Chapter 494 Liu Xie: Black Cat or White Cat, the One that Catches the Mouse Is a Good Cat
All the soldiers cheered for Zhao Yun and Huang Zhong.
The competition between the two was really exciting. They fought back and forth, and each move was fierce and dangerous. It can be said that everyone present had a good time.
At the same time, they also understood what a top general is!
Even though Huang Zhong was defeated, no one thought he was not good enough. They all thought that he was just old and his physical strength was not as good as Zhao Yun.
If it was not Zhao Yun who fought against Huang Zhong, other generals except Lu Bu would not be his opponents.
After the competition, both of them returned to the stands to report.
Huang Zhong bowed and said, "Your Majesty, the general of the cavalry is superb in spearmanship and unparalleled in bravery. I am not as good as him."
He accepted his defeat calmly.
And praised Zhao Yun.
Zhao Yun shook his head and said, "General Huang, you are too kind. I just relied on my youth and extra strength to win by chance."
"General Huang is still strong and strong. He can still suppress me at such an age. I really admire him."
"Your Majesty, I think the competition just now does not count. It is unfair to General Huang."
In order to protect Huang Zhong's face, Zhao Yun not only responded modestly, but also took the initiative to propose that the competition does not count.
Hearing Zhao Yun's words, Liu Xie laughed and said, "It's just a competition. Zilong, you underestimate General Huang too much. General Huang has an extraordinary mind and temperament. How could he take such a small matter to heart."
Huang Zhong also laughed and said cheerfully, "Your Majesty is right. If you lose, you lose. What's the shame in being in front of the general of the cavalry?"
Zhao Yun felt ashamed when he heard this and said he dared not to.
Seeing this, Lu Bu couldn't help but muttered in a low voice: "That's because I didn't play. If I played, I would definitely be the winner."
"Your Majesty is targeting me too much. Why don't you let me play..."
Liu Xie ignored Lu Bu's crickets and resentment, and said to Zhao Yun: "Since Zilong won, the reward belongs to Zilong."
"Bring the pen and ink!"
Liu Xie ordered the eunuch beside him.
The eunuch bowed and retreated after hearing this, and soon brought a table and pen, ink, paper and inkstone.
The generals were all stunned when they saw this. They thought that the emperor would reward the winner with treasures or titles, so what was the purpose of taking pen and ink?
Liu Xie stood up, took the brush from the eunuch, dipped the inkstone in thick ink, and then wrote on the paper without hesitation.
"The mighty and murderous aura floats in all directions, and the diligent and dedicated protection of the king shows merit."
"There are hundreds of thousands of brave generals in ancient times, but who is as good as Zhao Zilong of Changshan!"
Liu Xie waved his hand and wrote these four lines of poetry on the white paper, and at the end he wrote the words "Gift to the General of the Cavalry", and then took out his private seal from his waist and stamped it.
After doing all this, Liu Xie put down the brush and smiled at Zhao Yun: "This is the reward for the winner."
"Zilong, this poem is given to you."
Zhao Yun subconsciously looked at the table when he heard it, and when he saw the content of the poem clearly, his eyes widened instantly.
The mighty and murderous aura floats in all directions, and the diligent and dedicated protection of the king shows merit.
There are hundreds of thousands of brave generals in ancient times, but who is as good as Zhao Zilong of Changshan!
Zhao Yun looked straight at these few short lines of poetry, his mind was blank, and he was stunned on the spot.
This is...a poem written by the emperor specifically for him?
Seeing Zhao Yun standing there speechless, Liu Xie thought that the two sentences he wrote at the end were too lame, so he coughed and said, "My poetry talent is mediocre, please don't be surprised, Zilong."
"It's just that I was impressed by Zilong's bravery, so I improvised and wrote this poem."
Liu Xie's words brought Zhao Yun back to his senses. He knelt on one knee without hesitation and said incoherently, "Your Majesty, thank you for your generous reward!"
"It is the honor of my life to receive such an evaluation from Your Majesty!"
Zhao Yun's handsome face turned red because of excitement, and he even spoke a little unsteadily.
This was entirely due to joy and happiness!
At this moment, the other generals present also had red eyes, and they couldn't help looking at Zhao Yun with envy and jealousy.
The majestic and murderous aura was floating in all directions, and his dedication to the king showed his merits.
There have been millions of brave generals in ancient times, but who is like Zhao Zilong of Changshan!
The emperor not only wrote a poem for Zhao Yun, but also gave him such a high evaluation. This is simply the supreme honor!
Even Lu Bu did not receive such treatment!
