The Three Great Han Dynasties: Awaken Liu Bei with a scolding; you weave mats and sell sandals.

For three hundred years, the Han Dynasty nurtured scholars, and brave men from all over the land supported the nation as it faced imminent collapse.

In the present Han dynasty, Emperor Ling is in power.

Although his reputation for incompetence spread far and wide, it opened up a new path for officials in both the court and the countryside.

Previously, the recommendation system and the recruitment system were used to select talents to serve the country. However, by the Guanghe era, these were no longer relevant. For scholars from humble backgrounds who wished to display their talents and strategies, the recommendation system was the only viable path.

Cao Cao of Luoyang, Yuan Shao, whose family had held high office for four generations, and other prominent clans, Liu Yu, the current governor of Youzhou, Liu Wen, the prefect of Zhuojun who was close to Liu Hong, and Lu Zhi, the only great Confucian scholar in Zhuo County.

Even Liu Hong is now the Chief Clerk of Zhuo County!

They've all followed this path.

Within the small county of Zhuo.

For the vast majority of ordinary people, the Liu family private school, which has become increasingly famous in various counties of Youzhou in recent years, is the most convenient way.

Countless people from humble backgrounds or ordinary families were promoted to positions such as Prefect of Zhuojun or temporary clerks in the county, waiting for their opportunity, thanks to the recommendation of Liu Gongcao, the owner of the Liu family's private school.

And so, early in the morning...

At the beginning of the month, the crowd outside Liu Family Private School was bustling with people, all hoping to become members of the school so that their children and grandchildren could have a bright future and a promising career in government.

Among the crowd, two middle-aged men who had come together looked nervous and peered out to see what was going on.

Registration area!

Besides Liu Hong, the head of the Liu family in Zhuo County, Liu Yuanqi, the most powerful member of the family, was doing the simplest record-keeping work.

(Liu Yuanqi, Liu Bei's uncle! In the historical timeline, he sponsored Liu Bei's studies and was a kind and benevolent person.)

"Name?"

"Guan Yu, courtesy name Yunchang!"

"Place of origin!"

"A native of Jie County, Hedong Commandery."

"Should it lean more towards literary or martial arts?"

"Wen! He can recite the Spring and Autumn Annals backwards!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Yuanqi raised his head slightly and took another look at the young man in front of him. He saw that the young man had a handsome face, a slightly long and ruddy complexion, and bright eyes, but his clothes were made of coarse cloth...

It is truly rare for a poor boy to have such a character, neither humble nor arrogant.

But he kept talking non-stop:

"Next!"

……

He was a dark-skinned, chubby boy.

He looks big and rough, but he's actually quite thoughtful.

From the moment he arrived, it seemed he had figured out his thoughts. Without much effort in asking, he spoke in a simple and honest voice, with a touch of boldness, and had a similar chivalrous spirit to his nephew Liu Bei.

Fortunately, Liu Yuanqi was not averse to this.

The scholars of the Han Dynasty today are not pedantic Confucianists, but gentlemen who have mastered the Six Arts: rites, music, archery, charioteering, calligraphy, and mathematics. The only difference is their strengths and weaknesses.

He is not a completely useless person.

"I am Zhang Fei, courtesy name Yide! A local..."

"Like that red-faced young man from earlier, I'm also inclined towards literature!"

"..."

Liu Yuanqi's pen movement abruptly stopped, and he narrowed his eyes slightly. "Are you sure?"

The chubby, dark-skinned boy nodded emphatically.

So Liu Yuanqi went along with his wishes.

Perhaps this chubby boy isn't particularly striking in appearance.

There's still a possibility!

If you register in the morning, you can usually get the results in the afternoon.

The efficiency of the Liu Family Private School is evident.

The massive crowd surged in again, completely surrounding the entire Liu Family Private School.

Liu Hong was also present at the scene.

As the most important institution in the family, the private school was attended by Liu Yuanqi, a cousin who was always busy with family affairs, almost every month. As the head of the family, he could not be too far behind.

