Lord of the Earth

Similar scenes are unfolding one after another in many cities across the vast territory of Qianxia.

Unlike the "theoretical" scientific examinations of the past on Earth, the examination hall of the "Immortal Dynasty Imperial Examination" in Qianxia was not confined to Baiyujing or the human race's divine city.

Rather, it is a real world scattered across the vast territory and endless borders of this newly established immortal dynasty.

Now, Qianxia has been an immortal dynasty for less than fifty years.

With the empire newly established and all industries awaiting development, every region is lacking capable individuals to shoulder heavy responsibilities…

After all candidates have verified their identity through the Book of Life and Death and completed the qualification verification at the Star Tower, they are transported directly to the various places in need via an efficient transportation network consisting of the Great Xia Road, the Human Race's Salvation Ship, and the Merchant Alliance's flying boats.

And the "Heavenly Net" that hangs high in the sky and overlooks all directions is the true witness to the first "Immortal Dynasty Imperial Examination" in the history of the human race in the Eternal Land!
The Heavenly Net, the Spirit Realm.

Inside the Jade Palace and the Star Palace.

The main hall has no solid walls; only endless starlight flows through it, and beams of light and shadow intertwine on the "Map of Celestial Gods" and "Map of Mountains and Rivers" connected to the celestial network...

The lives of ordinary people, the operation of cities, and the border disputes across the vast territory of the Qianxia Dynasty are all unfolding like a vivid scroll!

In a desolate plain, a fierce battle was triggered by the birth of a powerful demon of divine power. After the battle, floods raged, and tens of millions of people were displaced.

In a new border city, various ethnic groups live together. The tiger clan descendants, whose dormant bestial nature was unexpectedly awakened, caused a bloody massacre of the rabbit people, and the conflict between the two sides escalated!

A divine spiritual vein that traversed hundreds of human cities suddenly dried up, leaving all industries along its path in ruins, and numerous towns and hundreds of millions of people in urgent need of relocation and resettlement...

The projections of three deities hung in the "Star Palace," awaiting those who would "take the test."

Above the main god's seat, Zhuge Liang gently waved his black and white feather fan, his eyes shining like stars... The "Wuhou Dao Fruit Prototype" he had condensed silently unfolded at this moment, taking in the strategies of every city, every examination hall, and every examinee within the vast territory of Qianxia!

On the left, the faint light emanating from the "Kaocheng·Daoguo Prototype" above Zhang Juzheng's head condensed into a "jade slip". With each light tap of his fingertips, the jade slip automatically extracted the "efficiency scale" of that decree!
On the right, Wen Tianxiang sits upright, his righteous spirit overflowing like a clear spring. "The nascent form of a loyal heart and the fruit of the Way" reflects the true intentions behind his strategies, revealing his selfishness, restlessness, and desire for credit.

……

The SkyNet projection unfolds, revealing a vast and desolate city.

This is a border town of the Qianxia vassal dynasty. Because it was constantly harassed by foreign tribes, the million soldiers and border residents were often plagued by famine.

Because it is 5,700 li away from the inland granaries, the loss of grain supplies is staggering. The court receives 10 million shi of grain every year, but less than one-third is actually received. The northern lands are not well cultivated, and the grain supply is difficult to sustain. In addition, there are various problems such as officials being corrupt and the morale of the army being low.

Zhang Juzheng tapped the jade slip with his fingertips, his tone solemn.

"The Iron Gate Pass grain route has been halved, land reclamation is inefficient, and officials are corrupt. If this continues, the city will either be conquered by foreign tribes or dragged down by internal problems!"

This round of assessment is clearly defined as a "complete lockdown" – no reinforcements, no extra supplies, and no inland material supplies. It tests the courage to break the deadlock, the pragmatic methods, and the iron-fisted execution!

The first examinee stood before the spiritual realm. He was dressed in a dark brown short-sleeved shirt, the hem of which was covered in sand and dust. His eyebrows and eyes were sharp as knives.

His gaze swept across the desolate fields and rusted weapons in the spiritual realm, finally locking onto the figure of the official who was privately distributing grain in the corner of the city. His voice was like the clash of metal, resounding and powerful.

"Your subject will now respond."

