Chapter 20 020 My Imperial Achievements

He left the matter of reforming the imperial examination system to the court officials to brainstorm and devise a plan, while Zhao Jialing strolled back to the Bathing Hall and sat on the imperial couch to chat with the system.

Instead of praising the brilliant phrase "I'll die trying if I don't say something amazing," Zhao Jialing sensed a hint of irony in the achievement from the system's consistent tone. His focus had always been peculiar; instead of asking about the "public notice board," he was eager to get to the bottom of the achievement's origins.

[Is the host completely unaware of the relationships between the civil and military officials in the court?] The Wise Ruler System prompted.

Zhao Jialing, though somewhat arrogant, wasn't beyond foolishness. She suddenly realized that the world had been at peace for a long time, with little military activity except for border defense. Military officials had always had a low profile, further dividing the court. Just yesterday she had seen the group of talented individuals who followed the founding emperor, capable of both civil and military affairs, rising to the ranks of generals and prime ministers; comparing them to those in the court, she understood the difference.

The Marquis of Huaihai, who knocked Yu Shen down with a single slap, was practically the epitome of martial prowess. As for Yu Shen, although he didn't pursue the frail, scholarly air of his predecessors, he wasn't far off.

Regardless of how much Zhao Jialing praised Xie Lanzhao's talent, he acknowledged that while Xie Lanzhao could strategize effectively from within the command tent, the true victors from afar were the generals. However, most generals were illiterate, and their low quality led to new problems. During the previous emperor's reign, some had proposed the concept of "Confucian generals," but those Confucian scholars viewed military officials as corrupt. While this might be debatable at the level of "generals," their contempt for soldiers was practically written all over their faces.

In short, no one intended to include military officials in the reform of the imperial examination system.

There were military examinations at the founding of the dynasty, but do you recall this? The Assistant Minister of Personnel who oversaw the imperial examinations during the reign of the previous emperor was deemed incompetent due to his low rank, so a higher-ranking official took over. However, the military examinations—were still overseen by the Assistant Minister of War.

The fact that the martial artist did not react does not mean that there is no problem.

Zhao Jialing sighed, her hands behind her back, and said, "So Xie Lanzhao also overlooked something."

Wise Ruler System: [These are all prejudices. The host wouldn't want to see the Great Yong Dynasty impoverished and weak, would they?]

The silence among the court officials pointed to one possibility: even if the prime ministers discussed the matter further in the Hall of State Affairs, they would still overlook the military examination. The Minister of War, Gao Changwang, was present in the Hall of State Affairs, but he was a scholar from the Bohai Gao clan, utterly Confucian, and unlikely to advocate for the military examination.

Thinking this, Zhao Jialing waved his hand and gave Yin'e a few instructions, telling her to send someone to the Hall of State Affairs to convey a message. No matter what rules were proposed, those who had passed the military examinations could no longer be appointed as Assistant Ministers of the Ministry of War.

"San San, what are your opinions on this reform of the imperial examination system?" Zhao Jialing asked, resting his chin on his hand.

Wise Ruler System: [It does exist, but it might not be suitable for the local environment.]

Zhao Jialing: [Hmm?]

The Wise Ruler System: [The Great Yong Dynasty's regular civil service examinations included Xiucai (秀才), Mingjing (明经), Jinshi (进士), Mingfa (明法), Mingshu (明书), and Mingsuan (明算). However, the selection process for Xiucai was extremely rigorous, having been abolished during the previous emperor's reign. At that time, the Jinshi degree was highly valued, followed by the Mingjing degree. As for those from the Fa, Shu, and Suan fields, most only reached the clerk level, a far cry from officialdom, and were considered the lowest of the low. But were these people useless? Why should they be looked down upon?]

Zhao Jialing's expression changed drastically. She exclaimed, "This is truly a case of 'saying something shocking or making a scene'!"

The system of wise rulers refers to this.

Its host, though lazy and indolent, possesses an extremely high capacity for learning. If it were someone else, they would at least vehemently denounce it as "spreading heresy and misleading the public!" Reforms can be flexible or immutable. Some reforms are quick and easy, while others are gradual and subtle over a long period.

