Li Shimin wanted to establish an imperial examination, and he couldn't let anything go unchecked. After letting these old people leave, the DPRK quickly issued a decree to continue to open the imperial examination in the coming year.
If you don’t fight for your right to speak, it will fall into the hands of others. The DPRK and the Central Government understand this very well and must seize this rare opportunity.
Imperial examinations have been held in the imperial court for several consecutive years, almost every year, and the entire Chang'an City is discussing this matter.
"Autumn harvest, winter storage..." Zhang Yang looked at the accounts and then at Li Chengqian,
"Your Highness, winter is for rest." After settling those old gentlemen, Li Shimin didn't even mention what he had promised before, let alone the credit for it.
It was a dishonorable method, and Tian Khan didn't even have time to clean it up. Even if he was asked about it, he would not admit it, and would even pass the blame.
Those old gentlemen have never seen His Majesty from beginning to end, and it is impossible to see them. This kind of thing can only be arranged by the civil servants in the court. The emperor must leave himself some room with the aristocratic family and cannot face the aristocratic family directly.
If there is still room for maneuver in the promises and words of civil servants, a disagreement between the emperor and them may lead to greater conflicts with the family.
After seeing off those old gentlemen, Zhang Yang thought his winter vacation life could continue again. Unexpectedly, Tian Khan became very ambitious and wanted to conduct imperial examinations and make the Tang Dynasty rich and powerful.
He called back all the officials from the six ministries and continued to be busy in the six ministries. I thought that the vacation ended early, and I would take up my post when I came to the DPRK, and the jokes would be over. At least in the winter, the weather is freezing, so I would be exempted from the early morning court.
The early morning dynasty will be resumed in the spring of next year. This is the disadvantage of being an official for Tian Khan. The emperor is so ambitious that everyone has to work overtime.
If you work overtime, just work overtime. While Zhang Yang is drinking tea, His Royal Highness Prince Jin and Princess Changle can come here with a group of younger brothers and sisters to play and serve tea and water.
After the autumn harvest, Shangshu Province was still relatively free. Apart from another expenditure for the coming year's salary, there was nothing else to be busy with.
At this moment, in addition to the emperor's ambition, there is also a prince of the East Palace. At this moment, Li Chengqian came. His Royal Highness, who was devoted to his career, was worried about money and interrupted his rest time.
Li Chengqian looked solemn,
"The matter of starting the imperial examination is in a difficult situation. I think about it all day and night, but the crux of the problem is money." In July, he had just been promoted to Duzhilang of Shangshu Province.
At that time, a sum of money had been allocated to the East Palace for the establishment of official schools. But now he had to take out the money, and Zhang Yang was in trouble for a while.
Li Chengqian said anxiously: "Nowadays, money is needed to open official schools in various places, and I am often in trouble." Listening to the prince's words, Zhang Yang took down a volume of maps from the shelf of archives on the side, opened the map and asked: "His Royal Highness, the opening of official schools now Where are they mainly concentrated?" Li Chengqian looked up and down,
"Tongguan, Shuofang, Luoyang." There were too many things to deal with in order to open an official school. Tongguan and Luoyang were already big cities and towns, and there were so many nobles in the area.
Zhang Yang thought,
"I have a suggestion. What does His Highness the Crown Prince think of it?"
"Tell me, as long as it's not a bad idea to deal with the old gentlemen that day." I wish I had a special function that could make His Highness the Crown Prince forget the memories of that time. The method is disgraceful and will be used to draw inferences. One mistake will be regretted for eternity. Now, Brother Wenwen is harming people!
Zhang Yang pointed to the other side of the map,
"The prince might as well go to Liaodong to start an official school first." Li Chengqian frowned and observed,
"Liaodong?"
"Now that Da'an has been named the chief official of Liaodong and is governing Liaodong, His Highness the Crown Prince might as well send someone to open an official school. Firstly, there will be less resistance there, and secondly, it will be of great help to the people's support. They can be considered as supporting teachers."
"Teaching support? What do you mean?" Seeing that the prince was still confused, Zhang Yang sat down again and drank tea.
"The so-called teaching support is to go to remote and poor and backward places to support teaching work. Rather than chewing on the two hard bones of Luoyang and Tongguan, the prince should change his mind." Zhang Yang drew a circle,
"Your Highness, please see, the center of the entire circle is Chang'an City, but the surrounding areas of this circle are some remote places. The people in these places are scattered and have been neglected for a long time. If we can send people to open official schools in those places, it can be used to recover The local people's support can also make the court have a stronger sense of presence in such places."
