Un sueño de transmigración

Capítulo 12

"What? You're not convinced? In terms of looks, you're at the bottom of the three of us; in terms of intelligence, you're at the bottom of the three of us too. You're far behind me. And you're worlds apart from my brother." Flattery never fails, hehe.

Sure enough, upon hearing this, the fox's eyes narrowed with laughter, and he even raised an eyebrow to stop Erlinzi's next pale attack. Erlinzi could only purse his lips and give me a killer look.

"I haven't thought about it yet, but I have. Such a good idea could probably only come up with by Third Brother. Third Brother, why don't you tell me your thoughts first?" The fox was indeed a fox, very cunning.

"Well, it's a bit confusing to explain. To summarize, no one is a jack-of-all-trades, and officials have specific roles. Each official position has different responsibilities, and therefore requires different talents. For example, those in charge of troops need to know how to fight, those in charge of households need to know how to do accounting, those in charge of punishment need to understand the law, and those in charge of clerks need to understand officialdom. When recommending officials, favoritism is often the deciding factor, unaware that the appointed person may be completely unsuitable for the job. Since officials are selected through the imperial examination system, the evaluation criteria should be based on the required duties of the officials, and they should be appointed according to their strengths. For civil officials, there are four levels of examinations: the provincial examination tests national history and literary knowledge, the prefectural examination adds law, the provincial examination adds policy essays, and the palace examination has the emperor personally deciding the questions. Literary knowledge and national history are used to ensure the candidates' quality, law is used to strengthen their morality, and policy essays can reveal their breadth of vision and strengths. The final decision rests with the emperor. For military officials, the examination methods will naturally be different."

"Those who command troops need to know how to fight, those who manage households need to know how to do accounting, those who are in charge of punishment need to understand the law, and those who are in charge of clerks need to understand the officialdom?" The fox gently repeated my words, looking at me with a scrutinizing and thoughtful expression, as if it were the first time he had met me.

Uh, oh no, I've said something I shouldn't have. Since I've already said it, let me tell you about Lin Qianqian's unique official system—the one with only six ministries and no three provinces! You ask me why this ambiguous official system with only six ministries and no three provinces exists? Duh, what is my status now? I'm the Prime Minister, second only to the Emperor! Why would I bother having people oppose me? Even if we weren't opposing each other, there are several people standing side-by-side who could easily undermine me without even needing to develop the guts. How could I possibly allow such people to appear, or let such a thing happen?

"Actually, this is a system of officials. Apart from leading troops into battle, all administrative affairs of a country can be divided into six parts: Personnel, Revenue, Rites, War, Justice, and Works. The Ministry of Personnel is in charge of the selection, assessment, ennoblement, and rewards of officials; the Ministry of Revenue is in charge of household registration, land, taxes, granaries, and market transactions; the Ministry of Rites is in charge of the imperial examinations, rites, and sacrifices; the Ministry of War is in charge of the management and training of the army; the Ministry of Justice is in charge of criminal justice and financial auditing; and the Ministry of Works is in charge of national civil engineering, land reclamation, and water conservancy. The six ministries are directly under the prime minister, and their functions are equivalent to the current left and right vice ministers. However, with two people in charge of the affairs of six people, the power is too concentrated, and any movement has too great an impact, which is not conducive to the checks and balances of the court."

Oh no, the fox's eyes have suddenly become sharp, and Erlinzi's eyes seem to have become serious as well, with a slight twitching at the corner of his eye.

“In front of my eldest and second brothers, Yunfeng is used to speaking frankly and without reservation. Yunfeng has always believed that brothers should treat each other with honesty.” Well, if you really mind that I speak so bluntly, then I swear I will never go out alone with you again and will just obediently be my leisurely prime minister.

"Third brother, how...how do you come up with so many brilliant ideas?" Erlinzi was completely dumbfounded, his eyes sparkling as he looked at me. I said, "Erlinzi, how could a mere martial artist like you understand what I'm saying?"

"Uh, I was just thinking about it when I had nothing to do." I made up a lie on the spot and secretly glanced at the fox. He was deep in thought, and judging from his expression, he didn't seem angry. Thank goodness.

"This imperial examination and official system is brilliant and worth trying. But it will probably be very difficult to implement." Hey, Erlinzi, it seems you, a mere warrior, actually understood what I was saying. That's rare indeed.

