Chapter 84 Questions Before the Throne

Chapter 84: Imperial Audience and Interrogation

The braziers in the hall burned brightly.

Dressed in a deep crimson official robe, Chu Jiubian rose from among the royal princes, who were clad in their court attire. He walked to the center of the hall, ascended a step, and stood on the same platform as Qin Xiao.

Turning, Chu Jiubian surveyed the scholars below.

All students from other disciplines had already begun their answers, but the agriculture scholars remained quietly seated, eyes downcast, not daring to look up.

In the front row sat Zhang Er, an agriculture student who ranked third overall in the examinations.

Information on these scholars had long been sent to the palace, so Chu Jiubian knew each of them intimately.

For instance, Zhang Er hailed from a genuine farming background, his family living in abject poverty.

Yet, he was an exceptional farmer—his family’s land yielded the highest harvest each year. Despite this, they still went hungry because, during his father’s time, a powerful local gentry member named Qiu had forcibly seized more than half of their land, leaving them with only three or four *mu*.

The incident began when Zhang Er’s father, during the slack farming season, took on short-term labor at Master Qiu’s estate.

Knowing the Zhang family’s farming prowess and the fertility of their land, which consistently produced the best crops, Master Qiu hatched a deceitful plan.

Exploiting Zhang Er’s father’s illiteracy, he tricked him into pressing his fingerprint on several documents, disguised as a "seasonal labor contract."

These documents stated that the Zhang family had voluntarily surrendered their land to Master Qiu and agreed to cultivate it for him at extremely low wages.

The land they were to farm was precisely the land that had once belonged to the Zhang family.

In the first year, unaware of the deception, Zhang Er’s father diligently worked the land with his family.

But after the harvest, Master Qiu suddenly arrived with a retinue of guards and several donkey carts, forcibly seizing the majority of the Zhang family’s grain.

The villagers dared not provoke the Qiu family, but the head of the Zhang clan refused to let his kin be so bullied. After Boss Qiu departed, he took Zhang Er’s father, grandfather, and several other respected clan elders to the county seat.

They went to the *yamen* and beat the drum to demand justice.

Zhang Er’s father endured twenty strokes of the cane before they were granted an audience with the magistrate to present their case.

The magistrate summoned Master Qiu, and both parties recounted their versions of events in court.

Master Qiu presented the contract bearing Zhang Er’s father’s fingerprint, which clearly stated that the Zhang family had willingly given the land to him and voluntarily agreed to farm it long-term for a meager wage.

Thus, at most, Master Qiu was guilty of withholding the Zhang family’s wages.

The evidence was in black and white, leaving the magistrate no room to assist the Zhang family, even if he wished to. Moreover, the magistrate was in collusion with Master Qiu, so the matter was dismissed with a mere order for Master Qiu to pay the outstanding wages.

A few dozen copper coins—Master Qiu handed them over without a second thought.

In the end, the Zhang family received only those few dozen coins and twenty strokes of the cane.

So-called justice and law were meaningless in the eyes of the local gentry and powerful elite.

This was neither the first nor the last such case. Most wealthy landlords across Great Ning had amassed their fortunes in similar ways.

Ordinary people had nowhere to turn for help and could only endure daily exploitation.

Those like Zhang Er were somewhat more fortunate—he was determined and capable.

In just over a decade, he and his elder brother, through farming, odd jobs, and occasional hunting, not only expanded their remaining three or four *mu* to seven but also sold three *mu* to finance his studies when the imperial examinations were announced.

When news of his success reached the county recently, the aging magistrate and Master Qiu panicked.

Yet, they dared not harm him, for when the first round of examinations began, palace officials had warned that no one was to interfere with the scholars, under penalty of death.

Though they lorded over the local people, they dared not breathe a word against the palace envoys, silently praying that those they had oppressed would not succeed.

But as fate would have it, Zhang Er had indeed risen.

Chu Jiubian had not ordered any action against the magistrate or Master Qiu.

Such matters were best left for Zhang Er to settle himself—only then would it truly be revenge.

