Li Chengfeng's gaze swept through the dense crowd of heads below, and finally stopped on a few familiar figures.
It was them just now who stood firmly on their side amidst a chorus of doubts.
The young emperor's mouth curled up slightly.
These young students represent the power of the new generation and the future of Dagan.
Song Yuwei followed Li Chengfeng's gaze and asked softly, "What are you looking at, Your Majesty?"
"I'm looking at the future."
Li Chengfeng retracted his gaze and asked, "Who do you think will come out on top in this exam?"
Song Yuwei smiled slightly and did not answer directly. Instead, she asked, "What do you think, Your Majesty?"
"I think..."
Li Chengfeng deliberately prolonged his voice, his gaze once again fixed on the burly student, "Maybe there will be a surprise."
Song Yuwei followed Li Chengfeng's gaze and saw that the student was concentrating on writing, his pen moving quickly and with great vigor.
She had an idea and walked quietly behind the student, her eyes falling on his test paper filled with tiny handwriting.
The topic of this imperial examination was drawn up by Li Chengfeng himself, and it directly pointed out the biggest problems facing the Dagan government today: the gap between the rich and the poor and uneven taxation.
The questions may seem simple, but they actually contain hidden mysteries, requiring candidates to have strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
And this student named Chen Tingshu obviously has a deep understanding of this issue.
His articles are novel in conception and unique in viewpoint, and his words reveal a spirit of reform.
He did not simply repeat the views of his predecessors, but combined them with the actual situation of Dagan and put forward his own unique insights.
For example, the amount of tax collected should not be unified. After all, the gap between the rich and the poor in the current dynasty is already huge. If wealthy businessmen and politicians pay the same taxes as ordinary people, it will only widen this gap.
He believed that taxes were not static and should be adjusted according to the people's income, with the rich paying more and the poor paying less or even being exempt from paying.
He also pointed out that although the Qian Dynasty had a vast territory, there was still a lot of unused and cultivated land in the border areas.
Local officials in some areas would even forcibly enclose land simply because the imperial court had no targeted policies.
He also proposed some specific measures, such as imposing heavy taxes on merchants and reducing taxes on farmers, which would surely improve the problem of the huge gap between the rich and the poor in time.
At the same time, wasteland was reclaimed and allocated to farmers for cultivation.
The more Song Yuwei read on, the more frightened she became. This was a way of reform that she had never thought of, nor dared to think of.
I didn't expect that an ordinary student could have such profound insights.
She even felt that some of Chen Tingshu's views were more insightful than those of the veteran ministers in the court.
It seems that Your Majesty has a keen eye for talent.
Song Yuwei couldn't help but admire in her heart.
Li Chengfeng just watched Chen Tingshu writing furiously.
He knew in his heart that young people like Chen Tingshu were exactly the pillars that the future of the country needed.
As time passed, the atmosphere in the Imperial Examination Hall became increasingly tense.
Some students have finished their test papers and started checking their answers, while some are still thinking hard, with beads of sweat on their foreheads.
On the other side of the Imperial Examination Hall, a young man dressed in gorgeous clothes, Su Yuan, was twirling the brush in his hand out of boredom.
He is the son of Lord Su, the Deputy Director of the Seal Verification Department. He has been spoiled since childhood and is a complete layman in governing a country.
But his father was a favorite of the Right Prime Minister. In his view, this exam was just a formality and passing the exam was a piece of cake.
He glanced at the question on "the gap between the rich and the poor" on the test paper and curled his lips in disdain.
"What's so good about this crap? Poor people are poor because they're lazy!"
He wrote a few sentences of eulogizing the emperor in a flamboyant manner on the examination paper, praising the emperor's wisdom and bravery, and his achievements that were unparalleled and could shine as brightly as the sun and the moon.
Song Yuwei noticed Su Yuan's actions while patrolling.
She frowned slightly, feeling that Su Yuan was extremely frivolous, but she didn't say anything. She just continued her patrol calmly, keeping Su Yuan's actions in mind.
With the sound of a gong, the exam time ended.
Song Yuwei began to collect the papers, and suddenly the sound of rustling papers flipping could be heard in the Imperial Examination Hall.
Some students felt relieved, some looked frustrated, and some were discussing the difficulty of the test questions with each other.
Li Chengfeng stood on the high platform, looking at the dense crowds of heads below, feeling a mixture of emotions in his heart.
This imperial examination was not only to select talents, but also to declare his determination to the world: he wanted to break the old class barriers and give everyone the opportunity to display their talents and contribute to the prosperity of the country.
"I will review your papers as soon as possible and admit the best candidates."
Li Chengfeng's voice was loud and powerful, echoing over the Imperial Examination Hall.
The students bowed one after another and then left the Imperial Examination Hall one after another.
After the crowd dispersed, Song Yuwei walked over to Li Chengfeng and whispered, "Your Majesty, it's getting late. Why don't you have lunch at my residence? My father has always wanted to discuss state affairs with Your Majesty."
"That's fine. I also want to look at the exam paper with the Prime Minister."
Tingyuxuan, the largest teahouse in Beijing, is bustling with people.
The exam had just ended and many students gathered here, drinking tea and discussing the exam questions.
"Hey, tell me, what exactly does His Majesty want to examine in this policy essay?"
"What else could it be? Of course, they want to see if we have the talent to help the country and the people!"
In the corner, Su Yuan crossed his legs, fanning himself with a folding fan, looking very pleased with himself.
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