Tang Dynasty: Consort Wu? Your Majesty, please address her as the Crown Prince's Consort.

Time flies, and the imperial examination quietly came to an end amidst Li Chengqian's back-and-forth journey.

Until the final bell rang, all the candidates stopped answering the questions, and the eunuchs who had been waiting around began to collect their papers in an orderly manner.

However, this does not mean that the imperial examination is over.

Next comes the real highlight, also known as seeking advice!

The emperor personally asked the questions, the top three in the first-class examination answered them, and finally the emperor determined the top three scholars on the spot based on his own considerations!

To put it simply, the palace examination was just a way for these scholars to meet the emperor. The palace examination did not eliminate anyone; no matter how well they performed, they could become officials.

They were either sent to local areas or remained in the central government, and the standard for all these assignments was the exam they had just completed.

As for the top three in the first-class examination, according to past practice, they would definitely stay in Chang'an, spend two years in the Hanlin Academy, and then the emperor would entrust them with important responsibilities depending on the situation.

This consultation was the most important thing for the top three candidates, as it directly affected the emperor's first impression of them.

However, it didn't really matter to Zhang Heng and Ma Zhou anymore.

Because they already resemble His Highness the Crown Prince.

Li Shimin looked down at the three people below, especially Zhang Heng, whose writing was quite impressive even to Li Shimin.

"Ahem! I have a question for you. Between Emperor Wen of Han and Emperor Wu of Han, who do you admire more?"

Upon hearing this question, not only the three people below, but even the ministers standing nearby were taken aback.

This isn't asking whether you prefer Emperor Wen of Han or Emperor Wu of Han; it's clearly asking how the Tang Dynasty should develop next: whether to expand its territory and wage war like Emperor Wu of Han, or to recuperate and rebuild its strength like Emperor Wen of Han!

However, while the others were clearly deep in thought, pondering how to answer the question, Li Chengqian couldn't help but let out a cold laugh.

Haha! What's the point of choosing? I want them all!

However, he also knew that his old man actually preferred Emperor Wen of Han, who was his idol.

Even after the old man died, his temple name in Pudong was Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty.

After a moment's thought, Cui Yan stepped forward and spoke for the first time:

"Your Majesty! I believe that without the accumulation of the reigns of Emperors Wen and Jing, how could Emperor Wu have had the confidence to expand the territory!"

If we want our country to be prosperous and strong, we must reduce taxes and corvée labor, allow wealth to accumulate among the people, and ensure stability on the borders. We can also adopt the policy of marriage alliances used by the Han Dynasty. War ultimately drains the people's resources and manpower; only internal stability can ensure lasting peace and security.

Upon hearing Cui Yan's words, the aristocratic official beside him nodded with a look of satisfaction.

The policy of marriage alliances was indeed the least costly strategy for maintaining peace, and such practices have existed since ancient times, with precedents in both the Han and Sui dynasties.

However, Li Shimin, sitting on the dragon throne, couldn't help but frown upon hearing this.

He was the emperor, otherwise he would have started cursing long ago.

A marriage alliance?

Whom should I send for a marriage alliance? My daughter?

Why the hell didn't you use your own daughter to arrange a marriage alliance?

You just open your mouth and expect me to send you my daughter? Don't I have any dignity?

Even if a marriage alliance is arranged, it shouldn't be for the sake of maintaining peace. Rather, it should be because they come to me with sincerity, so that I might reluctantly agree to marry a woman from the Zong clan to them.

However, Li Chengqian, who was standing to the side, did not indulge him.

"Shut up! A marriage alliance? How about I send you there as a marriage alliance?"

"Damn it! You want to use my Li family's daughter for a marriage alliance? You should at least ask them if they dare to accept her! Does my Overlord Spear agree to it?!"

Upon hearing this, everyone present was slightly taken aback.

They hadn't expected His Highness the Crown Prince to react so strongly.

