Tang Dynasty: A Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls for Li Er at the Start

Chapter 364 The Imperial Examination, the Assistant Minister of Personnel Evaluation

Inside the Ministry of Personnel, the air in the official residence was heavy and somber.

Xiao Yu, Du Ruhui, Fang Xuanling, and Yuwen Shi sat around a table. A pot of hot tea on the table was steaming, and the steam reflected the thoughtful expressions on the faces of the four men.

Du Ruhui first dismissed everyone around him, and only when there were only four people left in the room did he pick up a teacup and pour warm tea for the three of them in turn.

The teacup had barely been poured when Yuwen Shiji broke the brief silence with a frown: "Your Majesty has newly established the position of Protector-General, supposedly to appease the grassland forces and govern the various Turkic tribes. That reason is reasonable enough, but why was Qin Shubao chosen for this position?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Yu and Fang Xuanling both nodded slightly.

These were exactly the doubts in their hearts.

Although Qin Qiong already held the title of Left General of the Martial Guard, everyone in the court knew that his health was no longer up to the task, and he often missed court meetings, making the position of Left General of the Martial Guard practically meaningless.

However, the position of Protector-General is different. According to His Majesty's decree, this position will directly grant the Ministry of War the authority to deploy troops to the border.

Even though it was still under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Personnel, in case of an emergency, the Supreme Protector could bypass the Ministry of Personnel and directly dispatch troops to the border.

This is clearly a forceful transfer of real power from the Ministry of Personnel. Whoever is chosen should be carefully considered. Why did they choose Qin Qiong?

After Yuwen Shiji asked his question, the office fell silent again. Du Ruhui held his teacup, his fingertips tracing the rim, only lowering his eyes to sip his tea, without saying a word.

Xiao Yu, who was standing to the side, glanced at the expressions of the three of them, chuckled, and slowly said, "A few days ago, didn't Cheng Zhijie take Qin Shubao to see that Taoist priest Sun in Gaoyang County?"

These words, though seemingly casual, were like a pebble thrown into calm water; the three people present instantly understood.

Everyone knew about Qin Qiong's health condition beforehand, and his position as the Left General of the Martial Guard was already precarious. Many people secretly speculated that the position would be replaced sooner or later.

But now His Majesty has suddenly entrusted him with such an important position as the Supreme Protector. Does that mean His Majesty truly values ​​Qin Qiong's current abilities?

It was clear that Qin Qiong's health had improved after being treated by Master Sun, and His Majesty used this as an excuse to announce to everyone that Qin Qiong's health was sufficient to hold his official post, and that the position of Left General of the Martial Guard was still his, thus putting an end to any other people's hopes.

On the other hand, it is likely that by using the newly established official positions as a pretext, they subtly divided the power of the Ministry of Personnel and consolidated their control over military power.

"Now that the Supreme Protectorate has been established, does His Majesty mean he has decided to wage war against the Turks?"

Having figured out the reason for Qin Qiong's appointment, Fang Xuanling turned his attention back to the "Upper Protectorate" position itself, his brows furrowing even more tightly.

The Turks have always been a hidden danger on the border of the Tang Dynasty. Although His Majesty has not said it outright in recent years, the important officials in the court all know that His Majesty has long intended to conquer the Turks.

The establishment of a position specifically responsible for border pacification and troop deployment inevitably leads people to associate it with "military operations".

At this moment, Du Ruhui, who had been silent all along, finally raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the three of them, and his voice was steady: "When has Your Majesty ever not wanted to wage war against the Turks?"

His words silenced all three of them, and he continued speaking.

"It's just that the time isn't right yet. Last year, both the national treasury and the imperial treasury had considerable surpluses..."

At this point, Du Ruhui gave a self-deprecating smile, his tone tinged with complexity.

Most of this money and grain was obtained through confiscation of property.

In particular, the five prominent families and seven influential clans made significant contributions. The assets of the Zheng and Lu families alone in Chang'an were enough to fill the national treasury.

The Cui and Wang families have now contributed a considerable amount of farmland and hidden households, enriching the treasury.

This doesn't even include the hundreds of thousands of catties of silver that Wen He had previously obtained from Japan.

With these things in place, the Tang Dynasty had the confidence to stand firm.

Therefore, Du Ruhui knew that His Majesty was probably getting a little anxious.

Eager to settle old scores and pacify the border, Du Ruhui still shook his head.

"But it's not the right time to really wage war against the Turks. His Majesty established the Supreme Protectorate primarily to stabilize the borders and unite the tribes, not to launch an immediate military campaign."

He abruptly changed the subject, shifting the focus from the border back to the imperial court.

"Instead of getting bogged down in the Turkic matter, we should think about the upcoming imperial examination. The date of the examination is fast approaching, but His Majesty has yet to appoint the position of Assistant Minister of Personnel Examination. This position is in charge of the examination, and the candidate is still undecided. This is what we should be thinking about right now."

