Sang Nong
This was the last question in the county examination. The possible answers were very broad; you could write a policy essay or a poem praising the emperor and the emperor.
There's no need to write anything fancy. This is just a county-level exam, and the examiners don't expect candidates at this level to write anything profound.
Feng Bingwen originally only wrote a poem casually, something like "Sympathy for the Farmers," and he could easily pass the county examination.
However, he sensed a sinister aura carrying the scent of sandalwood. When he looked up, he immediately saw several tall figures patrolling the temporary examination hall.
The judges and a group of ghost messengers under the command of the City God of Qingshan County... Well, the imperial court selects talents through the imperial examinations. It's not just earthly officials who supervise the exams; there are also ghosts and gods patrolling the venues. It's a very normal thing, don't panic.
However, when Feng Bingwen saw a golden divine light streak across the examination hall and land there, he knew that things were not simple. For the civil judge to show up and inspect the examination, it was already considered a great matter. The fact that the City God himself had descended meant that things were not so simple.
As expected, Feng Bingwen watched as a towering, golden deity, over ten feet tall, pretentiously led a group of judges and ghost messengers on a patrol. The deity quickly approached him, then, as if only just noticing him, exclaimed in surprise.
"Oh, Young Master Feng, you're also participating in this imperial examination? Do you intend to become an official in the court?"
"I'll just take the test casually."
Looking at the group of ghosts and gods standing in front of his seat, none of them intending to move any further, Feng Bingwen picked up his pen and replied.
"I see."
The City God seemed to have just realized something, but his imposing figure remained standing still, clearly wanting to see what Feng Bingwen was writing. He only moved when Feng Bingwen asked him.
"Won't the adults patrol the examination halls?"
That's exactly what I was thinking.
Only then did the City God, who had come with a special purpose, leave with his entourage of ghosts and spirits. But less than a quarter of an hour later, the City God returned with the ghosts and spirits and stood before him.
"..."
Feng Bingwen naturally couldn't drive the other party away. He was now an examinee, while the other party, as a ghost or god, had the right to inspect the examination hall and supervise the examinees.
However, under the watchful eyes of a group of shameless and persistent ghosts and gods, Feng Bingwen's thoughts on answering the questions naturally changed. The City God had clearly come for him, and it would be unreasonable to follow his previous plan, conform to the rules, and sing praises along with the other examinees.
As we all know, when doing the same thing, the actions of the person involved are completely different depending on whether someone is watching or not.
Therefore, Feng Bingwen, who had not taken the imperial examinations too seriously, became serious and gave a formal answer.
The affairs of mulberry farmers involve far too many aspects. On a grand scale, they can concern the survival of a nation; on a smaller scale, they are the livelihood of a family. There is so much to write about.
Feng Bingwen then prepared to write a policy essay to discuss the issue of land annexation by aristocratic families, and to carefully explain the impact of large-scale land annexation on the dynasty's lifespan.
Of course, he's not just a nitpicker who only finds faults; when he raises a question, he naturally offers a solution.
He solemnly suggested that the imperial court begin a nationwide census to identify and register all the servants and slaves kept by powerful families.
At the same time, an investigation was launched into the amount of fertile land that had been cultivated and concealed over the past three hundred years since the founding of the dynasty, in order to ensure that the government could control all arable land within the country and include it in the scope of tax collection.
As Feng Bingwen wrote this, he felt completely relaxed and thoroughly satisfied. However, the City God, who was leading a group of ghosts and gods who "happened" to pass by Feng Bingwen for the fifth time, still couldn't help but shudder when he saw what Feng Bingwen had written, even though he was no longer made of flesh and blood.
Sword Comes
"Your Majesty, is there something you need?"
Feng Bingwen looked up, his gaze now able to penetrate the golden divine light that concealed the City God's face, and clearly see the aged face that seemed to be frightened.
"..."
The City God, who had once served as an official in the imperial court, moved his lips twice, but ultimately remained silent.
A nationwide census, clarifying all arable land, involves such a vast and complex undertaking that a single City God is pitifully insignificant in the face of something so serious that a slight misstep could shake the nation and destabilize the state.
"It's nothing, young master. Please wait a moment while I answer. I'll head back now."
After glancing at the newly written text by this reincarnated sage, the City God's divine body trembled twice and dared not look any further.
Because this reincarnated sage, who was still only a young boy, actually suggested that the Great Gan Dynasty, relying on its current prosperous state, should take the strongest stance to sweep away the hidden dangers of Great Gan and extend its reign for another three hundred years.
In his article, he actually wrote that if any powerful clans dared to outwardly comply but inwardly defy him and harbor any thoughts of resistance, the border troops could be mobilized to exterminate their entire clan on charges of treason, their lands would be investigated and restored to the people, their assets would be liquidated and replenished to the national treasury, as a warning to others.
