I studied in modern times

Chapter 1047 There are no treacherous officials, only loyal ministers!
Han Jiang's funeral was conducted in an orderly manner according to the highest standards.

At the Han residence, mourners came in an endless stream.

Both the new and old parties gave this prime minister extremely high praise.

Han Jiang's biography and epitaph were written by the leaders of the old and new parties respectively: Wen Yanbo was responsible for writing the biography, and Wang Anshi was responsible for writing the epitaph.

Both of these matters were arranged by Han Jiang before his death.

Wen Yanbo and Wang Anshi both readily agreed.

As for the writing of the inscription, Zhao Xu entrusted it to Mi Fu—this future great calligrapher, who had just finished observing mourning and returned to the capital to await the emperor's arrival.

Coincidentally, Su Shi was heading south to Hainan.

Upon hearing this, Mi Fu was the first to jump up and write a letter to Zhao Xu expressing his willingness to "follow Scholar Su and make contributions in Hainan to repay the Emperor's favor."

Zhao Xu laughed as soon as he saw it.

They immediately conscripted a able-bodied man and made him write the epitaph for Han Jiang.

This can be considered as giving this 'uncle' a helping hand.

Yes, Mi Fu and Zhao Xu were related—Mi Fu's mother, Lady Yan, was the wet nurse of Zhao Xu's father, the emperor.

Therefore, the fathers of Mi Fu and Zhao Xu were like Kangxi and Cao Yin—brothers who were raised by their fathers.

When the two were children at the Prince Pu's residence, they may have played in the mud together or raided bird nests.

With this connection, Mi Fu was truly a celestial being of the Song Dynasty.

You can have as much fun as you want!
The kind of person who can party all they want without any problems!
It's the same now!
Zhao Xu, who prided himself on being the most filial son in history, would naturally try his best to give his "cousin" benefits in order to enhance his own image.

Of course, this was also related to his knowledge that Mi Fu, this great calligrapher, would surely be remembered in history and renowned for generations to come.

As Han Jiang's funeral was being conducted.

The examination season in the Song Dynasty was also coming to an end.

Regarding the imperial examinations, the results of the palace examination were announced on the Dingyou day of April (21).

Thirty-six people, including Shi Gongbi, were granted the title of Jinshi (进士) and three hundred and seventy-four people were granted the title of Jinshi Chushen (进士出身), and three hundred and two people were granted the title of Tong Jinshi Chushen (同进士出身), totaling seven hundred and twelve people.

This set a record for the highest number of successful candidates in a single imperial examination since the inception of the imperial examination system!
This greatly demonstrates Zhao Xu's benevolence!

What is the purpose of scholars who study diligently for years, leaving their wives and hometowns, overcoming all obstacles and hardships to travel to the capital for the imperial examinations?
It's all for the sake of becoming an official! For becoming a superior person!

Before us, Liu Chang of the Southern Han Dynasty acted perversely and created a national policy that required anyone who wanted to become an official to castrate themselves.

As a result, scholar-officials flocked to the scene, eager to gain official positions, and many took up arms in droves.

Later came the Mongol Yuan and Manchu Qing dynasties, which established the imperial examination system and maintained the reputation of being a wise and virtuous ruler.

However, once it stopped holding the imperial examination and denied scholars the path to officialdom, it collapsed instantly.

Zhao Xu significantly loosened the requirements for this year's imperial examinations, raising the number of admitted candidates to over 700 for the first time!
To the scholars and officials of the world, this was the first sage and wise ruler in history!

Almost everyone says: The Emperor's grace can never be repaid!

As for Zhao Xu's underhanded tactics and reforms during the imperial examination process, they caused controversy and resentment among scholars.

The moment the list of successful candidates in the imperial examinations was released, it vanished into thin air.

As it turns out, the scholar-officials were not afraid of the emperor's misbehavior, but only of the emperor not giving them the opportunity and means to become officials!

Whoever can make them officials, they will call that person their sovereign and father!