Clouds Drunk, Moon Slightly Sleeping (Revised Edition) Volume One: When We Met, We Were All Joyful and Slightly Drunk

Chapter word count: 3167 Update time: 08-12-20 15:50

Slightly drunk

"Since the idea came from Third Brother, he probably anticipated the difficulties we'd encounter." The fox smiled faintly at me, but his eyes gleamed with calculation. He exuded a kingly aura, as if everything was under his control. This man, sigh.

"The resistance to the imperial examination system is obviously easier to overcome. Although it's an examination, it tests individual talent and knowledge. Those from aristocratic families with the best educational environment have a much greater chance of passing the exams than ordinary students. Reforming the official system, however, will take time. Fortunately, from the implementation of the imperial examination system to the completion of the palace examination, it will take at least three months and up to half a year. During this time, how many positions to reserve for the new top scholars depends on your decision, brother. Therefore, reforming the official system is the most difficult, and the resistance it will encounter is foreseeable. It should be done step by step." Fox, you really want to reform? You really want to eliminate the Han and Gu factions? You really want to hold power? Well, I'll kindly help you out and cultivate a relationship. Next time you're exposed and about to be beheaded, maybe you'll remember our past relationship and past contributions and spare your life.

After discussing for a while with Fox and Erlinzi the specific details of the imperial examination and the reform of the Six Ministries, as well as the countermeasures when facing resistance, they finally decided that the imperial examination would be implemented tomorrow. As for the reform of the Six Ministries, it would be carried out in secret first, and then put into practice in the court after the imperial examination selected talents.

"Qianqian?"

"Mmm." I heard someone call my name and instinctively responded. I hadn't heard anyone call my name since I arrived here, and hearing it again felt surprisingly warm. But... does anyone here know my name is Qianqian? Ugh...

I hesitated and looked up, and sure enough, I saw the fox staring at me thoughtfully, his eyes like two deep pools, making it impossible for me to read his emotions. Oh no, how did the fox know my name was Qianqian? What did he discover? But even if he discovered I was impersonating Yunfeng, or found out my true identity, there was no way he would know my name.

"How... how did you know my nickname, Big Brother?" It seems I can only make things up. I hope the fox isn't too clever for his own good.

"Oh my god, it really is your nickname? I thought you were just talking nonsense while drunk!" 5555, Erlinzi, I've never liked you as much as I do now, never been so certain that you're my brother, never thought you were so handsome. 5555, Erlinzi, I swear I'll bully you less in the future.

"A nickname? That's quite an interesting nickname." The fox said this, but his expression clearly showed disbelief.

Sigh, fox, there's nothing I can do if you don't believe me. Since I already know that I revealed my real name when I was drunk last time, and you were obviously just testing me before, not even sure if Qianqian was my name, then I definitely didn't reveal any more information last time. I was wondering, it's possible that you found out I was Yunyue, but to say you knew I was Lin Qianqian from the 21st century, wouldn't that make you a fox spirit?

Thinking this way, my heart calmed down immediately, and I spoke the lie with even more composure: "Actually, it wasn't really a nickname. On my tenth birthday, I gave myself a courtesy name, wrote it down, and ran to show it to my mother. At that time, my mother was already seriously ill. She struggled to look at it for a long time, and softly uttered 'Qian,' paused for a while, and then uttered 'Qian' again. Actually, I wrote 'Qian Zui,' but because I was young at the time, I wrote the character 'Zui' wrong. My mother didn't recognize the wrong 'Zui,' and only uttered 'Qianqian' twice before fainting again and never waking up again. I never had a chance to tell her that the second character I wrote on the paper was actually 'Zui.'"

I saw Erlinzi's face filled with emotion and sadness, and his eyes were filled with heartache and pain as he looked at me. When I looked at Fox, I saw sadness in his eyes as well. Did my words remind him of his mother?

Whenever I miss my mother, I remember the last two words she said to me, "Qianqian," so softly, as if it were my mother calling me one last time. So in my heart, "Qianqian" is the nickname my mother used to call me. Qianqian, Lin Qianqian, I think of my father, mother, Pangpang, and all my friends. Are they doing well? Do they know I'm here? What happened to that body without Lin Qianqian's soul? Is it dead? If so, Dad, Mom, and Pangpang would be heartbroken. I long to wake up and hear that familiar voice calling me "Qianqian." Thinking of this, my eyes reddened, and I desperately held back my tears.

My expression couldn't be more genuine, because I was overwhelmed with sadness as I thought of my parents and sister in the 21st century. The fox didn't say anything more, just stared at me blankly, his eyes filled with sadness, bitterness, understanding, and helplessness. Erlinzi was the same, looking hesitant to speak. I think he wanted to comfort me but didn't know how.

