Chapter 283: Top Scholar

The "Pacify the Frontiers Policy" — three simple characters, yet anything but plain. It clearly embodied Liu Chengyou's aspirations and ambitions, that grand vision to swallow heaven and earth, to encompass the entire realm, seeming to rush forth from the page. All the examinees couldn't help but grow solemn. Of course, it wasn't that mystical — it was merely the weight of the Emperor's status lending it power.

Four rows of examination desks stretched all the way out beyond Guangzheng Hall. Answering within the majestic hall was both an honor and a pressure, especially with a host of ministers and renowned scholars from the Three Institutes and the Hanlin Academy supervising nearby. This palace examination had been conceived on a whim by Liu Chengyou; its execution was somewhat rough around the edges, but the scene was still solemn and grand, sufficient to show how much importance he placed on it.

The examinees' performances were distinctly varied — most wore looks of bitter struggle, their distress plain on their faces. A three-character essay prompt was no easy task. Still, there were always the rare few who stood apart from the common run.

In the front row of the hall sat a scholarly man of grave bearing — one of those rare few. Clad in plain robes with whiskers on his cheeks, his face showed signs of age rather prominently. This was Wang Pu. Upon hearing the words "Pacify the Frontiers Policy," his eyes visibly brightened. Compared to the others' agonized pondering, his reaction was especially composed. After only a brief moment of thought, a calm smile touched the corners of his mouth, then vanished as he picked up his brush and began to write.

The young man seated beside him was Wang Qiwu — elegant and handsome in bearing. Noticing the movements of his "senior" beside him, he only glanced sidelong for a moment, then steadied his mind and knitted his brows in deep thought. He picked up his brush and wrote down the three characters "Pacify the Frontiers Policy."

Staring at the words for a while, he finally picked up his brush, sat up straight, and after a slight hesitation, set brush to paper. Flowing freely, over three hundred characters quickly appeared neatly on the smoothed-out paper. Just as he was writing with divine inspiration, he noticed that Wang Pu beside him had already set down his brush.

Wang Pu calmly placed his brush on the brush rest, gave his work a brief check, set it down, raised his hand to signal, and submitted his paper. Soon an invigilating official collected it and had it carried out of the hall. As for the policy essay he had written, it was directly presented to the examiners in the eastern wing for reading and evaluation. By Liu Chengyou's decree, for the sake of efficiency, papers were reviewed and annotated as they were submitted. This action added further pressure to the remaining examinees — the procedure was conducted in solemn silence, but it was hardly concealed.

Wang Qiwu was somewhat affected as well, but his brush paused only for a moment before he continued writing out the inspiration in his mind. Only a faint, barely perceptible bitter smile touched the corner of his mouth.

"The top scholar of this palace examination, barring any surprises, should be Wang Pu and Wang Qiwu!" From a distance, watching the proceedings of the examination, Zhao Shangjiao stroked his beard and said with deep emotion.

Tao Gu, however, countered in a languid tone: "That's not necessarily so!"

"What does Academician Tao mean by that?" Hearing this, Zhao Shangjiao glanced at Tao Gu and asked.

"Those two have literary talent, but not enough to startle the wind and rain or move ghosts and gods to tears. As for how they fare, it depends on whether what they write can catch His Majesty's eye. How does Vice Minister Zhao know that the other scholars have no startling arguments to offer?" Tao Gu asked with a faint, rhetorical air.

Zhao Shangjiao nodded, but said: "Academician Tao speaks truly. However, we judge the two Wangs superior because they understand current affairs far better than others. Would not a policy on pacifying the frontiers be perfectly suited to letting them fully express their views?"

"As Vice Minister Zhao says, that is indeed so!" Tao Gu revealed a smile that Zhao Shangjiao found somewhat irksome, then pointed toward the direction of the Hall of State Affairs: "But whether it will match His Majesty's intentions — that is another matter. If it fails to meet the sovereign's will, it may well work against them!"

Tao Gu spoke as though he had deep insight into His Majesty's intentions.

Zhao Shangjiao averted his gaze from Tao Gu, feeling somewhat displeased, and gave him a simple bow: "As for the outcome, let us wait and see!"

"Wang Pu wrote his essay with such speed — this old man must take a look at his work!" With that, Zhao Shangjiao headed toward the eastern wing.

