The imperial examination system that Ye Zhou gave to Chen Hou was improved by Wu Zetian.
Before Wu Zetian, the imperial examination emphasized the Mingjing over the Book of Songs. However, for poor children, it was simply impossible to compete with the children of aristocratic families in the Mingjing examination. Their families were poor and they did not have enough money to buy books, so there was still a huge gap between the aristocratic families and the poor.
This situation did not begin to improve until Wu Zetian reformed the imperial examination system and began to elevate the status of the Book of Songs course.
Compared with the Mingjing exam, the Book of Songs requires inspiration and talent.
Even if a child from a poor family has talent and can write good poems, he can succeed.
Moreover, Wu Zetian also had a bit of the attitude of "recruiting talents regardless of their background". As long as you think you have the ability, you can become an official. If you do a good job, you will be rewarded. If you don't do a good job, you can be asked to step down, and there will be many people queuing up behind you.
She built a talent pool based on country, and many important officials during the reign of Li Longji were discovered by her.
It was also during her tenure that countless talented poets were born.
During the reign of Wu Zetian, being a scholar was a very happy thing. Even if you could not become an official, you could still support your family by teaching.
There was also the palace examination. Although Li Shimin had entered the palace for exams before her, he did not go every time and it was not systematic. Therefore, historians believe that the palace examination was systematized and had rules starting from Wu Zetian.
As a result, the imperial examination system improved by Wu Zetian was still in use until the Ming and Qing dynasties.
Although eight-legged essays became the mainstream of the imperial examinations, the system remained unchanged because it was indeed useful.
The complete system that has been tested over a long period of time and several dynasties is like a dimensionality reduction attack when it is brought here. Although it still needs to undergo localized changes, it is enough to make the State of Chen famous.
Apart from the aristocratic families, no one paid attention to the "cruelness" of the Marquis of Chen towards them. Countless scholars flocked to the country from various countries. The scholars who had been preparing to retire because the prime minister had become an immortal and no longer recommended scholars became crazy again. Scholars from other countries even brought their families and prepared to settle down in the State of Chen.
The State of Chen, a little-known country with little presence among the vassal states, suddenly became famous.
However, apart from scholars, the monarchs and aristocratic families of other countries did not take the imperial examinations seriously.
They believed that the right way was for aristocratic families to assist the monarch in governing the world, and that the imperial examination system was an evil way. Since it was an evil way, there was no need to bother with it.
Except for the scholars and common people, almost everyone was waiting to see the foolishness of the State of Chen.
But even though everyone was pessimistic and all the noble families of the Chen State were boycotting it, the Duke of Chen still unwaveringly started the first imperial examination.
However, this imperial examination could not be said to be exactly the same as what Ye Zhou had imagined. It could only be said to be completely unrelated.
There was no standard examination room for this imperial examination. The invigilators were Zhao Xue and two other scholars recommended to Chen Hou by Ye Zhou. Even the questions were those that Chen Hou had racked his brains to come up with, and they were old-fashioned questions.
The examination hall was even open-air, with scholars taking the exam inside and the common people watching from the side.
Moreover, the test can be completed in one morning, and candidates can even rush back to eat.
Since paper had only been around for a short time, many candidates' papers were not neat enough. They did not know how to control the strength of their pressure, and some words were so thin that they were almost invisible, while some words were so strong that they penetrated the back of the paper, and each word became just an ink dot.
But even so, Chen Hou continued to laugh while marking the papers.
Soon, the first group of scholars who obtained official positions through the imperial examination appeared. They did not enter the court, but they did become officials. These officials might be just minor clerks or grain officials.
But no one can deny that they do rely on royal power.
The power in their hands came from the Lord of Chen, not from the aristocratic families.
Soon, these officials became a force that could not be ignored in Linzi City, but they were also trapped in Linzi. Other cities were still controlled by the royal families and aristocratic families, who divided the land and ruled it separately. The Marquis of Chen could send these scholars over, but the royal families and aristocratic families could also let them leave their lives there.
But Lord Chen was not in a hurry. These things could not be rushed. He had to wait until the royal families relaxed their vigilance before looking for an opportunity.
Take it step by step.
Perhaps the Lord of Chen did not take any action after this, and the incident with the Zhang family was over, so the State of Chen returned to its previous peace.
In the autumn harvest of that year, the State of Chen had another bumper harvest.
