Chapter 598: Belated Judgment!

When the time came, Wushe came out to announce that everyone should enter the hall.

Chen Yan led the Ministry of Revenue personnel slowly inside, while the examinees who had passed the imperial examination followed behind, slightly excited.

Even the Lai brothers could not calm their minds at this moment.

This was not their first time meeting Li Shimin, after all Li Shimin was the chief examiner this time, and they had also undergone the palace examination, personally tested by Li Shimin.

But how to say it.

This audience with the emperor differs from last time; previously they had to call themselves "students," but today they must call themselves "subjects."

A small change in title carries a completely different meaning.

What differs today from ordinary court assemblies is that the hall is now filled with desks, each desk's position representing a different rank!

Li Shimin sat upright at the highest position.

"Your subjects, greet Your Majesty!"

Civil and military officials performed the salute together; Li Shimin casually waved his hand, saying, "All my beloved officials, rise."

"Today I am pleased; I will sit with my beloved officials—please take your seats."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

The officials rose, then sat down according to their respective ranks.

Given Chen Yan's current status and the considerable scale of today's gathering, he naturally had a separate seat; just above him were Du Ruhui and others, and above them was Li Shimin.

However, unlike ordinary people who sit kneeling, Chen Yan casually sat cross-legged.

Many people witnessed this scene, yet said nothing.

Li Shimin glanced briefly, paid no mind to this minor matter, and looked down at the fifteen successful candidates still standing, not yet seated.

"This year's imperial examination results far exceeded my expectations; not only is our top scorer a youth in his early twenties, but the number of admitted candidates has reached fifteen."

"It far surpasses the imperial examination of the first year of the Zhenguan era."

"This is an excellent start, and also the result of your and my joint efforts."

"I am deeply comforted."

Chang Sun Wujie laughed and said, "Your Majesty, this examination precisely proves that our Tang Dynasty has passed the period of rest and recuperation and entered a stage of flourishing prosperity. These past two years, not only have the winds been favorable and rains timely, the people's harvests have been good, grain prices have kept falling, and the imperial examination has brought a surprise to everyone."

"In one go we have selected so many talents, not to mention the extraordinary genius of the Lai brothers. Frankly speaking, Your Majesty, I sometimes feel as if it's unreal."

"The Tang Dynasty has fully entered a flourishing stage!"

After saying that, most of the officials present fell silent.

Yes!

In fact, they also had thoughts similar to Chang Sun Wujie's.

Looking back at the early years of the Zhenguan era, it was truly a struggle to get by.

Including the fourth year of the Zhenguan era, when a flood triggered an eight-hundred-li urgent report.

Clearly only a little over a year has passed, yet everyone feels as if more than ten years have gone by.

During this period, truly too many things happened; the Tang Dynasty almost recovered and grew strong at a visible pace.

How could one not feel astonished?

Li Shimin smiled faintly, "Alright, enough idle talk; those of us whose names are on the golden list, the future pillars of the state, should be getting anxious."

"Come forward!"

The latter remark was addressed to the fifteen examinees below.

Under the gaze of the officials, the fifteen examinees slowly stepped forward, naturally with the Lai brothers at the front.

Since yesterday, the names Lai Heng and Lai Ji have become completely known to everyone in Chang'an City.

With the existence of the Great Tang Daily, it can be foreseen that these two names will also become known to all under heaven.

Li Shimin rose, took the pre-prepared ranking list from Wushe's hand, and publicly announced Lai Ji as the first jinshi and Lai Heng as the second.

As for third place... it was a person nearly forty years old from the Yan family, named Yan Tong.

When Chen Yan visited the Yan family, he had a brief encounter with that person.

After Li Shimin finished announcing the rankings, he nodded and said, "The imperial examination is merely a stepping stone into officialdom; from now on, how far you can go depends on the subsequent assessment by the Ministry of Personnel."

"We understand, Your subjects."

The fifteen examinees replied respectfully.

This is the normal procedure, because after passing the imperial examination one merely gains the qualification to become an official; what specific post one can hold still depends on the Ministry of Personnel's evaluation.

This is what Du Gou previously mentioned—considering personal appearance, calligraphy, eloquence, and so on.

Only after passing these will the Ministry of Personnel assign official posts.

Generally, one starts from a grassroots official position.

For example, a top scorer usually becomes an eighth-rank official, at most seventh-rank.

Sun Fuguo of the first year of the Zhenguan era was just like that.

However, unlike other grassroots officials, the prospects of those who passed the examination are far better.

Continuing with Sun Fuguo as an example, from the first year of the Zhenguan era to now, merely six years have passed, and he has already reached third rank.

This is sufficient to see the value of a top scorer.

Just as everyone thought the matter would conclude and the fifteen examinees should take their seats, Li Shimin spoke.

"However..."

A single "however" instantly drew everyone's attention.

Li Shimin said lightly, "Lai Ji, Lai Heng, I faintly see another person's shadow in you."

"Even if you cannot surpass him, but according to the rules, completing these tedious procedures and accumulating experience bit by bit would be somewhat a waste of great talent."

As soon as these words left his mouth, the officials' expressions instantly became subtle.

Especially Minister of Rites Dou Dan, his gaze unconsciously flicked toward Chen Yan sitting cross-legged before the desk, his heart full of resentment.

Everyone knows who Li Shimin is referring to.

Because he became top scholar at twenty, only faintly reminiscent of that person; aside from Chen Yan, who entered officialdom at eighteen and steadily held the Minister of Revenue post at twenty, a monstrous talent, who else could there be?

Chen Yan clicked his tongue, giving Li Shimin an out: "His Majesty, what do you think should be done?"

"'Me?' Li Shimin raised the corners of his mouth, 'I actually haven't thought it through well; why don't you, Minister Chen, say something?'"

"You are all young people; those two are only a year or two older than you. More importantly... these two are people you personally cultivated."

"What do you think, how should we arrange them for the best?"

Chen Yan was speechless.

I didn't expect Li Shimin to throw the topic back again.

It seems he has made up his mind to take slight revenge for yesterday's affair, letting himself play the villain.

"'I think that in special times, special methods should be employed; for such special talents as the Lai brothers, we ought to give them some preferential treatment.'"

"'Last year, the Ministry of Works had some problems; its internal structure had serious flaws. Why not let Lai Ji go to the Ministry of Works?'"

As Chen Yan's words left his mouth, the hearts of the Ministry of Works officials, who had been living in anxiety, died completely.

They understood.

What awaits them next is the long-overdue judgment!

"......"