Tiantang Splendid

Chapter 5013 Spring Rain Like Oil
The uncle and nephew of the Lu family left the table, and there was silence in the hall. No one tried to keep them, and no one went with them.

After a long while, Zhang Ji snorted, "These people who are extremely selfish and do not understand the situation actually try to force the entire Jiangnan gentry to take responsibility for their reckless behavior. It's simply unreasonable."

Everyone was silent.

The Lu family is indeed selfish, but aren't the people present here also choosing to stand idly by for their own benefit?

Xiao Yu sighed and said, "Let him be. If he really wants to destroy himself, who can persuade him?"

He looked at He Mo, Zhu Yuan, Zhang Zheng and others, and said gently: "Don't be discouraged, it's only three years, it will pass in a blink of an eye. The imperial examination has certainly set up an obstacle for us to inherit official positions, but at the same time, it has also opened up a channel for the children of Jiangnan gentry to enter the central government. As long as you have excellent grades, you may not be unable to enter the three provinces and six ministries, which was extremely difficult in the past. You should take this opportunity to study hard, so that you can become a prime minister in the future, bring honor to your ancestors, and fulfill your ambitions!"

The Sui Dynasty destroyed the Southern Dynasties and unified the north and the south, but the local forces in Jiangnan were strong, and the Sui Dynasty regime had never been able to completely control Jiangnan, so that Jiangnan was always isolated from the central government. As a result, the central government's suppression of Jiangnan gentry became increasingly severe. Except for a few people, Jiangnan children rarely entered the central government and held power. This situation has continued until this dynasty.

Now that the imperial examination has begun, whether from the perspective of fairness and justice or with the original intention of winning over the southern gentry, the sons of southern China will enter the central government.

Therefore, the imperial examination was both a crisis and an opportunity for the gentry in the south of the Yangtze River.

But there are always some fools who only see the immediate loss of interests, but fail to see the longer-term interests that need to be worked hard to manage...

"Here!"

Upon hearing this, several people who had been discouraged because they had been deprived of the qualification to take the imperial examinations for three years were suddenly cheered up and their confidence increased greatly.

Xiao Yu added, "Don't be resistant to the math part of the test. When you are an official, you are walking on thin ice. If you only know the classics and don't know the affairs of the court, you will inevitably be deceived by the officials and clerks under you. At the very least, you should know how to check accounts, right? You should also have some knowledge of physics, astronomy and other subjects. The students of Zhenguan Academy are far ahead of us in this aspect. If you continue to hold on to the idea of ​​'Confucianism is the only doctrine', don't make progress, and don't know how to adapt, you will have no future."

It is obvious that this time the reform of the imperial examination not only interrupted the previous way of becoming an official by relying on family background, but also aimed at promoting and cultivating "compound talents". Those nerds who can read the classics, history, and literature eloquently but are ignorant of mundane affairs will never be able to get higher positions.

In fact, Xiao Yu approved of this.

Officials from the Ministry of Civil Affairs do not understand mathematics and cannot check accounts. Officials from the Ministry of Works do not understand physics and are not familiar with architecture. Officials from the Ministry of War do not understand military tactics and are not familiar with strategies... How can "outsiders guiding experts" last long?

Therefore, although many of Fang Jun's opinions were extremely bad for the aristocratic families in the world, he quite agreed with the reform suggestions put forward by Fang Jun.

Of course, "agreeing" does not mean supporting it. The great scholars possess the highest wisdom. Although they cannot see into the distant future due to the limitations of the times, they are still able to distinguish between right and wrong, good and bad. However, because of their own interests, they often only choose the one that is beneficial to them, rather than the right one.

*****
The drizzle enveloped the Taiji Palace, and the black and yellow glazed tiles were washed clean by the rain. Although the sky was gloomy, the vision was clear. Sitting in the hall, one could see the faint green between the palace walls and the gaps between the steps through the window, and the grass had begun to sprout.

The spring rain is as fragrant as oil, just like the vitality of the Tang Empire.

In the imperial study, Li Chengqian put down the report, rubbed his brows, drank a sip of tea, and looked up at Liu Li and Xu Jingzong opposite him.

"How is the reputation of this provincial examination in various places?"

"Except for the boycott in Jinling, all other places are going smoothly and the marking has been completed. The successful candidates have received notifications from their provincial government offices and will immediately go to Chang'an to prepare for the 'Ministry of Rites Examination' in June. I have led the Ministry of Rites and cooperated with Chang'an and Wannian counties to ensure that the 'Ministry of Rites Examination' is foolproof and to contribute to your majesty's talent selection ceremony and do my best."

Because of traveling back and forth to various places to measure the land, and having to engage in intrigues and counter-attacks with the local aristocratic families, it was really exhausting. His previously short and fat figure had actually become much thinner, and his fair skin had become slightly darker, but his whole spirit seemed to be better than before, as if he was several years younger.

First, he implemented the national policy of measuring land, and then returned to Beijing to support the imperial examination. He held great power and his status rose rapidly. Now Xu Jingzong is also full of ambition and pride.

Power is indeed the best tonic for men.

Li Chengqian nodded. Although the imperial examination had some setbacks, it went smoothly overall. The whole country had accepted the imperial examination as the only way to become an official. This made him deeply feel the joy that Emperor Taizong had felt when he said, "All the heroes in the world are within our grasp."

