The Three Kingdoms: Zhaolie, the strategist, and the rise of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 394 Excellent! It's Prime Minister Li! As long as the Prime Minister intervenes, everything will be alright.

In the second month of the tenth year of Zhangwu, the Han Dynasty officially held its first imperial examination.

Emperor Liu Bei issued an edict to hold imperial examinations to select officials.

He appointed his trusted minister, Prime Minister Lee Ik, whose courtesy name was Zi Yu, to oversee all matters related to the imperial examinations.

Li Yi received the imperial decree, meticulously drafted the examination questions, and rigorously arranged the examination venue.

He personally supervised the exam, working tirelessly for three days and nights.

On the day the results were announced, the city of Luoyang was deserted as everyone flocked to the streets.

The streets of Zhuque were teeming with people, all craning their necks and standing on tiptoe, looking toward the imperial city.

Today is the day the results of the first imperial examination in the Shu Han dynasty are announced, and this novel event has caused a sensation throughout the city.

"Let's let one let, let one let!"

"I want to see if Zhang Maocai from our village has won the lottery!"

A man in coarse cloth pushed his way forward.

The old man beside him stroked his beard and smiled:
"Young man, don't be impatient. The list of successful candidates will not be posted until 9:00 AM!"

"Old man, do you understand this? Tell me, what exactly are the rules and regulations of the imperial examination?"

Several young people gathered around.

Since the imperial examination system had just been implemented, everyone was both unfamiliar with it and curious about it.

The old man cleared his throat and immediately became the center of attention:

"This imperial examination is a new method for selecting officials established by His Majesty and Prime Minister Li."

"Regardless of social status, only talent and learning are considered."

"Even children from poor families can become officials!"

A young man in fine clothes chuckled, fanning himself.

"How many books have those from poor families read? How can they compare to us, the children of noble families?"

A scholar in a blue robe immediately retorted from the side:

"Have you heard of Jiang Wei, Jiang Boyue? He came from a poor family in Tianshui, but he supposedly came in first place in this imperial examination!"

"Pah! The list of winners hasn't even been posted yet, and you already know who's number one?"

"...That's because my uncle works in the palace, and he got wind of it."

While they were discussing,

The imperial city bells and drums resounded, and the Vermilion Bird Gate slowly opened.

A group of golden-armored guards escorted three officials out, one of whom was holding a bright yellow scroll.

"I'm coming!"

The crowd suddenly became commotion.

The official in charge of ceremonies solemnly handed the scroll to the official in charge of posting notices who had been waiting for a long time.

The scroll slowly unfurled.

The background is made of gold leaf, and the characters are made of cinnabar.

It shines brightly in the spring sunshine.

"Read it quickly! Read it quickly!"

The people behind couldn't see it and were so anxious they were jumping up and down.

The literate people in the front row had already read it aloud:

"First place in the Imperial Examination, Class A—"

"Jiang Wei, courtesy name Boyue, was a native of Jicheng, Tianshui!"

The crowd was suddenly in an uproar.

"Jiang Wei? Never heard of him!"

"I told you I came from a poor family!"

The scholar in the blue robe said smugly.

Then the official in charge of rites said:

"Second place in the Imperial Examination, Class A—"

"Dong Yun, courtesy name Xiuzhao, was a native of Zhijiang in Nanjun!"

"Dong Yun? Could he be Dong He's son?"

"The Dong family is a renowned family in Jingzhou!"

The young man in brocade robes immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

It seems that the new imperial examination system implemented by the state still has its share of wealthy and powerful families producing successful candidates.

"It seems that the imperial examinations are truly open to both the poor and the noble."

"Hey, but this time it's the poor family that beats the famous family."

"Third place in the Imperial Examination, Class A—"

"Zhou Tai, courtesy name Zining, was from Nanyang!"

"Zhou Tai? Who is this?"

As the crowd was discussing this, a fast horse suddenly rode out of the imperial city, and the rider shouted:
"His Majesty has decreed that all the top three scholars in the imperial examinations be summoned to the palace for an audience immediately!"

The crowd parted to make way, and three scholars in blue robes walked forward, each led by a ceremonial guard.

The first one was not yet twenty years old.

He had striking features and a steady gait.

It was Jiang Wei.

His expression was calm, but his eyes burned with intensity, as if a fierce fire was burning within them.

Afterwards, Dong Yun, with his gentle and refined manner and humble smile, would occasionally bow to the people on both sides of the road.

"See? People from prestigious families are always so refined and elegant!"

A rich kid laughed smugly.

"Hey, no matter how good he is, I've never seen him get first place in the imperial examination."

"Hey you!!"

The rich young master was rendered speechless by the rebuttal.

The third-place finisher, Zhou Tai, is slightly older.

He had a resolute face, walked with the stride of a dragon and the gait of a tiger, and possessed a unique air of authority.

