We have fought to the Arctic Circle, and you want me to inherit the throne?

Of course, this requires courage, insight, and even more so, a heart that transcends personal interests and cares for the common people.

But only such outstanding talents are the 'gold' that Li Che truly wanted to unearth by holding this imperial examination.

He flipped through the documents one by one, and the result was exactly as he had expected.

Most answers were cautious, wavering between 'praising the emperor's virtues' and 'affirming the role of aristocratic families', offering little of substance and remaining unremarkable.

Occasionally, a few pieces of writing would appear, eloquently praising the emperor's wisdom, but Li Che would only shake his head slightly, give them a 'below average' or 'average average' rating, and then set them aside.

Such a law-abiding person is not qualified to be given important positions by Li Che, but he is more than qualified to be a low-level official.

The court is currently in dire need of talent and cannot be picky. As long as they are not die-hard loyalists of powerful families, they should be used if they are even remotely capable.

Suddenly, a gasp of astonishment came from below: "Hiss!"

The sound was particularly abrupt in the quiet hall, and everyone looked in the direction of the sound.

Zhuge Zhe, sitting in the front row, held an exam paper in his hands, his brows furrowed, his face a mixture of amazement and struggle.

Li Che put down his vermilion brush and looked at him with interest: "Ziyuan, what has made you so flustered? Have you discovered some amazing masterpiece?"

Upon hearing this, Zhuge Zhe immediately rose, holding the scroll, and bowed to the throne: "Your Majesty, I have indeed discovered an article. This article... its ingenious conception, grand scope, and sharp insight are truly rare in my life, but..."

He paused, seemingly considering his words, and then said with some caution:

"However, some of these views are fundamental, and although the language is respectful, the boldness of the language is extraordinary, even shocking."

"I am unable to make a judgment at the moment, and therefore I have acted improperly. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."

"Oh?" Li Che's interest was completely piqued.

For the usually composed and steady Zhuge Zhe to use the phrase "shocking and unconventional," the content of this article must be extraordinary.

"Then I really must take a good look, Huai'en."

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Huai En, who was standing to the side, immediately replied.

"Go and fetch the article from Minister Zhuge's hands; I wish to read it myself," Li Che ordered.

"According to the order."

Huai En quickly descended the imperial steps, took the examination paper from Zhuge Zhe, and presented it to Li Che's desk.

Li Che took the scroll and immediately noticed that the paper and ink were no different from ordinary ones.

He first looked at the beginning of the paper. The answers to all the logic questions were correct, and the handwriting was elegant and lively, exuding an extraordinary air.

Then, my gaze fell on the final section of the question-and-answer session.

The opening is filled with grand pronouncements:

The way to establish a nation lies in clarifying the order and ensuring the well-being of its people.

Throughout history, power has been divided into three levels: the ruler, the officials, and the people.

However, I have heard that there are gods three feet above one's head, and the ancestral laws are displayed in the hall.

Though the gods are insignificant, the people fear their power; though the emperor's power is great, it cannot reach the insignificance of the common folk.

Li Che laughed; this guy really has guts.

The analogy of monarchical power and divine power is used to imply the drawback of the emperor's power not being able to cover all aspects.

This line of thinking has a touch of strategic maneuvering and insight into power politics.

Li Che vaguely sensed that this might be one of those unique 'fellow disciples'.

He couldn't help but eagerly continue reading:

Your Majesty is appointed by Heaven to govern the people on behalf of Heaven, but with a territory spanning thousands of miles, how can you personally attend to every single matter?

For example, the North Star shines its light upon the four seas, yet even the deepest valleys and ravines cannot match it.

Therefore it is said: The emperor's power does not extend to the countryside, and his majesty is limited to the hall.

The peasants in the countryside have only heard of the emperor's majesty, but have never seen the emperor's carriage in person. What they fear is not the emperor himself, but the power he has granted them.

Therefore, this student dares to suggest: A monarch governs officials, not the people.

Li Che's eyes lit up slightly; this passage did indeed have a hint of constitutional monarchy.

The monarch becomes a symbol of the state, without participating in specific political actions.

No wonder Zhuge Zhe said he was bold; in ancient feudal society, he dared to say such things and wasn't afraid that the emperor would behead him in a fit of rage.

