frightfiction Chapter 565 The Ladder for Seeking Talent
Chapter 565 The Ladder for Seeking Talent
The King of Qin did not respond to Ying Wuyou's words, but instead fell into deep thought. As an emperor, he naturally tended to eliminate all unstable factors. The system's suggestion of "physical elimination" was undoubtedly the simplest and safest approach.
However… Jia Yang’s words also moved him. A Xiang Yu who could serve the Qin Dynasty was indeed of immeasurable value. Moreover, Jia Yang was not without precautions; she had her own methods of monitoring and checks and balances. More importantly, he saw Jia Yang’s growth in handling this matter—possessing both the wisdom of appeasement and the decisiveness to act ruthlessly when necessary. This temperament was increasingly befitting of a crown prince.
He needs to make a decision.
After a long silence, the majestic voice of the King of Qin echoed in the empty hall: "Xiang Yu... I will give him a chance. And this is also a chance for you."
His gaze turned deep and cold.
"I hope you will take care of yourself. If you fail to repay this kindness..." The rest of the words were left unsaid, but a chilling killing intent already permeated the air.
He decided to tacitly approve of Ying Wuyou's actions. However, at the same time, he would intensify surveillance of Xiang Yu, raising it to the highest level. Any slight movement must be reported to him immediately. He was willing to gamble, betting on Ying Wuyou's judgment and methods, and also on Xiang Yu's still-unsettled future. But as an emperor, he would always be prepared for another, more ruthless, yet more secure path.
This conversation about Xiang Yu's fate has already reached a preliminary conclusion without the parties involved being aware of it.
Late October, 223 BC, winter.
As the smoke of war dissipated in the land of Chu, the tragic songs of a fallen kingdom were swept away by the howling north wind and merged into the long river of history.
While the other feudal lords—King Jian of Qi, who was filled with anxiety; King Jia of Wei, who was on tenterhooks; and King Xi of Yan, who was living a life of debauchery—were still trembling with fear over the raging fire in Yingdu, dreading that the black iron torrent of Qin would soon be at the city gates, a transformation, different from the battles on the battlefield but equally far-reaching, was quietly unfolding in Xianyang under the leadership of Princess Jiayang, Ying Wuyou.
Inside Zhangtai Palace, the charcoal fire burned brightly, dispelling the chill of Guanzhong. Ying Wuyou, dressed in simple palace attire, knelt at the lower end of the table. Instead of military reports, a stack of papers covered with dense writing lay open on the table.
“Father,” Ying Wuyou’s clear voice broke the silence in the hall, “the State of Chu has been destroyed, and the unification of the world is on the horizon. However, it is easy to conquer the world, but difficult to govern it. Our Great Qin wishes to unify this broken land and make our decrees reach all directions and win the hearts of all people. However, relying solely on military merits and titles, as well as the existing bureaucracy, is no longer sufficient.”
The King of Qin gazed intently at his daughter, who always brought him "surprises." This daughter, since she first showed her talent a few years ago, had become unstoppable, her ingenious ideas flowing endlessly.
From improving agricultural tools, building roads and fire pits, to inventing paper and printing, establishing the "Da Qin Xin Bao" (Great Qin New News) to guide public opinion, and then to setting up economic markets on the border to subtly undermine the economies of other countries. Up until this war to destroy Chu, his behind-the-scenes planning, economic strangulation, psychological warfare, and sowing discord to induce surrender were all executed with shrewd precision and remarkable results. His vision, courage, and ability far surpassed those of ordinary princes, and even subtly overshadowed his eldest son Fusu, who was known for his benevolence.
The vague yet bold idea in the King of Qin's mind became clearer with each display of Ying Wuyou's extraordinary talent.
"After two years of trial implementation of the imperial examination system, a number of talented scholars were indeed selected, filling some vacancies in county and prefectural government positions. It broke the hereditary system, giving ordinary people a ladder to advancement. However..." Ying Wuyou continued.
The King of Qin spoke slowly, his tone tinged with doubt: "Jiayang, do you feel there is still something lacking?"
