Chapter 237: The Imperial Examination Begins

Longyan Imperial Palace.

Yangxin Hall.

Xie Tianyao quietly looked at the Han in his hand, his expression gloomy.

"This Prefect Liu, does he truly think I cannot kill him!"

Bang!

He slammed the Han onto the table, furious.

Imperial Examination?

You coming up with a dream was one thing!

Now you want to start some Imperial Examination for me?

Does this not mean you have no regard for the laws of the imperial court?

Heaven-Given Imperial Power... Heaven-Given Imperial Power; in reality, only those who truly become Emperor know that this Heaven-Given Imperial Power is all just a way to fool ghosts!

If there were such a thing as Heaven-Given Imperial Power, how could I grow old, how could I die!

All talk of Heaven-Given Imperial Power is just a way to hoodwink the masses!

Since ancient times, the imperial family has had a set of rhetoric to prove the legitimacy of their rule. And these Emperors, their means of governance, naturally involve granting those Nobles and Scholar-officials high power and sufficient benefits, letting them rule the citizens layer by layer.

This has been so since ancient times.

But what about now?

You, Liu Zheng, actually want to challenge these layers of ruling rules!

Xie Tianyao is not stupid.

Ever since he ascended the throne, he knew that the Longyan Dynasty was already decaying; if it did not reform, this ship would rot sooner or later. But he also knew that if he easily touched the interests of those Nobles, Scholar-officials, and Feudatory Kings, the entire country would fall into chaos.

"Emperor, Emperor... calm your anger, calm your anger."

Grand Eunuch Zhou said anxiously from the side.

Xie Tianyao laughed coldly: "Calm my anger, how do you expect me to calm my anger?"

He suddenly laughed in spite of himself: "Prefect Liu, Prefect Liu... sigh, if I had met him in the prime of my youth, I would certainly have brought him into the court to lead reforms..."

Yet now.

He gave a self-deprecating laugh.

He knew his own physical condition well.

Currently, several princes are fighting each other to the death.

Under these circumstances, reform? It would certainly be the fuse for this chaotic world.

He does not dare.

Because he is old.

He does not want the Xie Family's Longyan Dynasty to be buried in his own hands.

Just lingering on in a steadily worsening condition?

He laughed heartily: "Prefect Liu, are you teaching me how to do things? What a pity, what a pity, what a pity..."

His gaze suddenly turned cold, and he barked: "Issue an imperial decree to the Western Regions; this year for the Lantern Festival, all the Regional Commanders of the Protectorates must return to the capital to report on their duties!"

Grand Eunuch Zhou shuddered and bowed his head in compliance.

The old Emperor...

This is to discard the millstone after the donkey is done grinding!

The Western Regions Protectorate has already been rebuilt. At this time, what use is there in keeping this Liu Family father and son?

The Dayuan Kingdom has suffered heavy losses; if a general leading an army is simply sent over, that Xie Xuan will certainly not escape death.

Xie Tianyao slowly stood up, then smiled: "Lao Zhou, accompany me for a walk; I want to see my vast and beautiful empire."

Grand Eunuch Zhou wept with joy: "Emperor, Emperor, you are finally willing to leave the palace; quickly, quickly, prepare the carriage, prepare the carriage!"

Back then.

Xie Xuan fled to the Western Regions, built the Dayuan Kingdom, and later joined forces with the Qi to abduct Xie Tianyao's most beloved woman. In a fit of rage, Xie Tianyao sent troops to the Western Regions and announced to the world, and to Xie Xuan, that if he did not conquer the Western Regions, he would not leave the Imperial Palace for fifty years!

As it turned out.

He was defeated at Ghost City.

Today, the Protectorate has been rebuilt, so that vow is no more.

Xie Tianyao walked with his hands behind his back, a hint of nostalgia appearing in his weary eyes.

"If Qing'er were still here, the child she bore for me would be eighteen by now..."