Today, during the palace examination, the questions Chu Jiubian posed to the agriculture scholars naturally centered on two themes: "land" and "the people."

"Please step forward, scholars of agriculture," Chu Jiubian said, his expression distant and aloof, though his tone was gentler than usual.

This was the scholars’ first time seeing Chu Jiubian, and knowing he was Grand Tutor Chu, who had proposed the imperial examinations, they held him in high esteem.

The dozen or so scholars stepped forward, stopping a few meters away from Chu Jiubian, all with eyes cast downward, too nervous to look up.

Behind them were sixty-five desks and chairs, along with the other scholars still writing their answers.

The palace examination included a segment where the emperor and high officials posed questions, so everyone had prepared and practiced in advance.

The agriculture scholars, having advanced through the exams via oral questioning, were more familiar with this format. Though inwardly anxious, they maintained their composure fairly well.

Apart from the scholars, everyone else in the hall fixed their gaze on these hardy farm men.

Even in proper attire, they bore no resemblance to high officials or nobles, not even to military officers. Their rough skin and sun-lightened hair unmistakably revealed their humble, weathered backgrounds.

They were the common people at the bottom of society.

Chu Jiubian said, "For this round, I will ask you only two questions."

"First, what do you think defines 'the people'?"

"Second, what is 'land'?"

He phrased the questions simply, avoiding overly scholarly language.

The scholars understood perfectly but considered carefully, sensing that Grand Tutor sought more than simple answers.

Zhang Er also knit his brows in thought.

Throughout the exams, the questions had focused on farming techniques, pest elimination, and the like, but there had also been supplementary questions such as, "What would you do if your land were maliciously seized?"

Though these questions were worth few points, Zhang Er had noticed a pattern.

He felt that Grand Tutor had been hinting all along that the agriculture scholars should consider issues of land and the relationship between common people and wealthy landlords.

Hearing these two questions now confirmed his thoughts.

He already had answers in mind, but considering the themes of the earlier exams—classics, mathematics, and law—he felt he needed to elaborate further.

"You have the time it takes for one incense stick to burn to think, after which you may answer," Chu Jiubian said.

The scholars responded in unison.

During the time it takes an incense stick to burn, the hall remained silent, with only occasional rustling of fabric, the sound of ink grinding, or the flipping of pages.

Chu Jiubian stood in place, his gaze sweeping over everyone present with a commanding presence.

Today’s palace examination was not only meant to give the scholars recognition but also to send a message to the noble families and vassal princes: the current reign was not under the incompetent and passive Emperor Chengzong or Emperor Yingzong, nor were Baili Hong and Qin Xiao as isolated and helpless as they were at the beginning of their accession to the throne.

They now possessed the capability and resources to stand against these adversaries.

Their intention was to pressure the nobles and vassal princes—to force them to communicate and act. In their haste, more flaws and mistakes would inevitably surface.

Of course, if they were to actually stage a rebellion, that would be exactly what Chu Jiubian desired.

Qin Xiao rose from his chair and took a step toward Chu Jiubian but did not approach further.

The two stood about three meters apart, both dressed in deep crimson official robes—one imposing and stern, the other aloof and indifferent.

Two steps above them, Baili Hong sat properly on the dragon throne, his bright eyes fixed on the people below.

Minister of Revenue Su Sheng looked up at the scene and suddenly felt a sense of déjà vu.

He recalled that early morning when a drizzle was falling steadily.

As the palace gates slowly opened, the imperial guards’ blades rose and fell, and the heads of two young nobles rolled to the ground.

Amid the lingering scent of blood, he stood with the other officials at the foot of the long staircase outside the Fengtian Hall, looking up to see a scene almost identical to the one before him now.

The only difference was that, back then, Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao had stood alongside the young emperor, revealing a hint of their sharpness—the first formal declaration of war against the noble families.

This time, Chu Jiubian and the others were ready to make their move.

Minister of Personnel Xiao Huaiguan’s cloudy gaze swept over the two figures standing on the steps ahead before slowly withdrawing.