"Look! That's Jiang Wei!"

"This young man is so young, he's truly remarkable! His ancestors' graves are emitting auspicious smoke!"

"I heard that Jiang Wei's father died early, and he was raised entirely by his mother who wove mats!"

"A noble son emerging from a humble family—truly a celebrated story of our time!"

Even after the top three candidates had passed, the crowd lingered, still discussing this unprecedented imperial examination system.

"I want my child to go to school next year too!"

"It's true that great talents can emerge from humble backgrounds!"

"Your Majesty is wise! Prime Minister Li is brilliant!"

The list of names gleamed in the sunlight, and the three names seemed to herald the arrival of a new era.

The Han dynasty's three periods of prosperity were not only due to the unification of its territory, but also to the emergence of outstanding talents.

And this is just the beginning.

……

The inner palace was resplendent with gold and jade.

Liu Bei sat upright on the throne, wearing a robe with twelve imperial symbols and a crown with twelve tassels.

Although his temples were already streaked with gray, his eyes were piercing and his presence commanded respect without anger.

Li Yi, dressed in purple robes and wearing a jade belt, stood below the imperial steps, his demeanor composed and dignified.

Inside the hall, the water clock dripped slowly, and incense smoke curled upwards.

Suddenly, a eunuch was heard shouting:

"The third-ranked Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) are hereby summoned for an audience—"

The palace doors slowly opened, and three figures in green robes entered against the light.

Jiang Wei led the way, with Dong Yun and Zhou Tai following half a step behind.

The three walked with steady steps, their clothes fluttering lightly.

They took nine steps before the emperor, knelt down in unison, and performed the grand ceremony of three bows and nine kowtows.

"Your Majesty, we pay our respects! Long live the Emperor!"

Liu Bei's gaze swept over the three men before finally settling on Jiang Wei.

Although the young man was somewhat thin, his features were clear and bright.

With a straight spine, he possesses a rugged and imposing presence.

"Flat body."

Liu Bei spoke gently, and after the three of them stood up, he specifically asked Jiang Wei.

“I have observed that you are from Jicheng, Tianshui.”

Who else is in the household?

Jiang Wei bowed again, and his reply, spoken with a slight Longxi accent, echoed in the hall.

"Your Majesty, I lost my father at a young age and was raised by my mother who wove mats and sold shoes."

"My mother sells goods at the market during the day and weaves shoes by lamplight at night."

"Only when all ten fingers are cracked can I be allowed to study and learn to read."

At this point, his voice choked with emotion, "Today, thanks to the Emperor's grace, I have become the top scholar in the imperial examination. It is truly a great fortune for my family."

Liu Bei was moved by these words and unconsciously leaned forward:
"...Filial sons produce loyal ministers."

"I will immediately dispatch the Imperial Guards to welcome your mother to the capital and grant her a residence in Yongning Ward, where she may live out her remaining years in peace."

Jiang Wei prostrated himself in gratitude, his forehead touching the gold brick:
"Your Majesty's kindness is so great that even if I were to give my life, I could not repay even a fraction of it."

When I looked up, my eyes were already red, but I held back my tears.

Liu Bei nodded and turned his gaze to Dong Yun.

Seeing that the young man was refined and cultured, he asked:

"I have heard that Xiu Zhao is skilled in literature, and I will now use the imperial examination as the topic."

"What do you think of this system for the country?"

Dong Yun pondered for a moment, then calmly replied:
"The imperial examination system was in line with the principles of Yao and Shun in selecting virtuous people, and also with the teachings of Confucius and Mencius that education should be provided to all without discrimination."

"In the past, the recommendation system was monopolized by powerful clans."

"Therefore there is the criticism that 'those recommended for outstanding talents are illiterate, and those recommended for filial piety and integrity live separately from their fathers.'"

"The imperial examinations of today are open to those from humble backgrounds."

"Thus, he was able to rise from a humble peasant in the morning to a high-ranking official in the emperor's court in the evening."

"To bring all the world's talents under one's control is truly a good policy for the country."

These words, spoken by Dong Yun, who came from a prestigious family, were something that both Liu Bei and Li Yi were willing to hear.

It's no wonder he's a high school graduate.

Because anyone with even a modicum of political sensitivity should realize that the country attaches great importance to the imperial examination system.

Even if it is unfriendly to powerful families, you have to support it if you want to become an official.

It is worth mentioning that,
The imperial examination system only weakened the powerful clans, but it could not eliminate them.

As long as the power structure exists, the aristocratic families will always exist.

However, if the recommendation system of the Han Dynasty is still adopted, it will easily give rise to powerful aristocratic families.

For example, the Yuan family, whose members held high positions for four generations.

The reason he was able to achieve the status of "four generations of three dukes" was not because each generation actually had talents of the rank of three dukes.

