The five government departments need even more talent, and while they still call themselves the Ministry of Works outside the capital, their actual nature has changed.
Wei Zhao, the Vice Minister of Works, was no longer the top official in charge of all powers; instead, his responsibilities were divided among different departments. Finance was handled by one department, while he was only in charge of administration. His eldest disciple, Wei Gong, became the head of the Works Department, and for the time being, no one in the Mohist School was qualified to join except for Wei Gong.
As the head of the five major official sects, the Mo Sect's entry requirements will only be high, not low.
The Mo Sect became famous in Tianjing for eliminating a thousand people, making it a topic of discussion in every street and alley.
"The Marshal and His Highness are truly generous!"
"I heard that the Ministry of Works is rolling in money now, and many people with any craft skills are trying to get in."
"There are even special awards, and I heard that each one costs over a hundred taels. We only spend seven or eight taels of silver a year, so a hundred taels is enough for a well-off family to live on for ten years."
"I don't know if the Ministry of Works accepts women. My daughter makes chairs quite well."
"Go give it a try. The Ministry of Works also has male and female apprentices."
The people were discussing it enthusiastically.
Xie Lanzhi originally thought that Xiao Fenghuang would include the Mo Sect in the imperial examination, but unexpectedly, she set up a separate examination, called the Minor Imperial Examination, which had nothing to do with the imperial examination based on the Four Books and Five Classics.
She asked her, "Why not include the Mohist school in the imperial examinations?"
“There’s no need to join for now. Those who are truly interested in the Five Departments will choose this subject themselves, rather than including every exam in it and increasing the burden on students. Everything should be done step by step,” Si Xitong explained. “Overall excellence is certainly important, but right now we need special students.”
She spoke fluently in modern terms, saying that many old-fashioned people, besides Liang Cheng, still secretly held deeply ingrained beliefs in Confucianism. If the imperial examination were reintroduced, it would inevitably be seen as a dismantling of Confucianism. How could we revive a doctrine rejected by Confucianism a century ago?
At this critical juncture, Confucianism is important, but so is Mohism.
Since she intends to rectify the mistakes of her ancestors' decisions, she must reconcile the contradictions, ideally by combining civil and military officials, just as the new policies have done. She must prevent infighting between civil and military officials from draining the nation's strength.
Xie Lanzhi agrees with the idea that special policies are necessary during special times.
But Tianjing was different. When the students heard that the Mohist school had the highest threshold among the five schools and that there was no Confucian school, they wrote letters to raise questions.
If Xie Lanzhi had received it, she could have simply torn it up and not bothered to reply, and no one would have dared to object. But the person who received it was Si Xitong.
Si Xitong replied to them: Confucianism focuses on the imperial examination, and the imperial examination requires even more talented people.
She made her stance clear, which reassured the students.
The fact that the imperial examinations eliminated 90% of the candidates was already alarming. Most of the students were afraid that the new emperor would take an unorthodox path, so they wrote letters to warn him. Some students, however, were self-aware and began to seek other paths to improve their future.
Many people had their eyes on the minor imperial examinations, and these people maintained a relatively open-minded attitude towards them.
Upon noticing this, Si Xitong issued a new decree: the three-year imperial examination could be converted into a two-year minor imperial examination, and those with high talent could become the top scholar in the special examination.
Furthermore, salaries and benefits are clearly marked. Year-end performance bonuses are also added; if performance is good, the annual salary can be more than that of a regular official.
Stubborn students despised the Five Departments, which were steeped in commercialism. Despite their disdain, the threshold of the Five Departments was worn down by people.
Soon, the students were divided into two factions: those who opposed the minor imperial examination system and refused to associate with it, and those who supported it, believing it would give students another way to succeed.
Students who took the minor imperial examinations were also scorned as failures.
The students of Tianjing began arguing incessantly, day and night, at the government office, at the Shuntian Prefecture government office, and at the market entrance. They argued everywhere they could.
Scholars don't resort to violence like martial artists. Although their thoughts may differ, they are all highly cultured. At most, they might roll up their sleeves, put their hands on their hips, and engage in a verbal battle.
Xie Lanzhi was curious about how the students were arguing, so she specially rode in a sedan chair to observe.