Could this person be so sure of me, that he's a sage ruler who doesn't covet imperial power?

What does this mean? Your Majesty should govern by doing nothing, holding the reins of rewards and punishments to govern all officials.

Just as a skilled charioteer does not hold the reins at the head of each horse, but rather holds the whip in the hand of the coachman.

A ruler should treat all people as the sun and moon shine upon them, and rain and dew spread evenly. He should show them benevolence and kindness, and embrace them with generosity, so that the people know that the ruler's heart is with him, and then the people's hearts will naturally be with him.

However, officials are not extensions of the king's hands and feet, but rather the enforcers of the laws and regulations of the state.

Officials should come from the people, not be controlled solely by powerful families and clans; that is, official power is the power of the people.

Its power should not originate from the will of the superior or be privately granted, but should be rooted in laws and regulations.

Therefore, the government should exercise power according to law, clearly define its duties, and define its boundaries to ensure that power does not exceed its limits; moreover, the government should allow the people to observe officials, broaden channels for public opinion, and enable the people to express their grievances and impeach officials for wrongdoing.

In this way, officials will know what to fear and what to refrain from doing.

Li Che's smile widened. This man believed that officials should be promoted from among the people, and that the law should constrain the power of officials so that they could not overstep their bounds.

This alone shows that this person is not from the same social class as the aristocratic family.

Why do aristocratic families want to become officials? Is it just for the salary?

Which aristocratic family doesn't have a vast fortune?

The reason people become officials is simply because they value those privileges.

However, if privileges are restricted by law and officials are selected from among the common people, then aristocratic families will no longer be able to control the selection of officials by the court.

If the emperor's power extends directly to the common people, it will inevitably lead to narrow-mindedness and disrupt people's production; if officials are allowed to exercise their power on behalf of the emperor without restraint, it will inevitably breed parasites that gnaw at the foundation of the nation.

Only when the monarch holds the balance above, binds officials with laws and regulations, and reflects the people's will on gains and losses below.

When these three elements are in harmony, power will not be abused, the people will not be deceived, and officials will not be corrupt.

In this way, the more exalted the emperor's position, the less resentful the people will be; the more transparent the official power, the less dangerous the country will be; and the more secure the people's hearts will be, the more stable the nation will be.

The prosperity of Daqing is based on this principle of mutual supervision and each fulfilling its own role.

This is my humble opinion; I humbly submit it for Your Majesty's wise judgment.

Upon seeing this, Li Che put down the exam paper and, without speaking immediately, first let out a sigh of relief.

Then, he clapped his hands and burst into laughter: "Good! What a wonderful idea of ​​'the monarch governs officials, not the people'!"

"This man's audacity is truly astonishing. He views the emperor's power as a charioteer's tool and officials as wielders of a staff. He places me, the Son of Heaven, in a position of absolute authority, yet entrusts the actual power of governance to the law and the supervision of the people."

"Haha, indeed... His words are insightful and thought-provoking, and some of his views resonate deeply with me!"

Zhuge Zhe, who had been observing the emperor's expression from below, finally felt a huge weight lifted from his heart and couldn't help but secretly breathe a sigh of relief.

This article is a presumptuous and disrespectful statement about imperial power. The reason he dared to present it to the emperor was precisely because of his understanding of Li Che.

I know that Your Majesty is eager for talent and has an open mind; you are not the kind of foolish ruler who cannot listen to dissenting opinions.

In hindsight, it was indeed the right bet.

After laughing, Li Che, still feeling unsatisfied, picked up the exam paper again and carefully savored it.

He picked up his vermilion brush and drew prominent vermilion circles next to several of the most brilliant passages to show his approval.

After a moment's thought, he prepared to assign a grade.

By my own standards, this article is exceptionally insightful and courageous, and should be rated 'superior'.

But as soon as he put pen to paper, he felt that the word "above" was not enough to show the weight of this article in his heart.

He hesitated for a moment, then with a slight flick of his wrist, solemnly added another "up" after the first "up".

Go for it!

This is the first "top-notch" rating given since the start of the examination grading process, and also the first time Li Che has given such a rating!

This evaluation means that, provided the subsequent review is accurate, the person who wrote this exam paper will surely stand out in this special examination and become famous throughout the world!