Wei Li looked at her with slight shock. Zhao Xiheng nodded, understanding the meaning in his eyes. "No problem. Even if they are punished with a three-year salary, they can still live well. Just give them some subsidies as a form of pay. We need to make an example of them."
She made a gesture.
The tactic of giving a slap followed by a sweet treat may be despicable, but it can be a good method if used properly.
The five words "send it back for rewriting" opened up a new avenue for Wei Li.
Yes, he's number one in Pingzhou. He can decide who rewrites it and how it's rewritten.
He originally planned to work hard and study these things diligently, but he realized that he could have solved the problem by using a different approach.
A person who used to be unruly suddenly becomes disciplined because they take something seriously, which leads them into trouble.
Since someone has created difficulties for him, then he should eliminate those who created the difficulties.
Wei Li hugged Zhao Xiheng and gave her a quick kiss.
His eyes practically screamed, "My wife is amazing!"
Zhao Xiheng pouted, feeling a bit of a headache. It seemed that Wei Li didn't know much about anything except fighting.
It doesn't matter if he doesn't know it, as long as his subordinates do. He knows a little, as long as he isn't fooled. But it's obvious that few of his trusted men are proficient in this area.
She can take a look at it for him now because Pingzhou is a small place, and she can manage it. There aren't any complicated matters. But when the place gets bigger in the future, she can't still be the one helping him with everything.
Although Wei Li generously delegated power to her, which helped solidify her position, Zhao Xiheng wasn't afraid even if Wei Li changed his mind one day.
However, Zhao Xiheng did not consider herself a female Zhuge Liang who could hold up half the sky. She believed that if she didn't have the skills, she should not take on the job. Otherwise, she would not only cause trouble but also exhaust herself.
She had to manage the inner quarters herself. Although Wei Li didn't have many concubines, which made things easier for her, there were still quite a few people in the large family, so it wasn't easy for her.
Judging from the current trend, Wei Li's territory will inevitably grow larger and larger. Although she felt that Wei Li's personality and abilities were not quite suitable, she also felt that the stronger he became, the more stable her life would be, which was not a bad thing.
Thinking about it all is useless. Zhao Xiheng flicked Wei Li's forehead and said, "Hurry up and pick one with me."
Wei Li reluctantly picked up the memorial and began to read it word by word. Zhao Xiheng had finished reading five volumes, while he was still reading the first one. Every now and then, when he encountered a character with many strokes, he would frown and think carefully.
Zhao Xiheng glanced up at him and saw that he was frowning. She had a feeling that even if she shrunk each folded document into a short sheet, he would still have a hard time reading it.
The cultural literacy that has been lacking for many years cannot be made up for overnight. Even if he is intelligent, he has so many things to do every day, how can he have much energy to deal with these trivial matters?
She gently nudged Wei Li, and while looking at the summary, she said, "Why don't we prepare a scientific examination in Pingzhou to select some talented people?"
“Pingzhou has been independent for a year now. Apart from the officials in various places, you are surrounded by military officers. They only have a superficial understanding of these matters. It would be good to have some scholars around you. The economy is the foundation of stability. Only when there is money and grain can the people live and work in peace and have no worries. Although General Song and his men are meticulous, they are not dedicated to this task. One cannot do two things at once.”
Wei Li analyzed the situation carefully and felt that Zhao Xiheng's words made sense. "Then I will issue a notice tonight and ask them to make preparations."
Nowadays, the imperial examinations generally begin with the local people recommending candidates who are both virtuous and academically excellent. Then, the candidates are screened at each level, and finally, Wei Li personally selects the candidates.
"Tell them to select people with real talent and who understand the suffering of the people, and not to select just empty shells." Wei Li turned his gaze to the summary in his hand and said dejectedly.
If everyone were like this, he would probably be driven crazy by the constant nagging of pedantic scholars.
Zhao Xiheng looked at him with satisfaction, as if he were a little rascal who had finally grown up.
Her gaze was so meaningful that Wei Li couldn't catch his breath. Finally, he leaned over and gave Zhao Xiheng a hard kiss on the cheek.
"Stop messing around." Zhao Xiheng pushed him. "If you're so bored, then watch more."
Of the forty submissions, aside from Wei Li who was slow to read them, Zhao Xiheng could tell at a glance whether they were of high quality or low quality, and she had made her selections in less than an hour.
Of these, at least 88% are lengthy and verbose.
Wei Li ordered his men to send these thirty-odd portions back to the original prefecture, along with a demotion and punishment.
The messenger, on horseback, delivered all the documents in seven days. Those who had been punished were trembling with fear. While rewriting and summarizing, they pondered day and night how to appease Wei Li and appease him.
After subtracting more than thirty of the forty portions, the remaining portion can be counted on one hand.
Since it concerned the arrangements for the entire prefecture for the whole year, it could not be done carelessly and had to be examined carefully. Zhao Xiheng divided it into two parts, she looked at one half and Wei Li looked at the other half.
Wei Li propped his head up and sat to one side. At first, he managed to cope, but later the words in front of him became blurry circles, making him dizzy. Although he kept his mind focused, the content just wouldn't stick in his brain.
"Wake up." Zhao Xiheng would occasionally nudge him, then push him away before continuing to review the memorials.
Wei Li straightened his back and simply stood up to look at it, only to find that it was already dark outside.