Then I saw the following scene: "A student who failed the exam".
"I will never forgive you for saying that!"
"A student who failed the exam!"
"Say that again if you dare!"
"A student who failed the exam!"
"I want to sever all ties with you!"
These words kept echoing in Xie Lanzhi's ears, bringing a scene to her mind.
One alpaca and another alpaca were arguing: Baa~ Baa~
I'm just short of throwing those four words at you, Lei. Fighting is out of the question; I would never use my fists to hit anyone in my entire life.
Xie Lanzhi urged the sedan chair to leave quickly, for there was really nothing interesting to see when scholars quarreled.
Xie Lanzhi returned to the palace and told Si Xitong about the situation outside. Si Xitong had already compiled the list. The Five Schools now had one hundred students, and she allocated another one million taels of silver to them, further motivating them.
"It seems you've taken care of everything, so I don't need to worry anymore."
Xie Lanzhi began writing a letter to Li Li. Her letter caused a stir in the northern region.
The Khan of the Northern Regions, Beiluo, even visited Li Li in person and opened the letter he had sent to him.
"I agree to station 50,000 troops, but the alliance will be in three-year terms, and will be renewed depending on the level of friendship between the two countries."
Although Bei Luo was old, the Hu people were still tall and strong, and their vigor had not diminished with age. Their physique had not faded much, but their spirit had declined sharply with age.
“Li’er, Marshal Xie’s relationship with you is very shallow. It’s not enough for you to speak up for an outsider.” The old Khan mocked, “Women are always so calculating, they can even break down an alliance.”
Yelü Lili appeared respectful, but his words were anything but humble; the father and son, though outwardly harmonious, had long been at odds with each other.
He wasn't afraid to say, "I've met Commander Xie before. Although she uses a conciliatory approach, she doesn't do it in everything, nor is she stubborn or self-willed. She has her own ideas."
The son praised the enemy, who was also half an ally.
Bei Luo was unimpressed: "This Khan has never signed a three-year alliance. Anyone who doesn't know better would think that Marshal Xie is doing business with this Khan."
What a coincidence! She was doing business with you. Yelü Lili knew this all too well. When he signed the agreement with her to establish a commercial city, she was a businessman who was more shrewd and calculating than anyone else.
He even owed her two favors. To facilitate Xie Lanzhi's entry into the commercial district and avoid owing favors again, he chose to give 30% of the power to his father, so that his father would keep the bottom line and prevent Xie Lanzhi from taking advantage of the situation.
They were already relying on Xie Lanzhi, and Xie Lanzhi would definitely demand an exorbitant price. Therefore, he suggested that the Khan set a fixed price directly, sacrificing some of his own interests to gain the upper hand in the alliance.
Xie Lanzhi wouldn't waste time with her father. She might be tempted, but she'd probably still have a backup plan.
The next option is a three-year contract.
Xie Lanzhi did not want a long-term alliance with the Northern Region; she had her own plans.
Yelü Lili, having agreed to a three-year contract, began to be wary of Xie Lanzhi.
Bei Luo thought that three years was better than nothing. As long as Xie Lanzhi agreed, three years of peace and security would reduce the risk for most of the Northern Region, and Xie Lanzhi would take on the pressure of fighting against the Hu and Xiongnu.
Bei Luo's plan was shrewd, but it was only a temporary measure.
"Therefore, I will sign it. You should contact her immediately and settle in the Red River region as soon as possible to fulfill the alliance."
Although it has only been three years.
Bei Luo said cryptically, "How interesting, a female tyrant only appears once every hundred years, and she's a descendant of Xie Zhengrong!"
"Her achievements now far surpass those of her father. There's an old saying in the Central Plains: 'The stinger of a wasp is the most poisonous thing, and the heart of a woman is the most venomous.'"
"She is not only smarter than her father, but also more cold-blooded. Xie Zhengrong knew that even tigers don't eat their cubs, and he never killed her, no matter how much trouble she caused before. But she preemptively killed her father."
Changing the subject, Bei Luo praised her, saying, "But I admire her. If it weren't for her taking over Tianjing and merging the Nine Jin, I would have thought that after a two-year ceasefire, she would have been worried about expanding her family like her father."
