At the end of the Han Dynasty: a stingy husband from his hometown

Chapter 250 Disadvantages of Talent Selection, Academic Conference

Zhou Qi was not surprised by Wang Hui's words.

In the Han Dynasty, where the country was governed by filial piety, being unfilial would ruin your life. It was almost impossible to become an official in the dynasty.

Seeing Wang Hui lower his head, Zhou Qi suddenly asked: "Is there any secret behind the fact that your mother was starved to death?"

Zhou Qi suddenly asked these words, which can be regarded as rubbing salt on the other party's wound. However, after talking with Wang Hui, Zhou Qi felt that this person's moral character should not be bad, so he decided to get to the bottom of it.

never thought.

When Wang Hui heard Zhou Qi's words, he covered his face and cried without saying a word.

When Dian Wei saw this, he couldn't help but frown slightly and shouted: "What's the point of crying when a man is born in heaven and earth? If there is something hidden, you can just tell it through the pipe, why do you need to behave like a daughter?"

Wang Hui wiped away his tears, stood up and bowed to Zhou Qi and others: "After all, I failed to take good care of my mother. Now that I am accused of being unfilial, I have brought it upon myself."

"It's getting late today, and the house is in ruins. It's not convenient to entertain the nobles to spend the night here. You'd better go back."

When Dian Wei saw that the other party actually chased people away, he couldn't help but feel angry. He wanted to have a fit but was stopped by Zhou Qi.

Zhou Qi took a deep look at Wang Hui, slightly cupped his hands, and then left with Xi Zhicai and Dian Wei.

Before leaving, Zhou Qi seemed to see Wang Hui's wife hesitate to speak, and finally just sighed slightly, and couldn't help but feel a little moved in her heart.

On the way back, Zhou Qi said: "It can be seen that this person feels quite guilty about the fact that his mother was starved to death. If he has such shame, I don't believe he would do such a thing."

Dian Wei asked a little strangely: "Even if this Wang Hui is a little talented, there are countless capable ministers under the lord's command, so there is no need to spend so much energy on this person, right?"

"Even if there is something hidden in the matter, Wang Hui eventually starved his mother to death. He has already been labeled as unfilial. It would be unfair for the lord to use him."

Zhou Qi did not explain Dian Wei's doubts. Instead, he turned to Xi Zhicai and asked, "Does the military advisor know what I mean?"

Xi Zhicai's expression moved slightly and he said: "My lord, could it be that he feels that the current talent selection system is flawed and wants to use the Wang Hui incident as an introduction to re-formulate the rules for talent selection?"

When Zhou Qi heard this, he couldn't help laughing and said: "He who knows me is a military advisor."

As Dian Wei said, there was no need for Zhou Qi to spend so much time on the matter.

However, from Jiangxia to Lujiang, although Zhou Qi's rule could be regarded as politically clean, there were still some shortcomings that were difficult to eradicate.

The most important thing is that almost all important officials in various places are children of aristocratic families, and most of those who really come from poor families only serve as low-level officials.

Zhou Qi also deliberately talked with those scholars from poor families and felt that many of them had good abilities and could achieve better development.

Unfortunately, the inspection and promotion system has its shortcomings after all.

When Zhou Qi first occupied Yangzhou, he still followed the talent selection system of the Han Dynasty due to insufficient talent reserves under his command and fear that rashly changing the talent selection system would affect the interests of the wealthy families.

But now, Zhou Qi has grown up. After so many years of teaching in the country, many students from poor families and powerful families have gradually begun to stand out.

Although it is difficult for these people to be recommended to important official positions, many of them have become grassroots officials.

Even in the countryside, there are many educated children from poor families who are still unemployed at home.

It was precisely with enough talent reserves that Zhou Qi wanted to touch upon this inspection system that both Ling Huan and Ling wanted to reform.

However, given the seriousness of the matter, rashly reforming the talent selection system is tantamount to destroying the foundation of a great family.

Zhou Qi must find a good entry point and act with gentler means to succeed.

Wang Hui’s incident is a very good introduction.

If Wang Hui is a child of an aristocratic family, given Wang Hui's excellent grades, he will surely rise to prominence after completing his studies.

It's a pity that the direction of public opinion is in the hands of aristocratic families, and the rules of the game are also made by these people. If they want to destroy a person, they don't even need to use weapons. They only need simple rumors and rumors to kill someone invisible.

Xi Zhicai also knew how difficult this matter was, but he also came from a poor family and knew how difficult it was for him to reach his current position. He supported Zhou Qi's reform of the talent selection system.

This is why Zhou Qi did not bring Zhou Yu with him when he visited Wang Hui this time.