As for who the ruler/father is, and what the exam content is,...
They can't care!

For a time, public opinion was full of praise—especially among the younger generation of scholars, who, even those who had not passed the examination, sang praises of Zhao Xu's wisdom and bravery.

For young people, this year's imperial examination reform is actually very beneficial.

They are still young, and they can still learn and change.

But the old guys... hehehe...

In this way, it means that the imperial court increased the number of candidates admitted to the imperial examinations, while also eliminating a large number of mediocre candidates.

This back and forth greatly increases their chances of passing the exam in the future!
What else could this be but a sage ruler?
For a time, praise and flattery from scholars filled the air, both inside and outside Bianjing.

The newly appointed scholars immediately began composing poems and essays in response to the imperial decree.

Because Zhao Xu had already had a sample published in the Bianjing Yibao newspaper.

Therefore, the newly appointed scholars understood the implication. In their poems and essays written to Zhao Xu, in addition to praising his virtues, they all expressed that they could never repay the Emperor's kindness and that their descendants would remember it forever!

Those who were enlightened expressed in their poems and essays things like: We will closely guard the emperor, just as the stars guard the North Star; we will steadfastly follow the emperor's will!
I will put aside my own interests, live up to the expectations of the government and the court... and so on.

Zhao Xu looked on with immense satisfaction!
They are all loyal ministers!

There are no treacherous officials!

The court is filled with righteous people!
With so many people already officially recognized as Jinshi, it's natural that the number of those specially recognized should also be lowered!

On the day of Wuxu in April (22), 824 people, including Wang Linchen, were granted the title of Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) through special recommendation. The Ministry of Personnel was ordered to select them according to their merits and appoint them as acting Chengwu Lang (assistant teacher) or assistant instructor of the Three Capitals Prefectural Schools or assistant instructor of literature in various prefectures, based on their ranking.

Therefore, the title of "Special Awarded Scholar" was essentially equivalent to being granted it upon applying for the exam.

Zhao Xu naturally had his own considerations regarding this.

He equated the title of "Special Award Winner of the Imperial Examination" with an admission notice from a normal university.

Therefore, while announcing the list of specially selected Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations), he also ordered the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Personnel to jointly issue a proclamation—recruiting specially selected Jinshi who were willing to teach in well-known remote military and prefectural areas of the Song Dynasty, such as Xihe Road, Guangnan West Road, Annan Protectorate, Zizhou Road, Kuizhou Road, and Hainan Road.

Regardless of rank or background.

Anyone willing to register and able to stay in the area for three years with perfect attendance and no criminal record is eligible.

He could then be granted the title of Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations), and the Ministry of Personnel would be ordered to appoint him to an official position in accordance with the standards for newly appointed Jinshi.

The old men were immediately happy.

Especially those old men in their fifties and sixties who have repeatedly failed the imperial examinations.

Quite a few people went to the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Rites to volunteer, willing to go to remote military prefectures to 'educate the people'.

It's just going to a remote military prefecture, a wild and desolate place, to teach for three years!
For the sake of becoming a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations), they could endure this hardship!

After all, many of them toiled their entire lives just for the empty title of Jinshi.
On the day of Yihai in April (23), the military examination for this year was held again behind the Jiying Hall, and more than 30 people were selected as military scholars.

There is nothing to say about this.

Zhao Xu went a bit overboard with this year's imperial examinations.

Therefore, he did not make any adjustments or reforms to the military examination system.

The examination method used was still the same as the military examination method established during the Xining era.

The test did not focus on military strategy or tactics, but rather on horseback archery, weapon handling, and physical fitness.

In this respect, who can compete with the Imperial Guards in Beijing?
Therefore, 80% of the military graduates who passed the imperial examinations were from the inner quarters of the Imperial Guards in Beijing.

These people are all performing artists.

One by one, they performed various difficult artistic or acrobatic moves in front of Zhao Xu.