Zhao Jialing, who was willing to use her brain to think, remained silent for a long time before finally letting out a sigh of relief. She stretched her legs and said, "It may not be enough to bring the oral edict to the Council of State Affairs. It is not appropriate to rely solely on civil officials to push for the reform of the military examinations."

The Wise Ruler System asked: [What are your plans, Host?]

Although it's an external program, it can't possibly anticipate everything for the host.

Its specific function is presented in achievement rewards; as for what to do with the rewards, that depends on Zhao Jialing and her ministers.

Zhao Jialing changed the subject: "Let's talk about that bulletin board for communication between higher and lower levels first."

After she expressed her desire to claim the achievement reward, a notice board appeared out of thin air in her bedchamber. Its exterior resembled a small landscape screen, but in Zhao Jialing's eyes, it presented a completely different image.

Zhao Jialing: [Blank?]

Wise Ruler System: [The host hasn't issued any tasks yet.]

Zhao Jialing frowned: [Does an oral order not count?]

Wise Ruler System: [Our system is very standardized; anything posted on the bulletin board must be "a decree of the king."]

The so-called "royal pronouncements" system includes official documents such as edicts, decrees, and imperial edicts, all issued in the emperor's name. Oral pronouncements, being more casual, do not conform to this system. Otherwise, if the emperor could act arbitrarily and monitor the progress of tasks through the "public notice board for communication between superiors and subordinates," wouldn't he be able to arbitrarily punish his ministers?

Zhao Jialing had no objection to this; at least she was not as lustful as the emperors cited as counterexamples in history.

She sat quietly and pondered for a moment, then ordered someone to bring her paper and pen to draw.

Wise Ruler System: [What are you doing, host?]

The mission is still in progress, isn't it too easy?

Zhao Jialing did not answer her.

She recalled the appearance of several former officials who had served the Yuan dynasty in the documentary she had seen yesterday, and wrote down her thoughts very quickly.

Of the eighteen meritorious officials from the time of Emperor Taizu, only six families still retain their titles: five dukes and one Marquis of Huaihai whose title was stripped. Five hold official positions in the court, and only one is in one of the Six Ministries.

Zhao Jialing treated all families equally, painting portraits of the ancestors of the six families of founding fathers, and attaching a handwritten note: "I had a dream yesterday, and I still cannot forget it after waking up. They were as majestic as high mountains, as vigorous as green pines, vast and boundless, who can compete with them? You should all learn from them."

By the time she finished painting, the palace gates were locked. A palace messenger set out overnight to deliver the scroll to the six households.

This commotion was quite significant, and the clear destination easily leads people to speculate about certain things.

Xie Residence.

Inside the incense burner, wisps of smoke rose gently.

Xie Lanzhao remained indifferent, writing the last word on the paper before putting down her pen.

She exhaled a breath of stale air and said to the person leaning lazily to the side, "You said His Majesty sent scrolls to the residences of the Duke of Qin, the Duke of Cheng, the Duke of Lu, the Duke of Yan, the Duke of Ying, and the Marquis of Huaihai?"

The man replied, "Yes."

Xie Lanzhao nodded: "Mm."

Her voice remained indifferent.

Many of the officials who followed the Yuan dynasty were from prominent families of the previous dynasty, such as the Xie family, whose members had held high office for generations.

However, those six families were different from the aristocratic clans; they were iron-clad nobles, and none of their descendants transitioned from military to civil service.

"Does Your Majesty intend to use the nobles as a pretext for your actions?" A voice filled with curiosity rang out.

"Not necessarily." Xie Lanzhao shook her head, her eyes deep and serious. "His Majesty mentioned the military examination during the court assembly, and later sent someone with an oral decree—" After a few pauses, a smile appeared in Xie Lanzhao's eyes. "It seems he was worried about us, fearing that the reform of abuses might have neglected the military examination, so he used the pretext of sending the painting to subtly suggest that the nobles should advocate for the military officials. The one in charge of the military examination is still the Assistant Minister, which is indeed our oversight."

