The Second Sister of a Farmer's Family's Path to Imperial Destiny

Xia Zisheng was speechless. This was indeed the matter that the court should have considered. He was temporarily trapped by the righteousness in his heart. After a moment of silence, he said, "Then are you still going to study today?"

"Of course I will!" Hu Zongrui looked at him strangely and said, "My mother has spent money on me, how can I not learn!"

As a successful businessman, how could he possibly waste a copper coin? Although the silver his mother spent on him was a small sum, he didn't want to waste it, otherwise he would be so distressed! ?

"Then let me tell you about today's content. Although we are not in the same class, the content we learn should be similar." Xia Zisheng was amused by Hu Zongrui's painful expression.

……

The next morning, Fang Tairu was already waiting in the academy. He had received the news of conscription a few days ago, but he had never talked about it in the academy.

"Good morning, Fang Tairu!" As soon as the students came in, they saw Fang Tairu standing next to the podium and couldn't help but greet him one by one.

After everyone gathered, Fang Tairu said in a deep voice: "Recently, the war in the north has been on the verge of breaking out, so the court is recruiting soldiers. I don't know if you know this, but today I want to write a policy question on this topic."

Upon hearing this, the students below were in an uproar.

"But before I ask you questions, I want to hear your opinions. I wonder what you think about the court's large-scale conscription, or any other issues that may arise. Please feel free to talk about it."

Guo Xi pondered for a moment and said, "The court's large-scale conscription will affect the lives of the people. Families will be separated, people will be displaced, there will be famine, and food prices will be more expensive than gold. Therefore, officials of the court need to consider these carefully and reduce the impact of the disaster in advance."

While Guo Xi was speaking, Xia Zisheng nodded repeatedly, agreeing with him, and then replied: "Conscription will inevitably lead to a group of businessmen hoping to make a fortune and exploit the people. Officials must take precautions against this as soon as possible."

The scholar at the side asked: "If we take measures against the merchants and stop them from making money, won't that offend them? They are the main force of tax payers in the whole area. If we offend them too much, won't it be difficult for the local officials to do their work in the future?"

After Xia Zisheng talked with Hu Zongrui last night, he was also inspired by this and said, "Perhaps we can borrow money from local merchants in a special way."

"Borrowing?" Guo Xi asked puzzledly.

Seeing that everyone had almost finished their discussion, Fang Tairu stopped them immediately and said, "Okay, let's stop the discussion here. After an hour, you will hand in your questions."

……

Fang Tairu looked at the essays written by Guo Xi and Xia Zisheng, and the smile on his face did not stop. He called the two of them over and asked, "Your essays are all very well written. If you prepare well for the county and prefectural exams next year, you will most likely pass them in one try. If you want to participate, you can come to my place every ten days for private lessons."

The official selection system of the Jokhang Dynasty was somewhat different from that of other dynasties. If one wanted to participate, one had to obtain the recommendation of a professor from the academy. This way, students whose ideas were not in line with those of the court could be screened out from the first step.

However, this move did not achieve the desired results. In order to gain profits, many academies would ask for money from students whose ideas were obviously inconsistent with those of the court but whose families were wealthy, and then recommend their names to the officials in charge of registration.

Guo Xi immediately said: "If I can participate, I will definitely go."

Isn't the reason why he came here to study to obtain an imperial degree and become a local official?

Now that the first step towards his dream is right in front of him, how could he give up?

In contrast, Xia Zisheng on the side was much calmer and said in a deep voice: "I already had a plan."

Fang Tairu nodded and said with a smile: "If you are successful this time, you can wait two years to take the college entrance examination again. If you succeed, you will be a scholar. With your current level, there should be no problem. You two should be the best in Donglin Academy."

"After becoming a scholar, I suggest that you serve as an official for six years before taking the imperial examination. That way, you will have a deeper understanding of the articles and earn a better future for yourself."

Guo Xi and Xia Zisheng nodded repeatedly at the side. Fang Tairu shook his head and smiled, "I have said too much. There is still a long way to go in the future. You should go back first. Starting from today, you should come to my place every day for a small meal after ten days."

……

"What!? You said Guo Xi and Xia Zisheng were approached by Fang Tairu, and he also said that he wanted them to participate in the county exam next year? Are you sure you didn't hear it wrong?"

A scholar who was on good terms with Su Zeyuan told Su Zeyuan everything he had heard outside Fang Tairu's room in Su Zeyuan's room.

"Yes, I saw it with my own eyes."

There was a gloomy look on Su Zeyuan's face. He had just found out not long ago that Guo Xi was able to enroll in the school because of the help of an unknown nobleman, who also helped him pay the tuition. Otherwise, how could a child from a poor family go to Donglin Academy?

Now he was even recommended by the academy to take the county exam. How ridiculous was that? Guo Xi had only studied for less than a year. Even if he took the county exam, he had only studied for three years.

He had nothing to say about Xia Zisheng being able to take part in the county examination. He had been learning since he was three years old and had never been lazy every day. It was only right for him to get this.

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. He didn't even bother to wait until the next day and rushed to Professor Fang's room to find out what was going on.

He was not a stupid student, and his grades were among the best in the academy. He asked himself that although his character was not the best, it was not bad either, so why didn't anyone recommend him?

"Professor Fang." Su Zeyuan walked to Professor Fang's door and knocked.

As soon as Professor Fang heard the voice, he knew who it was. After all, who else but Su Zeyuan would come to see him in the evening? So he said, "Come in."

"What do you want to see me about?"

"Sir, I heard that Fang Tairu recommended Guo Xi and Xia Zisheng to participate in the county exam next year, and he also gave them special treatment. Why is this? Is it just because Guo Xi has a great nobleman to help him that he can get such preferential treatment?"

When Professor Fang heard this, he breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that Su Zeyuan had gotten into some big trouble again, and explained: "I don't know where you heard about the great nobleman, but Guo Xi and Xia Zisheng were recommended because of their strength."

"Then where am I missing?"

Professor Fang sighed and stared at Su Zeyuan without saying anything. After so much time had passed, this student didn't even know where he was lacking. After a while, he said, "If you want to know, wait until the holiday in ten days and pretend to be a poor student and set up a small stall outside, and you'll know."