Chapter 1 No Subchapter

Zhou Huanmao looked at Wen Fengli and said unwillingly, "Your Excellency, does that mean Zhao Liting's matter is just going to be dropped?"

Not to mention Zhao Liting's interference with the Ministry of Rites' arrangements, the mere fact that he was squeezed out of the imperial examination made him feel unconvinced.

"You must be patient!"

Wen Fengli said, "A gentleman takes his revenge, even after ten years, it's not too late."

"What if Zhao Liting interferes? This time, our southern scholars must occupy the vast majority of the places!"

In the Hall of Diligent Governance, Jiang Chen looked at the results presented by Jing Yue and fell into deep thought.

These results were the quota allocations for the northern and southern scholars in this imperial examination.

Jiang Chen only glanced at it roughly, without even counting carefully, before realizing a very serious problem.

The number of southern scholars participating in the examination was a full four times greater than that of the northern scholars!

That was eight to two!

In addition, there were numerous aristocratic families in the southern regions. It was no exaggeration to say that, apart from the northern scholars in the capital area, the remaining northern scholars were simply not in the same league as the southern scholars.

Under such circumstances, the results of the future imperial examinations would inevitably be that southern scholars would occupy the vast majority of the successful candidate slots.

This situation was very unfavorable!

Currently, southern scholars already occupied many important positions in the Great Wei imperial court.

If a large batch of southern scholars were to emerge again, then in the future, a tremendous force would inevitably form in the court.

The impeachment of Xu Changqing some time ago was the best example.

In order to achieve their goals, they could even sacrifice a few ministers!

If this continued, who knew when a second Mei family or a second Su family would appear again!

Absolutely not allowed!

A cold glint flashed in Jiang Chen's eyes, and he crumpled the results into a ball.

A moment later, Feng Jin, who was waiting, heard Jiang Chen's faint voice: "I'm going to the Ministry of Rites to see the preparations for this imperial examination."

The Ministry of Rites quickly received the news of Jiang Chen's arrival.

Wen Fengli led a group of Ministry of Rites officials to greet him at the entrance.

"Welcome, Your Majesty."

"Rise. I'm here this time to see how the preparations for the imperial examination are going."

Jiang Chen said with a smile, completely different from when he was in the Hall of Diligent Governance.

Wen Fengli's originally suspended heart slowly returned to its place.

He had originally thought that His Majesty might be making a surprise visit to find fault, but now it seemed that was not the case.

While thinking, Wen Fengli flattered him: "Your Majesty cares about the scholars of the world, truly a blessing for them all."

Then, Wen Fengli said, "I wonder what aspects Your Majesty would like to see?"

Jiang Chen said, "First, bring the examination questions for this imperial examination and let me take a look."

"Yes."

Wen Fengli then dismissed the others and led Jiang Chen into a room before taking out the test papers.

Jiang Chen took them and looked at them, and couldn't help but reveal a knowing smile.

Apart from the Eight-legged Essay (baguwen), the rest were somewhat similar to the language exams he had experienced before.

Looking at the Eight-legged Essay questions, Jiang Chen frowned.

"Who decided on the topic for this essay?" Jiang Chen asked.

Wen Fengli's heart skipped a beat.

He had been observing the changes in Jiang Chen's expression, and naturally saw the trace of displeasure that flashed across Jiang Chen's face.

In addition to the content of the inquiry, Wen Fengli knew that Jiang Chen was dissatisfied with the topic of this essay.

Wen Fengli then said, "Reporting to Your Majesty, the topic for this imperial examination essay was unanimously decided after discussions among all members of the Ministry of Rites."

Jiang Chen raised his eyes and looked at Wen Fengli.

This old fox was really good at talking nonsense.

The imperial examination was the responsibility of the Ministry of Rites, and the final decision was naturally made by Wen Fengli, the Minister of Rites.

In other words, this topic must be inextricably linked to Wen Fengli.

Now, however, he was spreading the responsibility to the entire Ministry of Rites, thinking of the principle that the law does not punish the many.

Jiang Chen placed the test papers on the table and said faintly, "This topic is not good."

Wen Fengli's heart jumped.

He was a little unsure of what Jiang Chen meant.

Was he simply saying that the topic was not good, or did he see the deeper meaning behind the topic?

After thinking for a while, Wen Fengli put on a respectful appearance and said, "Your Majesty, 'Words must have a master, actions must have rules, and relatives must have principles.' This is Zengzi's method of conducting affairs in the *Book of Rites*. I wonder what is not good about it?"

Jiang Chen looked at Wen Fengli, who was pretending to be confused.

The true meaning of these three sentences was naturally not a problem.

However, the last sentence, "relatives must have principles," was not so meaningful in the context of the opposition between northern and southern scholars.

These five words were clearly reminding the southern scholars that there was a difference between north and south!

This was to select southern scholars who were of the same mind as them!

Laughing coldly in his heart, Jiang Chen said, "It's too simple."

"Simple?"

Wen Fengli was stunned. He didn't expect that the reason Jiang Chen thought the topic was bad was so absurd.

Topics naturally have easy and difficult levels, but the candidates' answers still vary in quality.

In this way, the most outstanding talents could still be selected.

"Then what does Your Majesty think?" Wen Fengli asked.

"We have to increase the difficulty for the candidates."

Jiang Chen smiled and said, "We can't let them see where this sentence comes from at a glance."

Wen Fengli was a little dazed and subconsciously said, "What does Your Majesty mean…"

"I think it would be better to change it to this: 'A master has words, actions have rules, relatives then have principles.' What do you think?" Jiang Chen said.

This was just changing the order?

Wen Fengli pondered for a moment and found that Jiang Chen had only changed the order of the first sentence, and it didn't seem like there was anything wrong with it.

After thinking for a while, Wen Fengli said, "Since Your Majesty thinks it's better this way, then I will change the topic."

"Well, thank you for your hard work."

Jiang Chen nodded with a smile, and then said, "I have also thought about the topic for the policy essay."

Wen Fengli's spirits lifted, and he said, "Please enlighten us, Your Majesty."

In the imperial examination, the essay was only used as the first threshold to test whether the students were familiar with and understood the meaning of the Four Books and Five Classics.

And what truly separated the winners from the losers was the policy essay.

Knowing the topic of the policy essay, and selecting suitable southern scholars through the essay.

Southern scholars would surely shine in this imperial examination!

Wen Fengli pricked up his ears and only heard Jiang Chen say, "Guan Zhong said: 'When the granaries are full, people know etiquette; when clothing and food are sufficient, people know honor and disgrace.' If the granaries are not full, how can people know etiquette? If clothing and food are insufficient, how can people know honor and disgrace?"

Wen Fengli's heart settled down after hearing this.

Good, this topic was really too good!

At least for the southern scholars, it was too good!

The scholars living in the south were basically people who had no worries about food and clothing and also knew etiquette. For them, this question could not be simpler.

As long as they revealed a little bit, the southern scholars could be sure of victory!

This imperial examination was greatly beneficial to the southern scholars!

Thinking of this, Wen Fengli couldn't help but say, "Your Majesty is wise!"

Jiang Chen smiled faintly, "Since you, as the Minister of Rites, say that I am wise, then there is definitely no problem with this topic."