"Even if the Tang Dynasty becomes rich and powerful, I will never forget these remote places." Zhang Yang sighed: "My teacher back then was a volunteer teacher. Now that I think about it, I miss the friendship between teachers and students at that time. If it hadn't been for this volunteer teacher who gave me Inspiration, I might be a street gangster now, let alone learn so many skills." Li Chengqian looked at the circle,
"Listening to Shilang Zhang's words, I was enlightened. In this way, the resistance will be smaller and it will be more beneficial to the country." Zhang Yang nodded,
"There are many rich places in the Central Plains, and we can start from the surrounding villages and poor areas. Some people may make fun of us, but we must not be afraid of their ridicule, start from the periphery and move closer to the center step by step and slowly encroach Those big cities.”
"Gradually, everyone will understand the purpose of official learning, and it will gradually be accepted by more people. What do you think, His Royal Highness?" Li Chengqian bowed and saluted,
"It turns out that official schools can still do this."
"Didn't His Highness the Crown Prince think of it before?"
"I am... ashamed." Zhang Yang added: "After the imperial examination, there are many people who have not entered the official position and have not yet left Chang'an City. In fact, this is also an opportunity. His Highness the Crown Prince can recruit these people to become officials."
"I understand. When the manpower and regulations are arranged, I will submit it to the Zhongshu Province and send people to various places. In this way, the official education will be completed." Zhang Yang took a sip of tea and said with emotion: "Your Highness, thank you for your hard work. That's it." Li Chengqian said loudly: "For the sake of the country, I must forge ahead alone, even if there are thousands of difficulties and obstacles."
"Very well. Your Highness, please come back. Then we will see how much money is needed. I will see if I can squeeze some out of the accounts of the Central Government."
"I understand, I'll take my leave first and wait for the news." His Highness the Crown Prince walked with great strides, full of fighting spirit.
What a wonderful Tang Dynasty, Zhang Yang sighed again while holding the tea. Princess Dongyang’s cheeks turned red from the cold.
"Brother-in-law, all the chores outside have been taken care of."
"Then let's sort out all the files here."
"Here." Li Zhi also came in a hurry.
"Brother-in-law, this is the account book sent by the Ministry of War. He also sent three thousand shi of grain." Zhang Yang took the account book and looked at it.
"His Royal Highness King Jin, have the official rosters been sorted out this year?"
"Go and tidy up now." The palace maid looked at the princess and the princes busy here, and she didn't know what His Majesty would think when he saw them serving tea and water to Minister Zhang here.
Not long after, Li Zhi came back.
"His Royal Highness King Jin, what's wrong?"
"Brother-in-law, Xu Jingzong is here with a man from the Western Regions." Zhang Yang nodded and said: "Bring the person in, and His Highness Prince Jin can go about his own business."
"Okay." Li Zhi left in a hurry. Zhang Yang thought that after this year, he would be twenty-six, and there would be four years left before his planned retirement age.
There is only one official in Shangshu Province and he is quite comfortable. Even if he sleeps here, no one will care about him.
After meeting Xu Jingzong, he took a nap and went home to pick up his daughter. Also following Xu Jingzong was a Westerner with a big nose.
Princesses and princes are the ones doing the work here. Xu Jingzong kept saluting as he walked in. Although he didn't know the title or how to address him, he was very polite.
Until he walked into the main hall.
"It's great to have a place where I can find Minister Zhang." Xu Jingzong sighed with emotion.
"This is..." Zhang Yang looked at this Westerner with dark skin and messy hair.
"This is the Persian monk A Luo Ben." Zhang Yang said clearly: "It turns out he is a monk from Persia." A Luo Ben saluted with Persian etiquette, and then said in unskilled Guanzhong dialect: "Little man A Luo Ben I have met Zhang Shilang of the previous country." When Xu Jingzong sat down, Zhang Yang said again: "You Persians also have your own teachings?"
"Zhang Shilang Mingjian, the villain originally followed the big cannibals to speak. Over the years, we have followed the Hari people in their southern and northern wars for several years. After arriving in Persia, I heard that there is a big country in the east. The villain is good at traveling and has been to the west. Strait, now I have finally found this great eastern country." It was not easy for the Persian monk Aroben to follow the Silk Road to the Tang Dynasty.
The identity of this person is somewhat complicated. Firstly, he is a cannibal. The place where he was born is located in Xulia in later generations. However, the location of that place has been destroyed by many wars, and many evidences are no longer available.
Some people say that he was a Persian because many of his achievements were in Persia. This complex identity has a lot to do with the conquest of the Great Cannibal.
Now is the time when Dashi is at its strongest and the army is at its peak. Zhang Yang said in confusion: "I don't quite understand, are you considered a messenger from Dashi, a tourist from the Tang Dynasty, or a monk from Persia?"
"These are the identities of villains."
