How can one be Emperor Chongzhen without money?

Chapter 250 The top scholar must be Yan Yingyuan!
The Forbidden City, Wenhua Hall.

Emperor Chongzhen looked at Huang Lijie and Qian Qianyi standing below him and spoke. His voice was not loud, but it carried an air of authority.

"I have summoned you here today to discuss the imperial examination for selecting officials. This matter concerns the fate of the nation. What I need are capable people who can get things done and dare to take responsibility, not just pretty faces."

His gaze swept over Huang Liji. "Prime Minister, the imperial examinations have rules, and I will not interfere with the anonymous transcription. But rules are rigid, but people are flexible. This year's policy essays should prioritize practical application!"

Qian Qianyi's Adam's apple bobbed, but he didn't dare to reply.

Emperor Chongzhen stood up and walked to the enormous map of the Ming Dynasty. He first pointed to the arid northwest, then traced the map towards Liaodong. "The refugees need food, and the eastern barbarians are sharpening their knives. What the court needs now are people who can control floods, cultivate land, build cities, and manage finances! Those who write flowery prose but only engage in empty talk about morality, even if Cheng Yi and Zhu Xi were reborn, should not be placed at the top!"

He turned around abruptly. "Those papers with simple writing styles, but whose every word and sentence addresses the practical issues of canal transport, border defense, and craftsmanship—even if the language is ordinary—should be specially recommended to me!"

Huang Liji took a breath and bowed, saying, "This old minister understands that Your Majesty seeks talents who can be put to practical use." He understood the emperor's determination. This time, the selection of officials did not require ornate essays, but rather pragmatic policy proposals.

Qian Qianyi inwardly groaned. His student, Wu Weiye, was a brilliant writer and a strong contender for the top scholar title. But if "practical skills" were prioritized, his prospects looked bleak.

“Mu Zhai,” Chongzhen looked over, a half-smile on his face, “you have been in charge of the civil service examination for many years, you should know what time it is now. What I need are people who can put out fires, not idle people who just want to compose poems and enjoy the moon.”

Emperor Chongzhen paced back to his desk and tapped several memorials on it with his knuckles. "In Shaanxi and Henan, people are resorting to cannibalism, and the battle reports from Liaodong are becoming more urgent every day. Tell me, is it 'Confucius's sayings and the Book of Poetry' that can repel the enemy, or is it 'money, grain, and military supplies' that can feed the people?"

He didn't look at the two of them again, but only gazed at the gradually brightening sky outside the window. "Go. The Dragon Gate opens at dawn, don't be late."

Huang Lijie and Qian Qianyi bowed and hurriedly left.

As Chongzhen watched them walk away, his heart churned. Wu Weiye? Qian Qianyi's good student, the future "Three Great Masters of Jiangnan"? His writing was indeed elegant—but unfortunately, after the Jia Shen Incident, he first surrendered to Li Zicheng, then served the Manchus. Even if he had any regrets in his later years, he was still morally flawed! Did this kind of official deserve to be the top scholar?
He recalled another scene: beneath the walls of Jiangyin, Yan Yingyuan led the remaining civilians in a bloody battle for eighty-one days, and when the city fell, not a single person surrendered. "Eighty days of loyalty with hair still intact, preserving three hundred miles of the Ming Dynasty's territory"—that is true loyalty! And there was Wu Yi, who led the White-Haired Army to fight to the last man in the Taihu Lake area. These lowly officials were a hundred times more courageous than all the high-ranking officials in the court!
"In this life, I will never let this pearl be tarnished again," Chongzhen murmured to himself. He couldn't name names directly, but by emphasizing practicality, Huang Liji would naturally find the real gem among the submitted documents.

Three bells rang out from outside the hall, signaling the arrival of Mao Shi (5-7 AM). The Dragon Gate opened wide in front of the Gongyuan Street.

Wu Weiye, carrying his examination basket, followed the flow of people into the examination hall. Remembering Qian Qianyi's advice, he felt confident. Not far away, several simply dressed scholars stood silently in line; among them, one with a resolute expression, was Yan Yingyuan.

The morning light illuminated the plaque that read "Seeking Talented Individuals for the Nation".

Thousands of miles away in Pyongyang, North Korea, the situation was completely different.

Zhao Si rode on his thin horse, looking at the city before him.

He had been to Pyongyang several times, and each time it was different. The city walls were the same, the palace was the same, but the smell of the city had completely changed.

It used to be lifeless, but now it's a wild and unruly scene.

The carriages and horses blocked the road, and the Later Jin soldiers escorting them brandished their whips and cursed in broken Korean. Thatched huts lined both sides of the road, the clanging of hammers emanating from them. In the distance, newly erected chimneys billowed black smoke.

