The Bad Guys: Playing the Fake Li Xingyun at the Beginning

Now they hold these positions, just right.

Chapter 139 Different choices

"I heard that Tiezhu from the north of the city passed the imperial examination and became a scholar. Now he's getting a job at the government. His hard days are finally over." A few men in the neighborhood joked as they pulled a cart.

"That child has been sensible since he was young. On weekdays, he is either working or studying. I heard that he will take the imperial examination in the future. It's really amazing." An old man smacked his lips and sighed.

"Old Liu, I remember you have a daughter. Tiezhu is a government official and might become a high-ranking official in the future. I think the boy is quite honest and can accomplish things." Someone cheered nearby.

Hearing this, the old man shook his head repeatedly, "How can my Cui Lian be worthy of him? We are a family that makes a living on the land, how can we get close to him?"

"Aren't they already officials? How can they still take the imperial examination?"

"I heard that after serving in the government for ten years, a scholar can take the imperial examination again. If he does not serve, he cannot take the examination again after taking it once."

"Ten years, hey, if you have that much time, you might as well make a lot of money instead of studying for the imperial examinations, where you may not even pass."

"Who knows..."

……

As scholars and juren were employed one after another and entered various government offices in Luoyang, news about the imperial examination began to take root in people's hearts. Before, people did not know what the imperial examination was, they only knew that there was such a thing.

Now, when they see people who have passed the imperial examination and become officials appearing around them, they realize that, besides joining the army, there is another way to change their destiny, without having to dig for food in the fields.

Being a soldier means risking your life and shedding your blood, tying your head to your belt. If you are not careful, you may die in a foreign land. On the other hand, to take the imperial examination, you only need to study, spend some money and time, and maybe you can pass.

Compared to joining the army, the path of imperial examination is undoubtedly less risky. At least, the people can truly see the person who changed their destiny, and the person who had lived a hard life with them can now eat official food and have a status, and they will no longer be bullied at will.

The imperial examination a long time ago was a thing for the aristocratic families. Whether it was the even older system of recommendation or the nine-rank system, they had nothing to do with the common people.

But today's imperial examination system has made them feel the actual impact of their own interests. The power of role models is infinite, especially those that appear around them.

For a time, paper was in great demand and books in bookstores were snapped up and in short supply.

Finally, an opportunity to change their fate comes along. If there is hope, how could they give up?

……

Taibai Restaurant in the north of the city is the most luxurious restaurant in Luoyang, where dignitaries often entertain guests and hold banquets.

Dozens of people were gathering in a private room of the restaurant. If anyone was here, they would find that these people were the most famous talents in Luoyang City recently.

Most of these people passed the palace examination and became Jinshi, but they all had one thing in common, that is, they were all recruited by Prince Jin, and the families behind them also cooperated with Prince Jin.

The table was full of delicious food and wine, but they had no appetite to enjoy them. They just drank their sake with sad faces.

After a long silence, someone finally couldn't help but said, "Brother Li, what should we do? The court is going to compile a history book and needs people, but we have already joined His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin. This..."

At the table, a young man named Li, who was wearing a blue shirt, raised his eyelids and said, "What do you want to do? His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin wants us to go to Hedong. Are you willing to go?"

This question strikes directly into their souls.

There is no doubt that most of the people present were unwilling to do so. Going to Hedong meant being away from the Luoyang court, and their lives and property would be tied to those of the King of Jin.

If the King of Jin could take one more step forward, they might be able to gain the credit of following the King.

But if the Prince of Jin were defeated, they would also be implicated, and their official careers would be over.

What is more likely is that the Prince of Jin has always been a local emperor in Hedong. They were officials in Hedong, unable to reach the pinnacle of their official careers, let alone return to the court in Luoyang.

The examples of An Zhonghui and Ren Yuan cannot be replicated. That was a God-given opportunity. If Li Cunxu had not been killed by Yuan Tiangang's scheme, no matter how great their contributions were, they would not have been able to become the Three-Division Envoy and the Privy Envoy in the court.

