Transmigrating to the Three Kingdoms as Lu Bu: I Have a Pseudo-Apocalypse System

Also on the tenth day of the tenth month, the inaugural issue of the Da Han Xun Bao was officially released.

This newspaper was mass-produced by Lü Bu using modern papermaking techniques and movable type printing, based on later concepts. Each copy contained eight pages and cost five coins.

Front-page headline: "Jin Gong supervises the examination, the first imperial examination concludes successfully," with a detailed report on the entire process of the capital examination.

Second edition: Interviews with Wang Chang, Pei Qian, and Zhang Ji, the top three scholars in the imperial examinations, with portraits and biographies of the three.

The third edition, "Complete List of Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations)," lists the names and hometowns of one hundred Jinshi.

The fourth edition, "An Interpretation of the New Policies of the Imperial Court," introduces the nine-rank official system and the imperial examination system.

The fifth edition, "List of Governors of Various States and Commanders of Army Groups," publicly lists current high-ranking officials of the imperial court.

The sixth edition of "Chang'an Market Prices" lists the prices of everyday commodities such as grain, salt, and cloth.

The seventh edition of "Agricultural Guide" introduces the use of curved plows and composting techniques.

The eighth edition, "Wen Yuan," published poems and articles by scholars.

The newspaper caused a sensation throughout the city when it was published.

The literate eagerly bought the books, while the illiterate gathered in teahouses and taverns to listen to people read them aloud.

"Look! The top scholar, Wang Chang, is from Taiyuan in Bingzhou, and he's only twenty years old!"

"Zhang Ji, the third-ranked scholar, is actually from a humble family in Fengyi. This is truly a great honor for his ancestors!"

"This newspaper only costs five coins, and it has so much information..."

"Look at the price of grain. In Chang'an, a shi (a unit of dry measure) of millet costs 1,500 wen (another unit of cash), which is a bit lower than last year. Life is getting easier and easier!"

"The farming guide is useful; my family was just struggling with composting."

At noon that day, the three top scholars, adorned in red and colorful decorations, rode tall horses through the streets. The Imperial Guards led the way, with drums and music playing in unison. They set off from the Imperial Academy, passing through Zhuque Avenue, the Bell Tower, and the market, circling the city once.

The people of Chang'an lined the streets to watch, and children chased and cheered.

"Look, that's the top scholar!"

"The third-ranked scholar is so young!"

"I heard they're about to be appointed to official positions, at least sixth rank!"

The parade didn't end until late afternoon. When Wang Chang and his two companions dismounted, their official robes were already stained with the fragrance of flowers thrown by the people.

October 12th, Zuo Fengyi, Linjin County, Zhangjia Village.

Zhang Ji's family lived in two mud houses at the east end of the village. His father, Zhang Jian, was a minor clerk in the township who was not officially employed. His mother wove cloth to supplement the family income. His younger sister, Zhang Yun, was only fourteen years old and had already been betrothed to a farmer in a neighboring village.

That afternoon, the Zhang family was eating millet porridge with pickled vegetables when they suddenly heard a loud commotion of gongs and drums at the village entrance.

"Master Zhang, good news, good news!" The village head, accompanied by three county yamen runners, ran breathlessly to the door.

Zhang Jian hurriedly went out to greet him: "Village head, what is it?"

The constable unfolded a copy of the "Great Han Ten-Day Report," pointing to the third page: "Master Zhang, your son Zhang Ji has achieved the highest rank of Tan Hua in the first imperial examination! He ranked third nationwide and will soon be appointed a sixth-rank official by the court!"

Zhang Jian froze, and the bowl of porridge in his hand fell to the ground with a clatter.

Zhang's mother asked in a trembling voice, "Really? Really?"

"Absolutely true!" The village headman beamed. "The county magistrate has received the official document from Chang'an, ordering us to come and report the good news immediately! It's the imperial court's 'Great Han Ten-Day Report,' written in black and white!"

Zhang Ji's younger sister, Zhang Yun, snatched the newspaper. Although she didn't know many characters, she immediately recognized the words "Zhang Ji" and "Tan Hua" (third-place scholar in the imperial examination). Tears streamed down her face: "Father, Mother, my brother really passed!"

The news spread like wildfire throughout the village.

In less than half an hour, the Zhang family's dilapidated courtyard was packed with villagers.

"Uncle Zhang, congratulations! Wenhe is really promising!"

"The third-ranked scholar in the entire country! Our village has produced a great man!"

"From now on, we should call him Master Zhang!"

Tears streaming down his face, Zhang Jian knelt and kowtowed towards Chang'an, saying, "Thank you, Duke Jin, thank you, the imperial court, for giving a way out for a poor family like ours!"

In the evening, Zhang Wen, the head of the Zhang family, led more than ten elders to the scene.

The Zhang family was considered a small clan in Zuofengyi, and had always been oppressed by the local powerful Yang family. No official with a salary of more than 200 shi (a unit of grain) had ever emerged from the clan.