"Lao Zhou, do you think it would be a prince or a Princess?"

Grand Eunuch Zhou broke out in a cold sweat.

How could he dare to say a single word?

Three more days passed.

The Literary Examination, Martial Examination, and Artisan Examination in Yanqi City began simultaneously.

All three locations were bustling with activity.

That Cui Gong woke up early to bathe and change his clothes, feeling full of energy. He felt that his chance for rebirth had come; he would once again step onto the stage of history and let the Cui Family shine once more!

"Congratulations, Master!"

"Congratulations, Master Cui!"

"Master Cui will surely take the top spot today!"

Listening to the flattery of others, Cui Gong struggled to maintain a humble expression and waved his hand: "Congratulations to you all as well."

The Cui Family head's display was truly something; followed by a crowd of people, he seemed eager to beat drums and gongs. Cui Gong took a look and sighed slightly, feeling that the only flaw was the lack of a Horse Carriage to pick him up. He couldn't help but snort; this Western Regions Commissioner really didn't know how to conduct himself!

Forget it, forget it.

Let it be for now.

Once he returned to the officialdom, it would be the time for him to rise like a dragon and transform like a phoenix!

The Western Regions was merely a stepping stone; as for those damn points, would he, the Cui Family Clan Head, care for them? Sooner or later, he would return to the Longyan Dynasty.

Therefore, along the way, seeing those exceptionally excited scholars from humble backgrounds, he gave a cold laugh.

At the same time.

Ling Chen was also long prepared.

That's right.

He was the scholar from a humble background in Cui Gong's eyes; let alone a book boy, he didn't even have a basket to carry books. His clothes were covered in patches, and even while walking on the road, he felt anxious in his heart—whose pen was used for this Imperial Examination? Being penniless and destitute, he had nothing—no brush, ink, paper, or inkstone.

"Get lost, what are you pushing for! Oh, so it's Ling Chen? Hahahaha, are you here to participate too?"

Cui Gong's servants burst into loud laughter upon seeing Ling Chen.

Cui Gong also glanced at him and, acting superior due to his age, said, "Young man, your literary talent is certainly not bad, but your way of doing things is too sharp. A personality like yours is not suited for an official career."

"How about this, if I pass the examination and lack a book boy to polish my writing, how about you come?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the whole place erupted in laughter again.

Back then, Ling Chen's essays were stolen by a literary giant, and he was imprisoned as a result, yet these people from the Powerful Clan felt this was only natural. You, a disciple from a humble background, what kind of strategy are you writing? Is that kind of essay on governing the world something a lowly person like you can write?

You only have the qualifications to polish the writing for these masters!

"What are you arguing about! All of you, be quiet!"

Just as Ling Chen was about to speak, the Executive in charge of the Literary Examination looked coldly at Cui Gong: "Go to the back and queue up properly; if you dare to make noise again, your qualification will be cancelled!"

"You..."

Cui Gong was furious.

Ling Chen, however, laughed, cupped his hands toward the Executive, and then followed the queue to enter in turn.

Cui Gong's gaze was vicious: "Hmph, let's see if you can still laugh in a while!"

An Imperial Examination of 150,000 people.

This could not be finished in a single day. On the first day, three examination halls could only be responsible for 5,000 people each; this was already the limit. Even so, in this open-air horse racing track set up in Yanqi, with tables and benches placed, the conditions were still somewhat crude...

Once these 5,000 people were seated, the test papers were distributed.

Liu Zheng and Qingyang Shuo stood at a high vantage point at this time, looking at this world; the first Imperial Examination reminded him of his own college entrance examination back then... Wasn't that exam that changed his destiny just like this?

He remembered that when he took the college entrance exam, he couldn't sleep for the entire night before.

Despite that, he was still incomparably excited the next day.

It's just that these people now, the first batch of people to eat the crab, probably wouldn't understand what this exam meant to them.

