On the third day after Li Xingchen inspected the naval drill, he took a boat directly from Wuxing across Taihu Lake to Jinling County, and then along the canal to Jingkou and transferred to Jiankang Prefecture.
This time he left Jiankang Prefecture and traveled to the south of the Yangtze River. Thanks to the convenience of transportation by canal waterway, it only took more than ten days in total.
More than ten days were enough for Li Xingchen to observe some problems. First, during his inspection, Li Xingchen started to try to develop hybrid rice using Wu County as a pilot. He also noticed from the Wuxing Navy drills that the Han Dynasty's merit accounting method needed to be implemented as soon as possible.
Change.
These two points have been personally taken care of by His Majesty, and will naturally be implemented soon.
After Li Xingchen returned to Jiankang Mansion, there was a peaceful scene in Jiankang Mansion. Tang Yishun and others still had the ability to follow Xiao Gui and Cao Sui. However, there was one thing that they naturally did not dare to make a decision on, so they asked Li Xingchen to make a decision.
That is the topic of the palace examination that will be held ten days later.
The previous Qiu Wei topic was drawn up by Li Xingchen himself. Of course, no one dared to be arbitrary in this imperial examination.
"I will see you, Your Majesty!" Tang Yishun, the Minister of the Imperial Government, came together with the Minister of Rites and the Ministry of Personnel, naturally to discuss the topics of the palace examination.
"I'm not in the capital, so I'm going to thank you all for your hard work." Li Xingchen smiled slightly.
"I serve your Majesty. It is my duty and there is no hard work. Your Majesty, as a great lord, travels to the south of the Yangtze River to guide changes, which is beyond the reach of other ministers. I look up to your Majesty's back and respect you." Jiang, the Minister of Rites, said.
He said hurriedly.
Zong Yuanrao, the Minister of Civil Affairs, and Tang Yishun looked at each other. This guy was really good at flattering people. As the sinner of Nanchen's country's subjugation that everyone wanted to beat, Mr. Jiang certainly knew that his popularity was mostly due to his integrity.
The imperial court of the Han Dynasty was already in such bad condition that no further efforts were needed to save it, so he simply stopped saving it.
When His Majesty put him in charge of the Ministry of Rites, he was attracted by his literary talent, but Mr. Jiang simply hugged Li Xinchen's thigh and resolutely became Li Xinchen's lackey. If Li Xinchen didn't want him anymore, then he would probably be replaced in a few days.
Those who had long disliked him were thrown into prison.
The more villainous he is, the more relieved Li Xingchen is, because all he can guarantee is his life. If he makes any mistakes now, Yushitai and his ilk will already be keeping an eye on him.
, will definitely put him to death without hesitation, so although Mr. Jiang is lucky enough to survive, he can only walk on thin ice. Naturally, he dare not do any of the things he has done before, with a look on his face every day.
With a smile on his face, he still looked like the arrogant sycophant he once was. He looked like a harmless little white rabbit.
But he couldn't forget the job of flattering, which was almost his "own" job.
Li Xingchen was noncommittal. Although this guy's ability to flatter people is not very lovable, he has to do what he needs to do and what he has succeeded in. Li Xingchen knows very well in his heart that he does not need such people to stand up and summarize for himself or exaggerate. However,
He is a man who wears a lot of clothes, but cannot flatter him. This guy only flatters a few words, so it is not easy for Li Xingchen to scold him.
What's more important is that this guy really has some skills, otherwise he wouldn't have been able to stand out among the many courtiers in the East Palace. Although his ability to govern the country is completely lacking, he can learn etiquette and education.
He can do what he can, especially since he has a relatively high level of education, so even if everyone is dissatisfied with his behavior, this point can still convince everyone.
Otherwise, given the temperament of veterans such as Zong Yuanrao, Mr. Jiang would never be allowed to stand here.
"Your Majesty, I'm here this time to ask what your Majesty plans to use as a question for the imperial examination?" Tang Yishun said directly, not intending to give Mr. Jiang, a flatterer, another chance to flatter him. "I have already listed some of the questions.
, please take a look at it, Your Majesty.”
Yuan Dashe turned around to write the memorial, and Li Xingchen looked through it.
Without Li Xingchen's explicit instructions, of course these questions cannot be too advanced. Most of them can be said to be quite satisfactory, either from the Four Books and Five Classics, or from "Xunzi", "Huainanzi" and other books that are relatively recognized in the world today.
A relatively high level work.
Of course, the imperial examinations of the Han Dynasty did not select scholars by stereotypes, and the range of topics to choose from was naturally wider. However, based on the ideas of these ministers, they certainly would not choose poems and ballads as topics, or they would just focus on these classics.
"This is a moderate question. It can be for spring or autumn, but it is not suitable for the palace examination." Li Xingchen closed the memorial and said in a deep voice, "I plan to ask the candidates for the palace examination to discuss how to govern a state."
Tang Yishun and others were a little surprised and looked at Li Xingchen.
How to say this?
Li Xingchen said directly: "Those who enter the palace examination will later be promoted to the imperial court or serve as officials in other counties or even prefectures and counties. They should teach poetry, calligraphy and etiquette. These are the abilities that a scholar should have. I don't need to use the palace examination to examine them."
With all their abilities, what I need is to use the palace examination to see if they really have the ability to be the parents of the people and to enlighten the people from their ignorance."
Tang Yishun and others were thoughtful. This was a question they had never considered before.
Whether it is the nine-level Zhongzheng system, the imperial examination system, or the earlier filial piety and integrity system, in the final analysis, it is to examine a person's moral integrity. This person has a good character, a good background, or good writing ability, and has sufficient insights.
, then you will naturally stand out.
But what Li Xingchen wanted to examine was the ability of these people to actually do things and solve problems. When it comes to their origins, everyone is different, and when it comes to talking eloquently, who can get to this point, who doesn't have his own concerns?
But it would be a bit of a waste if we just ask them to talk and write some false and empty things, such as how to govern the country and how to serve the country. Everyone has the ability to talk big words, but the ability to truly face and deal with problems
But not everyone has it.
Therefore, Li Xingchen's intention was to give a practical example and see how those people who were destined to become Han parents and officials in the future solved these practical problems.
After pondering for a moment, Li Xingchen said directly: "Today there is a county with less than ten thousand people and a lot of wasteland. The county has mountains, rivers and lakes, but it has been isolated from the outside world for many years. The people's customs are different. There are no workshops in the county and there is not much business. Let me ask the candidates, what is this?
Assuming that the county is the governor of the county, how should it be governed if it is limited to five years?"
Tang Yishun and others nodded at the same time, but Zong Yuanrao spoke first and said: "Your Majesty is right in thinking, but most of these scholars are clothed in white, so if they are suddenly ordered to govern counties, is it beyond their capabilities?"
The old man's meaning is very obvious. Your Majesty, you have to consider the reality. What experience do these young people have?
"That's what Mr. Zong has thought about." Mr. Jiang said. He is a staunch emperor.