To be honest, those present were not actually opposed to the marriage alliance.

Such things have happened many times throughout history.

Even Cui Yan below couldn't help but retort:

"What does Your Highness mean by this? The strategy of marriage alliances has existed since ancient times. Isn't it a worthwhile endeavor to spare the border regions from the ravages of war with the efforts of one person?"

At that moment, Zhang Heng, who was standing to the side, couldn't stand it any longer and immediately retorted:

"Absurd! Just because something has existed since ancient times doesn't mean it's true. Our Tang Dynasty has a strong and powerful army, and our Tang Dynasty's generals are all brave and skilled in battle. Our Tang Dynasty's civil officials also have iron-blooded passion. Even the Prime Ministers Fang and Du have drawn their swords to kill enemies."

Your Majesty is an emperor on horseback, invincible in battle. When has the peace of our Great Tang ever needed to rely on a woman's womb? The men of the Great Tang are not all dead yet, it is not time for women to stand in front of men.

This may be a worthwhile deal, but what we lose is the backbone of our Great Tang Dynasty. The defeat of the six states led to further bribery of Qin. Today we cede five cities, tomorrow ten, and then we can have a night's rest. But when we get up, we see that Qin's army is already at our borders.

Today we send women to marry foreign rulers for peace, but tomorrow they will think the Tang Dynasty is weak and easily bullied, and demand money and land! Only iron cavalry and weapons can bring stability to the Tang Dynasty's borders, to stop killing with killing, to repay blood with blood!

Then he cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards Li Shimin and began to speak:

"Your Majesty asked which emperor you admire more, Emperor Wu or Emperor Wen. I replied that Emperor Wu was known for his iron-fisted rule, while Emperor Wen was known for his love for the people. We should take the best of both and discard the worst. Externally, we used our iron cavalry to carry out our hegemonic power, while internally, we practiced benevolent governance and the way of the king. Externally, we expanded our territory and used war to sustain our war effort; internally, we reduced taxes and levies and allowed the people to recuperate!"

Your Majesty need not emulate Emperor Wen, nor Emperor Wu. Your Majesty is Your Majesty, and with Your Majesty's abilities, you may very well be no less capable than Emperor Wen and Emperor Wu in the future!

"Good! Well said!"

As soon as Zhang Heng finished speaking, Li Shimin, sitting on the dragon throne, couldn't help but excitedly speak up.

Wow! Not only is he talented, but he also knows how to flatter so well.

Li Shimin grew increasingly fond of Zhang Heng as he looked down at him.

Li Chengqian, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but smile and didn't say anything more.

On the other hand, Cui Yan's expression was not good at this moment, especially when he saw Li Shimin praising him repeatedly, his heart sank.

He originally thought that although two of the top three in the first-class examination were from poor families, he, as someone from a prominent family, was determined to win the top spot.

That's why he was the first to jump out and answer Li Shimin's question, but he didn't expect that Li Chengqian would directly confront him on the spot, and Zhang Heng would relentlessly pursue him by bringing up the matter of the marriage alliance.

What's wrong with marriage alliances?

Am I the only one in the entire Tang Dynasty who proposed the marriage alliance?

Why do you keep bothering me, a scion of a prominent family?!

After the consultation ended, Ma Zhou, who had been watching the whole thing, almost wanted to sit on the ground and watch with a handful of melon seeds.

That's amazing! When has he ever seen a scion of a powerful family get roasted like a dog?

Li Shimin, seated high on the dragon throne, surveyed the three people below and opened the door, saying:

"I have made my decision. Zhang Heng is exceptionally talented and can be the top scholar in the imperial examination."

Cui Yan was the second-place scholar, and Ma Zhou was the third-place scholar!

The result had already been decided when the imperial examination ended. However, Zhang Heng's words just now convinced everyone. Even those aristocratic officials who were unwilling had to admit that Zhang Heng was indeed exceptionally talented.