.

She knew that she was about to embark on a road full of thorns, but she was fearless.

Liu Chan continued to sit on the dragon throne, gazing deep into the distance.

His heart is full of expectations and longings for the future.

Before fighting the outside world, you must first make peace with the inside.

The implementation of the imperial examination system and the situation in Xuzhou are both key steps that determine the future of the country.

As the night deepened, the candlelight in the palace continued to flicker.

. . .

Under the emperor's firm promotion and careful arrangements, the provincial examination in Luoyang City kicked off as scheduled in the hot summer season.

The golden light covers this ancient city with a glorious coat.

The streets and alleys of Luoyang city have long been cleaned spotlessly, and the streets are filled with a festive atmosphere.

The examination hall for the provincial examination was located in a spacious courtyard in the south of Luoyang City, surrounded by high walls and strict security.

In front of the examination hall gate, two teams of armored soldiers stood solemnly, holding spears and with sharp eyes, guarding this pure land of academia.

In the morning mist, candidates poured into the examination room one after another. Some of them were dressed simply, while others were dressed gorgeously, but everyone's face was filled with tension and anticipation.

Liu Chan personally served as the invigilator of the provincial examination.

He was wearing a bright yellow dragon robe embroidered with a five-clawed golden dragon, shining with golden light, demonstrating the majesty of the royal family.

He has a handsome face, and his brows reveal an aura of majesty without even being angry, but his eyes sparkle with desire and appreciation for talent.

He stood on the high platform of the examination room, overlooking the busy scene below, thinking to himself: "This provincial examination is not only a test for students all over the world, but also a practice of my philosophy of governing the country."

With the sound of a clear gong, the provincial examination officially began.

Inside the examination room, hundreds of desks are neatly arranged. Candidates are either bowing their heads in deep thought or writing furiously. The air is filled with the scent of ink and a tense atmosphere.

Liu Chan occasionally walked down from the platform and walked lightly among the candidates, observing the expression and writing style of each candidate. His heart was filled with longing and hope for the future.

Ten days passed by like a flash.

During these ten days, Liu Chan hardly slept a wink. He personally supervised the marking of the test papers to ensure that each test paper received a fair evaluation.

Finally, at dusk on the tenth day, the provincial examination came to a successful conclusion. (End of this chapter)