Chapter 225: Scholars Coming from the South

"Father-in-law of the Emperor."

Zhao Xu bowed to Mi Zhuang.

The Father-in-law of the Emperor is the father of the Emperor's wife and the maternal grandfather of the Imperial Prince, so in ancient times where filial piety governed the world, the Father-in-law of the Emperor held a revered status, though he possessed no real power.

When meeting on ordinary days, he, as an Imperial Prince, still had to bow to the Father-in-law of the Emperor.

"Your Highness." Mi Zhuang bowed in return.

Although he was the Father-in-law of the Emperor, he was still a subject of the Imperial Clan, so naturally he could not act arrogant and accept this bow without returning it; he was duty-bound to return the gesture.

"Greetings, Your Highness."

At this moment, a youth of fifteen or sixteen stepped out from behind Mi Zhuang and winked at him.

Upon seeing this, Zhao Xu couldn't help but laugh; this person was Mi Zhuang's eldest grandson, Mi Wen.

He was a few months younger than him.

Every time Imperial Concubine Mi visited her family, Mi Wen would privately call him cousin.

Because Zhao Xu's status in the palace was low, no one was willing to keep him company.

He was, however, closer to this cousin.

"Hahaha... no need for formalities. Why didn't the Imperial Uncle come?" Zhao Xu asked with a smile.

Mi Zhuang said, "He originally intended to come, but thanks to Your Highness's blessing, the Emperor now favors the Mi Family greatly and has appointed him as the Grand Court of Revision Minister, so he was unable to make it."

"I see." Zhao Xu nodded.

The Imperial Clan had always held the belief that a mother's status rises with her son's.

Now that he was firmly seated in Yanzhou, holding power over the region, Imperial Concubine Mi's status had risen sharply.

Zhao Heng naturally had to give the Mi Family some tangible benefits to show his favor.

But this was also good; it meant his own influence at court had grown a little more.

"Please, Father-in-law of the Emperor."

Realizing that Mi Zhuang and the others were still standing outside the Prince's Mansion, Zhao Xu immediately invited them inside.

The hundred or so scholars following behind him filed in, each bowing to Zhao Xu.

Upon reaching the Hui Ke Tang, Zhao Xu ordered Feng'er to pour tea for everyone.

However, except for Mi Zhuang who sat down, the other scholars dared not sit and stood drinking their tea one by one.

Mi Wen stood behind Mi Zhuang, looking around.

"The Father-in-law of the Emperor has arrived at a very timely moment. I have just taken control of Yanzhou, and it is currently a tangled mess, with a lack of manpower everywhere," Zhao Xu said.

A smile played on the corners of Mi Zhuang's mouth, and his eyes were full of admiration as he looked at Zhao Xu.

Setting aside the status of the Imperial Clan, Zhao Xu was his grandson.

This grandson was now not only the master of Yanzhou but had also thwarted the Yuan Family's rebellion and soundly defeated the Northern Di.

Such brilliant achievements filled even him with admiration.

However, he was sometimes quite puzzled.

Although Zhao Xu had studied diligently in the past, he had never displayed such great talent.

How did he manage to spread his wings and show his mettle upon arriving in Yanzhou?

"Being able to resolve Your Highness's urgent needs puts my mind at ease. These one hundred and three scholars are all my prized students. Your Highness should select and use them based on their merits; there is no need to arrange official positions for them out of consideration for me. If they can be kept, keep them; if they cannot, it is only because they lack the ability," Mi Zhuang laughed.

Zhao Xu looked at the many scholars; some were observing him, some were closing their eyes to rest their minds, and others were bowing their heads in thought.

Yet, at a glance, he saw no sycophancy in their eyes, which made him slightly satisfied.

He took a sip of tea.

Mi Zhuang pushed Mi Wen to the front and smiled, "Your Highness, the atmosphere in Jingshi is decadent. The Imperial Uncle and I do not wish for Mi Wen to mingle with those sons of nobility in Jingshi. Furthermore, he insisted on coming, so I hope Your Highness will keep him by your side. If he commits any errors, Your Highness should feel free to discipline him."

Zhao Xu looked at Mi Wen.

