Liu Bian at the start, so you're called Dong Zhuo, right?

Yang Biao remained silent for a long time.

He suddenly felt that the lamp in the hall was a little cold.

It wasn't because it was late at night, but because the child spoke as if he were watching a game of chess—a game not made up of chess pieces, but of powerful families, government offices, palace gates, the Imperial Academy, and the hearts of the people.

Seeing that he remained silent, Liu Bian smiled, but the smile was so faint that it was almost devoid of warmth.

"Just now, Master Yang asked me—why didn't you spread the word yourself?"

He raised his head slightly, as if asking casually:

"Then I'll ask Master Yang a question as well."

"Am I, the Crown Prince—truly second only to the Emperor, above all others?"

Yang Biao felt a tingling sensation in his back.

Eight years old.

Is this something an eight-year-old child would ask?

He had seen precocious children and eloquent scions of noble families, but he had never seen anyone who, at the age of eight, could ask about "honor" as "power" and "glory" as "shackles."

Yang Biao's fingertips tightened slightly, his mind churning, but he had to be even more cautious on the surface.

He slowly rose, bowed deeply to Liu Bian, and spoke in a very low voice:

"Your Highness's question... I dare not answer."

"But I understand."

He raised his head, his gaze as steady as iron:

"The Yang family is willing to shield Your Highness from the winds along this path."

-

Inside Chengde Hall, Liu Bian read through the "Regulations for the Examination of the Crown Prince" again, pausing his fingertip on the four characters "regardless of social status".

The paper is clean, the ink is steady, like a new road that has just been carved out, but no grass roots have yet grown.

But another old path surfaced in his mind—the voices of public opinion and the writings of famous scholars in the Imperial Academy, because of how the chaos of the Partisan Prohibitions would be swiftly extinguished.

Those who are truly loyal to the Han Dynasty will be accused of "forming factions"; those who are truly willing to do things will be accused of "making irresponsible remarks".

In this so-called chaos of the partisan purge, the Imperial Academy was not a school, but a brazier.

That's why he wanted to rescue people from that storm first—not asking them to support the Crown Prince, but only hoping they wouldn't be swept away by the turbulent winds.

"Wang Ming," Liu Bian looked up, "summon Cao Mengde."

"promise."

That night, Cao Cao entered the palace.

Liu Bian didn't beat around the bush; he raised his hand and handed over a short note, his tone extremely soft, yet carrying an undeniable sharpness:

"You've already borrowed the facade from Yuan Shao. Now, I need to borrow something else from him—the people from the Imperial Academy."

Cao Cao raised his eyes: "Whom does Your Highness wish to appoint?"

Liu Bian didn't name names, but he made his point more concretely:

"We need people who can speak, people who dare to write, and people who are willing to endorse the 'rules'."

"It's inconvenient for me to appear in person, you take care of it." He paused.

"Open the door in Yuan Shao's name, and seat people at the banquet with the courtesy due to the Cao family. Invite them here—not to ask them to support me, but to let them see: this time, the Crown Prince truly doesn't care about background, only about real talent and ability."

Cao Cao cupped his hands and said, "Your subject understands."

Liu Bian added another sentence:

"They dislike the Cao family not because of you, Cao Mengde, but because of the Cao family's ancestral roots."

"So you don't need to appease them, just put the terms on the table—let them choose for themselves."

Cao Cao said in a low voice, "Yes."

That night, in the west wing of the Cao residence.

The lights in the Cao residence were still on, and the steward had already prepared light tea and wine. The feast was not extravagant, but it was extremely dignified: the tables and chairs were polished to a shine, and the incense was not strong, so as not to overshadow the guests; the seats were not arranged haphazardly, with the main seat left empty, reserved for "Ming".

Because those who came tonight were not merchants, but renowned scholars from the Imperial Academy.

When the gatekeeper came to report, Cao Cao stood up, flicked his sleeves, and personally greeted him in the corridor.

He Yong was the first to enter the school.

Clad in a blue robe, with a cold and aloof demeanor and refined features, he entered without exchanging pleasantries, first glancing at the plaque above the Cao residence, a slight smirk playing on his lips.

"It's quite unusual that Mengde is hosting a dinner party today."

That smile wasn't well-intentioned.

Liu Tao, who followed closely behind, was even more direct. He bowed with his hands clasped, but his gaze was like a measuring stick, making Cao Cao feel extremely uncomfortable.

"If it weren't for the invitation from Benchu, I, Liu, should not have stepped through this door."

Zhang Feng, who arrived last, was more composed and courteous, but spoke little. When he sat down, he didn't even glance at Cao Cao a second time.

This is the attitude of the Imperial Academy towards the Cao family.

It's not that they're impolite, it's that they disdain sentimentality.

Cao Cao understood the situation, but remained calm and composed, continuing to treat the man with courtesy and personally pouring him tea.

"Gentlemen, your presence is a great honor for me, Mengde."

He Yong scoffed, "Love? The Cao family has no shortage of love, but they lack reputation."

