Chapter 95 Li Qingtai
War reparations were one of the means to curb the development of the Jin Dynasty. As a nomadic people, the Jin Dynasty had a very weak foundation, and this battle would take them at least a few years to recover.
Daqi can use this period of time to develop rapidly. Don't think that a few hundred short cannons can destroy the Jin Dynasty. The people on the grassland are naturally warlike. If they are pushed too hard, they will probably fight to the death, and Daqi will be dragged into the war.
However, this battle temporarily resolved the threat on the border, and Song Yuzhu also gained other things. He found that the people had a sense of belonging to the country.
After defeating the Jin Dynasty, Song Yuzhudi discovered that the people at the border began to call themselves Daqi people. When he traveled in the map before, most of the people called themselves Han people or Central Plains people. Even the three hundred years of the previous dynasty did not allow them to call themselves Sheng people.
This title made Song Yuzhu very excited. He decided to strike while the iron was hot and asked the Ministry of Internal Affairs to design the national flag and emblem, and to promote and popularize Yuefu Pu Guoqu throughout the country. He also designated the sixth day of August every year as the National Founding Day.
This day is celebrated throughout the country, and the whole country has a ten-day holiday, which is just right to be spent together with the Mid-Autumn Festival.
This is the first legal holiday established after the founding of the country. It is only the end of February and it is still early for the holiday, but the people are already eager to celebrate the first National Day. Song Yuzhu didn't know that this festival would later become one of the important festivals alongside the New Year and the Dragon Boat Festival.
After dealing with the Jin people, Zhao Xiao led his troops back to Shangjing and immediately began intensive training. The ship in Binzhou had been built and was waiting for the spring to set sail.
At the same time, the imperial examination held every three years arrived as scheduled.
The Spring Examination was held in Shangjing. Tens of thousands of candidates came from all over the country, and the whole Shangjing was filled with a bustling scene.
"Osmanthus candy, sesame oil candy, and freshly-made candied lotus root~"
"Tanghulu, Tanghulu, crispy and sweet Tanghulu~"
Qin Fengtu and Song Yuzhu were sitting in a tea shop on the street, chatting while watching the scholars passing by.
There was nothing to do in the court today, so Song Yuzhu went out for a walk. He did not come out alone, there were more than ten secret guards following him, protecting his safety at all times.
Song Yuzhu looked around and said, "It seems that there are a lot of candidates taking part in the Spring Examination this year."
"Your Majesty, there are more than 13,000 people from the 18 states."
Song Yuzhu couldn't help but sigh: "It's true that every generation has talented people. Compared with your class, are there more or fewer people?"
Qin Fengtu was the top scholar in the seventh year of Emperor Longwu's reign. At that time, the national strength of the Sheng Dynasty was still quite strong.
"There were more than 8,500 people taking the imperial examinations during our time, which was the largest number of candidates in the prosperous dynasty. After that, the number of candidates declined year by year."
"The current Daqi is worthy of being called a great country in the Central Plains."
Song Yuzhu clapped his hands and smiled, "Good!"
Suddenly, a few candidates started arguing in front. The topic of the argument was actually related to the state affairs of the recent period, and the content was how Daqi and the Jin Kingdom got along.
A handsome man in Confucian clothing said, "The Jin Kingdom has been ambitious since ancient times and has long coveted the Central Plains. It is simply unrealistic to expect peaceful coexistence. We should treat their illness and kill them. By destroying the Jin Kingdom in one fell swoop, we will also remove the great worry in our hearts."
The other inconspicuous man shook his head and said, "Brother Qihui, you are wrong. Attacking the Jin Kingdom is not a simple matter. Countless civilians on the border will be affected and die in the war. Besides, not all the Jin people are bad people. It is inhumane to destroy them all."
The people around him shouted, "Why are you still speaking for the Jin people?"
"I am not speaking for the Jin people, but for the people of Daqi."