It was because of the recommendation system, also known as "my principal father system".

Also known as the family and friends system.

If you have connections, you'll definitely be given priority in being recommended.

With the imperial examination system as a buffer, it became much more difficult for aristocratic families to directly monopolize the means of production in the country, as they had during the Wei, Jin and Northern and Southern Dynasties.

Li Yi also advocated limiting powerful families and preventing them from interfering too much in national decision-making.

Rather than eliminating the powerful families, because that would be impossible.

Besides, Li Yi's family is an extremely powerful clan, so there's no need for him to dig a hole for himself.

What he wanted to do was to prevent the tragedy of the Wei, Jin and Southern and Northern Dynasties from repeating itself.

Liu Bei was overjoyed after hearing Dong Yun's statement.

Then, turning to Zhou Tai, this handsome and resolute scholar, he asked:
"I have heard that Zining is well-versed in military strategy."

"Last year, General Chen Yuanlong led an army of 200,000 to conquer Wu and finally achieved great success."

"Could you analyze this for me from a military perspective?"

Zhou Tai bowed and said:
"Your Majesty, the first reason for Wu's defeat and destruction was the change of generals on the eve of battle."

"In the Battle of Changping, Zhao Kuo replaced Lian Po and was defeated."

"In the battle of Jiangdong today, Sun Shao died in place of Lu Xun."

"Lu Xun is resourceful and good at defense. If he were in office, our army would probably not be able to win quickly."

“Sun Shao was brave but lacked strategy; this is how the ruler of Wu destroyed his own bulwark.”

He paused for a moment, and seeing Liu Bei listening intently, he continued:
"In the campaign to cross the river, General Chen first used a detachment to feign an attack on Xiakou, luring the Wu army to come to the west to provide reinforcements."

"Then the main force went out from Ruxu and directly attacked Jianye."

"Then he sent his navy to cut off the Wu army's supply lines, preventing them from supporting each other."

"Once Wu's main force returns to reinforce, we will wait in comfort and attack them while they are halfway across the river."

"Such a military tactic is truly ingenious."

Liu Bei exclaimed in amazement, "You are truly a military genius!"

He then issued an imperial edict:

"Dong Yun was quick-witted and was appointed as the Crown Prince's tutor."

"Zhou Tai was well-versed in military strategy and was appointed as a retainer of the Crown Prince."

Li Yi observed quietly from below the steps and saw that Liu Bei had arranged for Dong Yun and Zhou Tai to be placed in the Eastern Palace, and he understood.

Your Majesty is cultivating confidants for the Crown Prince.

Almost all the talented individuals selected in the first year of the imperial examination were assigned to serve alongside the crown prince.

Seeing that Jiang Wei was also about to be sent to the Eastern Palace

Li Yi suddenly had an idea. He straightened his purple robe and jade belt, stepped forward, bowed, and reported:

"Your Majesty is wise and has appointed officials according to their talents, which is a great blessing to the court."

"However, I observe that the Cabinet Office is still lacking a warehouse clerk."

"In charge of grain and fodder finances, it concerns the national economy and people's livelihood."

"After carefully reviewing the examination records, I found that Jiang Boyue was the only one among more than a hundred candidates who answered all the questions in the Nine Chapters on Mathematics correctly."

"His mathematical calculations are so precise that they are truly rare."

"It would be better to give Boyue to me; he will surely be able to manage the affairs of the government properly and help me to coordinate the expenditures."

The implication was that Li Yi hoped Liu Bei would leave Jiang Wei to him to lead.

Liu Bei paused slightly, stroked his beard and pondered, his gaze shifting between Li Yi and Jiang Wei.

He realized that Li Yi thought Jiang Wei was a diamond in the rough and felt it was a waste to keep him by Liu Shan's side.

I want to mentor him myself.

"It's quite strange that Ziyu, who never asks for favors, is actually asking for help today."

He turned to Jiang Wei and asked gently:

"What are your thoughts, Boyue? Would you be willing to take a position in the Prime Minister's office?"

The emperor's word is law, yet Liu Bei actually gave the choice to Jiang Wei himself.

This means that he has already agreed to Li Yi's request.

The main reason was that Li Yi had been somewhat disinterested before, so it was rare for him to suddenly become motivated and take the initiative to ask him for people.

Liu Bei had no reason not to give it to him.

Jiang Wei looked up and saw Li Yi's eyes shining brightly.

It contains both the expectations of elders and the profound insights of wise men.

He had long heard that the court was abuzz with the saying that Prime Minister Li had the ability to "discover talent with discerning eyes" and that his subordinates were mostly capable individuals.

He immediately bowed and replied:

"Prime Minister Li is a pillar of the nation. It is my great fortune to be able to serve him and receive his teachings."

