Chapter 240: Progress of the Special Examination

The restless stirring in Hezhong, though no small matter, was not yet enough to put the court on excessive alert. News of Li Shouzhen's rebellion had not yet arrived; from top to bottom, the Eastern Capital carried on as usual, and moreover showed more order than before, with court affairs proceeding methodically. What is called: loose on the outside, tight within.

Liu Chengyou remained as steady as Mount Tai, handling state affairs as usual.

"Your Majesty, among the prefectures of Henan, apart from Pu, Yun, Deng, Xiang, and An, local military weapon workshops have all been abolished. The Directorate for Armaments has gathered over four hundred skilled craftsmen from the various prefectures for service, and materials for manufacturing are being transported to the capital in succession. Current reserves in the various storehouses can supply the workshops for two months."

Having spent over two months' time, the disposition of weapon workshops in the Central Plains region could be considered to have achieved some results, and progress was already fairly quick. But judging from the outcome, only those prefectures and garrisons under strong central control, as well as those obedient to the court like Zheng, Ru, Hua, Yan, and Xu, had complied—and even so, they did not bow their heads at the mere issuance of an edict. Add to that Wang Zhang's consistently crude and forceful methods of enforcement, and it was almost certain that local resentment over this matter was considerable.

"Issue an edict, reiterating the court's original intent and attitude in undertaking this matter, and notify all prefectures that military weapon workshops may be converted to civilian production. Where craftsmen have been dismissed, the government should provide appropriate compensation!" After brief deliberation, Liu Chengyou instructed.

"Yes!" Wang Zhang acknowledged.

From his expression, it was clear he was not particularly invested in this, or perhaps he knew the likely outcome. Even after this rectification, how could local private manufacture of weapons truly be prohibited? If one had the will, one could simply continue making them in secret. Only by firmly establishing the court's authority and gradually applying heavy-handed rectification would there be results. And Wang Zhang had previously agreed with Liu Chengyou's idea of "abolishing the workshops" because he saw the benefits—now, with craftsmen secured and large quantities of iron, tin, hides, and other manufacturing materials harvested, he was satisfied.

Did Liu Chengyou not know all this? Of course he had deliberated on it, just as with the considerations behind his other policies: first implement gradually, establish the system, and later this would serve as the basis for settling accounts after the autumn harvest.

"For the remaining regional garrisons, suspend this matter for now!" Liu Chengyou said again.

"Yes!" Wang Zhang acknowledged once more. He also understood that next, the court would focus its full efforts on dealing with Hezhong, and would temporarily refrain from "poking" the localities over such minor matters.

"Additionally, the crossbows, armor, sabers, spears, and other weapons used by the military come in many varieties with inconsistent specifications. I propose undertaking a reorganization—based on the actual weapons used by the imperial army, standardize production of specific models and abolish miscellaneous military equipment!" Wang Zhang further reported.

This was a practice of consolidating resources and improving efficiency, which would also benefit military training and logistics. This proposal deeply pleased Liu Chengyou; after only a moment's thought, he agreed.

After Wang Zhang withdrew, before long, Zhao Shangjiao and Tao Gu arrived upon summons, entering the hall together. Even before Liu Chengyou, one could detect the discord between the two—a sense of covert rivalry. Especially Tao Gu: according to his original expectation, relying on his relationship with Liu Chengyou, the position of chief examiner for the special examination was as good as secured. But Zhao Shangjiao, lacking discernment, had also submitted a memorial, and even proposed a "sealed-name grading" method that Tao Gu had overlooked.

"How is the preparation for the special examination coming along?" Ignoring the friction between Tao and Zhao, Liu Chengyou asked directly. He only cared that matters be handled properly.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, preparations have been completed according to the regulations. The examination hall has been repaired and renovated, examiners have been selected—all from the Three Halls and the Hanlin Academy—guards for the examination are drawn from the imperial army, and the examination procedures have been announced to those who have come to the capital to sit for it..." Zhao Shangjiao recited as if counting family treasures, presenting an image of competence.

When he finished, Tao Gu followed closely: "Your Majesty, the regulations and procedures listed previously drew heavily from Tang institutions. However, after our deliberation and implementation, we found them still too cumbersome. Your Majesty has reopened the special examination seeking urgently needed talent, so for this examination, we have striven for simplicity and directness, seeking practical results, to select worthy men for the court."

Clearly, Tao Gu knew Liu Chengyou's preferences well, knowing his dissatisfaction with much of the court's empty formalism, and so spoke and reported in a manner that deliberately or unconsciously catered to Liu Chengyou's temperament. Hearing this, Liu Chengyou indeed nodded with satisfaction: "Not bad."

"How many examinees have registered at the Department of State Affairs?" Liu Chengyou looked at Zhao Shangjiao and asked.

At this mention, an awkward expression appeared on Zhao Shangjiao's face. Lowering his voice, he bowed his head and answered: "Across all subjects, one hundred and eighty-nine in total. More than half are in the jinshi category, with the mingjing category next..."