"Would you be willing to take on this role as the Assistant Minister of Personnel Evaluation?"

Inside the Lizheng Hall, Li Shimin held a yellowed document in his hand, looked up at Wen He standing below, and spoke with a hint of casual probing.

Wen He was staring blankly at the sparrow pecking at the incense burner ash in the corner of the hall when she heard the question. She snapped out of her daze and almost tripped over her own feet. She quickly steadied herself and bowed.

"Huh? The Assistant Minister of Personnel Evaluation? What is the Assistant Minister of Personnel Evaluation? Your Majesty, I already have many positions, please don't give me any more, otherwise it will really affect my development."

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin spat out the tea he had just put in his mouth onto the document. He quickly wiped his mouth with a handkerchief, his knuckles still twitching with a smile: "Your brain is always full of nonsense."

"The 'Examination of Merit' assesses the scholars' achievements and determines their ranking in the imperial examinations. Naturally, it's for those in charge of the imperial examinations. The spring examinations are approaching, and scholars from all over the country will come to the capital to take the exams. I need to select someone to oversee the drafting of the exam questions, the grading of the papers, and also to guard against those aristocratic families trying to use connections or send notes. Tell me, who else would I ask for this position besides you?"

Wen He's heart skipped a beat, and her eyes widened instantly.

Good heavens, they're going to make him the "chief examiner for the imperial examinations"!

He waved his hand hurriedly, shaking his head like a rattle drum.

"Your Majesty! This is unacceptable! Your humble servant is only eleven years old! How can those old scholars with white hair be happy to let a mere child manage the imperial examinations?"

"Scholars of the world must not speak ill of me behind my back, accusing me of nepotism. Besides, if something goes wrong, it will ruin the futures of countless people, and I cannot bear that responsibility!"

"Also, there are so many capable people in the court, you can just pick one at random, since they're all just going through the motions anyway."

Wen He pursed her lips.

Given the current illiteracy rate in the Tang Dynasty, commoners and those from poor families would have a hard time even becoming minor officials, let alone becoming officials.

Li Shimin was furious and pointed at Wen He, cursing, "You brat, if you keep talking nonsense, I'll give you ten lashes!"

His shout immediately silenced Wen He.

"Whether someone is capable or not depends not on their age, but on their ability."

Li Shimin put down the letter, leaned forward, rested his elbow on the table, and spoke with a hint of mischief.

"Have you forgotten that last year you opened the Sanwei Study, allowing poor students to study for free, and later proposed that scholars travel to various states to broaden their horizons? Even the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy praised your unique ideas."

"Many Confucian scholars believe that your actions are for the benefit of the world."

"And then there's 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms,' which scholar in Chang'an hasn't read it? It's no exaggeration to say that paper is now in high demand in Chang'an."

"Why should people judge you solely by your age when you've done all these things?"

Wen He was rendered speechless, but he was still apprehensive. He stubbornly insisted, "But...but I still don't want to do it! The imperial examination is a matter of national importance and cannot be taken lightly. I am too young to handle the situation! If those scions of noble families deliberately cause trouble, I won't even know how to deal with it!"

Li Shimin's smile faded slightly. He tapped his fingers lightly on the table and said in a deep voice, "Wen He, are you defying the imperial decree?"

"Don't you dare say such things to me. Are you afraid of those people? If so, where are the Zheng and Lu families now?!"

Li Shimin knew that Wen He was just making excuses.

If he were afraid of the Five Clans and Seven Noble Families, he wouldn't have sent a hundred cavalrymen to secretly ambush Lu Ziye and his group.

Wen He felt a pang of anxiety, but then he thought, at worst he could just give up, since he was still young.

At worst, I can "beg for my remains" (i.e., return home without shame).

Thinking of this, he stiffened his neck and said, "Your Majesty, I dare not disobey the imperial decree, but I really cannot do this job. If Your Majesty insists that I do it, I... I can only beg for retirement and go back to Gejiazhuang to farm!"

"you!"

Li Shimin pointed at him, his fingers trembling with anger, but seeing Wen He's "dead pig doesn't fear boiling water" look, he couldn't help but want to laugh.

That brat always manages to make him laugh in exasperation.

In the end, he could only sigh helplessly and shout towards the outside of the hall: "Someone, summon Ma Zhou into the hall!"

Upon hearing the name "Ma Zhou," Wen He's eyes lit up instantly. She took two steps forward, her voice softening, "Your Majesty! You...you're going to appoint Ma Zhou as the Assistant Minister of Personnel Evaluation?"