For a rare moment, his muddled mind cleared.

He remembered the conversation he had with the family head, Xiao Yao, in the early days. Xiao Yao had risked his life to break his addiction to Datura, warning him of its toxicity.

But Xiao Huaiguan didn't pay attention. He felt he had little time left to live anyway, and after taking the substance, he felt unusually energetic—far better than the frail state he had been in before.

Yet now...

He looked at Prince Jiannan, wearing princely robes. The young man stood tall but was thin and frail, even more so than Prince Anhuai beside him.

How could such frail shoulders bear the future of the Xiao family?

How could they bear the weight of the entire Great Ning?

Xiao Huaiguan slowly turned his gaze to the young scholars, feeling somewhat dazed.

It was as if he saw his younger self among them.

Back then, he too had been full of ambition, locking horns with the young Wang Zhiyuan in court.

But at some point, though he and Wang Zhiyuan remained rivals, their original intentions had long since changed.

Or perhaps not.

Maybe from the very beginning, they were different from these scholars.

They spoke of the people and the nation, but in their hearts and minds, they cared only for themselves, their families, and their glory.

His throat tightened, and a tingling sensation slowly rose in his chest.

The craving had returned.

Xiao Huaiguan no longer had the energy to ponder anything else. He quietly took an unknown substance from his sleeve and popped it into his mouth.

A strange taste spread, and he closed his eyes, slowly exhaling.

The time it took for the incense stick to burn passed quickly. As the first rays of dawn streamed into the hall, one of the agriculture scholars stepped forward slightly, bowed, and said, “Your Majesty, Grand Tutor, I am ready to answer.”

The silent hall once again filled with sound.

Chu Jiubian nodded. “Please proceed.”

The scholar, well-prepared, spoke fluently: “I come from the countryside and know little of grand principles. But I understand that the millions of people in Great Ning are its subjects—they are the people.”

“And the land beneath their feet, the land they cherish in their hearts, the land where crops grow to feed them—that is the earth.”

The scholar was still nervous, his voice trembling slightly, but he grew more confident as he spoke.

“People vary in status and character, just as land varies in quality. Good land...”

His familiarity with the land shone through, and he wisely focused his answer on the “earth,” which was a smart approach.

His words were simple and easy to understand. Though he tried to use more refined language, his speech still sounded “rough” to the noble scholars.

Yet they felt a heaviness in their hearts, as if they understood something but couldn’t quite grasp it.

This feeling grew stronger as the dozen or so scholars took turns answering.

The nobles looked solemnly at the agriculture scholars, hardly believing that these men had once been ordinary farmers, toiling under the sun.

It wasn't that their words were particularly eloquent or refined—they were messy and rough—but the truths they spoke were simple and profound.

And those truths were things these nobles seemed not to fully comprehend.

For example, as the first scholar had said, “People vary in status and character, just as land varies in quality.” Land was easy to understand, but people were not.

Land could be cultivated in various ways to yield abundant harvests.

But people were different.

The powerful would only grow more powerful, while ordinary people struggled to rise above their station.

Finally, Chu Jiubian turned his gaze to Zhang Er, who had remained silent until then.

Zhang Er stepped forward at just the right moment and said, “Your Majesty, Sir. I believe that ‘the people’ are me, and ‘the earth’ is my roots.”

Chu Jiubian raised an eyebrow.

The scholars who had spoken before seemed influenced by the first respondent, focusing more on farming techniques and similar topics.

For agriculture scholars, such answers were not off-topic.

But Zhang Er’s response was different from the others. It remained to be seen what this scholar, who ranked third overall in the Metropolitan Examination, would say next.

Would he grasp the underlying meaning of the additional questions Chu Jiubian had posed in previous rounds of the examination?

As it turned out, Zhang Er had not only grasped it but had done so with remarkable insight.

He began, "My hometown is Zhangma Village, Anchang County, Sui'an Prefecture. My ancestors were farmers for generations, tied to the soil, satisfied with just putting food on the table and clothes on their backs. However, when I was young, my father was swindled by the local strongman Boss Qiu..."

