On the sixth day of the first lunar month, all government offices in the capital city, large and small, officially resumed full operations.
Meanwhile, the cabinet also sent good news.
Looking at the sample papers submitted by Grand Secretary Yu Maocai and others, Li Xin carefully examined the contents.
On this sample exam paper, which consists of four pages, the words "Selection Examination for Government Affairs in the Capital" are prominently displayed.
That's right!
This exam paper was naturally drafted as a sample paper for selecting government officials.
Although since Li Xin and his group entered the capital, they have been working to appoint officials at all levels and to draw personnel from various militia teams to supplement local areas.
In addition, institutions such as the Beijing Municipal Government School were established to systematically train government personnel.
However, relying solely on these channels, there is still a significant shortage of government personnel.
Moreover, the personnel selected from the militia members are still somewhat backward in terms of their quality, vision, and perspective.
To adapt to the trends of the new era, we need to select talents from all over the country.
Therefore, over the past year, under Li Xin's guidance, various departments of the cabinet participated in compiling a complete set of teaching materials for the Capital Government School, which were then distributed throughout the entire Daqian Kingdom.
The new textbooks have largely eliminated knowledge such as the Four Books and Five Classics. Instead, they focus on basic logic education, popular science, arithmetic and geometry, as well as knowledge in physics, chemistry, astronomy, geography, history, philosophy, and other fields.
In later generations, these became part of the administrative competence test.
Another subject is official document writing.
These new teaching materials were also the same ones used at the Beijing Municipal Government School.
These textbooks have been widely sold in various regions over the past period of time.
Furthermore, last year, documents such as the "Requirements for the Examination of Government Officials" were drafted, formally establishing a new system for the selection and examination of government officials.
Reference books were selected from textbooks used at the Beijing Municipal Government School and other scientific books, with an emphasis on cultivating practical talents.
The selection system has also been improved.
The selection examination system for government personnel is divided into three levels.
First, a unified examination. Qualified personnel from all provinces, prefectures, and counties across the country could participate in the selection examination. Those selected through the examination were assigned to various departments of the imperial court and provincial/prefectural governments to serve as clerks.
Second, the provincial examination. Qualified personnel from within each province participated in the selection examination. Those selected were assigned to various districts and communities under the prefectures and counties within the province to serve as grassroots officials.
Third, special examinations. These are for professionals in various fields who participate in specific selection examinations. Those selected are assigned to various departments as administrative staff. These include specialized fields such as water conservancy, electricity, and chemical engineering.
The exams were conducted in three batches to select different types of government officials.
The purpose of implementing such an examination system is naturally to change the promotion and management mechanism for government personnel in the future.
In the past, after passing the imperial examinations, some Jinshi graduates were even directly assigned to grassroots positions as county magistrates.
When people with no grassroots administrative experience are appointed as county magistrates and put in charge of a region, all sorts of problems inevitably arise.
Moreover, these officials have spent decades studying, which has led to their detachment from the people and the grassroots, inevitably resulting in a disconnect from society.
Therefore, Li Xin implemented reforms to address these shortcomings.
After the reform, all government officials selected through examinations were assigned to ordinary positions at the grassroots level.
As for district heads, county magistrates, prefects, provincial officials, and even officials in various departments, they were all selected from ordinary clerks and promoted step by step.
This also prevents county magistrates from being appointed by people who have just finished their studies.
This can also prevent the situation where local officials become disconnected from and detached from the people!
Only after all these systems were finalized were sample exam papers for the selection of government officials in the capital drafted.
This test is a preliminary trial.
Therefore, it was limited to people in the capital region.
After carefully examining the sample paper, Li Xin nodded and said, "Grand Secretary Yu, this sample paper is quite comprehensive! It covers all aspects of basic knowledge and also focuses on grassroots administration. It lists many case studies on grassroots government affairs. It's really good! Let's keep it this way!"
As he spoke, Li Xin looked up at Yu Maocai and asked, "Let's set the selection exam for government officials in the capital for the second day of the second lunar month, when the dragon raises its head. It's a good omen! We can also print out the exam papers during this time and promote them in the capital area to prepare for the exam."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Yu Maocai quickly agreed.
After the selection examination for government officials in Beijing was scheduled, Yu Maocai and others began to actively prepare.
At the same time, the Beijing Daily began to publish extensive articles about the selection examinations for government officials in Beijing.
This caused a huge uproar in the streets and alleys.
"Newspapers for sale! Newspapers for sale! The new imperial examination in the capital has begun!"
"A new imperial examination in the capital to select new officials!"
...
The shouts of vendors drew people from all over the streets and alleys.
Everyone rushed to buy newspapers, eager to see what exactly this new method of imperial examinations in the capital was all about.
After all, the imperial examinations had been completely suspended since His Majesty Li Xin entered the capital.
This time, the resumption of the new imperial examinations still attracted the attention of some scholars.
"Huh? They're not testing the Four Books and Five Classics anymore?"
One scholar, somewhat dejected, said helplessly, "I've worked so hard for so many years, studying diligently, only to find that the Four Books and Five Classics are no longer on the exam? Is there no justice in this world?!"
"How is this not fair?"
Someone nearby retorted, "Look how well this 'Capital Daily' says it! The officials selected through the imperial examinations in the past were lazy and ignorant of farming. What use were they if they went to the grassroots level? Look at the officials from Dongning. Every single one of them has worked in the district communes. These officials are much better than those of the past!"
"yes!"
Someone continued, "Although the new imperial examination in the capital has just begun, the textbooks from the capital's political academy have already been distributed nationwide. If you wanted to take the exam, you would have received the news long ago. Someone like you who is oblivious to what's happening around you should stay home and focus on your studies, instead of coming out to become an official and harm the people."
"Yes, yes, that makes sense!"
"Excuse me, where can I buy textbooks for the Beijing Municipal Government School?"
"Yes! Hurry up and buy the textbooks. We still have two weeks left, so let's study them carefully. Who knows, we might even pass!"
...
For a time, everyone in the streets and alleys was talking about it.
The newspaper boy, after selling all the newspapers, kept one for himself and headed home.
This newspaper boy is none other than Han Yi!
At this moment, Han Yi's eyes were filled with joy.
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