"I only wish to do my utmost to repay the Prime Minister's kindness in recognizing my talent."

Upon seeing this, Liu Bei clapped his hands and laughed:
"Good! Good! Good!"

"In that case, Jiang Wei was appointed as the Clerk of the Imperial Granary, with a salary of 600 shi (a unit of grain).

“Ziyu,” he turned to Li Yi, his expression turning solemn, “I can now entrust this top scholar position to you.”

"If anything goes wrong in the future, you will be held responsible."

Li Yi bowed solemnly, his purple robe fluttering slightly.
"Your Majesty, I will teach you with all my heart and live up to your expectations."

"If Boyue fails to become a capable man in the future, I am willing to request a three-year salary reduction."

Having finished speaking,
He nodded slightly to Jiang Wei, his eyes full of expectation.

Liu Bei clapped his hands and laughed:

"We were just joking."

"You have trained Pang Tong, and now you can train another Jiang Boyue."

"I am overjoyed!"

At this point, Liu Bei couldn't help but feel somewhat saddened.

If I had known Li Yi was so good at leading people, I should have just handed Zhuge Liang over to Li Yi to lead.

It's all Liu Bei's fault. At the time, he thought Zhuge Liang and Li Yi were too similar, like they were cut from the same mold.

He couldn't wait to hand over Jingzhou to him.

Little did they know that Li Yi would be able to take on such a great responsibility right from the start.

This was because Liu Bei himself was in dire straits at the time, and his power structure had not yet taken shape.

Since the foundation hadn't even been laid, Li Yi could certainly try to win over the powerful clans of Xuzhou.

By the time Zhuge Liang took over, Liu Bei's power structure had already reached a point of saturation.

A network of connections has also been built.

Assigning him such an important task right from the start has taken away the interests of many others.

If I had known this,

Zhuge Liang should be handed over to Li Yi.
Like Liu Ye and Pang Tong, they gradually matured and settled under his leadership.

Liu Ye is now a high-ranking member of the cabinet.

Pang Tong, who was not even forty years old, had already secured the position of Right Chancellor.

Ugh……

Liu Bei sighed inwardly, thinking that Jiang Boyue was a rough gem.

Since Li Yi is willing to work on it, let's leave it to him.

In any case, Liu Bei felt that he was already old and really didn't have the energy to do anything more.

If Li Yi is willing to do it, let him do it.

……

Inside the Prime Minister's study, the air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood.

Li Yi dismissed his attendants, leaving only Jiang Wei.

Instead of rushing to arrange the affairs of the granary, he took out a scroll of test questions and slowly unfolded it on the rosewood table.

"Boyue, do you know why I asked His Majesty for you yesterday?"

Li Yi's gaze was sharp as he stared directly at the newly appointed top scholar.

Jiang Wei stood respectfully before the table and answered:
"I am deeply grateful for Your Excellency's kindness."

Li Yi shook his head and chuckled, his fingertip pointing at the test paper:

"The last question in the scientific expedition was 'On the Naval Battles of the Yangtze and Huai Rivers'."

"Among more than a hundred candidates, you were the only one who proposed the strategy of 'using a warship to carry a thunderbolt to launch stones from a distance to destroy enemy ships'."

Where did this idea come from?

Jiang Wei looked slightly surprised, seemingly not expecting that Li Yi would appreciate him for this reason.

He looked up at the Prime Minister and replied:
"...Your Excellency is wise."

"This idea came to me when I was young, after witnessing the Wei River flood and destroying bridges."

"If we place the catapult on a large ship, wouldn't it be possible to move it and launch stones?"

"When I mentioned it to my mother, she scolded me for not doing my proper job..."

As he spoke, his voice lowered, and he seemed embarrassed.

"...Well, there is precedent for placing catapults on large ships."

"It just depends on the implementation situation."

"I have always encouraged students to think more and be more innovative."

"Some people just blindly study books and use templates."

"They only talk the talk, they don't know how to adapt."

"The country will absolutely not employ someone like that!"

Li Yi stood with his hands behind his back and said in a deep voice.

He then thought for a moment and added:
"At least as long as I am alive, it will always be so."

As he spoke, he got up and walked around the table.

"Your Majesty only sees your expertise in mathematics, but is unaware that you are also skilled in military equipment manufacturing."

"It would be a waste of your talents to appoint you as a warehouse clerk."

Jiang Wei bowed in alarm:

"...You flatter me, Your Excellency."

"I am young and inexperienced, how dare I accept such high praise?"

Li Yi said solemnly:
"...No."

"Although the Han dynasty has been restored three times, the northern border is not yet at peace, and the Western Wei is restless."

“I see that your answer sheet also contains strategies such as ‘improvement of repeating crossbows’ and ‘modification of tanks’, all of which hit the nail on the head.”

