"Master Liu, we are really unable to make a decision in this competition, so please make your decision."
Liu Yuan is the Minister of Rites and the examiner of this imperial examination. Seeing that the day for the announcement of the results is coming, the Ministry of Rites has not ranked the top one yet, which makes the good-tempered Liu Yuan angry.
"I still need to struggle with these test papers for more than half a month? Isn't this a clear decision?" Liu Yuan ranked the test papers and said smoothly.
The official from the Ministry of Etiquette who reported the report lowered his head and said nothing. This policy theory can be said to be unique in its insights and just right to criticize the current shortcomings. It can be said that it is well deserved to be at the top of this examination.
But soon Liu Yuan's expression became solemn when he saw the name on the test paper.
"This... this one isn't bad at all." Liu Yuan said with a sigh of relief as he picked up the other test paper at hand.
The examiners on the side lowered their heads.
Liu Yuan flipped to the candidate's name and was stunned again when he saw the word "Tan Che" above it. She silently put down the test paper in her hand and started flipping through it again.
Half a day passed quickly, and Liu Yuan read through the test papers but couldn't find one that could occupy the top spot.
"Isn't there just one thing?" Liu Yuan frowned, took a sip of tea and looked at the other examiners angrily.
"Master Liu, we are really in trouble with this high-level opinion."
Liu Yuan sighed and picked up Qi Yuan's test paper again. Even though he had read it once, he still felt a sense of surprise when he read it again.
Liu Yuan put down the test paper regretfully and looked at Tan Che's test paper again, feeling more and more confused.
"Master Liu, the results should be released the day after tomorrow."
Everyone present knew the rumors in the capital some time ago, and Liu Yuan even knew that Emperor Zhou Yuan indeed had plans to do away with the two of them. But it just so happened that Liang Cai and Tan Che had outstanding talents.
If they suppressed the examination papers on their own initiative, and if Emperor Zhou Yuan suddenly remembered to read the examination papers, they would have committed a taboo in the imperial examination.
Liu Yuan was silent for a long time. It was already getting late and the results were about to be released the day after tomorrow. No one in the Rites Department could bear the responsibility.
"Master Liu, what is this?" The examiner on the side was still asking for his opinion.
Liu Yuan looked at the test paper in front of him. With such knowledge and ambition, he could soar into the sky as long as he had a chance.
Although they are examiners, they are only His Majesty's ministers. They help His Majesty select talents. In this case, they just select outstanding people.
Liu Yuan comforted himself, and with a sudden thought, he took up a pen and wrote down the names of the top ten in the general examination. Liang Cai was at the top of the list, followed closely by Tan Che.
Liu Yuan finished in one breath, put down his pen and picked up the test paper, "Everyone, I will enter the palace now."
"Master Liu." Everyone bowed their hands in admiration.
Liu Yuan took a deep breath and hurried into the palace.
Emperor Zhou Yuan was sitting at the desk in the imperial study room, reviewing the memorials. How could he hide the affairs of the Ministry of Rites from him? He was just using this opportunity to test Liu Yuan.
"Your Majesty, Sir Liu, the Minister of Rites, would like to see you."
Emperor Zhou Yuan put down the memorial in his hand, and the steward brought the people in.
Liu Yuan was passionate for a while, but after he entered the palace, he began to regret and feel anxious.
"I am here to pay my respects to Your Majesty."
"Ai Qing, why do you want to see me? Are you here to deliver the results of the examination?" Emperor Zhou Yuan said, putting down his ink pen with a smile on his face.
"This is exactly what I need to answer to Your Majesty." Liu Yuan said and handed the thing in his hand to the steward.
Emperor Zhou Yuan's expression darkened when he saw the names on the list. He put down the list and looked at Liu Yuan who was kneeling on the ground with his head lowered.
"You have heard the rumors in the capital, Master Liu. Don't you think there is something wrong with this top spot?" Emperor Zhou Yuan's words were filled with anger, and Liu Yuan's heart was in his throat.
But now there was no room for regret, so Liu Yuan could only speak according to his own ideas.
"Back to Your Majesty, I have heard about it, but this top spot is indeed unanimously agreed upon by all the examiners. I don't dare to deceive Your Majesty about the imperial examination, so I went to the palace overnight to ask Your Majesty to take a look and make a decision."
After Liu Yuan finished speaking, there was silence in the imperial study room. Even though he was sweating profusely, he did not dare to make any move.
Emperor Zhou Yuan didn't say anything, he just put the list aside, picked up a test paper and read it.
The only sound in the entire imperial study was the sound of Emperor Zhou Yuan flipping through the pages. Listening to this sound, Liu Yuan felt as if a knife was being held on his neck.
Emperor Zhou Yuan frowned even more when he read the two test papers. They were all commonplace questions, and the strategies they wrote were quite satisfactory. They were not too brilliant, but they couldn't find too many faults.
"I love you for your hard work, so I'll grant you a seat."
Emperor Zhou Yuan looked up at the kneeling Liu Yuan and sighed.
"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty." Liu Yuan breathed a sigh of relief, sitting on the chair and guessing Emperor Zhou Yuan's mood with his peripheral vision.
Obviously, Emperor Zhou Yuan is not in a very good mood right now. Just like these policies, Emperor Zhou Yuan has been in power for twenty years and has seen his first prosperous period, but he has indeed achieved nothing and it is far-fetched to leave his name in history.
Emperor Zhou Yuan was unwilling to give up, but the power in the court had stabilized, so Emperor Zhou Yuan was so eager to use officials from poor families to realize his ambitions.
It's just that there is really no suitable person among these people, and most of the time Emperor Zhou Yuan can only settle for the next best thing.
After reading several test papers in succession, Emperor Zhou Yuan became impatient and marked on the list with a red pen.
Seeing Liang Cai at the top of the list, he frowned slightly and took out Tan Che's test paper among the test papers.
Compared with the previous test papers, Tan Che's test paper appears to be much more outstanding, and he is even more unique in the official assessment. Compared with those empty words, Tan Che's views already have a rough framework of measures.
Emperor Zhou Yuan's eyes lit up and he felt better. He still had such talent. Tan Che's idea played into the hands of Emperor Zhou Yuan, who had already had the idea of appraising officials.
Now he is really dozing off and giving him a pillow. With a little training, he will become a good official.
Emperor Zhou Yuan finally smiled when he looked at the strategy, and put a tick next to Tan Che's name with a red pen.
"Ai Qing entered the palace in a hurry and thought she hadn't eaten yet, so Suning gave Master Liu something to eat." Emperor Zhou Yuan was in a good mood and was pleased with Liu Yuan who presented the talent in front of him.
Liu Yuan quickly thanked him, sat on the chair and ate snacks, his heart already half relieved.
Emperor Zhou Yuan read the remaining papers. Compared with Tan Che's test papers, Emperor Zhou Yuan couldn't stand it anymore. Finally, after much struggle, he picked up the test paper that he had put aside early.
Seeing this, Emperor Zhou Yuan couldn't help but raise the corners of his mouth.
People's livelihood is the foundation of a country and the main source of tax revenue. However, Qi Yuan proposed the concept of commercial tax in his policy papers and even established a set of fully implementable regulations.
Looking at the tax system that was accurate to every tael of silver, even Emperor Zhou Yuan couldn't help but start to roughly estimate the revenue from commercial tax.
