My life is like walking on thin ice

Chapter 539: Civil and Military Achievements
Strategic deterrence has always been a very interesting concept.

During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods of Chinese civilization, powerful states exchanged hostages, essentially using princes as hostages, which can be considered a prehistoric version of strategic deterrence.

—If you attack me, I'll kill your son!
Through this primitive strategic deterrence, the wars and conflicts between the warring states were brought under maximum control.

Later, Liexiong gradually realized that he could not have only one son.

Furthermore, those sent to other countries as hostages did not necessarily have to be the eldest son of the family, or a 'wise man' who was qualified to inherit the throne and capable of leading the country to prosperity.

As a result, one after another neglected royal princes were sent to other countries, even enemy countries, as hostages in the name of "serving the country".

Even today, the Han dynasty still retains a considerable number of strategic deterrence measures related to, or at least similar to, protons.

For example, the feudal lords and relatives of the Guandong clan were required by law to pay homage to Chang'an once every three years.

Although it is said that one can only stay in Chang'an for a month and cannot enter the court without an imperial edict, this means that each time one enters the court, one must stay for more than twenty or nearly thirty days, and when one receives an imperial edict summoning one from the central government, one must enter the court unconditionally to pay homage.

The significance of this move in terms of 'strategic threat' is as obvious and straightforward as it gets.

—If I tell you to come to Chang'an, you have to come!

—By default, they must come once every three years. If I summon them separately, they must obediently come to court.

As long as you come to Chang'an, and do so at least once every three years, you are 'safe'.

Because your personal safety is not in your own hands, but in the hands of the imperial court in Chang'an, you are 'safe'...
The same principle applies to mushroom-shaped weapons developed in later generations.

When neither side can guarantee its own absolute security, both sides simultaneously possess a strong strategic deterrent capability against each other.

In the past few years, the Xiongnu have achieved almost every military threat to the Han Dynasty except for strategic deterrence.

As for the Han dynasty, it goes without saying that it could not even achieve strategic deterrence, let alone military threat against the Xiongnu.

Today, this newly emerged dung-filled depression may be the key to the Han dynasty's strategic threat against the Xiongnu.

However, given the gravity of the matter, Liu Rong needed to discuss the feasibility of the operation with his advisors, as well as the potential strong reactions from the Xiongnu, before making a final decision based on the research results.

"After you go down, Wei Zhonglang should carefully consider this matter and prepare a trial performance report for me."

"Marquis Gonggao, Marquis Quzhou, and Marquis Yu should also put in some effort and consider this matter carefully."

"The northern barbarians, the Xiongnu, are the ancestral enemies of our Han dynasty. We must never allow them to flee westward and bring disaster upon future generations!"

"If, a thousand years from now, my descendants and future rulers, question me from beyond the grave: Why didn't I wipe out the Xiongnu? I fear I would lose all face."

Since Liu Rong had already put it this way, the three old men naturally had no way to refuse, and immediately cupped their hands in greeting.

Han Tuidang stated that after he goes down there, he will produce a detailed report on the matter of the cesspool.

Luanbu said that he needs to study the living habits of nomadic people first, because the fact that he only learned about the dung-bottom depression today made Luanbu realize that his understanding of nomadic people is still at a very superficial and shallow stage.

Knowing yourself and the enemy is the only way to survive a hundred battles.

Marquis of Quzhou, Li Ji, is a relatively special case.

As the one with the most noble birth, the greatest accumulated merit, and the highest military achievements among the three, and currently holding the highest position in the Han Dynasty's military, Li Ji's perspective on these issues is remarkably broad.

However, to determine the exact extent of the expanse, Li Ji needs to submit a memorial to Liu Rong and present it to him.

Let's leave that topic aside for now. The next problem facing Liu Rong is naturally the second autumn imperial examination, which will be held again this year, following last year's one.

Since Emperor Gaozu established the Han dynasty, sixty years have passed. Of the 145 founding heroes, some lost their kingdoms and others died out of line.

Even those that survived have mostly been eroded by a life of luxury and extravagance.

In the foreseeable future, the Han court's decision-making body will probably no longer be able to rely on these descendants of meritorious officials who were born with a silver spoon in their mouths but are unable to even take care of themselves.

Before that, what Liu Rong wanted to do, and what he needed to do, was to create an environment for a smooth transition.

Like the Huang-Lao school of thought, the founding fathers and nobles were still a force to be reckoned with, and if they disappeared overnight, it would inevitably trigger a violent political upheaval.