He took out a secret memorial and said, “I wish to petition Your Majesty to establish an Armory.”

"Would Boyue be willing to take on this important task of researching new weapons?"

A fierce light flashed in Jiang Wei's eyes, then dimmed again:

"However, His Majesty has already appointed me as the granary clerk, so a sudden transfer would be inappropriate."

"Wouldn't that be inappropriate?"

"...Hehe, I have my own plan for this matter."

Li Yi smiled and took out a bronze talisman from his sleeve and handed it to him.

"You shall first take up a post in the Granary Bureau and familiarize yourself with the imperial treasury."

"I will transfer him when the time is right."

The young Jiang Boyue was clearly unaware of a problem.

That is the unique national condition of our great Han Dynasty.

In our great Han Dynasty, it is only right that you, holding multiple positions, dedicate yourself wholeheartedly to your duties.

Jiang Wei understood immediately and solemnly accepted the bronze talisman:
"...I will follow the Prime Minister's teachings."

"We will do our utmost to live up to your trust."

Outside the window, bamboo shadows swayed, while inside the study, an old man and a young man smiled at each other.

……

Inside Luoyang City, on the north side of Zhuque Street, is the "Drunken Immortal Pavilion," a three-story private room.

Several people in fine clothes were leaning on the railing, gazing into the distance.

The area downstairs was bustling with noise, as people were discussing the results of today's imperial examinations.

"What a pity, what a pity! The top scholar in the imperial examination has been snatched away by a poor family from Longxi."

Grand Master of the Imperial Stud, Xun Hong, stroked his magnificent beard and shook his head with a sigh.

He was dressed in a crimson brocade robe and had a jade belt around his waist, clearly indicating that he was an important official in the court.

Sitting opposite him was Wang Ling, the Grand Master of Ceremonies.

He was originally the governor of Yuzhou, but last year he was transferred to work in the central government for his meritorious service in dealing with the rebellion in Henan.

He smiled meaningfully and said:

"I have read Dong Xiuzhao's policy essays, and they are written with great literary talent and profound insights."

"It shouldn't have come in second place."

"It is likely that the imperial court intends to suppress prominent families, so it deliberately allows those from humble backgrounds to gain an advantage."

Cao Bao toyed with the jade cup in his hand and said softly:

"Since His Majesty implemented the imperial examination system, all the quotas for recommending candidates for the civil service examination in various prefectures and counties have been abolished."

"Back in the Jian'an era, we followed His Majesty in battles across the north and south, and now..."

He paused, then lowered his voice, "It seems Your Majesty has forgotten our past friendship."

"Silence!" Xun Hong hurriedly gestured, "There are ears on the other side of the wall."

Cao Bao, however, paid no attention and instead raised his voice:
"Xuzhou is the place where His Majesty rose to power, and this year, for the first time, the imperial examination was held in Xuzhou."

"How could His Majesty not know that Xuzhou has the most prominent families?"

"This implementation immediately caused widespread discontent in Xuzhou."

"I've heard that many of my colleagues from the Xuzhou faction are dissatisfied, but they just don't dare to show it."

Xuzhou was one of the earliest shareholders to invest in Lao Liu.

As a result, when Lao Liu implemented the imperial examination system, Xuzhou was the first city selected.

This naturally caused dissatisfaction among many powerful families in Xuzhou.

Implementing the imperial examination system meant abolishing the quotas for candidates who were filial and incorruptible or outstanding in talent.

That would greatly damage the interests of the powerful families in Xuzhou.

Although it relied on the personal prestige of Liu Bei and Li Yi, coupled with Li Yi's decisive and efficient actions.

He successively dismissed many high-ranking officials from Xuzhou.

Some high-ranking cabinet officials were even sent directly to rural areas.

Only then did the crowd dare not continue to clamor against the imperial court.

But the complaints continued, with people grumbling and swearing incessantly.

Xinpi nodded in agreement:

"Next year, the imperial examination system will be implemented nationwide, even in the newly designated Jiangnan region."

"Which of the powerful families in Jiangnan, the Gu, Lu, Zhu, and Zhang, doesn't have deep roots and powerful connections?"

"It would be extremely difficult for the imperial examination system to take root in Jiangnan."

At this moment, Taichang Yangdao, who had been silent all along, slowly spoke:
"...Why should you all worry?"

"Now that Jiangnan has been pacified, it's a good time to see how those powerful families in Jiangnan react."

"If they can accept it, it's not too late for us to follow up."

"If it incites a popular uprising..."

He took a meaningful sip of his drink.

"His Majesty will then understand that governing the country still depends on us old ministers."

"...I think we should do it another way!"

Xinpi immediately retorted:
"Didn't His Majesty send a bunch of young people to conquer Jiangnan this time?"