Li Shimin glanced at him, snorted, and said, "If you refuse to do it, I can only turn to Ma Zhou. He comes from a poor family and is upright. When you recommended him last year, I felt that he was a man of great talent. But he is just too upright and has no powerful backing. Not many people in the court are willing to help him."

Wen He immediately felt a pang of worry for Ma Zhou.

Ma Zhou was an honest man. If he really took charge of the imperial examinations, those scions of powerful families would definitely try to curry favor with him. He could either turn a blind eye and go with the flow, ruining his own reputation.

He could either refuse outright, but then how could Prince Bin withstand the pressure from the powerful families?
I'm afraid they'll be squeezed out soon, and might even face some unfair treatment.

Whether Li Shimin will protect him at that time remains to be seen.

He remembered Li Shimin, who never allowed Ma Zhou to confront those people head-on.

Could it be because of me, this butterfly, again?
Just then, Li Shimin deliberately sighed, his tone tinged with regret: "I don't want Ma Zhou to go either, but there's really no one else I can use! All the civil and military officials in the court are either from aristocratic families or people I don't trust. Only Ma Zhou can be considered upright. However, I will have Wei Zheng supervise him from the side. He has a strong personality and can help me to some extent."

Wen He frowned as she listened.

Wei Zheng was upright, but he was in charge of offering advice. He might not have understood the intricacies of the imperial examinations, such as how to prevent cheating and how to avoid suspicion.

His supervision alone is far from enough!

If something goes wrong, wouldn't Wei Zheng and Ma Zhou both be dismissed from their posts?
Seeing that his brows were furrowed, Li Shimin's eyes flashed with a calculating glint.

He pondered for a moment, then tentatively asked, "How about... I give you the position of Chief Clerk of the Ministry of Personnel? You don't need to take the lead, just help Ma Zhou with his work and offer suggestions."

"You're quick-witted, you're sure to come up with some different ideas, what do you say?"

Wen He's heart skipped a beat, and she instantly realized what was happening.

You bastard Li Er!
This was all planned out in advance; they were waiting for him here!

First, they used Ma Zhou's predicament to evoke his compassion, then offered him the position of "deputy" in an attempt to lure him into their trap.

He secretly glanced at Li Shimin and saw a smile hidden in the other's eyes. He thought to himself, "Old fox! All he knows is how to scheme against me!"

Seeing that he had seen through his thoughts, Li Shimin did not hide it and smiled.

"I didn't mean anything by it. I just think you're quick-witted and can come up with some fresh ideas. Besides, with me here, what are you worried about? When have you ever been afraid of those scions of noble families?"

He paused, his tone becoming more serious: "I really want to give scholars from humble backgrounds a chance, so that they can have a fair birth and not be suppressed by aristocratic families for their whole lives. You usually have a lot of clever ideas, so why don't you think about how to make the imperial examinations fairer, and let those people see that the imperial examinations are not their sole authority."

Wen He knew in her heart that Li Shimin's words were half true and half false.

It's true that he wanted to give fairness to those from humble backgrounds, and it's also true that he wanted to use him to weaken the power of aristocratic families.

But seeing the predicament that Prince Bin was about to face, and thinking of those poor scholars who studied hard but had no chance, he finally relented.

"Then...then may I give it a try? But let me make this clear beforehand: if anything goes wrong, Your Majesty must not blame me!"

When Li Shimin saw that he had agreed, a smile instantly bloomed on his face. Just as he was about to say something, the sound of Ma Zhou's footsteps came from outside the hall.

Ma Zhou, dressed in a blue official robe with ink stains on his cuffs, clearly had just come from a pile of documents. Upon entering, he first bowed to Li Shimin and said, "Your subject Ma Zhou greets Your Majesty!"

He then turned to Wen He, cupped his hands and bowed respectfully, saying, "Your humble servant Ma Zhou greets Magistrate Wen."

"Ma Zhou, I have summoned you here because I have something to entrust to you."

Li Shimin got straight to the point, pointing to the note on the table.

"For the spring imperial examination, I hereby appoint you as the Assistant Minister of Personnel for the Examination of Personnel, to oversee all matters related to the examination, from the formulation of the examination questions to the grading and release of the results."

Ma Zhou was stunned, clearly not expecting such an important task to fall to him. He immediately bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I... Your Majesty, obey! I will certainly not fail in my mission and will never disappoint you!"

Li Shimin then pointed to Wen He: "Wen He will serve as the principal officer of the Ministry of Personnel, your deputy, to help you handle the imperial examination affairs. He is quick-witted and has many ideas. If you don't understand anything, you can ask him."

Ha ha.

Wen He sneered inwardly.

He then silently counted in his mind: the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Works, the Ministry of War, and now the Ministry of Personnel.

There were only six departments in total, and I became the head of four departments.

Looking back at history, it seems that very few people have actually been able to do that.

However, if Su Qin could wear the seals of six states back then, what can I, Wen Hecheng, do as the head of six ministries today?