After all, Zhou Yu was born into a wealthy family. Even though he was loyal to Zhou Qi, he would still be biased in some matters related to the family's interests.

Keeping Zhou Yu at home and keeping him away from this matter is also a way to protect Zhou Yu.

Xi Zhicai pondered for a long time and said: "I think Wang Hui's wife wants to say something but is hesitant, but Wang Hui is by his side, so there may be some words that are difficult to say."

"If we wait until Wang Hui's wife goes out alone tomorrow and then visit her, we might be able to find out some secrets."

Zhou Qi nodded, deeply convinced.

In this way, when Wang Hui's wife went to the fields alone the next day, Zhou Qi and others visited again.

After Wang Hui's wife saw Zhou Qi and others, her face looked a little ugly and said: "After all the nobles left, Wang Lang cried bitterly all night because he thought of old things."

"This matter is painful for the prince. If nothing happens in the future, please don't disturb our lives."

Zhou Qi said apologetically: "Although I know this will be presumptuous, the king is so talented that he has to live in the fields for a long time because of the reputation of being unfilial. It is also a loss for the court."

"We are not talented, but we have some connections in the government. If there is really something hidden, we are willing to help you to clear your name."

When Wang Hui's wife heard this, her originally dim eyes suddenly became a little brighter.

She bit her lip and pondered for a long time, and finally bowed: "Noble ladies, if you have any doubts, there is no harm in asking."

Zhou Qi asked: "There are rumors in the countryside that Wang will starve his mother to death in winter. Is it true?"

Wang Hui's wife was silent for a long time, and then said with tears in her eyes: "Although my mother did starve to death, it was not the fault of my husband and I. It was my mother who took the initiative to go on a hunger strike in order to save food."

Then, Wang Hui's wife explained the cause and effect.

It turned out that after Wang Hui fled to Shu County with his mother and wife, he did not carry much property with him.

The winter was too cold that year. In order not to freeze to death, Wang Hui spent some of his only money and bought a dilapidated and abandoned house. The family of three squeezed into it to barely keep out the cold.

However, the Wang family, without any remaining wealth, is also facing the dilemma of running out of food.

Fortunately, Wang Hui and his wife were young and strong, and they found some work, so they were able to survive with a good meal.

It's just that the old lady is old and in poor health and cannot go out to work, so the couple can only squeeze out some of the few rations and take them home to prevent the old lady from starving to death.

However, it was not easy to find a job in that era, and there was even no pay. All you had to do was provide rice porridge every day, so that people could barely starve to death.

The couple was already struggling with hunger, and they had to save food rations to take home to the old lady. It didn't take long before they could no longer support themselves, and their work became slower and slower.

When the master saw that the two of them were about to starve to death and couldn't do much work every day, they drove them all away.Losing this job would only make things worse for the family.

The old lady was very wise. After learning the cause and effect of the incident, she encouraged the couple to find a new job.

And since then, the old lady has been on a hunger strike.

Because the old lady knew that if she brought this oil bottle with her, the family of three would definitely not be able to survive this winter.

Only by going on a hunger strike and letting the couple find work that can barely make ends meet can they survive.

Since then, even though the couple still left part of the food rations to take home every day, the old lady still couldn't get enough water.

No matter how much the couple begged, the old lady still insisted on the hunger strike.

This is why, during the winter when the old lady starved to death, suppressed cries often came from the house.

Just like that, the old lady starved to death.

The couple struggled through the cold winter, and happened to meet Zhou Qi who ordered the allocation of food and grass to settle the refugees. With the government's assistance, their lives gradually improved.

Strictly speaking, the old lady did starve to death at home, but the couple could not be blamed.

Perhaps it was his mother's death that stimulated Wang Hui. Coupled with the promotion of teaching in Lujiang County, Wang Hui continued to work hard and study no matter how hard life was. Finally, with his hard work and intelligence, he gradually became famous and even entered Lujiang Academy. .

Wang Hui cherished this opportunity to change his destiny very much, so he studied scriptures day and night, and this was how he achieved today's achievements.

But the fact that his mother starved to death has become Wang Hui's heartache, and he blames himself every time he thinks about it.

Therefore, when the Academy came to investigate, Wang Hui did not defend himself. He silently bore the reputation of being unfilial and buried the pain in his heart.

At this point, Wang Hui's wife burst into tears, and Zhou Qi, Xi Zhicai, and Dian Wei all looked moved.

Although Zhou Qi, Xi Zhicai and Dian Wei all came from poor families.

But no matter how poor the family was, at least they had no worries about food and clothing. Just like Zhou Qi himself, his grandfather was even a rural miser. His family was quite famous in the countryside, he had money to study, and he had plenty of food and wine.

