My name is Chang An, your name is Gu Li

When Minister Chen heard Li Longji's last words, he was stunned. It was not that he had never heard the emperor speak positively of anyone, but he had never heard him speak of someone as "capable of supporting a million strong troops".

You know, the last person who said this was a prime minister hundreds of years ago who commented on his own "Deli dipping sauce".

"But Your Majesty, we cannot let this discourage other students." Minister Chen still wanted to make a final effort.

But Li Longji continued, "I have disappointed those students, but don't they disappoint me? They flatter and fawn on their superiors and oppress their subordinates."

"At the court, Minister Chen also saw it. Those ministers, for their own selfish desires, actually fabricated and slandered Marquis Dingkang. Is it for this kind of situation that I recruit talents through the imperial examination?"

Minister Chen looked at Li Longji and for a moment he didn't know what to say.

Li Longji then said: "I want the Tang Dynasty to be peaceful forever. What I need are talented people who can contribute to this, not people who try to preserve their position by taking shortcuts."

"I also know that since the introduction of the system of recommending candidates, how many talented people from poor families have been neglected? And how many positions in the court have been occupied by officials and scholars relying on the convenience of their families?"

"My move is not only to rectify the court, but also to allow some talented people from poor families to work for me and the Tang Dynasty. I don't believe that those children from poor families are really inferior to the children of officials!"

"Minister Chen, you understand my painstaking efforts."

Minister Chen was stunned for a long time. How could he not think so? Since he took office, how many poor candidates failed the exam because of their lack of status. Of course, there were many talented people who failed because of their family background.

He finally said: "Your Majesty is wise and I understand your painstaking efforts. I guarantee with my life that no one in the Ministry of Rites will oppose this reform of the imperial examination system."

"good!"

Li Longji smiled and asked again: "In that case, does Minister Chen have any other questions?"

"Your Majesty, I have no problem." Minister Chen bowed and said.

"I will take my leave. Long live the emperor."

Li Longji nodded slightly, as a sign of agreement, and then watched Minister Chen leave.

......

In a house somewhere in Pingkangfang, a young man of about eleven or twelve was sitting at a desk. Suddenly, two people hurried in and said as they came in:

"Brother Chang Jian! Brother Chang Jian!"

The young man called Chang Jian raised his head and asked, "What's wrong, Brother Zhou?"

"Good news! Good news!" The leader, Mr. Zhou, beamed with joy and said, "The imperial examination has been changed this year!"

"Changed? What changed?" Chang Jian asked, somewhat confused.

“It’s changed!”

Lord Zhou impatiently sat down opposite Chang Jian, then after taking a deep breath, he said, "His Majesty has issued an edict, announcing that from this moment on, the imperial examination will be conducted in one system, and there will be no more papers to be submitted!"

"No more scrolls? How can this be considered good news?"

"Brother Zhou hasn't finished yet!" Another young man named Su also said excitedly: "His Majesty's imperial edict also said that starting from this year's spring examination, not only will there be no papers to be handed in, but no one will be allowed to be present when the examination papers are being graded."

Chang Jian's eyes narrowed, as if he knew what the other party was going to say next.

"That is to say, from now on, those officials will not be able to interfere with the results of all the imperial examinations. No one will be able to take our place on the list just because they submitted a paper or hold a high position."

"At the same time, the sons of high-ranking officials cannot be recommended even if they participate in the imperial examinations. We treat them equally!"

When Chang Jian heard this, he slapped the table, stood up, and said, "It's really good news!"

But after being excited, he suddenly calmed down and asked, "But why did Your Majesty suddenly announce the reform? And there was no warning."

Lord Zhou and Lord Su looked at each other and said, "Brother Chang Jian, do you still remember the Marquis Dingkang, who is known as the most talented scholar in Chang'an?"

Chang Jian nodded and said, "What's wrong? Could it be that this matter has something to do with him?"

"That's right!"

"Although this Marquis Dingkang is a noble, he has been granted the right to participate in the imperial examination by His Majesty. It is said that he also plans to participate in the spring examination next year. Some time ago, Marquis Dingkang was summoned to His Majesty in the street."

"The imperial edict clearly stated that it was this Marquis Dingkang who proposed the policy."

"Not only did he say that the imperial examination would remove the recommendation of the candidates, but he also proposed to strip the title. Starting from him, all new nobles, including the Dingkang Marquis and his wife, will not be allowed to pass on their titles to their descendants."

Chang Jian was a little surprised at this time, and then asked incredulously: "But Marquis Dingkang is not only a noble, but also a student of the Three Departments of Song and the son of an official. He didn't get any benefit from proposing such a policy, except for the recommendation of candidates and the prohibition of hereditary titles."