Whatever!
When Ma Zhou heard that Wen He was his deputy, he panicked and hurriedly waved his hand at Li Shimin.

"Your Majesty! This is unacceptable! The scholar Wen is exceptionally talented and resourceful. Last year, he recommended me to the court, which was already a great favor. This year's imperial examination should be presided over by the scholar Wen, and I... I will be his assistant!"

Li Shimin smiled and shook his head: "If Jiaying is unwilling to take the lead, then don't push it. Just focus on being your role as the Assistant Minister of Personnel Evaluation."

Ma Zhou was stunned, then suddenly seemed to understand something, turned around and bowed deeply to Wen He, his tone sincere.

"I have kept Wen Xianzi's two recommendations in mind! In this imperial examination, I will certainly heed Wen Xianzi's advice and will never let you down, nor will I fail His Majesty's trust!"

Wen He was stunned on the spot.

When did he recommend Prince Bin?

It was clearly Li Er who suggested it.

This King Bin's imagination is just too wild!
Why are you even imagining a scenario of recommending someone twice?

He secretly glanced at Li Shimin and saw that the other man was suppressing a laugh, his face almost turning red. He inwardly groaned.

Oh no, this is a huge misunderstanding!

Li Shimin finally couldn't help but laugh out loud, and deliberately put on a stern face as he looked at Wen He: "That's right, it was indeed Wen He who recommended you this time. However, this time it was in line with my wishes, so it will not be allowed to happen again. The recommendation of officials must be done according to the rules, and no private planning is allowed, so as not to cause gossip."

Wen He hurriedly waved his hands, his face turning pale: "Your Majesty! This humble subject did not! You..."

"Alright, I know you have no ulterior motives, so let's not mention this matter again."

Well, it seems Li Er is deliberately trying to make Ma Zhou believe this misunderstanding.

Li Shimin suppressed a laugh and changed the subject, saying to Ma Zhou, "You've just taken up this post, so you must still have some questions about the imperial examinations. Why don't you ask Jia Ying? He's always coming up with ideas, so he might be able to help you."

"Here."

Ma Zhou responded with a roar and immediately turned to Wen He, his eyes full of expectation: "Master Wen, I don't know where to start with the imperial examinations, especially how to prevent cheating and stop the sons of aristocratic families from using connections. I would appreciate your guidance, Master Wen."

Wen He composed herself.

I'm too lazy to bring up the whole thing about who made Ma Zhou the official.

He pondered for a moment, sorting through the methods of preventing cheating in the imperial examinations of later generations, and then pretended to be thinking before speaking.

“Actually, I had thought about the fairness of the imperial examinations in my spare time before, and I think that to prevent cheating, we should start from three aspects.”

He cleared his throat and said.

This was to tell Li Shimin that I am usually very busy.

I have devoted myself to the Tang Dynasty, working tirelessly day and night.

However, Li Er's gaze clearly showed that he did not believe what Wen He said, so he did not respond to him at all.

Seeing that Li Er did not react, Wen He could only continue: "First, the exam questions must be kept secret. We need to find a few officials of good character who do not associate with powerful families, and lock them up half a month in advance. They should live in a special courtyard and not be allowed to contact the outside world, not even their families."

"After the exam questions were written, they were sealed in a bag, the opening of which was stamped with sealing wax and guarded by the Imperial Guards. The bag could not be opened in front of all the candidates until the last minute before the exam."

"In this way, the exam questions cannot be leaked in advance, and the scions of aristocratic families cannot prepare in advance."

Ma Zhou nodded repeatedly as he listened.

Li Shimin had someone bring paper and pen and gave them to Ma Zhou, asking him to write it down.

Wen He continued, "The second method is to use a copying and anonymizing system. After the exam, a special person would cover up the candidates' names, places of origin, and family backgrounds, only assigning them numbers. Then, a group of clerks with neat handwriting would rewrite the exam papers. The examiners would see the copied papers, unable to see the candidates' names or recognize their handwriting. In this way, the examiners could not favor those from prestigious families based on their names, nor could they recognize acquaintances based on their handwriting. They could only score based on their actual talent and ability."

"good!"

Li Shimin listened attentively, nodding frequently, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes.

He had heard Wen He mention a similar method, but he hadn't expected it to be so detailed. It seemed this kid had really thought it through.

Wen He, oblivious to Li Shimin's expression, continued, "The third is the examination hall supervision. Two supervisors will be assigned to each examination hall, one from the Ministry of Personnel and the other from the Censorate, to supervise each other."

"Then arrange for Imperial Guards to patrol outside the examination hall. Candidates must be searched before entering the hall. They are not allowed to bring cheat sheets or anything other than writing materials. If any cheating is discovered, the candidate will be immediately disqualified, flogged, and stripped of their scholar status, making it impossible for them to participate in the imperial examinations for the rest of their lives. In addition, censors will be assigned to supervise the marking of papers to prevent examiners from colluding in scoring."