The air was filled with the smells of horse manure, sweat, and coal smoke.

Zhao Si sniffed. As the garrison commander of Haizhou, he was escorting over a hundred cartloads of grain to complete the delivery. Looking at the scene, he felt a surge of pride. This bustling activity, this sheer force, all belonged to the Great Jin. He, Zhao Si, was now a sturdy nail in this impregnable chariot, his future limitless!

Outside the palace, officials lined up to receive their orders.

Zhao Si reined in his horse and ordered his men to move the grain carts to the side to wait. He squinted at the vermilion palace gate.

Just then, a group of people walked over. They were dressed in eye-catching clothes, with loose robes, strangely combed hair, and long swords at their waists.

The officials in charge of ceremonies at the palace gate quickly came forward and politely led him inside.

An official from the Later Jin dynasty was muttering to himself nearby.

"See that? They're from Tsushima Island..."

"Is it someone from that main family?"

"Yes, this time it's the head of the family who's here. We've finally made full contact with Japan."

Zhao Si listened intently, a thought suddenly occurring to him. Even overseas Japanese were trying to establish connections? The Jin dynasty's influence was becoming increasingly alarming.

After the grain and fodder were delivered and the formalities were completed, Zhao Si felt relieved. He carefully put away the receipt and planned to wander around the city and buy some things to take back to Haizhou.

Just as I turned the corner, I bumped into someone. The person was wearing the robes of a sixth-rank official from the Later Jin dynasty, and was walking quickly with their head down.

The two almost collided head-on.

"Are you blind...?" Zhao Si stopped mid-sentence. The man also looked up.

Their eyes met, and they both froze.

"Zhao Si?"

"Wang...Wang the Chief?"

Zhao Si's eyes widened. Wang Jinbao! The former head craftsman of the Daming Cannon Factory of the Ming Dynasty! His craftsmanship was superb, but his stubbornness had caused him no end of trouble. He disappeared after the defeat at Guangning; everyone assumed he was dead.

To think we'd run into each other here, and he's even wearing that official's robe!
Wang Jinbao's face was filled with surprise and suspicion as he looked Zhao Si up and down in his garrison uniform. "You kid... you're tough! You didn't die in Guangning?"

Zhao Si chuckled dryly, "Just getting by. Boss Wang, you've... struck it rich?"

Wang Jinbao tugged at his official robes, a smile on his face that was hard to decipher—it was a mixture of smugness and something else entirely. "Hey, don't even mention it. I've had enough of this humiliation with the Ming army! What good is good craftsmanship? Unpaid wages, whippings—it's all less appealing than being a sycophantic bastard!"

He pointed to the clanging workshops behind him, raising his voice: "Look here! The Khan knows his stuff! Skilled craftsmen get meat every meal, and if they make a contribution, they get a real official position! No empty promises!" Zhao Si followed his finger and looked in that direction. The area used to be residential, but now it was a mix of thatched huts and brick houses, with chimneys standing tall and steam rising from the air.

"This is……"

"Pyongyang Firearms Manufacturing Bureau!" Wang Jinbao straightened his back. "I'm now a sixth-rank supervisor here! All the craftsmen in Korea who can make muskets have to obey my orders!"

He lowered his voice, a hint of boasting in it: "Work will begin in the spring. See that new kiln? By the end of summer at the latest, all the Han troops of the two Yellow Banners will be equipped with new guns! A hundred times better than the exploding guns used by the Ming army!"

Zhao Si listened, feeling even more smug. Wasn't the defeat at Baliqiao last time due to the Ming army's superior firearms? Now that the Jin dynasty also possesses powerful firearms, what does the Ming army have left?
Just then, a commotion came from the imperial palace. The palace gates opened wide, and several high-ranking officials walked out. The one in the lead was none other than Fan Wencheng.

Wang Jinbao quickly pulled Zhao Si aside, and they stepped back to the side of the road, with Zhao Si lowering his head.

Fan Wencheng and his entourage stopped outside the palace gate, seemingly waiting for something. The sound of their conversation drifted on the wind.

“…I understand what the Great Khan means.” Fan Wencheng’s voice was not loud, but clear. “The young emperor of the Ming Dynasty is keeping the imperial examinations closed to select scholars. Let him choose. What we need are artisans, grain, and soldiers who can fight!”

An official nearby chimed in, "Lord Fan is right. With Prince Amin and Prince Mangultai in Korea, the shaving order for the eight prefectures has been thoroughly implemented. Korea's manpower and resources are now completely under their control."

Fan Wencheng nodded slightly: "It's not enough to just hold onto them. We need to make it clear to those below that literate scholars and skilled craftsmen are more valuable than ready-made grain! Once you find them, send them properly to Pyongyang and Shenyang."