"Young Master, that person is Ling Chen."

Qingyang Shuo pointed at one of the 5,000 people.

Liu Zheng chuckled: "Someone who can be appreciated by you, sir, must certainly be good. Let's see how he handles this Western Regions Strategy."

Qingyang Shuo smiled: "It is not that Shuo appreciates him, but that Shuo believes his extreme sharpness should be no different from yours, Young Master."

"Ah?"

Liu Zheng was stunned for a moment, then burst into loud laughter.

"Western Regions Strategy?"

When the test papers were handed out.

Many people looked at this topic and were instantly stunned.

Especially Cui Gong.

Strategy?

Why is it this?

Even if it is an exam, shouldn't it test the content of the Four Books and Five Classics?

This...

Cold sweat immediately broke out on Cui Gong.

Ling Chen, however, had eyes shining with light, so excited he couldn't control himself.

At this moment.

He really wanted to look up to the sky and roar!

The era he wanted had finally arrived!

Over at the Martial Examination.

It was equally lively; it should be said, it was several times livelier than the Literary Examination side. After all, in this era, people who could read and write were still in the minority. Most people still relied on brute force to make their way in the world.

And it was also noisy over here.

Just after entering, Xiong Ao jumped out and roared at the nearly ten thousand people: "No more nonsense, I, Xiong Ao, am here, who dares to come and challenge me!"

Qin Zhangfeng walked over and gave him a fierce slap on the head: "I didn't tell you to come here to fight."

The whole place burst into laughter.

Xiong Ao scratched his head, but how could he dare to be presumptuous with Qin Zhangfeng? He fawned and smiled: "General Qin, isn't it for fighting? Ha, I, Xiong Ao, am just a rough man, just a rough man. You tell me how to do it—you lot, all line up for me!"

Qin Zhangfeng scanned the circle and said indifferently: "The Martial Examination assessment is divided into three parts: theory, tactics, and actual combat. The Young Master has said, self-positioning. Those who think they are general material must take all three assessments. Those who think they are military clerks only need to take the second one, and those who think they are suitable to be soldiers only take the third!"

The whole place was buzzing with discussion.

It's actually divided so specifically?

Xiong Ao laughed heartily: "General Qin, for me, Xiong Ao, to serve as a Lieutenant under you, that shouldn't be a problem, right?"

Qin Zhangfeng said coldly: "Examination!"

"Oh..."

Xiong Ao looked aggrieved: "But how would I know anything about strategy or tactics? War is just about killing, once you kill all the enemies, it's done!"

The entire venue erupted in laughter again, with people falling over themselves.

The atmosphere at the scene also became much more cheerful.

Xiao Tao secretly asked her young lady: "Young lady, which one are you signing up for?"

Xie Chan thought for a moment, bit her lip, and said: "Sign up for all of them!"

"Ah? What if you pass the examination for Great General?"

Xiao Tao gasped.

Xie Chan found this very pleasing and chuckled: "Wouldn't that mean I'm one step closer to that Liu Gouzei, and can easily assassinate him?"

Xiao Tao praised: "Young lady is wise!"

"This general's words actually already show a deep understanding of the Art of War, how can one say he doesn't understand strategy?"

Just at this moment, Liu Zheng walked over with a smile.

The whole venue was in an uproar.

"Young Master Liu is here!"

"Prefect Liu!"

"Greetings, Young Master Liu!"

Xie Chan's eyes shifted over instantly.

A hypocritical, heart-bewitching fellow!

It has only been a few days, and he is already revered as a god by so many people!

Damn it!

I will stab him to death tomorrow!

【Author's Note】

The revised chapters might not have been captured by the staff... It's the New Year, and it's driving me crazy. Everyone, please bear with me. Actually, the change is just writing that Liu Zheng wants to introduce the Imperial Examination to select talent, it's that simple.

On New Year's Eve, may everyone have a happy New Year and be full of vigor!