However, before the news of Chen's bumper harvest reached the ears of Marquis Chen, envoys from Zhao and Lu had already arrived in Linzi. They brought a long team with them, but this long team did not contain any gifts for Marquis Chen.
I did bring a lot for the "immortal".
There may be smart people here. The kings of Zhao and Lu both believed that there were immortals in the world, but they did not believe that the immortals would go to Chen. Rather than believing that the other party was an immortal, they believed that Ye Zhou was a master.
Since they are human beings, they can be bought off, won over, and used for one's own purposes.
When the envoys from Zhao and Lu arrived in Linzi, they did not go to meet the Marquis of Chen immediately, but came to the door of Ye Zhou's house with their servants.
The two men knew each other and had studied in the same academy, so they started chatting at the door before the gate was opened.
"Brother Zhao, are you here to look for immortals as well?" The man in the blue robe smiled and threw the whip to the servant beside him.
"Brother Zhao" nodded slightly, and he also showed a smile. He had a long beard and looked like a scholar. "Brother Jiang is here too? I didn't expect that it would be you who came."
Jiang Hui patted Zhao Xian on the shoulder, looked at the closed door of the house, and pointed with her finger, saying, "Look, they are turning us down."
Zhao Xian didn't take it seriously: "Maybe it's just a show of strength. As a master, you always have some temper. Even if you don't have any temper, you have to pretend to have some temper. It will be fine after a few days."
Jiang Hui shook his head and whispered, "I don't think so. When I came here, I sent people to ask, and they all said that this person is a true immortal."
"It's very convincing and doesn't seem like a fabrication." Jiang Hui was well aware of the ability of ordinary people to make up stories. It was very difficult to make one that was convincing and complete, but those stories about gods and immortals were all very convincing.
When they passed by a village, the people there said they had seen gods.
However, the immortal master did not leave the tent. They only received benefits from the fairies and maidens under the immortal's seat.
Jiang Hui didn't believe it at first, but there were several kinds of food in the village that they had never heard of or seen before, including potatoes and sweet potatoes - these were the names of these two things that the villagers told him. They said that these two things were very easy to grow and the yield was even greater than the wheat and yellow rice that were produced in abundance in the State of Chen.
Jiang Hui has traveled around the world in recent years and considers himself one of the most knowledgeable people in the world. However, he has never seen either potatoes or sweet potatoes, so he asked the villagers to cook them for him that day.
Potatoes were not tasty to him. They tasted bland and even when dipped in salt, they still did not taste good.
But he liked sweet potatoes very much, so he bought some from the villagers to eat on the road.
After eating sweet potatoes for a few days, Jiang Hui not only did not feel sick of them, but also felt that they were very good. If every household in the Chen state planted them, the people of the Lu state would not lack sweet potatoes in the future. The land in the Lu state was not fertile, and it was bullied by other countries in the past because of its poor land. Fortunately, it had two wise rulers, and it became the powerful state of Lu today.
"However, Chen State now has an immortal." Zhao Xian hinted, "I wonder if he is still willing to sell grain to us."
Jiang Hui didn't take it seriously: "If the immortals don't use worldly things, it's naturally difficult, but if he does..."
Both of them were used to being envoys. They did not have the arrogance of scholars and did not think that throwing money at people was a bad thing.
As long as the goal can be achieved, let alone just giving gifts, it would be fine even if they were given to this immortal.
They were all prepared to be turned away for several days, and sure enough, no one opened the door until dark.
The next day, they arrived at the door early again, but were still turned away.
This went on for six or seven days, and the two men finally lost their patience. They no longer asked to see Ye Zhou, but instead went to meet Lord Chen.
They had dealt with the Marquis of Chen before, and knew that he was a man of the times. They knew that Zhao and Lu were now powerful and that Chen had no say. Therefore, even in front of the court officials of Chen, they still questioned him as usual: "I have been in Chen for several days and have asked for an audience, but the immortal has not seen me. I wonder if it is the immortal's intention or the Marquis of Chen's intention?"
No one spoke in the court of Chen State.
Marquis Chen just smiled and said, "Why do you say that, Lu envoy? Since you are an immortal, you will not obey my orders. If you can obey my orders, you are just a mortal, not an immortal."
