"His Majesty follows the ancestral precepts, emulating the past emperors of the Great Qian dynasty by widely soliciting opinions and accepting advice like flowing water!"
"The fifth question is particularly crucial, concerning strategies for governing and securing the nation. I hope everyone will speak their minds freely! For this question, anything you write will not be held against you. If your suggestions are adopted, you will receive additional rewards!"
"The allotted time for answering is one hour!"
The assembled officials finally relaxed.
Dugu Xiao and others felt confident, secretly delighted.
What was "National Affairs Selection"? They understood the literal meaning!
After preparing for so long, they had finally guessed a question correctly!
Perhaps, in this particularly critical fifth question, they could pen an ingenious strategy for the ages, win the top spot, defeat Liang Xiao's four top spots, and secure the overall championship, thus immortalizing themselves in history!
With such expectations, everyone began to write.
Xiao Qing watched the clepsydra on the table, her right hand instinctively gripping the inkstick, trembling slightly.
"This time, can you still surprise Us? Even if not, you must answer the question well..."
She truly hoped that Liang Xiao could once again present a brilliant strategy and claim the championship.
The five top spots were enough to make one famous throughout the land and lauded for eternity!
However, it was too difficult!
Everyone would know how to answer this question!
After one hour, Wang Canghai called for a halt and ordered everyone to copy their answers.
Liang Xiao pondered for a moment, then picked up his brush with his left hand and began to rewrite.
"Why switch to the left hand?"
The officials paid special attention to Liang Xiao, and were surprised. Even Wang Canghai frowned.
When Zhuo Zifang walked over, Liang Qing quickly asked, "Xiao'er, what is he...?"
Zhuo Zifang glanced at Liang Xiao, deep in thought, then whispered in response, "I understand. He writes in regular script with his left hand and cursive with his right. Perhaps there's too much content, and he's worried about errors during the transcription by the palace staff."
Liang Qing then felt reassured and smiled, looking at Liang Xiao.
Unbeknownst to them, Liang Qing and Luo Changfeng were once again in tears, secretly weeping in a corner.
Finally, in the National Affairs Selection, they saw Liang Xiao's earnest demeanor!
After the palace staff randomly assigned and transcribed the answers, one hundred copied scrolls were presented to Xiao Qing.
Liang Xiao had again slumped onto the table and fallen asleep.
More than half the day had passed. Fortunately, pastries and fruits were provided on the tables, preventing everyone from going hungry.
This time, not only Wang Canghai and Zhuo Zifang, but also the ministers and vice-ministers of the Six Ministries were summoned to jointly evaluate the submissions.
The content was simply too vast.
"Light levies and meager taxes? Our country has always practiced light levies and meager taxes. If taxes are reduced further, it requires careful consideration..."
"Resettling refugees? This is good. The detailed measures are even written out!"
"Reducing redundant officials? I had this in mind too!"
...
The evaluation lasted a full hour. Under Wang Canghai's suggestion, everyone discussed and scored each item using the character "正" (zhèng), meaning "correct" or "positive", by tallying strokes.
Reducing redundant officials received only one "正" with an additional horizontal stroke, representing six points.
Xiao Qing watched, shaking her head helplessly.
It wasn't that these ministers were afraid of losing their own interests, but rather that the quality of the answers was only worth such a score.
Among these hundred submissions, half were grand but useless, with policies that seemed ingenious but were in reality hollow.
After a moment, Ouyang Ji, the Minister of Revenue, retrieved a submission and exclaimed, "Quick, look at this cultivation of land..."
The scroll was presented. Xiao Qing glanced at it, her eyes lighting up.
Cultivation of land!
It was even divided into military and civilian cultivation, allowing the army to reclaim farmland while guarding the borders, achieving self-sufficiency, and even providing more grain for the country!
As for civilian cultivation, it involved recruiting farmers from various prefectures and counties, including refugees and the landless poor, to reclaim wasteland together.
