Her purpose in setting this additional question to select some talent was secondary; her main intention was to set a precedent for the imperial examinations, indicating that the spring examinations would begin to select specialized talent.
Those scholars with the keenest sense of smell don't need any coercion or pressure; they will automatically learn relevant knowledge like moths to a flame.
Just like taking the civil service exam, whenever there's a new way to become a formal civil servant, the army of test takers will do everything they can to automatically find this new path to learn and climb.
She's building a comprehensive college in Beizhou; she can't let talented people just linger at low levels.
She wanted to show them hope, to show them the broad road to officialdom where one could succeed in any of the 36 professions.
At that time, she won't need to say anything more; there will be plenty of talented people who will automatically learn and study various subjects.
Decades later, the world will truly flourish and civilization will be brilliant.
[Yellow comment: This seemingly insignificant act sparked a boom in all industries across the land. Who at the time could have known the prince's foresight?]
[Red comment: This shouldn't have changed, right?]
[Yellow comment: Nothing changed. The imperial examination reform started here, and after many years, it completely entered an era where practicality was the sole criterion for success.]
In the Shengde Hall, Zhao Yunqi and the other two considered her suggestion and felt it was harmless. They assumed that she had tasted success in Beizhou and wanted to select some specialized talents.
With the development of Beizhou as a precedent, they have become more tolerant and understanding of such talents.
If these people perform well after this trial, similar questions can be added to the next imperial examination from the bottom up to select truly skilled professionals.
Xiao Zhixing added, "As for the number of places to be selected, they do not count towards the number of Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations). They can be listed separately as the Hundred Crafts List. As for the number of places to be selected, I will personally review their answer sheets before making a decision."
Only those with genuine skills can be admitted.
After she finished speaking, she went to look at Zhao Kun, waiting for him to give his consent.
Zhao Kun came to his senses. "These are secondary. The real problem is that official position. That's not easy to get."
If you become an official through unconventional means and those who passed the imperial examinations, who will be convinced?
Xiao Zhixing smiled and said, "Don't we each department have a minor position of tenth-rank attendant? In the past, they were all randomly selected non-official personnel to fill this position. These people can do this first."
The tenth-rank attendant was changed into a formal official position. Even a minor official is still an official. As long as you enter this circle, you can be promoted by making meritorious contributions.
Previously, these so-called tenth-rank attendants were like temporary staff members outside the official staff in China. They were not included in the formal official staff and were all relatives and friends of the lower-level officials.
They don't have a fixed salary; they are hired by the person who hires them and can be dismissed at any time.
This was also a way for the imperial court to save on financial costs. Sometimes there were few large-scale events, so there was no need to support so many people who would receive salaries for nothing.
As for future non-staff members, they can be called anything, such as "eleventh-rank servant."
The promotion to a new official position involves salary, and the Minister of Revenue, Duke Li, was alarmed. "Does Your Highness know how much more salary the court will have to pay for each new official position?"
The great battle had just ended, and the Ministry of Revenue's treasury was so empty that horses could run through it. Officials were now being paid by the emperor's private treasury.
Duke Li was so heartbroken that he wanted to cry in the middle of the night. Who else could be the Minister of Revenue like him? He was as poor as a beggar.
Xiao Zhixing laughed, "Don't worry, there won't be too many people selected this time, and the annual salary won't be much more..."
Duke Li wanted to shake his head; if he hadn't been afraid of Xiao Zhixing's temper, he would have almost shouted that it wouldn't work.
His troubled face scrunched up like a chrysanthemum.
Xiao Zhixing held out his hand, “The salt tax from Beizhou will be paid to the imperial court by half a percent—” which is 0.5 percent.
Duke Li immediately straightened up, "Deal!!"
They were afraid that Xiao Zhixing would change his mind.
The imperial court had long coveted the salt tax revenue from the northern prefectures, but unfortunately, they hadn't paid the soldiers. Xiao Zhixing, therefore, justified himself in reducing the salt tax revenue he was supposed to pay to the imperial court to the lowest possible level.
