The Three Kingdoms: The Oath of the Peach Garden, the Rise of the Han Dynasty

Li Chang left, leaving them the space to continue setting questions.

I only realized when I stepped outside that Hua Tuo, whom I had been searching for for so long, had actually delivered himself to my door!

Does he still want to become an official?

That's like a lamb being led to the slaughter; how could he possibly escape?!

Without hesitation, Li Chang immediately went to see Hua Tuo to have his body checked.

When Li Chang finally saw the person at the post station, he almost didn't recognize him!

It's different from the imagined image of someone with completely white hair and beard.

Could this robust middle-aged man really be Hua Tuo? More likely, he's an orthopedic surgeon.

He tentatively asked, "Mr. Yuanhua?"

Hua Tuo was taken aback for a moment, after which he was introduced.

Looking at this young man in front of him, who was already a prefect, he was filled with envy!

"Does Magistrate Li know me?"

"I don't recognize you!" Li Chang activated Liu Bei's skill, grabbing his hand. "But I've long admired your name, sir! I've searched for you for so long!"

He grabbed Hua Tuo and headed towards the governor's mansion without saying a word: "Sir, you don't need to take the exam! What's the point of taking an exam? If you become a county magistrate, that would be a waste of your talent!"

I have a brother whose health I don't know, and I need your help to check on him.

Hua Tuo was pulled along by him, feeling both amused and exasperated, a mixture of joy and melancholy.

What pleased him was the governor's attention, but what saddened him was that it was still due to his medical skills.

"Prefect Li, I..."

"I've already made arrangements for you!" Li Chang interrupted him, directly assigning him a radish post.

"I plan to establish Bingzhou Medical College, with you serving as its dean, recruiting disciples, and teaching medical skills."

All expenses will be covered by the government! You can teach however you want, and take as many disciples as you wish!

This is no ordinary radish post, but a special one! Without Hua Tuo, this position would never have existed!

Hua Tuo continued walking: "A medical school? A place that specifically teaches medical skills?"

Although he was somewhat tempted, as it was rare for someone to value medical skills so much, this was not what he wanted!

"Yes!" Li Chang nodded.

"We will not only teach medical skills, but also research herbal medicine, acupuncture, and surgery. In the future, we will establish clinics in every county so that all people can afford medical care!"

Hua Tuo's breathing quickened.

Unexpectedly, in Bingzhou, someone was actually willing to establish a college specifically for him to teach medical skills!

It doesn't seem like a bad idea to promote medical skills and save more lives.

However, medicine has always been regarded as a skill and was looked down upon by scholars and officials.

Li Chang was a bit confused. His reaction was, "Am I no longer good at making empty promises?"

I suddenly remembered a rumor or unofficial history: Hua Tuo was an official-obsessed man who liked to interject his own political views when he was dealing with Cao Cao, and was later beheaded by Cao Cao.

Given Hua Tuo's scholarly attire, he didn't look like a doctor at all.

He changed his approach, turning his head to look directly into Hua Tuo's eyes, and solemnly said:

"I want the people of Bingzhou to have a place to end their days in old age, to have a place to use their strength, to have a place to grow up in children, to have a place to treat the sick, and to have care for the widowed, orphaned, lonely, disabled and sick!"

I intend to establish the first medical college, appointing Mr. Yuanhua as the literary advisor of Bingzhou and the head of the medical academy. Like the soon-to-be-established Jixia Academy in Bingzhou, it will be responsible for educating the people!

To achieve universal harmony!

"I can have a monument erected right now, inscribing your name and the founding of the medical school on it, so that future generations will forever remember your achievements!"

"Good! Good! Good!"

Hua Tuo wept tears of joy. This was no ordinary physician; it was an act of enlightenment, a legacy that would last for eternity! It was the embodiment of Mencius's ideal of universal harmony!

Li Chang's sincerity was so great that he was persuaded!

Hua Tuo bowed deeply to Li Chang:

"I, Hua Tuo, will never forget the great kindness shown to Prefect Li! From this day forward, I entrust my life to the people of Bingzhou!"

Suddenly, it dawned on him, "But can Prefect Li really make decisions on behalf of the Governor?"

