"Your Majesty, when I was young, I traveled with my father and lived in the south for several years. I tilled the land alongside the local people, so I have some understanding," the student replied.
"Oh? I have never heard of the圩田 (wei tian) method you mentioned in your essay. Tell me about it," the Sage, finding the child agreeable from the first glance and seeing his words carried substance, wished to test him further.
"Yes, Your Majesty. Our Great Wei has been established for over twenty years. During these years, the people have been spared from war, and the nation is prosperous and peaceful. Great Wei's population has grown rapidly. Even with favorable weather, grain remains scarce."
"Your Majesty encourages the people to reclaim wasteland. However, the south is full of lakes and marshes, and fertile land is mostly controlled by powerful families. Many people migrated in earlier years, leading to a shortage of land and an abundance of people. Thus, farmers diverted water from the lakes and devised the 圩田 (wei tian) method to expand the cultivated area..."
The young man in the grand hall spoke at an unhurried pace, earning everyone's conviction. Even the second and third-place scholars of the current examination highly agreed with him.
To their shame, they were born in Jiangnan and were older than Xie Jia Yan. They should have been the most familiar with the situation in Jiangnan. Yet, they had never noticed these livelihood issues before. Their understanding of the problems was not as clear as that of this young gentleman.
The Sage nodded in agreement. This was the harm of powerful clans. It was not just in Jiangnan; it existed throughout Great Wei.
Powerful clans controlled the best land, the best resources, and talent in their regions. They enjoyed the stability provided by the court, amassed wealth extensively in their localities, and the people feared the powerful clans more than they knew the court.
Over time, the court became unable to control the powerful clans and aristocratic families in various regions, its power being usurped. The previous dynasty was destroyed by these aristocratic families for this very reason.
The scourge of aristocratic families had long been a problem. The high ranks were not accessible to commoners, and the lower ranks were not from aristocratic families.
That was why the late Emperor had executed aristocratic families and destroyed the powerful clans. However, the Five Great Clans had deep roots, and their actions alerted them, making them wary.
If the aristocratic families are not eliminated, Great Wei will not be secure, and the people will not be at peace!
"Good, good," the Sage descended from the high platform and patted Xie Jia Yan's shoulder. "This is the talent our Great Wei needs."
Xie Jia Yan's shoulders trembled slightly. His gaze fell on the Sage's arm, and he quickly lowered his eyes. "This student will surely not fail Your Majesty's grace."
"Issue an imperial decree: bestow upon the new top scholar, Xie Jia Yan, the title of Jinshi Ji Di, and he shall report to the Hanlin Academy in three days to serve as a Hanlin Academician." The Sage waved his large sleeve, making an immediate decision.
He then bestowed official positions upon the scholars of the first, second, and even the third rank who passed the examination as Jinshi Ji Di, demonstrating the Sage's determination to promote the imperial examination system.
Xie Jia Yan looked back as he walked out of the palace gate. The majestic palace, with its carved beams and painted pillars, was exquisitely beautiful – the pinnacle of power.
Xie Jia Yan smiled, turned around, mounted his horse with agility, and with a "jia," he rode away without looking back.
As soon as he entered the study, he saw a box on the desk. Before Xie Jia Yan could speak, Liao Kong said, "Sixth Miss did not come in herself. She asked me to deliver this to you."
Sixth Miss, though seemingly mischievous, was extremely well-behaved. Every time she climbed over the wall, she would only sit briefly in the pavilion and never approached the study.
Xie Jia Yan nodded. After Liao Kong withdrew, he opened the box on the desk. Inside were two rare, original copies.
These two copies were even more precious than the previous collection of Zhou Lu Li. Xie Jia Yan chuckled softly. Was Sixth Miss planning to empty the dowry of the Duke's wife?
Let alone a banquet at Wu Wei Ju, even if she were treated to meals there every day, she would still not be able to repay him.
Just like in the storybooks, Xie Jia Yan first served in the Hanlin Academy. Although the position of Hanlin Academician did not seem high, it was responsible for handling extremely confidential documents issued directly by the Emperor.
In the previous dynasty and before, the drafting of imperial edicts was the exclusive duty of the Zhongshu Sheren. However, after the founding of Great Wei, the late Emperor felt that this system was difficult to keep secret and to handle urgent matters. He therefore selected Academicians from the Hanlin Academy who were skilled in literature to draft urgent edicts.
By the time of Emperor Yong An, the Hanlin Academicians selected through the imperial examinations had become confidants of the Emperor.
It was in the Hanlin Academy that Xie Jia Yan laid a solid foundation for his future position as the first minister.
Yu Ming Yue was as happy as if she herself had become a high official, because she knew that the era belonging to Xie Jia Yan had arrived.
...