"I like people like you the most. You mix up your identity in such a complicated way. You can please both sides but not offend both sides." Aroben also smiled awkwardly, not knowing how to reply.
This Westerner couldn't understand, but Xu Jingzong could hear the undertones of the words, except that this guy had two ends.
Seeing this, Aluoben wanted to sit down. Zhang Yang was holding tea,
"Did I ask you to sit down?" Upon hearing this, Aluoben had no choice but to stand up again.
"Tell me, what are your requirements for your mission to Chang'an City this time." Aluoben bowed and explained: "I heard that the merchant who had a big meal with me was captured by the Foreign Affairs Council, and now he is in Dali Temple. In the dungeon, I also went to Dali Temple to ask, and they replied that they could only release me with the approval of the Foreign Affairs Council."
"The villain just came to see Mr. Xu. Mr. Xu said that this matter requires Mr. Zhang's nod." Zhang Yang put down the teacup with a troubled expression.
"We can't let them go now. They have contacted the dignitaries of our Tang Dynasty privately. Their intentions are still unclear. Now Prince Belus of Persia is waiting for help from the Tang Dynasty. Persia and Dashi are at war. We need to consider the concerns of the Prince of Persia. ." Aroben's smile was very modest,
"The villain does not represent Dashi or Persia. It is just that Persia and Dashi are at war. With the style of the above country, I hope not to rush to the aid of Persia."
"Why?" Zhang Yang frowned and looked at him. This man was holding a parchment in his hands with a respectful attitude.
"Persia is not a vassal state of the Tang Dynasty, so there is no need to rush to the aid of Persia. If the Tang Dynasty rushes to the aid of Persia, the great empires in the future will definitely come to attack the Tang Dynasty." Zhang Yang laughed instead, and laughed angrily,
"You keep saying that you don't represent either side, but you threaten the Tang Dynasty in and out of your words. Once we send troops to help Persia, you will march eastward?" Aluoben saluted repeatedly.
"Xiaguan just wants to come to the Tang Dynasty to spread Western teachings. He just wants a place and convenience from the Diplomatic Academy."
"It's inconvenient." Zhang Yang refused decisively. When the Buddhist affairs were like that, the temples around Chang'an were indeed greatly restricted, but it was a troublesome thing for all the Central Plains to manage them together.
Not to mention that there is now a great cannibal who comes to the Tang Dynasty to give alms with the so-called Persian teachings. This will only make the situation more complicated.
Aluoben said again: "The villain doesn't understand what Zhang Shilang means." Zhang Yang nodded and said: "Old Xu, if I have a chance, I will have a chat with the Prince of Persia. Now I kind of want to talk to him about the strategy to help Persia. ." After the words fell, Aluoben fell silent, looking at Zhang Yang with a look of regret, regretting that Datang had made a wrong decision.
"Messenger Aroben, please stay well in the inn and don't act rashly. Those big cannibals have been imprisoned in the dungeon. Maybe you will go in because of your bad words and deeds. The court has not decided whether to rush to rescue. Before Persia, we cannot let go of those big food merchants." The Prince of Persia is in the Tang Dynasty, and now that the war in the West is anxious, the attitude of the Tang Dynasty is very important.
Nowadays, unlike in the past, there is already an Anxi Protectorate in the Western Region. No matter how bad things get, he can still lead the soldiers and horses of the Western Regions from afar.
Faced with Zhang Yang's words, Aluoben's expression remained calm.
"Shilang Zhang, when the Tang army killed a great cannibal, the four great lords of the great cannibal have always remembered this."
"Do you think I'm afraid of them?"
"Does the Tang Dynasty want to go to war with Dashi?" Zhang Yang sighed: "The envoy first threatened the Tang Dynasty, and then wanted the Tang Dynasty not to interfere in the affairs of Persia. As long as we the Tang Dynasty do not take action, the demise of Persia seems to be a matter of course in your eyes. "
"Old Xu!" Hearing this, Xu Jingzong stood up quickly,
"What are your orders?" Zhang Yang nodded and said: "You ask the Foreign Affairs Council to formulate a strategy to aid Persia. As for this Western monk, he will be under good guard after he is sent back to the post house. If he dares to do something extraordinary, he will be killed. It doesn't matter." Aluoben said again: "Shilang Zhang can't kill the villain. The villain is a messenger. If he died in the Tang Dynasty, the four Harrys would lead their troops to attack the Tang Dynasty."
"Then just let them come. You can write to the Great Eater and say that we in the Tang Dynasty are waiting for them."
"Shilang Zhang will regret it." Zhang Yang waved his sleeves and said, "Xu Jingzong took the man away. I'm afraid I won't be able to control myself and will kill him in public."