Song Yuzhu was very interested in what they were discussing, so she stood up and went to watch the fun, and Qin Fengtu quickly followed behind her. She was worried about the two candidates, hoping that they would not say anything disrespectful that would ruin their future!
The man named Qihui said, "Since we can't attack by force, what do you think we should do?"
"I think we should take it step by step, trade with the Jin people, transfer the Central Plains culture to them, let them learn our language, and slowly turn them into Qi people, and they will fall by themselves without any attack."
Song Yuzhu's eyes lit up. Isn't this assimilation? This is also how ethnic minorities were treated in later generations. Only by turning them into "their own people" can there be no more disputes.
"Hahahaha..." Before he could finish his words, several people around him burst into laughter.
"What you said is ridiculous. How can the stupid Jin people learn our Central Plains culture?"
"Yes, I heard that they don't even know how to farm, so they can only rely on hunting for a living."
The man asked calmly, "Excuse me, can you farm?"
The men choked at the question. Qihui frowned and said, "We are scholars. We have more important things to do than farming. It's not surprising that we can't farm."
"Yes, the Jin people can make a living by hunting, so why is it surprising that they can't farm?"
"It's easy for you to say that, but who is going to teach Qiren the Central Plains language? You go and teach him!"
The others laughed again. The man smiled and said, "Why do we need to teach? If we open up trade, the Jin people will have to learn our language if they want to buy our products. If they want to do business in Daqi, they will have to learn our culture. Why do we need to teach them?"
"Why should they buy Daqi's things?"
The man sighed and shook his head, saying: "You are so xenophobic. Even if you defeat the Jin Kingdom, they still can't become Qi people. Even if the Jin Kingdom is gone in the future, there will be the Silver Kingdom and the Bronze Kingdom, and the people on the border will still live in dire straits." After saying that, he stood up and walked outside.
Song Yuzhu hurriedly called him: "Brother, please stay!"
The man turned around and saw Song Yuzhu, thinking that he was also a candidate who had come to Beijing to take the imperial examination. He bowed and asked, "What's the matter?"
"I... I just heard you say that you want to naturalize the Jin people. Would you like to sit down and talk to me?"
The man waved his hand and said, "What I just said was just nonsense. Don't take it seriously."
"It's okay, I think it's quite interesting."
The man was invited to the second floor and took Qin Fengtu's seat. Seeing that Qin Fengtu was well dressed, he quickly stood up and offered his seat to him.
Qin Fengtu smiled and said, "You talk to our young master, I'll just stand and listen."
Song Yuzhu asked, "I wonder what your name is, and where you are from?"
"My surname is Li, my given name is Jie, my courtesy name is Qingtai, and I live in Zhongzhou. You can just call me by my courtesy name."
"My last name is Song, and I'm the third child in my family. Everyone calls me Song Sanlang." Song Yuzhu made up a name for himself.
After the two introduced themselves to each other, they began to talk about the problems of the Jin Kingdom.
Song Yuzhu asked, "You just mentioned that we should trade with the Jin Kingdom and let the Jin people learn our language. Have you ever thought that if the Jin people gradually become richer and stronger after the trade, they will become a greater threat to us?"
Li Qingtai said: "What Sanlang said makes sense, so we must control the Jin people's trade. Important materials such as salt and iron cannot be sold or sold in limited quantities."
Song Yuzhu showed an appreciative look and encouraged him to continue.
"We can also win over the Jin people in other ways. For example, after trading with the Jin Kingdom, the Jin people who have lived in the Daqi Dynasty for three years can become Daqi citizens and receive the same treatment as the people of Daqi. They can buy land, build houses, and even study and take the imperial examinations!" Li Jie became more and more excited as he spoke, with excitement on his face.
Qin Fengtu coughed lightly, then he came back to his senses, sighed and said: "What I said may make others think that I am biased towards the Jin Kingdom. In fact, it is not the case. I am originally from Suzhou. When I was six years old, the village where I lived was looted by the Jin people. My mother hid me under the stove and I escaped the disaster. Unfortunately, my whole family was slaughtered."
