sjar Chapter 933 The Emperor's Disciple
Chapter 933 The Emperor's Disciple
As Li Che entered, more than 600 newly appointed scholars, led by Zhang Qian, immediately turned around and bowed their heads in respect.
The vast square was completely silent, save for the faint sound of clothes rustling against each other.
Dressed in a solemn black imperial robe, Li Che, surrounded by a group of civil officials, slowly ascended the high platform in front of the Xuanzheng Hall and stood under the canopy.
As his gaze swept over the sea of students below, standing tall like bamboo shoots, Li Che smiled gently, his eyes filled with expectation.
He waved his hand gently and said in a clear voice, "Students, you may rise."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" The students then straightened up as instructed, but still bowed their heads slightly to show their respect.
Looking at these outstanding talents who had emerged from among thousands, Li Che felt a surge of pride, and the thought that "all the heroes of the world are now under my control" almost escaped his lips.
But he held back in the end, only his eyes became even brighter.
Li Er's flag was not good. The imperial examination system in the Tang Dynasty was too poor. Without fairness, it was ultimately just empty talk.
Li Che slowly scanned the crowd, finally settling on the figure standing at the very front.
Zhang Qian's figure was slightly thinner than the other students, but he stood straight, and the expression on his dark face gave people a sense of security.
Upon seeing Zhang Qian, Li Che's eyes lit up.
Zhang Qian's appearance perfectly matched his image of the man—a genuine peasant boy who had risen from the bottom of society.
While Li Che was observing the students, everyone was also observing this young new emperor.
Of course, it is disrespectful for a subject to look directly at His Majesty, and most of these students did not have that courage.
Only Lin Qingyuan, hiding behind Zhang Qian, secretly peeked at him out of the corner of his eye.
But His Majesty was handsome and dashing, with an indescribable air of nobility between his brows.
Lin Qingyuan had a rudimentary understanding of physiognomy and had studied with his teacher for several years, but at this moment he felt that his physiognomy skills had completely lost their effectiveness.
Only four words echoed in my mind: "Absolutely amazing!"
After scanning the candidates, Li Che's smile deepened before he continued:
"Having reviewed your examination papers, I am deeply gratified to see that you, the talented individuals from the North, are emerging in great numbers, and your knowledge and insights are truly remarkable. This is a great blessing for our Great Qing Dynasty!"
"On the occasion of the first imperial examination of our dynasty, I believe that all the students who can stand here are capable and competent. Therefore, in today's palace examination, I have decided not to test the students' knowledge of rote memorization such as copying classics and interpreting texts."
These words caused a slight ripple among the students below, with many showing expressions of surprise.
They thought the palace examination would be similar to, or even more rigorous than, the provincial examination, so they dared not slack off and had been studying diligently these past few days.
Unexpectedly, the interpretation of the classics is no longer being tested?
What will be tested?
Seeing everyone's reactions, Li Che continued, "Those basic scriptures have already been tested in the provincial examination, so there's no need to waste your minds on them."
"Today, I want to observe the aspirations and character of all students! I hope you will speak frankly and express your ambitions fully on your answer sheets!"
Li Che indeed did not intend to test rote memorization in this palace examination, because the students who made it this far at least had a good attitude and solid foundation in learning.
Now we need to use subjective questions to examine their thinking patterns, professional inclinations and aspirations, so that we can place these more than 600 people in suitable positions in the future.
More importantly, subjective questions do not have fixed answers, so the final ranking is entirely up to Li Che himself.
Taking this opportunity, I can also promote several promising talents to the positions I want them to be in.
Li Che paused briefly, his tone becoming more earnest, carrying a hint of heartfelt sincerity:
"I know that most of you come from humble backgrounds, with no rich collection of books at home and no famous teachers to guide you. You have all relied on your own hard work to get to this great hall of mine."
"Although I cannot know all the hardships involved, I can understand some of them."
His gaze swept over the moved faces, and he said softly:
"Therefore, I hereby declare: from this imperial examination onwards, all those who pass the provincial examination and are able to enter the palace examination hall, regardless of their final ranking, shall be—disciples of the Son of Heaven!"
"From now on, when you travel, I will allow you to refer to yourselves as 'disciples of the Emperor,' and to be on equal footing with the disciples of great Confucian scholars!"
wow——
At this point, the students below could no longer remain silent, and a series of low gasps erupted from the crowd.
Many people looked up, their faces filled with astonishment, which quickly turned into ecstasy.
Even Lin Qingyuan, who had been secretly observing Li Che with great interest, was surprised at this moment, and looked at Li Che with his mouth slightly open.
Disciple of the Emperor!
These four words carry a weight heavier than a thousand pounds!
Although this is more of an honorary title, it has a completely different meaning for these students from impoverished backgrounds who have no connections.
Behind them stood a powerful figure called the Emperor.
From then on, they were no longer isolated individuals; when they went out, they could proudly declare themselves 'disciples of the Crown Prince'.
This intangible political capital is far more exciting than any reward of gold or silver.
For Li Che, this was also a brilliant move.
By using the 'teacher-student' relationship, he can effectively gather this group of newly promoted elites around him, forming a nascent 'imperial party' with him at its core.
This new force will be inherently opposed to the established families.
The two are interdependent and share common interests.
It's important to understand that the teacher-student relationship in ancient times was far more complex than it is today; the saying "a teacher for a day is a father for life" was no exaggeration. The bond between them was much stronger than that between ordinary rulers and subjects.
Although he and these students were only teacher and students in name, this title could potentially deepen their bond in the future.
Even becoming gay!
After a brief moment of shock, the students quickly recovered and their voices rang out in unison and loudly:
"We, your students, thank Your Majesty for your divine grace!"
The sound surged into the sky, attracting the attention of the imperial guards standing watch in the distance.
Li Che nodded in satisfaction and raised his hand in acknowledgment.
Immediately afterwards, the eunuchs, who were already prepared, began distributing the newly copied palace examination papers according to the seating order.
Zhang Qian, being at the top of the list, was the first to receive the exam paper.
He suppressed his excitement, took a deep breath, and focused his gaze on the exam paper.
There was only one strategy question on it:
[Reform and Strengthening]
[Question: Law is the fundamental principle of a nation. However, times change, and ancient laws may no longer be suitable for modern use. In the past, Shang Yang's reforms strengthened Qin, and the adoption of nomadic dress and cavalry tactics led to the rise of Zhao. If we were to emulate the reforms of our predecessors, what should be prioritized? How can we ensure unity of purpose between superiors and inferiors? How can we prevent corrupt officials from harassing the people? Students, please present your strategies in detail, ensuring they are practical and feasible.]
Upon seeing this title, Zhang Qian's pupils contracted slightly.
Reform and strengthen the nation!
His Majesty wants to implement reforms?