The boy's face was full of excitement. The Mi Family had strict family rules, so Mi Wen was naturally not an outrageous, dissolute youth.

Since Mi Zhuang had sent him so many scholars, he seemed unable to refuse this request.

"I have long admired Your Highness, and I hope for your guidance in the future," Mi Wen took the opportunity to bow.

Zhao Xu nodded.

This was only because they were in front of others and Mi Wen was maintaining etiquette.

If it were just the three of them, Mi Wen would likely have called him cousin long ago.

"Since that is the case, staying in Yanzhou is fine, but there are many rules in Yanzhou; you must think it through," Zhao Xu said, stating the harsh truths upfront.

He would not let Mi Wen run wild in Yanzhou.

Since he was now under his command, he had to be like Mo Yu—he had to listen to everything he said.

"Yes, Your Highness," Mi Wen bowed.

He suddenly felt that this cousin of his was somewhat different from before.

Beneath his gentle exterior lay a kind of awe-inspiring majesty.

But even so, he did not want to leave.

When he was in Jingshi, the various mysterious commercial goods from Yanzhou had fascinated him.

To him, the decadent place of Jingshi was far less interesting than here.

After chatting for a while longer and discussing some family matters, it was noon.

Zhao Xu had Feng'er set up a banquet to entertain everyone and simultaneously called for Liu Fu.

Seeing so many scholars from humble backgrounds arrive at once, Liu Fu was immediately filled with excitement.

"Currently, in the Yanzhou Seven Commanderies, we lack seven Commandery Governors. Father-in-law of the Emperor, I wonder which of the gentlemen sitting here has the talent of a Commandery Governor?"

"Seven commanderies, forty-nine counties. Now that the Yan Commandery and Shanggu Commandery have no shortage of County Magistrates, there are still thirty-five County Magistrates left to be selected."

"..."

At the banquet, Liu Fu reeled off the current vacant official positions in Yanzhou as if he were counting his own family treasures.

After the Rich Clans were wiped out, scholars came to Yancheng in an endless stream seeking official positions, and many even tried to see Yan Wang every single day.

However, to him, these people were a mixed bag of good and bad.

Some had been under the command of Rich Clan officials for so long that they had developed the airs of Rich Clan masters, making them completely unsuitable to serve under Yan Wang.

As for the character of these scholars who had climbed the ranks by fawning over and flattering the Rich Clans, he was not clear either.

Therefore, he had a headache regarding the issue of selecting officials.

While letting these scholars from humble backgrounds submit their resumes, he also sent people to their places of origin to verify what they were really like.

Only if their resumes were without issues would these talents be qualified to participate in the upcoming major event in Yanzhou—the Official Examination.

This was a reform to change the Yanzhou officialdom that Yan Wang and he had decided upon.

From now on, Yanzhou would hold an Official Examination every year to select officials from among the candidates.

On one hand, this was to replenish fresh blood, and on the other, it was to replace unqualified officials who had been dismissed.

"So many vacant official positions?"

As Liu Fu listed them one by one, the scholars brought by Mi Zhuang finally could not remain calm.

Each and every one of them was rubbing their palms and eager to give it a try.

Mi Zhuang did not answer Liu Fu, but instead asked, "How does Tutor Liu intend to select from these hundred disciples?"

Liu Fu glanced at Zhao Xu, and seeing Zhao Xu nod, he spoke of the Official Examination.

"Of course, if one has experience in holding office and a good reputation during their tenure, they may be personally examined by His Highness and dispatched to various places," Liu Fu pondered aloud.

The Official Examination was aimed at the lowest-level official positions.

These types of positions had low requirements for experience; one only needed talent, and then could accumulate experience after taking office.

As for high-ranking official positions, it was best to have experience in governing a region, so that one could get started quickly.

After listening, Mi Zhuang's eyes shone with brilliance, "In the current world of Great Song, Yanzhou is the most unique. Following the Yuan Family rebellion and the total annihilation of the Rich Clans, this Official Examination that benefits the scholars of Yanzhou is truly shocking. Perhaps His Highness can open up a new landscape for the officialdom in Yanzhou."

The scholars nodded excitedly.

They felt that by abandoning their hometowns this time and coming to Yanzhou, perhaps this adventure was the right choice.