"I heard that the central government has decided to reopen the imperial examination. We don't understand this very well. The Governor is well-informed. Can you tell us the pros and cons? So that we can have a clear idea."
People in the officialdom gather together and talk about many topics. The most popular one now is probably the imperial examination. Everyone knows in their hearts that this is a major matter for the imperial court to discuss talents.
However, only a small number of people know what the imperial examination is like. People like the warrior Yu and Zhang Liang don't know much about it. In the final analysis, in the years when the imperial examination was implemented in the former Sui Dynasty, the results were not great and the scale was not large.
Moreover, due to the resistance of powerful families, people's impression of the imperial examination has tended to be negative. Now there is talk of re-opening the imperial examination, and people are talking about it everywhere.
They were in important positions, and it was impossible not to pay attention to them. What particularly worried them was that they came from very low backgrounds and had read some books, but they could not compare with those scholars.
After opening the subject to obtain a scholarship, they were a little worried about being affected.
Li Jing pondered for a moment. He had already heard some rumors. In recent correspondence with people, someone also told him about this and asked him if he had any real knowledge or insights.
But he was used to acting cautiously. As long as the edict had not reached Jiangling or the emperor personally sent a letter to him, he would not express his opinions easily.
Especially now that he has great power, his words will represent many people, and many people will be affected by him.
At this time, he looked at Li Daliang.
Li Daliang understood the idea and said: "The governor is busy with government affairs, so he can't take care of these things. In my opinion, even if the court intends to reopen the imperial examination, it is just a trial in recent years.
The world has been at war for a long time, and it is the general trend that the people want peace of mind. However, there are many good and bad officials in various places. Many of them have served under the princes, and there are not a few who have different aspirations.
The talents selected by the imperial examination can be a supplement to peace.
I can't see the other benefits clearly, but there are many abuses in the imperial examination system. From the late Han Dynasty to the former Sui Dynasty, the abuses in the officialdom were obvious to all. The court may have considered this and wanted to replace it with the imperial examination system.
I think in a few years, the imperial examination will become the official path."
Although what he said was general, he had some insights. Li Jing nodded secretly.
The other two people tasted the taste and found it was relatively dull. This is the flaw caused by their background. They are at different levels and have different horizons.
But after all, they are not comparable to ordinary people. The warrior Yu thought for a while and said: "In this way, wouldn't the southerners take a big advantage? Not to mention other places, there are many scholars here in Jiangling.
Once the imperial examination is opened, how can those from the north compare with them when it comes to holding pen holders? Then, with every selection, won’t official positions become theirs?”
Li Jing felt that he could say a few words, so he smiled and said: "That's not true. In the former Sui Dynasty, the imperial examination was to select talents from various places, and then sent to Chang'an for the final selection. Even if the southerners had the advantage, it would not be as you said.
Let the Southerners take over the whole situation."
Samurai Yu nodded and muttered, "Isn't that the same as a draft?"
Several people couldn't help laughing after hearing this. Apparently, the concept that the former Sui imperial examination officials were not official officials still affected them. Even though Li Jing and Li Daliang both believed that the imperial examination was likely to replace the imperial examination, they could not help but despise the imperial examination officials.
It can be seen that the imperial examination system still has a long way to go.
After listening to the words, Zhang Liang said: "So, in the opinion of the governor, the implementation of imperial examinations has been an established strategy of the court?"
Li Jing didn't have much interest in this topic. At this point, whether it was the imperial examination or the imperial examination had no impact on him, and he didn't want to care about it.
If he were ten or twenty years younger, he might still be able to do it. Now, he just wants to go further in his achievements. It is best to expand the territory and leave a name in history. Things like the imperial examination are obviously not in the question.
Within the scope of his plan.
So he said ambiguously: "Maybe... Maybe it's better to be aware of the fact that it goes hand in hand with the imperial examination... What? Does Dezheng have to write a letter to say something?"
Knowing that Zhang Liang had been under his daughter's seat, he did not change his honest nature and immediately felt some sense of responsibility for Zhang Liang, and his attitude towards him also changed significantly.
Needless to say, Zhang Liang's ability to observe people's emotions was honed in Henan. Moreover, both Li Po and Li Mi were somewhat moody. He could not make progress even if he served next to these two people.
When he noticed it at this time, he couldn't help but feel overjoyed. He knew that these words did not sound very polite, but it was obvious that the Governor regarded him as one of his own.
He waved his hands repeatedly and said: "It's not like I don't know who I am, the governor. I don't even know what the imperial examination is. How can I write a letter on this matter? Isn't that difficult for me?"
Li Jing snorted, then said with a straight face: "Then don't ask any more questions. You want to return to the court as an official. In such important matters as the court, you must be careful in your words and deeds, and don't pretend to understand.
When the imperial examination was implemented in the former Sui Dynasty, you only knew that there were only a few candidates, and finally it was ignored. But in those twenty or thirty years, how many heads fell because of this?
Is it because the famous Prime Minister Gao Xi is in danger of dying in his later years just because he is Yang Yong’s teacher?”
Well, Li Jing once again committed the old habit of being a teacher. He went too far, but it had a very good warning effect. The warriors Xun and Zhang Liang were so frightened that they no longer dared to say anything about the imperial examination.
Zhang Liang also put away his little abacus. The imperial examination was a hot topic today. He was in charge of the Military Intelligence Department, so he could inquire about gossip. After returning to Beijing, if the emperor asked about it, he would think of all the local people's comments.
Report it.
Now that he was frightened by Li Jing, he immediately gave up all thoughts on this aspect and decided to pretend to be confused if he was asked about it. Anyway, he came from a rough background and it was normal for him to not know the things of scholars.
……………………
Li Jing frightened people, and he felt somewhat proud of himself. In fact, this was not just a matter of bluffing, it was also based on his experience.
At that time, the political controversy over the system of discussing talents was turbulent and extremely fierce. Almost everyone inside and outside the former Sui Dynasty was involved in it. Li Jing was young and vigorous at that time, so how could he stay alone?
His teacher, Niu Hong, the former Minister of Civil Affairs of the Sui Dynasty, was a great scholar in the literary world. He was one of the strongest supporters of the imperial examination system in the court and had presided over several talent selection ceremonies.
So Li Jing naturally became Niu Hong's follower.
And their opposition was too powerful. The aristocratic family headed by Gao Xi, together with the prince Yang Yong, were the biggest beneficiaries of the imperial examination system, so they naturally became "enemies".
In the end, Yang Yong was deposed and Gao Xi fell out of favor. Opposing the imperial examination and antagonizing the emperor was one of the reasons. However, the defeat in the court did not mean that they were really defeated.
The imperial examination system struggled in the first Sui Dynasty and was eventually abolished.
Li Jing himself was even more unlucky. He spent decades as a subordinate, which was partly due to his remarks in support of the imperial examination.