Zhao Cheng scolded Zhao Hanzhang severely, but Zhao Hanzhang wasn’t angry at all. She was just a front – merely serving as a vehicle to scold Yuan Gang and others through scolding her.

Yuan Gang and others naturally weren’t willing to stand there being scolded, so they listed how many people had died and how many clans had been annihilated in the past ten years due to rebellions by the Xiongnu, Xianbei, Jie, and other barbarian peoples.

“Such barbarian tribes attach themselves when strong and invade when weak. They should be eradicated to prevent future troubles.”

Zhao Cheng was so angry he nearly vomited blood. He pointed at Yuan Gang’s nose and scolded, “Our Huaxia people have never spoken of exterminating entire races. All things under heaven, since born between heaven and earth, should have a place to settle. Even maggots – people cannot eliminate their entire race out of disgust. That you have such thoughts makes you worse than beasts.”

At these words, those who shared Yuan Gang’s views immediately shrank their heads, silently stepped back, and stopped speaking.

Zhao Hanzhang on the side nodded repeatedly. Scold away, scold away – if you’re good at it, scold more.

Yuan Gang was highlighted. He too was red-eyed with anger and quarreled with Zhao Cheng. “I’m not like you all, seeking fame and fishing for reputation. If I can permanently eliminate future troubles for descendants, I’m willing to bear this infamy.”

“Being tolerant of enemies means standing in opposition to oneself and one’s descendants.”

“The world is vast. Though your life is brief, you’ll have many opponents. Would you exterminate the entire clan of every opponent you encounter?” Zhao Cheng said coldly, “Where then is righteousness? Where is benevolence?”

Yuan Gang sneered, “When the Xiongnu invaded southward, when did they show righteousness and benevolence? Speaking of righteousness and benevolence with enemies – hasn’t Scholar Zhao read himself stupid?”

He suddenly turned to look at Zhao Hanzhang and asked, “Does Grand General Zhao also uphold righteousness and benevolence? For generals, the greatest taboo is a compassionate heart. The saying goes, ‘The compassionate cannot command troops’…”

Zhao Hanzhang interrupted: “Master Yuan, ‘the compassionate cannot command troops’ means generals cannot disregard military discipline out of sympathy. Who said generals cannot have compassionate hearts?”

“Without a compassionate heart, how could I be of one heart and mind with my comrades to achieve such accomplishments?” She said, “It’s also because of my compassionate heart that I can understand the suffering of soldiers and common people, thus fighting enemies more bravely.”

“I know what Master Yuan means – nothing more than fearing that in the future the barbarian tribes will invade southward again when we’re weak. But there are many ways to solve this problem. Racial extermination is the worst strategy and far too inhumane.”

“Everything in this world has advantages and disadvantages – two sides of the same coin,” Zhao Hanzhang said leisurely. “Killing too many people arouses the murderous nature in one’s heart. This general already feels I’m much more fierce than my former self. Ji Yuan, Ming Yu – if in the future I go on a killing spree and cannot stop, you must counsel me more.”

Ji Yuan and Ming Yu immediately cupped their hands respectfully and responded, “Yes.”

Everyone fell silent.

Very well, this topic successfully ended.

Yuan Gang also swallowed, his face flushing red as he retreated to one side.

Only then did Zhao Hanzhang turn sideways. “Everyone, please be seated. Today is to welcome you all and wash away the dust of travel. There’s no need to be as tense as in court sessions. Let’s just speak of everyday matters.”

Among those present, few had attended court sessions anyway, so everyone silently found seats and sat down.

Zhao Hanzhang sat at the head. She first raised her cup to toast everyone, then asked Zhou Zhi and others, “Do your families currently have sons serving as officials in the court?”

Some did, though none were in the central government. Most were in local positions, and basically all in various Jiangnan commanderies and counties, essentially unable to reach Jiangbei.

