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

Those test takers finally made it to the third round, only to find out that they were not as good as the first two rounds!

Why is there a practical component to the exam? How do we know anything about the Xianbei?

How would I know about Luoyang if I've never been there!

Until the last few questions, I saw the "Heart-Searching Questions" designed by Jia Xu.

I almost went black out.

How do I choose? And is it true that what was said above about it not affecting grades?

The scion of a prominent family, trembling, replied that he would show leniency.

Most of the poor families wrote their letters to the governor.

Only a small number remain; write "Severe punishment without leniency!"

After the exam, Li Chang, along with Xun Chen, Yue Yin, and Jia Xu, reviewed the papers overnight.

Because there were few people, they even brought Zhuge Xuan and Hua Tuo along.

Hua Tuo readily agreed, saying that he could help with these matters in the future!

Xun Chen and Yue Yin's eyes lit up!

You said it yourself!

Two days later, the results of the grading surprised Li Chang.

Of the top ten, seven were from prominent families.

They were well-versed in poetry and literature from a young age, and their answers to questions about classical texts were flawless.

Although I wasn't used to the arithmetic problems at first, I was able to answer most of them thanks to my solid foundation. The policy essay questions were even more impressive, with numerous allusions and elegant writing.

Children from poor families often stumbled on questions about classical texts.

They did fairly well on the arithmetic questions, after all, many of them had worked as accountants or minor officials.

However, when discussing policy topics, once one deviates from the familiar rural areas and county towns, their perspective becomes narrow, and their answers become vague and weak.

"Just as I thought." Li Chang put down the exam paper in his hand and sighed. "Monopoly cannot be broken overnight."

Xun Chen breathed a sigh of relief: "I knew it! The scions of aristocratic families do have real talent and learning."

"Having genuine talent and skills is a good thing." Li Chang smiled.

"As long as they are willing to work for the people of Bingzhou, their background is not important. However, the next exam will include more questions on grassroots practical experience."

For example, they would ask how to repair irrigation canals, how to harvest grain, and how to appease displaced people.

Jia Xu nodded: "Mingdao is right. Being able to get things done is more important than being able to recite books."

Finally, Li Chang looked at the lists and found that there wasn't a single familiar name!

"Isn't there anyone capable of leading a prefecture or even an entire state?"

Xun Chen and Yue Yin exchanged a glance, and Xun Chen said confidently:

"Mingdao, a true talent, how could he escape the eyes of your lord and you? He'll be snatched up by you long before the exam!"

Li Chang nodded, "That's true. Finally, I'd like to add one more thing: those who wrote 'severe punishment without leniency' should be given special consideration, and those with talent should be given priority for promotion!"

That's right, these things don't affect grades, but they do affect the ceiling and the speed of progress!

Ultimately, based on their rankings, 520 officials were selected.

The top thirty will be appointed as county magistrates, county lieutenants, and county assistants in their respective counties, while the rest will be assigned to various grassroots units based on their performance and abilities.

Those who did not pass the exam were recommended to study at a temporary academy.

In short, none of them will escape!

After the results were announced, Li Chang immediately took Hua Tuo to Huang Zhong's residence.

Huang Zhong's son, Huang Xu, was frail and sickly from childhood, and despite consulting numerous renowned doctors, he could not be cured. Huang Zhong was so worried about this that his hair almost turned white.

"Brother Hansheng, I've brought someone with me," Li Chang said with a smile.

Huang Zhong was taken aback when he saw Hua Tuo.

"This is Mr. Hua Yuanhua, a renowned physician of our time," Li Chang introduced. "I specially invited him to treat your son."

"The Divine Doctor Hua?!"

Huang Zhong was both surprised and delighted, and quickly bowed, saying, "Thank you, Prefect Li! Thank you, Physician Hua!"

Hua Tuo took Huang Xu's pulse, examined his complexion, and pondered for a long time before speaking:

"Your son is born with a deficiency, and has been neglected by his parents. It will be very difficult to cure him completely."

However, I can use acupuncture and herbal medicine to gradually treat him, at least allowing him to live like a normal person, and living to his sixties shouldn't be a problem.

"Really?!" Huang Zhong's voice trembled with excitement.

He had already given up hope.

"I never lie," Hua Tuo said. "I will stay in Bingzhou and personally treat your son. In three years at most, I guarantee he will be able to get out of bed, walk, ride a horse, and shoot arrows."

"Thank you so much, Dr. Hua! Thank you so much, Dr. Hua!"

Huang Zhong knelt down with a thud before Hua Tuo.

Li Chang quickly helped him up, saying, "Brother Hansheng, there's no need for that. We're all family."

With Huang Xu's illness cured, Huang Zhong's loyalty to Liu Bei's group reached its maximum.

Just as they stepped out the door and saw Hua Tuo off, they discovered that Bi Lan had run away looking travel-worn.

"Prefect! I've been so engrossed in machinery lately that I've completely forgotten about His Majesty!"

With just one look, Li Chang understood instantly!

But why is this emperor so stubborn? Is he going to outlive Zhang Jiao and then Liu Hong as well?

He immediately took Bi Lan back to the prefect's residence.

Li Chang transforms into SP Li Chang, writing and drawing another Liu Huang book.

The original versions of Divine Weapon Generals and Goddess Qiongming's Record, etc., have been prepared and revised.

Give them all to Bi Lan.

But when I think about how my elder brother Liu Bei's experience in this life is different, and that he might just be an ordinary emperor who revived the Han Dynasty three times, without being that famous.

How can this be allowed?

Li Changke is the eldest brother's good fourth brother! He immediately wrote "Liu Bei Liu Xuande" on the cover of the book!

Bi Lan's eyes widened!

