I studied in modern times

Chapter 992 Zhao Xu's Understanding of the Doctrine of the Mean

Before we knew it, it was March.

With the arrival of an official document from the capital, Bianjing City instantly became bustling with activity.

Because this official document was titled "By imperial decree, permission is granted to open Jinming Pond for the people to enjoy themselves this year."

According to the order of the capital, many royal recreational facilities, including Jinming Pond, Yujin Garden, Yichun Garden, and Ruisheng Garden, will be open to all citizens and merchants of the Great Song Dynasty from the 16th day of the 3rd month of this year to the 16th day of the 5th month of this year.

Jinming Pond is open to the public free of charge, but a maximum of 50,000 people are allowed to enter each day. The area where the royal palace and the royal dragon boat are located is a restricted area.

Yujin Garden, Yichun Garden, and Ruisheng Garden are open to the public for a fee.

Among them, Yujin Garden has the most expensive ticket, costing two strings of cash per ticket.

Yichun Garden is the cheapest; you can enter and visit for only 200 coins.

The ticket price for Ruisheng Garden is 500 coins.

The reason for such a large price difference is not only because these facilities have different functions—Yujin Garden is a zoo, which houses tigers, leopards, camels, peacocks, kingfishers, pandas (now called iron-eating beasts), as well as ostriches, elephants, and lions that are not native to the area.

With Jiaozhi's return to submission, the Jiaozhi people began to offer elephants as tribute.

In the first year of the Yuan You era, three heads were presented as tribute, and in the second year of the Yuan You era, five more heads were presented as tribute.

In the second year of the Yuan You era, the Dali Kingdom also presented peacocks as tribute.

As for the ostrich and lion, they were purchased by the Guangzhou Maritime Trade Office.

So many rare and exotic animals gathered in Bianjing.

Just keeping them is very expensive.

Zhao Xu was not about to suffer a loss.
Taking advantage of this opportunity to share the joy with the people, they simply opened it up.

If possible, I will announce it when the time comes: "I am so approachable!"
Every night, the thought that the people can't even see rare and exotic animals pains my heart!

So—it's open! Everything's open!

You can visit and tour the place as long as you pay.

This is intended to be operated as a modern zoo.

Simply put, Yujin Garden is responsible for its own profits and losses.

Of course, it's reasonable to charge a higher price.

That's how a market economy works.

In a strict sense, both Yichun Garden and Ruisheng Garden are royal gardens.

This can be seen from their common names—Yichun Garden is commonly known as Dongyuan (East Garden), and Ruisheng Garden is commonly known as Beiyuan (North Garden).

Among them, Yichun Garden is famous for its rare flowers and exotic plants. Every spring, Emperor Zhao and his concubines, princes and princesses would go there to enjoy the flowers and play.

Ruisheng Garden is a landscape garden known for its artificial hills and strange rocks. It was a place where the emperors would go fishing, take vacations, and recuperate outside the palace.

The reason why Yichun Garden is so cheap is because, according to folklore, it is somewhat haunted.

Because Yichun Garden was originally built by Prince Dao of Fuling (Zhao Tingmei), it was also known as the Commoner's Garden.

Legend has it that after the death of Prince Dao of Fuling, this place became somewhat eerie.

Therefore, the Zhao emperors of all dynasties were unwilling to come here except during the spring and summer when the yang energy was at its peak.

As for Ruisheng Garden, it was built by the Zhenmiao Temple.

It was originally used to enshrine the 'heavenly book' that Anatolia said descended from the sky.

The garden still contains the halls and pavilions where the Heavenly Book was enshrined.

However, the Song Dynasty court avoids mentioning this matter whenever possible.

How embarrassing! How shameful!
As a result, the hall where the Heavenly Book was once enshrined was never visited except for routine maintenance.

Zhao Xu thought that not many people would like to visit this kind of garden, so he set the ticket price because he thought he could make a little money.

However, the official document from the capital was posted on a single notice.

The entire capital of Bianjing was immediately in an uproar!
The pre-sale windows opened by Kaifeng Prefecture at various pawnshops were instantly packed with crowds.

no way!
The Royal Zoo and the Royal Gardens!
Who wouldn't want to go and see it?
Especially Yichun Garden, the ticket price is incredibly cheap!

The limited number of 20,000 tickets per day were snapped up instantly.

And scalpers appeared very quickly!