Su Langjun said, "This is a true wise man! Moreover, not to mention the title, just from the perspective of the imperial examination, Marquis Dingkang does not need to rely on the so-called recommendation."

"He did this entirely to expand the number of talented people that the imperial examination can recruit. Now, even capable businessmen can take the imperial examination!"

After hearing this, Chang Jian couldn't help but swallow.

At this moment, they heard a commotion outside the door and someone was calling their name, so they walked out of the house and crossed the courtyard to the door.

As soon as they opened the door, they were stunned to find that the entrance was crowded with students in robes.

"Brother Chang Jian, Brother Zhou, Brother Su."

"My fellow classmates, with such a strong momentum, where are you planning to go?" Chang Jian asked.

"Go to the Dingkang Marquis' Mansion." The leading young man answered.

"Going to Dingkang Marquis's Mansion? What's the purpose?"

"What else can we do? Haven't you heard? Marquis Dingkang advised His Majesty and carried out reforms in the imperial examination system! The chances for people like us to enter officialdom have increased!" said one of the young men.

"We know this. Are you planning to go and express your gratitude this time?" Chang Jian looked at what they were holding in their hands and asked tentatively.

"Of course!" said the leading young man, "And we have already found out where the Dingkang Marquis's mansion is located, and we have also found out who Dingkang Marquis loves the most, and now they are both parents."

Because according to the Tang Dynasty, pregnancy cannot be announced before the third month. Now it is already the end of July, the three-month period has passed, so Chang An naturally took several large baskets of red eggs and went to the Imperial College to announce it.

"Let's not talk too much," the leading young man looked a little anxious, and asked the three people: "Brother Chang Jian, are you going?"

"Let's go!" Chang Jian thought for a while, then nodded, "Let's go."

"Why are you leaving?" another young man said, "You have nothing in your hands. We are going to pay a visit, so we can't go empty-handed."

At this time, the three of them looked at each other, and then Su Langjun clapped his hands and said, "I remembered that I bought some fresh cakes this morning. They are still warm. Let's take them as souvenirs."

Lord Zhou urged at this time, and then said: "What are you waiting for, go and get it!"

"well......"

......

At this time, Gu Li and Chang An were sitting in the study, one reading a book and the other keeping an account book. After Gu Li finished writing the last stroke, he leaned on Chang An's chest a little tiredly and let out a long sigh.

Chang An noticed Gu Li's movements at this time, and asked, "What's wrong? My little lazy bug wants to sleep?"

"No," Gu Li said, "It's just that the accounts for the past two days have a lot of income and expenditure, so I want to record them more carefully."

After saying that, Gu Li rubbed Chang An's arms for a while, then picked up the account and said, "Then the item with the largest amount is the red eggs that Chang Lang made at that time. In addition to eggs, there are various materials. It's troublesome to remember them all."

Chang An smiled and asked, "Then is Gu Niang blaming me?"

"That's not the case," Gu Li fluttered twice in Chang An's arms, raised his head, and said, "Chang Lang made so many red eggs, isn't it just to tell everyone that we have Xiaoguai? There is nothing wrong with that."

"What does Gu Niang mean?"

"What I mean is, I have to record so many accounts every day, and of course I also need a reward." Gu Li smiled mischievously. Chang An naturally saw through her little thoughts, so he lowered his head and touched her mouth seriously.

"My dear Daguai, you have worked hard."

"Hum~"

At this time, Huaiqin was outside the study and said, "Master, Sanniang, there are... a lot of people looking for you."

Chang An raised his eyebrows and said, "There are people, but there are so many people looking for it? Who are they?"

Huaiqin said, "There are too many people. When I asked them their identities, they all said they were students preparing to take part in the next spring imperial examination. Today they wanted to pay their respects to you and thank you, sir."

"Thank me? Thank me for what?"

Huaiqin shook her head and said, "I don't know about this Huaiqin. Do you plan to meet him, Master and Sanniang?"

"Will you meet Mother Gu?" Chang An gave the decision to Gu Li.

Gu Li rolled his eyes and said, "They should be here to thank Chang Lang for the reform of the imperial examination! If so, it would be fine for us to meet them."

Chang An nodded, and he and Gu Li stood up and came to the front yard. Before they entered the front yard, Chang An and Gu Li heard a commotion coming from the door, mixed with the voice of the doorman maintaining order.

Gu Li nervously held Chang An's hand and followed him.

Arriving at the door, the talented scholars at the door fell silent instantly when they saw Chang An appear. Then they all hooked the basket on Ke's arm in unison, raised their hands and saluted Chang An and Gu Li, saying in unison:

"Greetings to Marquis Dingkang and his wife!"