Usurpation of Mongolia: My father-in-law is Genghis Khan

Chapter 159: With a massive number of official vacancies, even Confucian scholars began to rejoice at the prospect of war!
Of course, besides its use for lighting, kerosene also has a very important function: as fuel.

Ordinary people cook with firewood or coal; burning kerosene directly is obviously very uneconomical.

However, stockpiling large quantities of kerosene for military operations is essential. A large army might have to cross deserts, swamps, or vast grasslands; where would they find firewood to cook meals?

In this situation, how would cooking a hot meal on a kerosene stove replenish the soldiers' physical strength and boost their morale?
A good cook is worth half an instructor.

But no matter how good the cook is, without the right firewood, he can't cook a hot meal, right?
Furthermore, even if there is enough firewood nearby, it still takes physical effort to collect it. A kerosene stove, on the other hand, can be used directly.

Soldiers are valuable and quick.

The role of kerosene during forced marches should not be underestimated.

As for using kerosene to improve Greek fire, making it more effective, that's an obvious benefit.

In short, the invention of kerosene brought tremendous benefits to Zhao Shuo, both in terms of civilian and military applications.

After resting for another month in Harkha Guicheng, Zhao Shuo, escorted by three thousand Black Riders, headed towards Zhongdu City.

He has two purposes for coming to China this time.

Firstly, Zhongdu was to hold a new round of imperial examinations.

Previously, Zhao Shuo was busy with official duties, so Yelü Chucai presided over the imperial examinations. Now that he has some free time, he wants to go and see for himself.

Furthermore, it wasn't enough to simply relocate ordinary people to his fiefdom; he also had to relocate officials.

When Zhao Shuo first conquered the city of Khwarazm, he merely appointed wounded and disabled soldiers from the Eight Banners as local officials, maintaining a symbolic presence. Later, he appointed some local people he liked as his deputies.

Clearly, this situation cannot continue indefinitely.

If Zhao Shuo wants to firmly grasp the fiefdom, at least half of the officials must come from Han China or Mongolia.

Secondly, there is Muqali.

Muqali attacked Fengxiang but failed to capture it, and was also hit by an arrow.

Muqali's territory encompassed the Northeast region and parts of Shaanxi that he had conquered, where there were naturally few skilled doctors. However, Zhongdu had many renowned physicians, so Muqali spent his time recuperating there.

Zhao Shuo and Mu Huali were good friends and he also wanted to visit them in Zhongdu.

In fact, as soon as Zhao Shuo returned to his army, he ordered the famous Persian physician Rakhnasher to go and treat Muqali.

Rakhnasher, a Persian physician, was particularly skilled in surgery. He possessed unique expertise in both traditional acupuncture and the treatment of various external injuries, earning him the reputation of "Persia's First Divine Physician." Later, he offended the Caliph and, unable to remain in Baghdad, sought refuge with the Mu'i people.

Later, the "Old Man of the Mountain" led the Mulai Yi people to pledge allegiance to Zhao Shuo, and Lahnashe'er became Zhao Shuo's subordinate.

The stones from other mountains can be used to polish jade. Regardless of whether this Lahonashe'er is more skilled than the famous doctors in the Central Plains, at least he can provide different ideas.

However, Muqali was too ill, and Lahnashe'er had no good solution. He returned and told Zhao Shuo that Muqali probably wouldn't last another year.

"A-Shuo, you've come!"

More than five years had passed, and Mu Huali had become noticeably thinner. His once robust body was now reduced to a skeletal frame, ravaged by illness. His face was pale, his eyes sunken, and his lips a sickly bluish-purple, all of which stood out starkly against his pale skin.

He leaned weakly against the couch, only his occasional sharp gaze revealing the demeanor of the foremost of the Four Heroes of Mongolia.

Seeing his son Bolu lead Zhao Shuo in, Mu Huali smiled gently, pointed to the chair by the bed, and said, "Please sit down, I have a lot to say to you."

Zhao Shuo sat down in the chair and asked with concern, "How are you? Have you been feeling any better lately?"

