Controlling mountains and rivers since the Warring States Period

Chapter 558 The Twelfth Year of Yongyuan

In the twelfth year of Yongyuan,
After some groundwork, the emperor began to promote the study of natural phenomena.

The world was quite surprised by this, and the scholars who made their fortunes by interpreting the classics were eager to say something against it.

Although on the surface,

The study of things is merely a "skill," while what they learn and know is the "Dao" (the Way). There is no additional contradiction or conflict between the two.

But this matter is ultimately related to scholarship and the right to speak.

The previous emperors, through their wisdom and ability, had seized control of the interpretation of scriptures, which had already caused discontent among Confucian scholars throughout the land.

Now that the emperor intends to build upon this foundation and initiate new changes from top to bottom, from "the Way" to "techniques," it inevitably makes scholars worry about their future.

So they wanted to test the emperor's attitude.

What if they could even manage to tear off a piece of the right to interpret scriptures and turn it back into their own privilege?

unfortunately,

Before such a ripple could even form, causing the boats floating on the water to sway slightly, the emperor's new order diverted their attention—

Just after announcing that he would add several books on the study of things to the Imperial Academy students,
The emperor then issued another decree to determine the number of candidates recommended for the civil service based on the local population.

Before this,

The Han dynasty's system of recommending filial and incorrupt officials was based on prefectures and kingdoms, with local officials making their own recommendations.

However, within the nine provinces and their surrounding counties, there are distinctions based on the number of households.

In sparsely populated counties and prefectures, one person should be recommended as a filial and incorruptible official.
Even in populous prefectures and kingdoms, one person was still recommended as a filial and incorrupt official.
In comparison, it inevitably carries an element of unfairness.

In order to demonstrate his desire for talent and to reduce the resistance of Confucian scholars who had studied the Five Classics for many years to the investigation of things, the emperor announced that the number of people would be based on 200,000, with more people being recruited and fewer people being recruited.

If a prefecture or kingdom has a population that does not even reach the standard of 200,000, then the recommendation period will be extended, changing from once a year to once every two or three years.

For the border prefectures with even smaller populations, the emperor was more lenient, setting the limit at 100,000 and keeping the rest the same.

Although the total number is still small, it is somewhat more lenient than before.

The remote border regions were especially praised for the emperor's benevolence.

Other than that,

The emperor also ordered separate examinations for candidates of filial piety and integrity, as well as students of the Imperial Academy, in various regions.

The former has established practices to follow.

After all, the emperor wasn't stupid; he would appoint whoever was recommended by the local authorities.

It is a necessary principle to examine talent and temperament before granting official positions based on filial piety and integrity.

The only difference now is that the divisions are more detailed and the examinations are more rigorous.

For the students of the Imperial Academy, the system of examinations, which originally took place every two years, was changed to examinations every six months. The examinations would cover the Five Classics and the study of things, and no subject would be overlooked.

When the person finishes their studies, the imperial court will decide whether to grant them an official position based on their overall academic performance.

If a student fails the assessment three times, they will be expelled from the school and sent home.

This has caused some students who rely on their family background or ancestors to gain admission and simply want to obtain a degree to lament their situation.

Several of them, who knew Zhang Heng, even went to his home to cry and complain:
"You already have a bright future, why do you still want to ruin us!"

So, every generation has its own scapegoats to catch, right?

Having only recently started working in civil engineering, Zhang Heng, whose face was already burning from the sun, simply scratched his head and dared not utter a sound.

He didn't expect it either.
He only mentioned the lazy and indolent atmosphere at the Imperial Academy when he met the emperor, which prompted the emperor to take such a strong stance to rectify the situation.

But this is also good,

After Emperor Zhang consolidated power through debates at the White Tiger Hall, he believed that the court was the most important authority in all learning and inevitably relaxed his attention to the Imperial Academy.

When Empress Dowager Dou took power, the Dou family's children became wild and unrestrained, which further corrupted the atmosphere of the Imperial Academy. Many teachers and students became scheming and opportunistic, neglecting their studies.

Strengthening management and correcting the prevailing atmosphere now will not tarnish the reputation of the Imperial Academy, an institution dedicated to cultivating talent for the nation.

The emperor's forceful implementation further deterred the students from uttering any further complaints.

They could only read more books and do more practice problems with tears in their eyes, taking exam after exam.

of course,

Such suffering,
A benevolent emperor would not impose his will on the international students who were also studying at the Imperial Academy.

The sons of chieftains like the Xiongnu and Wuhuan could still continue their previous practice of reading the works of various philosophers and exploring their meanings.

The exam only needs to be taken once at the end of the course.

Before we can educate the barbarians into human beings and completely transform them into resources for the Chinese, they should learn more about moral classics.

When He Bo heard about his actions, he couldn't help but gasp in astonishment.

He said to Ximen Bao, "I hope he's not really the second Duke Dao of Jin!"

Although spirits and deities can infer a person's lifespan by observing the life force within the human body.