The Ming and Qing dynasties can be said to have taken these techniques to their highest level.

Even so, it was of no use.

Officials who come from the rigid eight-legged essay system know nothing but how to write it.

They also need to hire a clerk to help them out.

Although the imperial examination system in the Tang Dynasty was primitive, it had the implication of teaching according to aptitude. Those who were good at reading took the Mingjing (Classics) exam, and those who were good at arithmetic took the Mingsuan (Calculation) exam.

Those who are good at doing things take the imperial examination to become scholars, and those who understand the law take the examination to become legal experts.

Furthermore, although the Tang Dynasty had the rudiments of the provincial, county, and metropolitan examinations that would later be established, they were not yet perfect.

It wasn't until Emperor Gaozong (Li Zhi) began reforms that the process was gradually improved, and it became fixed during the Ming and Qing dynasties.

It's too late this year, but we can try next year.

"There is also the Ming Suan subject, which tests mathematics, such as problems from the Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art. This subject is the fairest and easiest to prevent cheating, because in mathematics, right is right and wrong is wrong. If you make a mistake in calculation, you are wrong. There is no room for ambiguity. We can have the examiners score according to the steps, and each step must be based on evidence. This is fair and can also show the true ability of the candidates."

The imperial examinations of the Tang Dynasty were divided into six subjects.

The imperial examination system in the Tang Dynasty differed from that in later periods. The Tang Dynasty's imperial examination system typically included six subjects: Xiucai (秀才), Mingjing (明经), Jinshi (进士), Mingfa (明法), Mingzi (明字), and Mingsuan (明算).

The Xiucai examination was the most difficult subject in the imperial examinations during the Sui and Tang dynasties. It required candidates to be proficient in five strategies and policies, and those who were proficient in all of them were considered to be of the highest caliber.

The Mingjing examination tested students' knowledge of Confucian classics such as the Book of Rites and the Zuo Zhuan. The examination was conducted in the form of copying classic texts, and students had to fill in six of the ten blanks in the texts to pass.

The imperial examination for Jinshi (进士) emphasized poetry and essays on current affairs, but Emperor Taizong (Li Shimin) did not seem to value this examination. Historical records show that very few people passed the imperial examination during the Zhenguan era.

The Mingfa Ke (明法科) examines legal provisions and is specifically designed to train judicial professionals. Those who pass the exam generally go to the Ministry of Justice, while those with connections go to the Dali Temple (大理寺).

The Mingzi examination assesses students' knowledge of philology and calligraphy skills, drawing upon classic texts such as the Shuowen Jiezi and the Zilin.

The last subject, Mingsuan, needs no further explanation; it tests mathematics.

In Wen He's view, this is the most difficult part.

Because math doesn't lie; if you don't know it, you simply don't know it.

"Furthermore, I believe that after the imperial examinations, a palace examination should be added. Your Majesty should summon the top performers in the six examinations, personally ask them questions, and finally select the best performer in each examination as the top scholar, who will then be granted an official position on the spot. This will serve as an incentive for scholars."

"The palace examination?" Li Shimin found it intriguing.

"I remember that Emperor Wu of Jin personally summoned Ruan Zhong and personally reviewed his examination papers, nominating him as the top candidate. Is this true?" Li Shimin looked at Ma Zhou.

Ma Zhou nodded in agreement, "That is indeed the case."

After a moment of contemplation, Li Shimin looked up and said, "Compile these methods into a document and present it to all the civil and military officials during the court meeting tomorrow."

Wen He's shoulders, which had just relaxed, slumped instantly. His face, which had been somewhat smug, fell like a seedling battered by frost. He tugged at the corners of his mouth.

With a pained expression, he bowed and said, "Your humble servant obeys the decree..."

Although he agreed verbally, he had already mentally cursed Li Shimin a hundred times over.

The morning court session started at 3 AM. It would take half an hour to get from Gaoyang County to Daxing Palace. Standing in the hall listening to those old ministers ramble on and on until the sun was high in the sky, how could his eleven-year-old body possibly endure that?
What if he doesn't grow taller in the future?
Li Er, you son of a bitch!
He almost blurted out these thoughts through gritted teeth, but thankfully he remembered that Li Shimin was sitting above him, so he didn't say them aloud.

Looking at his utterly dejected expression, Li Shimin had a smile hidden in his eyes. He deliberately put on a stern face and added, "You are not allowed to be late tomorrow. I will have someone waiting at the palace gate to check on you."

Wen He inwardly groaned, but had no choice but to grit her teeth and agree.

