I rode and slashed unparalleled in the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 757: Imperial Examinations to Recruit Scholars to Win the Hearts of the People, and the Imperial Guards Go Out to Punish the Evildoers (Chapter 6K)

In Luoyang, there were huge crowds of people outside the imperial palace.

Tens of thousands of young and middle-aged students gathered here and launched a massive wave of protests.

"Protest! Protest! Protest!"

"General Su Yao has disregarded the imperial order and acted recklessly, attempting to destroy the foundation of our Han Dynasty!"

"Abolishing the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers, and monopolizing government affairs, how is he different from the thief Dong?!"

The students were emotional, shouting slogans, and their emotions were extremely excited.

They believed that Su Yao's reform plan touched upon the fundamental interests of the children of aristocratic families and the scholar-official group, especially the abolition of the system of three dukes and nine ministers, which would undoubtedly break the power structure they had relied on for a long time and weaken their influence in the court. This was absolutely unacceptable.

After all, for the Han Dynasty's system of selecting officials based on the imperial examination system, recommendations from superiors and teachers were an absolutely necessary condition.

If their teachers were purged by Su Yao and excluded from the center of power, then their path to promotion would obviously be extremely dim.

This close connection between the two is the reason why people like Cao Teng, the former Grand Chamberlain, and the Yuan family have students and former officials all over the world.

Today, this massive wave of protests is the result of a joint effort by the nobles and aristocratic families.

I saw in the rolling crowd,

Dong Yong took it and looked at it, his face turned pale. He saw that it was densely covered with the students' demands and words of protest. Every word revealed their dissatisfaction and opposition to Su Yao's reform plan.

There was even some disrespect towards the female ruler in the words.

This made Dong Yong furious, and in an instant he was filled with murderous intent, with a fierce light in his eyes.

Moreover, not only Dong Yong, but the imperial guards guarding the palace gates also showed indignation on their faces.

The soldiers holding bows and watching the crowd on the palace were also discussing:
"Damn it!"

“These ignorant scholars!”

"Don't they know that the reason they are still alive and kicking here today is all thanks to the general and the princess?!"

"You are just bored!"

"They should all be thrown into jail."

"Let's see if they are still so stubborn by then!"

The soldiers were very excited and many of them were shouting for war and killing, hoping that the troublemakers would be severely punished.

Dong Yong also thought about ordering the imperial guards to disperse the crowd, arrest the troublemakers, and severely beat these people to death for their arrogance.

However, not only did the princess, Liu Xie, Lu Zhi and others repeatedly tell him to control the army and not to cause conflict, but even when he went to ask Su Yao for instructions, he only got an order to stay calm.

Therefore, no matter how angry or anxious Dong Yong was, he could only grit his teeth and endure it. He took the letter from the petition representative with a cold snort, then threw his battle robe hard, turned around and rushed back to the palace, and presented it to the princess as usual.

Dong Yong was so angry that he was numb.

He has been doing this mechanized process for three days, watching the number of students marching explode from more than a thousand at the beginning to more than ten thousand now.

Wang Yun and others from the Secretariat also maintained an irritating silence.

This made Dong Yong feel extremely anxious and helpless.

How long will this scene last?
Dong Yong knelt down on one knee and let out a long sigh.

However, this time, he did not hear the princess's order to stay, but instead ordered him to escort Xun Yu, who had been promoted to the rank of Shizhong, to the palace gate to read the imperial edict.

"Imperial decree? What imperial decree?"

"General, do you have a solution?"

On the way to the palace gate, the anxious Dong Yong finally couldn't help but ask Xun Yu.

However, Xun Yu just smiled and said nothing, which made Dong Yong anxious like an ant on a hot pan.

Dong Yong knew very well that Su Yao often acted unexpectedly, but this time, facing such a large-scale wave of protests, although he knew that Su Yao had met frequently with Xun Yu, Wang Ling and others in recent days, he really couldn't think of any way Su Yao could resolve it.

With a lot on their mind, the two soon arrived at the palace gate.

At this time, the students outside the palace were still very emotional, shouting slogans of protest, the sound was deafening.

Xun Yu stood in front of the palace gate, took a deep breath, and read the imperial edict loudly: "The imperial edict has arrived! Students, listen to it!"

Upon hearing this, the students stopped shouting and focused their gazes on Xun Yu with deep confusion in their eyes.

Especially when he heard the beginning of the imperial edict, which did not contain any reprimands, but instead said that they cared about state affairs, worried about the country and the people, and that their hearts were commendable, he was even more confused.

To be honest, during the reigns of Emperors Huan and Ling, they organized several large-scale movements, but never held any high expectations.

After all, it would be a pipe dream to think that those in power can be overthrown just by protesting.

Even the eunuchs would at most restrain themselves appropriately due to the pressure from the situation.