However, some illnesses come on suddenly and violently, exceeding the expectations of ordinary people and leaving even ghosts and gods helpless.

There are so many living beings in the world...

There are quite a few that are lively and energetic one moment, and then suddenly die the next.

It just goes to show how unpredictable life is, and nature always seems to like to play tricks on people.

Doctor Ximen replied, "Liu Zhao's ancestors have been praying for him frequently lately, wishing him a long life!"

Since the beginning of his rule,

Liu Zhao's talent has become undeniable.
He experienced the intrigues of the imperial court and the inner palace, yet he was still willing to treat his subjects with righteous principles and to plan for the future of the Central Plains with a clear mind, which earned him high praise from his ancestors.

Emperor Zhang, Liu Da, who had been criticized by his father and grandfather for "handling the matter of choosing an heir too easily," straightened his back and declared that he had a longer-term vision and a more resolute determination than his grandfather.

Humph,
When Liu Zhao was three years old, he could tell at a glance that this child would have an extraordinary future.
Unlike my grandfather, who spent years weighing the options of deposing and installing a crown prince, wavering between two women and their families.

"How can he be so brave?"

At the time, the Emperor was quite puzzled when he saw that Emperor Zhang had just made a grand statement and was then suppressed by his father who had rushed to the scene.

Fortunately, the kind-hearted Liu Laosan explained, "I have a small argument with Dou every three days and a big argument every five days. I'm so angry that I'm almost losing my mind."

How could Liu Da, who had been an emperor during his lifetime, tolerate the temper of the women in the harem?
He felt guilty towards the two important figures, Liang and Song, and naturally dared not say anything more.

However, Dou's glory during her lifetime all stemmed from herself.

How could Emperor Zhang tolerate the other party's sharp words?

He Bo was even more surprised when he heard this.

He asked Liu Laosan, "Even I, God, don't know anything about their family affairs, how do you know so much?"

Liu Laosan then sighed, "How boring!"

If he went to join in the fun of the former Qin emperor, the experienced First Emperor would use a bamboo pole to knock him off the wall.

Going to watch the former emperors of the Xin and Xia dynasties have their fun will also result in being suppressed by the Great Master of the Way of Peace and his chieftains.

in this way,

He can only pass the time by thinking about his descendants.

"Are you already tired of watching the cat and dog fight at the village entrance?"

"Don't mention it!"

"That old bastard Ying Feng is so biased!"

"I promised not to get involved in this feud, but every time I see my fat cat getting the short end of the stick, I have to grab a stick and help it out..."

That posture is exactly like the way the First Emperor stabbed himself!
This caused Emperor Taizu of Han to lose interest in watching dogs fight.

God then said "Oh," and comforted Liu Laosan, saying, "It's alright, I can travel anywhere."

Even the magnanimous Emperor Taizu of Han was speechless.

Seeing the other person's surprised expression, He Bo laughed twice and then slipped away.

Now, when Ximen Bao was asked about Liu Zhao, he recalled the expectations of the current emperors of the Han Dynasty and simply said with a smile, "If prayers were effective, the various states of China would have become like the people of India!"

Who in the world can compare to the spiritual practice of the people of India?

That's a system that could have thrived for thousands of years using the caste system. Ximen Bao shook his head and said, "It could also be like the Yin-Shang dynasty."

When ancestors were just memorial tablets,
Even the Shang dynasty could frequently offer sacrifices to the Qiang people.

If our ancestors truly have spirits...
It's likely that the Qiang people, who are currently causing trouble in the west of the Han Dynasty, would have been exterminated long ago.

Perhaps, in order to find some fresh and pure goods for their ancestors, the warriors of the Shang Dynasty would also stride out to foreign lands and open up a "sacrificial route" different from the Silk Road.

He Bo was surprised that the composed Doctor Ximen would suddenly tell such a hilarious joke, and immediately clapped and laughed along.

"Thinking about it this way, what if the Shang Dynasty descendants in Yinzhou went there to find new sacrificial offerings for their ancestors?"

"You can ask the messenger from Xinxiang about this matter when he arrives again."

"Then we'll be waiting a while!"

The ocean is vast, and contact with Xinxiang has always been intermittent.

Fortunately, the message in a bottle never stopped flowing, allowing God on the west bank to know what was happening there.

In previous years,
A severe snowstorm hit Beiyinzhou.

The fierce winds swept the snow across the mountains that sheltered the gentlemen of Xinxiang, covering many cities in the north.

As a result, Xinxiang's national strength was severely damaged, forcing it to slow down its southward advance and instead focus on providing relief to disaster victims to mitigate the losses.

One can imagine that

Before the scars of the disaster were healed, Xinxiang had no energy to travel by boat across the sea to the Central Plains to pay homage to the emperor.

And thinking of the distant Xinxiang

God then remembered other places, people, and things.

So He Bo turned around and went to the foot of the Great Xianbei Mountain, where he met the doctor who had shrunk to the appearance of a small old man.