Mu Huali shook his head slightly and said, "I'm afraid it's even heavier than before. My body probably won't be able to hold on for much longer. But to be honest, although I was shot by an arrow in Fengxiang, in the battle, it's either me killing others or others killing me. It's all about skill. I have no resentment and no regrets."

"The only regret now is the Xia Kingdom. I really wish I could personally lead the army and destroy the Xia Kingdom!"

Zhao Shuo nodded slightly and said, "The Western Xia broke their promise. Before Genghis Khan's campaign against Khwarazm, he ordered the Western Xia to send 50,000 troops. However, the Western Xia did not send a single soldier. Although after our victory, the Western Xia offered Genghis Khan generous gifts to apologize, but..."

After a pause, Zhao Shuo sneered, "If we lose, the Western Xia will seize the opportunity to rise and destroy our Mongols. If we win, they will offer up their children and wealth to apologize. Is there such a cheap thing in the world?"

Muqali said, "The Xia Kingdom not only refused to send troops, but also severely humiliated my Mongols. Ashu, you've heard what they said to my Mongol envoys, haven't you?"

"I have indeed heard of it."

When the Mongol envoys arrived in Western Xia, they demanded that Western Xia send troops in accordance with the agreement between the two countries.

As a result, Shahegan, a general of Western Xia, said that since the Mongols could not destroy Khwarazm by their own strength, what right did they have to be the superior state of Western Xia? Even if there was a peace agreement, so what? We Western Xia people are willing to abide by the agreement, but we will only send troops if the Mongols are defeated!

The Mongol envoy was furious and threatened, "Aren't you afraid that after my Mongol army returns, I will retaliate against your Xia Kingdom?"

As a result, Asha dared not refuse, saying, "If your Mongol army returns and, being accustomed to war, desires to fight, then I have the camp at Arashai, the tents of the barracks, and the camels to carry you. You may march to Arashai Mountain and come to me, and we shall fight there. If you need gold, silver, silk, or other valuables, then you may come to Erlihaya!"
Arashai refers to the Helan Mountains.

The place called Eliheya is the Yinchuan of later generations.

Clearly, what Asha Ganbu meant was that the Western Xia had the natural barrier of the Helan Mountains and the wealthy rear of Yinchuan, so they could fight and plunder as they pleased, and he was not afraid.

Zhao Shuo said coldly, "Just based on what Asha dared not say back then, Western Xia deserves the blame for its downfall!"

"I can't do it."

Having spoken so much, Muqali was clearly exhausted. He took a few breaths and said, "Now, everything depends on you. Destroy the Western Xia! Not only destroy the Western Xia, but also destroy the Jin and Song dynasties, and even the western countries, so that the whole world will submit to the Mongols! If so, I will die without regret!"

Muqali was born a slave, but Temujin promoted him step by step to become the head of the Four Heroes, a commander of ten thousand households, and a prominent figure in Mongolia.

He had long regarded the cause of the Great Mongolian Empire as his own.

News of the soldiers' arrival on this western expedition also reached Muqali's ears.

He then realized that there were so many countries in the West, and that Mongolia was so powerful that it was very likely to unify the whole world!

Not only that.

Although Muqali was recuperating in Zhongdu City, news of what was happening there still reached his ears.

Zhao Shuo's immigration system.

Zhao Shuoxing's Imperial Examination System
This meant that the Mongols had the potential to completely assimilate every territory they conquered.

If the Mongols had unified the world, what would Muqali's status have been in later legends?
Now that Muqali's days are numbered, his son Bolu will inherit everything from him, leaving him with no regrets.

What they care about most is their posthumous reputation.

……

Just as Zhao Shuo and Mu Huali were talking.

The Chunming Tower in Zhongdu City was also bustling with activity at this moment.

Chunminglou is the largest restaurant in Zhongdu City. In half a month, a new imperial examination will be held in Zhongdu City, so it has naturally become a gathering place for scholars.

Nowadays, Zhao Shuo's imperial examinations are not only attended by the people of Zhongdu, who live nearby.

Not only scholars from Shandong and Hebei under Zhao Shuo's rule, but also from nearby Shanxi and Shaanxi, came to serve him. What was the requirement to move their families to Zhongdu after passing the examinations? The Mongols were thriving, having even conquered Khwarazm, thousands of miles away. As long as one could become an official in the Mongols, the requirement to move one's family was simply nothing to these scholars from other places.