Although Xi Zhicai is not as good as Zhou Qi, he is not far behind, otherwise he would have no time to study.

As for Dian Wei, he was at least a tyrant in the countryside. He had no worries about food and clothing since he was a child, and he could still eat wine and meat, otherwise he would not have grown so mighty and majestic.

What they worry about is never food and clothing, but how to be an official and how to climb up.

They originally thought that the backgrounds of themselves and others were bad enough, but compared with Wang Hui, there was a huge difference.

After comforting Wang Hui's wife, Zhou Qi did not believe one side of his story. Instead, he sent someone to investigate the authenticity of his words, and even found the employer who hired the couple to work.

The results of the investigation were exactly the same as what Wang Hui's wife said.

When Dian Wei took the information he had found out, he said with a guilty look on his face: "I thought before that Wang Hui was really a rebellious and unfilial person. Now it seems that I wrongly blamed Wang Hui."

Zhou Qi also took a deep breath and meditated alone in the room for a long time. Finally, he took Xi Zhicai and Dian Wei to Lujiang Academy again.

"General, why are you here?"

Chen Wen looked at Zhou Qi with a serious face and couldn't help but feel uneasy and asked aloud.

Zhou Qi's face softened and he said: "I came to Lujiang Academy today not for anything else but to discuss knowledge."

"I want the dean to call together the students in the academy and invite Wang Hui to come over and discuss together what filial piety is."

Chen Wen did not refuse, but asked: "Does the identity of the general need to be kept secret?"

Zhou Qi pondered for a moment, then shook his head and said, "No need."

If they were just discussing academic matters alone and Zhou Qi concealed his identity, there would be a lot of nonsense and absurd theories.

Zhou Qi didn't have time to argue with some scholars.

Therefore, he wants to show his identity and prepare to use his power to overwhelm others.

At that time, even if others can refute what Zhou Qi said, they may not dare to say anything more due to Zhou Qi's status as a general.

When Chen Wen heard this, his eyes lit up.

He knew that after Zhou Qi revealed his identity, the students in the academy would definitely try their best to express themselves. If they could catch the eyes of the general, the students in Lujiang Academy would also be reused.

Chen Wen settled Zhou Qi, spread the news, and brought all the students in the academy together.

At the same time, Zhang Liao also brought two thousand soldiers to Lujiang Academy, stationed his troops and horses outside, and came to the general's side with some of his cronies.

Zhou Qi's previous itinerary was kept secret, so the precautions did not need to be so strict.

Now that his identity has been announced, even though he knew that Lujiang County was his home base and that the possibility of Lujiang Academy being in danger was slim, Zhou Qi did not dare to be careless and asked Zhang Liao to do his best in security.

Zhou Qi didn't want to be like Sun Ce, who originally had a great future but died from an assassin's assassination.

But Wang Hui, who was secretly feeling sad at home, suddenly received an invitation from Lujiang Academy to go to the academy to discuss academic issues.

Although Wang Hui was confused, he remembered his wife's words yesterday and knew that this might be his opportunity, so he did not refuse.

When he arrived at the academy in a hurry, he was shocked to find that there were many soldiers stationed below the academy, and they were all fully armed, with swords unsheathed, and the defense was very tight.

As soon as Wang Hui arrived at the gate of the academy, he was stopped by a soldier who was looking grim. He looked at Wang Hui with eyes full of scrutiny and shouted: "Are you a student of Lujiang Academy?"

Wang Hui was frightened in his heart, but he still managed to stay calm and saluted slightly: "I was a student of Lujiang Academy before, but I was invited to come to discuss academic matters."

After speaking, Wang Hui took out the letter from the academy.

The soldier finished the letter and after reading the contents, he looked at Wang Hui for a while, and then asked the master of the academy who was not far away to come and recognize him. Only after he was sure that Wang Hui's identity was correct, he let him in.

Wang Hui bowed respectfully to the Master, but the Master snorted coldly and refused to pay attention to Wang Hui.

Wang Hui had no choice but to continue walking towards the mountain. Along the way, he met students from the academy and they all pointed at them.

Wang Hui felt bitter in his heart, but he had no intention of retreating and continued to move forward.

He has already been burdened with too much. If he cannot seize this opportunity to change his destiny, won't all these years of hard study be in vain?

Wang Hui arrived at the designated place, but found that the atmosphere here was serious and scary.

He raised his head and looked towards the front. When he saw the figures beside the dean, he couldn't help but feel shocked, and then secretly said: "It's really because of them!"

(End of this chapter)