He dared not continue reading such arrogant and bold policy arguments, which were even filled with a ruthless atmosphere. If it were really just a teenager, he could have scolded him for not being mature and prudent enough, for being ignorant of the ways of the world, and for not knowing the immensity of heaven and earth.
But the other party was a reincarnated sage, and he was just a county god. How could he be qualified to teach him a lesson? He didn't even dare to imagine what kind of waves this article would cause after it was collected.
The local county magistrate was certainly not qualified to review it; even if he had ten times the courage, he wouldn't dare to put his pen on this answer sheet.
Ignoring the ghosts and spirits who had been frightened away by what he wrote, Feng Bingwen wrote with increasing enthusiasm, looking radiant and full of energy.
As the sun set and dusk approached, Feng Bingwen finished writing his policy essay:
The Great Revitalization is at its peak. If a wise ruler is in power, he should sweep across the land and eliminate all evils, rebuild the nation, and prevent future declines in national strength from a situation where even a wise ruler is powerless to reverse the tide.
After finishing this section, Feng Bingwen put down his pen with a sense of relief, took another careful look at the policy essay he had written in one go, and then got up and handed in his paper with satisfaction.
After Feng Bingwen finished submitting his paper and left the examination hall, the county magistrate of Qingshan, who had been paying close attention to Feng Bingwen's every move, couldn't wait to take the paper and see what this reincarnated sage had written.
When he picked up the examination paper, the magistrate of Qingshan County still had a rather ruddy complexion, and even a hint of joy between his brows. He subconsciously thought that what he was seeing was an article praising the emperor written by a sage, in which case he, as the local official, would be rewarded.
However, when he saw Feng Bingwen's policy essay on mulberry farming, his ruddy complexion turned pale at a visible speed, and finally turned from white to blue, with beads of sweat seeping from his forehead.
"How could he..."
The magistrate of Qingshan County trembled with fear. Land annexation was an inevitable problem in feudal dynasties, and as officials, how could they not know about this issue?
Although they knew about it, few dared to bring it up, let alone expose such a problem directly in the imperial examination hall.
If it were an ordinary candidate, as the county magistrate, he could easily disqualify the candidate with a stroke of his pen and never employ him again. But this was a reincarnated sage. He only had the right to know the candidate's identity because the candidate lived in his jurisdiction. He did not have the right to suppress this policy essay.
Actually, it doesn't matter that the problem has been raised. It's an open secret that land consolidation has forced many self-cultivating farmers to become landless laborers who can only sell themselves for survival.
This thing is like a cesspool covered with a lid. Although you can occasionally smell the stench and know that it is filthy and disgusting inside, no one cares because it is still bearable.
But now, someone has lifted the lid of this cesspool, which will inevitably expose the foul stench to the light of day.
Most importantly, the person who lifted the lid offered the most drastic and bloody solution—recalling the border troops and conducting a thorough investigation of the fields and population with the utmost iron-fisted resolve.
If this were actually implemented, the magistrate of Qingshan County dared not imagine how terrifying the upheaval would be, how many bloodsheds would occur, how many rebellions would break out, or even how much the dynasty would change. All of these were possible.
"Someone, quickly prepare my water mirror. I have important matters to report to the Prefect."
Unable to review the papers and unable to suppress them, the magistrate of Qingshan County could only report to his superiors. Sweating profusely, he dared not think any further. He simply held the seemingly light but incredibly heavy answer sheet in his hands and ran towards the yamen.
Just as the City God had predicted, the magistrate of Qingshan County dared not review Feng Bingwen's answer sheet, and did not even dare to look at it for long. He only regretted why he had been transferred to Qingshan County.
However, the City God of Qingshan County underestimated the situation. When the contents of Feng Bingwen's examination paper were transmitted through the water mirror array used for emergency communication in the yamen, the examiners in the prefectural city, who were leisurely preparing for the prefectural examination, were all in an uproar.
"Damn it, they're even sending in the county exam papers?"
A seventh-rank civil official, who had rushed to the Water Mirror Terrace after receiving an urgent notice, couldn't help but curse loudly.
"Take a look at the contents first before you speak."
An old Taoist priest standing by the water mirror pointed to the inscription. He had just glanced at it and noticed the problem, so he closed his eyes and stopped looking.
"Nonsense, rubbish..."
After only glancing at it twice, this clerk of considerable rank was about to erupt in anger, but when he saw the signature on the policy essay, he immediately shut his mouth and went to consult the highest authority in the prefectural city.
After all the commotion, this policy essay for the county examination was hastily sent to the capital of Jinglin Prefecture. Almost the same process: when Feng Bingwen was leisurely arriving home in his father's stylish carriage, the policy essay he had written on a whim had already been sent to the emperor's desk.
Having already worked diligently all day, Emperor Chongming, who was preparing to rest, abandoned his intention to have dinner and picked up Feng Bingwen's policy essays to read. His eyes gradually brightened.
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