“Exactly.” Ying Wuyou nodded, his fingertip pointing to the summary document on the imperial examination system. “The current imperial examination system consists of only two parts: the Xianyang Metropolitan Examination and the Palace Examination, which is personally presided over by my father. Regardless of their background, all scholars can leap to the emperor’s side in one go. It seems fair, but in reality, it is crude.”
Firstly, the assessment content still focuses on classical texts and policy discussions. Although there is some knowledge of practical subjects such as law, mathematics, agriculture, industry, and geography, it is not in-depth, making it difficult to select truly capable officials who can handle complex administrative affairs.
Secondly, the lack of tiered screening makes it difficult to distinguish between genuine talent and those who are merely filling in the gaps. Some may be well-versed in classical literature but lack practical skills in governance. If this continues, the imperial examination system risks becoming a new form of 'memorization' rather than 'practical application of knowledge.'
She paused, her eyes gleaming with a light that transcended the times: "Your subject believes that in order to make the imperial examination the proper way for our Great Qin to select talents and to continuously supply the Great Qin with genuine talents, we must deepen the reform, make its system more complete, make the assessment more rigorous, and the difficulty... should also be increased layer by layer."
"Tell me in detail." The King of Qin leaned forward slightly, clearly intrigued.
"Your Majesty, I propose dividing the imperial examinations into three levels," Ying Wuyou said fluently, having already prepared his proposal.
"The first level is the children's examination. Examination centers are set up in various cities and counties to test basic literacy, arithmetic, key points of Qin law, and a rudimentary understanding of the classics. Those who pass are called 'scholars', possessing basic cultural literacy, and can enjoy certain tax benefits and enroll in newly established official schools in various prefectures and counties for further study. This is the foundation of the system, aimed at popularizing education and selecting promising talents."
"The second level is the provincial examination. It is held in major provinces, and only those who have passed the county-level examination can participate. The examination content is more in-depth. In addition to the classics and policy essays, candidates must also be tested on the analysis of legal cases, land calculation, and the writing of brief official documents. They may even be required to discuss their insights into local customs and politics. Those who pass are called 'Juren'. Juren are qualified to be assigned to local positions as low-level assistants, such as county magistrates or prefectural clerks, to accumulate practical experience. This is the core of the examination, which aims to select grassroots officials with a certain level of theoretical knowledge and basic practical skills."
"The third level consists of the metropolitan examination and the palace examination. All the successful candidates from across the country gather in Xianyang to participate in the national metropolitan examination, which is the most rigorous. The content covers advanced knowledge such as governance strategies, current affairs analysis, application of major laws, economic planning, and border defense strategies. Those who stand out in the metropolitan examination are called 'tribute scholars' and can participate in the palace examination, which is personally presided over by their fathers. Their fathers will personally ask questions and ultimately determine the top three rankings, who will be granted important positions in the central government or local governments. This is the pinnacle, designed to select pillars of society who can advise on important matters and govern a region."
She looked at the King of Qin and concluded: "This three-tiered assessment is like sifting rice, removing the coarse and keeping the fine, eliminating the false and retaining the true. It can not only ensure that scholars at the bottom have a clear and visible path to advancement, but also greatly encourage the pursuit of learning throughout the land, and deeply root the selection of talent in the people."
Furthermore, through rigorous selection at each level, it ensures that those who ultimately reach the highest levels of government are all capable individuals with practical experience and the ability to shoulder heavy responsibilities. Moreover, incorporating practical knowledge into the core of the assessment can guide students across the country to move beyond simply burying themselves in books and engaging in empty talk about morality, instead focusing on reality and learning knowledge truly beneficial to the nation's welfare and people's livelihood, thus fostering a culture of "learning for practical application." This is a strategy for strengthening the foundation of the nation.
The King of Qin pondered for a moment, his fingers unconsciously tapping the smooth surface of the table. This plan, with its rigorous logic and clear objectives, was indeed far superior to the existing system.
It can effectively break the aristocracy's monopoly on knowledge, firmly grasp the power to select officials in the hands of those in power, and effectively select the talents needed for governance.