Primordial Era: Exceptional Comprehension, Destroying Buzhou Mountain at the Start

Chapter 311 The Tang Dynasty's Hundreds of Millions of Officials: The Imperial Examinations and Military Examinations Test Fierce Generals with Unique Questions

Emperor Xiao stood amidst them, his deep, double pupils sweeping over the endless people and ministers, and also looking at Li Shimin, his heart filled with excitement.

Although Di Xiao knew that the Tang Dynasty in Journey to the West and the historical Tang Dynasty in his memory were completely different concepts, he realized how superficial his thoughts were after seeing it for himself.

Leaving aside distant examples, within the Tang Dynasty alone, there were hundreds of millions of officials. Indeed, the vast land of China, supporting countless people, required numerous officials to govern it, hence the need for countless officials.

Besides the numerous officials, almost all the officials who came here possessed cultivation. Moreover, the more powerful the official, the higher their cultivation level.

Di Xiao sighed inwardly, but also asked with a hint of doubt, "General, in the Tang Dynasty, is there a correlation between an official's rank and their cultivation level?"

"Of course it's related. Our Great Tang Dynasty occupies nine provinces of the human race, and each province is divided into nine prefectures, meaning there are eighty-one prefectures. Each prefecture is further divided into nine circuits. Each circuit is divided into nine counties. Each county is divided into nine towns. Each town is divided into nine townships. Each township is divided into nine villages. Each village is divided into nine li..."

"With such a division, too many officials are needed to manage it. Moreover, although the Nine Provinces are the land of our human race, because the spiritual energy within the Nine Provinces is rich, some spirits and monsters are often born. Also, because of some human beings, some bad things happen, which will breed some vengeful ghosts and evil spirits."

"Therefore, those who manage affairs within the Tang Dynasty must possess cultivation; otherwise, it would be impossible to manage and protect the people of the Tang Dynasty. Thus, a village head must at least be at the Human Immortal realm. A village chief must at least be at the Earth Immortal realm. A township head is a Celestial Immortal, a town head is a True Immortal, a county head is a Mysterious Immortal, a prefectural head is a Golden Immortal, a Taoist priest is at the Taiyi realm, and a prefectural head needs to be a Taiyi Golden Immortal or at the Daluo realm. And a state head must at least be a Daluo Golden Immortal."

"In addition to civil officials, each place also has troops stationed there. The person in charge of the troops in each place must also have the same cultivation level as the civil officials. Therefore, our Great Tang has countless officials, and each of them has cultivation."

"Those who are able to come here now are at least the heads of a prefecture. Next are the current ministers and many nobles."

As Xue Rengui recounted his story, he gradually introduced Di Xiao to some familiar civil and military officials. Good heavens, the more Di Xiao learned, the more he discovered the vastness and power of the Tang Dynasty in the Journey to the West.

So many humans, so many officials, so many powerful individuals, so many cultivators.

As Di Xiao pondered, Li Shimin had already drunk his wine. Then, at his signal, a eunuch slowly stepped forward, holding an imperial edict made of special divine materials, and proclaimed: "May Heaven and Earth grant eternal prosperity to humanity. Today, the Great Tang Dynasty of the human race is holding a once-in-a-millennium civil and military examination."

"There are three topics for this civil service examination: governing a region, compiling books on Confucianism and Taoism, and strategic practice! Those who choose to govern a region will enter the Great World of Examinations and become local officials, responsible for managing millions of people under their jurisdiction and handling all matters that occur within that region. Their scores will be based on the results of their governance."

"Those who choose to compile books based on Confucianism and Taoism will enter a world of calligraphy, filled with endless classics. Candidates will need to consult countless classics and then rely on their own wisdom to compile a book. Their performance will be judged based on the literary spirit contained within their compiled book."

"Choosing to be a strategy practitioner means entering a chaotic and humane world, where there will be rebellions, floods, earthquakes, and other human disasters. Candidates will need to rely on their own strategies to manage and solve these problems. Performance will be judged by the effectiveness of the strategies."

The eunuch paused briefly as he spoke, his gaze sweeping around the crowd, as if hoping that the many humans participating in the civil service examinations would absorb his words.

Di Xiao was also digesting the exam content at this moment, but he never expected that the imperial examination in the Tang Dynasty would be like this. It wasn't a question-based exam at all; it was a practical exam.

Providing a sufficient number of test-takers, managing them, and testing them is truly interesting. There's also the writing of books and the development of practical strategies.

However, Di Xiao was also clear that he was participating in the martial arts examination, not the imperial examination.

I just don't know what the military examinations in Journey to the West: The Tang Dynasty were like.

When Emperor Xiao was puzzled, the eunuch continued, "His Majesty has set three questions for all those participating in the military examination. These questions will distinguish between those who are garrison commanders, fierce generals, and commanders of talent."

"Those who participate in the garrison commander test will be sent to a city with a fixed army and supplies, where they will face continuous attacks from the demon race. The results will be determined by how long it takes to defend the city."

"Those who participate in the 'Fierce General' test will be sent to a battlefield, given a certain number of troops, and then charged into battle. Their performance will be judged by the number of enemies they kill."

"Those who participate in the talent test will be sent to a vast world containing numerous small, fragmented nations. You will become the great general of one of these nations, commanding your army to conquer them. Your performance will be determined by the number of nations conquered."

Goodness, the exam questions for this martial arts examination are truly bizarre.

Or perhaps, in a world with supernatural powers, even exams are played in such a flashy way.

Give someone a world, a large enough population and enemies, and then send them to conquer and rule.

This was far different from the arena battles that Di Xiao had imagined. But that made sense; ordinary arena battles simply couldn't reveal true commanders and fierce generals.

As for the three types of questions in the martial arts examination, Di Xiao was also lost in thought for a moment.

Xue Rengui then asked, "Di Xiao, which exam question are you planning to choose?"

Di Xiao smiled wryly: "I am confident that I can complete any of the three types of test questions."

The examination questions for both literary and martial arts were released, and the six types of questions raised a complex and indescribable feeling in Di Xiao's heart.

Compared to the assessment methods I had imagined, the exam questions I'm hearing now are quite unusual.

This kind of incredibly pragmatic and realistic test is absolutely capable of identifying talent.

Di Xiao is now going to participate in the martial arts examination, and he is full of confidence in all three types of questions.

"Whether it's the test of a garrison commander, a fierce general, or a brilliant strategist, I'm confident I can complete it. However, I've already experienced the test of a fierce general when I participated in the battle to seal Xiang Yu. There's not much point in participating again. As for the test of a garrison commander, I've already experienced it when I resisted the invasion of the demon and barbarian tribes."

"Therefore, this time, I will choose the test of leadership. To command the entire army and conquer many countries."

After much deliberation, Di Xiao finally made a decision. Especially considering his past experiences, he clearly understood what he needed right now.

Although choosing the other two options would have made things easier for Di Xiao, he still wanted to try something different.

Upon hearing this, Xue Rengui's armor trembled, and he smiled expectantly, "Alright, then go. I'll be here watching you, and I hope you can pass the test."

After saying this, many people who were preparing to participate in the assessment followed the prodigy and flew into a mysterious painting.

(End of this chapter)