I studied in modern times

Chapter 1077 Project Establishment
Soon, the auspicious time selected by the Ministry of Rites arrived.

As the music of Zheng'an begins, a new rhythm emerges, with the booming of drums accompanied by the crisp sound of striking a chime.

Magnificent and solemn, dignified and majestic.

The Qionglin Banquet has begun.

Led by Wang Cun, the newly appointed scholars filed through the corridors of Qionglin Garden to the hall where the throne was located.

"Your Majesty, we respectfully wish Your Majesty a long and healthy life!"

Led by Wang Cun, hundreds of scholars knelt and bowed before the emperor, who sat upright on the throne.

The voices of hundreds of people echoed throughout Qionglin Garden, full of energy.

Zhao Xu sat upright on his throne, looking down at the newly appointed scholars.

Officials who have been relieved of their rank and put on brand-new official robes.

The new blood of the Song Dynasty!

The situation was completely different from what was seen at the announcement ceremony in Chongzheng Hall last month.

The candidates who passed the imperial examinations at that time were generally inexperienced, naive, and nervous.

They were not familiar with each other, and most of them were also unfamiliar with etiquette and rules.

Inside the hall, each person needs to be personally guided by a master of ceremonies.

But now, after a month of adjustment and learning at the preparatory office.

They have all grown rapidly into qualified feudal bureaucratic fighters.

To become a member of the ruling group of the Song Dynasty!
They are already familiar with the system, the etiquette, and the manner.

Hundreds of people, standing before the emperor like standard-bearers, flawlessly completed the audience ceremony.

The top scholar, Shi Gongbi, even performed a congratulatory dance in front of Zhao Xu.

His demeanor and expression were almost on par with Wang Cun's!

It can only be said that the Song Dynasty truly deserves to be called the pinnacle of the scholar-official dynasty.

When it comes to the domestication and training of bureaucrats, it was a thousand years ahead of the world—newly appointed scholars collectively entered the Bureau of Gathering, where the state provided them with food, drink, and entertainment, allowing them to get to know each other. Such a system would take another thousand years in the West.

Until the British colonized India, in order to facilitate the rule of the scattered Indian subcontinent, the British established civil service examinations at all levels in India. The highest-ranking civil servants were called state civil servants, and their examinations were called the State Civil Service Examination (UPSC).

This system was directly inherited by India after it gained independence.

In modern times, Zhao Xu knew only one Indian civil servant.

Those are real Celestial Dragons!

If you pass the exam, you're destined for great success!

According to him, there are only 7,000 civil servant positions in the entire country of India.

They are the true Brahmins of modern India! Superior people!
Every year, civil servants who pass the UPSC exam will go to the National Institute of Administration (NIA) in India, a special institution prepared for them by the Indian government, for further study.

The so-called study at that National Academy of Governance was actually learning various etiquette and manners of high society under the guidance of experts and teachers hired by the Indian government.

At the same time, this allowed these new ruling classes to get to know each other and cultivate camaraderie in a closed and fixed place.

By the time they graduate, these new ruling classes will essentially have become half-brothers.

They help each other when they encounter problems.

Zhao Xu was amused after hearing the other party's introduction—the so-called UPSC was just like a more rigorous and scientific imperial examination in the Song Dynasty, wasn't it?

And isn't the system of going to the National Academy of Governance to study after passing the exam just the same as the system in the Song Dynasty where newly appointed scholars studied and lived in the Qiji Bureau after the imperial examination?

Thinking about all this, Zhao Xu suddenly froze.

He looked at the more than seven hundred newly appointed scholars kneeling on the ground in front of the hall.

In a daze, Zhao Xu seemed to see his Indian friend again.

The other person had a calm demeanor, a smile on their face, and spoke fluent Mandarin.

In his interactions and exchanges with Zhao Xu, he was always unhurried and composed, just like a gentleman.

There are none of the stereotypical bad habits of Indians.

On the contrary, he is erudite, articulate, and has a profound understanding of international affairs, economics, and diplomacy.

He can even write Chinese cursive script, and he does it quite well!

But this same person, when Zhao Xu accepted his invitation to travel to India...

After witnessing firsthand how he ruthlessly dealt with troublemakers who were causing problems in his jurisdiction.

Zhao Xu's idealized image of him as a gentleman was shattered.

But he himself was completely oblivious to it.

Everything is taken for granted, it's only natural!
At this moment, the blurred image of that modern Indian friend overlapped with the figures of the newly appointed scholars prostrating themselves before the hall.

This made Zhao Xu breathe a sigh of relief.

He then laughed self-deprecatingly: "How can these people compare to that friend?"

They are top elites who passed the UPSC exam, which has an acceptance rate of less than one in 100,000!

He is a top-tier talent in history, geography, literature, art, science, politics, and logic!

Although they may be corrupt and break the law, and although they may disregard human life.

But they really understand governance and politics.

His subordinates were all completely subservient to him, obeying his every command. And of the more than seven hundred newly appointed scholars standing before Zhao Xu now, it would be a stroke of luck if even half of them became competent officials in the future!
Thinking this, Zhao Xu felt somewhat dejected. He casually waved his hand and instructed Tong Guan beside him, "Tong Guan, announce the imperial edict!"

"promise!"

After receiving the order, Tong Guan stepped forward to the palace gate. Clearing his throat, he solemnly took out a pre-written imperial edict and read it aloud with measured intonation: "By imperial decree: I, having received the dying wish of my late father, continue the ancestral temples and govern the world, working diligently day and night, with the sole purpose of revitalizing the nation and cultivating talent… Therefore, I hereby decree: A banquet of celebration shall be held on the day of Yi-You in the sixth month of the third year of the Yuan You era at the Qionglin Garden, and all newly appointed Jinshi officials shall be granted the privilege of wearing flowers in the imperial garden!"

