Chapter 317: Tactical Lean-back

As soon as the king heard 'eighty', he immediately did a tactical lean-back, shrinking his whole self into the chair.

How scary!

"Before I go on campaign, it's not every day that there are state affairs requiring me to make decisions. Eighty items? I won't even mention that the chancellor and grand tutor can't finish them—could I just ask Chief Steward Zhu Ti?" How could it pile up to eighty items!

That mountain‑sized stack of documents made the king's eyes hurt just looking at it. "Did I open a paper workshop to lower paper costs so you'd use them like this?"

Grand Tutor: ……

Chancellor: "Your Highness, I've handled what I can; these eighty items are all major affairs that require your personal attention. Previously Youzhou had few people and few matters, but now including the three commanderies of the Western Regions, your territory is already half the size of southern Great Jin." Meaning you're too good at fighting—now the land is vast and the matters many.

The king felt a bleak chill suddenly arise in the hall, making people's hearts feel cold—how could it blow like that?!

"Your Highness, do you want to take it back to look at it first, or handle it directly while all your colleagues are present at court?"

The king: "…Isn't there a third option?" For example, let him rest a while first, then speak?

Chancellor, impartial as iron: "Not for now."

"Ah! Then, then bring out the biggest matter and speak of it first." The king sighed deeply; this morning was wasted.

"First, the eldest imperial brother of the Chang'an Prince will ascend the throne in two days."

The king exclaimed in shock: "Just let him ascend—who cares? Do you still expect me to attend his enthronement ceremony?" Don't dream on!

"No, I'm just afraid Your Highness might forget this. Before you returned, Chang'an had already issued three edicts in succession: the first two ordered you to return to the capital to explain the extermination of the Cui clan, and the third ordered you to return to attend the new emperor's enthronement ceremony."

"Oh, the Cui clan colluded with the enemy and betrayed the state; I said I would exterminate the entire Cui clan. Those who escaped are merely a matter of time. There's nothing to explain—does he deserve it?!

I also killed Lan He; should I go explain to the Xiongnu chanyu? No need to bother him—next!

Chancellor: ……

Wei Shen gave him a thumbs‑up from below, awesome! He hadn't expected the king to speak like that in court, arousing solemn respect!

Especially seeing the two old men beside him looking shocked, it felt so satisfying—what's going on?!

The Chang'an mess is settled, but there are still a heap of problems in the Northern Border.

Now, aside from Youzhou, all other regions of the Northern Border are under military governance; local government offices are basically built on ruins, requiring many people to rebuild, and these positions are huge gaps.

Speaking of this, the king too is helpless without resources.

He looked toward the Grand Tutor full of anticipation, "Any progress on the talent selection plan?"

The Grand Tutor shook his head: "All usable talent has been employed; what's needed is prioritized for the new commanderies, newcomers are first trained in Youzhou, yet the gap remains huge."

The king again brought up the matter of his elementary school.

In this world, commoners still outnumber the aristocracy; he must select useful talent from the populace.

Asking about the school, it has opened, but the overall student age is too young—just a drop in the bucket for today's Youzhou.

"Your Highness, the students in the newly built school are mostly young children; even with free tuition and books, brush and ink are still a heavy burden for most families. Older children in Youzhou… their first choice is to work at home or learn a craft."

The king thought, "Is he really expecting me to prematurely institute the examination system?"

Never mind; those taking the exams now would surely be impoverished aristocrats. Ordinary aristocrats have to look to the faces of the few great clans, which always stick together, and the king has already offended nearly all of them, so he can't curry favor with them.

As for impoverished aristocrats, they have some foundation; when even eating is a problem, other things become less important.

The king noted the examination matter in his little notebook.

The officials in the hall watched the king pull out a colored booklet from somewhere above, scribbling and drawing to himself, unsure whether it was related to the discussion or if he had already slipped away……

Fortunately the king marked it and then spoke: "Haven't you told the commoners that after finishing basic studies they can transfer to the Northern Border Academy? Pass the exam there and you can become an official—completely overturn fate! Children wouldn't even need to farm anymore; wouldn't they want to try this?"

As soon as he said that, many shook their heads in disagreement.

Still, the Grand Tutor spoke first: "Your Highness, do you know the price of brushes and ink in Great Jin?"

The king looked over with clear eyes and shook his head.

He truly didn't know!

The king had never bought brushes and ink himself; the manor's supply is endless—how could he possibly need to buy any?

"A pine‑soot ink ingot is fifteen taels, vermilion ink eighteen taels, tea ink twenty taels." Can other classes afford that?

What he didn't say was that those sent to school are mostly young children heard to have nothing to do at home without tuition; they just want to learn how to write their names, and most people lack paper, ink, brush, and inkstone.

The king puzzled, "Isn't there anything cheaper? Why is one ink so expensive!" He curiously picked up the ink on his desk, which still bore intricate carvings. "Is it all this refined? I hadn't noticed…"

Officials: ……

At a glance, this fellow has never had the slightest curiosity about ink.

The Grand Tutor had to remind: "The ink in Your Highness's hand is top‑grade lacquer soot ink—fine, smooth, moist, with a purplish jade luster, fragrant inside but not outside; ground to exhaustion, its scent does not fade, and its price is no less than a hundred taels."

Upon hearing that, the king's face fell in anguish—using such fine ink for me, what a waste!

Fortunately he remembered that the morning court was a bit crowded, so he managed not to blurt it out. If only the Grand Tutor were present, he'd surely have let it slip.

