Chapter 985: Two Paths: Top Scholar and Tanhua

"Zhang Xinchen!" Liu Chengyou looked with great interest at Zhang Quhua, who stood respectfully before him, his tone carrying a hint of surprise: "I hear that for these three years, you have stayed at home, never leaving your door, devoting yourself to study. Now, upon your first attempt, you have achieved the top score in the imperial examination, your name spreading throughout the Eastern Capital. It seems these years have indeed borne fruit in your studies!"

The Emperor appeared composed, and Zhang Quhua likewise seemed at ease, cupping his hands in reply: "Your subject dare not claim achievement. I have merely made some progress compared to the arrogance of my youth!"

It was clear that Zhang Quhua remained quite confident. Liu Chengyou swayed slightly, pondered briefly, then said calmly: "Back then, when I offered you the post of Registrar in the Directorate for Armaments, you were unwilling to take it. Now that you have achieved the top score, I still appoint you as Registrar in the Directorate for Armaments. Can you handle it?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Quhua's expression finally changed. He stared at the Emperor in astonishment, only to receive a serious look in return. His face shifted through several emotions, then he cupped his hands and said in a low voice: "I thank Your Majesty for the appointment!"

"A distinguished top scholar serving as a mere Registrar in the Directorate for Armaments — is that not overqualified for the position, an insult to scholarship?" Liu Chengyou asked Dou Yi this question.

Dou Yi, now showing clear signs of age, looked at Zhang Quhua's somewhat dejected retreating figure, lost in thought, then said: "This young man's talent is striking, and his reputation has spread widely, even surpassing that of Hu Zai in his day. However, he lacks tempering and still needs polishing. Since three years ago he looked down on a Registrar's post, then three years later, let him still start from there. If he cannot bear this duty, then he can hardly bear heavier responsibilities. Your Majesty's arrangement, I believe, is appropriate!"

Receiving Dou Yi's approval, Liu Chengyou's mood improved. Toward Zhang Quhua, Liu Chengyou bore no particular ill will — young people being hot-blooded and sharp-edged was understandable.

Of course, this was also because Liu Chengyou's mindset had grown increasingly mature and magnanimous. Had it been ten years earlier, anyone who put on such airs before him, even if not resented, could forget about any good prospects in their official career.

Now, however, he was willing to be more tolerant, to give him a chance to grow. If he ultimately failed the tempering, then so be it — the Great Han of today no longer lacked governing talent, and Liu Chengyou no longer needed to desperately recruit talent as he had in the early days of the state.

In comparison, Zhang Quhua was luckier than most. He had good birth, gained fame for talent at a young age, and had caught the Emperor's eye — such a starting point was truly not low.

Of course, he also had to pay a price for his youthful arrogance, and no small price at that. Three years of time, still starting from Registrar in the Directorate for Armaments — the willfulness and caprice of those days had changed nothing, even though he was now a top scholar.

A look, an attitude, a single word — enough to decide the fate of an outstanding man. Such was the intoxicating power of imperial authority.

Compared to Zhang Quhua, Zhao Kuangyi, though younger, carried himself with far greater poise. Standing before Liu Chengyou, his face displayed a composure that belied his years — this was a man with political talent maxed out. Indeed, those who had dealings with Zhao Kuangyi all spoke highly of his bearing.

Liu Chengyou sized up Zhao Kuangyi for a few moments. By now, his attitude toward these outstanding men possessed of "imperial bearing" had completely relaxed. Toward Zhao Kuangyi specifically, he felt mostly curiosity.

Owing to the ingrained impressions in his mind, Liu Chengyou actually held some contempt for Taizong of Song. Because he had usurped the throne improperly, because he had governed martial men with civil means, because starting from him, a bitter seed was planted that would make the Han people of the Central Plains endure centuries of humiliation.

However, looking at things, one ultimately should not be one-sided — especially after Liu Chengyou had been Emperor for so many years. The root of the chaos in the late Tang and Five Dynasties lay in military commanders being hard to control, the branches strong and the trunk weak, with imperial authority growing ever feebler.

As an Emperor who came from a literati background, lacking Zhao Kuangyin's military ability and prestige, his desire to suppress the generals was understandable — he merely overcorrected.

In the decades of turmoil in the early Song, he suffered major military setbacks on several occasions, earning the reputation of the "Donkey-Cart War God" that would be passed down through the ages, making endless errors in foreign military decisions — Zhao Kuangyi had too much for later generations to despise.

But to condemn him entirely based on that, to let the part define the whole, would also be unfair. Objectively speaking, under such circumstances, Zhao Kuangyi still managed to maintain the stability of the Song, consolidate his rule, standing unshaken amid numerous disturbances, keeping arrogant soldiers and fierce generals firmly in his grip, with imperial authority at a high — accomplishing all this was beyond the capacity of any mediocrity.

