coobybook Chapter 303 I, the King, Decide to Establish the Imperial Examination System
Chapter 303 I, the King, Decide to Establish the Imperial Examination System
Just then, the King of Qin arrived, and as everyone bowed, the morning court session began. The King of Qin looked intently at the few remaining ministers below and said in a deep voice, "Today I have something to announce to you all."
Upon hearing this, the remaining few people all looked astonished, exchanging bewildered glances. They simply couldn't understand what important matter the King of Qin could possibly have to announce publicly, with so few people left in the court. Shouldn't he be trying to find a way to bring the Prime Minister and other important officials back to court to take charge?
However, the King of Qin ignored the chaotic thoughts in the minds of his ministers and continued, "I have decided to establish the imperial examination system."
The King of Qin's words struck like a thunderbolt, leaving the few remaining officials speechless and utterly astonished. The vast majority of these people were military officers who commanded troops in battle, while the number of civil officials was already pitifully small. Now, with Wang Wan and Li Si leading the boycott of court, the number of civil officials attending was even more negligible. Although the officials present were filled with surprise, for these generals, the imperial examinations were not of great importance, so for a moment no one spoke.
Amidst this suffocatingly tense atmosphere, a civil official suddenly stepped forward resolutely, clasped his hands in a respectful bow, and declared in a clear voice, "Your Majesty, this matter is of utmost importance and must not be acted rashly! I implore Your Majesty to consider this matter carefully and thoroughly!" His voice was clear and resonant. Instantly, all eyes turned to him.
Upon seeing this, the King of Qin frowned slightly, staring intently at the outspoken civil official before him, a barely perceptible hint of displeasure flashing deep in his eyes. Then, his face ashen, he coldly replied, "My mind is made up; there is no need for further discussion."
Upon hearing this, the civil official's expression changed drastically. However, he did not back down. Instead, he continued to argue logically, saying, "Your Majesty, such actions may incite public resentment. I hope Your Majesty will act cautiously and weigh the pros and cons. Furthermore, matters of great importance and minor issues in the court should be discussed and decided upon by summoning the Prime Minister, the Minister of Justice, and other important officials. Your Majesty might as well issue an edict to summon the Prime Minister and the Minister of Justice to discuss state affairs together."
Unexpectedly, after hearing this, the King of Qin sneered and scoffed, "Hmph! Could it be that this vast Qin has already fallen into the hands of Wang Wan and Li Si?"
Upon hearing the King of Qin's majestic yet chilling tone, the man trembled, his legs buckled, and he collapsed to his knees with a thud. His face was ashen, his lips trembled, and he stammered, "Your...Your Majesty, your actions are likely to chill our hearts."
Upon hearing this, the King of Qin's eyes suddenly turned cold, like two icy beams shooting straight at the kneeling man. He sneered, "Hmph! Since you feel disheartened, then I will reward you with thirty strokes of the cane to warm your heart."
Upon hearing this, the man was terrified. Tears and snot streamed down his face as he cried out, "Your Majesty, spare me! Your Majesty, I know I was wrong. Please have mercy and forgive me this time!" However, the King of Qin ignored his cries and simply waved his hand expressionlessly.
Before long, two burly, strong guards strode forward and dragged the man away like a chicken. As they got further away, the man's pitiful cries gradually faded and eventually disappeared outside the court.
The King of Qin's icy gaze slowly swept over the silent officials below, and he coldly asked, "Does anyone else have a different opinion on this matter?" The entire court instantly fell into a deathly silence, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Just then, Ying Wuyou stepped forward from the crowd. She raised her head and bowed to the King of Qin, saying, "Father is wise, and his decisions must be far-sighted. Your subjects will support him with all their might."
With Princess Ying Wuyou, of noble birth, taking the lead in expressing her support, and with most of those attending court today being generals who had followed the King of Qin in battle for many years, they were all extremely loyal to him. Seeing someone take the lead in responding, they all shouted in unison, "Your Majesty is wise! We are willing to follow Your Majesty to the death!" In an instant, their voices shook the rooftops, and their momentum was overwhelming.
The King of Qin nodded slightly, indicating his satisfaction. He then looked at Ying Wuyou and said slowly, "This imperial examination should have been arranged by the Prime Minister, but since the Prime Minister is not in court, I will entrust this matter to you. As for the specific time of the examination, let's set it for the tenth day of the third month." After saying this, the King of Qin waved his hand, signaling the court to adjourn.
After everyone slowly left Zhangtai Hall, their hearts were heavy, as if a huge boulder had been thrown into them. Although the direct impact of the imperial examination system on these battle-hardened generals might have been relatively small, it did not mean that they could remain completely uninvolved.
After all, the purpose of a military general is to charge into battle and fight bravely on the battlefield amidst the flames of war. However, now that the Qin Dynasty has chosen to cease hostilities, this has instilled fear and unease in the generals who have experienced countless life-or-death battles and numerous campaigns, large and small. Because once the smoke-filled battlefield is gone, it means they will no longer have the opportunity to advance their careers based on their illustrious military achievements. Leaving aside the obstacles to their personal career advancement, the long-standing, delicate and tense relationship between civil officials and military generals is already a cause for great concern.
For a long time, civil officials and military generals seemed to exist in two completely different worlds. Military generals looked down on civil officials for their nagging, rambling, and pedantic manner of speaking; while civil officials despised military generals for their rudeness, uninhibitedness, and lack of cultural refinement. This mutual contempt and estrangement had a long history and was deeply rooted.
Currently, the Qin Dynasty has not only ceased its wars but is also vigorously promoting the development of highly developed economic regions and simultaneously implementing the imperial examination system. It's clear to anyone with discerning eyes that these measures are intended to increase the influence of civil officials in national governance. For military generals, this is undoubtedly a heavy blow, far from good news.
Faced with this situation, they seemed helpless. After all, aside from fighting on the battlefield, many tedious and trivial administrative tasks were not their forte. As time went on, the importance of civil officials in national affairs would inevitably become more prominent, while the role that military generals could play would likely be further restricted. Thinking of this, all the military generals were filled with worry, yet there was nothing they could do.