For the sake of your posthumous reputation, you'd better not take Li Chang's money again!

At the same time, Bingzhou ushered in its biggest harvest in history.

Two years of hard work have finally yielded results!

This is all thanks to the people of Bingzhou, the abundant fertilizer, and the voluntary contributions of prisoners and former noble families!

In the boundless fields, golden rice ears bend low with their weight.

In the distance, under the azure sky, golden waves of wheat rippled. A gentle breeze carried the scent of harvest, and people sang in the fields.

After the harvest, the grain in the granary was piled up like a mountain. Even the courtyard of the governor's mansion was filled with dried grain.

Every household had surplus grain, and their faces beamed with genuine happiness.

"Great! At least I won't go hungry this year!"

"Thanks to Governor Liu and Prefect Li!"

"If only it could be like this every year!"

When news of the bountiful harvest reached the governor's office, Liu Bei was overjoyed.

Li Chang immediately suggested summoning all the generals to discuss military expansion.

"We now have well-trained troops, ample provisions, and overflowing treasuries," Li Chang said confidently. "I plan to expand our army by another 30,000. What do you all think?"

"Me too!" Zhang Fei was the first to step forward.

"We currently have 25,000 soldiers, which is far from enough!"

"We must not be rash," Guan Yu shook his head. "Expanding the army is easy, but training soldiers is difficult. Moreover, expanding the army by 30,000 at once will put a lot of pressure on food supplies and weapons."

Xun Chen and Yue Yin expressed their opposition:

"Now that the world is at peace, the Hu people dare not go south to graze their horses, and there is no rebellion in Bingzhou."

Why not use the money and grain to build up Bingzhou? And that academy, it's still just a temporary institution.”

Zao Zhi and Ren Jun stepped forward:

"This year's grain harvest is about 2.6 million shi, plus 800,000 shi from military farms! About 1.7 million shi will be collected and stored in the government treasury!"

However, this does not yet include the portion that needs to be submitted to Luoyang.

Li Chang nodded:

"Then I'll take a step back and expand the army by 15,000. The soldiers will be mainly selected from the garrison troops and the naturalized Hu people."

These men have already undergone basic training and are highly loyal. The rest will be used to recruit more land reclamation troops!

"good!"

Everyone agreed.

Hua Tuo, who was excited to attend the meeting, seemed a bit out of place, and didn't know what to say for a long time.

At this moment, Li Chang looked at Hua Tuo and said, "Master Yuanhua, for the sake of my Bingzhou soldiers, we still need you to train two thousand medical soldiers, just to save more of our people so that we can kill more enemies."

Hua Tuo nodded heavily.

"good!"

Is this what it feels like to be an official, wielding power behind the wheel, and being deeply trusted?!

Ultimately, Liu Bei made the decision: to expand the army by 15,000 combat soldiers and 2,000 medical soldiers, and to continue recruiting refugees to form the garrison army.

That evening, in a secret room in the governor's mansion.

There were only three people: Li Chang, Jia Xu, and Cheng Yu.

The candlelight flickered, illuminating the faces of the three people, each radiating a sinister glint.

"Now there's a problem," Li Chang said, tapping the table. "According to the rules, we have to hand over 30% of our taxes to the imperial court every year. This year's harvest is bountiful; we'll have to hand over most of it just from grain alone. How can this be allowed?"

Cheng Yu's eyes widened. "Is that right?"

Shouldn't local officials hand over their responsibilities to the imperial court?

Jia Xu pondered for a moment: "If we don't hand it over, the court will use this as an excuse to strip our lord of his governorship. We might even face public condemnation!"

"Therefore, we can't just openly refuse to pay." Li Chang smiled kindly.

"We need to find a legitimate reason so that the imperial court not only can't urge us to pay taxes, but also has to provide us with grain and fodder."

"What's the reason?" Cheng Yu asked.

"War," Li Chang uttered the two words.

"War?" Cheng Yu was taken aback. "We'll initiate a war? No, no, that would give people grounds to say we're warmongering."

"Of course, we didn't initiate it," Li Chang shook his head. "They attacked us first."

He pointed to the north on the map:

"With our indirect help, Helian of the Xianbei has almost unified the various Xianbei tribes and is eyeing our Bingzhou with covetous intent. Perhaps it won't be long before he marches south to plunder and seek revenge."

"At that time, we will write to the court and say that the border war is critical and all the grain and fodder must be used for the war, so we are unable to pay taxes."

Not only that, we also need the imperial court to allocate funds and grain to support our suppression of the rebellion.

Cheng Yu felt a chill run down his spine. Wasn't this going too far?

Why is it always the three of them who discuss these things?

He still had some doubts: "But wouldn't the war place too heavy a burden on the people?"

Li Chang shook his head, "In order to avoid making the people suffer, we have no choice but to make them suffer for the time being! The Xianbei will bear the infamy!"

Once war breaks out, the entire Bingzhou will have to listen to my elder brother Liu Bei! Men will fight, and women will transport supplies! It would be better if the Xianbei invaded the south, leaving nothing but desolation!

"hiss……"

The two gasped in shock!

It was as if I saw a mountain of corpses and a sea of ​​blood!

Under the candlelight, the three burly men's low moral standards further lowered the overall moral level.

What are the taxes levied by the imperial court in Luoyang?

Don't even think about taking a single cent away!

Not only that, we'll make them pay us out of their own pockets!

The door to the secret room was closed.

Outside, there was the joy of a bountiful harvest and the cheerful laughter of the simple, honest people.

Inside, three strategists, who need to study the Tao Te Ching more, are plotting in the shadows.

The wheels of Bingzhou rolled forward, mercilessly crushing every obstacle in its path.

Why was he so heartless? Li Chang didn't know either.