Liu Tao responded even colder: "What you lack even more is—don't treat public opinion as your way out."

The atmosphere suddenly turned icy.

Cao Cao put down his teacup and first finished speaking:

"Gentlemen, rest assured. Mengde would not dare to form a faction, much less use you as his pawns."

"I have invited you all here tonight for one thing only—I want you to take a look."

He took out a newly printed copy of the notice from his sleeve and laid it flat on the table. The paper was sized, the ink lines were clean and crisp, and the four characters of the title looked as if they had been carved with a knife—"Regulations for the Examination of the Crown Prince".

He Yong's eyebrows twitched: "The Crown Prince's Palace?"

Liu Tao's gaze grew even colder: "The Crown Prince is recruiting lecturers? Whose family is trying to establish a reputation this time?"

Cao Cao remained outspoken, as if he had placed a knife on a table:

"I am not asking you all to support the Crown Prince, nor am I asking you all to change the reputation of the Cao family."

"I only invite you all—whether you come in person or recommend a few promising young talents you admire—to give it a try."

Zhang Feng finally spoke, her voice steady yet sharp:

"Mengde, what guarantee do you have that this won't be another case of 'falling into a trap of public criticism'?"

He Yong also smiled, but his smile was as thin as paper:

"The people at the Imperial Academy, the moment they say something harsh, someone submits their name. If we go, what will that be considered? Won't it be considered 'gathering a crowd'?"

"Could this be... yet another piece of leverage against me?"

Cao Cao did not refute, but raised his hand to indicate: "Please take a look first."

He Yong originally intended to just glance at it lazily.

When he saw "The exam paper is not signed with a name, only a number", "sealed", and "copying room", his eyes narrowed slightly.

Liu Tao looked more closely, slower and slower, and when he saw "regardless of social status or humble origins," his fingertips even paused for a moment.

Zhang Feng looked up: "This...is it true?"

Cao Cao nodded:

"This time, the Crown Prince does not ask for your support, but only asks that if you trust this procedure, you may either attend in person or recommend a few of your favorite juniors to attend."

Liu Tao frowned: "What do the Crown Prince's Palace need so many people for? How many lecturer positions are there?"

Cao Cao looked at him, not explicitly saying "building a foundation," but instead using a more conservative approach:

"What the Crown Prince wants is not official positions, but 'capable people'."

"Serving as a lecturer is a title, while waiting to be employed is the path to advancement."

"Those who enter the Eastern Palace may not be immediately appointed to official positions, but they must first perform tasks—copying, document preparation, legal cases, and account books—and undergo a thirty-day trial period. Those who can abide by the rules will stay, and those who cannot will leave."

When He Yong heard "get things done first," he laughed instead: "This doesn't seem like a noble family selecting people; it's more like... it's like choosing officials."

Cao Cao laughed and said, "Sir, you are right. What the Han Dynasty lacks now is not people who can write, but people who can get things done."

He paused, then his tone suddenly softened:

"Gentlemen, having spent so long in the Imperial Academy, you have witnessed the hearts of men and women. You must also know that the winds of Luoyang never follow the rules of books."

"The Crown Prince Palace is now opening a path, which may not be long, but at least it will allow some people to... gain a foothold."

This sentence doesn't explicitly say "protect," but it sounds more like protection than if it were explicitly stated.

Liu Tao remained silent for a long time before finally putting down the notice and letting out a long sigh: "If this procedure is really followed—it's like cracking open the lock of social status."

Zhang Feng whispered, "It could also cause trouble."

At this point, the room finally fell silent.

The three scholars exchanged glances.

Cao Cao didn't boast; he simply made his stance clear:

"The Crown Prince may not be able to hold the world together, but tonight's proclamation at least upholds the 'rules'."

"If the rules are established, then you and the people you recommend will have a path to follow."

He Yong suddenly stopped laughing and became serious, as if he were a completely different person.

"Mengde, I'll give Benchu ​​face this time—and give this piece of paper a chance too."

"I can't guarantee the outcome, but I can guarantee that I'll get a few people to try it."

If one truly doesn't care about social status and only values ​​talent, then it's worth a try.

Liu Tao nodded slowly:

"If it is truly done according to the regulations, I am willing to recommend two or three people to try—not for the sake of the Crown Prince, but for the sake of all scholars in the world."

Zhang Feng finally agreed, her voice not loud, but very sincere:

"I'll also bring a few younger colleagues here. Let them see if there's really a path beyond the answer sheet."

Cao Cao rose and bowed, showing even greater respect than before:

"Gentlemen, you are willing to give this path a chance. I, Mengde, will remember this."

After seeing his guests off, Cao Cao stood under the eaves, the night breeze causing the lamplight to flicker slightly.

He did not immediately return to his room, but instead turned and instructed the butler:

Prepare writing materials.

"Write a short note and send it to Chengde Hall."

The note contained only a dozen or so words.

"The scholars of the Imperial Academy have already made their move and wish to bring their companions to take the exam."