Yu Siqian is certainly not the kind of person who seeks fame and fortune, nor is he a mediocre talent or a coward.
I ask you, what mediocre or cowardly person would dare to write this shocking essay on pacifying the borders, under the influence of feudal ethics and law, at the first imperial examination of the Tang Dynasty, risking the extermination of their entire family?
However, at this time, Yu Siqian was still just a poor, pedantic scholar who was not yet thirty years old. Although he was full of knowledge, he lacked life experience and wisdom.
Moreover, he is currently imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice's prison, facing the current emperor as a death row inmate.
It is only natural for people to feel fear under the wrath of Heaven.
However, Yu Siqian, who had been resilient since childhood, quickly adjusted. Under the stern rebuke of Emperor Zhaowu Chen Huai'an, he once again raised his head with an unyielding spirit, facing the emperor's gaze with a touch of stubbornness and determination.
He then replied, word by word, "Your Majesty, Yu Siqian is devoted to the people and is by no means a fame-seeking individual, much less a mediocre or cowardly person who merely talks big."
"If Your Majesty would heed my advice and carefully consider my strategy for pacifying the borders, I would gladly face any danger, even a cup of poison or a mountain of knives and a sea of fire!"
Um!
Chen Huai'an nodded and said, "Yu Siqian, I will give this matter serious consideration!"
"Come on, bottoms up!"
This time, Yu Siqian naturally did not refuse.
He respectfully accepted the imperial wine from the emperor with both hands, but naturally he didn't foolishly clink glasses with the emperor. Instead, he tilted his head back and drank the strong liquor in one gulp.
Seeing this, Chen Huai'an finally showed a satisfied smile and then downed his drink.
The two then downed two more drinks.
Later, whether it was because Yu Siqian was drunk or because he wanted to drown his sorrows in alcohol, he actually snatched the wine jar from the hands of the Jinwu Guard soldiers.
Then, he raised it directly to his lips and, oblivious to everyone else, gulped it down until the entire jar of wine was gone. Only then did he let out a satisfied burp and say with a contented smile, "Your Majesty, this imperial wine is indeed fine wine—"
belch--
Before he could finish speaking, another long pause ensued.
Then, he collapsed in the thatched cell and fell fast asleep.
It's unclear whether he was truly drunk or faking it.
"Your Majesty, this..."
This scene left Chang Yuchun, the Duke of Wei, who was waiting respectfully to the side, somewhat at a loss, and he could only turn his gaze to Emperor Zhaowu, Chen Huai'an, beside him.
Ha ha!
Chen Huai'an, still holding an empty wine glass, chuckled and said with lingering relish, "Young people are so healthy, they can fall asleep as soon as their heads hit the pillow!"
With that, he handed the wine cup in his hand to Marquis Zhongyi, Xiao Po, and instructed, "Xiao Po, take this drunkard back to the Imperial Study and settle him in."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Xiao Po immediately bowed and accepted the order.
At this moment, Chen Huai'an pointed to Chang Yuchun, the Duke of Wei, beside him and said, "Duke of Wei, judging from your appearance, you don't seem to be planning to rest tonight either."
"Very well, then come with me back to the palace!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Duke Chang Yuchun of Wei breathed a long sigh of relief, finally putting his mind at ease.
At the same time, he was also glad that his trip to the Ministry of Justice prison tonight, where he had changed into his court robes, was the right decision.
Emperor Zhaowu, Chen Huai'an, escorted by Duke Chang Yu of Wei and a group of Jinwu Guard soldiers, prepared to take the drunken Yu Siqian back to the palace.
As Chen Huai'an passed by the cell where Su Chen, the former Governor-General of Liangjiang, was imprisoned, he suddenly stopped.
Then, turning to Chang Yuchun, the Duke of Wei, he instructed, "Duke of Wei, the case of tea-horse smuggling involving Su Chen, the Governor-General of Liangjiang, should be sent back to the Ministry of Justice for retrial."
"If I remember correctly, the Ministry of Justice reported that Su Chen's entire clan of nine generations has been arrested and imprisoned. The Ministry of Justice is to re-examine the case based on facts and evidence. As for those members of the nine generations who are not involved in the tea-horse smuggling case, they should be released!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Chang Yuchun nodded once again in acceptance.
After giving all these instructions, Emperor Zhaowu Chen Huai'an walked straight through the corridor of the Ministry of Justice prison without looking back and headed outside.