Back at his residence, he lit a lamp to write a memorial, but as he wrote, he couldn't help but yawn. In the end, it was Ah Dong who brought him a bowl of hot ginger soup, which helped him barely manage to write out the details one by one.

Some additional details were added later.

For example, "the copying clerks must report their personal information in advance, and three people must be present when reviewing the papers."

The next day, before dawn.

Wen He got up, groggily put on his official robe, and hurried towards Taiji Palace while chewing on a sesame cake.

Upon arriving outside the palace, Gao Yue was indeed seen.

"You're here early, Mr. Wen," he greeted with a smile.

Wen He gave him a couple of dry laughs, then followed him to a side hall without saying anything.
Once all the civil and military officials had arrived, the court assembly officially began.

On the bright yellow dragon throne, Li Shimin looked majestic and solemn, his gaze sweeping over the people below the hall. He said in a deep voice, "The Ministry of Civil Affairs should report first."

Dou Jing stepped forward, holding the account book and bowing, saying, "Your Majesty, last year the national treasury had a surplus of 3.8 million shi of millet and 200,000 bolts of silk. Now the treasury is full, enough to support the border military needs and spring farming relief."

Everyone in the hall showed joy upon hearing this. Li Shimin nodded slightly: "Well done. During the spring plowing season, we must ensure that the grain and fodder for each prefecture are distributed on time and that the farming season is not missed. In addition, we must be vigilant about the drought in Guanzhong this year. Last winter, there was little snow in Guanzhong, which made me very worried."

"Your subject obeys the decree!" Dou Jing withdrew upon hearing this.

Li Jing then stepped forward, his tone becoming more serious: "Your Majesty, news has come from the border that the Turkic Khagan, Jieli, has been frequently mobilizing his tribes recently, seemingly intending to move south. However, several of his smaller tribes have developed a grudge against Jieli and have secretly sent envoys to Chang'an, expressing their willingness to submit to the Tang Dynasty and requesting Your Majesty's protection."

Li Shimin tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest of the dragon throne and pondered, "Jieli has great ambitions, but he is also wary of the strength of our Great Tang. For now, let's hold back and appease the tribes that have submitted. Then, let's send envoys to the Turks to probe their strength."

"The Ministry of Rites can send someone to make contact and invite their leader to come to Chang'an to see me."

"The minister obeys the order!"

Wen He stood at the back of the officials' line, having to stand on tiptoe to barely see what was happening inside the hall.

Listening to the reports from the six ministries, he unconsciously began to drift off into thought, his gaze falling on the pillars outside the hall, pondering whether the carvings on them were dragons or qilin.

Just then, Li Shimin suddenly coughed, his tone pausing deliberately: "The imperial examinations are approaching, and after much deliberation, I have finally decided on Wen He, the Assistant Minister of Personnel Examination."

"Wenhe"

As soon as the two words were spoken, the hall fell silent instantly, and even breathing could be clearly heard.

All the ministers turned their heads in unison, their gazes falling on the small figure in the last row, their faces filled with disbelief.

Changsun Wuji even involuntarily held his breath.

Does Your Majesty intend to appoint Wen He as an Assistant Minister of Personnel Evaluation?!

Isn't this the most ridiculous thing in the world?

But before Changsun Wuji could even speak...

An imperial censor was the first to react, immediately stepping forward and bowing, his tone urgent: "Your Majesty! This is unacceptable! Wen He is only eleven years old. Although he has some talent, the position of Assistant Minister of Personnel is in charge of all matters related to the imperial examinations, which concerns the future of scholars throughout the land. How can we entrust this to a child? If this gets out, the whole world will laugh at our Great Tang for having no one capable!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than another censor stepped forward, holding his official tablet and proclaiming, “What you say is absolutely right! The Assistant Minister of Personnel Evaluation must be able to distinguish between the wise and the foolish. The young man from Wen County is still too young, lacking both experience in the court and prestige. If he is appointed to this position, I fear he will not be able to win over the people. I urge Your Majesty to rescind your decree!”

Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui exchanged a glance and stepped forward. Fang Xuanling cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, I am not questioning the talent of the County Magistrate Wen. However, the imperial examination is a major national event that cannot tolerate the slightest mistake. The County Magistrate Wen can participate in the preparation of the imperial examination, but it is indeed inappropriate to let him take charge of the position of Assistant Minister of Personnel Examination. I hope Your Majesty will reconsider."

Du Ruhui added, "I second that. The imperial examination is crucial for the future of children from poor families. If the person in charge lacks prestige, it may cause dissatisfaction among the scholars. I urge Your Majesty to choose another capable person."

Immediately, voices of opposition rose and fell within the hall, and even officials who were on good terms with Wen He remained silent.

Everyone knows that it is absurd to let an eleven-year-old child manage the imperial examinations.

The imperial examination was related to selecting talent for the country.