"I hope that after the banquet, you will not lose sight of your original intentions, will not forget the teachings of the sages and the ways of the former kings, and will perform your duties accordingly..."

As Tong Guan began his sermon, hundreds of officials from the Ministry of Rites, who had been prepared in advance, brought flowers that they had selected, picked, and carefully placed in jade basins in the Qionglin Garden that morning.

They were presented to each of the newly appointed scholars.

Then, these newly appointed scholars would pin these flowers onto their hats.

These flowers are mostly peonies.

For a time, the Qionglin Garden was filled with people wearing flowers in their hair, and as far as the eye could see, they were all proud and successful.

Only the young emperor on the throne remained indifferent, his eyes unfocused, and no one knew what he was thinking!
……

After the Qionglin Banquet, the newly appointed Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) took their imperial gifts, including poems, books, robes, boots, scepters, and ice, and wore hairpins as they departed one by one.

For most of them, this Qionglin Banquet was a glory they would cherish for a lifetime—because many of them would never have the chance to return to the capital to meet the Emperor again.

Eighty percent of those who passed the imperial examinations would be swept away by the sea of ​​candidates.

Even if they return to the capital in the future to report on their duties and be selected for official positions, they will still go to the Ministry of Personnel.

Even among the remaining 20% ​​of lucky individuals, perhaps only a handful, or at most a dozen, will be able to become leaders or even prime ministers under the dual system.

To gain the qualification to assist the emperor in governing the country.

After the Qionglin Banquet, Zhao Xu did not leave. Instead, he led the chief ministers, senior officials, and ministers from the two ministries and six departments to the depths of Qionglin Garden, to Baojin Tower, a place that the Zhao emperors used to love to visit when they came to Qionglin Garden.

This building is considered the most magnificent among the buildings around Bianjing City—the palaces and temples on the upper floor alone are hundreds of feet wide.

This was the greatest spectacle created by the Zhao family before Emperor Huizong embarked on his massive construction projects.

Leading his ministers, he ascended Baojin Tower and arrived at a large hall on the second floor.

Here, a model of Jingdong Road has already been set up.

When the assembled officials entered the hall, they all understood that the next step was to discuss the Jingdong Canal.

Zhao Xu did not keep them waiting long. After offering them seats, he walked to the sand table, picked up a baton, and recounted to the officials what Yang Ji had reported to the palace the day before.

Then he said, "The land east of the capital is of utmost importance!"

"Especially now that the northern barbarians have a powerful navy, their campaigns against Goryeo and Japan all rely on the strength of their navy!"

Although the Liao navy at present is at best a transport fleet.

Their victories at sea were all achieved by the Jurchen militia, especially the Donghai Jurchen militia, who boarded the ships.

Moreover, as far as Zhao Xu knew, the only results of the battle were a dozen or so Japanese ships of varying sizes.

These boats are mostly small boats used in coastal waters.

It would be remarkable if there were even a few dozen people at the top.

This kind of small-scale, narrow-range hand-to-hand combat was practically a chosen battlefield for the Jurchens who grew up in the extremely harsh natural environment of the East China Sea region.

Their opponents were mostly Japanese sailors who had never received any military training.

It would collapse with a single blast.

But this did not prevent Zhao Xu from using this to exaggerate the threat posed by the Liao navy.

If we don't praise the Liao people, how can we convince the prime ministers to reinvest in naval and coastal defense construction?
Without massive resource investment, how can we build a fleet that can sweep across Southeast Asia in ten years and project the power of the Song Dynasty to Malacca, Java, and even Australia?

You should know that Zhao Xu wanted to hold a sumo wrestling match with kangaroos in Bianjing City before he died.

Therefore, he always exaggerated the threat posed by the Liao navy.

They almost wanted to portray the Liao navy as an invincible force.

However, the deep-rooted fear of Liao among the Song Dynasty's scholar-officials meant that his advocacy was never questioned—after all, these scholar-officials of the Song Dynasty had twice made the foolish decision to return to the Yellow River under the influence of their fear of Liao—if it weren't for Zhao Xu's intervention, they would probably have already begun their third return to the Yellow River.

To these people, the Liao people were far more terrifying than the Yellow River floods.

After all, even if the Yellow River breaches its banks, they won't be the ones to drown.

However, if the Liao people invade, those captured and taken to the capital as mascots will certainly be among those criticized and judged by the Liao emperor!

So, how do you choose?
Needless to say!

This time was no different. After Zhao Xu brought the threat of the Liao people into the open, the ministers, who were gripped by Liao phobia, began to echo Zhao Xu's decision.

Of course—the chancellors and elders were mostly just putting on an act.

These shrewd people saw it all long ago—Zhao Xu's swordplay was a ploy to target Liu Bang!

The so-called threat from the Liao navy was just a charade he used to intimidate the court and get their cooperation.

But no one dared to expose it.

Just like Zhao Gao pointing at a deer and calling it a horse in the Qin palace, no one dared to expose him.

Therefore, Zhao Xu saw that all the ministers agreed to his idea of ​​building a canal to connect the Imperial Canal, the Ji River and Wen River in Jingdong Road, and the Grand Canal in Xuzhou.

He immediately ordered the formation of the [Huitong River] project team—establishing the official office of the Huitong River Construction and Repair Commissioner.

Feng Jing was appointed as the Commissioner for the Construction of the Huitong River, in charge of all internal and external affairs. Song Yongchen was appointed as the Deputy Commissioner for Construction, and Yang Ji was appointed as the Co-Commissioner.

These individuals were required to produce a detailed plan and budget within three months.

(End of this chapter)