At noon on the third day, the ministers basically completed their work, but there was a pile of papers in front of the emperor. Guangxu was by no means a master who let others idle, he asked each group to exchange the papers deposed by other groups to see if there were any good papers that were missing. Guangxu believes that luck is the most important component of life, because luck is always the highest priority in all games.

The students who were anxiously waiting for the results finally waited for the day when the ministers were tired and left the palace, and the list should be released in three days, but this year the list has changed again. The next day, the list was released, but it was not announced who was admitted, but the list of additional exams was announced, and all those who were on the list had to enter the palace to retake the exam two days later. The people who took the additional examination may be the people who are more valued by the imperial court, but the number of people who are less than the number on the list in previous years is only twenty-three, so those who did not participate in the additional examination can only wait until these people finish the additional examination and then see the results.

The Taihe Hall is still the Taihe Palace, although the emperor's deliberations are now carried out in the Yangxin Palace, but the Taihe Hall is still the core hall of the country, because only in this hall can a national-level celebration be held. Therefore, no matter where the government is decided, the Taihe Hall will always be the most honorable palace in this country.

Under the guidance of the chamberlain, Tan Sitong crossed the threshold of the Taihe Palace. During the big exam, I could only glance at it from a distance in the square in front of me, and at that time, I wished that I could wear an official uniform and walk in in a dignified manner. But when I first stepped into this hall, it was a gakao. But Tan Sitong was still confident that he would eventually walk in in his official uniform one day, especially when he saw the emperor sitting on a high dragon chair. Faith is even stronger.

In the main hall, Guangxu sat in the dragon chair. Under the stage, Premier Li Hong sat in the center. The official positions of the various ministries are lined up on both sides and sit in a semicircle. And in the center of this semicircle, there is a lone table and chair, which is the seat of the additional test taker.

Tan Sitong thanked the chamberlain without being arrogant or humble, and after meeting the emperor and the ministers, he sat down with permission. The gentle and polite Tan Sitong's meticulousness in etiquette immediately won the nod of approval from the Qingliu civil officials headed by Weng Tongyi.

Li Hongzhang saw Tan Sitong sitting still, so he began to ask: "Tan Sitong, look at the scroll in front of you clearly." Check to see if it's what you're talking about. ”

Tan Sitong looked down. It was indeed written by himself, and the natural answer was yes. Li Hongzhang said expressionlessly: "Looking at the content on your roll, it is basically the same as Kang Youwei's bus in front of Shanhaiguan in the first year of the first year. The official knew that you were too close to Kang Liang when you were in Shanghai. Now that the imperial court is on top of the big exam, your test paper is full of other people's intentions. The officer wondered why. ”

Tan Sitong opened his mouth and was about to answer, but he heard the emperor's words without the slightest emotion: "Think clearly before answering, it's very important." ”

Tan Sitong, who wanted to speak, stopped. He was wondering what the emperor meant. Since the Opium Wars. The Qing Dynasty was becoming more and more decadent. With the efforts of a loyal minister, ten years of foreign affairs in exchange for national strength is thriving. Tan Sitong, who originally thought that the Qing Dynasty was about to prosper, saw the defeated Huai army on the Korean battlefield and realized that ten years of foreign affairs were just a trick to deceive themselves, but the situation changed. The emperor's pro-army rose up, and the emperor used himself as a bait, and the Japanese army was defeated in the first battle of Tianzhuangtai, and the secretly formed Pacific Fleet even hit the Japanese mainland. After the victory, the emperor was not complacent, but immersed himself in industry and developed industry. No more than the earlier years that preached themselves. What Tan Sitong saw in this was hard work, and he disdained to go to the university hall with people who were still teenagers. He decided to participate in the imperial examination and decided to devote himself to officialdom to serve the country. Before he went to Beijing to take the exam, he went to Shanghai. As the most influential in the Qing Dynasty and the most popular among the ordinary people, the "Shi Ji Bao" was also run by the emperor. He wanted to meet Mr. Sun and hear his teachings. Unexpectedly, Mr. Sun went to Guangzhou instead of Shanghai, and as a result, he only saw the editor-in-chief Kang Youwei and his student Liang Qichao. After a conversation, the three of them were particularly speculative, especially after the night talk, and the three of them were all excited about the current state of the country. The Qing Dynasty, which defeated Japan, had already gained the respect of the foreigners, and it was time for the Qing Dynasty to move to the next level. Kang Youwei put forward his own views, and even deeply analyzed the shortcomings of today's Qing Dynasty, and Tan Sitong praised them all. However, after the emperor personally assigned Kang Youwei to Shanghai, he never contacted him again. This makes Kang Youwei have great ambitions and are difficult to reach. Helplessly, Kang Liang's proposition could not reach the emperor's ears, so he could only ask him to make suggestions to the emperor.