The Lu family’s situation was basically the same. What surprised Zhao Hanzhang was that the Jiang family had some. The Jiang family head indicated that two years ago, several family sons had secretly crossed the river to Yuzhou to take the recruitment examination. They luckily passed and were appointed as county magistrates.

However, those two sons were very distant collateral relatives. The Jiang family head hadn’t even known before – it was only yesterday when he met Jiang Pu, who had entered the capital early, that he learned the news from him.

Zhao Hanzhang nodded slightly and asked several more families, discovering the situation was generally similar.

She asked, “When was the last time each family had officials at court, and how many were there?”

Before the war to destroy the Xiongnu state, Jiangnan people serving in the court did exist. For example, Zhou Zhi… his father had once served in the Jin court’s center as a Censor, holding the position for many years.

But for Jiangnan people, the fourth to third rank was an enormous threshold. To date, no one had been able to cross it.

No matter how talented they were or how high their family status in the Wu and Chu regions, they found it very difficult to surpass the Central Plains aristocratic families in the court. The Impartial Evaluation system blocked their promotion path from the start.

This was also one of the important reasons why Jiangnan aristocratic families became alienated from the court.

After the Yongjia Rebellion, court officials who had followed the previous Emperor in Yanzhou were basically massacred. Jiangnan people serving in the court then couldn’t escape either. After that, besides inviting some former officials and hermits out of retirement, Zhao Hanzhang basically promoted her own people.

So now throughout court and country, officials from Jiangnan could be counted on one hand, and their official ranks were all quite low.

Zhao Hanzhang said, “The Wu and Chu regions once belonged separately to the State of Wu. But before the State of Wu, whether Wei, Shu, or Wu, they all belonged to Han. The unification of the realm is the great wish of the people. As I see it, all rainwater in the realm flows into the Yellow River and Yangtze River. We drink from the same rivers, eat rice and wheat produced from the same soil – our blood is connected. We should not be separated again.”

“Naturally I hope officials in the court all have the realm in their hearts, able to treat people from their hometowns and people from throughout the realm equally. But I also know that most in this world are ordinary people who cannot help being partial. So to ensure people everywhere all benefit without suffering too much injustice, we must ensure every region has officials at court.”

The eyes of Zhou Zhi and other Jiangnan aristocrats suddenly burst with dazzling light, gazing intently at Zhao Hanzhang.

Zhao Hanzhang continued: “Previously Lord Cao promulgated the Nine-Rank System to evaluate rank by talent and virtue. Later it completely became evaluating rank by family background. From the chaos of the two dynasties, evaluating by family background and selecting talent is no longer suitable for the present.”

No one opposed these words.

Seated in the hall were all Jiangnan aristocrats constrained by the ranking system, humble scholars like Ji Yuan, or northern aristocrats who had fallen into poverty through fleeing as refugees. Of course they wouldn’t oppose a new system beneficial to them.

Immediately someone proposed restoring the old system from the previous dynasty, demanding removal of the family background condition, evaluating only by talent and character.

Then have it turn back into today’s system twenty years later?

Zhao Hanzhang wasn’t that foolish. She said, “Speaking of fairness, nothing in this realm is fairer than examinations for selecting talent. Therefore, I want to hold recruitment examinations in Jiangnan as well, bringing talented people into the court.”

Zhao Hanzhang praised them: “I know that among your families there are many virtuous and talented sons. These years, constrained by the Impartial Evaluation system, many studied at home without serving in office. Now with recruitment examinations established, they can display their talents.”

Zhou Zhi thought about it and felt his family’s sons should have no problem with examinations. He’d heard that Luoyang’s highest-level recruitment examinations tested not only civil but also martial skills. Those both civil and martial could stand out more – their Zhou clan sons had absolutely no problem.

Lu Yuan remained expressionless and proposed: “But I’ve heard that anyone can take the recruitment examinations – even commoners and former slaves who’ve just been freed from bondage can apply. This is too insulting. Why doesn’t the Grand General combine it with the Impartial Evaluation system, dividing recruitment examinations into upper, middle, and lower three levels? Upper-level aristocrats take one, middle level for humble families and minor aristocrats, and lower level for commoners and craftsmen.”

