The Rebellious Officials and Traitors of the Late Han Dynasty

Chapter 532 Inspection
Gao Lan bowed and said, "General, Liu Bao has been mobilizing his troops frequently recently. On the surface, he is reorganizing the newly acquired pastures, but in fact, he is secretly gathering troops. According to the report from the spies, he secretly summoned the leaders of the various Xiongnu tribes, and there seems to be some unusual movements."

Wei Yan's eyes flashed, and he tapped the table with his fingers: "Oh? It seems that this grassland wolf is finally showing its fangs. Send a message to the spies lurking in the Xiongnu camp, and make sure to find out the content of their secret meeting."

Three days later, in the Huns' tent at the southern foot of the Yin Mountains, butter torches lit up the tent. Liu Bao sat high on a tiger-skin chair, with twenty-four leaders, including the Left and Right Wise Kings and the King of Guli, below him. He raised the gold-inlaid ox-horn cup, and the wine shone amber in the firelight: "Everyone, the Emperor of Tang has given us fertile pastures, which is a great favor."

However, Zuo Xian Wang Hu Yanzhuo suddenly slammed the table and stood up: "Why does the Great Chanyu have to say these polite words! The Tang army did not show any mercy when they killed our Xiongnu men! Now Kebi can send people to contact various tribes to rebel against the Tang Dynasty, it is us——"

"It's a good time for us to make achievements." Liu Bao suddenly interrupted and slammed the ox-horn cup on the table. The tent was silent for a moment, and he lowered his voice and said, "But what we need to do is to cooperate with the Tang army to wipe out these rebels!"

The leaders looked at each other in bewilderment. The Right Wise King Lan hesitated and said, "Great Chanyu, Kebi Neng promised to divide the land south of the desert equally after the success."

"Stupid!" Liu Bao suddenly drew out the sword from his waist, a cold light flashed, and the corner of the table fell down. He sneered, "The Tang cavalry can destroy the Helan Mountains, what can we do to fight? And our real chance is here. When the Tang army fights the Xianbei, we will take the opportunity to annex the scattered tribes!" He pointed the tip of the sword to the south, looking proud.

Suddenly, a hawk-like cry came from outside the tent, and Liu Bao's face changed suddenly. The guards brought in a spy who was tied up and reported loudly: "Report to the Great Chanyu! We have caught a Wuhuan spy!"

Liu Bao lifted the spy's chin with the tip of his knife and suddenly said with a fierce smile: "It's a good opportunity to lend you your head as a gift."

He turned to the generals and said, "Order all the troops to move camp and move closer to the Tang army tomorrow. Send an envoy to tell Wei Yan that we, the Xiongnu, are willing to be the vanguard to fight against the rebellion!"

At the same time, on the tower of Yanmen Pass, Wei Yan looked at the smoke rising from the north and smiled to Gao Lan beside him: "Did you see that? The hungry wolves on the grassland have started to hunt. Liu Bao is ambitious, but extremely cunning. He knows what he can do and what he can't do."

"Hmph, when they are fighting, it will be the best time for us to send troops. Just wait!" Gao Lan snorted coldly: "As long as your majesty gives the order, I will definitely go out to the border and wipe out these rebels."

Wei Yan nodded again and again after hearing this.

At this moment, Emperor Qin Shou of the Tang Dynasty gently stroked the towering ancient mulberry tree in Lousang Village. The bark was cracked like dragon scales, and the crown was tall and straight like a canopy. His fingertips brushed over the deep and shallow marks on the trunk.

Suddenly, a clear voice was heard reciting from the nearby schoolhouse: "Anyone who openly offends the mighty Han will be punished, no matter how far away they are."

Before the last word fell, it turned into a childish argument: "Sir, you said that this was said by General Chen Tang, but I think the current emperor should have the courage of Emperor Guangwu!"

Just as the accompanying minister was about to scold him, Qin Shou raised his hand to stop him.