In his ears, the lingering cries of the disgraced official Su Chen echoed endlessly: "This disgraced official Su Chen kowtows in gratitude to Your Majesty—"
"This guilty subject, Su Chen, on behalf of the innocent women and children of my nine generations of relatives, kowtows in gratitude to Your Majesty—"
"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
......
That night, in the Imperial Study.
Emperor Zhaowu Chen Huai'an and Duke Wei Chang Yuchun talked all night long, while a drunkard named Yu Siqian was fast asleep in the study.
Chen Huai'an also expressed his attitude to Duke Chang Yuchun of Wei: Yu Siqian, who had been jointly tried by the Ministry of Justice, the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and the Censorate and was to be prosecuted for "treason," would be the first scholar to be selected by him in the first special imperial examination of the Tang Dynasty.
Yu Siqian's treatise on pacifying the borders would allow officials of the Six Ministries of the court to systematically study and improve it, ultimately forming a new diplomatic policy for the Tang Dynasty, which coincided with the new policies he was implementing in the thirty-six kingdoms of the Western Regions.
Of course, Yu Siqian also lacks experience and training, especially the experience of serving in the military and on the front lines of the battlefield.
At this time, Yu Siqian could not understand that without a strong army and military force to support it, any idea of national integration would be nothing more than a castle in the air without a foundation.
All truth exists only within the range of the red-coated cannons and the edge of the Tang Dynasty's iron cavalry.
Therefore, even Emperor Zhaowu Chen Huai'an admired his pioneering spirit and his integrity in willingly sacrificing his life to promote national integration.
However, it is not yet time for him, the newly appointed top scholar by the emperor, to be publicly announced to the world.
Chen Huai'an had already instructed Chang Yuchun to have the Ministry of War send someone to the Western Regions to participate in the construction of the Great Wall outside the region after Siqian sobered up, so that he could gain experience in the Western Regions where there were many foreign tribes.
As for his identity, we'll assign him to be the groom of Zhao Zilong, the commander of the Imperial Guard stationed in the Western Regions, and let him go to the front lines to gain experience for half a year before we discuss anything else.
Regarding the issue of the significant disparity in the number of students admitted from the North and South in this special imperial examination, Chen Huai'an also issued a reply—instructing Duke Chang Yuchun of Wei to take charge, with the Ministry of Rites leading the effort, to organize a new imperial examination specifically for the candidates from various parts of the North who were stranded in the capital due to missing the examination time.
Furthermore, the original quota of 200 candidates for the provincial examination was increased to 300, and the 100 vacant places were reserved for students from the north who took the supplementary examination.
Furthermore, he instructed Chang Yuchun to issue an edict in his capacity as acting prime minister, ordering all civil and military officials of the second rank and above from various regions to come to the capital to report on their duties before Lunar New Year's Eve, so that Emperor Zhaowu Chen Huai'an could make arrangements for the work in the coming year.
Finally, Chen Huai'an also affirmed Chang Yuchun's performance during his tenure as acting prime minister.
After explaining these things, the first light of dawn was already appearing in the east.
Chen Huai'an yawned, stretched, and said, "Duke of Wei, these are the matters I need to instruct you on. You will continue to handle all the affairs of state for me for some time."
"After months of continuous warfare, coupled with the arduous journey, I am utterly exhausted and need to rest and recuperate!"
"My lord, I obey the order!"
Seeing the exhaustion on the Emperor's once majestic face, Chang Yuchun, the Duke of Wei, who had written his resignation overnight in hopes of stepping down as acting prime minister, ultimately couldn't bear to submit it at this moment.
After months of continuous warfare, including a crushing defeat of the 800,000-strong Arab army that was launching an eastward expedition, the emperor was indeed exhausted.
It's time, it's time for the Emperor to rest and spend time with the Empress, the Imperial Concubine, and the two newborn princes!
After Chang Yuchun took his leave, Chen Huai'an also dragged his tired body out of the Imperial Study and headed to Kunning Palace.
When he arrived, Empress Liu Shujun and the young prince were fast asleep on the phoenix bed.
Chen Huai'an did not wake his sleeping wife and children. Instead, he tiptoed to the bedside and gently lay down beside them.
While pondering what names to give her two sons, she soon drifted off into a sweet sleep.
He slept so soundly and sweetly.
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