Not to mention that all those who graduated from the Liu family's private school over the years have gone on to work in Youzhou, either as officials or clerks, which has greatly helped the Liu family's business.

It had long been a major event that everyone in the family was paying attention to.

In other words, Liu Hong had not yet attained the title of marquis and the real power he held. Otherwise, if all his positions were linked together and made public, he would already be a formidable force in Youzhou.

"Yuanqi, how's the result?"

Liu Hong asked with a light laugh.

"Chieftain!"

Liu Yuanqi held the recently released list of students, bowed respectfully, and then handed it over.

What he didn't expect was—

The chubby boy and the rosy-faced boy, they both actually passed?

Even the scores obtained through the private school examinations of the Liu family in Zhuo County were as high as those of their nephews Liu Bei, Jian Yong, and Xu Shu.

They can be considered the top students in the "gifted youth class" and "young genius class" of their Liu family private school.

It's absolutely terrifying.

"Guan Yu, Zhang Fei..."

"Those two did indeed come!"

Looking at the list of selected candidates, Liu Hong couldn't help but smile.

As the de facto ruler of Zhuo County, Liu Hong had long been eyeing his son Liu Bei's future right-hand man, one of the Five Tiger Generals.

Zhang Fei is easy to find.

It's easy to find out about Zhang's butcher shop with a little inquiry.

The question is about Guan Yu's whereabouts.

Unexpectedly, the two of them ended up in his trap together today.

Indeed, as the emperor of Zhuo County, all the fortune of the land has entered into my body, so I should naturally have all my wishes fulfilled and everything go smoothly.

"These two people..."

Looking at the comments about Guan Yu and Zhang Fei in the back column, Liu Hong nodded repeatedly.

Cui Yan, a disciple of the great Confucian scholar Zheng Xuan, came from the Cui clan of Qinghe and was a renowned scholar of his time.

He is also the current teacher at the Liu family's private school.

If it weren't for the previous persecution of the partisans, which prevented such talented individuals from holding office, it would have been absolutely impossible for him, a mere member of the Han imperial family from Zhuo County, to successfully recruit him.

Guan Yu's assessment: "He possesses unparalleled courage, and harbors an intolerant pride!"

Comments on Zhang Fei.

"A temper like a raging fire can warm the hearts of comrades; anger like thunder can disregard the insignificant."

"Guan Yu, you should have pride but not arrogance. In your spare time, you can go to the county government office to supervise construction projects with the clerks, and assist the officials in managing the county's affairs..."

"Zhang Fei's words..."

Liu Hong hesitated for a moment, then smiled and said, "The mulberry trees in the manor are almost finished, and we're short-handed. Let's send him there!"

"Wealthy families should show some compassion and take a closer look at the hardships of the people."

In response to the personality flaws of the two individuals, Liu Hong made the above arrangements.

Liu Yuanqi noted them down one by one, and knew in his heart that the two, the rosy-faced boy and the chubby boy, had really caught the team leader's eye, otherwise he would never have personally intervened and done such meticulous work.

I remember the last time was...

Last time!

It was time to prepare to adopt Xu Shu as my godson!

Or perhaps this time...

Liu Yuanqi's thoughts raced.

Just then, Liu Yuanqi's son, Liu Bei's cousin, and also a member of the private school, Liu Zongran arrived in a hurry, his face beaming with excitement. Even while catching his breath, he still managed to shout, "Uncle! He's here! He's here..."

"People from the county have arrived!"

"Perhaps news from Luoyang has arrived; the Liu family of Zhuo County has achieved great success!"

Liu Hong did not conceal the matter of the Marquisate within the Pass, and given that several million coins were used, how could his clansmen not know? Clan etiquette and rules are still very important.

Even if Liu Hong could avoid such practices, there was really no need to do so unless absolutely necessary.

"good!

Liu Hong was overjoyed and strode forward, his brows furrowed with pride. "Let's go together! Today, it's time for our Liu family of Zhuo County, this branch of the Han imperial clan, to rise again!"