N-A-A Chapter 945 Wu She’s opposition has many problems!
Chapter 945 Wu She’s opposition has many problems!
He further described this ladder of advancement to the core of power and the immense incentives it offered: "Those who pass the imperial examinations, if they rank among the top in the palace examination, can enter the imperial court directly as officials, or at least be assigned to one of the six ministries as an assistant, where they can engage in confidential matters and hone their skills. This way, we can uncover a large number of hidden gems among the common people. Those who fail the palace examination but pass the county examination will also be given priority admission to the county government when recruiting officials. Similarly, those who perform well in the county examination but unfortunately fail can also gain a certain degree of prestige, and even the most outstanding have the opportunity to be selected as county officials. Similarly, we want to give the world's talented people hope, a path to the upper echelons through their own learning. As my territory expands, I urgently need a large number of talents to fill the government at all levels. Moreover, if anyone can achieve top spot on this path, I will announce it to the world and spread their fame far and wide! What do you think?"
Listening to Gao Yao's eloquent speech, constructing an unprecedented, systematic blueprint for selecting officials, everyone present could hardly conceal their astonishment. Xiao He was the first to grasp the profound significance of this move. He was impressed by Gao Yao's willingness to break with convention and embrace such a grand vision to recruit talent from all over the world.
He was the first to stand up and bowed in agreement. "Your Majesty's plan is excellent! This strategy is somewhat similar to the Juxian Hall's recruitment of talents in the past, but compared to the Juxian Hall's crude approach, Your Majesty's plan can be said to be more thorough and stable. Although the Juxian Hall of the past opened its doors widely, it only recruited talented and learned people without conducting a thorough screening process. It was inevitable that the good and the bad were mixed, and all kinds of people were included, leading to internal chaos. But Your Majesty's plan, through the four-level screening of county, prefecture, general, and palace examinations, effectively eliminates those who seek to fish in troubled waters, while also encouraging scholars throughout the world to actively participate and obtain the treatment and status they deserve based on their true talents and knowledge. I believe this is as it should be!"
Cao Shen, standing by, listened to Xiao He's analysis and nodded in agreement. Not only did he agree, he went a step further and offered a constructive suggestion: "Indeed, Your Majesty, this move will indeed greatly fill the current shortage of officials. Furthermore, I suggest that, to demonstrate the court's sincerity in seeking talented individuals and alleviate the worries of disadvantaged students, the court should cover all food and lodging expenses for these candidates during the examination period, as well as security and reception at post stations along the way. This will allow them to focus on the exam without any worries. After all, the current situation is unique. Although Your Majesty has recovered the various regions, it has only been a short time, and local security has not been restored. Bandits are still rampant on the roads. The court should protect these unarmed scholars."
Xiao He and Cao Shen's support for the proposal thickened the atmosphere of approval within the hall. The other ministers whispered among themselves, many also showing approval on their faces. For a while, no one raised any clear objections.
However, just when everyone thought the matter would be settled, Wu She stepped forward with a solemn expression and said in a clear and firm voice, "Your Majesty, I have a different opinion!"
"Oh?" Gao Yao didn't seem angry; instead, a hint of interest flashed in his eyes. The purpose of establishing a cabinet wasn't to seek a one-man show of opinion, but to hear different voices and, through debate and consideration, to explore the most feasible solutions. "Tell me about it!"
"I find your Majesty's suggestion inappropriate and unworkable!" Wu She's words drew surprised, even slightly reproachful, glances from those present. Gao Yao's suggestion, while seemingly a pioneering initiative that would benefit both the nation and its people, was particularly bold and even somewhat inappropriate for Wu She to express such direct opposition, especially at a time when Gao Yao had just officially ascended to the throne and was desperate to establish his authority and implement new policies.
However, the more outspoken Wu She was, the more Gao Yao took notice. He showed no sign of displeasure at being interrupted, but rather a look of genuine interest. He then raised his hand, signaling Wu She to continue speaking.
Wu She took a deep breath. Now that he had spoken, there was no reason to back down. He meticulously stated his three concerns:
"I believe Your Majesty's move is inappropriate. Firstly, it stems from regional imbalances and the potential for factional strife. You have now acquired a total of eleven counties, all of which have significant populations, but their sense of belonging to Your Majesty is weak. While Your Majesty's intentions are good, the key question is whether the people of these eleven counties can quickly accept, identify with, and actively participate. If you force the imperial examination, I fear a significant problem: the three Nanhai counties with deep roots, as well as counties like Hanzhong and Dongting, which were previously under Your Majesty's control, will inevitably see a large number of participants due to their relatively developed culture and education and strong sense of belonging to Your Majesty. Conversely, the eleven newly acquired counties, where the people are less attached and education is less advanced, will inevitably see a significant decrease in participation."
"If this continues, the majority of those admitted through the imperial examinations will come from old counties like Nanhai. If these individuals are spread across the court and prominent local positions, it will inevitably spark dissatisfaction among the newly annexed regions, who will believe that the king is unfair and biased. Rumors will spread, unsettling public opinion and severely undermining the king's ambition to rule the entire empire. Furthermore... officials from counties like Nanhai already almost dominate his administration. If the imperial examination system further strengthens this trend, I fear that this will lead to a climate of self-interest and exclusion within the court, leading to the formation of regional political cliques. Once this trend takes hold, it will be a boon to the king's rule, and we must nip it in the bud!"
Wu She's words, especially his final remarks about the concerns of "cliques" and "factional strife," were like a boulder dropped into a deep pond, causing everyone present to shift their expressions. Even Gao Yao's gaze instantly grew sharp and deep. They knew full well that throughout dynasties, factional strife had been a malignant tumor that eroded the foundations of states and undermined the authority of the monarch. The Qin Dynasty's Wang Jianruo withdrew at the breaking point, the Lü family's hegemony over power in the early Han Dynasty, the Party Persecution at the end of the Han Dynasty, and even throughout the Tang, Song, and Ming dynasties, factionalism was a chronic affliction of dynasties. Wu She's courage to directly address this issue, a concern that every monarch feared, in the court, truly required immense courage.
Wu She observed Gao Yao's reaction. Seeing that he didn't stop despite his serious expression, he knew that the king had listened to him to some extent, so he continued his statement:
"Secondly, the timing is not yet ripe. Currently, schools have been established in places like the Three Commanderies of the South Sea, and government policies are being implemented, providing the foundation for the implementation of the imperial examinations. However, for newly acquired counties, it will take time for the policies to be implemented and truly take root; it's by no means a one-time effort. It would be prudent to wait a year or two, until these places have established a solid foundation like the Three Commanderies of the South Sea, before conducting the imperial examinations. Your Majesty's intention was to allow knowledgeable individuals to serve the country, but years of war have left people in dire straits. People still worry about their daily meals, and with granaries scarce, how can we even talk about cultivating rites and music?"