"Where is Wenhe? When will Wenhe return to his hometown?" Zhang Wen asked anxiously.

Zhang Jian said, "The messenger said that Sanjia needs to receive his official appointment from the Duke of Jin in Chang'an and will not be able to return until the end of the month."

Zhang Wen slapped his thigh: "Good, good! My Zhang family has finally made it!" He said to the clan elders, "Set aside fifty mu of clan land for Wenhe's family. Also allocate 100,000 taels of silver to rebuild their house!"

Zhang Jian hurriedly waved his hand: "Clan leader, this is unacceptable..."

"Very well!" Zhang Wen said sternly. "Wenhe is a once-in-a-century talent of our Zhang family, destined to become a high-ranking official! How can he live in this dilapidated house? Also, Wenhe's sister's marriage is off! How can the sister of a top scholar marry a peasant? I will personally act as matchmaker and find her a wealthy family in the county!"

Zhang's mother cried, "But...but we've already accepted the betrothal gifts..."

"Retreat! Retreat double!" Zhang Wen waved his hand. "Everything will come from the clan!"

That night, the Zhang Family Ancestral Hall was brightly lit.

Zhang Wen presided over the ancestral worship ceremony and included Zhang Ji's achievement of becoming the third-ranked scholar in the family genealogy on a separate page.

"By our ancestors, our descendant Zhang Ji, courtesy name Wenhe, participated in the first imperial examination in the fifth year of the Chuping era and achieved the highest rank of Tan Hua (third-place scholar). This is a glorious achievement for the Zhang family for a century, and it is hereby commemorated to inspire future generations!"

All the men surnamed Zhang in the village knelt in the ancestral hall, bowing three times and kowtowing nine times.

Similar scenes also unfolded in the Wang family of Taiyuan and the Pei family of Hedong. However, since the Wang and Pei families were already large clans, their celebrations were more of a leisurely "icing on the cake."

Jin Gongfu.

Lü Bu summoned Wang Chang, Pei Qian, and Zhang Ji, while Jia Xu, Guo Jia, and Xun Yu were also present.

"Sit down." Lü Bu gestured to the seat in front of him. "Let's not stand on ceremony today, speak freely."

The three thanked the guests for their seats.

Lü Bu asked, "The first imperial examination has concluded, and you all witnessed the entire process. Do you have any suggestions?"

Wang Chang pondered for a moment, then cupped his hands and said, "Lord Jin, I have a concern. According to the current system, the county and prefectural examinations are held in the same year, while the state and capital examinations are held in the following year. However, the thirteen prefectures of the empire cover a vast territory. For example, if a scholar from Jiaozhou were to travel to Chang'an, it would take several months. If the examinations were held every year, scholars would spend most of their time on the road, and the travel expenses would be considerable, which would be difficult for poor families to bear."

Pei Qian nodded: "Brother Wang is absolutely right. Moreover, holding an exam every year is too frequent, and talent development takes time. A provincial exam every two years and a capital exam every three years would be more reasonable."

Zhang Ji added: "Furthermore, students are worried that some people will take the exam every year, becoming corrupt scholars in the examination hall, never engaging in production, only knowing how to take exams, and wasting their family's wealth."

Lu Bu and Jia Xu exchanged glances, their eyes filled with approval.

"What you are worried about is exactly what I am thinking," Lü Bu said. "Fengxiao, what do you think?"

Guo Jia smiled and said, "What the three of you have said hits the nail on the head. I think we should establish a new system: county examinations in March each year, prefectural examinations in October, state examinations in May every two years, and capital examinations in August every three years. Those who pass the county examination will become scholars, those who pass the prefectural examination will become academicians, those who pass the state examination will become scholars, and those who pass the capital examination will become scholars. In addition, we should set a rule that each person can take each level of examination a maximum of three times. If they fail three times, they will be permanently disqualified from taking that level of examination."

Xun Yu added: "It is also necessary to stipulate that scholars who pass the imperial examinations must enter officialdom within a specified period of time, otherwise their academic achievements will be invalidated. This is to prevent some people from obtaining academic titles but then living in seclusion, thus wasting the court's efforts in selecting talent."

Jia Xu approved: "Excellent! The provincial examinations will be held every two years, and the capital examination every three years, giving scholars ample time to prepare and travel. Those who fail three times will be disqualified, thus eliminating professional candidates. A time limit for entry into officialdom ensures that talent is used for the country's benefit."

Lü Bu nodded: "It's settled then. Wenruo, you draft the regulations and publish them in the next issue of the Great Han Xunbao to announce it to the world."

"promise."

Wang Chang and the other two looked on with admiration.

They only asked questions, and Duke Jin and his advisors quickly came up with perfect solutions. Moreover, they were willing to listen to the opinions of poor scholars, truly making them an enlightened ruler.