Just when Tan Sitong was shortlisted for the Spring Festival and wanted to serve the country, the Queen Mother launched a palace mutatin to imprison the emperor. However, he believed that the emperor would definitely rule again, so he still participated in this year's spring. As he expected, when the Russian Maozi attempted to invade the northeast of our country, the emperor once again personally led the new army to fight a decisive battle with Russia in the northeast land. A big win, another big win. Tan Sitong confidently participated in the first big examination presided over by the emperor, and after careful consideration of the topic of the last question, he still decided to take Kang Youwei's proposition as the topic, because he also believed that some reforms that must be carried out in the Qing Dynasty today.

Thinking of this, Tan Sitong said: "Although this volume is Mr. Kang's proposition, the grass people also agree. ”

"Since you agree, that's your own opinion. Since you have chosen the topic of Prime Minister, why is it not stated in the question how you would realize these ideas if you were Prime Minister? Weng Tongyong, who was sitting on the side, asked.

"I can't write it, and I can't write it."

"Why?"

"Because to realize these ideas, it is necessary to cooperate with the situation at home and abroad, and it is only appropriate to do the right thing at the right time. The grass people don't think they actually have such a vision, so they can't write. ”

"Be specific." Guangxu spoke.

"Yes." Tan Sitong clasped his fists and said: "Just say that 'the edict drums the spirit of the world', it seems simple, you only need to prepare an impassioned edict and the emperor's seal can be implemented, but the grass people think otherwise." The more impassioned the edict is, the more it needs to be foreshadowed by a greater victory or a greater humiliation. For China, there are naturally no taboos, but my Qing Dynasty is not strong enough to see foreigners in a land of nothing. If the words are too strong, it will inevitably attract the dissatisfaction of foreigners and end up in the Qing Dynasty. And the words are too soft, and they can't play the role of drumming up the world. Not to mention, this move capital. Moving the capital is not something that the emperor and the ministers can do by changing places. This involves the construction of the city, the adjustment of the yamen, the relocation of the university hall and the scientific research institute, and more importantly, the issue of security. It doesn't happen overnight. How this soldier is trained and how this law should be changed is not only to make the country stable. It is not yet possible to provoke confrontation among foreigners. It's not something that a grass can write on paper. The emperor is the lord of the world, and he is determined to rise and fall. However, as the prime minister, he is actually the one who really implements the emperor's decisions. It is not only necessary to assist the emperor in correcting the emperor's gains and losses, but also to stabilize the world and gather the strength of the world to revitalize China. Just keeping the people of the world fed and clothed is the top priority. The reason why the grass people answered the questionnaire like this was only for the emperor to give an opinion to the prime minister and the adults. The grass people think that in order to truly revitalize China, these four points must be done one by one. But how to do it, and when to do it. How far? The grass people know that they have no such ability, but they just want to do their part for the country and the people. ”

After Tan Sitong finished speaking, he sat back in the chair respectfully, and he had completely presented what he thought in his heart. As for how to decide, he doesn't think it matters anymore.

Li Hongzhang looked around left and right, and when he saw that the other ministers had no problems, he got up and said: "There is no problem with the ministers, please ask the emperor to decide." ”

Guangxu nodded. Still expressionless, he said, "It's good to have ideas." But it is even more important to work hard to achieve it. As for right and wrong, how can you know if your idea is right or wrong if you don't do it. But if you don't do it, it must be wrong. Besides, who can guarantee that my decision is right? You go down first and write down your thoughts. I'll make another review. Go ahead. ”

Tan Sitong bowed and withdrew from the main hall. Li Hongzhang then said: "Next." ”

For a whole day, one thing was that the government didn't care, just asking about the students who took the additional examination. Finally, when the sun was about to set, only the last one remained, Tan Sitong.

"The grass people thought. Now the Qing Dynasty is winning weakly, because there are too many foreign merchants. Foreign businessmen purchase our Daqing raw materials. Employing the people of the Qing Dynasty, making them into goods, and then selling them to the people of the Qing Dynasty, but bringing all the profits back to their own country, is of no benefit to the Qing Dynasty. If China wants to become strong and prosperous, the only way to do so is to develop national industry and commerce, study the political system, and openly propose such methods as abolishing the imperial examination, building schools, opening mineral deposits, building railways, setting up factories, and reforming the official system. Only in this way can China be truly strong. Subsequently, Tan Sitong read his new test paper aloud in the main hall, and then presented it to the emperor.

Guangxu took the scroll presented by the chamberlain, and after a cursory glance, asked, "Tan Sitong, you are also a scholar from the imperial examination." But you so blatantly proposed to abolish the imperial examination, aren't you afraid that the world's soldiers will scold you? ”

"If China is strong for me, the grass people will not hesitate."

"Then tell me what it means to be strong."

"There is a strong army outside to control the four provinces, and there is money and food inside to settle the world."