"So few!" Liu Chengyou was genuinely surprised, with a hint of puzzled anger.

To be fair, this special examination had been prepared for so long—even if not a throng of thousands, it should not have been so desolate. The Son of Heaven himself had issued an edict to open the examination, yet the number of candidates was so pitifully small.

At this moment, Tao Gu spoke up: "Your Majesty, according to precedent, examinees must take the prefectural qualifying examination locally, pass the assessment, obtain the official certificate of recommendation, submit it to the Department of State Affairs, and then sit for the departmental examination. However, due to the wars of recent years, the local qualifying examinations have fallen into disuse, and few have obtained certificates. Thus many talented men among the people lack the qualifications to sit for the examination."

"Your servant believes that since the state is reopening talent selection, the conditions could be appropriately relaxed—but Chief Examiner Zhao rejected this." Tao Gu shot a sidelong glance at Zhao Shangjiao, beginning to undermine him to his face.

Hearing this, Liu Chengyou's tone indeed turned stern: "I opened this special examination out of thirst for talent. It is a grace examination, not a regular one—why must selection remain bound by old conventions? Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. How can the realm's talent be restricted by a single certificate of recommendation? The restrictions should be lifted!"

Hearing Liu Chengyou say this, Zhao Shangjiao immediately replied: "Your Majesty, the state's selection of talent should naturally proceed through layers of screening. Even a special examination must have its rules—how can it be done arbitrarily? Without restrictions, I fear those who are unqualified will slip in among the worthy."

Hearing Zhao Shangjiao's answer, before Liu Chengyou could react, Tao Gu's lips curled slightly. He clasped his hands and said: "Your Majesty, your servant has heard that many local officials act arbitrarily, accepting bribes, granting certificates to those who never sat for the examination. These unqualified types have certificates of recommendation just the same..."

"Those are, after all, a minority." Zhao Shangjiao's expression darkened as he retorted.

"Among the registered scholars, many of their certificates were issued by the previous dynasty..." Tao Gu added darkly. "Moreover, Your Majesty personally opened this special examination, yet fewer than two hundred candidates have registered. So shabby—have you considered the face of Your Majesty and the court? If word spreads, will the realm not misunderstand that the court has lost the hearts of the scholars?"

"What the court selects must be capable and virtuous men, to serve as officials and govern the people. If they lack virtue and talent, better to have none at all!" Zhao Shangjiao's beard bristled.

Seeing the two about to quarrel before the throne, Liu Chengyou raised his hand to stop the dispute. With a grave face, he pondered for a good while, then looked up and said: "Both of you have valid points. Rules naturally must be established, but I thirst for talent and must break free of old conventions. Thus: this being the dynasty's first holding of the examination, a special exception shall be made—scholars of eligible age may sit for the examination regardless of qualifications, without needing certificates of recommendation."

"To avoid the unqualified slipping in, Hanlin academicians and vice ministers from the Six Ministries may organize a preliminary screening before the formal examination. Additionally, strict control shall be maintained over the examination itself—broad entry, strict selection!"

Though Liu Chengyou's tone was calm, it brooked no dispute. Tao Gu immediately responded: "Yes! Your Majesty is wise."

Zhao Shangjiao was stunned for a moment, then could only say helplessly: "Your servant obeys!"

"When is the examination date set?"

Zhao Shangjiao answered: "Originally set for the twentieth of this month, but now..."

"Postpone it one month, change it to the fourteenth of the eighth month, before the Mid-Autumn Festival! The registration deadline at the Department of State Affairs shall be the ninth of the eighth month!" Liu Chengyou instructed directly.

"Yes!"

The two responded simultaneously, both knowing that with Liu Chengyou's changes, the Ministry of Rites and the two of them as chief examiners would have plenty more work to do.

But compared to Zhao Shangjiao's dejection, Tao Gu appeared much more relaxed, even somewhat smug—at least this time, Zhao Shangjiao had suffered a setback before the Emperor.

His eyes rolling, Tao Gu took the initiative again: "Your Majesty, once this edict is issued, the number of candidates across the realm will surely multiply severalfold, and additional examination supervisors will be needed. Also, among the scholars who have already arrived in the Eastern Capital, I observe many are poor, barely able to clothe and feed themselves. Delayed another month, I fear they will lack the means to lodge in the capital!"

"Minister Tao's concern is well taken!" Liu Chengyou nodded and said directly: "Those already registered with the Department of State Affairs may, upon presenting their official documents, go to the Kaifeng Prefecture to receive money and grain. Instruct Hou Yi to distribute as appropriate!"

"Your Majesty is benevolent!" Tao Gu immediately flattered.

By this move, Liu Chengyou would win the hearts of the scholars, and Tao Gu, as the one who proposed it, could also raise his own prestige—combined with his position as co-chief examiner, he could almost imagine the benefits he would reap from this.