At this moment, Liu Bei also arrived. He was planning to find someone to strengthen their bond and sleep side by side with.

I happened to overhear these things.

"Fourth brother, you can make your decision without asking me."

Li Chang immediately handed Hua Tuo over to Liu Bei.

Not long after, Hua Tuo addressed him directly as "My Lord".

Upon examination, both Liu Bei and Li Chang were found to be well-rested, eating and drinking well, and in excellent health.

……

Inside the room where the questions are set.

It took the two of them a long time to calm down, and they came to their senses after being subjected to both moral humiliation and excessive praise.

Li Chang escaped!

But then they picked up the math problems left by Li Chang and took a look.

Xun Chen and Yue Yin exchanged a glance, both seeing shock in each other's eyes!

"Mingdao actually possesses such talent?"

They had long heard that Li Chang was a master of arithmetic, and seeing him today, they could confirm that his reputation was well-deserved.

Since that's the case, then let's reluctantly forgive him!

By the time Li Chang returned, they had already prepared the exam questions; all that was left was to determine the weighting of each subject.

"Even if practical skills and arithmetic are important, they shouldn't account for such a large proportion," Yue Yin insisted. "Classical texts should account for at least 60%, arithmetic 20%, and policy essays 20%."

"No." Li Chang shook his head. "Fifty percent for classical studies, twenty percent for arithmetic, twenty percent for policy essays, and the remaining ten percent for Mr. Wenhe."

Take several rounds of tests to see what's suitable. Practice is the sole criterion for testing truth.

"You..." Xun Chen wanted to argue further.

Jia Xu, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up: "I think Mingdao is right."

He picked up his pen and slowly wrote down a question on the paper:

"If you were a county magistrate, and a powerful local tyrant in your jurisdiction colluded with the Xiongnu to harm the people, and this tyrant was the son of one of the nine high-ranking officials in the imperial court, how would you deal with him?"

Since Li Chang wants to do something, let's lend a hand!

Xun Chen and Yue Yin's expressions changed upon seeing this.

This is hardly a policy essay question.

This is clearly a question that attacks the heart!

Answering "kill the powerful" would offend the aristocratic families; answering "don't kill" would be disloyal and unjust. Either way, it reveals a person's true nature and bottom line.

"Mr. Wenhe, this question is too difficult!" Xun Chen couldn't help but gasp.

Jia Xu said calmly, "In chaotic times, harsh measures are necessary. If the officials selected don't even have this much sense of responsibility, they might as well go home and farm."

Li Chang thought for a moment and nodded: "Okay. Let's use this question as the final question."

Finally, looking at these questions:

"I'm sure these people will love the questions we've carefully prepared!"

Xun Chen nodded, "If the conditions weren't so restrictive, I would also like to participate. Imagine how magnificent it would be if, in the future, all the scholars in the land gathered together for an examination, competing against everyone else!"

Three days later, the first selection examination for officials in Bingzhou officially began.

More than a thousand candidates entered the temporary examination room.

There were elderly people with white hair, teenagers, children from poor families, members of collateral branches of aristocratic families, and even a few naturalized Hu people.

The examination hall was strictly disciplined, with the Imperial Guards and the Taoyuan Righteous Army patrolling everywhere to prevent any cheating.

The exam will last for two days and will cover classical texts, arithmetic, and policy essays.

Many people nearly broke down during the first exam.

"What? We'll be tested on all seven classics?"

"I've only read the Analects of Confucius and the Classic of Filial Piety!"

"I've only read the Classic of Filial Piety, the Book of Poetry, and the Book of Rites!"

"I've only read the Spring and Autumn Annals!"

After the first round, many from impoverished backgrounds were disheartened. Many of them had never even encountered such opportunities!

The second round of exams has begun.

"What arithmetic? I haven't read the Nine Chapters!!"

"What kind of question is this? Is it like they're distributing grain while we're eating it?"

"Why are chickens kept with rabbits?"

In the backyard, Li Chang listened to the sounds of the defenses being breached from time to time, only to be stopped by the soldiers. He felt incredibly relaxed and at ease.