Unexpectedly, the very next day, Long Xiangyu posted a yellow notice in the capital, announcing the court's decision to implement the special imperial examination and its detailed rules. He then sent the notice to the prefects of each prefecture in the form of an urgent official document, setting a deadline for organizing the provincial and prefectural examinations. Even more unexpectedly, the notice stated that the implementation of the special imperial examination was proposed by the current prime minister, Qianzui Gongzi, who persuaded the emperor to implement it. Therefore, Qianzui Gongzi would be the chief examiner for the first imperial examination, and the questions for the provincial, prefectural, and provincial examinations would all be set by him, with Qianzui Gongzi also responsible for grading the provincial examinations.

I really didn't expect that the fox would also resort to the "act first, report later" tactic, and even brazenly push me into the eye of the storm. I don't know if he wants the commoner students to be grateful to me, or if he wants the scions of noble families to be jealous of me. What's even stranger is that when the list of successful candidates mentioned me, he actually used "Young Master Qianzui" instead of "Yunfeng". This is neither in accordance with the rules nor reasonable. Qianzui is just my courtesy name. I really don't understand what he meant by this.

By the time the court officials learned of this, the imperial edict had already been issued, and the matter was irreversible. Therefore, their opposition, discontent, anger, and arguments in court were somewhat futile. Coupled with the Emperor's praise and trust, my reasoned debate, and Mu Qinglin's full support, the dissenting voices gradually subsided. After all, the Emperor was on my side, and the preliminary preparations for the imperial examinations were proceeding smoothly according to plan. They understood that no amount of opposition could hinder the process; the imperial examinations were inevitable.

I understand that what they need is an explanation to save face for my "unilateral decision" in this incident. So I proposed a suggestion: sons of scholar-officials could directly participate in the prefectural examinations; each official of the third rank or above could recommend one person to directly participate in the prefectural examinations each time. This was my concession, and it gave them a way out. Everyone understood and tacitly accepted the reform of the imperial examination system.

Moreover, I heard that my statement to the court officials, "What? Do you think scions of noble families, with the best teachers and learning conditions, are afraid of failing the exams compared to commoner students struggling to make ends meet?" provoked strong resentment from these powerful clans. They vowed to prove to me that the imperial examinations were merely a formality, and that those who ultimately passed would inevitably be from noble families. Therefore, the enthusiasm of these aristocratic scions for participating in the examinations was in no way inferior to that of commoner students. This surprised me somewhat.

With the implementation of the imperial examination system, the name of the current prime minister, the young master Qianzui, quickly became the hottest topic of conversation, with all sorts of rumors circulating. I wasn't particularly interested in the rumors, but those two gossipy women, Cui'er and Hong'er, were more enthusiastic than ever before. They took turns wandering the streets, not missing a single version, and as soon as they found something, they couldn't wait to tell me. It was said that I had earned the reputation of a "wise prime minister" among the common people, with all sorts of praise attributed to me—for my courteous treatment of scholars, my advocacy for the people, my literary talent, and my concern for the country and its people—whether it was related or not, making them incredibly happy. I just smiled. Because of the special imperial examination I had implemented, whether they were poor scholars from the lower classes or middle-class people with spare money but not from aristocratic families, they all had a legitimate opportunity to enter officialdom. This was something they had never dared to dream of before, and something that had never happened in the hundreds of years since the founding of Longyao Kingdom. How could they not be grateful to me and flatter me for securing such an opportunity and benefit for them?

Despite his great reputation, the prime minister was known to everyone as the Drunken Gentleman, and few knew that he was Yunfeng.

I've become increasingly busy. On one hand, I have to prepare the exam questions for the provincial, prefectural, and municipal examinations. Every day, I also receive numerous letters from unknown individuals, mostly thank-you notes from commoner students who have registered for the imperial examinations. Their words are humble and sincere, expressing admiration and respect for me, and they often include their best works, probably hoping to leave a good impression. On the other hand, the reports I received from the prefects of each prefecture regarding their local economic conditions, commercial trade, and agricultural harvests over the past five years have all been submitted. I need to study and analyze them to revise this year's tax revenue targets. Furthermore, because I discovered some problems while reviewing the national treasury's accounts, Longhuli has also entrusted me with the management of the national treasury, making me even busier.

