Chapter 347 Contradiction
"Imperial examination?" Yang Biao looked at the edict issued by the court, his brows wrinkled slightly, but then gradually relaxed.
Forget it, I am already old, and my son is now also the prefect of a county. It seems that he is highly valued by the eunuch, so why should I interfere again?
I thought so, but my eyes couldn't help but look at the edict again. This time, Lu Bu's purpose of developing printing technology and actively running schools over the years was instantly clear when I looked back.
Many of the things Lu Bu did before were in preparation for this so-called imperial examination.
Although there has been a big exam before, the target of this big exam is still talents from poor families, aristocratic families, and wealthy families, and it has not spread to everyone. Moreover, that big exam was only held temporarily to attract enough talents. In fact, the Han Dynasty has also had A similar big test.
But this time Lu Bu's purpose of launching the imperial examination was different. It was to establish a new system and completely abolish the previous examination system, which also abolished the most important privilege of examination in the hands of scholars.
How heavy is this privilege?
You can look at the brothers Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu, the fourth and third princes of the Yuan family, and all the officials in the court. Most of them came from the Yuan family or were recommended by members of the Yuan family. Even if the emperor's order was unwilling to be carried out by the Yuan family, the emperor had nothing to do. The court had to ask for it. People have to maintain it. If the officials don't do their job, it will be difficult for the court to operate.
In fact, the Yang family is also the fourth generation and three princes, but it is still far behind the Yuan family. The difference lies in the disciples and former officials. The Yuan family has many important ministers and even three princes, but the Yang family is not as good in this aspect, so In terms of momentum, the Yang family is not as good as the Yuan family.
As for Lu Bu's imperial examination system, in name, all people in the world can take the exam as long as they are capable, but in fact everyone knows that it is impossible. The most important thing is to face the powerful nobles and poor families.
But the problem now is that some capable young people who want to enter the official career no longer need to be recommended by scholars. They can pass the imperial examination and become officials based on their ability. In this way, they can get ahead without relying on aristocratic families, so why bother?
There may still be four generations and three princes, but the glory of disciples and old officials all over the world is impossible.
If it were ten years ago, Yang Biao would definitely stand up and oppose the imperial examination. Although the imperial examination maintained the imperial power, the intellectual power was destined to decline. As long as the imperial examination system lasted, it would be difficult for the intellectual power to rise again.
Of course, the imperial examination can exist in name only. As long as you hold the position of Shangshuling, the right to hold the imperial examination, and the right to select scholars, then you still have the final say on who is appointed?
But these rights are all in Lu Bu's hands. Who can snatch them? Who dares to rob?
Yang Biao didn't dare, because the Yang family had been deeply tied to Lu Bu by Yang Xiu, and all the family property was confiscated. His son was now a prefect. Looking at Lu Bu's attitude, he would be recalled to the court for re-employment in the future. Now it would be a good idea to let him be a prefect. kind of experience.
Refuting Lu Bu, regardless of whether it can succeed, even if it succeeds, the Yang family's dedication to Lu Bu over the years will be gone, and so will their son's future.
In the end, Yang Biao threw the edict into the brazier and pretended that he had never seen it.
In fact, from Lu Bu's perspective, this situation is the best now. Are the scholars pushing too hard?
Thinking back to Dong Zhuo's time in the past, Yang Biao sighed. Maybe, this was an unsolvable situation. Maybe Lu Bu saw in Dong Zhuo that he could not get the support of the family, and then chose to find a new way. Come on, this can be regarded as inevitable by accident.
But is the family at fault?
In fact, that’s right. Hasn’t this been the case since Guangwu? It's just because of that, when the family reaches its peak, it will naturally cause a backlash. Even if there is no Lu Bu, there may be other people from Zhang Bu and Li Bu who will come out and overturn the situation of the family.
The situation has been reversed by Lu Bu. Even his own son is on Lu Bu's side. Why should he care so much when he is old and old? Just be your own tutor.
Lu Bu treated himself quite well, giving him at least half of his salary, and the other half was only given if he went to teach in an academy. Now it seems that going to an academy is not bad.
Among the factions in the court that did not belong to Lu Bu, I was relatively comfortable. At such an old age, why bother asking for trouble?
Looking at the edict gradually burning out in the brazier, Yang Biao suddenly felt much more relaxed. What would happen in the end was left to the young man. He didn't care and had no ability to control it.
If there were still people in Guanzhong who could take action against Lu Bu a few years ago, then now, it would be a joke to think of posing a threat to Lu Bu as before. In the past few years, the nobles in Guanzhong have been plowed by Lu Bu countless times, and killing people is not a problem. As for the family servants and tenant farmers, there are strict restrictions, let alone gathering private soldiers to deal with Lu Bu. It is impossible for the so-called nobles in Guanzhong to directly raise an army to compete with Lu Bu like they did a few years ago.
As for Kanto...
Yang Biao shook his head. After this battle, although Lu Bu has not expanded, his overlord status has been established. I am afraid that none of the princes in Guandong are willing to provoke Lu Bu at this moment. This is why Lu Bu promoted the imperial examination at this time.