"The predicament at Tiemenguan Pass is not a problem of food or land, but rather a problem of 'abandoned laws' and 'proliferated abuses'! The loss of grain supplies is due to the lack of strict laws to restrain the transport; the failure of land reclamation is due to the lack of laws to regulate farming; the low morale of the army is due to the lack of rewards and punishments to boost morale; and the corruption of officials is due to the lack of laws to severely punish the wicked. The only way to break this deadlock is to 'rule the border with laws, promote farming through war, and strictly punish abuses'."

Before he finished speaking, Skynet sensed his meaning.

A massive, dark, phantom image of a legal code appeared above the code.

The four large characters “耕战” (Gengzhan, meaning "cultivation and warfare") and “峻法” (Junfa, meaning "strict laws") shine brightly, exuding an undeniable authority.

"I request that the three methods be implemented at the Iron Gate Pass. Without the need for reinforcements or supplies, we will surely be able to break the stalemate."

"The first law, the 'Law on Land Reclamation,' stipulated that 30% of the garrison soldiers should be assigned to land reclamation in rotation, and all border residents should cultivate the land. Officials were to be assigned to teach the 'sowing in the snow-covered soil' method, which could increase the yield per mu. Farmers would be rewarded or punished according to their harvest. Those who met the targets would be exempted from corvée labor, and those who exceeded the targets would be rewarded with grain. Those who were lazy and left the land uncultivated would be severely punished. Officials were strictly prohibited from withholding farming tools and seeds. If such a case was found, the official would be executed immediately."

Secondly, the "Military Reward Law" abolished the old system of distributing rations and pay, instead allocating rations and supplies according to military merit. Those who killed foreign invaders were rewarded, while deserters, cowards, and corrupt commanders were all to be executed. At the same time, military equipment was to be reorganized, with soldiers taking turns repairing it, and those failing to meet standards held accountable.

"Thirdly, the Pass Law stipulates that grain inspectors shall be stationed at every hundred li to check the loss of grain and fodder. If the loss exceeds the standard and there is no reasonable explanation, the inspector and the escorting officer shall be punished together. Border residents are strictly prohibited from having private dealings with or selling grain to other ethnic groups. Violators shall be punished together and exiled to the Gobi Desert."

He withdrew his hand, his tone resolute.

"I have tested this method on the northern frontier of Qin. It can secure grain supplies in three months and strengthen the army in six months. It is by no means empty talk. Today, if we implement it at the Iron Gate Pass, as long as the order is strictly enforced and the laws are severe, no one will dare to disobey, and the predicament will surely be broken."

The tone of these words was not that of offering advice or making a deduction, but rather that of announcing a policy that was bound to be feasible!
Clearly, this is no ordinary "examinee," but someone with a distinguished background.

Wen Tianxiang's loyal heart is revealed in the gentle flow of his words, reflecting his true character. There is not a trace of impetuosity, not a trace of selfishness, only "pragmatism" and "decisiveness", as well as an absolute adherence to "rule of law"!

Zhang Juzheng's fingers flew across the jade slips as he deduced the set of laws... The yield assessment in the "Reclamation Law," the registration of military merits in the "Military Reward Law," and the inspection and accountability in the "Pass Law" were all clear, verifiable, and without any ambiguity. They fully demonstrated the rigor of "ruling affairs by law," which was similar to the "performance evaluation system" he himself advocated. He couldn't help but show his approval in his eyes.

Zhuge Liang placed his feather fan on his lap, his eyes reflecting the dark, illusory image of the legal code.

What he saw was not a simple borderland strategy, but a beacon of the rule of law that transcends millennia.

In the barren lands of Qin, a certain individual used harsh laws to eradicate corruption and strengthened the nation through agriculture and warfare. He abolished the well-field system, rewarded military merit, and enforced strict laws, enabling a weak Qin to gradually grow into a powerful state and ultimately lay the foundation for unifying the six kingdoms.

He didn't speak, but slowly raised his hand, and a wisp of the "Marquis Wu" mark landed on the phantom of the scroll of laws.

……

The second projection of the sky net unfolds a harbor named "Chaoyin Port," which is a trading port on the border of Qianxia.

In the spiritual realm, thousands of sails lined the shore, and merchants from all over gathered... The coral behemoths of the Dragon Crow Clan's maritime merchants, the light gauze boats of the Merfolk's weaving households, and the five-toothed giant ships of the human race were all moored in one port.