Since Ah-Dan had already helped him sort the items, he couldn't shamelessly ask her to help him look at them again.
A man who can't let his wife enjoy life and instead toils day and night is an incompetent man. Ah-Dan thinks one or two things are alright, but she's been sitting here all afternoon. Is this his work or Ah-Dan's work?
Thinking this, Wei Li pulled Zhao Xiheng aside and, as if injected with adrenaline, snatched the brush and ink from her hand, saying, "You sit down, I'll take care of the rest."
Zhao Xiheng swallowed back the words "Can you do it?" Since he had the fighting spirit, she should encourage him and not discourage him.
Since Wei Li finds these things difficult to understand, he will naturally gain some insights by looking at them more.
Qing Chang Xiaotao peeled two pomelos in one day, removing all the tough fibers without damaging the flesh. She brought them over in the white crystal grape-patterned bowl that Zhao Xiheng had mentioned, along with some other fruits.
Zhao Xiheng peeled a piece of orange and ate it; it was sweet and sour, and very juicy.
She peeled another piece and held it to Wei Li's lips, saying softly, "Take your time, there's still plenty of time."
Wei Li paused for a moment, looked at Zhao Xiheng, and then carefully took the orange pulp away.
Under the lamp, Zhao Xiheng smiled gently, quiet and beautiful. But those two slaps on the table at noon were like a thunderclap in a clear sky, leaving Wei Li still feeling like he was in a dream, with lingering fear, to the point that he didn't know which one was the real her.
He couldn't believe that his usually gentle, timid, and delicate wife, who at most would whine and cry when angry, and who only verbally mocked him when she was in a bad mood last month, was being so fierce today...
Wei Li thought about it carefully. He still vividly remembered Zhao Xiheng barging into the cave with a whip in her hand many years ago. Her arrogant and domineering appearance was still fresh in his mind. Behind her followed a group of people who were trembling with fear. At that time, he felt his whole body trembled, as if he had seen a god descend.
Back then, she was free and unrestrained. Perhaps it was because she had been too repressed living under someone else's roof for so many years that she had become docile.
Thinking about it this way, it doesn't matter if she's a bit flamboyant or not compliant; it's all up to her.
You can insult him, just don't insult him too much.
"Why are you staring at me like that?" Zhao Xiheng poked him shyly.
Wei Li swallowed hard, put the folded document aside, took her hand, and probed indirectly, afraid that she would slam her fist on the table again, "A-Dan, have you been feeling unwell lately? The doctor comes to check your pulse every three days, but said there was nothing wrong."
"No, what's wrong?" She's perfectly healthy; she can eat and drink well.
"After the baby is born, I'll take you hunting and horseback riding in the back mountains. After we've hunted enough, we can go wherever we want." Wei Li's Adam's apple bobbed up and down, as long as he wasn't constantly being scolded like he was today.
She should move around more, instead of always suppressing her emotions; suppressing them for too long is not good.
Zhao Xiheng's eyes lit up. "Okay!"
She was expected to give birth in early September, and by the time she finished her postpartum confinement period, it would be October. Although Pingzhou was cold then, the animals in the mountains would be busy storing food, so it must have been quite lively. At that time, I didn't know if the doctor would allow her to move around.
When she was a child, her father taught her horseback riding, so she was naturally quite good at it. After her father passed away, she didn't have many opportunities to ride horses.
Wei Li breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that she was happy. It was good that she was happy; if she was happy, she wouldn't scold him.
He continued to look at the summaries, and although he stumbled along the way, after going through them all, he was able to distinguish which were better and which were worse, and who had put in the effort and who hadn't.
"This one seems pretty good." He showed one of the copies to Zhao Xiheng, offering some suggestions, but he wasn't sure.
After carefully reading the document, Zhao Xiheng felt that the man was concise and to the point, and that his criticisms of current affairs made him a capable person.
When Wei Li heard her say the same thing, he breathed a slight sigh of relief; he wasn't completely without progress.
He was genuinely worried that if he continued to be so hopeless, Zhao Xiheng would despise him and turn to someone else.
This was presented by Hedong Commandery, and Wei Li secretly made a mental note of the governor of Hedong Commandery.
Many things were settled today, and this month will be busy. Zhao Xiheng first instructed people to clean up the West Mansion and build a wall between the East and West Mansions to completely separate the two sides.
The imperial examination system has been issued, and each township recommends outstanding talents to be assessed in the prefecture. Each prefecture selects ten talents to take the examination in Buxian City, and finally, twenty people are chosen by Wei Li himself.
The entire process takes a total of three months.
Zhao Xiheng flipped through her notebook and, taking advantage of a moment of free time, asked Wei Li, "When is your birthday?"
"June 1st," Wei Li said after a moment's thought.
Zhao Xiheng kept it in mind, but a question arose in her mind: Didn't he not have parents? How could he still remember his own birthday?
But then I thought, who says birthdays have to be exactly on the same day? It's fine to just pick any day you like.
"Why didn't you ask me when my birthday is?" she said.
Wei Li blushed slightly. "I know, November 30th."
Zhao Xiheng suddenly remembered that on November 30th of last year, Wei Li came to see her with wine.
She covered her mouth and smiled, "What anniversary of our first meeting in Pingzhou? You just wanted to celebrate my birthday back then, didn't you?"
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