Song Yuzhu looked at him with sympathy, she didn't expect that this man would have such an experience.
Li Jie said: "But there is always a way out. I was rescued by a passing merchant and brought to Zhongzhou Prefecture, where I was adopted by my teacher. He taught me a lot of knowledge, and that's how I was able to pass the imperial examination and take part in the Spring Examination."
"Don't you hate the Jin people?"
"Hate! To be honest, when I was little, I wanted to learn martial arts and join the army to seek revenge on the battlefield. Later, my master told me that unless I could kill all the Jin people, the conflict between the two countries would never be resolved. But if I could kill all the Jin people, what difference would there be between us and them?"
"The best way to resolve the conflict between the two countries is to naturalize the Jin people, let them learn our culture, use our writing, and treat us as their own people."
Song Yuzhu said: "Your teacher must be a very talented person.
Li Jie scratched his head and smiled sheepishly: "My master was just a student. He couldn't take the imperial examination because of a blue birthmark on his face. He was an enlightenment teacher all his life."
Song Yuzhu was stunned, then stood up and said, "I have gained a lot from listening to your words today. We will meet again if we are lucky."
After paying the bill and preparing to return to the palace, Qin Fengtu followed him and said, "Your Majesty, what this kid just said is quite interesting, but it may take a long time to naturalize the Jin people."
Song Yuzhu said, "It's rare for someone to catch your eye. By the way, after this imperial examination is over, order the Ministry of Rites to change the rules of the imperial examination. No restrictions will be placed on appearance, eloquence, or physical disability. Anyone with talent and virtue can take the imperial examination."
Qin Fengtu was stunned, his eyes slightly reddened as he said, "Your Majesty... is wise!"
Although this reform may not sound like a big deal, as a scholar, Qin Fengtu knows very well how important it is to the literati of the world!
Not focusing on appearance but only focusing on talent is the great blessing for scholars all over the world!
Song Yuzhu gave him goose bumps all over his body, and thought to himself, "The ancients were sentimental, and they would cry at the slightest provocation."
However, this encounter gave Song Yuzhu a reminder that if Daqi wants to grow and develop, it cannot be confined to the present but must look to the future.
The small countries around us should be gradually gathered and unified. It would be best if all of them can be assimilated. Those that cannot be assimilated can be unified by force when we become strong enough in the future.
*
The imperial examination will begin soon.
The imperial examination was hosted by the Ministry of Personnel and lasted for nine days. It was a test of both physical and academic knowledge. In every imperial examination, there were people who could not persist and gave up halfway.
After all, it is still cold in spring and the conditions are difficult. He has been living and eating in the cell for such a long time, but he has not fallen ill and can still write brilliant articles. He is definitely a great talent!
The examination rooms in the Daqi Dynasty were much better than those in the previous dynasty. Song Yuzhu asked the Ministry of Revenue to allocate a lot of money to renovate the original meeting hall and double its size, which could accommodate up to 20,000 candidates to take the exam at the same time.
Each room was equipped with simple heating facilities, a small charcoal stove, which could be used to heat water and cook porridge. Quilts were also distributed uniformly at night, so that the candidates would not have such a hard time.
After the joint examination, all candidates' papers must be sealed and reviewed jointly by the Imperial Academy and the Hanlin Academy. The top 300 best papers will be selected to be admitted as tribute students, and the first one will be named the champion.
These candidates also have to take part in the final palace examination, where Song Yuzhu will personally set the questions and select the top three in the first class and the first in the second class.
This was the second imperial examination after the founding of Daqi. The results of the examination came out soon, and Li Jie was indeed among them, ranking 13th!
This ranking is very high, almost enough to rank in the top two. If you perform well in the palace examination, you may be able to enter the first class!
(End of this chapter)
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