He paused, looked up at the sky, and spoke in a cold, hard tone.

"The crops in western Liaoning are growing well this year. Tell all banners to speed up preparations. When the autumn harvest is in full swing, when the troops are at their most ready, that will be the day the Great Khan personally leads the expedition to western Liaoning to 'harvest grain'!"

"Seize the opportunity before the autumn harvest..." an official next to him repeated, his voice filled with murderous intent.

Zhao Si stood by the roadside, barely breathing. These words struck him like a hammer blow. The autumn harvest...not many days left!
Far from being afraid, he was secretly excited. Going to western Liaoning to "collect grain" meant he could go and plunder! This garrison duty was truly worthwhile!
Fan Wencheng and the others left.

Wang Jinbao straightened up and patted Zhao Si on the shoulder: "Did you hear that? You're not going to stop now. I have to get busy; we need to test the molds for the new guns today."

Zhao Si grinned and patted his chest heavily: "Don't worry, Manager Wang! When the time comes, we'll also bring our new equipment and go to Liaoxi to plunder a few more bags of good grain for the Khan!"

He watched Wang Jinbao's figure disappear into the smoke and bustle of the workshop, then mounted his horse.

As he walked out of the Pyongyang city gates, he looked back. The spring sun shone brightly on the city wall, but Zhao Si felt that the shadow was like a hungry wolf sharpening its teeth, about to pounce and bite.

He touched the hilt of the knife at his waist.

The grain and fodder I was escorting were meant to feed this wolf, so that it could pounce on western Liaoning before autumn and have a good feast.

"Before the autumn harvest...it'll be soon!"

Zhao Si muttered something, spurred his horse on, and felt full of energy.

The Ming Dynasty, Beijing, Wenhua Hall in the Forbidden City.

The candles were replaced, but the hall remained brightly lit.

Huang Lijie and Qian Qianyi bowed again before the imperial desk, but this time, they held a yellow book with the ink still wet in their hands.

"Your Majesty," Huang Liji presented the booklet with both hands, "This year's imperial examination has selected three hundred successful candidates. The ink and red examination papers have been sealed, and the list is here for Your Majesty's perusal."

Chongzhen took it, but did not open it immediately. His gaze first swept over the two people below him.

Huang Lijie appeared calm, but a hint of relief lingered in the depths of his eyes. Qian Qianyi, on the other hand, kept his eyes slightly lowered, his posture respectful, but a barely perceptible stiffness was visible in his tightly pursed lips.

Emperor Chongzhen understood and slowly opened the register, his gaze sweeping over each name.

Sure enough, I saw the name "Wu Weiye" near the front of the second-tier list. Qian Qianyi's outstanding student, with his brilliant writing, managed to squeeze into the top ranks despite the emphasis on practical skills.

Emperor Chongzhen remained expressionless and continued looking down.

When he saw "Yan Yingyuan" and "Wu Yi" in the middle of the top three, as well as "Yang Tinglin" who was also in the middle of the second-tier, his finger paused slightly.

Huang Lijie spoke at the opportune moment, his voice steady: "Your Majesty, we have been ordered to review the examination papers, and our primary focus is on practical policy arguments. Among the candidates in this examination, there are indeed a few whose writing is simple and unadorned, yet their insights into matters such as grain transport, military preparedness, and land reclamation are profound and far superior to those who merely engage in empty talk. In accordance with Your Majesty's wishes, I hereby recommend them."

"Good." Chongzhen closed the list, his voice not loud, but carrying an undeniable weight. "You've worked hard, Yuanfu and Muzhai. I've read the list, and it suits my taste perfectly."

He gave Qian Qianyi a special look: "Mu Zhai, the results of this year's civil service examination show that scholars across the land are not just good at composing poems and indulging in romance. There are many who are capable of practical work."

Qian Qianyi's heart tightened, and he quickly bowed and said, "Your Majesty is wise! Your subject... deeply agrees." He was filled with mixed feelings. Although Wu Weiye's ranking was not low, the emperor's words clearly had a hidden meaning.

"Go down." Chongzhen gently placed the list on the table. "The palace examination is in three days. I will personally test the talents of these candidates. You should all prepare well."

"I'm waiting to retire."

Watching the two figures disappear through the palace gates, Chongzhen's gaze returned to the list. His finger lightly touched the names "Yan Yingyuan" and "Wu Yi".

Palace examination.

That would be the moment that truly determined the fate of the nation. Huang Liji had already, in the imperial examination, sifted out the true gold from the sand, just as he had hoped.

Next, it was up to the emperor himself to place the pearl in its rightful place.

The top scholar must be Yan Yingyuan!
(End of this chapter)