Tang Dynasty: Father, if you don't rebel, I will!

"The results are out!!!"

An excited shout rang out as the Crown Prince led several soldiers carrying several huge scrolls out of Yangcheng Palace, instantly echoing through the excited crowd.

All of a sudden.

Despite the cold wind, the candidates and their families who had been waiting here early all rushed over in a swarm.

"Step back! Everyone step back before this general! Otherwise, you'll be charged with storming the palace gates!"

Cheng Chumo shouted angrily.

This stern shout was indeed remarkably effective.

The previously chaotic scene instantly became much quieter.

All eyes were fixed expectantly on the scroll that the Crown Prince had hung up with his soldiers.

Cheng Chumo stood at the very front, clad in imposing, gleaming armor.

"Ahem! This time, the results are divided into three lists: Grade A (top rank), Grade B (middle rank), and Grade C (bottom rank)!"

Those who made it onto these three lists all held official positions.

"Those in the first rank will remain in their posts in various counties near Taiyuan Prefecture; those in the second rank will be assigned to counties outside Bingzhou Circuit; and those in the third rank will be promoted one rank from their original county."

As soon as Cheng Chumo finished speaking, there was a whooshing sound behind him.

Three enormous lists unfolded instantly.

Almost everyone's attention was immediately focused on the top-tier list.

"Wang Lunke, the eldest son of the fourth branch of the Wang family of Taiyuan, scored 531 points on the exam, with 24 points in the additional national policy questions. He was appointed as the magistrate of Jinyang County."

"Pei Ruocai, the fourth son of the third branch of the Pei family of Hedong, was appointed as the Assistant Transport Commissioner of Taiyuan Prefecture, with a score of 522 and an additional 25 points in national affairs."

"Guo Siye of Jinyang, with a total score of 510 points, including 20 points for the supplementary question on national affairs, was appointed as the magistrate of Wuhe County."

"Zheng Wuqi, the fourth son of the eldest branch of the Zheng family of Xingyang, scored 503 points in the exam, with 20 points in the additional questions on national politics. He was appointed as the magistrate of Fenyang County."

"..."

The fact that each person made no attempt to conceal their origins, as ordered by Li Chengqian, immediately left the officials from ordinary families present with complex expressions.

No one seems to think there's any cheating involved in the results.

None of them had ever participated in the imperial examinations. Over the past two months, they had searched for and reviewed many past imperial examination questions, as well as the examination syllabus sold cheaply by the Datang National Bookstore.

They were already anxious, but after seeing the exam questions, which were completely different in style from those of previous imperial examinations, they were even more uneasy.

They all went numb on the spot.

Among the crowd, Wang Qingyun saw his own Wang family member successfully take the top spot on the leaderboard, and a smile appeared on his face.

"Excellent! As expected of a member of the Wang family of Taiyuan! Hahaha!"

Beside Wang Qingyun, Zheng Wuling snorted coldly.

"The magistrate of Jinyang County is quite lucky, but you shouldn't be too proud. His Highness the Crown Prince is always fair. If he fails to achieve anything while in office, it would be shameful for him to abdicate and hand over the reins to a more capable person."

Wang Qingyun glanced at the other person sideways, his smile forced and insincere.

"My Wang family has many disciples and old friends in Fenyang County. If Brother Zheng needs any help, please don't hesitate to ask... Just don't let the so-called face of the Zheng family of Xingyang ruin His Highness's important affairs!"

Their eyes met, and a clear tension immediately flared between the two families.

On the list of successful candidates, nearly 80% came from aristocratic families.

However, among them were also some ordinary people who were appointed as county magistrates.

"Magistrate Hu! You've passed! You're on the top list too! You're on the top list too!"

Li Chengqian had met Hu Ma, the temporary magistrate of Jingle County, whom he had even secretly had the Embroidered Uniform Guard investigate.

At this moment, he was excitedly pulled by his friend who had come with him to participate in the civil service examination.

He, however, stared blankly at the last line of names on the list.

"Hu Ma, acting magistrate of Jingle County, score 427, with 17 points in the national affairs supplementary question, officially retained as magistrate of Jingle County."

Hu Ma's mouth trembled involuntarily.

"It's done! It's done! I've really become the county magistrate! I've become the county magistrate!"

He couldn't help but burst into tears.

If before he was just a "temporary worker" receiving the salary of a county magistrate but without any records in Chang'an, now he is known as Hu Ma.

They will be officially presented to Chang'an along with the other candidates who have obtained official positions.

He became an official in the Tang Dynasty, and even served as the magistrate of a county.

Outside Yangcheng Palace, all those whose names were on the list.

Everyone was overjoyed, while those who were disappointed to fail, though unwilling to accept it, cheered themselves on after learning that there would be another test next year.

Inside the Shougong Hall of Yangcheng Palace.

Li Chengqian looked at the roster in his hand and nodded slightly.

“That’s right. Although important positions are still held by the sons of aristocratic families, with me and the Embroidered Uniform Guard keeping an eye on them, they don’t dare to have any ulterior motives. Once education becomes more widespread, these officials will follow the new policies for a few more years.”

"They've all basically grown up by now..."

At this moment, Kong Yingda's old face was smiling like an old chrysanthemum.

Many of the Kong family members also participated in the assessment; however, their main focus in appointing them was on education and the direction of public opinion in Bingzhou.

Upon hearing Li Chengqian's words, Kong Yingda immediately bowed and paid his respects.