“Zhang Bao, Guan Xing, Xu Yi, Zhao Tong, Chen Tai, and Tai Shiheng are all talented young men.”

At this point, Xinpi couldn't help but angrily retort:

"Speaking of which, aren't the fathers of these talented young men all high-ranking officials in the imperial court?"

"The imperial court advocated suppressing powerful families, yet it also cultivated the descendants of these powerful officials."

"When these young people rise to prominence, won't they also develop into powerful and influential families?"

Hahaha……

Yang Dao laughed loudly:
"Brother Xin, it seems you still don't understand."

"It's not that the imperial court can't accept the cultivation of powerful families, it's just that it doesn't want to cultivate uncontrollable families."

"Zhang Fei and Guan Yu are both key ministers of the current emperor, and His Majesty is happy to cultivate them into the right and left hands of the Han dynasty."

“Our old families have long been a thorn in His Majesty’s side.”

"Because our family did not rise to prominence during this reign, His Majesty harbors suspicions about us."

“But the Li family, the Guan family, the Zhang family, and the Zhao family are different.”

“They were the first to follow His Majesty, so His Majesty naturally preferred to nurture them while distancing himself from those of us who came later.”

After all,
The wheels of history keep turning.

It's nothing more than a series of events where kings and generals take turns on stage.

Today, they are suppressing established families like the Wang family of Taiyuan and the Shan family of Taishan.

They just wanted them to make way for the rising stars like Li, Guan, and Zhang.

This is why it is said that powerful families can only be restricted, not eliminated.

As long as someone holds an official position, their descendants cannot escape receiving favors.

The higher the official position, the greater the favor bestowed.

The so-called three generations of oil workers and three generations of tobacco workers.

This has been true since ancient times.

The reason is quite simple.
The administrative bureaucracy is always in need of updating and iteration.

Since everything is being updated and iterated, and you, as someone from that time, couldn't have any special visions.

Why don't I choose the son of a former high-ranking official?

If I choose this option, the former high-ranking official will remember my kindness, and his connections will continue to work for me.

If a new person is chosen, their network of contacts will need to be rebuilt.

It will disrupt the existing established order.

That's why it's often said that a new broom sweeps clean.

The first thing every newly appointed official does is always to settle scores with his predecessor.

Xun Hong suddenly lowered his voice and said:

"I have heard that when His Majesty summoned the top three scholars today, Prime Minister Li specially requested that Jiang Wei be appointed to a position in the Prime Minister's residence."

"Oh?"

Wang Ling raised an eyebrow. "Is Prime Minister Li intentionally grooming young men from humble backgrounds?"

"I'm afraid that's the case."

Yang Dao sneered, "What can a mere boy from Longxi amount to?"

Xinpi shook his head:
"...Gentlemen, do not underestimate this man."

"I carefully read his answer sheet, especially the one on 'Naval Battles in the Yangtze and Huai River Regions'."

"The novelty of the viewpoints presented is truly astonishing."

"Moreover, how could someone valued by Prime Minister Li be an incompetent person?"

Just as the group was discussing this, a commotion suddenly broke out downstairs.

A group of Imperial Guards escorted three official sedan chairs toward the Prime Minister's residence, and the common people quickly made way for them.

"Look, those are the newly crowned top three."

Xun Hong pointed downstairs, "They went to the Prime Minister's residence."

Wang Ling squinted:

"The Prime Minister is indeed quick to act; he does whatever he wants immediately."

"Indeed, they acted swiftly and decisively."

Upon hearing this, Yang Dao smiled and said:
"...But it's fine this way."

"Let the poor scholars go to Jiangnan and get their comeuppance, until they are battered and bruised."

"Nature needs to help us local bullies."

The group looked at each other and smiled, then raised their glasses to drink together.

As the sun sets outside the window, it paints Luoyang city in a golden hue.

This newly implemented imperial examination system is like the afterglow of the setting sun.

It may seem dazzling, but it's uncertain whether it can illuminate the future of the Han Dynasty.

Meanwhile, in a small teahouse opposite Zuixianlou, several scholars in plain clothes were also having a heated discussion.

"Jiang Wei's victory is truly a blessing for us poor scholars!"

"A scholar in a blue robe said excitedly."

"Exactly! From now on, we will have a path to advancement and will no longer need to rely on the recommendations of aristocratic families."

Another person chimed in.

In the corner, an old man sighed softly:
"I'm afraid the powerful clans won't let this go so easily..."

"Yes, I've heard that many people in the court are also dissatisfied with this."

“Especially some veteran officials felt that His Majesty’s actions were akin to ‘putting away the good bow when the birds are all gone, and cooking the hunting dog when the cunning rabbit is dead.’”

"It was because Prime Minister Li demoted several officials in succession that he silenced the gossip."

"...Hey, you can't say things like that. His Majesty is a wise and benevolent ruler, a virtuous and kind-hearted man."