Zhao Xu was stunned when he heard the news.

He immediately realized that he had sold the tickets too cheaply!

Two hundred coins?
That's equivalent to more than a day's wages for a laborer in Bianjing!
For the people of Bianjing who are gradually becoming wealthier, it really means nothing!
Anyone with a little property, or a small business owner in Bianjing, could scrape together such a sum of money to take their whole family to visit and tour the Zhao family's gardens.

Even families from the lowest socioeconomic classes can manage to get in and have a look if they grit their teeth.

However, Zhao Xu had already made his promise, and he couldn't bring himself to go back on his word.

How to do?
simple!
Zhao Xu directly ordered Kaifeng Prefecture to cap the number of tickets sold each day. Then, he handed over the lion's share to the Investigation Division, instructing them to sell the tickets at a premium, with the proceeds going towards the Investigation Division's operating expenses.

This technique is a basic practice in modern concerts.

You think it's because you weren't fast enough to grab a ticket?
Actually, it was an inside job that took your tickets and sold them at a premium!

After completing this task, the examination hall also sent the revised examination questions to Zhao Xu.

Zhao Xu casually flipped through the papers and, upon seeing that the imperial examination questions proposed by Zhang Heng and others were indeed in accordance with the principles established at the Jing Shi meeting that day, he laughed.

"At least we've made a good start!"

Although this year's imperial examination (official title examination) still uses the old examination method.

The questions posed were also basically centered around the core of Confucianism.

The only difference is that a pragmatic element has been added to the current affairs policy.

The five policy proposals were all based on grassroots governance issues reported by the Dali Temple to local government officials.

But it's still a very good start.

Because after this imperial examination, the scholar-officials would no longer have the option to stay at home and bury themselves in the classics.

They will be forced to observe and engage with the real world.

Of course, this will certainly bring turmoil and discomfort.

The scholars certainly wouldn't be used to it either.

But it doesn't matter!

Back then, when poetry and prose were changed to classical texts, they were not used to it, and there was some unrest in the prefectures and counties.

Facts have proven that, for the scholar-officials, it didn't matter what they used to take the imperial examinations!
As long as the imperial court can provide them with a path to officialdom!

Besides...

"If someone's interests are harmed, then someone else will naturally reap the benefits!"

This year's imperial examination began to emphasize the 'comprehensive qualities' of scholars.

Not only must one be good at understanding the classics, but one must also be proficient in policy discussions and practical skills.

This will certainly eliminate a large number of bookworms who spend their days studying.

However, it can also screen out a large number of talented people who are knowledgeable, flexible and adaptable in daily life!
It's possible that this year's Dragon Soaring List will be just like the Dragon Tiger List of the second year of Jiayou, with a large number of talented people emerging!
With that thought in mind, Zhao Xu picked up his pen.

"If that's the case, I'll have to come up with a proper policy question for the palace examination!"

In the Song Dynasty, the questions in the palace examination were always political.

If an emperor wants to reform, the topic will definitely be related to reform; if an emperor wants to maintain the status quo, the topic will definitely be related to his ancestors.

Therefore, to know the direction of the Song Dynasty court, one only needs to look at the questions of the imperial examination held every three years.

Zhao Xu, however, planned to go all out.

He picked up a pen and wrote down three different policy questions on a piece of paper.

He stared intently at the three questions: "Let's see what happens after the results of this year's imperial examinations are released!"

“If there are no major incidents…” Zhao Xu licked his lips, “then I will naturally choose the most radical question!”

kindness……

If you've all let the imperial power dictate your lives, then don't blame the emperor for bullying you and pushing his luck.

"If it's just a minor disturbance..."

"Let's choose this topic of harmony!"

The so-called reconciliation is actually a mild form of radicalism.

After all, they're just saying a few words; a small reward will suffice to appease them.

"If public sentiment is aroused..."

"Then we can only use this middle-of-the-road question!"

But as Confucius said, the so-called Doctrine of the Mean is that a gentleman is harmonious but not conformist.

Simply put, it's a feigned change of stance, while their actual position remains unchanged, and they're always ready to launch a counterattack.

This is the wisdom Zhao Xu learned in modern times.

Leaders are always making different contingency plans.

But basically all contingency plans ultimately have only one purpose—to achieve the initial strategic intent.

This is what it means to move forward through twists and turns and to grow through exploration.

(End of this chapter)