Huang Zhong's smile froze on his face, and incomparable regret instantly filled his heart, and he wanted to slap himself.
If he had known that the reward given by the emperor was to write a poem in person and give it to him, he would have won the competition just now even if he risked his life!
This is something that can be passed down as a family heirloom!
More importantly, this honor is simply too tempting!
Even if a person dies, his name will be accompanied by poems and passed down by word of mouth among the people, which is more rare than leaving a name in history!
Why do civil officials and military generals want to enter Lingyun Pavilion?
It's because of the poem "Please go to Lingyun Pavilion temporarily and make a scholar a marquis of ten thousand households"!
Now Zhao Yun has become the first person to receive a poem from the emperor, and the evaluation is so high, which instantly widens the gap with other military generals!
"Your Majesty! I refuse to accept it, I refuse to accept it!"
Just when Huang Zhong was thinking about whether to drag Zhao Yun to fight again, Lu Bu had already started to yell.
Lv Bu's eyes were red, and he said with great grievance: "Your Majesty is really too partial, how can you favor Zilong so much?"
"I beg to fight with Zilong!"
It's just not letting him go on stage to fight. The poem he presented to Zhao Yun still said, "There are millions of fierce generals in ancient times, who is like Changshan Zhao Zilong." Doesn't this compare to him?
How could he be convinced by this!
More importantly, he also wanted to receive a poem from the emperor. He, Lu Fengxian, had never been weaker than anyone else in his life, and he would never let such an honor pass him by!
"Okay, stop fooling around."
Liu Xie rolled his eyes at Lu Bu and said angrily: "It's just a poem. As a majestic general, can't he be a little dignified?"
"Learn more from General Huang."
Huang Zhong, who was on the side, had just made up his mind and was about to ask the emperor to fight Zhao Yun again, but he didn't expect the emperor to say this.
So he had no choice but to swallow the words that were on his lips, and said with a forced smile: "Your Majesty, what your Majesty said is, it's just a poem, it's just a poem..."
There was a strong sourness in his tone.
No matter what they said, Zhao Yun stepped forward and carefully put away the white paper on which the poem was written, his movements extremely gentle.
He had already made up his mind to frame this poem when he returned, and pass it down as an heirloom of his Zhao family from now on!
The other generals present could only watch Zhao Yun receive this honor, feeling envious and jealous.
"Well... Your Majesty, just watching General Huang and General Zilong compete is not enough. Why don't we compete in a few more arenas?"
Zhang Liao rubbed his hands and suggested, glancing at the poem in Zhao Yun's arms from time to time with fiery eyes.
He wants it too!
This statement immediately received responses from other generals.
"Yes, yes, Duxiang Hou's words are right."
"I am willing to come on stage and fight!"
"Since today is a big competition, as generals, we naturally have to give it a good try!"
"Your Majesty, please agree!"
All the generals proposed to go on stage to fight.
Even if they fight Lu Bu, they will admit it!
How could Liu Xie not know what they were thinking? He couldn't help but feel funny in his heart. It was just an impromptu idea. How could he have the ability to write a poem for everyone.
So he said: "Let's wait for another day. There are still many government affairs to be dealt with in the palace. I will return to the palace first."
After saying that, he led the eunuch quickly down the stands, boarded the dragon chariot, and left the school grounds in a hurry.
Only the generals were left looking regretful and unwilling.
…
The opening of the Imperial College went smoothly.
Under Guo Jia's single-handed management, a large number of poor children from various states and counties were selected to study in the Imperial College. In just three months, the number reached thousands.
As for why so many people were recruited for the first time the school was opened, Liu Xie’s instructions were very clear, not to provide long-term training for the students enrolled in the previous batches.
Check out the 16-9 book bar to see the correct version!
Because after the public schools are opened, these students will be sent to public schools in various places to teach and educate people, and become teachers with imperial staff.
During this period, they can still study independently and return to Chang'an every three years for an assessment. Those who excel in the assessment can be promoted and truly become officials in the court.
The main contents of the assessment are, first, the learning results of the four major subjects of the Imperial College, and second, the educational achievements of teachers in various places.
Although the selection and promotion mechanism of the Imperial College is very strange and completely different from the imperial examination system, many students who enroll are still very excited.
Because if they followed the imperial examination system, they would not have much hope of becoming officials in the court, but now the Imperial College has provided them with a new way to become officials!
So how could they not be happy?
Therefore, after the news of the Imperial College spread, more and more students from poor families came from all over the country to study in the Imperial College.
Weiyang Palace, Greenhouse.
