[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-simulated-to-reality-i-once-looked-down-upon-ten":3,"chapter-simulated-to-reality-i-once-looked-down-upon-ten-simulated-to-reality-i-once-looked-down-upon-ten-chapter-234":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Simulated to Reality: I Once Looked Down Upon Ten Thousand Ages?",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2347249,4587,"Chapter 234: Promote Talent Alone, Open Banks!","simulated-to-reality-i-once-looked-down-upon-ten-chapter-234",234,"\u003Cp>Yu Xu held the candle aloft, staring at the ink slowly flowing from the Shaobao’s brush.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Promote talent alone, regardless of origin!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eight characters written.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To Zhou Cheng, Liu Wen, and the others, they struck like lightning across the paper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thunder in the brushstroke!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They leaned closer, before anyone could recover, the brush continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In chaotic times, do not distinguish between noble families and humble huts, nor between aristocrats and common weeds, nor between the crippled and the whole—promote talent alone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having finished, the Shaobao turned his brush sharply and added another line:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nor do I distinguish between man and woman!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he swept his brush in bold strokes:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Open wide the imperial examination gates, broaden the paths of talent, gather the world’s gifted, and greatly expand private academies, teaching according to individual aptitude.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A tree takes ten years to grow; a person takes a hundred.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only a few words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet they struck like heavy hammers on a drum, stirring the hearts of all present, making breath difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Xu held the candle; hot wax dripped silently onto his wrist, yet he felt no pain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He felt only:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A fire burning in his chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had been a palace eunuch, climbing this path of power through hard-won battlefield merits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet he knew that in the Daqing Dynasty, eunuchs commanding troops remained mere appendages of imperial power, unable to break free from their humble chains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Born a man, yet denied the dignity of a man!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Promote talent alone”—four simple words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enough to dazzle and bewitch the world, to make countless heroes and worthies bow before them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Know this:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Daqing, powerful clans towered like mountains; lineages stood thick as forests; the ladder of advancement had long been sealed by walls of caste.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ancient rites of filial piety and moral evaluation had become jokes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The imperial examination path offered no true talent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ten years of cold windows, never seeing the light of heaven.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>People often said in vulgar tongue:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dragons give birth to dragons, phoenixes to phoenixes; mice bear sons who dig holes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crude as it was, it pierced straight to the heart of the world’s coldness—caste was as solid as stone, deeply rooted, unshakable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, can all things in the world be judged by one rule?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even a tiger may sire a dog; even a phoenix may bear a crow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In humble homes, noble sons still arise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Are kings and generals born of blood alone?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>True great clans monopolized knowledge, clutching the core of power as if all under heaven lay in their hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could the people ever see the moon’s light?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even imperial power was merely the mightiest of clans!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since ancient times:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who among those in high office has ever spoken, “Promote talent alone, regardless of origin”?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That would be digging one’s own grave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Cheng, seeing these words, suddenly remembered the couple from Mount Zhongnan years ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That couple, with their young child, had traveled a thousand miles just to fulfill a vow at Mount Zhongnan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two phrases still echoed in his ears:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whether or not the Shaobao knows, we must come.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We call it fulfilling a vow!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Cheng finally understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why, after years of marching north, had the Shaobao resigned his post to cultivate the Dao—while the great southern clans still refused to let him go?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Shaobao had never held even a corner of Daqing in his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Shaobao’s heart held Daqing’s people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Put the people in your heart, and they will lift you high.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the true conflict.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An irreconcilable “deep hatred.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dou Gu stood to one side, his heart in turmoil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Born poor, he had studied fiercely, filled his mind with learning, and sought to rise through the imperial examinations—but fate had crushed him again and again, until at last he turned outlaw, joining the green woods.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet know this:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His longing for justice had never dimmed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Ke’s brush touched the paper, continuing to pour out his thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew that the rise or fall of any land, any nation, depended not only on putting the people first, but also on cultivating and employing talent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As his thoughts flowed, Yu Ke wrote firmly on the paper: “Establish private academies, value talent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As his conclusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Ke’s thoughts did not stop there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only with northern prosperity could lasting peace be achieved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he wrote on:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Money!” and “Population!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These two keywords revealed two other vital aspects of northern development.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Wen nodded beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wars between the current states, at their root, were this:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If a place has no common people, no decree can ever take root.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Wen, though a merchant, held unique insight and strategy into governance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his youth:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He studied under a great Confucian scholar of Chu, mastering not only commerce but also the essence of Confucianism—this academic foundation laid the bedrock for his later achievements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had also served as county magistrate and prefect, accumulating rich administrative experience, making him shrewd in human affairs—neither naive nor yielding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He understood human nature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Wen had left the north with not a single silver tael, yet within less than ten years in Chaoling, he became its richest man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He believed no one in the Lu Family Army could surpass him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not even the “Shaobao.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In commanding troops, he naturally could not match him—not even close.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each man has his strengths; each art has its specialty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To excel in every field is not human—it is divine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the Shaobao’s insight alone:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Makes him a genius of this age.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Ke held his brush, thinking slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could population be increased?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Ke wrote again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Have more children!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crude words, but true.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Wen glanced over, his face expressionless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a normal state policy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Daqing practiced it; the four states practiced it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But how to make the people actually bear children?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They needed money; they needed security.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Likewise, if the people could not earn money, having more children would only burden the family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the key.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially in chaotic times, the people had deep fears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Wen shook his head slightly—the Shaobao had clearly never dealt with such state affairs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Do not know the depths!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Ke continued writing, but now he wrote in long paragraphs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"To encourage childbearing, every household registered in the Northern Lands shall receive genuine gold and silver as incentive, to alleviate initial child-rearing burdens.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Given that some families may face difficulties in raising children, a Northern Lands People’s Bank has been specially established, overseen and managed by the government.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If a household is unable to care for a child due to circumstances, it may apply to entrust the child to government care.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Northern Lands People’s Bank shall be funded by the Northern Lands prefectural governments and public donations; all expenses related to child-rearing shall be covered by the bank.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The People’s Bank encourages civilians to engage in commerce and acquire land or build homes; all residents of the Northern Lands shall enjoy...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The People’s Bank’s funding shall be used widely, including but not limited to commerce, agriculture, and other sectors; institutions must be established to evaluate and approve such uses...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this point, Yu Ke was no longer writing a few characters at a time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wrote in full paragraphs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Xu had already replaced the paper again and again, and behind him, eunuchs hurriedly transcribed his words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gradually!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Wen stared at each of these edicts!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slowly, he froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His face was filled with disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: Another chapter tonight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1261,"2026-06-21T01:33:00.595Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","0f7a1fc8a0b3c8e5066c3f4f07c7afbb90715e5fa70a9efb17548b4ee0b7494d","simulated-to-reality-i-once-looked-down-upon-ten-chapter-235","simulated-to-reality-i-once-looked-down-upon-ten-chapter-233",728,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsimulated-to-reality-i-once-looked-down-upon-ten-cover.jpg"]