The Sui Dynasty's chess game

Chapter 798 Making up for the situation before it is too late
Following the public execution of key criminals such as Wei Runan, Mu'atu, and Shi Shuhuxi, as well as more than a dozen Turkic spies, a series of problems that were exposed began to be addressed.
First, we must continue to strictly enforce technical standards and confidentiality systems. This was originally done well, but as unification accelerated, the number of artisans in various regimes increased dramatically, and management could not keep up, which led to loopholes like those in Wei Runan's case.

Now it's time to take remedial action. All outside craftsmen must be retrained, especially those who, like Wei Runan, worked in the Firearms Bureau as crossbowmen or other trades. They must all undergo rigorous screening.

There shouldn't be any major problems with the craftsmen. The system is already strict, and the compensation is generous. As long as management keeps up in time, there shouldn't be any issues.

Regarding the business dealings of non-Han peoples, the Council of State decided to implement a classified management and registration system. Merchants from Sogdiana, the Western Regions, Japan, Silla, and Southeast Asia were allowed to enter the Central Plains to do business, but there were strict industry restrictions. For example, foreigners were strictly prohibited from contacting the source of agricultural products, technical sites, military equipment, etc.

When departing, border checks should be strengthened, especially before entering the Hexi Corridor, and it is strictly forbidden to take away prohibited export items such as crop seeds, silkworm eggs, and military equipment.

Another approach was to no longer allow grassland merchants or Tibetan merchants to enter the interior, but only to trade in designated border areas. This restored the tradition since the Han Dynasty and promoted border trade.

Third, the jurisdiction of the Internal Security Department has been expanded. Previously, the Internal Security Department did not manage foreigners' business and trade, but now the management of contraband by foreigners has also been included in the jurisdiction of the Internal Security Department. In addition, border smuggling is also strictly managed by the Internal Security Department.

In this way, internal security personnel will also be present at border markets and exit ports to strictly control the outflow of contraband.

Any foreign merchant who dares to smuggle contraband will be severely punished according to the severity of the offense. The lightest punishment will be fifty lashes, confiscation of property, and deportation, with the merchant permanently banned from entering the country. The most serious punishment will be public execution as a warning to others.

But most importantly, the "Security System of the Great Sui Dynasty" was drafted, which standardized the system through laws. Local governments had laws to follow, and they did not have to wait for the inner guards. Local governments could immediately plug loopholes as soon as they discovered any problems.

With the introduction of a series of regulations, the control of technology and prohibited goods was also renewed, and all kinds of loopholes were plugged. The shadow of grassland merchants could no longer be seen in Luoyang, Chang'an, Taiyuan and other places. The Sui Dynasty designated fourteen ports for border trade.

As March arrives, the imperial examination day draws ever closer. Currently, nearly 100,000 candidates from all over the country have gathered in Luoyang. Of course, this is related to this year's reform of the imperial examination system. A large number of students majoring in mathematics, agriculture, industry, and medicine, who originally had no hope of participating in the imperial examination, now have the opportunity to go to the capital to take the exam and eventually become technical officials.

In addition to military and civil officials, the Sui Dynasty's official system also included a category of technical officials, known as "technical officials." Under these technical officials were skilled clerks and craftsmen, namely engineers and artisans.

This is top-level design; emphasizing science and technology, especially navigation technology, will inevitably lead to the great development of the dynasty.

As the humanities and technology developed, with the unification of the country and social stability, the ubiquitous martial arts schools gradually disappeared, replaced by various private and official schools for learning literature and technology.

Of course, martial arts were not completely abolished; they were replaced by martial arts schools run by the government in each county, military academies in each prefecture, and finally, the imperial military academy.

On the fifth day of the third lunar month, before dawn, the scholars in various inns got up one after another, and began to wash up and eat breakfast.

Chu Suiliang got up. His two friends, Wei Li and Wang Guan, did not need to take the imperial examination today. They were only students who had passed the county-level examination and had not passed the county-level examination, so they were not qualified to take the imperial examination. However, they could take the special examination three days later.

At least ten or twenty thousand people are in the same situation as them, so engrossed in their profession that they can't pass the imperial examination to become scholars. So after the reform of the imperial examination this year, they also have a chance.

After washing up and having breakfast, Chu Suiliang went downstairs. The inn was packed with oxcarts; there were too many people taking the imperial examinations, so the examinations were being held uniformly in the camp outside the city. One after another, oxcarts adorned with red lanterns bearing the words "Imperial Examination" set off, proceeding smoothly without hindrance.

Outside the eastern city, a huge military camp has already been erected on the north bank of the Luo River. The camp is divided into ten gates, stretching for ten miles, corresponding to the ten Heavenly Stems. Each gate has twelve examination rooms, corresponding to the twelve Earthly Branches, so there are a total of sixty examination rooms.

Because the war had just ended, the number of scholars was still too small, so there was no specific distinction between the Jinshi and Mingjing examinations. Currently, there was only the Jinshi examination. It would only be further subdivided after the country had been stable for several decades and the number of scholars had increased.

Chu Suiliang's examination number was the 24th in the 8th tent of the Dinghai examination hall. At this moment, the oxcart stopped, and the driver shouted, "We've arrived at the T-shaped gate. Anyone getting off? Hurry up!"

"Yes! Yes! Yes!"

Chu Suiliang quickly raised his hand and jumped off the oxcart. He immediately saw the huge lantern with a "丁" (ding) character on it that was particularly eye-catching.

Only the exam admission ticket was allowed to be brought in; no other items were permitted. However, there was no need for a body search, which relieved everyone.

This is different from the Ming and Qing imperial examinations. In the Ming and Qing imperial examinations, candidates were in individual examination numbers, and they could bring their own cheating devices in to cheat. Now, the imperial examinations are held in a large tent, with thirty candidates taking the exam together in each tent. The invigilators stand at the entrance of the tent and watch over each candidate, so there is no chance for them to take out their cheating devices.

Even if you manage to evade the invigilator, other candidates can still expose you and receive extra points. Once caught cheating, you'll never have another chance to take the imperial examination.

So while the entry process is lenient, the subsequent supervision and penalties are very strict. Everyone knows this, and no one dares to take the risk.

Chu Suiliang found his examination seat and sat down at the table. He was number twenty-four, towards the back. There was a basket on the table containing writing brushes, ink, paper, inkstones, water cups, candles, and other items, as well as paste and name-stamping paper. It was exactly the same as the local imperial examinations, which everyone was familiar with.

At this moment, a soldier came in carrying a kettle to fill their cups with water. This was not to serve tea, but to give them ink to grind.

The exam hadn't started yet, and everyone was grinding ink. Soon, the bell rang, "Dong! Dong! Dong!" The ten gates slowly closed, and the examiners began distributing answer sheets. The scholars began writing their exam numbers, names, hometowns, and exam paper numbers. The exam paper number was written in the upper right corner, and there was no need to cover it up.

Each person receives an exam paper number upon entering the examination room. Since the exam lasts for two days, there will be two exam papers. The exam paper number is to help the examiners combine the two exam papers into one.

Every candidate had experience with local imperial examinations and was very familiar with them.

As the second bell rang, the exam began. The examiners distributed the exam questions to each candidate. The first day tested the basics, mainly the classics. You were given the beginning and end of an article and had to fill in the middle. There were a total of twenty questions. The questions were very simple, all common sense questions that you must master, but there were a lot of them. There was no time to think, and you had to complete them in one go.

Every candidate picked up their pen and wrote furiously, filling the examination hall with the rustling sound of writing.

(End of this chapter)