The more Lu Yuan spoke, the more he felt his proposal was excellent. “Then determine what official ranks they should hold after passing. For instance, commoners taking the lower-level recruitment examination could serve as village chiefs or minor clerks in counties. Middle level could become county vice-magistrates or registrars, not permitted to advance beyond fourth rank. Upper level would be appointed as county magistrates and such. Wouldn’t this save effort?”

The fury in Ji Yuan’s heart flared up. He sneered coldly, “I thought Family Head Lu would propose that passing the upper-level recruitment examination should directly confer marquis titles and ministerial positions, or even replace the Grand General.”

Lu Yuan’s spine stiffened. He turned to look at Ji Yuan, sneering inwardly, but his face remained unchanged. He said mildly, “Naturally pillars of state like Vice Minister Ji who protect the nation are not subject to family background limitations.”

He thought himself mild, but how could people as shrewd as Ji Yuan and Ming Yu not see the contempt beneath his skin?

So he still looked down on him and Ming Yu for their humble origins.

Even Zhao Cheng, Zhao Ming, Zhao Xin and other members of the Zhao clan hadn’t dared show them contempt – what standing did he have to dare look down on them so lightly?

Ji Yuan and Ming Yu only sneered inwardly. Changning, however, went all out, sneering, “No wonder the Prince of Langya couldn’t advance a single step after going to Jiangnan. Truly a barbarian land, completely uncivilized. The Grand General’s such excellent national policy becomes like meat contaminated with fly droppings after passing through your hands.”

Lu Yuan glared angrily. “You call Jiangnan a barbarian land?”

Changning replied, “If not barbarian, what is it? Your minds full of nothing but exterminating races or suppressing the humble and common. What, so lacking in confidence that before even taking the exam you already know you can’t compete with commoners?”

“Bullshit! How many characters can you recognize, you crude commoners? How many books can your families have? I think you taking recruitment examinations is just wasting paper and ink, wasting court officials’ mental effort.”

“Bah! Can’t compete is can’t compete – stop making excuses! Does our court lack those few sheets of paper?” Mentioning books and paper, Changning couldn’t help his resentment. “Think it’s still the old days? Now paper workshops are blooming everywhere – paper has long stopped being precious.”

Changning’s family background was even worse than Ji Yuan’s and Ming Yu’s. To support his studies, his entire family used every bit of strength. The most precious things were books and paper.

“You’re truly crude, cursing in public like this…”

Changning said expressionlessly, “This is renowned scholar elegance, unconventional in style.”

Zhao Hanzhang, who had been leisurely listening to them quarrel, suppressed her laughter but was choked by saliva and coughed several times. Everyone couldn’t help but look at her.

Zhao Hanzhang coughed until her breathing smoothed, then smiled. “Dividing examinations and recording separately is indeed a good idea, but specifically how to implement it requires discussion with court officials. Let’s pass over this matter. So, do all of you present agree to holding recruitment examinations in Jiangnan?”

Lu Yuan and others exchanged glances, then nodded together.

Zhou Zhi then asked, “After talented people enter the court, will the Grand General limit their advancement because officials originated from Jiangnan?”

Zhao Hanzhang said, “The court employs people based on talent and virtue, not region and origin.”

Zhou Zhi relaxed. Though he didn’t know if she could achieve this, at least she had said it. Her attitude was clear here – at least for the next ten years it wouldn’t be too outrageous, right?

This was Jiangnan aristocratic families’ opportunity.

Having resolved the matter they cared about most, Zhao Hanzhang finally began raising Jiangnan’s military authority, civil authority, and various economic development issues.

She advocated using officials from different regions. Unlike now, where Jiangbei people served as officials in Jiangbei and Jiangnan people in Jiangnan, to limit officials from benefiting themselves and their relatives, she required officials not return to their native places to serve.