Zhang Er spoke entirely about himself, but as he had stated at the beginning, he represented the people, and the people were him.

He spoke of himself, yet wasn’t he also speaking of the millions of common folks of Great Ning who, like him, struggle to survive?

He said the land was his roots, yet those roots were maliciously cut off and taken over by force.

Almost everyone present was sharp enough to grasp the underlying meaning in his words.

Zhang Er was not only seeking justice for himself but also for all the struggling people of this world—precisely what Chu Jiubian and the others wanted to see.

They aimed to use the voices of the people to initiate this beginning: the re-measurement and redistribution of land.

And land is not only the root of the people but also one of the foundations of all the noble houses and wealthy gentry.

If this "root" were returned to the people, the nobles and gentry would be hit hard. Yet they found themselves unable to resist this trend, for it was the will of the people.

Once the discourse from today’s palace examination spread, the people would come together like never before, solely to reclaim what rightfully belonged to them.

At this moment, these nobles finally grasped the gnawing feeling they had sensed earlier—a basic truth that should have been deeply ingrained in their minds:

Do not underestimate the people.

As for the so-called "will of the people," they had only paid lip service to it before, focusing more on their reputations and attempting to use it as a moral high ground to manipulate the people into attacking their political rivals.

Now, they finally understood clearly what their ancestors meant by "the will of the people."

The people, too, can have thoughts, aspirations, loves, and hatreds—they are flesh-and-blood human beings, just like these nobles!

They, too, will fight for their own rights.

The gazes toward Chu Jiubian grew increasingly profound and complex, tinged with a hint of awe.

This was the thinking of a strategic genius—he never imposed the idea of "taking down the powerful families" onto the people but instead guided them step by step to realize for themselves who their enemies were.

Minister of War Lu Youwei lowered his eyes, clenched his fists, and felt an increasingly urgent sense of pressure.

He believed it was time to take action.

Many shared his sentiment, such as the vassal princes seated at the front.

Prince Huguang and Prince Dongjiang had solemn expressions.

What set them apart from the noble families was that they governed fiefdoms and understood the power of the people.

But now they saw clearly that the imperial family’s standing among the people had risen subtly. After today’s events spread, the people would hold the court in even higher esteem and trust.

This was really bad for them as vassal princes.

They could no longer allow the court to win the people over. If this continued, they would truly have no chance to make a play for the supreme throne.

Even their current positions as vassal princes might not be secure.

Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao did not seem like forgiving types—they would not tolerate the continued existence of vassal princes and would surely find a way to target them.

Thus, it was time for them to get plans in motion as well.

Aside from these individuals, Minister of Justice Qiu Heng looked even more troubled.

The "Boss Qiu" mentioned by Zhang Er was from his same clan. Though they were distant relatives, they were still within the nine familial circles.

Although the other’s actions did not implicate the Qiu family in the capital, if Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao seized on this to make an example, the Qiu family would be the first to suffer—the proverbial "chicken killed to warn the monkeys."

The Qiu family had already lost control over canal transport previously. If they were implicated in this matter and lost even more...

Qiu Heng frowned deeply.

He could wait no longer; it was time to prepare for an all-out confrontation with Chu Jiubian and the others.

After finishing his account, Zhang Er bowed and said, "That’s all I have to say."

Chu Jiubian’s gaze swept over the tense faces of those present, and the corners of his lips lifted slightly as he said, "Well done."

After the agricultural scholars returned to their seats, the students of embroidery and women’s medicine also submitted their works. Xiao Xiangzi and Xiao Yuzi placed these works on trays and first brought them to Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao for review.

Qin Xiao walked to Chu Jiubian’s side. Without consulting each other, they both were on the same page and arranged the works in order of ranking.

Finally, Hong Fu brought the trays with the ranked works to Baili Hong, who would have the final say on the rankings.

Subsequently, the engineering and math students also completed their responses and were ranked accordingly.

After receiving the engineering students’ design drawings, Chu Jiubian took an extra glance at Yan Rui.

