Jiazi (the first day of the lunar month) in the seventh month of summer in the seventh year of Yuande.
The hot springs in Ganquan Palace are steaming and flowing out.
In this hot summer, you can soak in the hot springs, listen to the swaying bamboo leaves in the mountains, and watch the various living creatures below.
This is undoubtedly a pleasure.
"Xu Jiu plans to repair the track?" Listening to the report just sent back by the Xiu Yiwei, Liu Che leaned against the wall of the hot spring, smiled, and said to the eunuch standing beside him: "I have some ideas..."
If you want to be rich, build roads first.
This is a saying that is true in any era.
Convenient roads will bring opportunities and business.
but……
Liu Che felt that building tracks in Anton was too risky.
After all, the Andong region, especially most of Huaihua County, is dominated by cold winds, ice and snow for at least five months of the year.
In some extreme areas, you can only see the sun and feel its warmth for less than five months a year.
In some places you can even see the aurora in winter.
In an area like this, the difference between summer and winter is terrifying.
Thermal expansion and contraction are enough to make Anton's track full of risks and challenges from the beginning.
Whether it can be maintained well or not will test the execution ability of the Anton Protectorate.
However, it doesn't matter. The tracks in the Andong area will have to be repaired sooner or later, and it is better to repair them early than to repair them late.
Because this can accumulate a lot of experience and lessons, and can also prepare for exploration for future railway network construction.
In this way, when steam trains appear a hundred years later, the Andong region can immediately enter the railway age.
But there was another thing Xu Jiu wanted to do that made Liu Che a little alert.
"Does Xu Jiu plan to play with 'Jiaozi' or more advanced banknotes?" Liu Che was thinking and suspicious.
To be fair, even if Xu Jiu didn't say anything, Liu Che planned to start playing with credit currency next year.
He had already laid the groundwork a few years ago.
Almost all princes and scholar-bureaucrats accepted the so-called "Golden Edict".
In this context, it is possible to try to issue a batch of high-value currencies aimed at aristocratic ministers, especially princes and princes with two thousand stones.
Now, Xu Jiu and the Zajia family have come forward to use this as a test field and provide Liu Che with landmines. In his heart, Liu Che is gratified and even happy.
However, the emperor's paranoia made him hesitate and doubtful.
The reason for his hesitation lies in the batch of so-called "Jiaozi" or banknotes issued by the Duhufu.
Who will be responsible for distribution? Who will control? Who will control? Who will supervise?
It’s definitely not possible to do it privately!
Finance is the lifeblood of the country, and Liu Che will not lie to others even if he dies.
After all, if finance falls into private hands, private individuals can issue currency.
Then why do we need him as an emperor?
Even if it was controlled by the Protectorate, Liu Che still had many questions.
Fiscal and taxation power, or in other words, the distribution ratio of the fiscal and taxation pie between local governments and the central government, is a matter that directly affects the power, voice and control of a country's central government.
If a local area needs to rely on state funding, then this place must be inseparable from central control.
And if a locality can be self-sufficient, it will gain financial freedom.
Then, will local officials and powerful people abandon the country?
Since ancient times, most divisions and separatisms have been the result of local forces gaining financial freedom.
The reason why most local problems are difficult for the central government to solve is also the result of its control of fiscal freedom.
Without talking about other things, how did South Vietnam become independent and independent?
At the beginning, Qin Shihuang ordered the conquest of South Vietnam. When the first emperor was alive, South Vietnam was firmly controlled by the Qin court.
Not to mention Zhao Tuo, who was the leader at that time, even Ren Xiao did not dare to disobey any order from Xianyang.
Then why did the troops and officials in South Vietnam burn down the plank roads, block the canals, and refuse to accept any orders from Xianyang as soon as the First Emperor died?
The answer is that before that, Zhao Tuo's army reached a compromise with the tribal nobles in South Vietnam.
The so-called "Harmony and Collection of Baiyue" strategy not only eliminated hidden dangers, but also provided sufficient financial and tax sources for the Qin army in South Vietnam.
With money and food, Zhao Tuo, who did not need any support from Xianyang, certainly had the courage to make such a move!
On the contrary, the Great Wall Corps does not have a stable source of finance and taxation.
No matter how unwilling they were, they could only obey orders, abandon the Great Wall defense line, and turn around to put out the rebellion.
Otherwise, the Great Wall Corps at that time could have ignored Xianyang and directly raised the flag at Gaoque to test Qin II's IQ and skills, and they would have been helpless.
However, without a stable source of finance and taxation, no matter how stubborn the Great Wall Corps is, they can only be coerced by Xianyang and abandon the Yinshan defense line.
Therefore, Liu Che knew very well that he wanted to secure his position as emperor.
Local fiscal freedom cannot be too great.