"He would never mistreat meritorious officials; it must have been those officials who were demoted because they were arrogant and lawless."

"His Majesty is infallible."

As the sun sets, in Luoyang, some are happy while others are sad.

This new policy of selecting officials through the imperial examination system caused a great stir.

Ripples spread through the newly established Shu Han court.

……

Let me talk about two things.

Inside the Luoyang Imperial Palace, plum blossoms are just beginning to bloom.

Liu Bei summoned Li Yi to the warm pavilion.

The fire in the stove was burning brightly, and the aroma of tea wafted through the air.

But the emperor's brows were furrowed with deep, unyielding worry.

"Ziyu,"

Liu Bei gently stroked his teacup, his gaze distant.

"There are two major events this year. Do you know what they are?"

Li Yi, dressed in purple robes and a jade belt, bowed and responded:
"Your Majesty, I am foolish and ignorant, please enlighten me."

Liu Bei gazed at the flickering fire in the stove and said softly:

Firstly, the Jiangnan region has been pacified.

"Chen Yuanlong has made meritorious contributions in pacifying the region, but he commands an army of 200,000 at the front, which makes me uneasy."

He looked up at Li Yi and said, "You previously said that the war should be the priority, but later you said that we should discuss it again after the Jiangnan region is pacified."

"Now that Jiangnan has been pacified, you can no longer make excuses to refuse."

Li Yi remained calm, took a sip of tea, and said composedly:

"His Majesty has not yet mentioned the second important matter."

"Secondly..."

Liu Bei sighed, "This year, we will implement the imperial examination system nationwide, including in the newly designated Jiangnan region."

"However, the pilot program in different areas last year has already encountered a lot of resistance."

"It will be even more difficult to fully implement this this year."

Li Yi raised an eyebrow. "What obstacles are there?"

"Many of the senior officials in the court oppose the imperial examination system, including many of my former subordinates who have served me for many years."

Liu Bei spoke in a heavy tone, his brow furrowed with discontent.

Li Yi sneered:

"Have I already dealt with these disobedient old ministers for Your Majesty?"

Liu Bei frowned, shook his head, and sighed deeply:
"...It's precisely because you've dealt with too many cases at once."

“These people have followed me for many years and are quite loyal to me.”

"You dismissed them all at once, this... sigh!"

"I don't want future generations to say that I was a harsh and ungrateful ruler."

"Loyalty that is not absolute is absolute disloyalty!"

Li Yi was resolute, his voice direct and to the point.

"If the country promotes the imperial examination system, then their opposition to it is disloyalty!"

"Your Majesty, governing the country requires extraordinary measures and extraordinary actions."

"I know."

Liu Bei sighed, "It's just that people naturally want to protect the interests of their own families, and I don't want to mistreat these old brothers."

"It is understandable that they opposed the imperial examination system."

"His Majesty is far too benevolent!"

Li Yi raised his voice, "It is precisely because His Majesty treats his subordinates so well that they dare to oppose him."

"If I dismiss them and demote them, they will have no way to object, won't they?"

That's just how people are.
The better you treat him, the less he values ​​you.

Liu Bei was kind-hearted and valued loyalty.

After all, the company is listed on the stock exchange, and everyone has a stake in it.

Liu Bei did not necessarily own all the shares.

As long as you don't make mistakes in the general direction, Liu Bei generally won't delve into the matter.

That's why the veteran officials dared to oppose the implementation of the imperial examination system.

Of course, opposing does not necessarily mean going against Liu Bei.

It's more like a negotiation, hoping to leave room for maneuver.

Li Yi, on the other hand, was much more straightforward.

Anyone who disobeys will be sent to the countryside to farm!
Whoever obeys will stay.

It's that simple.

Therefore, many capable people in the central government were also demoted.

On the contrary, some people with weak abilities but strong allegiance, such as Liu Yan and his ilk, were more likely to be involved.

As a member of Liu Bei's clan, he was a staunch supporter of Liu Bei.

He said what Liu Bei dared not say.

Otherwise, with his abilities, how could he have risen to such a high position?

His status was even higher than that of the founding fathers of Xudu.

Liu Bei looked reluctant:

"These people have followed me in battles across the north and south, and have made great contributions."

"How could I bear to dismiss them just because of a few words?"

"...It is precisely because they are officials of Your Majesty's reign that we can dismiss them at will."

"If future generations were to do this, would they be able to dismiss more than a dozen officials at once, just like they do today?"

Li Yi posed a soul-searching question.

Because Liu Bei was the founding emperor, Li Yi had extremely high prestige.

That's why he could easily deal with court officials when the imperial examination system was implemented.

They can even dismiss more than a dozen people at once.

If it were the third or fourth generation of emperors, they would dare to do this.

They'll ruin the country.