They had been tasked with improving the existing plow, and this youngster had designed the curved-beam plow—a truly remarkable talent.

No wonder he had been closely associated with Situ Zhaoyao; it seemed they genuinely shared common interests.

Next were the students of legal studies.

These students came from wealthy backgrounds and were educated.

The most outstanding among them was a middle-aged man named Gu Fang. Tall and slender, with a beard and refined, scholarly features, he looked every bit the literary type.

However, his eyes were exceptionally piercing and intense, exuding pressure when he looked at others.

Chu Jiubian recalled that this man was from Chuanxi County, the second-born son of a scholarly family in the fiefdom of Prince Pingxi, Baili Zheng.

Though he had an elder brother and a younger brother, he was the most favored.

During the imperial examinations, his family had urged him to serve under Baili Zheng, which would benefit the family. However, he insisted on going to the capital to become an official through his own abilities and serve the people.

Unable to stop him, his family provided him with a group of guards.

His arrival in the capital had made waves at the time.

His examination answers fit right in with the intentions of Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao.

In troubled times, you need harsh laws. Though these were not troubled times, with petty criminals and powerful nobles running rampant, the strictest laws were required to keep them in check.

In the responses of other students regarding how to handle the two individuals involved in the Datura case, there was no disagreement—they all agreed that Qin Xiao’s decision to execute them was correct.

However, this was likely because the correct answer was already known, and to avoid offending Qin Xiao, the students had no choice but to write accordingly. Some among them might have felt the punishment was excessive.

When it came to dealing with corrupt officials, the other students responded conservatively.

Only Gu Fang, who appeared gentle and amiable, concluded, "The law must be ruthless; corrupt officials should all be executed."

Qin Xiao looked at the students and asked, "Where is Gu Qingzhi?"

Gu Fang stood up upon hearing this.

His seat was in the third row, and after rising, he bowed from a distance toward the front, saying, "Present, sir."

Qin Xiao held his exam paper and asked, "I see you wrote the phrase 'the law shows no mercy.' If someone in your own family were to commit a capital offense, what should be done?"

Gu Fang replied, "Apply the law fairly."

He then added, "However, I'd make sure my family stays in line to prevent them from causing trouble."

His expression was solemn, and it was clear he was not speaking lightly.

Qin Xiao glanced over everyone present and asked with a smile, "And what if the noble families, powerful officials, and even princes in the court are plotting rebellion?"

Hearing this, everyone shuddered inwardly.

They had just been thinking about rebellion, and now Qin Xiao had directly pointed it out, making them uneasy.

Gu Fang, however, answered without hesitation, "Execute them without mercy."

"Good." Qin Xiao handed the exam paper to Hong Fu and instructed him to deliver it to Baili Hong.

Gu Fang's words and actions made people glance sideways in the court.

Zhen Mingzhao, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, and his son, Assistant Minister Zhen Fu, both looked at Gu Fang with particularly complex expressions.

In fact, ever since Chu Jiubian included the criminal justice subject in the exam, they knew it was aimed at their Court of Judicial Review or the Ministry of Justice.

Now, this Gu Fang appeared hardline in his words and actions, and he might well be the type of person who is upright and incorruptible.

If he were to interfere in judicial matters in the future, it would undoubtedly constrain the actions of the father and son.

Zhen Fu couldn't help but glance at Su Sheng, the Vice Minister of Revenue seated at the front, who was also his father-in-law.

The Zhen family had long been tied to the Su family, and they would have to see how things play out in the future.

After Gu Fang finished answering and sat down, only the candidates for the classics exam remained.

A simple question about economic development was quickly answered by the students, and soon after Gu Fang sat down, all the exam papers were submitted.

Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao quickly reviewed them and found that these students' ideas were indeed more profound and better at discerning the emperor's intentions.

All fifteen of them, without exception, went beyond merely answering the question about economic development.

They combined "economy" with the current state of the Great Ning nation, not only explaining how to develop the economy but also discussing the changes that would occur in Great Ning after economic development, and so on.