When it comes to their own future, they have to be cautious. As newly-appointed Jinshi and children of aristocratic families, they don't want to fall behind others, let alone be left behind in the near future.

But in order for them to really make a decision, there is one most important question: can the imperial court be trusted?

In other words, can the emperor be trusted?

Will he be the next Emperor Xianzong of Tang or another Emperor Zhaozong of Tang?

If the court cannot last long, what is the point of them staying in Luoyang? At that time, the court will be turbulent and wars will break out. As a place surrounded by wars, Luoyang will definitely not be safe. Even officials will not be able to survive in troubled times.

They must make a choice between choosing King Jin or the imperial court, as it concerns their future prospects and even their lives.

"What do you think? Everyone here is a family, there is nothing we can't talk about." The young man surnamed Li put down his wine glass and glanced at everyone.

After a long silence, someone spoke up, "I want to stay in Luoyang. There are too many troops in Hedong. If we go to Hedong, can we really gain power? Will those soldiers really believe in us?"

"Don't forget how the old villain Zhu Wen treated our ancestors decades ago. The feudal lords are feudal lords, and they will never change their bad habits of fighting and causing chaos."

This is another topic that hits the soul directly, the rebellion of the feudal lords.

In just a few decades, Hedong has had three masters, from Li Keyong to Li Cunxu, and then to Li Siyuan. No one knows how long Li Siyuan can live or how long he can hold power.

This sentence caused many thoughts to arise in the minds of everyone present.

It seems that Hedong is not reliable either.

"But we have already surrendered to the King of Jin. Will he agree if we don't go to Hedong?" Someone said hesitantly.

This sentence dealt them another heavy blow. It seemed that they couldn't decide where to go!

At this point, it doesn’t matter where they go. What matters is that they can pass the test of King Jin.

Everyone here was able to pass the imperial examination and become a Jinshi, more or less thanks to the help of Prince Jin. Since they have relied on his power, they must use it to their advantage.

The families behind them can cooperate with King Jin and terminate the cooperation at any time, but it is not so easy for them to get out.

At this moment, some people couldn't help but feel regretful.

It’s too early to place your bets!

They placed their bets too early and were tied to Li Siyuan early on. With the great reputation they had made in Luoyang, those children from poor families could pass the imperial examinations. Even without the help of Prince Jin, they might still be able to pass.

Suddenly, the young man surnamed Li said, "Why don't we go to the palace to pay a visit to Prince Jin and ask for his opinion?"

Chapter 140 People’s hearts are broken

The imperial court gave two choices for the fate of the new Jinshi: to be sent to the local area as an assistant official of a county, managing people's livelihood and shepherding the people for the emperor, or to stay in the imperial court and enter the Jixian Hall or the History Museum to compile history books of the previous dynasty.

People from aristocratic families have two choices, but for those from poor families, they only have one choice, which is to become an official in the local area.

But it is difficult for these newly-appointed scholars in Taibai Restaurant to choose. If the court only transferred them to other places, they would go to Hedong without hesitation. But now the court has given them a better option, which makes them hesitant and difficult to make a decision.

In the Prince of Jin's Mansion, Li Siyuan, who had just come off court and changed out of his court robes, was about to write a reply to the officials in Hedong when the housekeeper came in with the message that a new Jinshi was coming to see him.

Li Siyuan thought about it for a moment and realized that these people were the scholars who had joined him in the past.

in the hall.

The group of Jinshi sat on their chairs feeling uneasy, as if there were needles under their buttocks. They did not touch the snacks on the table at all.

A hearty and warm voice sounded, and Li Siyuan walked out from the back hall, "Sorry for the long wait."

They quickly stood up and saluted, "Greetings, King Jin."

Li Siyuan sat in the main seat and said with a smile, "No need to be polite, just sit down. We are all family, no need to be polite."

Seeing him sit down, everyone sat down too, subconsciously breathing a sigh of relief.

Li Siyuan glanced at them and said casually, "I haven't congratulated you on passing the imperial examination yet. When you leave later, each of you will take 100 taels of silver and 50 pieces of cloth as a gift."

