Yun Ye sat in his chair laughing so hard he could barely catch his breath. Old Man Yan, oh Old Man Yan, the White Jade Capital might truly be fictitious, but does your Land of Huaxu necessarily exist?
Even with later generations’ population density of people crowded together and pressed against each other, no Peach Blossom Spring was ever discovered. How could your Land of Huaxu maintain its mystery for thousands of years? If they don’t interact with outsiders, they might take a different developmental path. With too many people, hiding becomes impossible. With too few people, inbreeding alone would turn the entire tribe into idiots before they fade into historical dust.
There have been too many immortals recently—every family wants to produce one or two immortals. Could Yan Zhitui have this same mindset? The old man’s thoughts are the true knowledge; as for things like the Land of Huaxu, Yun Ye automatically categorized them as dross. Chinese history is too long—so long that we cannot know certain historical details. With too much speculation, its authenticity cannot be guaranteed, so it’s best to skip over it.
The old man worked hard to write the book, so it should be read through at least once. For the past month, Yun Ye did nothing else, focusing on reading Old Man Yan’s works—not seeking deep understanding, just wanting to finish reading.
A month passed quickly. The Academy’s two hundred eleven students were about to follow Li Gang and Scholar Yuanzhang to Wanmin Palace to undergo the imperial examination. Li Er still treated Academy disciples and ordinary students separately. This year’s jinshi examination had only sixteen positions, the same as previous years, but not a single one was prepared for Academy students. Yun Ye went to the Emperor to argue about this matter, but was roughly ejected from the palace by eunuchs under orders from His Imperial Majesty and dumped on Vermillion Bird Avenue, even threatened that if he continued picking and choosing, he’d be sent to the Imperial Clan Court for questioning.
What does the Imperial Clan Court have to do with me? Yun Ye cursed while jumping up and down. He didn’t dare curse the Emperor, but cursing Duan Hong had no qualms whatsoever. Duan Hong was naturally good-tempered. After listening to Yun Ye curse until his mouth was dry, he smiled and said: “Marquis Yun, His Majesty commanded us to throw you onto Vermillion Bird Avenue. This servant suddenly realizes that where you’re standing doesn’t count as Vermillion Bird Avenue yet—we need to throw you again.”
Yun Ye took off running. This fellow never joked with others—if he said he’d throw you, he really would. Liu Jinbao found Yun Ye a long bench, had people set up a canopy, even borrowed a table from someone, brewed a pot of tea, and invited the Marquis to wait beneath the canopy.
The three hundred-plus scholars recommended from other prefectures were arranged to take exams at the Ministry of Rites. Like the Academy, names were concealed, then clerks transcribed the papers before they would be primarily graded by Fang Xuanling, Wang Gui, and Xiao Yu, with eleven people including Kong Yingda providing assistance.
The Academy’s papers would be personally reviewed by His Imperial Majesty himself, assisted by Zhangsun Wuji, Du Ruhui, Tang Jian, and others. Li Er regarded this examination as a test of his years of educational achievements.
Yun Ye sat on Vermillion Bird Avenue with his heart frying in oil, unable to sit still. The mathematics problems were created by himself and Hypatia, so naturally he knew how his students would perform. But regarding questions on the Five Classics and similar topics, he knew nothing. Li Gang, Yuanzhang, and Scholar Yushan, who participated in creating the questions, wouldn’t reveal a single word to Yun Ye, and deeply despised Yun Ye’s conduct of delineating examination scope for students. Li Gang had already scolded Yun Ye twice about this matter.
The bearing of a gentleman? Where would I have such a thing? Yun Ye roared in his heart. These Academy disciples were the fruits of his years of education. Unlike Zhangsun Chong, Meng Butong, Yuchi the Big Fool, and Duan Meng, this batch of students could be considered the most properly trained group. The previous batch had already entered various departments of the Great Tang through connections recommended by nobles. This time was different—nobles no longer had this privilege. For students to enter government service, they had to go through the examination hall and accept the Emperor’s assessment.
Wang Xuance, Cui Zhen, Hou Jie, Yuan Jia, and Shen Gonghai were all outstanding students in this cohort. Yun Ye’s highest expectations were for Wang Xuance and Hou Jie—one audaciously bold, the other deviously unscrupulous. Cui Zhen was a son of an aristocratic family who, after arriving, could adhere to the Academy’s rules. He was absolutely intelligent, but still somewhat incompatible with the Academy’s other students.
After half a day of torment, he saw Wang Xuance leisurely strolling out from Vermillion Bird Gate. Seeing Yun Ye sitting beneath the canopy, he immediately ran over, poured himself a cup of tea and drank it in one gulp before saying: “Why is Master so anxious? In this student’s view, only the mathematics section of this examination was difficult. The physics, geometry, and pharmacology mixed within gave people headaches. As for the rest, they were all moderate questions. The policy discussion that His Majesty personally created required us to evaluate the Great Tang’s enemies—what’s difficult about that? This student finished answering in just the time it takes to burn a stick of incense.”
“Among the Great Tang’s periphery, there are only a few that could be called enemies. With our Great Tang’s military might, subduing them would be as easy as flipping one’s hand—only Tubo is somewhat difficult, Nanzhao somewhat troublesome. The rest aren’t worth discussing.”
“Stop boasting. Goguryeo is a tough bone to gnaw.”
