Chapter 133 Since I'm idle anyway
Everyone racked their brains and struggled to answer.
Men and women, all quite young, a bunch of teenagers were writing furiously.
Guan Zhiwei sat there watching them answer the questions, expressionless, just like a proctor, her gaze sweeping over them every now and then to put pressure on them.
They were tense and solemn, as if they were participating in a battle, like soldiers rushing forward with gags in their mouths.
After a whistle blew, the roll was put away.
Guan Zhiwei reviewed each document one by one, and sure enough, there was some gold in the trash; it wasn't all for nothing. She was quite optimistic about at least two people.
Even a commoner from the mountains would shout, "Are kings and nobles born with a special destiny?" You are of noble birth, yet you are not valued by your families and sent to the palace. If I were you, I would fight for honor rather than live a life of luxury! Seize this opportunity to turn things around!
This is just the beginning.
At dawn, the moon was hazy.
The men and women selected to enter the palace began to study diligently through the night, and the inner palace library was opened to them.
I studied for a while before taking the exam.
Q: Why did the ways of governance differ among Yao, Shun, Yu, Tang, Wen, Wu, and the Duke of Zhou?
Q: Why was the establishment of a province along the Yang River intended to ensure long-term stability and security?
Q: The greatest task in governing the world is to employ people. How can one distinguish between a virtuous person and a petty person?
Question: There is a system of farming. One person can manage seven mu per day, another can manage three mu per day, and another can sow five mu per day. Now, one person is ordered to manage, manage, and sow all the land in one day. How much land will be cultivated?
This can be considered a rough prototype of this year's imperial examination.
Guan Zhiwei divided people into two groups: those who were merely pretty faces were placed in the harem, while those with real talent and ability were placed in the imperial court.
What truly surprised her was Yuan Chizheng. He answered the first two questions fairly well, but his math skills were exceptional.
"Your Majesty," he said nervously, "Did I pass the exam? Can I enter the palace?"
Guan Zhiwei chuckled, took his hand, and patted it gently: "Azheng, my harem is missing someone as talented as you."
She was pondering what to do in such a large palace.
Fish are raised in the pond, chickens are raised in the woods, grains are grown in the flowerbeds, and even the excrement from so many people can be sold.
Later, Guan Zhiwei's attempt to sell manure failed.
Because the high-ranking officials disagreed.
They were afraid the common people would think the emperor was just a filthy scoundrel.
Although this proposal was rejected, Guan Zhiwei's large-scale fish farming, chicken farming, duck farming, and land cultivation project was still able to proceed.
As an accountant, Yuan Chizheng had to calculate every single transaction, which suddenly made his life very busy, just like an office worker, working from nine to nine.
He would sometimes feel confused: "Your Majesty, are you using me?"
"What nonsense are you talking about? I love you." Guan Zhiwei instantly promoted him from a beauty to a noble lady, a title he was the first to receive besides the Empress.
Yuan Chi looked at the noble title and felt that he was still His Majesty's true love. Only a more capable one.
Guan Zhiwei thought to herself, "They're busy as dogs, and they're still thinking about love? They'll just get sterilized automatically if they have less work to do.
This imperial selection process brought in some women for the imperial harem and others for the imperial court.
The imperial examination system was very successful because all candidates were from aristocratic families, with not a single commoner among them. The officials were happy to have as many sons of noble families as possible in the court, so no one objected.
If we conduct the imperial examinations a few more times and let them get used to it, then sooner or later, the first commoner will step onto the stage.
"The schools in Yong'an City have already opened, but it will be at least ten years before commoner children can rise above their circumstances. Fortunately, His Majesty is still young and has the means to implement reforms. In ten years, the court will be a completely different place." Gao Huan said with longing.
Because he came from a military family, he was often looked down upon. In a sense, his family was not exactly poor; they were the kind of uncouth family that people would insult.
Guan Zhiwei was uninterested: "Even if we introduce people from poor families and suppress the aristocratic families, it will just be another civil service system in the end. Human nature dictates that as long as one has power, one will hoard a lot of wealth for personal gain. Over time, the gap between the rich and the poor will widen. A country's lifespan is only two or three hundred years before it begins to reshuffle."
By learning from history, we can understand our gains and losses.
She knows all too well.
But as I said before, since we're already here, and we're just killing time anyway, why not give it a try?
Gao Huan suggested, "These scholars consider themselves the emperor's disciples. Your Majesty should host a banquet for them to establish a precedent. In the future, compared to the recommendation of court officials, this method will at least allow Your Majesty to choose your own ministers."
“Alright, let’s call it the Apricot Grove Banquet. I’ll pick three more people to be the top scholar, the second-place scholar, and the third-place scholar.”
"Your Majesty is truly wise."
"Hey, it's just plagiarism."
Guan Zhiwei suddenly remembered something, "You should come up with another reform of the official system for me. The Three Departments and Six Ministries system sounds good to me. Break down the Nine Ministers and merge them into the Six Ministries."
"The Court of Justice will be merged into the Ministry of Justice, and the Director of Grain Supply will be merged into the Ministry of Revenue. What about the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and the Court of Imperial Banquets?"
"Keep it, but reduce its importance and turn it into a transactional organization."
The two discussed state affairs, which calmed Gao Huan down considerably.
He and His Majesty are political allies, unlike Zhi Junyuan.
"By the way, I've kept all the useful scions of those aristocratic families in Yong'an City. As for the useless ones, write them a letter and ask their families to come and ransom them. Be ruthless and bring back as much money and grain as possible."
"Shouldn't the court officials submit a memorial accusing me?"
Guan Zhiwei said gently, "Don't worry about them accusing you. I will pretend to punish you, but it won't affect your position. As long as I have you in my heart, you have nothing to fear."
Gao Huan knelt at her side, looking at her with sincere eyes: "Your Majesty!"
"Um?"
"I can give you my life; I am utterly loyal to you."
Moved, Guan Zhiwei helped him up with both hands and said, "I don't want that thing. Your life is worthless. I want money."
The attempt to persuade His Majesty has failed.
Gao Huan, unable to vent his anger, extorted a large sum from the powerful families of Yong'an City. The families dared not speak out against him, and their slander against him became increasingly vicious in private.
He was a treacherous villain by His Majesty's side, who plundered money everywhere, bullied men and women, seized power, and occasionally targeted loyal ministers and generals.
Not only was his reputation extremely tarnished, but those people also spread rumors about him, saying that his current status was all due to climbing into the emperor's bedchamber.
What a joke! If he had that ability, would he have worked himself to death at his desk time and time again?
But when he went out, he didn't say that. He would always say, "Yes, yes, His Majesty dotes on me."
"Those who use their beauty to serve others will find their love waning as their beauty fades? Hey, at least I still have my looks, while you never have that in your entire lives."
"I have defiled the imperial harem and corrupted the court. Oh dear, are you saying that His Majesty is not wise?"
Although he seems very assertive, he sometimes drives himself crazy.
I'm used to dying, so I'll just treat it as a short nap.
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