"Jinling has severely punished candidates who boycotted the exam. Is there any follow-up?"

The Jiangnan gentry have always been independent of the central government, clamoring every day that "Jiangnan belongs to the people of Jiangnan", treating the land of Jiangnan as a forbidden delicacy. Now that they have suffered such severe punishment, can those Jiangnan gentry really sit still and swallow their anger?
Liu Li said, "Your Majesty, at that time, the examinees were punished by the Supervisory Censor Sun Chuyue. Later, General Gao Kan of the Right Guard stationed troops in Shitou City, guarded Jinling, and threatened Jiangnan. The navy ships cruised on the Yangtze River, and some warships approached the coastal cities of Qiantang and Mingzhou. In addition, Duke Song suppressed the Jiangnan gentry so that they could not confront the central government. Although there are some complaints among the Jiangnan scholars, the overall situation is stable."

Li Chengqian nodded and sighed, "Gao Kan is mature and capable, he is a talented person."

He couldn't help feeling sad. Although he was the emperor and "all the heroes in the world were within his grasp", the rising stars in the court who had emerged since the end of the Zhenguan period had now begun to stand on their own, but none of them were promoted by him.

More than 80% of them are "hawks and dogs" cultivated by Fang Jun.

Li Chengqian both admired and envied Fang Jun's ability to judge people. If talents like Pei Xingjian, Xue Rengui, Gao Kan and Liu Rengui were all his confidants, why would the emperor have to worry about being bullied by the military?
All the officials in the court were either "civil" or "military", but there were hardly any "emperors". How could this emperor feel embarrassed?

Therefore, compared with others, Li Chengqian attached more importance to the imperial examination, hoping to select talents and serve him.

Thinking of this, he thought of Fang Jun and asked, "The commander has been missing for the past two days. I wonder what he is busy with?"

Logically speaking, as the main reformer and promoter of the imperial examination, Fang Jun should have paid great attention to this. However, now that information from all over the world is converging here, Fang Jun turns a deaf ear to it, which is somewhat unreasonable.

Is there anything more important to do?

Liu Li looked bewildered: "I don't know."

Xu Jingzong said, "I went to visit the Taiwei's residence the day before yesterday, and his family told me that the Taiwei was at the Lishan Farm, saying that the corn seedlings were at a critical time, and the Taiwei was walking around the greenhouse day and night, directing the officials of the Sino-Agricultural Temple to take care of the seedlings."

Li Chengqian was surprised: "Corn has been cultivated in all suitable lands in Guanzhong. This year, seeds have been shipped to Shandong, Hebei, and even Liaodong, so it can be planted on a large scale. Why does he still have to do the seedling cultivation himself?"

Xu Jingzong felt a little guilty, but how could he know why?
But as a subject, he cannot say "I don't know" in front of His Majesty under any circumstances. This is an extremely low self-esteem. He still hopes to make further progress, so how can he leave His Majesty with an impression of being "ignorant"?

Then he said, "Corn seedling cultivation is related to the national economy and people's livelihood, and has a great impact. It seems that some things in it are confidential and cannot be disclosed. I don't know the details and I dare not ask... But the Minister of the Central Secretariat is the prime minister of the country, who is in charge of all the ministers and has a lot of affairs to deal with every day. He must know."

Liu Jie: "..."

Is it so insidious?
You say that I am in charge of all the affairs of the government and have so much to do every day, so how can I have the energy to pay attention to seedling cultivation?
Facing the gaze of His Majesty, Liu Li said awkwardly, "I have indeed heard about this matter. The Grand Commandant and the Sinong Temple have summarized a set of procedures for seedling cultivation and seed selection, which are sealed in the Sinong Temple. Those who are not qualified are not allowed to view it. I am afraid that I am not proficient in farming. In line with the principle of 'professional matters should be left to professionals', I only provide support when coordination is needed, and I have not participated deeply."

Li Chengqian nodded and did not pursue Liu Li's obviously evasive remarks.

I felt emotional again.

It is said that Fang Jun was not keen on power, but he gathered the army into a ball and colluded with Li Ji, forcing him, the emperor, into an awkward situation and placing the imperial power high; it is said that he threatened the imperial power, but he withdrew at the critical moment of the imperial examination. The great general went to the farm to study seed selection and seedling cultivation with a group of old farmers, rooting in agricultural improvement...

He looked out the window and saw the drizzle was fine and the air was fresh. He could not sit still and suggested, "I have been dealing with government affairs for a long time today and I am quite impatient. Why don't you two accompany me out of the city to the Lishan Farm? At this time, the early fruits and vegetables in the greenhouse must be ripe. Just thinking about it makes me salivate!"

Liu Li and Xu Jingzong were not people like Wei Zheng who had strong principles and dared to speak out. Moreover, they were willing to maintain a good relationship with His Majesty through more private contacts. The former said, "When the emperor leaves the city, he will be surrounded by people. It will have a great impact. Why don't you wear the White Dragon Fish Clothes and let Li Junxian bring more good people to guard you."

Xu Jingzong reminded: "Should we send someone to inform the Grand Commandant first and have him prepare to welcome the emperor?"

Li Chengqian was very excited and waved his hand, saying, "That's not necessary. Let's travel light and go out of the city to visit the Lishan Farm to give the general a surprise. We will stay at the Lishan Villa tonight and return to Chang'an tomorrow."