Yang Biao is obviously not the only one who has thoughts like Yang Biao's.
Hanoi, the Sima family. Since the Sima family offered Hanoi, the Sima family has been preserved. Of course, it is just a reservation. Sima Fang refused to serve as an official. Lu Bu now has no shortage of management talents. Naturally, he has not forced the Sima family to become an official. Since then, After that, Sima Fang returned to Wen County with his wife and children.
It's just that the family's land was confiscated, and Lu Bu was rewarded with a limited number of fields, and he could only enjoy part of the tax, and the rest still had to be turned over to the court.
Although the Sima family has a great business, even if they lose their land, they can still live a prosperous life, but they will ultimately have to live on nothing. Just relying on the taxes allocated by the court is useless, and the tenant farmers will not listen to them. There are still other places. It's easy to say, but for a large family like the Sima family, the court keeps a close eye on it, and any violation of the rules will be dealt with immediately.
Sima Fang was also stubborn. He took his family to farm in order to get more harvests, and his life suddenly became difficult. As the saying goes, it is easy to go from frugality to luxury, but it is difficult to go from luxury to frugality. But Sima Fang was stunned. The sons persisted.
It was the winter break for farming. Sima Fang, who had been busy for a year, was lying on a deck chair enjoying the rare peace. Not to mention, since Lu Bu came to power, although his life was not as relaxed and comfortable as before, there were still many new things. This thing is quite comfortable to lie on.
"Dad!" Sima Fu came in and said to Sima Fang, "Brother is back."
Sima Lang was the magistrate of Wen County before. After Hanoi returned to Lu Bu, he was transferred to Yanshi as the county magistrate. Sima Fang did not bring his son back. After all, he could endure hardship, but his son had his own way. It’s not easy for me to interfere too much on the way out.
"Yes." When Sima Fang heard this, he just responded lightly: "He will come back as soon as he comes back. Do you want me to greet him?"
Even so, he still sat up. It was not far behind that the imperial court gave him a month to visit relatives every year. If he was an official in Guanzhong or Shuzhong, this month might not be enough to go back and forth.
"Father." After Sima Lang came back, he saluted Sima Fang.
"Yeah." Sima Fang didn't pay much attention to him. This son had an honest nature and respected many of Lu Bu's decrees. This made Sima Fang very unhappy. The national thief was just a warrior who stole the power of the government and would not be good for a long time. If he dies, how can he have good governance?
"Father, look, this is an imperial examination prepared by the imperial court. It seeks talents from all over the world. Regardless of their origins, as long as they are talented, they can go to Chang'an to take the test. After the spring begins, the examination will be held in Chang'an in mid-March. When my child comes back this time, One is to visit his father, and the other is to ask Zhongda and the others to go to Chang'an and give it a try. With their abilities, wouldn't it be easy to pass the exam?" Sima Lang looked at his father's indifference and didn't care. He took out the edict sent by the court and said, He handed it to Sima Fang and said, "This is a copy of my copy."
"Imperial examination?" Sima Fang took the edict and frowned, what new word is this?
"Well, in order to better and more effectively select talents for the country, the imperial court invites scholars from all over the world to go to Chang'an to take scientific examinations and serve as officials based on their abilities." Sima Lang did not notice Sima Fang's face gradually darkening, and continued: "I think With Zhongda’s knowledge, wouldn’t it be easy for them to be selected by the imperial court?”
"You're not allowed to go!" Sima Fang's face suddenly turned cold and stern, he shouted angrily and tore up the copied edict in his hand.
"Dad, this is a good thing, why don't you go?" Sima Lang looked at his father in shock, not understanding why he suddenly got angry.
"You know what the hell, in the past, all the people in the court were from famous families, but now we, the scholars, are required to compete with those from humble families? What status do they have, and are they worthy of standing in the court with us!?" Sima Fang threw the broken edict on the ground and cursed: "There has been no such rule since ancient times. Lu Bu is a traitor to the country. Where is he from? What qualifications does he have to tamper with the laws of his ancestors!?"
Sima Lang was scolded and was so silent that he didn't dare to say a word. Sima Yi on the side quickly stepped forward and comforted his father while comforting him: "Father, please don't get angry, but from what I see, it's okay for us to go."
"Why, you want to serve that national traitor?" Sima Fang snorted coldly and looked at Sima Yi.
"No, I want to see if this so-called imperial examination is really just as Lu Bu said, and it is fair to select scholars? If the selection of scholars is only after the meritorious servants, it will naturally be unfair. If it is really fair, it will make the subordinates Those who follow Lu Bu are heartbroken. Father, the so-called fairness of the imperial examination is not that easy. Sometimes fairness is also unfair. "Sima Yi said with a smile, "Isn't that true?"
"It makes some sense." After hearing this, Sima Fang felt a little less angry. Then he glanced at Sima Lang, groaned heavily, and turned around to go back to the house.
Sima Lang: "..."