They didn't dare ask for more.
Even though it's only half a percent of the salt tax, he calculated that it still amounts to several million a year.
As he thought about it, he became envious; Beizhou was really rich.
Although the expenses are high, the Northern State is a money-making machine; the commercial tax alone is astronomical.
The three of them finalized the matter of adding a list of the Hundred Craftsmen before the emperor.
Zhao Yunqi was ultimately responsible for issuing the imperial edict.
Zhao Kun and Duke Li came to their senses, their feelings a mix of emotions.
They found that working with Xiao Zhixing was surprisingly efficient and comfortable.
They had just thought she would forcefully push them to create new official positions, but they didn't expect her to be so kind and reasonable in discussing things with them.
By addressing the problem and resolving it, they agreed without any reason to refuse.
Tsk, why does it feel like the domineering and powerful Xiao Zhixing in the imperial court is just an illusion?
No, no, that's absolutely an illusion. Xiao Zhixing is still Xiao Zhixing.
When the sample papers were ready, Zhao Yunqi took the opportunity to summon her to the next room and asked, "I intend to transfer a few people from the north to serve in important positions in the court. Is Yuan Sheng willing to release them?"
Xiao Zhixing was surprised. What did that mean? Was he trying to steal her away?
That doesn't make sense either. Most of the officials in the North, especially in Beizhou, were her subordinates. Even if they went to Shengjing to serve as officials, they were still her people. They all bore her mark.
Even the emperor couldn't erase it.
Could it be... that Zhao Yunqi is paving the way for him to become the crown prince?! Does he really want him to succeed him?
No way? Huh?
Suppressing this strange thought, she braced herself and replied, "I wonder which people Your Majesty desires, and in what positions will you place them?"
She was unwilling to let people go if their official positions were too low. Although they were all young, she had already trained them, and their abilities and skills were no less than those of the older officials.
As for the concern that the emperor might want to bring them back and deal with them one by one, well, that's up to each individual to decide.
She had great confidence in her subordinates and believed they wouldn't make any major mistakes.
Zhao Yunqi seemed oblivious to her complicated expression and handed her a memorial: "Ji Bai will be appointed as the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, Lin Muzhen will be in charge of the Ministry of Revenue and the Department of Agriculture, Xiao Bei will be appointed as the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of War, Jiang Tan will be appointed as the Left Vice Minister of the Censorate, Li Sandi will be appointed as the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice... You will be responsible for appointing the vacancies after they leave."
Xiao Zhixing flipped through the appointment documents of all twelve people, his face serious.
No way? No way?!
These were all important positions in the imperial court, and they were all given to her people. Why did she feel uneasy about it?
Even more strangely, the Emperor System did not object; it remained silent.
Why does she feel like it's a fantasy?
The viewers in the live stream also felt it was surreal.
[Red comment: Wait, what does Zha Zha Qi mean? These are all the second and third-ranking officials in their respective departments. His arrangement looks like he's handing power over to the prince!]
[Green comment: Is it because the Gentleman's Academy's competition against Beizhou was too good that Zhao Yunqi resigned himself to his fate? Dimension Three, you guys come out and tell us!]
[Yellow comment: Forget it, we're not really sure we can spoil anything now, let's just keep watching.]
"What? You can't bear to part with it?" Zhao Yunqi's words brought her back to her senses.
Xiao Zhixing closed the memorial, paused for a moment, and finally bowed, saying, "Your Majesty values them so much; on their behalf, this humble subject thanks Your Majesty for your great favor."
These people returned to Beijing and rose to high positions of power; they can be considered outstanding young talents.
Zhao Yunqi smiled and said, "You are the one who has cultivated these good ministers for me. Alright, go ahead. I will issue an order for them to come to the capital immediately."
Xiao Zhixing left with doubts.
Let's deal with the imperial examination first.
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