"Your Majesty, there are more and more students enrolled now, and they are still growing. There are really not enough lecturers for each subject."
Guo Jia complained to Liu Xie.
During this period of time, he could be said to have been very busy. He had become visibly thinner, but he was in good spirits.
The reason is very simple. He is naturally very motivated when he does what he likes and strives for his ideals.
"You still want to ask me about such a trivial matter?"
Liu Xie curled his lips and said helplessly: "You are the Chief Situ. There are so many officials in the court, are they not at your disposal?"
"Cui Yan, Yang Xiu, Xu You, Zhou Yu, Kong Rong... which one of them is not talented and knowledgeable? If that's not enough, you can remove Xun You and Xun Yu from prison and let them perform meritorious service."
"I said, I only want the results and I don't care about the rest. Just go ahead and do it. If you fail, I will punish you."
Hearing this, Guo Jia looked hesitant and said, "But Your Majesty, many people in the court have already complained against the establishment of the Imperial College. If they are asked to serve as lecturers in the Imperial College, they may not be willing."
"Besides, it would be unavoidable to let the remnants of the traitors in the prison teach classes..."
Most of the officials in the DPRK came from well-off backgrounds and belonged to the gentry group. How could they agree to let them go to the Imperial Academy to take classes?
Not only that, but letting a group of traitors who are still guilty of crimes become teachers will damage the reputation of the imperial court and the Imperial College.
"What's the matter?"
Liu Xie didn't care about this, raised his eyebrows and said: "It doesn't matter whether the cat is black or white, the one that catches mice is a good cat. Don't worry so much in the early stages of running the school."
"As for the officials' reluctance to teach, that's your problem. You need to find a way to solve it yourself."
"Why are you so timid now that you are in a high position?"
"This is not in line with your usual style."
Guo Jia's methods are vicious and fierce, but they are not much weaker than Jia Xu's, but Liu Xie feels that Guo Jia is becoming more and more forward-thinking now.
Hearing the emperor's words, Guo Jia smiled bitterly.
The emperor only needs to give orders, but those who are doing things have much to think about.
It wasn't that he was timid, but the Imperial College had just been opened after all, so he had to do many things himself and had to consider all aspects.
This really cannot be explained clearly in one sentence.
However, since the emperor had already said this, Guo Jia naturally couldn't say anything more. He cupped his hands and said, "I understand, and I will do my best."
After Liu Xie heard this, he felt relieved, and then asked Jia Xu: "How are you preparing for the land clearing and population census?"
"There is no news about this matter."
Compared to Guo Jia, Jia Xu seemed calm and composed, smiling and saying: "Your Majesty, don't worry, everything is ready. We are just waiting for His Majesty's decree."
The clearing of land and the census of the population must be carried out quickly, so that the major families cannot have time to prepare.
Therefore, Liu Xie asked Jia Xu to secretly prepare manpower and conduct investigations on some larger aristocratic families. When everything was settled, he would formally issue the order.
Conduct a unified census of all aristocratic families with the power of thunder!
Liu Xie said with satisfaction: "Wen He is the one who reassures me the most about your work. You are better at this than Feng Xiao."
Jia Xu repeatedly said he did not dare.
Hearing this, Guo Jia on the side felt a little sad: after sighing in his heart, he cupped his hands and said: "Your Majesty, I will retire first."
"Wait a minute."
Liu Xie called to Guo Jia, then took off the brocade robe he was wearing and threw it to him.
"As busy as you are, you still need to pay more attention to your health."
"Now late autumn is almost over, and you are still wearing such thin clothes. What should you do if you catch the wind and cold?"
"Recently, Luoyang sent me a batch of tributes. There are some good tonics in them. I have ordered someone to send a copy to your house."
Guo Jia held the clothes in his hand and was stunned for a moment.
After a while, he came back to his senses, rubbed his slightly red eyes, bowed and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
After saying that, he turned around and strode out of the greenhouse.
Looking at his back, Liu Xie shook his head at Jia Xu and said, "This Fengxiao, I feel aggrieved after saying a few words to him."
"How can I not know that it is not easy for him, but he is young and how can he achieve greatness without hard work."
"Wenhe, what do you think?"
Jia Xu smiled slightly and said: "Your Majesty is certainly right. Fengxiao has more than enough strategy but lacks practical experience. He needs to be tempered in the court."
"That's good."
Liu Xie smiled, stretched out his hand to pick up the tea on the dragon table and took a sip, then put it down again and looked at a list on the side, his eyes flickering slightly.
"It's almost time to start taking action."
Jia Xu bowed deeply.