Extremely prosperous.

However, the Heavenly Net slowly drew closer to the Spirit Realm, dissecting the flesh beneath the surface of this port—

The offices of the Maritime Trade Office were piled high with documents.

Every seagoing vessel entering the port must go through six procedures: "inspection, tax assessment, valuation, quotation, bidding, and issuance of warrants," involving four departments: the Maritime Trade Office, the Transport Office, the Tax Office, and the Supervisory Office.

Merchants often had to stay in port for half a month to complete all the paperwork for a ship.

Detention leads to bribery.

Dragon Clan merchants routinely paid with a chest of pearls, while Mermaid weavers paid with ten bolts of fine silk produced in the dry summer as "tea money," and the officials of the Maritime Trade Office sat around sharing the profits, feeling perfectly at ease.

On the edge of the entire spiritual realm, in a dark corner, was a small boat belonging to a local fisherman, carrying two baskets of freshly caught grouper, intending to sell them to the dragon clan merchant ships in the harbor. Because they did not have a "trade permit," they were stopped by the tax collectors and detained along with their cargo for three days.

An old fisherman squatted on the stone pier, gazing at the dragon-shaped giant ships that were passing through customs duty-free, remaining silent for a long time.

Zhang Juzheng tapped the jade slip, and lines of illusory images appeared:

"Chaoyin Port collects 7.2 million coins in maritime tax annually, less than half of the amount due. However, if strict enforcement is pursued, merchants, fearing the harsh government, will inevitably switch their ports to neighboring ports. The loss of this tax revenue during the summer and autumn seasons is likely detrimental to the country..."

He paused, gazing at the ethereal scene:
"This situation is not unsolvable, but to govern it would harm businesses, while to let it go would damage the country. It's a dilemma!"

The second candidate stood before this painting of a spiritual realm.

He was thin and dressed in a purplish-red robe. He looked at the mountain of documents, the box of pearls, the ten bolts of light silk, and the old fisherman squatting on the stone pier at the dock. He felt no indignation, only a long, lingering gaze.

"Your subject will now respond."

The voice was not loud, yet it was as sharp as a needle piercing a bag.

"The problem with Chaoyin Port is not the heavy taxes, but the complicated tax system. It is not the cunning of merchants, but their own entrapment in the legal net."

He raised his hand, and Skynet sensed his intention.

However, he did not summon the phantom of the legal code, but instead took out a scroll of paper from his sleeve—the handwriting was still fresh, obviously written just after seeing the test questions!
"Your Majesty, I request that the Maritime Trade Regulations be implemented in Chaoyin Port. There are four main points to this request."

"Firstly, simplify the tax items. The tax on maritime trade will only retain two items: 'ship leg length' and 'tax percentage'. The ship leg length is calculated based on the length of the ship's hull, and the tax percentage is one-thirtieth of the value of the goods. All other items such as 'ship tribute', 'tribute', 'sample presentation', and 'regular practice' will be abolished."

"Secondly, a single checkpoint is required. All ships entering the port must go to the Maritime Trade Office for inspection, tax verification, and issuance of a warrant. The four offices and twelve departments are not allowed to set up checkpoints repeatedly; violators will be punished for extortion."

"Thirdly, tax rates are publicly displayed. At the beginning of each year, the Maritime Trade Office shall inscribe the tax rates and levies for the year on a stone tablet and hang it at the port gate. Merchants pay their taxes according to the tablet, and the money is deposited into a public account. The account has three keys—one held by the Maritime Trade Commissioner, the Transport Commissioner, and the head of the merchants' association, who is elected by the merchants. All three keys must be present to open the account, and the accounts are posted monthly." He paused, his voice becoming even, yet more resolute:
"Fourth, fishing boats are exempt from tax. Coastal residents who bring fresh goods into the port for trade by boat, with a load of less than twenty shi (a unit of dry measure), are exempt from the boat commission. They only need to go to the Maritime Trade Office to obtain a 'fishing license,' and pay an annual fee of Tianyuan copper coins for the license. The fishing licenses are issued by the local government offices and the Maritime Trade Office is not allowed to handle them."