Therefore, Liu Rong needed to slowly and gently transition the old aristocrats of the founding fathers to the new military aristocracy.

—The opportunity has been given to you;

—The examinations, especially the civil service examinations, are no less than telling you directly, 'Send all your good-for-nothing sons to me so I can pick and choose.'

If your descendants still can't make something of themselves, then don't blame me, the emperor, for not taking care of you, the descendants of meritorious officials.

Clearly, the nobles and relatives of the marquises in Chang'an were very happy to accept Liu Rong's "good intentions," or rather, his temporary good intentions.

After bidding farewell to veteran generals such as Han Tuidang, Li Ji, and Luan Bu, and only two hours after announcing the start of the autumn imperial examinations, Liu Rong was greeted by a large procession of dozens of meritorious nobles and relatives who gathered outside the Sima Gate to request an audience.

Having established a strong presence, Liu Rong then met with these "pillars of the dynasty" and cordially inquired about their views on the imperial examination system.

Just as Liu Rong had predicted: after their instinctive resistance last year, these people belatedly realized what was happening and knelt down to kowtow, starting to persuade Liu Rong in every possible way.

—Your Majesty!

—This imperial examination system was truly an unprecedentedly benevolent policy!

Such a good policy, even if it is postponed for one day, would make the spirits of Emperor Taizu Gao, Emperor Taizong Xiaowen, and Emperor Xiaojing so anxious that they wish they could kick open their coffins and preside over the imperial examination themselves!

Liu Rong simply laughed off the "alarmist" remarks made by the crowd.

Liu Rong knew, of course, that the delay in the imperial examinations would not be the concern of the spirits of the previous emperors of the Han dynasty, but rather it was precisely the nobles and relatives who were pleading with him to "hurry up" at this very moment.

But Liu Rong didn't care; or rather, Liu Rong was happy to be 'fooled' by these people.

"Since you all think so, then I..."

"Hi;"

"Such a major policy still requires the final say from the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager..."

In the end, Liu Rong was still not in a hurry to make a decision. Instead, he pretended to hesitate and kicked the kneeling nobles in front of him to Empress Dowager Dou and Empress Dowager Li, who lived in Changle Palace, as if they were playing a game.

But there is no doubt that, in terms of the imperial examination, Liu Rong had basically won over the relevant vested interests and easily tied a group of meritorious nobles and relatives to the carriage of the 'examination'.

And this is exactly what Liu Rong wanted to achieve by going to great lengths and even suppressing his disgust to give these parasites their descendants special care and privileges.

From this day forward, the aristocratic class will become the core and most important protector of the examination system.

This would ensure that the imperial examination system would not end like Wu Qi's reforms in the state of Chu, where the reforms failed after Wu Qi's death...
The imperial edict stated: "In a town of ten households, there must be a loyal and trustworthy person; when three people walk together, there is one who can be my teacher."

“Since my ancestor Emperor Gao established the Han dynasty, a full sixty years have passed. Externally, there is the threat of the northern barbarians and the Xiongnu; internally, there is the calamity of the vassal kings and princes. The people have been able to live in peace for a while, but they have not been spared from the ravages of endless wars.”

"Fortunately, my ancestor established the Han dynasty, and thus 145 meritorious marquises were obtained. Furthermore, each of the previous emperors had maternal relatives and maternal uncles, which enabled the country to be somewhat peaceful and the people to be somewhat tranquil."

"Now the Han dynasty has acquired Guanzhong, Guandong, the northern border, Bashu, and Lingnan, with more than ten vassal states and hundreds of commanderies. In addition, some families of meritorious officials have lost their states due to crimes, or have no descendants."

"For the sake of the ancestral temple and the state, this edict is hereby proclaimed to the world: In ancient times, Tian Qi established the Jixia Academy, which produced scholars such as Xunzi and Han Fei."

"Now I wish to emulate the good governance of the ancients, so I have established the imperial examination system to examine the talents of scholars and select them as officials to help me govern the country."

"All Han citizens, including those of noble rank, officials, and those not registered as merchants, may register their names at the Prime Minister's Office in Chang'an before the fifth day of the ninth month of autumn."

"On the fifteenth day of the ninth month in autumn, the imperial examinations will be held to recruit talented individuals for the country..."

In the Xuan Shi Hall of Weiyang Palace, the Attendant-in-Ordinary read Liu Rong's edict for the third time, but the palace examination remained silent.