"Your Highness, rest assured, a school has already been built between at least three neighboring villages around Taiyuan Prefecture. Higher schools in the prefectural city will soon be operational. With the policies you mentioned that encourage literacy, it will only be a matter of time before everyone in Bingzhou is literate."

Kong Yingda is quite old, ever since he followed Li Chengqian to Bingzhou Road.

But I felt at least ten years younger.

Despite having a lot of things to do every day, he did it all with great pleasure.

Li Chengqian nodded slightly, then suddenly asked a question.

"How is the situation with Kong Zhiyue? I asked him to contact Sun Simiao and other famous doctors in the Tang Dynasty, and it's been a while since then, but why haven't we heard anything yet?"

Kong Zhiyue had always been assigned by Kong Yingda to do things that Confucian scholars did.

Despite their family background in education, the other party was also able to easily get started with these educational and textbook compilation matters.

however.

Li Chengqian, however, knew about it.

Kong Zhiyue was a famous physician in the Tang Dynasty.

Another famous physician from the Tang Dynasty was Su Jing.

Not only were the two highly accomplished in medicine, but they also later presided over the compilation of the famous Chinese herbal medicine classic, "Tang Materia Medica".

The Tang Materia Medica is a very famous national pharmacopoeia in the field of traditional Chinese medicine. It appeared more than 900 years earlier than similar pharmacopoeias in the West.

Kong Yingda hesitated for a moment, but seeing that Li Chengqian was about to scold him again for disagreeing with his son studying medicine, he quickly shook his head.

"I don't know much about this either, but I think it won't be long before the news of His Highness establishing an Imperial University in Bingzhou has already spread throughout the Tang Dynasty."

"It shouldn't be long before renowned doctors from all over the country respond and come to help."

Li Chengqian's expression softened slightly, but he still glared at the other party with annoyance.

"Confucianism is indeed a good doctrine for teaching children and setting life goals, but in governing a country, what I really need is a new school of thought that can truly get things done!"

"From now on, don't try to show off those little schemes in front of me!"

Kong Yingda was nominally the Crown Prince's teacher, but now he faced Li Chengqian's blunt warning.

Despite feeling resentful, they could only silently choose to bow their heads and accept it.

When dealing with others, Confucianism can use vague yet awe-inspiring concepts like righteousness, morality, and destiny to control and coerce them into following its path.

However, they were faced with this prince who was not only immoral but also quite skilled with the sword.

Kong Yingda could only silently console himself, at least his Kong family could still earn the title of "the teacher of enlightenment for the world" in the future.

Compared to the Cui family of Qinghe, who not only lost their family fortune but also their reputation.

I don't know how much has been cured...

Seeing that Li Chengqian had turned his gaze back to the list of successful candidates in his hand, Kong Yingda hesitated for a moment.

"Your Highness, I know you dislike official corruption, and that's why you've specially improved the treatment of officials in Bingzhou Circuit. But...aren't the punishments and warnings a bit too harsh...too severe?"

Li Chengqian looked up, a half-smile on his face.

"Was Master Kong trying to say just now, 'I am tyrannical'?"

Kong Yingda looked embarrassed, but Li Chengqian showed no sign of embarrassment.

He curled his lips.

"Let them be violent. Some people are just born with a wicked nature. If I don't give them a good beating every few days, they won't know that there are eyes watching their every word and action!"

Outside the palace gate.

Cheng Chumo ordered the candidates who had made the list to line up neatly to one side.

Then, amidst the puzzled gazes of the crowd, he suddenly waved to his subordinate beside him.

Before long, several prison carts, led by the six guards of the Eastern Palace, arrived in front of Yangcheng Palace.

With a playful smile on his lips, Cheng Chumo spoke amidst the surprised and uncertain gazes of the crowd.

"From today onwards, you all hold official positions, and His Highness the Crown Prince has high hopes for you."

"I am always worried that you, the future pillars of the nation, might go astray and stray from the right path. Today is your first day in office, in accordance with His Highness the Crown Prince's instructions!"

Among the candidates, the Wang family members from Taiyuan all took a deep breath.

Knowing the inside story, they already knew what they were about to face...

Their faces were gradually turning pale.

Cheng Chumo's smile carried a hint of wickedness.

"Candidates, please attend the ceremony!"

next moment.

Amidst the horrified or puzzled gazes of the crowd.

The figures locked in the cages were immediately dragged out of the prison carts by several fierce soldiers from the Eastern Palace's Six Guards amidst a series of panicked screams and cries.

Then...

The swift and decisive action was to stretch out the victim's limbs and bind them to an execution cross.

A wooden stick was also stuffed into the mouth to prevent the other person from biting their tongue and committing suicide.

By this point, some people had already realized what His Highness the Crown Prince wanted them to see next, and they couldn't help but tremble with fear.

However......

At this moment, Cheng Chumo took out a document.

He began reciting in front of everyone.

"He Sanling, the former Tongpan (assistant magistrate) of Jiaocheng County, accepted bribes and neglected his duties. During his tenure as Tongpan of Jiaocheng, he acted as a protector of local powerful figures, repeatedly overturning major murder cases to acquittals, framing ordinary people, and oppressing the local community."

"During his three years in power, he amassed 80,000 strings of cash in illicit gains, three luxurious mansions, and ten beautiful women."

"It was decided personally by His Highness the Crown Prince!"

"Peel off the skin and stuff the grass!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than a Jinyiwei executioner, who had been prepared beforehand, appeared with a strange smile on his face, holding a small willow-leaf dagger in his hand.

They arrived in front of He Sanling.