"Have you heard? The Imperial Son-in-Law has come to Zhongdu City! It seems he will personally preside over this year's imperial examinations."

"That's impossible. What kind of status does a prince consort have? It's already quite an achievement for him to meet with a successful candidate in the imperial examinations. To personally preside over the examinations? You're really delusional."

"Even if the prince consort receives you personally, that would be great! If you catch his eye, why worry about not rising to prominence?"

"You should focus on passing the exam first! The exam questions have been getting harder and harder in recent years."

"It's not just getting harder, but the official positions assigned are getting lower and lower! I really envy the first batch of people who took the imperial examinations when the emperor was in charge. As long as they were selected, they would directly become a county magistrate or county lieutenant! Tsk tsk tsk, I wish I had been in Zhongdu City back then. It's a pity I missed it. Once you fall behind, you fall behind again and again!"

"It's really too difficult, especially the math. Before, basic arithmetic was enough, but now they're testing geometry too, saying it's useful for officials surveying land."

……

The scholars discussed the matter animatedly, filled with envy and jealousy towards the victors of the previous imperial examinations.

There was no other way; Zhao Shuo had been short-handed before, so he could use whatever he had. Besides, there were too many official positions. Those who passed the first imperial examination were directly granted positions of seventh rank or above, such as county magistrate, county commandant, or prefectural vice-prefect. Those who passed later could only serve as lower-ranking officials.

Moreover, Zhao Shuo appointed a large number of people who had rendered meritorious service to the Mongols as grassroots officials, and there were not many such vacancies.

Therefore, the number of people taking the imperial examinations increased each time, but the number of those admitted decreased, and the official positions were often unsatisfactory.

Of course, they were just envious and jealous; they didn't hate anyone.

When the Jin Dynasty first opened the imperial examinations, it was open to the whole country, and only about fifty people were admitted each year.

Zhao Shuo ordered Yelü Chucai to hold the imperial examinations, and the minimum number of people admitted in one examination was one hundred. What more could they possibly want?
Ultimately, it's simply that there are so few official positions in the world, while so many people are competing for them, leading to a frenzied infighting.

"Ahem..."

Just as the scholars were discussing this, a middle-aged man in his thirties, tall and thin, with a spirited demeanor, suddenly stood up.

He said loudly, “My lords, there is no need to worry. Although the imperial court only selected 107 people in last year’s imperial examination, I am afraid that the number of people selected this year will be much higher.”

"Why?" The crowd looked at the middle-aged man with hopeful eyes.

The middle-aged man said confidently, "Have you all forgotten what happened last year? Our Mongol army has returned from its westward expedition. We not only destroyed Khwarazm, but also took the Kipchak Steppe and the Rus' lands, occupying a territory twice the size of China."

Someone said, "Does this gentleman mean that we should go and become officials in those newly acquired territories?"

The middle-aged man said, “I can’t say for sure what the territories of the four Mongol princes are. But didn’t you all take the imperial examinations set by the prince consort? The prince consort was granted the titles of King of Khorasan, Tokharistan, North India, Bagrajionni, and West Rus’, which are at least ten times larger than Hebei. Tell me, does the prince consort trust us scholars more, or those locals who don’t even speak his language?”

"That's right! The prince consort definitely trusts us more, otherwise why would he immigrate to a foreign land?"

"I heard that the prince consort is incredibly ruthless towards those western barbarians. He killed eighty percent of the men in the entire Khorasan region! The women he spared are just waiting to be immigrated there and enjoyed!"

"In that case, the number of people recruited this year will definitely increase significantly! Officials in Shandong and Hebei are all in their positions, and the imperial son-in-law will definitely be transferred to the new fiefdoms to stabilize the rule. If these people leave, won't there be many more official positions available?"

"You could also send us directly to those newly established places to serve as officials! I'm not afraid of the long journey, as long as I can get an official position!"

"Nonsense! These days, who's afraid of mountains and long roads? Thousands of miles away, there are fertile lands, bustling cities, and beautiful exotic women!"