Seeing that the old man still maintained a simple and unassuming demeanor, he asked him, "Didn't the emperor bestow many treasures upon you?"

"Didn't you receive that envoy?"

The old man said nonchalantly, "There's only so much stuff on the grassland. What's the use of having more money?"

It would be better to exchange them for some practical supplies.

Only when people are well-fed and clothed can they learn etiquette.

How can he educate barbarians if he doesn't have enough resources?

He Bo understood what he meant, and then strolled around the Murong tribe's territory with his hands behind his back.

Upon seeing the Xianbei people who no longer wore braids and had shaved their heads into a long, flowing hairstyle, he praised the physician's achievements.

The old man suddenly said sadly, "That's all the credit I have."

"Unable to contribute to the country where I was born and raised, I can only stay in a remote corner and toil away... Alas!"

"Moreover, based on what you told me earlier about the recent events in the Central Plains, it seems that the destruction of the Yan Kingdom is imminent."

The gentlemen of the Chinese nation are never content with the status quo.

Now evolved into the Great Han version, it possesses the aura to sweep away everything and rule the galaxy.

They will not overlook the arable land in Liaodong.

The Yan state, descended from the Yellow Turban rebels, was unable to govern effectively and appease the people of Liaodong.
That big man would attack without hesitation!

The doctors were terrified by this.

He worries that the scenes he once fantasized about will become reality:
The Yan state, which was clearly established because of the ideals of countless people,

Ultimately, it collapsed due to the unspeakable dark desires in people's hearts.

How will future generations record the history of this country? How will they evaluate the original builders?
That brief sixty-year reign,
A republic that lasted only sixty years
Will it be ridiculed by future generations as a wild and unrealistic fantasy?

If history is filled only with criticism and ridicule...

Will there be any successors who will embark on this path that was only partially opened before collapsing halfway through?
Even though I had spoken with the sage Sun En long ago,
Even though I have already found the right path and am doing the right things,

But at this age, one's heart is not hard enough, and one's thoughts inevitably waver.

The words he used to comfort himself back then

The admonitions of our ancestors
Faced with the reality of national collapse, they seemed so powerless.

He Bo didn't comfort him by echoing his worries, but instead pointed to the grass at his feet and said, "How delicate it is!"

"Anyone can be trampled upon, a gust of wind can bend it down, and a single snowflake can make it disappear into the air."

But the seed will continue to sprout.

Wild fire, in spring.

How could people living in that primitive era of eating raw meat and drinking blood have imagined the world today?
"……Father!"

As He Bo and the old man remained silent, a young man wearing a hairpin arrived on a fine horse.

He jumped off his horse and trotted over to the old man.

This is the child born to the doctor and his strong wife.

The brother-in-law wasn't lying; his sister was indeed quite robust.
Not long after their marriage, the doctor was able to conceive and give birth to the boy in front of him.

The surname "Murong" was chosen by the doctor when he was overjoyed to have a son late in life.

Those swaying ornaments were very popular with this Xianbei tribe.

They called this hair ornament, which originated from the Central Plains, in their own language, and the pronunciation was close to "Murong".

The more you shout,

More and more people are wearing them.

People from other tribes gradually began to use "Murong" to refer to them.

At last,
It is a new surname that was created by wise physicians who selected two auspicious characters from a complex text and combined them to form the meaning of "admiring the way of the two principles and inheriting the appearance of the three lights".

"How did you come?"

"Didn't your uncle ask you to help count the number of cattle and sheep?"

"I ordered it all in one go!" the boy said cheerfully. "Now my uncle wants me to call you over for roast lamb!"

The doctor agreed, and then thought of inviting He Bo to enjoy the grassland delicacies together.

When he turned around, the person who had been talking to him was nowhere to be seen.

So he shook his head, had his son help him onto the horse, and leisurely went to the banquet.

But on the way, he couldn't help but look back towards the east.

The boy knew what he was looking at.

"Father!"

He suddenly spoke up, "When I have the ability in the future, I will definitely cross the Great Xianbei Mountains and take you back to see it!"

"When the time comes, I'll take Mother, my brother, and my uncles to Liaodong to see the place you've always longed for!"

The doctor assumed he was just trying to comfort him and casually laughed, "Alright, alright!"

"However, Liaodong is an agricultural area. Can you adapt to life there?"

"If all else fails, I can always go to school!"

The boy smacked his lips and said, "I think farming is a good thing too."

"I also wanted to eat rice and drink noodle soup!"

When He Bo visits, he sometimes brings some local specialties.

It is either a nourishing treasure produced in the mountains and forests,
It's either food from the doctor's hometown that he has no access to at all on the grasslands.

The former would be accepted by the doctor with some reluctance.

The latter will be shared by him.

After all, although his descendants grew up on the grasslands, they could not forget the taste of their ancestral land.

Because one day,
The descendants of the Xia people will return to the land of the Xia people.

(End of this chapter)