County magistrates couldn’t return to their home counties; governors couldn’t return to their home commanderies.

Regarding this point, everyone expressed understanding and support.

After all, this regulation was a Qin rule. After the Han dynasty succeeded Qin, they perfected this regulation further. For hundreds of years, this court rule had always existed. It was just that the past century had been too chaotic, and this regulation went unobserved.

Especially during the Three Kingdoms period – the State of Wu was only so large. Where else could they go to serve as officials?

It was precisely this historical reason that had fostered the current situation of powerful clans dominating their regions.

Zhao Hanzhang used this rule as a transition. The atmosphere relaxed considerably, and only then did she raise how to handle Jiangnan’s military and civil authority.

Military authority went without saying – her attitude was very firm. Change the generals. Let the stationed generals control military authority.

She knew that currently most of Jiangnan’s military strength was in Zhou Zhi’s hands. Expecting him to hand over one hundred thousand troops for nothing was impossible. Zhao Hanzhang was also willing to give him time. This could be discussed later. Most urgent was the latter point.

Currently, the lives of Jiangnan common people weren’t that good. Of the cultivated fields in Jiangnan, seventy percent were in the hands of powerful aristocratic families. Ten percent had been purchased by northern aristocrats who went there later. Only the remaining twenty percent of land belonged to Jiangnan common people.

And this portion of Jiangnan common people accounted for ninety percent of Jiangnan’s total population.

Besides a small portion of wealthy farmers, all other common people had to rent land from aristocratic powerful families, depending on them to survive.

Zhao Hanzhang’s data was very detailed. She could even report how many households Jiankang had, what the population was, what the per capita land was, and excluding land held by aristocratic powerful families, what their per capita was, how many common people needed to rent land annually – she could report it all.

When this data emerged, everyone suddenly turned to look at Wang Dao.

Wang Dao fell silent.

The Prince of Langya also looked at him in shock.

Wang Dao thought: Fine, the data should have come from him. Yuan Li, you scoundrel!

Zhao Hanzhang said: “The common people suffer hardship – my heart grieves deeply. Therefore I’m willing in the court’s name to purchase land from you all, then rent it to the common people.”

No one believed Zhao Hanzhang’s words.

She wanted to acquire property in Jiangnan.

Shameless enough – wanting to buy land but not contacting their stewards, directly pressuring them into selling.

However, no one lost face for Zhao Hanzhang. After all, it was just buying some land. Consider it a gift from them to her. Build good relations – easier to interact in the future.

This banquet continued until evening. Everyone ate from noon to night, discussing much. Zhao Hanzhang not only chatted individually with Zhou Zhi and others but also talked with the returning refugees.

She permitted them to return to their ancestral homes, reclaiming their ancestral residences from the county offices. As for fields – don’t even think about it. Too much time had passed – the land had basically all been redistributed.

But they could still receive allocated land. The legally stipulated personal allotment land and permanent estate land – she would definitely ensure county magistrates everywhere gave it to them in full, not a bit less.

Of course, as returning talent, they also had some rewards. However, the national treasury was currently empty – the rewards would be owed for now.

Then she also chatted at length with the humble scholar-gentlemen who came to the banquet. After hearing their difficulties, she planned to have the government offices clean out two compounds in the capital, place rows of beds inside, supply charcoal and water, so they could get through winter.

She encouraged them to take examinations, to participate in recruitment exams. “Even if you don’t pass for a time, it doesn’t matter. You’ve all read many books. Now many schools of all sizes have opened – what’s most lacking is teachers. You can first find a school in Luoyang and nearby to become teachers, teaching while reading. After a few years when you’re more comfortable, taking exams again is also possible.”

Besides becoming teachers, there were many, many other occupations they could pursue. Now regions throughout the country all lacked educated people!

Alas, Dajin’s illiteracy rate was still too high – there were so few who could read.