To be sure, in personal conduct, Zhao Kuangyi had much that was contemptible — lust, falsifying history, grandiosity — but as an Emperor, he could still be called qualified. This was something Liu Chengyou could only deeply appreciate after having been Emperor himself for so many years, and he could thus understand some of Zhao Kuangyi's policies, at least as fitting the national conditions of that time.

Of course, his later actions — guarding the interior while neglecting the exterior, fighting conservatively, defending and counterattacking — and the label of "weakness" that was thereafter affixed to the Han people of the Central Plains, were also him paying the bill for his early military strategic errors, and paying a hefty one.

Setting aside those trivial personal feelings, as Emperor of the Great Han, Liu Chengyou now held an appreciative attitude toward Zhao Kuangyi. Perhaps, under his leadership, Zhao Kuangyi could become a renowned minister, a celebrated chancellor?

"The Duke of Guangyang has a worthy successor!" With such thoughts, Liu Chengyou's gaze toward Zhao Kuangyi grew increasingly gentle, and even his sighing tone carried appreciation.

Perceiving the Emperor's attitude, Zhao Kuangyi, though not yet officially launched in his career, was inwardly pleased but did not show it, saying respectfully: "Your subject has no merit to his name and shallow virtue, yet has received deep imperial grace and inherited his father's legacy, for which I have always felt uneasy, fearing I am unworthy of such favor. Now, all I can do is emulate my father and elder brother — to serve Your Majesty with utmost loyalty and repay the state!"

"Our Tanhua has such awareness — truly rare! For these words alone, the Duke of Guangyang has a worthy successor!" This time Liu Chengyou discussed it with Dou Yi right in front of Zhao Kuangyi.

Dou Yi evidently concurred as well. Among the sons of the Great Han's meritorious nobility, men like Zhao Kuangyi were few. Clearly, Dou Yi also appreciated this young man.

Because in the current court, Zhao Kuangyin's achievements and standing far surpassed Zhao Hongyin's, after Zhao Hongyin's death, his noble title was inherited by Zhao Kuangyi. As for Zhao Kuangyin, he had carved out his own line through his own ability and merits. This was an immense honor for the Zhao family. Of course, such cases were not unique — there were indeed some instances of father and son both serving as founding heroes.

Turning his head, Liu Chengyou said to Zhao Kuangyi: "Since you feel your virtue is still insufficient, then rouse your spirit, display your talents, govern well and bring peace to the people, render service to the state, and make yourself worthy of the grace you bear!"

These words of encouragement from Liu Chengyou moved Zhao Kuangyi slightly, and he promptly replied: "Your subject will keep Your Majesty's teachings in mind!"

Looking at him, Liu Chengyou's interest was piqued again, and he asked: "Passing the imperial examination is merely the beginning of an official career. What post do you think your abilities warrant, to give you room to display them? No need for hesitation — speak frankly!"

Zhao Kuangyi had originally intended to give a smooth answer, saying he would respectfully await the court's arrangement. But his mind turned quickly; observing Liu Chengyou's demeanor and gauging his psychology, he decided to gamble, and replied with a serious expression: "Your Majesty, your subject wishes to govern a county, to administer three thousand households, to promote education and culture, and to encourage farming and sericulture!"

According to the Great Han's previous adjustment of prefectural and county household registrations, counties with fewer than three thousand households were classified as lower-grade counties. But even a lower-grade county was an excellent platform for an ambitious official.

That he had not chosen to remain in the capital for office but instead wished to serve as a parent-official in the localities — Liu Chengyou was not overly surprised, but he regarded him with even greater esteem.

He directly instructed Dou Yi: "Follow the Tanhua's request — if a post becomes vacant, send him out immediately!"

"Yes!" Dou Yi acknowledged.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Zhao Kuangyi hurriedly said.

Though it was said to be a reserve appointment, to be filled when a vacancy arose, with Liu Chengyou's word and Dou Yi's existing appreciation for Zhao Kuangyi, it was all but certain that the Ministry of Personnel's arrangements would not be slow in coming.

For Zhao Kuangyi, Liu Chengyou had already made an exception. Otherwise, an ordinary jinshi seeking an external substantive post would need a period of training and then pass an assessment, and to directly become the chief official of a county was even harder.

There was no helping it — even after all these years, Liu Chengyou still could not avoid the influence of the "celebrity effect."

Apart from Zhang Quhua and Zhao Kuangyi, Liu Chengyou also offered words of encouragement to the second-place graduate Ma Shi, though clearly with less attention than the former two. For him as well, an assignment was arranged — a good one: service in the Kaifeng administration.

As for the others, Liu Chengyou need not consider them — the Ministry of Personnel would handle the arrangements. And Liu Chengyou himself had no intention of interfering, even though this examination class did contain some people who interested him. He preferred to observe from the sidelines how these men developed.