Although the king didn't say it out loud, the Grand Tutor grasped seven‑tenths of it and quickly continued: "These days, aside from our Northern Border, those who can read and write are all the aristocracy; refined things never come free." The ink studied by the aristocracy—how could it not be exquisite, meticulous, and costly!

No need to discuss; what blocks the king's unconventional talent‑recruiting is still money.

Social strata aren't easily crossed; perhaps after three generations of gritty effort to support one scholar, a family is considered prosperous.

The king rested his chin on his hand, deep in thought, and the officials' murmurs below grew faint.

What was the king thinking about?

Naturally, he wanted to drive down the price of brushes and ink!

Paper and books are fine—he has a paper workshop and a printing bureau. The king plans to go to Bai Yang to buy some cheap ink; Bai Ge no longer uses a writing brush, so that ink is obsolete and surely cheap.

The king kept noting in his little notebook, not forgetting to call Zhao Bao: "Prepare a few fine pieces of ink for me and send them to Suiyu Hall!"

Bai Li, the Street Stall Giant Jing, discovered a little niche for getting rich—this ink, so refined, will surely fetch a high price!

Seeing the king's thoughts wandering off, the chancellor couldn't help reminding: "Your Highness, what about the manpower shortage?"

"Anyway, with military governance in place, just hold out a few more days! I can't conjure people for you right now. As for the talent shortage, I have two plans!"

Wei Shen looked at the king with newfound respect—didn't expect the king, just think, to have two ideas!

"One, we must break the bad habit of selecting officials based on pedigree, which hinders our Northern Border's future development. Forget the future—right now there's no one to do the work. From now on, our Northern Border officials will be chosen solely on ability; I intend to use examinations to select officials! Don't rush to oppose!" The king saw a few older ones starting to get agitated and hurriedly warned them.

The Great King did not mention another reason regarding the imperial examinations, strengthening centralization and weakening the scholar-official class's influence.

The Great King only spoke about today's personnel shortage.

The Northern Border is not yet a piece of fat meat, but the Great King is very confident about its future development; it will definitely be stronger than the south. By then, the scholar-official class will be even less willing to let go. Though I've never seen a pig run, I have read history books! Don't think the Great King's general knowledge of the classics, histories, philosophers, and literature is ordinary; he has read plenty of serious extracurricular books.

It's still early; striking first is not wrong.

"I know that everyone standing here today is of scholar-official origin, including the Bai Li family itself, which is also a prominent clan. But times are different now; our Great Jin was almost destroyed! With our lives at stake, can those old rules you cling to save Great Jin, or are they just your own lives and property? Also don't think that my moving against the scholar-official class's interests this time is short-sighted!"

Don't forget who saved you from becoming Xianbei slaves—it was my cavalry.

Special circumstances require special measures—don't you know that troubled times have arrived? The Marquis of Hanshou and the King of Jiangxia have been stirring up trouble in the south all along, and the Kings of Guangling and Jing are no pushovers either; they will surely act soon, and look how chaotic the outside world has become!

If you had initially clung to Great Jin's rules, limiting me to only three thousand personal guards and forbidding army expansion, then now everyone in the great hall would either be fleeing to the south or already herding sheep for the Xianbei!

Chancellor: ……

Grand Tutor: ……

The few old men who had just been opening their mouths repeatedly shut up, becoming as quiet as chickens.

Whenever the Great King mentions his cavalry, it works as a surefire way to shut them up.

Is it that if he doesn't speak, it's fine, but once he does, it's astonishing?

Even the Great King points him out, saying, "Zhang Sinong, you seemed to have something to say just now, didn't you?"

Zhang Sinong stepped forward, gritting his teeth: "I believe that farmers and artisans have shallow views and lack the perspective and insight to govern a region. One's background..."

While he spoke, the Great King kept nodding vigorously, leaving the old men bewildered—just whose side are you on, anyway!

Who would have thought he hadn't finished three sentences when the Great King cut him off: "You're right! So I'll let them go study first to broaden their horizons, and I said we'd test them—only after they pass will we employ them. Learn well, then serve in office!"

Having said that, he felt his explanation was excellent, then turned to the Grand Tutor, who was still pondering 'Learn well, then serve in office'—how marvelous!

Upon reflection, the whole person was filled with doubt and uncertainty.

Is this still the underachieving Great King he knows!

The Great King split the fruit, saying, "Regardless of origin, we will hold subject-based examinations; those who pass can serve me. This new system needs a detailed charter, which the Grand Tutor will take charge of."

Upon hearing this, the Chancellor knew the Great King had already made up his mind and could not be swayed, so he stopped uselessly pulling and tugging.

He only asked about the Great King's second plan, not mentioning that there were two.

This one really cannot solve the urgent burning need.

The Great King shifted his posture on the throne and said, "Second, it's Xie Jiji. The Qingyang Academy's peach and plum trees fill the world; the Xie family's disciples and former officials should be the most numerous under heaven—please invite Mr. Xie to come out of retirement!"

The Grand Tutor opened his mouth but ended up saying nothing; his legs are almost ready to break from running, and he doesn't even know how many trips he's made to the Northern Border Academy, yet that old fox just won't take the bait.

The Grand Tutor stepped forward and hastily proposed: "As for Mr. Xie, it's still up to Your Highness to handle—last time it was Your Highness who personally retained him, so this time please trouble Your Highness to go yourself!"

Great King: ……

Uh-oh, the Grand Tutor seems to have learned his move.

Name of the ultimate move—Buck-Passing Great Method.