But they all paid a heavy price for this.

This time, facing Su Yao's subversive reform, many of them also came with the courage to sacrifice their lives.

Now, when they heard the beginning of this imperial edict, they were all stunned.

What? Is the general really going to give in?

However, the content of the imperial edict soon changed its tone, accusing them of being instigated, acting excessively, gathering in crowds to protest, and disrupting the court order. It ordered them to disband immediately, stay in their positions, and study hard.

If there are people who gather to cause trouble again tomorrow, they will all be registered and will not be allowed to take part in the imperial examination after the coronation ceremony.

"The Imperial Examination?"

"what is that???"

After hearing the contents of the imperial edict, the students gathered in front of the palace gate were all dumbfounded.

They could only vaguely guess that it was probably some new thing that the maverick general had come up with, but they had no idea what it had to do with them.

However, Xun Yu did not come here to keep everyone guessing. Soon after the surrounding soldiers fell silent, he explained loudly:

"The imperial examination is the process of establishing a system for holding imperial examinations."

"The general knows that talent is the foundation of state governance."

"Although the new emperor is about to ascend the throne, the world is in turmoil and is in urgent need of talented people."

"Therefore, in order to select the best talents in the world, the general has specially requested the emperor's order to hold the first imperial examination immediately after the enthronement ceremony. The purpose is to select people based on their talents, so regardless of their background, only their talents will be selected!"

"All the people of our great Han Dynasty, whether they are scholars, farmers, merchants or workers, can sign up to participate, try their skills and show their talents."

"The imperial examination is divided into three levels: the provincial examination, the metropolitan examination, and the palace examination. The candidates are selected at each level, and the best are selected and promoted in order."

"The provincial examinations are presided over by the governors of each county to select local talents; the metropolitan examinations are held in Luoyang by examiners sent by the imperial court to gather talents from all over the world; the palace examinations are presided over by His Majesty the Emperor and the generals themselves to select the most outstanding talents and entrust them with important tasks."

“I hope that those who are interested in a career in politics and are willing to contribute to the country will actively participate, join in the great event, and contribute their talents and strength to the revival of our Han Dynasty!”

"what?!"

"Only talent is considered, not background?"

"The general and the emperor are personally presiding over this. As long as I pass the exam, I can enter the government? I don't need to wait for the recommendation and recruitment of those adults?!"

The students began to talk among themselves, with disbelief in their eyes.

They could hardly believe their ears; the news was too shocking for them.

For a long time, they have been trapped in the shackles of the recommendation system and the conscription system. It is almost impossible for them who come from humble backgrounds to stand out.

Even if they have outstanding talents and good character, they are often buried in the crowd and find it difficult to get the opportunity to display their talents because they do not have the recommendation and background of aristocratic families.

However, now someone unexpectedly tells them that a brand new selection system is about to be implemented. This system does not care about background, but only talent. As long as you pass the exam, you can become an official!
This is simply a godsend opportunity tailor-made for these children from poor families!

"This...is this true?"

incredible!

One of the students asked with a trembling voice, his eyes full of anticipation and excitement.

He was born in a poor family and had the ideal of governing the country and bringing peace to the world since he was young. However, due to his family background, he had difficulty getting the opportunity to display his talents.

Now, the emergence of the imperial examination seemed to give him a glimmer of hope.

"of course it's true!"

Xun Yu smiled and nodded, his eyes full of encouragement and affirmation:

"You all should know that since the reigns of Emperors Huan and Ling, the Han Dynasty has been seriously short of officials. The previous emperor favored eunuchs and sold official positions and titles. The path to becoming an official was bumpy and difficult. Students all over the world suffered greatly and were unable to display their strengths."

"The general was deeply distressed by this matter, so he decided to reform the official system to eliminate the old problem."

"In the new official system of the future, whether at the central or local level, a large number of outstanding talents will be needed to govern."

"Therefore, the general has decided to implement the imperial examination immediately after the princess's coronation ceremony."

"It does not matter what your origin or family background is, you are selected based on your talent. No matter if you are from a poor family or a noble family, as long as you have outstanding talent, you can pass the imperial examination and become an official to serve the country."

"Moreover, in order to encourage everyone to actively participate, the general has specially established a scholarship system at all levels. Students who perform well in the imperial examinations, especially those from poor families, will be given generous rewards and generous treatment."

"At the same time, for those students whose families are poor and cannot afford the examination fees, the court will also provide various assistance to ensure that they can take the examination smoothly and make the most of their lifelong learning!"

Xun Yu’s words were like warm sunshine, illuminating every corner of the students’ hearts.

They didn't expect that this great general not only proposed such an enlightened imperial examination system, but also considered it so carefully that he even thought of the difficulties of poor students like them. Is this an idea that a mere warrior could have?
How can this be?