"Thank you, King Jin, for your generous reward."

As children of aristocratic families, they are not short of this little money, but since the King of Jin has given it to them, they have to accept it. The amount of the gift is not important, etiquette is the most important thing.

"The approval document from the Ministry of Personnel will be coming soon. Where are you going?"

Several people looked at each other and opened their mouths, but no one dared to speak. Finally, the young man named Li spoke, "Your Highness, we came here today to ask Your Highness to help us make a decision."

As he spoke, he carefully watched Li Siyuan's expression, and only continued when he saw that there was nothing unusual on his face.

"The court has given us two options. It is really difficult to decide. But since we have surrendered to the King of Jin, we will obey his orders. I hope he can show us a clear path."

Low EQ: Your Highness, we don’t want to go to Hedong anymore.

High EQ: Your Highness, please show us the way.

As soon as they finished speaking, they felt an invisible pressure surrounding their bodies, which frightened them so much that they broke out in cold sweats and their legs trembled.

Li Siyuan, who was sitting at the top, was holding a teacup and said nothing. As soon as he said the first sentence, Li Siyuan knew what they were thinking.

However, he did not get angry. This little thing was not worth his anger.

He just felt it was a bit of a pity that the people he had spent so much effort to win over could have different thoughts and ideas just from a single order from Chaotian.

People’s hearts are scattered and it’s hard to lead them.

He recruited these people with the original intention of bringing them to Hedong to help him govern the area, but who would have expected the emperor to do this.

Who wouldn’t be tempted by a prestigious and important position and a name that will go down in history?

Isn't this the reason why they take the imperial examinations and become officials?

Even Li Siyuan couldn't stop them. Although he wanted to do so, he couldn't. Blocking someone's future was like killing their parents.

He could use his power to force them to go to Hedong, but this would also make them resentful and create rifts between them, making it more difficult to win them over.

It would be better for him to be magnanimous and let them go. This way they would feel grateful, and because of the friendship they had with him, they might be able to be recruited as his subordinates in the future.

Li Siyuan sighed in his heart and took a sip of the tea in the cup. "People go to higher places, water flows to lower places, and good birds choose trees to roost. This is an unchanging truth since ancient times."

"I am very pleased that you can come to my palace to see me. As for where you are going, I will not force you, and I will not be a bad person in vain."

"If you want to go to Hedong, go there. If you want to stay in the court, stay there."

After these words were spoken, the heavy stone in everyone's heart finally fell. They all showed joyful expressions, stood up and saluted again, "Thank you, Your Highness."

Li Siyuan waved his hand and smiled warmly, "No need to thank me, you have passed the imperial examination and will be the pillars of the court in the future. I have no control over what you will do in the future, but it is enough for you to remember that you are from the Prince of Jin's Mansion."

This sentence is both a warning and a reminder.

A loud drum does not need a heavy hammer; some words just need to be said just enough. They are all Jinshi who have emerged from tens of thousands of scholars; each of them is smart, so how could they not understand what he means?

Then, everyone bowed deeply to him again, chatted for a few words, and then stood up and left.

Li Siyuan did not try to persuade them to stay, as they were just chess pieces and not worth his trouble. He did not put in much effort during the entire imperial examination process.

If he wanted to, his men could easily turn this imperial examination into a joke, but he did not do so. First, he did not want to disrupt the hard-earned balance in the court, and second, he wanted to see what the emperor really wanted to do.

Now, he finally understands.

"Brother, no wonder people say that those who are righteous are mostly butchers, and those who are unfaithful are mostly scholars. These guys have taken refuge with you and actually want to stay in Luoyang." At some point, Li Cunzhi came to the hall, picked up the teacup and gulped down a mouthful.

Li Siyuan smiled faintly and explained to him, "Well, you can't say that. They just came to me and are not my soldiers. How can they obey my orders in everything? What's more, the families behind them are also of some use. It is still useful to keep them."

Li Cunzhi nodded and continued, "Brother, do you think we can also do the imperial examination in Hedong? Lao Ba has complained many times that there are not enough people."