He raised his head, his gaze sharp and intense.
“Once this law is implemented, merchants will save time, government officials will save trouble, tax collectors will have no excuse to extort money, and fishermen will be free from harassment. I dare to request that the annual revenue of Chaoyin Port be set at no less than 15 million Tianyuan silver coins over three years.”

Beside Wen Tianxiang, a righteous spirit rippled gently on still water. He looked at the scroll of paper—it was not an empty ideal, but a document with specific government offices, keys, stone tablets, and fishing tokens written in every clause.

This person is not offering advice.

Instead, he moved the entire Chaoyin Port into his own small space, disassembled it into parts, and polished each piece.

Zhang Juzheng's "performance evaluation and results assessment" were being used to develop this set of "Maritime Trade Regulations"—simplifying tax items, conducting inspections at a single customs post, publicizing tax rates, and exempting fishing boats from taxes.

Each of these measures touches upon deeply entrenched vested interests, and each requires a surgical dismantling of the old system. Efficiency calculations reveal that in the first year of implementation, the probability of local wealthy merchants resisting, the Maritime Trade Office outwardly complying but inwardly defying, and the Transport Office inherently resisting is over 90%!
However, another line of text slowly appeared on the jade slip:

"If this is forced, in the third year, Chaoyin Port's annual revenue could reach 16 million Tianyuan silver coins."

—One million more than this person promised.

Zhang Juzheng remained silent for a long time.

He did not ask "how to deal with the boycott" or "how to suppress disobedience".

He only asked one question:
"Within three years, slander will surely befall you. Have you considered this?"

The lean scholar did not answer immediately. He looked at the old fisherman squatting on the dock in the painting—the people had stood up and were excitedly receiving a brand-new wooden plaque from the tax collector, with the character "fisher" engraved on it.

"...That's taken into consideration."

He said in a low voice.

“However, the fishermen of a port should not squat on the stone pier for three days for a license plate of thirty dollars.”

……

The third projection of the celestial net unfolds as a relatively ordinary government office of a city with the auspicious energy of the Qianxia era, named "Anling Prefecture".

Located in the heart of the Qianxia region, it is free from disasters, calamities, wars, and chaos.

Within the spirit realm, the clerks of the six departments of the government office performed their duties, and the documents flowed smoothly, seemingly in perfect order. However, as the Heavenly Net slowly zoomed in on the "spirit realm," it discovered a series of problems—

Official succession register: from father to son, from elder brother to younger brother.

The owner of a certain house has been surnamed Zhao for four generations; the warehouse clerk of a certain storehouse has been surnamed Qian for sixty years.

Examination papers for officials: In the past ten years, the prefectural government has held ten examinations to select officials, and without exception, all those who have passed have been sons of local officials. No matter how excellent the papers of scholars from other places, they have failed to make the list!

At the edge of the spiritual realm, a solitary figure stands.

They were a family who had migrated from another region. The father was a merchant in the city, and the son wanted to obtain a minor official position in the government. He took the exam three times and failed each time. On the fourth attempt, he didn't even qualify to apply—

The young man sat on the stone steps outside the government office, with a scroll of "Qianxia Law: Examination of Officials" open on his lap, the pages already frayed.

"Officials are entangled in factions. Anling is not an isolated case. Seven or eight out of ten cities in the country have already shown these problems... This is only because the Qianxia Kingdom has been established for a hundred years. The meritorious officials and powerful local magnates have all emerged... In addition, when the country was founded, the original lords were treated with favor and kept as officials! As a result, a situation of each going its own way has been formed."

Zhang Juzheng's voice was as deep and resonant as a night drum:

"This situation is not unsolvable. However, to break this situation, one must make enemies of all the officials and powerful figures in the land!"

The third candidate stood before this spiritual landscape. His hair and beard were half-white, his face was thin, and his robes, though faded from washing, were neat and new. He stared at the boy who was being poisoned for a long time.

"Your subject will now respond."

He then spoke, his voice low but each word clear.

"The problem with Anling City is not that officials are lawless, but that officials hold their positions through hereditary rule. Hereditary rule leads to entrenched power, and once entrenched, no one can penetrate the system, leaving no way for outsiders to advance. As a result, laws and regulations are rendered ineffective, and government orders cannot be carried out!"

He raised his hand, and Skynet sensed his intention.

