Chapter 1530: Unfair Selection of Scholars

When the drum at the Remonstrance Gate sounded, Emperor Liu had just woken up and was washing up under the attendance of the palace attendants. It had only been two days since returning from Mount Tai, and perhaps the Fengshan sacrifices had been too exhausting—body and mind alike weary—so Emperor Liu had been especially sleepy lately, not opening his eyes until the sun was high in the sky.

The original plan had been to return directly to Luoyang, but when the imperial procession reached Kaifeng, Emperor Liu refused to go any further, looking as if he could not move and did not want to move. So, naturally, ministers such as Zhao Pu proposed that he rest temporarily in the Eastern Capital and return to the Western Capital on another day.

And so Emperor Liu settled comfortably into Chongzheng Hall, as did the consorts and palace attendants who had accompanied him. As for the nobles, lords, civil and military officials, they each returned to their own homes, since most of them had residences in both capitals.

Under Zhao Pu's leadership, all the various ministries and offices of the court also moved into the Eastern Capital. The premises were all ready-made; they only needed to arrange the personnel and everything could begin operating. This also signified that the center of government had once again shifted from Luoyang back to Kaifeng—only no one knew how long this stay would last, though it did not look like it would be short.

Disturbed from his peace by the drumming, he was somewhat irritated, but it also piqued Emperor Liu's interest—an interest tinged with negative emotion. From the report relayed by the palace guards, he already understood the gist of the matter, and the identity of the scholar Xu Shilian easily invited speculation. Emperor Liu immediately associated it with this year's spring examination.

While Emperor Liu was performing the Fengshan sacrifices at Mount Tai, the Great Han's new round of examinations had been proceeding in an orderly fashion, and the chief examiner for this session was Grand Academician Li Fang of the Inner Cabinet.

"Where is Li Fang? Go summon him as well!" Having changed into casual robes, Emperor Liu ordered in a stiff tone.

However, Yan Tuo had barely turned around when he was called back. Seeing the deep suspicion in Emperor Liu's eyes, though the man remained very calm, he said: "Never mind, no hurry for now. Let me first see this scholar who dared to petition at the drum!"

"Yes!"

"Your subject Lu Duoxun pays respects to Your Majesty!" Lu Duoxun arrived quickly—indeed, he was summoned before Xu Shilian. But when facing Emperor Liu, he kept his head lowered and eyes downcast, with not a trace of his earlier keen interest visible on his face.

"Minister Lu moves fast! Surely it wasn't the Remonstrance Drum that stirred you?" Emperor Liu said flatly, looking at Lu Duoxun.

Though there was indeed some truth to that, Lu Duoxun dared not admit it. Instead, he said respectfully: "Your subject came to the palace this time originally to report on the governance and livelihood of Liangzhe, and to receive Your Majesty's instruction."

Without committing either way, Emperor Liu extended a hand and said, word by word: "In that case, have a seat! Just as well—you can hear the situation along with me!"

"Yes!" Emperor Liu's mood was clearly poor, and Lu Duoxun could not help but be extra careful.

Soon, under the escort of guards, the bold scholar Xu Shilian, who had dared to strike the Remonstrance Drum, successfully set foot in Chongzheng Hall and beheld the imperial countenance. He had come with the mindset of burning his bridges, fearless and ready to stake everything on one throw. But upon reaching the imperial presence, all his passion and fervor, all his righteous indignation, was suppressed in an instant.

Xu Shilian was not of utterly humble origins—his family had officials in it. His father had once served as Magistrate of Shanyang, and before participating in the examinations himself, he had served as a clerical scribe in Chuzhou. He did have a certain measure of experience and knowledge.

But this so-called knowledge, before the palace halls of the imperial city, before the Son of Heaven of the Great Han, could perhaps only be described as shallow and crude. A single look from Emperor Liu made Xu Shilian feel as though he had been seen through completely.

Struggling to calm the pounding in his heart, Xu Shilian hastily prostrated himself, nearly flat on the ground, and could not help but say in a trembling voice: "Your student Xu Shilian of Chuzhou pays respects to Your Majesty!"

"Rise and speak!" Emperor Liu had no intention of throwing his weight around before this insignificant scholar—there was simply no need.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" But Xu Shilian did not dare to move. Perhaps for him, speaking while kneeling would come more smoothly.

"Raise your head!" Emperor Liu said softly, with a slight furrow of his brow.

Xu Shilian slowly raised his head, but his eyes remained properly lowered, eyelids drooping, staring only at the bridge of his own nose. Not daring to risk offense, he would not even glance sidelong at Emperor Liu on the throne.

Emperor Liu observed this bold scholar—a fine-looking man, to be sure. Seeing his trepidation, the emperor could not help but tease him lightly: "That drumming of yours at the Remonstrance Gate—half the imperial city heard it. The guards say you were bold and fearless, determined to see me and state your grievance in person. Now that I am right before you, why have you turned so timid? Speak—what grievance is worth such a clamor from you!"