In order to make the world's counties and counties all rely on the state's financial allocation and maintenance.
But if Xu Jiu succeeds in playing this way, it may break this balance.
People like Anton can print their own money, so do they still need Changan?
Maybe they wouldn't dare to rebel as long as Liu Che was alive.
But decades later, Liu Che entered Maoling. What if these scumbags, imitating the people of Boston, had a tea pouring incident at Incheon Port, and then clamored for independence?
As an emperor, you must guard against this move.
Therefore, in this matter, Xu Jiu wanted to help Liu Che navigate the mines, and Liu Che was naturally willing to do so.
However, Liu Che had to be ready to pick peaches at any time.
"Transfer Wang Dao to me from Linqiong..." Liu Che ordered with his eyes closed: "Order to protect the Yi army and supervise the army..."
Everyone on the left and right were startled at first, thinking that the eunuch who had once overwhelmed them was coming back to kill them. Some even almost fainted, but fortunately, Liu Che's subsequent appointment made them relieved.
The eunuchs were even more delighted. Once upon a time, Wang Dao, a close servant of the emperor, held the position of the official of the Central Che Palace.
Historically, Zhao Gou once held this position.
Even though he was exiled to Linqiong due to certain things, his status was not reduced at all and he still held great power. He was almost the emperor's eyes and ears in Linqiong.
"Nuo..." The eunuchs happily accepted the order. Over the years, in order to fill the vacancy left by the king, three great eunuchs emerged around Liu Che.
They may specialize in flattering and singing praises, or they may specialize in taking the blame and betraying others, or they may be good at serving.
However, no one could satisfy Liu Che.
In fact, Liu Che always wanted a great eunuch like Wei Zhongxian.
He is cruel enough, vicious enough, and has the means to help him do dirty things that he doesn't want to get his hands dirty with.
Unfortunately, Liu Che has not found such a talent so far.
This can be considered a pity.
"Wang Dao went to Anton, so I should be ready to seize the power of Anton's 'bank' at any time..." Liu Che thought in his heart: "But this is not safe... I have to be more prepared..."
After all, although eunuchs are loyal, their ability to handle things is far less powerful than that of civil servants.
Especially this kind of peach picking thing.
After thinking about it for a while, Liu Che came up with a candidate: "Didn't Yuan Si go to South Vietnam for two years? It's time to move her home... lest outsiders say that I am cold and cold..."
But there is no rush now. I will send Wang Dao to keep an eye on him first, and wait until next year to find a reason to send Yuan An to Anton.
Of course, something may go wrong at that time and someone else will go to Anton.
Putting this matter aside, Liu Che opened his eyes and asked around: "What is the situation in Chang'an City now?"
The Chang'an Examination Examination kicked off in the middle of last month.
But this time the scale of the examination is the largest in history, with more than 37,000 applicants, 170% of last year's number.
Although most people cook twice-cooked pork, the Yuande generation also showed their skills for the first time.
The so-called Yuande generation refers to the new scholars who grew up and received education after the first year of Yuande.
This generation has a broader vision, more ideas, and more knowledge than their predecessors. Especially in terms of self-confidence, it far exceeds their predecessors.
After all, the process of their growth was the rise of the Han Dynasty.
In the second year of Yuande, Korea was invaded, in the fourth year, the Battle of Mayi, in the fifth year, the Battle of Gaoque, and in the sixth year, the Battle of Yanji.
These four battles finally determined the Han Dynasty's status as the hegemon in Northeast Asia, and also announced the end of the monster room game in East Asia.
Unlike the young people in the history of the powerful Han Dynasty and the prosperous Tang Dynasty, the Yuande generation's understanding and grasp of the world far surpassed those of the powerful Han Dynasty and the prosperous Tang Dynasty.
In the process of their growth, there was the development of Anton and the enfeoffment of the country, the emergence of the gold rush, and all kinds of intelligence and information about Shendu and the Western Regions.
They know that defeating the Huns is just the beginning, and conquering the world is their mission!
Naturally, this generation is the generation that Liu Che has been waiting for to mature.
In a sense, they are the pillars and backbone of the future Han Empire.
This is because they have been influenced by colonial thoughts and concepts since they were young, and grew up in an environment rich in Han nationalism.
They are natural colonists and the best colonial officials.
But, for the time being, there is nothing happening to them in this world.
The Taizong and Renzong generations were the mainstream ruling the world.
If they want to take over, let's wait for another ten to eight years!
"Reporting to Your Majesty, the Shaofu and Jing Zhaoyin came to report this morning, saying that the examination will enter the second round today..." A eunuch said flatteringly: "Thanks to your Majesty's great blessing, this time the examination will enter the second round.
Son, there are more than 18,000 people..."