Is it thanks to that system?

Has Your Majesty made any progress?

"I'm afraid His Majesty intends to do more than just that," the speaker said lazily.

Xie Lanzhao was silent for a moment, as if she had thought of something, and the smile on her face involuntarily faded. After a long while, she shook her head and said, "It's better than doing nothing."

"Does that also include trouble that arises without cause?" Before Xie Lanzhao could answer, the man chuckled and said, "Lanzhao, you certainly have a lot of patience."

"What else can we do?" Xie Lanzhao stood up, rolled up the dried silk paper, on which was written the "Jade Pillow Poem" that Zhao Jialing had given her earlier.

“Indeed, there was no choice.” The woman’s tone became subtle. She paused for a moment before saying, “Or was that the choice you most wanted to make back then? Your mother had a good relationship with the Empress Dowager, and you grew up with His Majesty. If His Majesty had been ambitious back then, you wouldn’t have gone to Princess Zhongshan’s residence, would you?”

"Gao Shao." Xie Lanzhao called out the visitor's name. She turned to look at the person who was leaning lazily against the pillar with his arms crossed. "If you don't go back to the princess's residence soon, the princess will become a nun again tomorrow."

Gao Shao: "..."

Xie Lanzhao said calmly, "If you don't want to become an official in the court, you don't need to care about these things."

Gao Shao chuckled awkwardly, "Can't I just vent my frustration?" Besides, given her status, how could her friend not know what she would bring after entering the court?

*

The Duke of Qin's Mansion.

After bathing and burning incense, Li Qia held the portrait sent by Zhao Jialing, preparing to enshrine it in the ancestral hall.

"What does Your Majesty mean by this? Are you suggesting we change our ancestor?" Li Zhaoci, daughter of Li Qia, said with a pout. She leaned closer to the portrait and looked at it again. "But it's much prettier than the one hanging in the ancestral hall."

Li Qia glared and puffed out his beard: "What nonsense are you talking about!" He stroked his beard, "My ancestors were like dragons soaring in the sky and tigers crouching in the forest, their aura was strong and vigorous. Your Majesty's portrait is much more fitting."

“You should all learn from him,” Li Zhaoci drawled. “Compared to him, you are indeed far inferior.”

Li Qia: "..."

Li Zhaoci added, "His Majesty means that the nobles should also put in the effort for the military examinations."

Li Qia: Really?

Li Zhaoci nodded and said, "Of course." She continued, "The military examination subjects are all complete. The Ministry of War's laxity is a problem of people, not of the military examination. It's just that those who pass the military examination can never be as successful as those who pass the imperial examination or the classics examination. Even if they enter the imperial guard, they cannot be promoted like civil officials. It is an established fact that those who pass the military examination cannot enter the central government."

Li Qia subconsciously asked, "Can the military examination compare to the imperial examination?" Despite his criticism of civil officials in court, some thoughts were deeply rooted in his mind.

Li Zhaoci suddenly took a step forward, accidentally knocking over the scroll with her elbow. She looked at Li Qia with heartache and said, "Father thinks he is inferior to others, causing shame to our ancestors. He does not want to be in Father's hands." Before Li Qia could react, she quickly picked up the scroll and hugged it to her chest.

"Tomorrow, Father will go to court to request His Majesty to establish a Temple of Martial Arts and open a Military Supervisory Office," Li Zhaoci said.

Li Qia's expression changed drastically: "Aren't you just making me get scolded by the civil officials?"

—I'm talking about you.

Li Zhaoci thought to himself.

Her eyes flashed with a cold light: "The civil officials will not agree, so Father will take a step back and propose the transfer of those who pass the military examination."

Li Qia said, "They won't agree either."

Li Zhaoci said, "I believe in Your Majesty."

"It's better to believe that our ancestors can be brought back to life than to believe in His Majesty." Li Qia took the scroll. "With Xie Zhongshu's pillow talk, His Majesty will probably forget everything."

Li Zhaoci: "?"