Zhutian: Starting from the Space-Time Merchant

Chapter 253 Targeted Imperial Examination
Wearing a mask, Tang Jun scattered bags of lime powder onto the flooded grass.

Looking a little further away, the wind blows up the powder, and all you can see is a vast expanse of white.

"It's not a cure, but it's better than nothing."

Wearing a mask, Lin Dao gazed at the receding waters of the marshland.

"Xuanwu Gate has already been breached, and now the Turks have also been pacified."

"A new portal hasn't appeared yet. In other words, we haven't done enough."

Looking up at the sky, the sky was blue and the clouds were white; the sky was truly beautiful.

Cheng Zhijie, who was granted the title of Duke for his merit in capturing Jieli, ran over and said, "Master, we've run out of lime powder."

He found the mask too stuffy, so he simply tore off a piece of cloth, half-covered his nostrils, and tied it behind his head, making him look like a thief.

"That's enough once you've used it."

Lin Dao withdrew his gaze and said, "Just do your best."

"If a major epidemic breaks out, there's nothing I can do."

The weather was hot, there was a flood, and so many people and livestock were left behind.

All the preconditions for a major outbreak have been met.

Faced with this environment, even Lin Dao could only make a token effort to stop.

"Let's go."

Lin Dao got into the car and said, "Don't come here for a while."

The Tang soldiers who had been clearing the way gathered together, mounted their bicycles, and headed towards Yinshan.

At the foot of Yinshan Mountain, a brand-new city built from stones sourced from Yinshan Mountain has sprung up.

Tens of thousands of Turkic prisoners worked day and night to build the site.

A large number of Tang troops set up camp in a plum blossom pattern around the perimeter.

Upon arriving at the city gate, they saw a group of herdsmen wearing felt hats, carrying lambs, milk wine, gold and silver utensils, and leading fine horses into the city under Wei Zheng's guidance.

Lin Dao stopped the car and called out to Li Jing, who was standing not far away with a frosty expression and a slight tilt of his chin, staring at the herdsmen.

Li Jing dismounted and trotted over, his face beaming with a smile.

"Master Daoist, you're back!"

"Ah."

Lin Dao gestured to the herdsmen, "Which tribe are these from?"

“One of the Tiele tribes in the north.” Li Jing replied, “What’s your name? It’s a tongue twister and hard to remember.”

There's no way around it; there are just too many different tribes, big and small, on the grasslands.

Even the people of the grasslands themselves might not be able to recognize them all.

"This is the second team today."

Li Jing laughed and explained, "I heard that many tribes under the jurisdiction of the Western Turks have also come here."

Lin Dao waved his hand and drove straight into the city gate.

Above the city gate, there is a line of handwritten characters.

'The City of Surrender'!
The downfall of Jieli Khan had a profound and earth-shattering impact on the entire grassland.

The current environment is similar to that of the Ashina family's destruction of the Rouran Khanate a century ago.

When the news spread, even tribes as far away as the northern deserts, the Golden Mountains, and the White Mountains and Black Waters hurriedly sent envoys to pay their respects.

One hundred thousand archers were wiped out in one battle.

Along with it, many tribes, including the royal courts of the greater and lesser khans, were also destroyed.

On the grasslands, this would be considered a cataclysmic event.

For the various tribes that have lived in a survival environment for many years, the most important thing now is to pay homage to the new Khan of the grasslands and offer their loyalty.

This has been the rule on the grasslands for thousands of years.

Driving into the city through the forest, you see construction sites everywhere along the way.

Although he provided iron tools and a large number of prisoners worked day and night, building a city was no easy task.

Tang Jun, the supervisor, inspected the various locations.

Anyone who dares to slack off will be dealt with on the spot.

Lin Dao glanced around and continued walking, arriving at the only repaired building in the city.

Li Erfeng's temporary palace.

The tribal envoys waiting outside to be received were all amazed when they saw the iron cart that could move on its own without being pulled by oxen or horses.