Each of them answered excellently.

However, the most outstanding among them were undoubtedly Tan Ji and Yan Jinsheng, both Confucian scholars, as well as the previously top-ranked Lu Yao and Tan Yuzhu.

The two Confucian scholars provided detailed and highly feasible methods.

But Tan Yuzhu's thinking was more dynamic. As in previous rounds of exams, her perspective was always unique.

While everyone else was discussing Great Ning's economic situation and how to develop internally, Tan Yuzhu wrote about how to establish trade routes.

This aligned almost perfectly with Chu Jiubian's own thoughts.

"Tan Yuzhu," Chu Jiubian called out, "please answer one more question."

It wasn't the first time he and Qin Xiao had added an impromptu question, and Tan Yuzhu was not at all surprised that he had called on her.

Everyone watched as a graceful young woman stood up calmly, bowed, and said, "Your student is here. Please present the question, sir."

Her voice was clear, her posture upright, and her expression composed, showing no sign of nervousness.

Chu Jiubian asked, "If I were to send you to the northeast border to engage in trade with the Jurchen tribe, how would you proceed?"

Tan Yuzhu's mind raced.

The current court situation was chaotic, and internal war in Great Ning was inevitable.

Under such circumstances, border stability was crucial. So, Grand Tutor was not making a hypothetical suggestion but genuinely intended to trade with the Jurchen to maintain temporary peace.

Moreover, if she answered well, this task might very well fall to her.

A light shone in Tan Yuzhu's eyes. After briefly organizing her thoughts, she said, "I would establish a trade association in the northeast border cities, selling domestic silk, porcelain, food, tea, and other goods to the Jurchen. Then, I would use the proceeds to purchase fur, horses, ginseng, and other items from the Jurchen..."

"Additionally, common people could also sell their goods at the market on designated trade days each month. Those with spare money could also purchase items from the Jurchen people..."

"In the future, tariffs could be implemented to ensure a favorable trade environment."

Tan Yuzhu spoke eloquently, and from her words, one could almost envision the prosperous development of the northeastern region.

She stopped at the right point, neither going too deep nor revealing overly detailed methods to the public.

This way, if Senior Tutor Chu truly intended to assign her this task, no one would be able to compete with her.

Of course, there was one point she did not mention, but Chu Jiubian, Qin Xiao, and many others in the court were well aware of it.

The Jurchen tribe was not yet fully unified and could almost be described as scattered.

At this time, engaging in trade with Great Ning would not only develop the border economy but also accelerate integration.

Great Ning's people and culture would gradually permeate the Jurchen, leading to their sinicization.

If this continued, the Jurchen tribe would develop a sense of closeness to Great Ning, and eventually, Great Ning could incorporate them into its territory without firing a single arrow.

The nobles who understood this were increasingly amazed by the capabilities of these students.

Especially since this was a woman who possessed such grand ideas and insights, far surpassing many of the spoiled young masters in their own families.

Even officials who had prided themselves on their knowledge now felt their cheeks burn as they looked at that slender figure.

If they were to answer this question, they might not compare to this teenage girl.

Some vassal princes, however, began to scheme.

The Jurchen tribe was indeed a force they had previously overlooked. Located in the northeast, blocked by the North Zhili region, these vassal princes usually found it difficult to engage with them.

But if something were to happen in the Jurchen territory, and the Northeast Army proved as "incompetent and useless" as the previous Northwestern Army, then the nearest North Zhili might have to send Qin Xiao to lead another expedition.

In that case, the capital would be left empty.

Previously, when Qin Xiao personally led the campaign to the northwest, the vassal princes and noble families had not considered attacking the capital, focusing only on eliminating Qin Xiao. Thus, they missed an opportunity when the capital was vulnerable.

If such a situation arose again, regardless of whether Qin Xiao returned victorious, they could first mobilize troops against the undefended capital.

With vassal princes' armies outside and influential families as internal allies, even if Chu Jiubian had heaven-defying abilities, he couldn't possibly eliminate all of them. He'd be doing well just to protect Baili Hong's life.