"I am willing to defend this land for the Prince Consort! As long as the city stands, I will live; if the city falls, I will die!"

……

Upon hearing the middle-aged man's words, the scholars' eyes lit up, and they began to discuss it loudly.

In truth, with so many intelligent people present, it's not impossible that no one had thought of these things. But why say it aloud? It's always good to create an atmosphere of difficulty in the imperial examinations and scare away some competitors.

Now that the middle-aged man has made his point clear, there's no need to hide anything anymore.

Moreover, everyone could tell that the middle-aged man's clear expression indicated that he was extremely confident in his abilities and determined to succeed.

Someone asked, "May I ask your honorable name, sir?"

The middle-aged man announced loudly, "Yuan Haowen from Taiyuan!"

"So it was the talented scholar Yuan in person!"

"I never imagined that even the talented scholar Yuan would participate in the imperial examination for the prince consort!"

"It seems that our Great Mongol Empire's westward expedition has truly achieved great success, even the Yuan Dynasty's talented scholars have abandoned their darkness and embraced the light!"

……

Everyone exclaimed in surprise.

There was no way around it; Yuan Haowen was already quite famous at this time.

Seven years ago, Yuan Haowen participated in the imperial examinations of the Jin Dynasty, though he did not pass. However, in Bianliang, he befriended renowned figures such as Zhao Bingwen, Yang Yunyi, Lei Yuan, and Li Yan, and produced a prolific body of poetry. Among his works, "Jishan" and "Yuan Luxian Qintai" were highly praised by Zhao Bingwen, who was then the Minister of Rites. His literary fame spread throughout the land, and he was hailed as "Yuan the Talented Scholar."

However, even if Yuan Haowen gained the appreciation of the Minister of Rites of the Jin Dynasty, he still had to see the general trend of the world clearly!

According to historical records, Yuan Haowen's elder brother, Yuan Haogu, died during the Mongol invasion and continued to take the imperial examinations for the Jin Dynasty.

Zhao Shuo changed history; when Jochi attacked Shanxi, he was much more lenient, and Yuan Haogu did not die in the chaos of battle.

Since Yuan Haowen had no deep-seated hatred for the Mongols, he naturally had to carefully consider which had a better future: the Jin Dynasty or the Mongols.

The Jin Dynasty was trembling under the threat of the Mongols.

And what about Mongolia?

When news reached Yuan Haowen that the Mongols had won their western expedition, conquered countless countries, and acquired a territory the size of two Chinas, with each ordinary soldier receiving more than five hundred taels of silver, he made his decision without hesitation.

He decided to no longer participate in the Jin Dynasty's imperial examinations, but instead participate in the Mongol imperial examinations.

Finally, Yuan Haowen declared loudly, "Actually, it's not just about the territory our Mongols gained during this western expedition. Our Mongol military is so powerful, and our son-in-law can hold imperial examinations to select the virtuous and capable; we are destined to unify the world. As long as you have real talent and learning, you will definitely not have to worry about not having an official position!"

"Yes! My Great Mongol Empire is different from any previous dynasty. In terms of territorial expansion, it far surpasses that of previous dynasties, and naturally, the official ranks also far exceed those of previous dynasties!"

"This expansion of territory is wonderful! Farmers have gained more land, we have gained more official positions, and even merchants have many new sales outlets!"

"What's this? There's a long road ahead! When my Great Mongol Empire has conquered all those European countries in the west, and even the Jin and Song dynasties in the south, there will be even more official positions!"

"Both the Jin and Song dynasties have a large number of scholars. However, we passed the exam a year earlier, which gives us an advantage and ensures our future success!"

"Our Mongolia is destined to unify the entire world and rule the whole world!"

……

The scholars began to discuss it enthusiastically.

It must be said that the aftershocks of this western expedition not only brought about significant changes in the farmers of Hebei and Shandong, but also greatly broadened the horizons of the Confucian scholars in the north.
Expanding territory does not mean wasting manpower and resources, but rather gaining more official positions and more wealth.

These Confucian scholars also began to rejoice at the mention of war!
(End of this chapter)