Emperor Liu's words seemed to have a steadying effect. After hearing them, Xu Shilian finally recovered somewhat from his nervousness. After all, he had long since done his mental preparation. Taking a deep breath, he clasped his hands and said: "Your Majesty, your student has a question. When the court opens examinations to select scholars and recommend the worthy for the state, does it favor personal connections or talent? Does it prize empty talk or practical results?"

"Get to the point—tell me your grievance!" Emperor Liu in fact disliked this style of question-and-answer, preferring directness. Xu Shilian perhaps only wanted to set a tone with such a question and draw Emperor Liu's attention, but unfortunately, he had used the wrong approach with the wrong person.

The slightest hint of displeasure in Emperor Liu's tone was enough to terrify this insignificant scholar. Xu Shilian's expression froze, and he no longer dared to beat around the bush. Pausing for a moment, he said in a deep voice: "I report to Your Majesty: your student accuses the examination administrator Li Fang of unfairness in selecting scholars, of favoring personal connections!"

At these words, Emperor Liu's expression did not change in the slightest. Beside him, however, Lu Duoxun's gaze was full of curiosity as he looked at Xu Shilian.

Raising an eyebrow slightly, Emperor Liu said in a flat tone: "Xu Shilian! I have already had people investigate. It is said you are a failed candidate from this session. Since you failed, there must be a reason—perhaps your learning is insufficient, or you performed poorly, or you did not meet the court's requirements for selecting scholars. If you harbor resentment over this and vent your anger on the chief examiner, lodging a complaint out of spite, I will not punish a minister of the court just because of your bitter accusations!"

Never in his wildest dreams had Xu Shilian expected such an attitude from Emperor Liu. It struck him like a heavy blow; a chestful of pent-up indignation lodged in his breast, nearly suffocating him into internal injury.

"If Your Majesty wishes to protect your trusted minister and treat your student as a criminal, then your student has nothing more to say and will willingly go to execution!" Xu Shilian said with a look of utter desolation.

"How insolent! Are you accusing Your Majesty of injustice, of favoring his own and bending the rules?" Hearing this, Lu Duoxun sternly rebuked from the side. After carefully observing Emperor Liu's expression, he then said to Xu Shilian with meaningful emphasis:

"Xu Shilian, His Majesty has always been perfectly just and impartial, upholding the principles of heaven. But if you expect to blame a minister of the court—a Grand Academician of the Inner Cabinet, no less—on the strength of your one-sided account alone, then where would the court's laws and institutions stand?

You say Academician Li favored personal connections in selecting scholars—what evidence do you have?"

Lu Duoxun's words seemed to jog Xu Shilian's memory. Coming back to himself, he hurriedly said: "The presented scholar Wu Jichuan is a fellow townsman of Academician Li!"

"Ha!" At this, Emperor Liu laughed at once, his interest greatly diminished, and his tone turned sharp: "That is not evidence! The court recommends the worthy without avoiding kin. Even if he were not merely a fellow townsman but Li's own son, so long as he possessed real talent, should he not be admitted? By your logic, should the court never admit a chief examiner's fellow townsman in any examination session?"

"Your Majesty, your student means nothing of the sort! It's just that—this Wu Jichuan, your student knows him as well. Though the Academician's learning is shallow, I still consider myself his superior! Your Majesty need only review the examination papers, or test us on the spot, and you will see!" Xu Shilian said.

Hearing this, Emperor Liu grew increasingly impatient inwardly, and gave a faint smile: "You are quite confident in yourself!"

Clearly, Xu Shilian's words carried no persuasive weight whatsoever. Calling him confident was no compliment—in Emperor Liu's eyes, it was perhaps arrogance and ignorance.

Still, since the man had brought his complaint before him, there needed to be some resolution. Seeing the earnest look on this young man's face, Emperor Liu did feel a few more doubts stirring in his mind.

Just as he was mulling it over, a herald reported that Chancellor Zhao Pu had arrived—clearly, he too had come upon hearing the news.

Summoned in, Zhao Pu entered the hall. His gaze swept over the scene briefly, and he was just about to offer his respects when he heard Emperor Liu wave his hand and say: "Minister Zhao, you've come at just the right time!"

Pointing at Xu Shilian, Emperor Liu instructed: "This scholar has petitioned at the Remonstrance Drum, claiming the chief examiner favored personal connections and that the court's selection was unfair. Since the matter has been brought before me, there must be a resolution. Investigate it thoroughly, so that the realm has no cause for criticism!"

"Draft a group of people to work alongside Lu Duoxun. Go through all the examination papers and answers of this session's admitted scholars, re-rank their standings, and see how much difference there is from what Li Fang recorded!" Emperor Liu instructed.

"Yes!" Zhao Pu and Lu Duoxun said together.

"Also, summon this Wu Jichuan!" Emperor Liu's gaze fell back on Xu Shilian, and he said softly: "Didn't you say that Wu Jichuan is unworthy of his position? I'll give you this chance—let the two of you compete on the spot!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Xu Shilian was overjoyed at these words. He kowtowed with force, tears nearly welling in his eyes.

Seeing Xu Shilian's confident, excited manner, even though Emperor Liu trusted Li Fang deeply in his heart, he could not help but mutter inwardly—Li Fang surely would not let him down, would he...