Wen He was talented, but not suited for the imperial examinations.

Wen He was still lost in thought when Li Shimin called her back to reality. Hearing the voices of opposition throughout the hall, she was stunned and secretly grumbled to herself.

Li Er did this on purpose! Knowing full well that some people would object, he still deliberately said this, isn't he putting me in a very difficult position?

Just when everyone thought Li Shimin would get angry, he suddenly laughed and waved his hand, saying, "Please be calm, everyone. I did not say that I would appoint Wen He as the Assistant Minister of Personnel Evaluation."

Upon hearing this, the objections in the hall ceased instantly. Changsun Wuji was taken aback: "Your Majesty, what you just said..."

"I just wanted to say that Wen He has recently come up with some methods to prevent cheating in the imperial examinations and has written a memorial on it. I have summoned him here today so that he can present these methods to you all."

As Li Shimin spoke, he looked at Wen He.

"Wen He, why haven't you presented your memorial yet?"

Wen He breathed a sigh of relief, quickly took out the prepared document from his bosom, stepped forward, presented it to the front of the hall with both hands, then stepped back a few steps, unfolded the document, and loudly reported the matter.

"Your Majesty, I believe that to ensure the fairness of the imperial examinations, we must prevent corruption in three ways. The first is the closed-off examination system. We should select officials of upright character who do not associate with powerful families to set the questions. They should move into their own private courtyards half a month in advance to cut off all contact with the outside world. Once the questions are prepared, they should be sealed and stamped and guarded by the Imperial Guards. The seals should only be opened one moment before the exam to prevent the questions from being leaked."

"The second method was to copy and erase names. After the candidates submitted their papers, a special person would erase their names and places of origin, assign them a number, and then an official would rewrite them. The examiners would only look at the copied papers to avoid bias based on names or handwriting."

"Thirdly, there was mutual supervision by two officials. One official from the Ministry of Personnel and one official from the Censorate were assigned to each examination room to supervise each other. Candidates had to be searched before entering the examination room and were strictly prohibited from bringing cheat sheets. Those who cheated were disqualified, punished with caning, and reported. Censors were also present to supervise the marking of papers."

"In addition, after the imperial examination, a palace examination was held, and the top scholar in each subject was selected to be assigned a corresponding official position."

Although Wen He's voice was still young, every word was clear. Everyone in the hall listened attentively, and even the officials who had initially opposed the idea began to frown and ponder.

A moment later, an official stepped forward and spoke, his tone tinged with skepticism.

“While Wenxian’s method is meticulous, ‘locking the courtyard for half a month’ is far too harsh. The examiners are all court officials, some of whom are over fifty years old. How can we prevent them from seeing their families for half a month? Such restraint may chill the hearts of old ministers.”

"That's wrong!"

Wen He immediately retorted, showing no stage fright despite standing in front of a group of high-ranking officials.

"So what if they are court officials? Weren't the corrupt officials in the Ministry of Revenue also court officials? They received salaries from the court but lined their own pockets, which shows that their status is not a guarantee of integrity."

“If the courtyard is not locked, the sons of noble families can simply find some excuse to visit, or try to get information through the family members of the examiners. Sooner or later, the exam questions will be leaked. I am doing this for their own good, so that if there is anything unclear in the future, I will have to trouble them to take them to the Hundred Riders to talk.”

"As for the issue of age, that's simple. Since the older ones can't keep up, we'll replace them with younger ones. The Tang Dynasty has plenty of talented people, so there's no need to use those who are over fifty. Otherwise, if something happens to them, I'll have to take responsibility for them."

After Wen He finished speaking, she revealed a kind smile.

The official who stepped forward immediately felt a chill run down his spine.

This is a threat!
A naked threat!
This Wenhe is not human!

He's too ruthless; he's practically cutting off the path for their descendants!
Many officials from prominent families and aristocratic backgrounds gritted their teeth in anger.

His eyes gleamed with a cold light, as if he wanted to tear Wen He to pieces.

But they only dared to think about it in their hearts.

The lessons learned from Zheng Yuanzhu and Lu Ziye are still fresh in our minds.

Unfortunately, there wasn't a single person from a poor family in this hall.

Otherwise, upon hearing Wen He's words, he would surely be moved to tears.

Seeing that everyone was arguing, Li Shimin spoke up at the right time: "Jiaying's method seems feasible to me."

The officials in the court were startled.

But no one dared to object.

They all kept their heads down, as if it were none of their business.

Well, if all else fails, we'll think of another way.

This matter was clearly something that Wen He and His Majesty had agreed upon privately.

To object now would surely incur His Majesty's wrath.

"May I ask, with utmost respect, who will be appointed as the Assistant Minister of Personnel Evaluation this year?" Fang Xuanling asked, bowing.