Jiang Hui also smiled: "Let's just say so. Then please give us a promise, Lord Chen. This year, Chen has a good harvest and the people can fill their stomachs. It's a pity for my Lu. The land is not fertile and the people can only live frugally and suffer every day. If Chen can't help, I'm afraid the people of my Lu will suffer."
Finally, an official of the State of Chen could no longer bear it and said, "If you buy it with money, it's fine. Your State of Lu is not short of money, why do you commit such robbery?"
Jiang Hui looked at the official who was speaking in confusion. He sighed and said, "My country Lu has been fighting for years to protect Chen. I don't know how many good men of Lu have died. Lu and Chen are brother countries. Brothers should help each other. Otherwise, if one of them gets beaten, the other can only watch."
Chen official: "You, you are making up stories!"
But he didn't say anything in the end.
Although most of the officials of the State of Chen came from aristocratic families, infighting among the families was one thing, and the interests of the entire State of Chen being sought after by other countries was another matter. What's more, the young children of aristocratic families always had some ideals and ambitions for a strong State of Chen in their hearts.
They wanted to refute Jiang Hui's words, but they didn't dare to.
The State of Lu has been asking them for food but has not given them money, but it is better than the State of Zhao. The State of Zhao is asking for their food while fighting them. If they really become enemies with the State of Lu, and then the State of Zhao comes to attack them again, they will really be helpless.
Some young men from aristocratic families have already lowered their heads and clenched their fists.
Anyone who insults the State of Chen is insulting them.
But they had to endure this humiliation in silence.
"Oh, about the food." The Marquis of Chen seemed to have suddenly realized something. He sighed and said, "The envoy of Lu also knows that my country of Chen has given a lot of food to Zhao and Lu over the years. The people of my country of Chen also need to eat. If they don't eat, they won't have the energy to work and farm, and there will be no food."
Jiang Hui interrupted Lord Chen and said, "Lord Chen, don't think of excuses. I came to Chen this time just to negotiate the grain issue."
"Lord Chen, please consider this carefully. Otherwise, if Zhao comes to Linzi in the future, our Lu will no longer fight for Chen as we did in the past. We can just sit back and watch."
The Marquis of Chen said, "Hey, Lu's envoy, please don't be angry. The people of Chen have not been living well these years. How about this, Lu's envoy should go back to the inn to rest first, and then we can work out a plan and decide how much grain to give to Lu, and then Lu's envoy can go back and report back."
Jiang Hui looked at Lord Chen. He was sure that Lord Chen didn't have the guts to go against the State of Lu, because he only said, "Then Lord Chen, please consider it carefully, otherwise..."
He didn't finish his words, nor did he say goodbye, he just turned around and left.
After Jiang Hui had been gone for quite a while, someone finally said, "Your Majesty... do you know what the immortal meant?"
Compared to other countries, everyone in the State of Chen now believes that Ye Zhou is an immortal, especially those officials who once attended court with him.
As for why the immortal wanted to be the prime minister?
Immortals do whatever they want, and mortals love to try new things, so why can't immortals do the same?
Moreover, when Ye Zhou was the prime minister, he never attended court. It seemed that he was just curious about the position and had never thought about really becoming the prime minister.
The Marquis of Chen said, "Today's new grain must be kept in Chen State. If we send it away, most of the common people in Chen State will starve to death next year!"
The old ministers repeatedly advised: "Your Majesty, please don't do this! Please don't do this!"
"Your Majesty, please think twice!"
"Your Majesty, the two countries of Zhao and Lu just want food. Our country of Chen has fertile land. If they want it...then...just give it to them!"
The young official immediately said, "Give it this year, give it next year, give it every year, when will it end?"
"That's right! No matter how much food we send them, they will never look up to us. They will only think that we Chen people are cowards!"
"Many common people have died of hunger this year. The land of our Chen State is fertile. Not to mention that we can feed our people, as long as Zhao and Lu don't come to ask for food, even the common people of our Chen State will live better than the people of other countries!"
"If the Chen Kingdom doesn't show some strength, they will think we are easy to bully!"
"You are bullying our Chen State like this. You are bullying our Chen State without anyone!"
The old minister shouted, "Zhao and Lu are two countries, one is a wolf and the other is a tiger. The wolf is insidious and cunning, and the tiger is intolerant. We can't afford to offend both of them! Your Majesty! For the sake of Chen's hundred years of national prosperity, please bear with your anger for a while!"
The old ministers petitioned together.