He muttered incantations and repeatedly performed deep bows.

Lin Dao got out of the carriage, glanced around, and walked into the palace.

The Tang soldiers all bowed respectfully along the way.

Those who eat and use things from Lindao should certainly feel basic gratitude.

Li Erfeng is processing official documents.

The various official documents sent by Changsun Wuji and Fang Xuanling and Du Fu from Chang'an City required the emperor's personal handling.

Upon seeing Lin Dao approaching, Li Erfeng immediately put down her work, stood up, and greeted him with a smile.

"Brother Zihou is back! Thank you for your hard work!"

Since the Xuanwu Gate battle, Li Erfeng has always had a smile on her face whenever she sees Lin Dao.

This wasn't out of gratitude for Lin Dao's promotion, but rather out of awe of Lin Dao's extraordinary abilities.

At least until a way to counter infantry fighting vehicles is found, Li Erfeng will continue to smile, as gentle as a spring breeze.

He possessed all the prerequisites necessary to be an excellent emperor.

That means you have thick skin.

When it's time to swallow one's pride, there's no hesitation.

Historically, after the Xuanwu Gate Incident, in order to put on a show, Li Erfeng even cried while sucking Li Yuan's nipples.

Without a doubt, this is one of the prerequisites for becoming a wise ruler.

"So many tribes came to surrender."

After sitting down, Lin Dao smiled and said, "I never thought about becoming the chieftain of a grassland tribe, or a Heavenly Khan?"

He spoke casually, with a friendly smile, as if he were chatting with an old man at the village entrance.

Li Erfeng's heart tightened immediately.

The elation brought about by the recent adulation and hype shattered instantly.

"No."

He simply shook his head and said, "I am the emperor of the Han dynasty, how can I be some kind of Heavenly Khan?"

The Heavenly Khan may seem powerful, but in the end, he is nothing more than a figurehead.

When the Central Plains were powerful, the grasslands naturally submitted.

But once the Central Plains are in chaos, the grasslands will immediately turn against them.

History books record too many stories like this. "This city is called the City of Surrender."

Lin Dao made a comment, then quickly changed the subject: "The aristocratic families, led by the Five Surnames and Seven Noble Families, are extremely respectful in front of the barbarians, but they are incredibly arrogant in front of you. Do you know why?"

"What else could it be?"

When this was mentioned, Li Erfeng got angry: "They knew I cared about my pride."

The ranking of families in the world was determined by the Five Surnames and Seven Noble Families, and the Li family of Longxi was only ranked second.

This infuriated Li Erfeng.

"The reason they act so recklessly is not only because they have power, but also because they control the narrative."

Lin Dao patiently advised, "The first thing to do to deal with them is to break their power of discourse."

Li Erfeng immediately bowed and said, "May I ask your guidance?"

"Yang Jian's implementation of the imperial examination system was very effective."

Li Erfeng was puzzled: "If the imperial examination were implemented, wouldn't the scions of learned and powerful families have an advantage?"

Compared to students who learn quickly in private schools, scions of established families who receive family education from a young age clearly have an advantage in this kind of exam.

"In addition to the exam, an interview can also be added."

"Doing well on the exam doesn't necessarily mean you'll do well in the interview."

Lin Dao continued to offer him advice, "And it can be targeted at the imperial examinations."

"Just like this surrender city, it needs a county magistrate, a county lieutenant, and a county assistant."

"If we directly issue recruitment notices for these three positions, which scion of a prominent family do you think would be willing to come here and endure hardship?"

"Even if they really wanted to, they could just reject them during the interview."

"You will personally set the exam questions, and you will also conduct the interviews."

"In this way, those who pass the imperial examinations will become your students, the emperor's disciples."

“Arrange for them to go to various prefectures and counties across the country, to start from small places.”

"As long as there are enough of them, the power of discourse will gradually shift into their hands."

"When that time comes, you won't need to push them. These people will do everything they can to pull down the scions of powerful families so that they can continue to move forward."