So what Li Yi meant was...
While we old folks are still alive, let's get on with what needs to be done.

If you wait until your descendants do it, then at least give them a quota.

He was forced to implement the imperial examination system.

Just see if he can push it or not, that's all.

Li Yi did not aim to perfect the imperial examination system all at once.

Instead, they hope to do so within the limits of their own abilities.

Do as much as possible to benefit future generations.

For example,

Originally, Liu Bei could have thoroughly improved and advanced the imperial examination system by 10%.

Li Yi hoped to push it up to 20%.

It's always good to do more for future generations.

"Ziyu, you are not me, and you do not know the relationship between me and these people."

"It is said that the imperial family is the most ruthless, and that is the sentence I hate the most."

What does it mean to be heartless?

"Am I a heartless person? A tyrannical and incompetent ruler?"

As people get older, they tend to become more and more sentimental.

This also applies to emperors.

Science explains that,
Because when people are young, they are full of energy and have lofty ambitions, so they can prioritize their careers in everything they do.

In old age, however, energy and physical strength decline.

And the fear of the passing of life, the fear of death.

People will then become more and more concerned about what they have now.

This actually explains it quite well.

Why did even a great emperor like Li Shimin, who was considered a paragon of virtue throughout history, "gradually fail to live out his potential" in his later years?

Liu Bei is already sixty years old this year.

His life was relatively smooth sailing, and he did not encounter any major setbacks.

Now the Han dynasty has been restored three times, and the family is full of children and grandchildren.

The Wei rebels, the Wu rebels, and even the barbarians in the north whom he didn't even consider a threat were just minor ailments that could be wiped out with a snap of the fingers.

He is definitely a winner in life.

At this age, you still want him to give up enjoying life.

Just like when I was in Xuzhou, I devoted myself to my work every day, worrying and working tirelessly day and night.

Liu Bei really couldn't do that.

If it weren't for Li Yi's daily supervision, Liu Bei would have become complacent long ago.

Conversely, Liu Bei admired Li Yi for this.

Even after reaching the highest ranks of officialdom, he was still able to maintain self-discipline and not indulge in pleasure.

This is truly against human nature.

"...It's not that Your Majesty is unwilling to deal with your veteran ministers."

Li Yi looked directly at the emperor and bluntly remonstrated with him without any hesitation:

"...I just enjoy the feeling of being supported by them."

"But if Your Majesty wishes to surpass Emperor Gaozu and Emperor Guangwu and achieve lasting hegemony, you should abandon this idea!"

"Only by constantly striving to improve ourselves can we ensure the longevity of the Han dynasty."

The fire crackled in the stove, and the warm chamber fell silent for a moment.

Liu Bei gazed at the budding plum branches outside the window for a long time before finally saying:

“…Ziyu, I now understand why ancient emperors did not want honest ministers.”

You often say: "Good medicine tastes bitter but is good for the disease, and honest advice is unpleasant to the ear but is beneficial to conduct."

"The principle is true, but it's just too hard to hear."

"I'm at least sixty years old now, can't you put up with me and let me hear some pleasant words?"

Li Yi bowed and said:
"To be close to virtuous ministers and keep away from petty men is why the Former Han Dynasty prospered."

"The reason why the Later Han Dynasty declined was because it favored petty men and distanced itself from virtuous ministers."

"May Your Majesty stay away from petty men and trust virtuous ministers."

"Then the Han dynasty will last forever, and all people will be blessed."

Liu Bei remained silent for a long time before finally nodding slowly:
"I know, I know."

"Speaking of which, only you, my dear minister, have said these things to me."

"Even Yun Chang and Yi De have been asking me to ride horses across the plains and hunt in the mountains and forests recently."

"Very well, I will do as you say."

"However... I hope you will show some respect to the veteran ministers."

"...I understand."

Liu Bei, with his hands behind his back, gazed at Li Yi for a long time, then said:

"Well then, I have finished speaking about these two important matters."

"How does my esteemed minister intend to handle this?"

Li Yi's face remained calm as he said:
"Your Majesty, I intend to resolve this matter in one fell swoop."

"How to solve?"

Liu Bei asked in a deep voice.

"Your Majesty, I can eliminate the heavy military burden in Jiangnan."

"At the same time, we will fully implement the imperial examination system this year, even if it is opposed by powerful families and veteran officials."

Liu Bei smiled slightly:
"Judging from your confidence, what are you planning to do?"

Li Yi walked to the window with his hands behind his back and caught a flake of snow in his palm.

The snowflakes melted quickly, and he said in a deep voice:
"The problem in Jiangnan is too big to be solved."

At this point, he paused, then turned to look at Liu Bei.

His face was as calm as still water, yet it exuded an air of complete composure.

"It is only I who can go to Jiangnan in person."

……

(End of this chapter)