The young officials also petitioned: "Your Majesty, Zhao and Lu are bullying our Chen State. We must not compromise easily, otherwise they will become even more aggressive. We are willing to die for you, and for the Chen State!"
Chen Hou looked at these high-spirited young officials, and then glanced at the old officials who looked as if their fathers had died. He waved his hand and said, "I have my own plans. You can go down."
Having said this, he walked down the steps and no longer stayed indoors.
Chen Hou walked through the corridor and saw a familiar figure sitting at the stone table. He breathed a sigh of relief and strode towards the man.
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"Have you thought it through?" Ye Zhou asked Chen Hou while drinking tea.
There were snacks on the stone table. Ye Zhou had asked Cao'er's mother to teach them how to make these snacks.
There are many more vendors in Linzi city now, and common people have learned how to make tofu. Beans are cheap and easy to obtain, but if they are cooked and eaten, they do not fill the stomach and instead make one fart. However, if they are made into tofu, it becomes an excellent dish.
You can eat soft tofu with just some sauce.
It can be compacted into firm tofu or dried tofu, which can be stored for a long time.
Some people even learned how to make tofu into fermented bean curd without any instruction, just to make it last longer.
After knowing how to make malt sugar, many people in Linzi city started selling malt sugar on the streets. However, making malt sugar requires grain and the price is high, so not many people buy it. But it is okay for a few families to pool their money and buy some for the children to enjoy.
Chen Hou looked at the snacks made of glutinous rice flour on the table and smiled: "Think it through. My country of Chen will change, starting from this autumn."
Ye Zhou didn't say anything. He had already told Chen Hou that he would be leaving soon.
"I wonder where the immortal is going?" Lord Chen looked at Ye Zhou cautiously.
Ye Zhou knew what Chen Hou was thinking, but he was not angry. Instead, he said, "Not here."
Chen Hou heaved a sigh of relief: "In this case, before the immortal leaves, please inform Ji so that Ji can send the immortal off."
He was afraid that Ye Zhou would go to another country.
Ye Zhou: "No need, Lord Chen doesn't need to copy the things I left behind. Use them if you can, and keep them if you can't. We can use them later."
In addition to the imperial examination, Ye Zhou also left a lot of information to Lord Chen.
If the State of Chen wants to become stronger and become like the State of Zhao and the State of Lu today, it will take more than ten years or even decades.
Lord Chen: "There is one more thing I want to tell you, the immortal. My Chen State craftsmen have already prepared the draft paper and calculated the size to erect a statue for you."
Ye Zhou was stunned.
Why are they so obsessed with erecting statues?
In the previous plane, those people also erected a statue of him.
However, thinking about the level of carving in this plane, Ye Zhou did not stop it.
Seeing that Ye Zhou did not refuse, Chen Hou asked again: "Does the immortal have a Dharma name?"
Ye Zhou shook his head slightly: "Lord Chen, please do as you please."
He didn't know how much shame his casual words would bring him in the future.
The two did not talk for long. Lord Chen personally escorted Ye Zhou out of the palace and even walked him all the way to the supermarket entrance.
No one knew who had spread the news that the immortal had left the palace, and the streets were lined with common people, and even the scholars gathered around.
Jiang Hui and Zhao Xian were squeezed in the crowd. From a distance, they could only see a carriage driving away.
When the crowd dispersed, they both smiled bitterly and said, "We thought we could stop the carriage."
As a result, I couldn't even squeeze out of the crowd.
Zhao Xian: "From the looks of Brother Jiang, I think you have reached an agreement with Lord Chen?"
Jiang Hui smiled and said, "This is not a matter of negotiation. Why should Chen negotiate with Lu? We have neither weapons nor soldiers. If we really offend Lu, we don't need their food, but directly take Chen's land!"
Zhao Xian suddenly sneered and said, "Brother Jiang, be careful with your words. I am an envoy from the State of Zhao."
Jiang Hui said, "Chen is standing between Zhao and Lu. Why don't Zhao and Lu form an alliance and divide Chen?"
Zhao Xian smiled and said, "That's a good idea. I'll go back and ask Your Majesty."
The two chatted and laughed, but both looked cold when they parted.
Divide the State of Chen?
To them, the State of Chen was already in their pocket. Wouldn't it be equivalent to gaining nothing if they divided the State of Chen with the other side?
Only when you have it and the other party doesn't, can you be considered a winner.
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