To my somewhat amusement and dismay, it's said that as my reputation as "Young Master of Light Drunkenness" has grown, it's become fashionable among scholars and literati to adopt courtesy names (字). The people of Longyao Kingdom have never had the custom of using courtesy names; a person only has one name throughout their life, unlike our ancient scholars who had so many elaborate names and pseudonyms. But because of me, scholars and literati have abandoned their usual practice of addressing each other by name, taking pride in using each other's courtesy names. They even sign their official documents with their courtesy names, and those who have adopted them are all quite pleased with themselves, spreading the word everywhere, eager for the world to know.

Clouds Drunk, Moon Slightly Sleeping (Revised Edition) Volume One: When We Met, We Were All Joyful and Granted a Residence

Chapter word count: 3916 Update time: 08-12-20 15:51

Granted residence

Before I knew it, I'd been prime minister for almost three and a half months. Aside from a little sadness thinking about how chubby my parents were, I've mostly been quite happy and content here. I'm a go-with-the-flow kind of person, I don't like to force things, and I believe some things are predetermined. So I haven't been looking for a way home; in fact, I don't know where to even begin. I think if the time really comes to go home, I might just wake up one morning and be back, just like when I first came here. I'm also becoming more and more like myself, expressing my thoughts and standing firm on my convictions. Everyone in Xifeng Garden is friendly and respectful towards me. Cui'er and Hong'er are genuinely kind to me, I've gradually become familiar with Yunfeng, Zhang De takes good care of me, and Old Man Yun hasn't summoned me alone anymore. When we occasionally bump into each other, I greet him respectfully and politely. Ah, the more I talk about it, the more I realize how fulfilling my life is.

In the imperial court, I had more and more things to deal with, which meant that I, as the prime minister, was becoming more and more powerful. Everyone could see the emperor's trust in me and the closeness between me and Mu Qinglin. Although I had no trusted ministers under my command and no power base of my own in the court, because of the relationship between these two, all the civil and military officials treated me with more respect and courtesy, and addressed me as "Prime Minister Yun" in public and in private.

As for the Left and Right Vice Ministers Gu Wenxiu and Han Xuanqi, whether it was because of the Li Yuhan incident, my humble attitude in front of them, or their intimidation of the Emperor and Mu Qinglin, they outwardly acknowledged me as their leader. I began to enter the "Hall of State Affairs," sometimes observing the work reports of the Left and Right Vice Ministers and their direct subordinates, and sometimes directly participating in the decision-making and discussion of state affairs, expressing my own political views, and issuing orders for their implementation. Dragon Fox would occasionally come to the Hall of State Affairs to listen to our discussions. For others, this would be an honor, but I knew he did so for two reasons: first, to see which seats should be made available for the newly appointed top scholars, and second, to give my voice in the Hall of State Affairs more authority.

The provincial examinations for the imperial examinations have just ended, and all that remains is for the examiners from each province to review the papers and select the top ten candidates to go to the capital to participate in the provincial examinations.

Whether it was due to the imperial examinations or my growing power, visitors began flocking to my door. I instructed Zhang De to keep all visitors and gifts outside the Yun residence gates; if they had business, they could leave a letter. I didn't want to engage in excessive socializing and curry favor, nor did I want to offend anyone, and I certainly didn't want outsiders to enter the Yun residence and have too much contact with its inhabitants, thus revealing my secret. So, I found a reason, the elegant one: the provincial examinations were approaching, and I didn't want to affect the fairness and impartiality of the examinations! Unexpectedly, this action earned me a reputation for "selflessness and incorruptibility." In short: when praise comes, it's unstoppable.

Sigh, if this continues, I'll become a perfect role model. No, if one day my reputation surpasses that of the dragon fox and I gain more popular support, that will be my doom—that's how it's portrayed on TV. So, after a night of internal struggle, I asked Zhang De to handle this matter. I asked him to find some people and devise a way to let the people know that while my idea for the imperial examinations was good, the most important thing was that the Emperor was willing to accept it. Therefore, the implementation of the imperial examinations was entirely due to the Emperor's wisdom. A few days later, the Emperor's virtuous reputation began to spread, and I finally felt a little at ease.

The most important thing next is to bring down those members of the Han family. And what about Gu Wenxiu? I wonder what Longhuli means by that? Gu Wenxiu seems more loyal, kind, and self-disciplined than Han Xuanqi. Lately, I've been intentionally or unintentionally inquiring about the reputations of these two families; the Gu family's reputation is clearly much better than the Han family's. But thinking of Gu Xiaosan, remembering his drunken attempts to harass Hong'er at the music academy, and then thinking of the 24/7 serious and earnest Old Master Gu… oh dear, Gu Xiaosan, you're simply a defective product of the Gu family!