After passing the first round of the examination, you have the qualifications to be an official. Although, most of them are Qiangfu, the most basic-level affairs officers such as Youyou, and even the lower-level Doushi.
And the elimination rate is very high.
Every year, at least half of the scholars who take the examination are driven home due to competition or official struggles.
But those who can survive the first year basically have the ability to survive in the officialdom.
Many people even made counterattacks. In this era where political performance is king, nothing is impossible.
Yang Hui, the commander of Chang'an who has just taken office, is a typical example.
Regarding talents, especially those who can do things, Liu Che will not care about their origins and methods of doing things. Those who can succeed are talents!
Recruiting talents without sticking to one pattern is the secret of success left by the three generations of holy kings.
As for how they succeeded?
Need to ask?
If something goes well, he will be protected; if something goes wrong, it will be his own misfortune.
Anyway, the emperor is the emperor only if he is selfish.
This time, the number of people admitted to the examination set a record since the beginning of the examination, and the number of people admitted in the second round actually exceeded half of the total.
This is also the first round of test questions this year under Liu Che's instructions. Compared with last year's test questions, it is only slightly more difficult.
To be fair, as the difficulty increases, the number of students admitted should decrease.
But you have to know that in the examinations over the years, twice-cooked pork has accounted for a considerable proportion.
There are even some scumbags who are talented in exam-oriented education. They have begun to study the scope of the questions and the proportion of the content of the questions, and then developed a set of exam-taking tips.
There was even a person in Chang'an who entered the third round for three consecutive years and then was kicked back at the grassroots level. He took the exam again the next year.
This is also something that cannot be done.
The rules of the game are like this. If he can find loopholes, that's his skill.
But he is not capable enough and is driven back from the local area. That is his problem.
As the rule maker, Liu Che doesn't have to change the rules for this kind of person.
However, the difficulty is certain to increase every year.
Because the times are developing and progressing.
In particular, the mathematical level and achievements of the Han Dynasty have developed rapidly in recent years thanks to the examinations.
Today, the mathematical level of the Han Dynasty is more than a little better than eight years ago.
Even Liu Che himself didn't know how to solve some problems.
According to Liu Che's estimation, the current overall level of mathematics and geometry in the Han Dynasty should be close to that of the sixth grade of elementary school in later generations.
Calculus has not reached the threshold yet, but various equations can be solved quickly.
The results in geometry are even more gratifying.
Not only did basic geometric formulas appear that were applied to military and map surveying.
Even more strategists began to bravely challenge the ancient problems of pi and the distance between the earth and the moon.
This is a gratifying achievement.
The more mathematicians there are, the more engineers there are, and the more engineers there are, the stronger the country is.
This is an irrefutable truth.
Therefore, the questions must naturally increase in difficulty accordingly, in order to screen out talents who are at least above the standard.
The criterion is fifty percent.
Every year in the examination, half of the candidates must be eliminated in the first round to ensure that those who enter the second round are at least slightly richer than the half who are eliminated.
Only this year, the elimination rate in the first round was less than half for the first time.
However, there is nothing we can do about this.
Liu Che had just cleaned up Chang'an's officialdom, and there was a serious shortage of officials.
The only way to do this is to slacken the examination and increase the number of officials, especially those at the grassroots level.
"Ask the Shaofu and Jing Zhaoyin to make a statistics on the scores of the scholars in the first round, and then divide them into grades according to the arithmetic scores and send them to me for review..." Liu Che ordered.
Those who can pass the first round, no matter how poor their liberal arts scores are, can still write standard official script, and at the same time, they can recognize and understand most characters with conventional writing.
Such a person is definitely qualified to be a grassroots official.
But what is the best way to select talents?
Look at the math scores!
Children with good math scores are definitely not too stupid, and their thinking and logical abilities are probably better than others.
Therefore, every year, Liu Che will select a group of people with the best math scores from the examination scholars to come to Lantai to work as odd jobs or organize files, and then select the best young people to train to make up for the examination system.
Inadequacies in cultivating elite talents.
And set an example to the world.
Boy, let’s learn math!
Under the influence of this trend, hundreds of schools of thought and various factions have attached great importance to mathematics to a status that is second only to the core classics of their own schools.
Among the elite disciples of various universities, there is not a single one who is ignorant of arithmetic.
If you tell me, you may not believe it.
Dong Zhongshu, the great Confucian who invented the theory of induction between heaven and man in history, has now vaguely become the person with the highest mathematical achievements among the Confucian schools.
He even further calculated the circumference of pi based on the "diameter of one and three weeks" in the Suan Jing, and reached an accurate value of 3.16.
Although he is still far from the truth of pi, he is undoubtedly the first person in the Han Dynasty who made pi so accurate.
This also made Liu Che sigh with emotion.
Facts have proved that even Confucianism is a school of thought that can make beneficial contributions to the world and society.