He looked through the carved window lattice and saw more than a dozen children surrounded a scholar in a blue robe. The scholar suddenly slammed the bamboo slips in his hand on the table and asked, "Liu A'man! Tell me, what should we do if the Hu people on the border pretend to surrender and then rebel?"

The young man in hemp clothes who was named stood up and the wooden sword at his waist hit the table with a clang: "Just like how Zhang the butcher at the entrance of our village deals with wild wolves. He feeds it a piece of meat first to let the wolf relax its vigilance, and then when it stretches its neck -" He used his little hand as a knife to slash down fiercely.

Qin Shou couldn't help but chuckle, startling everyone in the room. The scholar in green clothes came out quickly, and when he saw the man's dragon-patterned brocade robe, he immediately knelt on the ground with a pale face.

The children were curious and crowded at the door. Liu Aman actually looked up and asked, "Are you the emperor who chopped off the head of the Turkic Khan?"

The attendants gasped, but Qin Shou squatted down and looked at the young man: "What would you do if I cut it?" The mulberry leaves rustled, and the young man suddenly took out a wooden figurine from his arms and said, "Can you accept my gift? I spent three months carving it!"

The rough puppet was wearing armor, and even the patterns on the armor were clearly visible. Qin Shou took it and looked at it carefully, and found that there were crooked small characters engraved on the base - "Portrait of the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty".

"This is..." Qin Shou's fingertips trembled slightly.

Mr. Qingshan kowtowed immediately: "I am an ignorant child and have offended Your Majesty. Please forgive me!"

Qin Shou solemnly placed the wooden figurine in his arms, stood up and said to the gentleman in green shirt, "Please stand up, sir. What's wrong with you teaching children to know loyalty and righteousness?"

He looked around the simple schoolhouse. On the mud wall hung bamboo slips of the Analects of Confucius. In the corner were traces of sand tables where people had practiced calligraphy. He suddenly asked, "Sir, are you from a poor family?"

Mr. Qingshan nodded ashamedly and said, "Your Majesty, I was born in a poor family. Thanks to your majesty's benevolent rule, I learned a few words and make a living by enlightening myself."

"What's wrong with being from a poor family?" Qin Shou interrupted, "Next spring, I will reform the imperial examination system. Starting next year, the court will hold imperial examinations every three years. Whether you or these children, if you have talent, you can also participate in the imperial examinations through the county school selection in the future."

When Mr. Qingshan heard this, his eyes suddenly lit up with a strange light. He said in a trembling voice, "Your Majesty, are you serious? Children from poor families are also welcome."

Qin Shou smiled slightly, took out a roll of yellow silk from his sleeve, and handed it to Xun You beside him: "Draft an edict immediately and announce it to the world: From next year onwards, the imperial examination will not ask about one's family background. All the people of the Great Tang can enter the government based on their talent and knowledge."

Xun You took it respectfully, but heard Liu Aman suddenly ask in a crisp voice: "Your Majesty, can I also take the imperial examination when I grow up?"

Qin Shou turned around, looked at the boy with a childish face but a firm gaze, nodded solemnly, and said: "Of course. But remember, in addition to talent and knowledge, you must also have a heart to serve the country." He suddenly leaned over, picked up a branch from the ground, and wrote the word "loyalty" on the sand table.

The children in the school gathered around, clamoring to learn how to write. Qin Shou patiently taught them one by one until the sun set, and then he left in the eyes of everyone who was reluctant to leave.

After leaving Lousang Village, Qin Shou's imperial carriage slowly drove along the official road. The afterglow of the setting sun sprinkled on the fields, and farmers were still working hard in the distance, with smoke rising from their cooking fires, creating a peaceful scene.

Xun You rode his horse closer to the imperial carriage and whispered, "Your Majesty, we just received an urgent report from the border that General Wei Yan has acted as planned, and the war between the Xiongnu and the Xianbei is about to break out."

Qin Shou nodded slightly, his eyes deep: "Liu Bao is cunning and changeable, can Wei Yan handle it?"

"It should be possible! Now the main focus is surveillance." Xun You explained.

Qin Shou nodded.

(End of this chapter)