Li Shimin glanced at him and smiled, "I have already decided on the candidate, it is the former censor Ma Zhou."

At this point, Ma Zhou, who was in the censor's line, stepped forward.

"The minister is here."

Looking at him, Li Shimin nodded slightly and issued the decree.

"Hereby, the Secretariat shall draft the following decree, effective immediately: Ma Zhou shall be appointed Assistant Minister of Personnel to oversee the imperial examinations, and Wen Jiaying shall be appointed Principal of the Ministry of Personnel to assist Ma Zhou in implementing these measures."

The announcement of this appointment made the hall even more lively.

Ma Zhou came from a poor family and was previously just a minor censor in the Censorate.

Now that he has been promoted to the sixth-rank position of Assistant Minister of Personnel, many officials from aristocratic families have changed their expressions, especially officials from the Cui and Lu families, who are exchanging knowing glances.

In previous years, they could always use the pretext of "passing on the examination papers" to let their children make friends with the examiners in advance. Now that Ma Zhou is in charge of the examinations and Wen He is also there, it is probably difficult to find loopholes again.

But Li Shimin had already made up his mind and did not wait for everyone to discuss it further.

After saying this, he got up and left the hall, leaving behind a hall full of officials who were either surprised or dissatisfied.

Wen He followed Ma Zhou out when she suddenly heard someone mutter behind her, "A little kid like him, is he qualified to oversee scientific expeditions?"

Wen He, who was walking towards the outside, suddenly turned around and glanced behind her.

"That bastard is barking nonsense here!"

Suddenly, Cheng Zhijie shouted angrily.

Li Daozong suddenly appeared beside Wen He: "What's wrong? Wen He can write Romance of the Three Kingdoms and compile the Three Character Classic. He's much better than some good-for-nothings. The one who spoke so inhumanly just now, step forward and let me see!"

The two most arrogant and unruly people in Chang'an are here to support Wen He.

Many officials, feeling guilty, quickly lowered their heads and hurriedly left.

The resentment in his eyes only intensified!
Wen He, you just wait. Sooner or later, when you lose power...

I will surely put you in a life-or-death dilemma!
"Thank you, Prince Rencheng and Duke Su." Wen He thanked the two of them.

Li Daozong smiled and said, "It's a small matter, but I'd like to remind you to be careful this time. The imperial examination is no small matter."

"Yes, if all else fails, I'll stay and keep watch for you."

Cheng Zhijie patted his chest and laughed.

Wen He bowed to the two of them and then took her leave.

Ma Zhou held Wen He's hand the whole way, thanking him repeatedly: "Lord Wen, if it weren't for your suggestion, I would never have been able to take this position. I hope you can give me more guidance in the future imperial examinations."

Wen He smiled and waved his hand: "Your Highness is too kind. Your abilities do not require my guidance."

This was the first prime minister from a humble background in the Tang Dynasty.

What advice can I give him?

To Ma Zhou, Wen He's words sounded like modesty, so he felt a little embarrassed and thought about inviting him to dinner.

But Wen He was thinking about getting back to the manor to catch up on sleep as soon as possible; his legs were numb from standing at the morning court session.

So I took my leave.

The next day, just as dawn broke, Wen He had changed into his Hundred Rider uniform and was preparing to go to the Hundred Rider Camp for roll call.

I haven't been to Hundred Riders lately, so I don't know how the new recruits' training is going.

Just as he reached the gate of the mansion, he saw four scholars dressed in blue robes sitting on the steps, each with a reserved expression and holding scrolls in their hands.

Upon seeing Wen He emerge, the four men quickly rose, stepped forward, and bowed respectfully. The leading scholar presented a scroll of paper with both hands, saying, "This student, Zhang Hai, greets Magistrate Wen. I have heard that you are assisting Assistant Magistrate Ma in overseeing the imperial examinations, and I have come to present this memorial for your critique!"

The other three followed suit, some submitting their papers, others their poems, all while showering the students with compliments.

"The young man from the county is a brilliant talent. He wrote 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms,' which has spread throughout the world. I have long admired him greatly!"

"If I can receive guidance from the county magistrate during this scientific expedition, I will have no regrets even if I die!"

Wen He's smile froze instantly; he finally understood.

They've come to collect scrolls!

interesting.

These people really know the news fast.

Wen He narrowed her eyes as she looked at the four people in front of her, and a kind smile suddenly appeared on her face.

Seeing his reaction, the four scholars were secretly delighted.

Does this mean they're willing?
"In that case, you may follow me," Wen He said with a smile.

The four scholars were overjoyed and quickly bowed to Wen He, saying, "Thank you, Magistrate."

Despite their joy, they also felt some regret.

I wonder where Wenxianzi is taking them.

Why not invite them into the mansion?
But they quickly put this small doubt behind them.

(End of this chapter)