After traveling through time, I was raised by a little brat

Tang Wenshu had just finished eating the tea and snacks when he heard a commotion from the next table: "I wonder what the Imperial College exam will be like this year?"

Another person said, "What can they test on? It's just the Four Books and Five Classics, just like the imperial examination."

At this time, someone interrupted and said, "You only know one side of the story." The man acted like a knowledgeable person, as if he had participated in the examination of the Imperial College and was proud of it.

"I wonder if this brother has ever taken the test? Could you tell us about the details?" Guests at another table also showed interest in this topic. They looked like they were waiting for their friends or family to take the test and were eager to know how difficult the test was.

The man picked up the teacup, took a sip, then stood up and said slowly, "The Imperial College examination is divided into two sessions, each lasting two hours. The morning exam will use a sentence from the Four Books and Five Classics as the topic, and candidates will need to write their own opinion based on this sentence."

Hearing this, someone couldn't help but sigh: "This doesn't sound difficult. After all, everyone can recite the Four Books and Five Classics by heart."

However, the man shook his head and continued, "The difficulty lies in the afternoon exam. It tests current affairs and politics. For those of us who are not officials, our understanding of current affairs is really limited."

"That's not fair. Shouldn't the sons of officials, the sons of aristocratic families, and those from noble families be allowed straight through?" someone said indignantly, his face filled with dissatisfaction and anger. His voice echoed in the air, resonating with the people around him.

"No, the Imperial College is to train talents for the imperial court, so of course all students are assessed equally. This current event can only be an undisclosed current event. Students must not only state the specific content of the current event, but also propose targeted and feasible measures." Another person explained calmly, his eyes firm and serious.

After hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement, but someone raised a question: "That would be difficult. Even if the nobles can talk about the key points of current affairs, it is equally difficult for everyone to come up with measures. They have never been officials and don't know how to be an official. The knowledge they know from books is pretty much the same." There was a hint of worry and doubt in his tone.

At this time, an old man in the crowd slowly spoke up, "This is exactly what the Imperial College is dedicated to. They hope to cultivate officials who are truly talented and knowledgeable, not just those who can enter the officialdom based on family background. Although this assessment method is difficult, it also gives everyone a fair chance to compete. Only through your own hard work and wisdom can you stand out in the Imperial College."

The old man's words left the students deep in thought. They began to realize that the Imperial College's examination system wasn't designed to embarrass students, but rather to select the best. In this era, while family background was still important, talent and ability were equally indispensable. Only by continuous learning and improvement could one remain invincible in the fiercely competitive officialdom.

People in the restaurant were discussing the test, while Tang Qi faced the test questions, closed his eyes and pondered for a long time without writing.

The question in the morning's exam was "The way of university is to manifest the bright virtue, to love the people, and to rest in the highest good." He had heard the teacher talk about this topic, so when he saw the question, he confidently wrote down his own views on this sentence at a rapid pace.

But the afternoon's exam question stumped him—"Floods in Yangzhou." He frowned, thinking to himself, "It's plum rain season now, with constant drizzle. Logically, this shouldn't cause a flood! Am I being inconsiderate?"

Then, he wondered if His Majesty had sent his father so hastily to Yangzhou to take up his post because the flooding there had reached such a critical point. Furthermore, he wondered if his father, a newly appointed official, was capable of mobilizing personnel to address the flood. The more he thought about it, the more his head nearly exploded.

Finally, he couldn't help but sigh, opened his eyes, and looked at the candidates around him who were writing furiously. He couldn't help but feel anxious. At this moment, he suddenly remembered the way his sister usually thought about problems, so he imitated her and said to himself: "Think quickly, think quickly, figure it out."

"Yes, Yangzhou is on the coast, and there have been no reports of flooding in Jingzhou upstream." Tang Qi pondered this, and soon another possibility occurred to him: water bandits or pirates. These people make a living by robbing, often roaming the rivers and lakes, posing a great threat to local residents. If this were true, then the solution would be much simpler.

A policy of recruiting bandits can be adopted to deal with them. Bandits from farming families can be re-registered, allocated wasteland for cultivation, and enjoy three years of tax exemption. As for bandits with armed forces, they can be recruited into the army. This will not only strengthen the country's military strength, but also combat bandits; secondly, if there is an invasion by foreign enemies, these soldiers can also defend Yangzhou. As for the soldiers' salaries and food, they can be provided with land for farming. In peacetime, they can farm, and in wartime, they can fight the enemy.

As for the pirates, there's only one word: fight! How can Zhao allow other nations to invade our territory? They must be completely defeated, so they won't dare to attack again. This is not only a defense of national sovereignty, but also a guarantee of the safety of our people. We must use the force of iron and blood to tell those who covet Zhao's territory that this is not a place they can tread freely!

At the same time, Yangzhou needs to build new water conservancy projects, such as dams and canals. These measures will not only irrigate more fertile fields, increase agricultural production, and meet people's growing needs, but more importantly, through rational planning and diversion of water, they can prevent floods in July and August.

Water conservancy projects are a long and arduous undertaking, but they are crucial to the development of the entire region and the well-being of its people. Every dam is a sturdy line of defense, and every canal a lifeline. They will bring vitality and vigor to the land and create a better future for the people.

At this moment, Zhao Rui had already arrived before Tang Qi. She gazed down at the words he had written: "Wherever the sun and moon shine, all is China; wherever the rivers flow, all is Han territory. How can the land of Zhao be invaded by other nations?" These twenty short words pierced her eyes like a sharp sword. Then, her gaze fell on the following text, where Tang Qi detailed instructions for dealing with water pirates, developing water conservancy projects, and other related measures. Although he had not yet arrived in Yangzhou, he seemed to already have a clear map of the city in his mind, and he had a clear understanding of how to govern it.