Li Erfeng listened attentively, while Wei Zheng took careful notes.

The two exchanged a glance, and a thought welled up in their minds.

Is this how things are rolled up in the celestial realm too?

Lin Dao continued speaking.

"They seized control of the discourse and severed the extensive network of relationships among powerful clans and aristocratic families."

"Next, we can take action against their own family."

“Split it directly, split it out room by room.”

“Go south to plant sugarcane, go north to graze cattle and sheep, go east to fish in the sea, and go west to trade.”

"Break down large things into smaller ones, and keep breaking them down."

Wei Zheng couldn't help but ask, "What if they refuse?"

Lin Dao smiled and looked at Li Erfeng.

Li Erfeng was also smiling.

Wei Zheng quickly came to his senses.

The mighty Tang cavalry is here!

Under the pressure of hundreds of thousands of soldiers, what could aristocratic families do, even if they brought out tens of thousands of servants and hundreds of thousands of vassal commoners?
How many people would be willing to die with them?
Especially after defeating the Turks, Li Erfeng's prestige soared.

If there are truly powerful and influential families who are stubborn and inflexible, that would actually be a good thing.

"Brother Zihou."

Li Erfeng spoke first, "I intend to establish a protectorate on the grasslands. What do you think?"

The main tasks of the Protectorate General were to govern the various tribes, appease them, wage war, and reward merits and punish demerits.

To put it bluntly, it's still the same old system of controlling and pacifying.

“Establish a direct line.” Lin Daohui replied decisively. “Don’t impose restrictions, take actual control. Even if the population is insufficient now, we must first establish the official status.”

“Select a group of small tribes and settle them in designated locations.”

"They were required to perform corvée labor every year to build city walls at key points and to construct the Tang Straight Road."

"If you have more sons in the future, you can have two of them come here."

Li Erfeng pondered for a moment.

"Too many tribes have come to surrender, so which one should we choose?"

“What’s so difficult about that?” Lin Dao pointed to the playing cards on the table.

"Draw lots."

"It depends on fate."

The Tang army finally returned south.

The grasslands that once belonged to the Turks were divided into four routes: the eastern and western routes of southern Mongolia and the eastern and western routes of northern Mongolia.

The corresponding summons documents were delivered by fast horse to the prominent families and clans, led by the Five Clans and Seven Families.

Unsurprisingly, none of the scions of wealthy and powerful families, who lived comfortable lives, were willing to serve as officials in the harsh conditions of the southern and northern deserts.

Refusing to be summoned was a tradition among scholar-officials since the Han and Wei dynasties.

Not only will they not be criticized, but their reputation will soar, and they will be praised by the world, showing no interest in power or influence.

The emperor and the court had no choice but to continue conscripting.

After all, there are only so many students who can go to school, and if we don't choose them, there's no one else to choose.

This is the first step in how powerful clans monopolize power: monopolizing knowledge.

It's different now.

At Lin Dao's suggestion, Li Tang, who began to gradually implement compulsory education, had more options.

Many of the soldiers who distinguished themselves in the campaign against the Turks were given the qualification to recommend students to serve as officials in the southern and northern desert regions.

Upon returning to Chang'an, Li Erfeng initiated the first targeted imperial examination.

A special imperial examination was held specifically for the four regions of southern and northern deserts.

He personally set the examination questions and then personally interviewed candidates from military households or commoner backgrounds.

He then personally appointed them as officials at various levels in the four regions of southern and northern Mongolia.

From then on, a group of officials who had absolutely no connection with aristocratic families and clans were born.

Undoubtedly, the powerful clans whose interests had been threatened were extremely wary, and their struggle with the emperor would become increasingly fierce.

Lin Dao merely expressed his concern.

After Feng Ang went to court to pay homage, he took the initiative to seek out Li Erfeng.

"Are you interested in doing what Yang Guang failed to do?"

(End of this chapter)