Watching his retreating figure, Tao Gu cast a sidelong glance at the scholars still writing their essays, especially the few he had his eye on, then slowly followed in Zhao Shangjiao's wake. In his heart, he too favored Wang Pu and Wang Qiwu — as for why he had contradicted Zhao Shangjiao, that needed no reason...

Think of it — he, Academician Tao, had followed the present Son of Heaven since before his ascension, yet throughout this entire special examination, he had been overshadowed by a leftover official from the previous dynasty. Naturally, he felt aggrieved.

Still, if this special examination concluded smoothly, he ought to be due for a move up — promotion in rank and title, and the Son of Heaven would hardly be stingy. Tao Gu had long coveted a place in the Hall of State Affairs. Perhaps filled with anticipation for the future, Tao Gu's steps toward the eastern wing of Guangzheng Hall were noticeably lighter.

The palace examination was limited to one shichen. Though it was called a palace examination and Liu Chengyou treated it with high ceremony, he himself did not remain present to supervise the entire time.

In the Hall of State Affairs, not far from Guangzheng Hall, Liu Chengyou sat receiving Wang Zhang's report on the matter of minting coinage — this was the "homework" Liu Chengyou had assigned earlier.

In response to the current shortage of copper, Wang Zhang and his subordinates had deliberated several times over the past two days and arrived at a preliminary set of proposals.

First: issue an edict offering rewards for prospecting copper mines within the realm, take over all copper smelting workshops, prohibit the various prefectures from privately minting copper coins, and dispatch personnel from the minting offices to various regions for unified management and oversight.

Second: prohibit all private melting of coins to cast implements, establish laws to levy and collect civilian copper materials — any official or commoner found privately hoarding more than five jin of copper could be convicted and punished according to law, with the maximum penalty being death, to take effect from the first month of the second year of Qianyou.

Third: Wang Zhang directly suggested confiscating the copper statues and ritual implements of Buddhist temples throughout the realm. Clearly, the Buddha statues recovered from the temples in Hezhong had given him a taste of the benefits.

"First we take over the weapons workshops, then the copperware workshops — under such policies, I fear the realm will once again stir up no small amount of criticism!" Upon hearing the report, Liu Chengyou remarked with a faint sigh.

Weapons — military power; copper — financial power. Unbeknownst to many, Liu Chengyou had already begun stripping power from the military governors on two fronts. But how to implement it would have to proceed gradually, and the results would tell.

Thinking of his actions in the Eastern Capital, Liu Chengyou couldn't help but mutter inwardly, unable to stop himself from reflecting — was he being too aggressive?

After considering seriously for a moment, Liu Chengyou instructed: "Continue refining these three policies, work out the detailed rules, and consider the implementation circumstances. Without my permission, do not issue them for now!"

Hearing Liu Chengyou's words, Wang Zhang was somewhat surprised, but seeing the resolute determination beneath his calm expression, he could only acknowledge the order.

He reviewed state affairs in the Hall of State Affairs until nearly noon, when a report came from Guangzheng Hall that the palace examination had concluded. Only then did Liu Chengyou leisurely make his way to Guangzheng Hall.

"Your Majesty, all the scholars have finished writing. After repeated review by your servants, ten policy essays have been selected for Your Majesty's personal perusal, to determine the final rankings!" In Guangzheng Hall, Zhao Shangjiao presented a stack of essays.

The examination desks in the hall had already been removed. Liu Chengyou directly ordered: "Summon all the scholars into the hall!"

"Yes!"

While the summons was being issued, Liu Chengyou began seriously reviewing the "scrolls" in his hands.

Soon, all the scholars entered the hall and paid their respects in unison. Then they waited obediently for the young Son of Heaven on the throne to pronounce judgment on their futures.

The hall was crowded, yet very quiet, broken only by the occasional rustle of turning pages. Without any pretense, Liu Chengyou read each of the ten policy essays carefully, though he spent the longest time on two of them.

After a long while, he swept his gaze across the cluster of people in the hall, and when the atmosphere reached its most solemn point, he cleared his throat and said: "Having reviewed all the essays, each expresses its own views and all are suited to the times. But Wang Pu of Yunzhou best matches my intent — he shall be the top scholar!"