For civilian cultivation, fifty people formed a "tun" (unit), with officials such as "Dian Nong Du Wei," "Dian Nong Xiao Wei," and "Dian Nong Zhong Lang Jiang" appointed above them, independent of the counties and prefectures. Farmers in these cultivation units had to apply if they wished to leave.
If they used oxen and farming tools provided by the government, the harvest would be split 60/40 between the government and the people. If the people used their own farming tools, the harvest would be split 50/50.
Military cultivation involved sixty soldiers forming a "ying" (company), who would cultivate land while also guarding the borders, depending on the situation.
Simultaneously, the stipends for officers participating in military cultivation were increased, enhancing their motivation and reducing the excessive reduction of military salaries that had occurred since the emphasis on civil over military pursuits.
After a brief discussion, the officials knelt before Xiao Qing, saying, "Your ministers request that this strategy be ranked first!"
Xiao Qing was overjoyed and immediately approved it.
This was the first time officials had not rejected a national policy due to factional disputes.
From the current perspective, this national policy did not overly affect the interests of the officials.
After determining the ranking of each submission, the officials gathered to examine the "cultivation of land" strategy and all applauded.
"This civilian cultivation can also solve the problem of resettling refugees, and military cultivation can reduce the expenditure of the army on money and grain. It is truly a win-win situation!"
"Yan Province has suffered greatly from war and has vast tracts of wasteland waiting to be reclaimed! By then, the people of Yan Province will have livelihoods and will not have to abandon their homes and become refugees!"
"Your Majesty is wise! The National Affairs Selection is unprecedented, and it has actually selected true talents for governing the nation!"
The officials praised it profusely, and Xiao Qing beamed with delight.
They did not know that she had originally intended to use the National Affairs Selection to personally select talents. If possible, she could also select a "consort," which had been her long-standing plan.
However, after meeting Liang Xiao, she had changed her mind about selecting a consort through the National Affairs Selection.
But, from the current situation, it seemed necessary again?
Xiao Qing chuckled inwardly as she pondered.
This cultivation of land policy was excellent, but she no longer intended to choose other top scholars as consorts.
"Hmm, wait..."
Xiao Qing's heart trembled, and she suddenly remembered something.
What if this was also...
"Why hasn't the Prime Minister announced it yet?" Xiao Qing's brow furrowed, her heart filled with confusion. But she couldn't see the situation from behind the screen, and she felt annoyed.
This was the most crucial question!
But soon, Xiao Qing saw that the officials on both sides also wore expressions of astonishment, including Zhuo Zifang.
It turned out that Wang Canghai had approached the sleeping Liang Xiao and retrieved his original scroll. He was struck as if by lightning.
After regaining his senses, Wang Canghai stammered, "The champion of the fifth question... is Liang Xiao again..."
A thunderclap from a clear sky!
Everyone's minds buzzed, their brains went blank.
Xiao Qing's heart was in turmoil. She covered her mouth with her hands, fearing she would cry out, and tears streamed from her eyes.
Except for the suddenly awakened Liang Xiao, everyone present was stunned into silence!
Even Ning Xuejun and Ding Wuyi, who had witnessed life and death, felt a lump in their throats and couldn't recover.
"I'm the champion again?" Liang Xiao was also taken aback.
He had taken all five top spots?
Xiao Qing, behind the screen, wept with her face covered, struggling to control her voice, overcome with emotion.
Her heart was a complex mix of emotions. She no longer thought about Liang Xiao's usual appearance or his many championships, but only about when the Medical Saint could heal him.
I will not allow you to die young! I don't want to let you go! You owe Us all your life! We owe you all our life!
Xiao Qing repeated these words in her heart, her shoulders heaving as she continuously wiped away her tears.
"Fifth question, champion, Liang Xiao!"
As Wang Canghai's trembling voice announced, the entire assembly finally snapped back to reality and lost their composure.
"How is that possible? Impossible... It's impossible!"