Guangxu smiled faintly: "That's what the big truth says, and everyone knows it and can say it." But a strong army also needs money and food support, in the final analysis, money and food are the key, and this money and food is the tax paid by a government and a county. If I make you the magistrate of Liuyang, how can you make Liuyang rich. ”

"The grass people should build water conservancy and encourage the people in their hometowns to open up wasteland and farm. Guide local wealthy households to build factories, coordinate product sales with neighboring county governments, and develop Liuyang's own advantageous commodities. Tan Sitong said at this point: "The grass people only think about this now. If the emperor does not abandon me as the first magistrate, he will pay more taxes to the imperial court to make a contribution to the revitalization of China. ”

"To measure the affluence of a place, it is not to look at how much grain it has paid, but to look at the actual income of the local people. The number of chickens and ducks, the total output of grain, the level of education, the prosperity of commerce, the number of industrial plants, and even the number of people, the rate of population growth, and the survival rate of newborns must all be considered, and finally it is the turn to pay taxes. Affluence is an overall improvement, not simply asking the people for money and food, and when the people are rich, they will naturally pay more taxes. In this way, China will surely become strong. Not to mention that your statement is wrong, at least it is incomplete. ”

Guangxu's words not only made Tan Sitong refreshed, but even Li Hongzhang and others suddenly became enlightened. They all stood up and answered: "The ministers are taught." ”

"Tan Si will go back with you first, and I will look around the capital in the past few days before the list is released. Since Emperor Hongwu of the Ming Dynasty built the city of Beijing, there are still many historic sites, and only by knowing the ancient can we pass through the present. After the list is published, you will go to the history department to report your post. I will appoint you as the first magistrate of Liuyang, and I hope that you can realize your ideals and benefit the people of a place when you go back. ”

"Your Majesty can't." Li Hongzhang gave a salute: "Since the Han Dynasty, officials have to abide by the system of avoiding their origins, and the same is true of my Qing Dynasty. Although Tan Sitong is talented and can be a magistrate, he still asks the emperor to make other arrangements. ”

Guangxu nodded: "The main purpose of the avoidance system is to prevent the local government from ignoring the will of the imperial court and preventing the local officials, which actually has some effect." But I think the problem is more and bigger. As an official in a different place, the first thing is that you are not familiar with the local environment. If you want to govern properly, you need at least a year to familiarize yourself with the local cultural environment, so that you can guide the people. But how long is the term of office of the magistrate of the Qing Dynasty? Up to three years. After the magistrate is familiar with the local work, the term of office is about to expire, and another official will have to come again to familiarize himself with it. And who can guarantee that this new magistrate can continue the policy of the predecessor, and how will the people adapt to such a policy when it changes every few years. The local people have this advantage as an official, and he was born and grew up in Si. He is familiar with the most urgent needs of the local population, and he understands the main contradictions on the ground. Therefore, after the local people become officials, they can quickly and purposefully implement the government, which can save a lot of time in the early stage for the county governor who only has a three-year term. As for the problem of corruption that you are worried about, think about it, outsiders are officials, and after three years of earnings, they will leave, so what is the use of letting the people scold them again. Instead, the locals have to take this into account. I believe that if a local official loses his authority due to corruption, I guess his descendants will not be able to survive in the local area. Besides, there are still so many speech officials in the imperial court, and sending another foreign speech official to supervise here must be effective. ”

"But the emperor, it has been a system for thousands of years to avoid nationality as an official, and I am afraid that the world will be shaken if it is changed like this." Li Hongzhang is still worried.

"Judging from the current situation of officials in various places, avoiding nationality as an official cannot effectively prevent **. So I didn't say that I would immediately revise the system, I just wanted to take Tan Sitong as a pilot, and if the effect was good, I would expand it again, and if it didn't work, I would stop. Now that you've found a problem, you can't just let it go. Your Excellency the Prime Minister is overly concerned. Another example is this imperial examination, they all say that they want the imperial court to get news of the imperial examination, but once the imperial court really cancels it, it will be in vain for the scholars of the world to study hard for many years. Therefore, the imperial examination cannot be canceled, but we can change the content of the examination and teaching, and let the scholars of the world take the initiative to change what they have read and learned. ”

Instead of forcing students to change their schools, it is better to let them change their own schools. As long as the scholars of the world know the content of the imperial examination in the future, then they will inevitably have to carry out the new content of the subject examination if they want to enter the career again. All the ministers said yes when they thought about it.

Guangxu said again: "Before Tan Sitong returns to his hometown to take up his post, he will go to Shanghai first and tell Kang Liang." "Shi Ji Bao" is the mouthpiece of the imperial court, and what it says is to tell the people of the world the intentions and actions of the imperial court. Doing a good job in the newspaper and letting the people of the world know the determination of the imperial court is more effective than the next edict. Don't think about entering the center all day long, you can't do a newspaper, what can you do when you come in? ”

Tan Si left together, and the day's additional examination was completed. For the first time, the important ministers of the Qing Dynasty felt that the effect of this kind of examination was excellent, and it could accurately determine the ability and strength of a student. and then send him to the place where he is good at as an official, so that is the blessing of the society. Li Hongzhang played: "The minister thinks that such an additional examination can be held several more times. ”

"Of course, it must be done, not only the quadrennial national talent selection ceremony. It can be held in all ministries, departments and even local governments, so that students can show their strengths and express their aspirations. As long as there is the ability to match it, let those who know how to build roads build roads, let those who know how to open mines go to mines, and those who can govern a place can govern a place. In my opinion, we will first draft a charter and try it out on a trial basis starting with the officials who return to Beijing this year. (To be continued......)