Thus, this edict, which later generations called the "Edict for the Second Autumn Examination," officially acquired legal effect after being read and passed three times in court.

From this moment on, the imperial examinations were no longer simply something the emperor wanted to do, nor were they a novel activity that the emperor had decided on a whim like last year. Instead, they were the highest decision that the entire Chang'an court did not oppose and was willing to cooperate with.

After the imperial edict was read aloud and passed the court discussion, Liu Rong nodded slightly. Then, Ji An held the edict up with both hands and presented it to Prime Minister Dou Ying, who was sitting in the west wing.

—According to the rules set by Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang, imperial edicts were mainly divided into two types;
The first type is 'minor matters' that have nothing to do with the major policies of the dynasty and can be decided by the emperor himself with a single word.

For example, bestowing upon someone a few bolts of cloth, a few pieces of gold, or even a few imperial swords.
Or, giving someone a beating or ordering them to stay home and reflect on their mistakes, these all fall under the category of "minor matters".

In such trivial matters, all the emperor needed to do was to state his general intentions, and the Imperial Secretary would then draft the edict based on those intentions and polish it as appropriate.

After the emperor reviewed and stamped the edict, he could directly send a palace servant to deliver it to the recipient.

The second type, of course, refers to matters that are truly related to national affairs, or even matters concerning the survival of ancestral temples.

On such important matters, the emperor no longer has the arbitrary power to say, "I don't care what you think, I care what I think."

Take, for example, the autumn examination decree issued by Liu Rong this time.

As early as last year, before the first imperial examination, the young emperor Liu Rong tentatively hinted that he intended to select a group of officials for the Han Dynasty through the unprecedented method of written examination.

Afterwards, Emperor Liu Rong, having determined that the public reaction was not too intense, made a special trip to Changle Palace to report his motives, objectives, and all the details of his plan to Empress Dowager Dou, the current de facto ruler of the Han Dynasty.

With Empress Dowager Dou's tacit approval, Liu Rong turned around, dispelling the doubts of the vested interest groups and winning the support of the majority.

He then consulted repeatedly with the court officials and ministers, finalized the specific details, and reached a consensus—or at least with the majority of people.

Finally, with the matter of the imperial examination system settled and no one in the court or among the people having any objections or doubts, Liu Rong officially issued the edict after obtaining the consent of his grandmother, Empress Dowager Dou.

Once the imperial edict was issued and passed by the court after three readings, it was considered that "the court unanimously agreed that it was permissible to do so and that there was nothing wrong with it."
After the edict was passed on three separate occasions, Prime Minister Dou Ying, who held the seal of office, affixed his seal to each of the three identical edicts under the watchful eyes of Liu Rong and the court officials.

Then, Liu Rong affixed the Imperial Seal to the three copies of the "Edict for the Re-election of the Autumn Examination" and solemnly stood up, watching Ji An carry the three copies of the edict without daring to linger for a moment, heading straight for Chang Le Palace.

Only after Empress Dowager Dou had read these three edicts, which she had studied word by word, and affixed her seal to them, could the "Edict for the Re-launch of the Autumn Examination" truly have legal effect and become unchangeable; otherwise, it would be suspected of "changing orders in the morning and evening."

As for the three copies of the imperial edict, one would be kept in the Shiqu Pavilion of Weiyang Palace for filing, one would be kept by Empress Dowager Dou, and the last one would be sent to all parts of the country as the 'original document' after being copied.

The matter of the imperial examination was settled, and all the officials in the court were also delighted.

—Which family doesn't have a few good-for-nothings who can't do anything right and eat everything?
Let alone the sons of meritorious officials who now make up the 'vast majority', even the few outstanding ones among them are sons and grandsons who cause them endless headaches.

With the imperial examination system in place, people no longer needed to lose face and spend money to beg and plead with others when it came to arranging for their descendants.

Perhaps in the eyes of future generations, there is no difference.

But for the Han Chinese, who value integrity and reputation more than life itself, the importance of dignity is self-evident…

"The rules for this year's imperial examinations have been set."

"Specific matters will be handled primarily by the Prime Minister's Office, with the ministers and officials assisting, who will be responsible for all the trivial matters."

"All the money and grain used were paid from the Imperial Treasury."

With another major event successfully concluded, Liu Rong was clearly in a good mood.

But despite his pleasant mood, Liu Rong did not forget his duty like Chao Cuo, who was focused on weakening the power of the princes back then.

As the emperor, Liu Rong had a great deal to consider and deal with.

(End of this chapter)