There wasn't a single one suitable for battlefield combat.

So, the current military examination system is actually just a place for nobles to make dumplings.

Therefore, the so-called military examination was actually not as good as the Jinmingchi competition—at least the Jinmingchi competition required strategy and battle formation coordination.

After reading it, Zhao Xu couldn't help but sigh a few times.

Fortunately, under Guo Kui's leadership, martial arts teaching has undergone significant reforms.

With Zhao Xu's support, many people were transferred from the front lines and from the active-duty officers of the Imperial Dragon General to teach martial arts.

Martial arts students, under the guidance of their martial arts professors, would regularly come to the First General of the Imperial Dragon to study.

Therefore, the future is promising!

Therefore, Zhao Xu only sighed a few times before issuing an edict ordering the Privy Council to grant the recruited military scholars the official ranks of Right Palace Attendant and Third-Class Temporary Official.

Then they were all assigned to prestigious offices within the Imperial City Guard as marriage officials.

This is clearly a way of showing respect to these ancestors, to prevent them from causing trouble along the border.

This is exactly what the young masters want!
He stayed in Bianjing and served in the imperial city!

It's prestigious, it's practical, and it has a promising future!
So, one by one they shouted "Long live the Emperor!" and expressed that they could never repay the Emperor's kindness!
Got it!
Even the sons of high-ranking officials have learned the ways of the scholar-officials!
Besides the imperial examinations and military examinations, the mathematics and law examinations, which Zhao Xu had ingeniously devised, also concluded at the same time.

This year marks the first time that separate examinations for the imperial examinations in mathematics and law have been held.

The number of applicants was not large, mainly consisting of members of the imperial family and students of mathematics and law.

The number of places available for admission is also limited.

There are fifty subjects in mathematics and thirty in law.

Naturally, the quality wasn't very high; most people were considered good if they could do basic arithmetic, be proficient in using criminal law, and write judgments. Fortunately, Zhao Xu didn't expect to select any superhumans.

It would be enough to set a precedent, to show the world his emphasis on mathematics and law, and to demonstrate his willingness to make good use of talents in these fields.

However, Zhao Xu was very happy with the imperial clan members who were admitted through the mathematics and law examinations.

After reviewing the list, Zhao Xu discovered that they were mostly from collateral branches of the imperial clan.

They were poor members of the imperial clan who were barely able to make ends meet in Bianjing City, relying entirely on relief from the Imperial Clan Court and the sale of their younger sisters.

Many people are no longer related to Zhao Xu by blood beyond the fifth degree of kinship.

They are either descendants of King Yi of Yan (Zhao Dezhao), King Kanghui of Chu (Zhao Defang), or even King Dao of Fuling (Zhao Tingmei).

Moreover, even among the descendants of these three, these people all belong to collateral branches!
Other officials might be wary and cautious of such relatives of the imperial clan.

But Zhao Xu was overjoyed to receive it!

what is this?
What a perfect tool!

It's a sign that I show my love and care for the imperial clan!
Moreover, before taking the exam, these people all went to the Imperial Clan Court to sign a document stating that they "voluntarily withdraw from the Imperial Clan Register and are willing to serve the common people from now on."

In other words, unless the world descends into chaos in the future, they won't even have the right to emulate Liu Bei.

They are a group that will be loyal to you if you show them even the slightest kindness.

Therefore, Zhao Xu issued an edict granting them official titles such as Mathematics Master/Mathematics Jinshi and Law Master/Law Jinshi.

Then, they were assigned to Liu Weijian's various departments for transitional learning and training.

After completing their studies and training, they can be assigned to various government departments or important economic and trade hubs to serve as relevant economic officials.

Even the person in charge of future trade hubs in Southeast Asia!

And so, this exam season came to an end.

The Song Dynasty's officialdom was suddenly flooded with more than 1,600 new officials.

Even if we exclude those who were specially selected as Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations), military candidates, or Jinshi in mathematics or law, who were considered to have "miscellaneous backgrounds," this still applies.