"Now that she has married a woman from the royal family, it means that she has no intention of continuing her lineage. She would rather die without descendants than fail to achieve her imperial ambitions. This determination is a hundred times stronger than Xie Zhengrong's!"
He hadn't forgotten the territorial battles he'd had with Xie Zhengrong in their youth. No matter how much territory Xie Zhengrong seized, he couldn't produce a son to inherit it. Over time, Xie Zhengrong's focus shifted entirely to having a son. As fate would have it, he was destined to have only one daughter in his life, and despite his life of military service, he didn't die on the battlefield, but rather at the hands of the daughter he had raised.
Yelü Lili was very puzzled.
The Xie Lanzhi he encountered was always gentle and cheerful, unlike what his father had described as cold and ruthless.
Then he thought that Si Xitong would not have any children in the future, nor would she be related to him. His eyes dimmed as he said, "Father, Xie Zhu has changed a lot. When she comes to Shangdu next time, you will be able to understand her character again."
"She is indeed not someone to be trifled with, but she is not a heartless woman."
"What do you know?" Bei Luo frowned and said, "A person can change in an instant. No matter how their personality or methods change, they can't change their ambition."
"Do you think I can't see what she's planning in this North-South alliance?" Bei Luo felt that the Crown Prince was nothing like him, lacking any sense of crisis. Although he was talented, he lacked the spirit of the Hu people.
Even his second brother, Yelü Wen, was more ambitious than him. He cherished his second son especially because of this. Unfortunately, his second son was too ambitious and only knew how to use underhanded tricks, but his grand strategies were a complete mess! If it weren't for the capable people among the eight generals who advised him, he might not have been able to fool even Huang Mang.
"She's treating the Northern Region as an adversary; sooner or later she'll try to ride roughshod over us!"
"Hmph! What a reckless and impulsive woman!"
This time, Yelü Lili agreed with his father's words.
Xie Lanzhi's ambition is just like that of the current warlords; they all have the desire to conquer the entire country.
Beiluo agreed to the three-year agreement, and on the condition that he would transport cattle and sheep to Tianjing at a fixed price.
After receiving the letter, Xie Lanzhi readily signed the three-year contract.
Fifty thousand elite troops are about to be deployed to Honghe.
After six months of processing and extra work, three ports were opened and a palace similar to the Ziguang Palace was built, namely the Jianhe Palace.
This palace was reserved for Xie Zhu to reside in, and it cost a lot of money. However, initial investment is needed before the wealth can flow in.
Xie Lanzhi was not a stingy person. Once they became allies, she immediately dispatched 10,000 shi of grain as the vanguard to be transported to the Red River.
Tianjing is situated in a strategic location, and it only takes three days to reach it by waterway.
After acquiring 10,000 shi of grain, Yelü Lili's importance in Beiluo's heart grew, and the balance of power in the Northern Region gradually tilted towards Yelü Lili's side.
Yelü Wen was frantic. He had originally planned to use grain as an excuse, but now, he never expected that Li Li would gain Xie Lanzhi's favor and even become his ally!
He thought Xie Zhu was just as absurd, ridiculous, and insane as he was on the day of the welcoming ceremony, having his woman cut off Huang Mang's hand and acting as if nothing had happened.
Why are you suddenly so merciful as to form a North-South alliance?
Chapter 78 Xie Lanzhi Wants to Protect His Wife
With 10,000 soldiers, Xie Lanzhi carefully selected the best candidate: the Xie clan general stationed at the Red River had to be clever and obedient. Xie Ji was undoubtedly the best choice.
She promoted Xie Ji to Protector-General stationed at the Red River. While temporarily holding a lower rank than Xie Guang, they were now nominally equals.
Xie Guang was afraid of water, so he had no objection.
On the day Xie Ji set off, he specifically sought out Xie Lanzhi to personally ask her about something.
Xie Lanzhi hadn't expected that he had so much to say, something he'd been wanting to tell her for a long time.
"Marshal, I have followed you since I was a child. No matter how you change, I will always believe that as long as you are the Marshal, I will be loyal to you to the death." Xie Ji said all the things he had been thinking about over the past year.