This is really incredible!
After Xun Yu's speech, there was an uproar in front of the palace.

The students talked excitedly, with hope shining in their eyes, as if they saw infinite possibilities for their future.

Some smart people have squeezed to the front row and waved their hands desperately to inquire about the specific details of the exam.

Xun Yu naturally wanted this, and after asking the imperial guards to be quiet again, he patiently explained loudly:
"The imperial examination is held nationwide every three years. It is divided into three levels: the provincial examination, the metropolitan examination, and the palace examination. The candidates advance in order. I have already explained it before, so I will not repeat it here."

"One thing that needs to be made clear is that the first imperial examination held after the new emperor ascended the throne is the Imperial Examination."

"Enko? What does that mean?"

When the students heard this, a hint of doubt flashed in their eyes, and they all looked at Xun Yu, waiting for his explanation.

Xun Yu smiled slightly and continued:

"The so-called Enke is an extra test specially set up by the general to celebrate the new emperor's accession to the throne."

"This special examination will not be limited to the time limit of the regular imperial examination. It will be held in advance, and in order to recruit more talented people, the difficulty of the examination will be reduced accordingly."

"At the same time, the Enke will also set up more admission quotas to ensure that more outstanding students will have the opportunity to serve as officials in the court."

"really?"

"That's great!"

"Excuse me, Minister Xun, when exactly will the Imperial Examination be held? How do we sign up?"

The students couldn't wait to ask questions one after another. When Xun Yu saw that their attention had been completely diverted, he stroked his beard and smiled, patiently explaining:

"The specific date of this Enke has been basically determined. It will be held within three months after the princess's coronation ceremony."

"As for the registration, the court will notify all counties and prefectures and order local governments to set up registration points. Students only need to go to the local government or school, fill out the registration form according to the requirements, and pay a certain registration fee."

"The provincial examinations are presided over by examiners appointed by the emperor in the capitals of each county, and the best candidates are admitted. The following year, the joint examinations are held in Beijing, and the best candidates are selected. A month later, the palace examinations are held, and the winners are selected!"

"This time, we will also give special consideration to all of you Imperial College students who have been studying in Beijing for a long time. You will not need to return to your hometown to register, but will directly be qualified to advance to the imperial examination. Before the exam, you can prepare for it in Beijing with peace of mind."

"Xun, I sincerely hope that you can achieve excellent results by then."

Xun Yu’s words made the students fascinated, and they seemed to see infinite possibilities for their future.

Immediately, a student raised his hand curiously and asked:

"Minister Xun, since we are going to hold an imperial examination, what exactly will the examination be about?"

Xun Yu smiled slightly and explained:
"This time, the main subjects of the imperial examination are classics, mathematics, law, and policy essays, and the secondary subjects are engineering, astronomy, and poetry."

"Among them, the Mingjing subject mainly examines students' understanding and mastery of Confucian classics, including the Five Classics, namely the Book of Songs, the Book of History, the Book of Rites, the Book of Changes and the Spring and Autumn Annals."

“At the same time, students’ writing skills and their insights and analytical skills on current affairs will also be examined.”

"The law subject mainly tests students' understanding and mastery of laws and their ability to use laws to solve practical problems."

Upon hearing this, the students nodded to show that they understood.

They know that these classics and books are the content of their daily study, and are also an important way for them to display their talents.

"Minister Xun, what about other subjects? For example, what are the tests on mathematics and engineering?" another student asked.

Xun Yu smiled slightly and continued to explain:
"The mathematics subject mainly tests students' arithmetic and geometric abilities, as well as their understanding and application of mathematical principles. As for subjects such as engineering and astronomy, the examination contents will be set according to specific circumstances and requirements."

Xun Yu's words left the students stunned. They had not expected that the imperial examination would be so comprehensive and detailed, testing not only their knowledge of classics and literary literacy, but also their knowledge of mathematics, law, and even astronomy and engineering.
They can understand mathematics and law for the time being.

After all, an ignorant prefect will only be fooled by his county officials. If he doesn't understand the law, he naturally won't be able to judge cases impartially.

But what is the use of astronomy and engineering?
In their perception, these seem to have no direct connection with governing the country or serving as an official, so why did they become subjects in the imperial examinations?

Xun Yu seemed to see the students' confusion. He paused, and the image of Su Yao appeared in his mind. He smiled and said:

"You students may not know that although astronomy and engineering seem to have no direct connection with governing a country, this is not the case."

"Astronomers observe celestial phenomena, know the seasons, understand yin and yang, and distinguish good and bad luck."

"Since ancient times, astronomy has been the study of emperors, and it is related to the rise and fall of the country and the well-being of the people."