There were 712 officially recognized Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations)!
The Song Dynasty already suffered from a serious problem of redundant officials.

Many officials waited in Bianjing for years or even decades before they could get a satisfactory imperial appointment.

Now, so many new officials are pouring in.

The pressure must be unimaginable in an already overcrowded officialdom!

However, according to custom, newly appointed Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) must be granted official positions, and these positions must be substantive!

Otherwise, the Jinshi degree would lose its value!

Moreover, it could easily trigger nationwide unrest!

So, a few days later, Wang Zishao, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, came to Zhao Xu in tears to complain.

"Your Majesty..."

"The number of vacancies in the Ministry of Personnel is now no more than a few hundred..."

"However, the number of newly appointed scholars and officials awaiting appointment has already reached two thousand..."

"Your Majesty, I am filled with trepidation and beg you to issue a gracious decree to command me!"

Seeing Prince Shao prostrate in the quiet room of the East Pavilion, Zhao Xu quickly told Tong Guan to help him up: "Zaojing (a polite way of addressing the Vice Minister of Rites), don't panic... Get up quickly, sit down and we'll talk..."

Zhao Xu could understand Wang Zishao's panic and unease.

Just think of the newly appointed Jinshi as recent graduates and the officials waiting for their posts as recent unemployed college graduates.

In modern times, many third-world countries have experienced huge political turmoil because college graduates cannot find jobs and intellectuals are unemployed!
The political status of these newly appointed Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) and officials awaiting appointment in the Song Dynasty was incomparable to that of unemployed college graduates in the modern Middle East, Africa, and South America!

They are part of the ruling group!
You could even say they are the ruling group themselves!

If something really goes wrong, it will be a huge upheaval within the Song Dynasty's system!

Let alone Prince Shao, even a prime minister could be killed on the spot by a single wave!
Therefore, Wang Zishao's unease and panic are understandable!

After all, what if something goes wrong?

If Zhao Xu had no regard for past relationships, he could have followed Emperor Jing of Han's example and executed Chao Cuo, using him as a scapegoat to appease the world!
Therefore, even after being helped to sit down by Tong Guan, Wang Zishao remained uneasy and looked panicked.

Of course, there's definitely an element of acting involved.

Upon seeing this, Zhao Xu reassured her, "Zao Jing, don't panic, I have already made plans..."

"I am willing to listen to your virtuous teachings!" Prince Shao quickly bowed his head and said.

"After Zao Jing returned, he posted a notice in the Ministry of Personnel and to the officials awaiting appointment: When I ascended the throne, I vowed to compile the Yuan You Grand Ceremony, which will compile all the books of the classics, histories, philosophical works and literary collections since the beginning of writing, as well as the words of astronomy, geography, yin and yang, medicine, divination, monks and Taoists, and arts and crafts into one book!"

"Previously, I had already issued an edict appointing Wen Yanbo, the Grand Tutor and Chancellor of Military and State Affairs, as the Compiler of the Yuan You Grand Ceremony; Fang Ping, the Military Governor of Zhangde Army, and Jing, the Military Governor of Baoning Army, as Co-Commissioners of the Compilation of the Yuan You Grand Ceremony; and Song, the Chancellor and Vice Minister of the Chancellery, as the Deputy Compiler!"

"I have ordered all gentlemen to gather literary talents from all over the world and bring them together in one place!"

"But I remember that the Yuan You Grand Ceremony was a glorious event of our dynasty, a monumental achievement in literature and art for all time!"

"Therefore, an imperial edict was issued authorizing officials from the Ministry of Personnel awaiting appointment to participate in the compilation of the Yuan You Grand Code!"