However, instead of devising a method, he first asked a question:

"At the beginning of the Qianxia dynasty, a 'Regulations for the Examination and Selection of Officials' was promulgated. When vacancies arose in city officials, the prefecture would conduct unified examinations to select the best candidates... Is this regulation still in effect?"

Zhang Juzheng paused slightly.

"...still exists."

Is it feasible?

Zhang Juzheng remained silent.

In most cities, the process continued, but some oversights were inevitable in smaller places… The fifty-year-old scholar nodded, as if confirming his suspicions. Only then did he turn to the Heavenly Net and begin to formulate a strategy:
"Your subject requests a revision of the 'Regulations for the Examination and Selection of Officials,' with the addition of three articles."

"Firstly, the Law on Avoiding Residence. Those who are selected as officials in the prefecture are not allowed to serve in their native place of residence. Officials have no relatives or clansmen to rely on, and no old favors to follow, so they can only abide by the law and perform their duties."

"Secondly, the 'Rotation and Transfer Regulations' stipulate that prefectural officials serve a five-year term, after which they must be transferred. They cannot be reappointed unless they have committed a major offense or made a great contribution. The abuses of hereditary appointments are thus eliminated."

Thirdly—

He paused, glancing at the boy on the stone steps at the edge of the spiritual realm.

The boy was still turning the pages of the book.

"Thirdly, the 'Recommendation System Reform' allows out-of-town scholars to apply for examinations without the need for official permission... Instead, the local instructors and professors will issue 'Study and Conduct Certificates' based on their academic performance and conduct, with one certificate equivalent to ten guarantees."

He raised his head, his voice still clear and gentle:
"The status of the Imperial Academy of Qianxia is no lower than that of the government or military administration... Moreover, the academy officials have no connection with the local government officials, and their performance is judged by recommending talented people... What they protect is only the students' writings."

"Once this law is implemented, those from humble backgrounds will have a path to advancement, and local powerful families will have no foothold. Ten years from now, the official documents of the six departments of Anling Prefecture will contain writings from all corners of the country!"

He paused.

"Twenty years later, in all the major cities and prefectures of Qianxia... there were no officials with the surname 'So-and-so'."

Beside Wen Tianxiang, a righteous spirit surged like a spring tide, subtly resonating with the aura of the fifty-year-old scholar.

He saw that the foundation of this policy was not power politics, nor the principle of checks and balances.

It was that phrase, "What the school officials protect is only the students' writings," that meant using education as a plow to cultivate deeply for a century, to uproot the deeply entrenched old soil of these regions...

The process of Zhang Juzheng's examination of the Dao is still being deduced—the implementation costs of the avoidance of household registration law, the assessment points for the rotation system, and the boundaries of authority and responsibility for issuing academic certificates by the three levels of academic officials…

Zhuge Liang held a black and white feather fan on his lap, his gaze fixed on the scene in the ethereal realm—the boy was still turning the pages of a book, but a lamp had appeared beside the stone steps at some point… its light illuminating his face.

It was the lamp cast by the strategies of those fifty-year-old Confucian scholars. He gently closed his eyes. In the depths of "The Embryonic Form of the Martial Marquis's Dao Fruit", a memory from a thousand years ago rippled slightly... It was something he had done before - regardless of rank, he promoted people based solely on their talents, so that the exhausted land of Yizhou could be filled with a great number of talented people.

He opened his eyes and looked at the figure whose hair and beard were already half white. He didn't say anything, but left a trace of "Marquis Wu" next to the strategy paper!

Then, with a wave of the feather fan, the "Three Strategies" within the three heavenly nets were sealed together like sparks and encapsulated into a jade slip.

The first is the "Tuntian Law," which addresses the food shortages at the border.

The reply was: "Use laws and regulations to organize military settlements, and use practical experience to change agricultural methods." Signed: Gongsun Yang.

The first is the "Maritime Trade Regulations," which addresses the long-standing problems within the customs service.

The reply was: Simplify tax categories, eliminate redundant government offices, and establish a public silver depository. Signed: Wang Anshi.

The first is "Supplement to the Examination and Selection Regulations for Clerks," which asks questions that are difficult to understand.

The answer was: avoidance of official registration, rotational transfer, and recommendation by educational officials. Signed: Fan Zhongyan! (End of Chapter)