"A person who understands astronomy can predict the weather, guide farming, and prevent and reduce disasters, which plays an immeasurable role in the stability and development of the country."

"Engineering is the practical science of governing a country. As the saying goes, if you want to do your work well, you must first sharpen your tools."

“Whether it is building cities, manufacturing weapons, improving agricultural tools, or developing transportation, it is inseparable from the support of engineering.”

“A person who understands engineering can promote technological progress, improve production efficiency, and contribute to the prosperity of the country.”

Xun Yu's words were like a gentle spring breeze, which enlightened the students, but also made them nervous.

They have spent their entire lives studying Confucian classics. Now the general is holding an imperial examination to recruit scholars, and there are so many subjects to test. It really catches them off guard.

Especially subjects like mathematics, engineering, astronomy, etc. are completely unheard of to them and they don't know where to start.

However, Su Yao had obviously thought of this problem.

On the one hand, since the roads were difficult to travel in ancient times, it would take at least a year or two to get all the candidates in the world to gather in the capital.

Therefore, in order to win over students, fill up vacancies as soon as possible, and set an example for the world, Su Yao actually opened a special class for all students of the Imperial College in the capital during this imperial examination.

Moreover, the examination content is mainly based on the Mingjing subject that they have been studying.

As for other subjects, such as mathematics, law, policy essays, engineering and astronomy, the examination content will be relatively simple, and there will be preparation documents released in advance and study sessions held in the Imperial College to help students prepare for the exams better.

Xun Yu's words were like a reassurance, making the students' worries disappear.

They expressed their gratitude and were full of anticipation and confidence in the imperial examination.

With Xun Yu's patient explanations, the students gained a deeper understanding of the imperial examination.

They know that this is an opportunity to change their destiny, an opportunity that will allow them to realize their life value.

Especially when they learned that this year's special examination would recruit nearly a thousand people to become officials, everyone was excited.

Among them, some informants who had been developed by Jinyiwei before stood up at the first moment and raised their arms and shouted:
"The general is truly wise and brave. This move will surely benefit students all over the world!"

"In the imperial examination, regardless of one's family background, only talent is selected. If this can really be achieved, then this is the best policy in the world!"

"Now that we are gathering here to cause trouble and oppose such good governance, aren't we destroying our own foundation?!"

Under their leadership, there was a huge response in a short period of time.

Faced with such vital interests, a large number of clear-headed poor students immediately understood the interests involved and knew that they were being used.

The students from prominent families in the crowd were stunned, and some even called it the collapse of social ethics and morality.

However, their voices are so small in the crowd.

Soon, under the earnest persuasion of Xun Yu and others, the tens of thousands of protesting students gathered outside the palace gate dispersed.

The crowd was like a tide, they came and went in waves.

However, this time their target was no longer the gate of the imperial palace, but they swarmed towards the Imperial Academy.

According to Xun Yu, the specific matters concerning this imperial examination have been distributed to the officials of the Imperial College, and they will explain them in detail.

At this point, the crowd couldn't stand still.

As a result, this departure left those who had caused trouble previously left alone.

Some of them fled in shame and followed the crowd to the Imperial College, nervously watching the latest situation.

Some people just stood there stupidly, yelling at their classmates not to believe the sweet words of the traitor Su Yao.

However, this time, Su Yao showed no leniency towards these "warriors" who were swimming naked after the tide receded.

Almost suddenly, the sound of horse hooves could be heard on the streets, and teams of Ti cavalry dressed in red rushed out and headed straight for these opponents.

This scared them silly.

"Who are you?!"

"No, stay away from me. I am a student of the Imperial College. You cannot arrest me without permission!"

The surrounded opponents turned pale with fear.

However, Wang Ling, the leader, just raised the sign and snorted coldly:
"Jinyiwei is handling the case!"

"You are suspected of incitement, subversion of the regime, and endangering national security. Come with me back to the government office."

At Wang Ling's command, the Jinyiwei's cavalry quickly captured those opponents and put them all in jail.

Some of the captured opponents were still struggling desperately, crying out that they were wronged; others looked as pale as death, knowing that the game was over.

The students who were watching the scene and had not been able to evacuate in time were all terrified when they saw this scene, but at the same time they were in awe of Su Yao's swift and decisive action.

They knew in their hearts that the general, in order to implement the official system reform and the imperial examination system, did not hesitate to mobilize troops to arrest people in the capital, which showed his great determination and decisive means.

And those children of noble families who were still hesitating and waiting now completely gave up the hope in their hearts and dared not act rashly. They all dispersed and fled back to their homes and the Imperial Academy, no longer daring to get involved in these right and wrongs.

As the saying goes, thunder comes after rain and dew. With the first attack of the Jinyiwei under Wang Ling's command, Su Yao's counterattack officially began.

(End of this chapter)