"Any official who wishes to serve as a civil official below the rank of Imperial Censor may serve as a proofreader in the Yuan You Grand Encyclopedia Bureau; those below the rank of Xuande Lang may serve as a compiler in the Yuan You Grand Encyclopedia Bureau; those above the rank of Xuande Lang and below the rank of Chaosan Lang may serve as proofreaders in the Yuan You Grand Encyclopedia Bureau; and those above the rank of Chaosan Lang may serve as editors or deputy editors of a certain department in the Yuan You Grand Encyclopedia Bureau!"

"All officials in the publishing house will be assigned duties by the Ministry of Personnel in accordance with normal procedures for appointment, evaluation, and performance evaluation. All officials' salaries and benefits will remain unchanged!"

This was a plan that Zhao Xu had already devised.

It can be considered a delaying tactic.

In any case, Zhao Xu remembered that when Emperor Taizong of Ming, Zhu Di, compiled the Yongle Encyclopedia, at its peak, more than two thousand officials and scholars participated, and it took several years to finally complete it.

Today, Chinese culture has not been ravaged by the wars of the Song, Jin, and Mongol dynasties.

Countless lost ancient books, rare editions, and unique items still exist.

At the same time, the financial situation of the Song Dynasty is now better than during the reign of Zhu Di.

Naturally, if Zhao Xu was going to do something, he would aim for the scale of a medieval encyclopedia.

It should encompass both ancient and modern times, including books and writings from various schools of thought and disciplines throughout history, from the Spring and Autumn Period to the Qin and Han Dynasties.

It includes all kinds of strange tales, folk customs and unofficial histories, and even folk techniques and crafts.

And while we're at it, let's slip in some personal touches and plant some foreshadowing.

When needed in the future, we can find the evidence here—this matter is also recorded in the Yuan You Grand Ceremony!

For such a grand ceremony, it wouldn't be unreasonable to spend ten years or even longer to perfect it and leave no regrets, would it?

In order to enable future generations to better understand and know the true meaning of the thoughts and culture of the ancients, and to trace their origins and sources.

It would be reasonable for the imperial court to organize thousands of civil officials and scholars to participate in this grand undertaking, to compile, edit, and annotate the text.

In this way, the problem of redundant officials in the Song Dynasty was temporarily alleviated.

Everyone can become an official, and everyone can advance in their career!
The scholar-officials now have something to do!
They can all get busy!

The Song Dynasty will be as stable as an iron barrel!

Of course, doing this is great now, but once the Yuanyou Grand Ceremony is completed, thousands of officials without official positions will come to Zhao Xu to ask for one.

so what!

To avoid trouble, Zhao Xu asked Wang Zishao to try to get as many officials over the age of 55 into the Yuanyou Grand Ceremony Bookstore.

If there are not enough officials waiting for vacancies, then search for qualified officials in all the prefectures and counties of the country.

Then have these people give up their seats to the younger people.

Zhao Xu believed that most of the veteran officials would be willing.

After all, no scholar-official could resist the honor of entering the Yuanyou Encyclopedia Book Bureau and participating in the compilation of the Yuanyou Encyclopedia!

In this way, by the time the Yuan You Grand Ceremony is completed, the youngest official in the publishing house will be at least sixty-five years old.

When the time comes, Zhao Xu will issue an edict to treat them with preferential treatment, and arrange them into official positions that sound impressive but actually have little power, status, or practical affairs—if all else fails, he can invent a bunch of miscellaneous assignments.

It's just a matter of spending some money!
Of course, Zhao Xu also knew that what he was doing was only treating the symptoms, not the root cause.

Ultimately, the real solution lies in addressing the problems caused by the expansion of the imperial examination system and the proliferation of redundant officials.

There's really only one way forward—expansion!
Use the swords and knives of the Song Dynasty to find more official positions and more vacancies for the scholar-officials of the Song Dynasty.

Only in this way can the ever-expanding appetite of the bureaucratic class be satisfied.

Only in this way could the Song Dynasty be prevented from falling into the Malthusian trap during his lifetime, thus plunging into destruction.

As for what happened after his death?
Then we can only trust the wisdom of future generations!

(End of this chapter)