Prince Huguang Baili Yue's eyes darkened profoundly as he glanced at Prince Dongjiang Baili He beside him.

Their eyes met, then both looked away.

The two brothers, who had always been at odds, seemed to have reached some kind of consensus in that moment.

Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao, standing on the high platform, had everyone's reactions in clear view.

Sure enough, they were reacting.

But this was far from over.

Chu Jiubian looked at the young man who had been sitting quietly in his seat and said, "Lu Zicheng."

Lu Yao, already prepared, stood up and bowed. "Your student is present."

"Your Honor, I noticed that on your exam paper, you discussed the policies of Great Ning but did not elaborate in detail," Chu Jiubian said. "I assume it was for lack of time and space, but I am very curious about your thoughts. Please elaborate."

Lu Yao's exam paper was filled with an expansive discourse on policy.

Though Chu Jiubian had asked him to address economic matters, he did not limit himself to economics alone. Instead, he extended the discussion to many interconnected issues, connecting them in a coherent whole.

For example, he moved from economics to livelihoods, from livelihoods to land, from land to tax policies, from taxes to influential families, then to court governance, policies keeping the people ignorant, reforms in the imperial examinations, and finally to education and national strategies.

In short, his essay touched on politics, economics, culture, technology, and more.

Limited by space and time, he had to keep it concise, but even so, it revealed the breadth of his vision.

Even Chu Jiubian, who already knew of his capabilities, was astonished.

Such a sweeping and sophisticated perspective—if Chu Jiubian hadn't witnessed the prosperity of later eras and learned from historical cycles, he wouldn't have been able to conceive of it so thoroughly.

Lu Yao was a truly exceptional talent.

If placed elsewhere, he would undoubtedly be a leading figure, one capable of altering the entire course of a dynasty!

If Chu Jiubian was this amazed, Qin Xiao, who was less familiar with Lu Yao's abilities, was all the more astonished.

Qin Xiao looked at the exam paper, frowned slightly, and read the entire policy essay again.

The writing was precise and elegant, the content rich—a piece that could be read over and over. If this essay were published, one could only imagine how the literati nationwide would react.

Even the court officials clearly realized the caliber of talent Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao had brought forth through this imperial examination.

But Qin Xiao's astonishment wasn't solely due to Lu Yao's intellect. Rather, many of the viewpoints and development ideas discussed in the essay echoed precisely what Chu Jiubian had intermittently shared with him.

The fairness of the imperial examinations was Chu Jiubian's top priority, so Qin Xiao didn't suspect that Chu Jiubian had tipped him off about the questions.

While marveling at Lu Yao's profound insights at such a young age, he gained deeper appreciation for Chu Jiubian.

Not for any other reason, but because what Chu Jiubian had described in their conversations was even more comprehensive and advanced than what Lu Yao had written in his essay.

Although Chu Jiubian often said that his unique ideas and insights were inspired by visions from the celestial realm, his ability to integrate them with Great Ning's national conditions and devise a perfect development path for the country was where his true genius lay.

Qin Xiao handed the policy essay to Hong Fu, instructing him to pass it to Baili Hong.

Baili Hong had previously read Lu Yao's Metropolitan Examination paper and already been impressed by his writing.

Upon receiving the policy essay, he was keen to read it immediately.

But down below, Lu Yao had already begun answering the question, so Baili Hong set aside the paper and listened intently to what Lu Yao had to say.

Lu Yao had prepared his response while writing the essay, knowing that Chu Jiubian would call on him.

He needed to demonstrate his capabilities today—not just to establish his name for a future career at court, not only to intimidate these powerful vassal princes and nobles, but also to ensure his ideas would influence the common people throughout Great Ning.

Therefore, he didn't need to be subtle; he needed to take direct aim at these powerful vassal princes and nobles.

Under everyone's gaze, he began, "The economic development of Great Ning is riddled with contradictions. Your student believes this situation is rooted in land-based taxation and, more importantly, the scourge of land consolidation by influential families!"