Yun Ye remained irritable.
“The difficulty in conquering Goguryeo lies in its long winters. Before military operations can truly unfold, we must deal with the early-arriving harsh winter. If not for the harsh winter, Goguryeo would have been crushed to dust by our armies during the previous dynasty. This student observes that Tubo is different—like us, they are a recently unified nation. Merchants say it’s also an extremely vast country with brave and skilled warriors. What’s more troublesome is that when they descend to the plains, their strength greatly increases, while when we ascend to the plateau, our combat effectiveness greatly decreases. Attacking Tubo, we would be assaulting uphill all the way, while they could charge downhill using the terrain. Therefore, this student ranks Tubo as the primary threat.”
“You wanted to visit Tubo last time to see for yourself. I didn’t agree then. Do you still have the courage now?”
“Hahaha, Master, Wang Xuance was born bold. As the saying goes, know yourself and know your enemy and you’ll win a hundred battles. Since this student believes Tubo will become a major threat to our dynasty in the future, visiting the plateau is precisely this student’s lifelong wish.”
With Wang Xuance joking beside him, Yun Ye’s mood gradually calmed. Academy students also came out from the palace in twos and threes, gathering around Yun Ye, chatting about everything—quite lively.
Academy students had at least learned one thing: maintaining composure. Even if they were anxious about their futures inside, on the surface they all put on an appearance of calm indifference. Having seen many high officials and prominent figures over these years, they naturally knew how to control their emotions.
“Master doesn’t know this, but those people recommended from prefectures not only have to answer their own papers, but after finishing, they also have to answer our papers. According to my father, this is because His Majesty worries those candidates will cause trouble. Now that they’re trying to do our papers themselves, they’ll understand what’s difficult and what’s easy.”
“They only test two pieces of miscellaneous writing, plus practical document formats like admonitions, inscriptions, treatises, and memorials. At most they add a rhapsody. This disciple doesn’t understand—after studying only these things, how will they serve as officials in the future? How will they govern the people on behalf of the Son of Heaven?”
“A prefecture or county has complicated official business. Not only must one understand agriculture and commerce, but also be familiar with Great Tang law, know how to respond to disasters, and most importantly, how to quickly enrich the common people under their jurisdiction. It’s not something that can be done well just by sitting in the public hall and moving one’s lips. My father says he himself stumbled around for seven or eight years before figuring out how to be a good local official. Can those pedantic fellows truly be competent? Those sixteen jinshi positions represent sixteen local officials. Pitifully, the common people of sixteen counties will suffer torment.”
Yun Ye looked at this gloating young man and rolled his eyes irritably, saying: “What do you know! His Majesty is doing this to calm the frustration of other students. Why did previous years only recruit a dozen or twenty-some jinshi? It’s because they have this or that problem, so fewer are recruited. Most were officials recommended up. But officials recommended up also have flaws—those who come up are all sons of wealthy families. Sons of common small households find it very difficult to advance. Over time, it becomes like the end of the Han Dynasty with the absurd situation of recommending talented scholars who can’t read, and recommending filial and incorrupt men whose fathers live separately.”
“Fathers being officials means sons also become officials—this isn’t good, it has no benefit whatsoever for the entire Great Tang. Now you have no such concerns at the Academy. Those whose fathers are officials needn’t worry about people saying your official position came from your father. In our Academy, if you don’t mention it yourself, who would know your father is an official? Even if they know, your father’s name has no use whatsoever at the Academy. When Hong Cheng punished you, did he beat you any less because of your fathers’ names?”
Yun Ye’s words drew a burst of laughter. Seeing that every student had come out of the palace without exception, Yun Ye smiled and said: “Whether you qualify depends on His Majesty’s judgment. Now you’ve already left Yushan Academy’s gates. Go do what you should do—even if you go to brothels, it’s your own business. From today on, the Academy’s rules no longer constrain you. Come to the Academy in ten days to receive your graduation certificates. Those who need to find connections now, pull strings, visit old friends—go now.”
After Yun Ye spoke for a long time, he discovered the students showed no movement. He smiled and said: “You’ve suffered all these years. Indulging yourselves a bit now is fine. Don’t be reluctant to leave the Academy. Once wings are grown, you’ll ultimately fly away. Don’t be wishy-washy about it. How can Academy students lack even this bit of decisiveness? Go quickly. Look, the eyes of those wanting to compete for you are already turning green.”
At some point, many richly dressed people had gathered on Vermillion Bird Avenue, all gazing with longing at these students emerging from the palace. Merchants were the most numerous.
Yun Ye mounted his carriage. Just as he lowered the carriage curtain, he heard the students outside say in unison: “We disciples bow in gratitude for Master’s teaching grace. In this life and the next, we dare not forget even slightly. The Academy’s precepts, we dare not forget even slightly. Master, take care. This disciple departs.”
Hearing this, Yun Ye’s eyes grew hot and tears nearly flowed. He tapped the carriage, and Liu Jinbao shouted loudly, driving the carriage toward Yushan.
This batch of students had already passed the Academy’s assessment, so each one possessed the capability to graduate. Now, an Academy certificate carried great value. If students couldn’t enter government service, naturally countless academies and private schools would hire them as instructors, merchant houses would hire them as chief managers, and even nobles would hire them as advisors. From the day of graduation, they had already stood at the pinnacle of society.