Liu Che was very surprised: "The Imperial Academy?"
Liu Tan asked nervously, "Can... can I?"
Liu Che put his arm around his shoulders and said, "Come, tell me why you want to build a school."
Liu Tan said, "Strictly speaking, this academy is to teach these newly admitted students some basic knowledge of the imperial court. If I weren't so short of manpower here, the top three would also be sent there to study for a while. As for the rest, since they have been able to stand out through the layers of examinations, it means that they actually have a certain foundation and potential, but their quality is not yet up to par. Therefore, they need to continue their education. They will be sent to the academy for a period of time, and then another test will be conducted. If they pass, they will be appointed to an official position. If not, they will be kicked out!"
After listening for a while, Liu Che said, "This method is mature and prudent."
This can largely prevent newcomers from making mistakes when entering the court, and it is a protection for the court as well as for these people.
Liu Tan continued, "According to my son's idea, even if they are the top scorer in the imperial examination, I won't give them high official positions at first, to avoid too much influence. High positions and power sound good, but a single decision could affect thousands of people. Then, after they become familiar with the central government, I plan to have them become county magistrates. Well, in the future, I'll also stipulate that some positions require experience as a local official, especially positions like the Prime Minister and the Nine Ministers."
When Liu Che heard this, he couldn't help but gasp: "You are even stricter than I am."
Most of the nine ministers standing in Liu Che's court now have no experience as local officials.
Liu Tan smiled sheepishly and said, "Born geniuses are rare to begin with. This will ensure that the person standing up there isn't some idiot who just improvises on the spur of the moment."
Liu Che laughed and said, "Huo Guang has never served as a prefect before. Do you want him to go too?"
Liu Tan shook his head. "It's different. Huo Guang grew up by our father's side. How many people in the world have such luck and talent? I, your son, don't rely on exams for everything. If there were such a person, he could become an official without taking the exam, but he certainly wouldn't have risen to such a high position like Prime Minister Huo."
Liu Che asked, "So you want to conduct both the imperial examination and the recommendation simultaneously?"
Liu Tan nodded, "That's right." He coughed lightly and said, "After all, the exam first tests academic performance. Nowadays, there are not many children who are good at studying, and..."
"And very?"
Liu Tan whispered, "Letting the well-heeled young masters take the exam with the common people might make them feel arrogant and unable to bear it. Besides, they have their own families to take care of."
Of course, this "family" refers to relatives by marriage, such as the princess's son.
Liu Che rubbed his head and said, "I am relieved that you are like this. Let's go and see your newly released top three tomorrow."
Liu Tan responded happily, knowing that the imperial examination was a clear decision for Emperor Liu Che. Although Emperor Liu Che did not say that Chang'an should also implement it, he did not object either. It seemed that he just wanted to wait and see.
Liu Tanke was not afraid of waiting and watching at all. Examinations could be regarded as a thousand-year-old civilization of the flower-growing country. After so many years of evolution, a mature system had been formed.
Liu Tan didn't even need to think too much. As long as he made some minor changes based on his own examination experience and his understanding of historical examinations, combined with the actual situation of the Han Dynasty, he would not be able to find any problems.
Oh, the only problem might be the cheating issue that will arise later.
Well, even Liu Tan doesn't have any good solution for this. With high technology like that in later generations, cheating can still emerge in an endless stream. The only thing he can do is to severely punish anyone who is found out and use torture to intimidate these people.
But it can also extend to some people using the imperial examination to attack political opponents.
Although Liu Tan was worried about these things, he didn't think too much about it. There was no other way. If he was really timid, then he would just not do anything.
And Liu Che was indeed keeping a wait-and-see attitude, just as Liu Tan had thought.
This system sounds really good, and even he couldn't find any fault with it, but sounding good and being practical are two different concepts.
It just so happened that the Northern Border Kingdom had already started doing this, so Liu Che simply wanted to observe for two years.
Over there, the emperor and his son were considering how the imperial examination system could become the orthodox system of the Han Dynasty.
The candidates in the post house were anxiously waiting for the final result.
Early the next morning, Zhu Shanfu and others got up early and wanted to guard the imperial edict.
When I got up, I found that the gate had not opened yet, so I could only continue to wait anxiously.
But what they didn't expect was that before the time came, the sound of gongs and drums was heard outside.
The Confucian scholars were really shocked when they heard this, and couldn't help but feel a little surprised, wondering who was so bold as to be so presumptuous here.
Before anyone could go and ask the officials at the post station, the gate suddenly opened. Outside stood a clerk in official uniform. He bowed and smiled at the surprised scholars, saying, "Excuse me, but we've come to announce the good news. Your Majesty has appointed Zhu Shanfu, a student from Yunzhong, as the top scholar, Xiao Cheng, a student from Dunhuang, as the second, and Yan Xingsheng, a student from Wuwei, as the third!"
After the clerk finished speaking, the scene fell into an eerie silence. Some of the people present had expressions of loss and sadness on their faces, while others were relieved. Some even looked at Zhu Shanfu and the other two with envy and jealousy that they themselves were not aware of.
The three people who were chosen all looked confused, as if they had not expected it at all.
Zhu Shanfu, who had experienced more, was the quickest to come to his senses. His lips trembled, and his voice shook as he said, "Your Majesty... Did Your Majesty really choose me as the top scholar?"
The clerk smiled and said, "Of course it is absolutely true. The imperial edict has been posted."
Zhu Shanfu was struck by great joy and even felt dizzy for a moment.
Xiao Cheng, who was next to him, was not much better off than him at this time.
Yan Xingsheng even cried with joy.
At this time, the students who seemed to be frozen in time finally came to their senses. Those who failed the exam suppressed their disappointment and came forward one by one to congratulate.
After the three clerks calmed down a bit, they said softly, "Everyone, hurry up and pack up and go give thanks!"
Someone asked doubtfully, “Are we going too?”
The clerk smiled and said, "Although you haven't made it into the top three, you are all tribute students now. In the future, you will have the opportunity to serve in the same court as the number one scholar. Naturally, you should go and express your gratitude."
The group of people shook off their frustration and disappointment and cheered, then lined up obediently behind Zhu Shanfu and others. However, they didn't know their ranking and didn't know what order to line up in. Finally, the clerk had to take them to see the imperial edict, and then let the group of people stand obediently according to their ranking on the edict.
Zhu Shanfu saw his name at the very front of the imperial edict at a glance, and even then he still felt it was unreal.
Especially before expressing gratitude, the top three were taken to change into clothes specially made for them. When Zhu Shanfu, whose mood had just stabilized, saw the clothes that could only be worn by the Nine Ministers placed in front of him, he couldn't help but breathe heavily.
The clerk smiled and said, "Three of you, please change your clothes."
Xiao Yanxingsheng is a little younger, but he comes from the best family among the three and has encountered more things. He instantly came up with a complete series of frame-ups in his mind.
At this moment, he cautiously pulled the other two people and said, "Wait a minute, this kind of clothing is not suitable for us to wear. Who sent you? Do you have a written order?"
The clerk was stunned. "This is an order from His Highness himself. Please hurry up and don't miss the auspicious time."
Zhu Shanfu also came to his senses at this time. Remembering what happened to his father, he could not help but take two steps back and try to remain calm: "Without the imperial edict of His Majesty or the handwritten instructions of His Highness, we will not wear it!"
Xiao Cheng looked around and finally managed to utter, "That's right."
Clerk: ...
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