Starting with a Wei Wu soldier

Chapter 121 The Imperial Examination System

The promulgation of the Star Laws and the trials of several open and fair cases were like a clear spring flowing into the newly expanded lands of Starfire Fortress, beginning to cleanse the old filth and soothe the bewildered hearts. However, the authority of the law needs people to enforce it, the smooth implementation of government orders needs officials to carry them out, and the increasingly large military and political system needs a constant influx of fresh blood. With a population of 40,000, a territory of hundreds of miles, and three prefectures governing the region, the demand for administrative talent suddenly became urgent and enormous.

The old selection methods—mainly relying on recommendations from Chen Xing's core team, promotions of those who performed outstandingly in the war, and limited appointments of former officials who had surrendered—were far from keeping pace with the expansion. The drawbacks began to emerge: some positions remained vacant due to a lack of suitable candidates, hindering the implementation of policies; a few former officials or newcomers hastily placed in positions lacked ability, causing embarrassing situations and even mistakes; and some surrendered leaders even attempted to install their cronies through bribery and personal connections, disrupting normal governance.

That day, in the signing room of the Minzhi Prefecture, Zhao Tiezhu frowned, clutching several petitions from newly attached villages. One petition accused a newly appointed tax official of being ignorant of tax calculations, miscalculating land taxes, and causing a dispute; another complained that a "ditch official" in charge of irrigation in a certain area was originally a minor leader of the Black Mountain Army, completely ignorant of canal construction, yet spent his days drinking and neglecting farming. He handed the petitions to Wu Xuejiu opposite him and sighed, "Old Wu, although the laws have been established, those who enforce them... are of mixed quality. If this continues, not only will the new policies be difficult to implement, but it may also damage the lord's prestige and chill the hearts of the people."

Wu Xuejiu put down his brush, stroked his gray beard, and deeply agreed: "What Zhao Ling said is absolutely right. The key to governing a country lies first and foremost in acquiring the right people. In the past, under the rule of Black Mountain, only personal connections and military strength were valued, not talent and virtue. If our Xinghuo Fort wants to implement new laws and establish new regulations, we need a large number of officials who are knowledgeable in laws and regulations, skilled in practical affairs, and of upright character. However, at present, the number of literate and educated people in our fort is already limited, and most of them are already in office or in the army. If we recruit from outside, we are afraid that there will be a mix of good and bad people, and it will be difficult to distinguish between the loyal and the treacherous."

The two men remained silent, both feeling the immense pressure of the shortage of talent. This pressure was far more daunting than procuring provisions or training the army.

This pressure naturally reached Chen Xing as well. Before him lay a report from Chen Wei of the Military Council, mentioning that less than 10% of the newly recruited auxiliary soldiers were literate, and there was a severe shortage of rank-and-file squad leaders and fire chiefs, seriously affecting training efficiency and the transmission of orders. Although the Censorate was temporarily under his direct jurisdiction, once a new head was appointed, a large number of investigators and auditors proficient in law, meticulous in their thinking, and steadfast in their stance would also be needed.

"It seems it's time." Chen Xing put down the report and looked out the window at the fortress drill ground, which was under expansion. The shouts of new recruits during their drills were full of vigor, but also highlighted the lack of junior officers.

He already had a plan in mind. The imperial examination system, which profoundly influenced China's talent selection for over a thousand years in its original historical context, with its core spirit—breaking down barriers of social class and selecting officials based on talent—was precisely the key to solving the current predicament. Of course, he could not and did not need to completely copy the mature imperial examination system of later generations, but taking its core principles of "open examination, equal competition, and merit-based selection" and combining them with the current reality to create a talent selection mechanism specifically for Xinghuobao was imperative.

The next day, the core meeting was held again.

Chen Xing didn't beat around the bush and directly raised the issue: "The Star Law has been established, and the Three Offices have been set up, but progress in all matters is hampered by a lack of talent. The old method of recommendation is narrow in scope, prone to abuses, and difficult to meet the needs of the times. I propose to emulate the ancient system of 'recommendation' and take the spirit of the 'Imperial Examination' to hold the first public selection of officials at Xinghuo Fort, tentatively named the 'Xinghuo Examination.' What do you all think?"

"Open selection? Examination?" Zhao Tiezhu's eyes lit up. He came from a humble background and knew all too well the difficulties it was for scholars from poor families to rise in the ranks. If such a path truly existed, it would undoubtedly broaden the avenues for talent. "My lord's suggestion is excellent! However... what will the examination cover? How can fairness be ensured? And where will the candidates come from?"

Wu Xuejiu pondered, "My lord wishes to break down social barriers and recruit talents from the common people, which is a grand ambition. However, the examination system for selecting officials has existed since ancient times, but it has often been limited to classical texts and literary composition. I fear that the selected individuals will be good at empty talk but poor in practical matters. Moreover, education in the north is not thriving these days, and there are already few people who are literate. If the standards are too high, I fear that few will respond."

Chen Wei considered the matter from a military perspective: "If we can select literate, mathematically savvy, and rational individuals through examinations to fill lower-level positions and even officer positions in the army, it will greatly benefit the improvement of the army's overall quality. However, military affairs are urgent, and it may be difficult to wait for scholars to slowly study the classics."

After listening, Chen Xing nodded and said, "Your concerns are all reasonable. Therefore, this 'Spark Test' must have the characteristics of a spark, and need not be bound by ancient rules."

He stood up and paced back and forth, saying, "First, the eligibility for the examination. All people under my Xinghuo rule, regardless of their social status, whether they are Han or non-Han, old or new, whether they have previously served Heishan or not, as long as they have a clean background and are between sixteen and forty years old, are eligible to apply! I want to ensure that all ambitious individuals have a path to advancement!"

These words shocked everyone. Regardless of background or past grievances, what magnanimity! Zhao Tiezhu clenched his fist in excitement.

"Secondly, the examination content," Chen Xing continued, "is divided into three sessions. The first session, 'Character Examination,' tests basic literacy, writing, and punctuation. This is the entry level; those who are illiterate cannot serve as officials. The second session, 'Practical Examination,' is the key! The questions are all drawn from daily government and military affairs: how to calculate land taxes? How to mediate neighborhood disputes? How to organize laborers to build irrigation canals? How to transmit emergency military information? How to verify the accounts of granary entries and exits? These are all practical questions that test problem-solving abilities and common sense. The third session, 'Policy Discussion,' presents one or two practical problems that may be encountered in current governance, such as 'how to appease newly surrendered people,' 'how to promote the integration of Han and non-Han peoples,' and 'how to improve transportation in a certain area,' requiring candidates to express their opinions and testing their vision, thinking, and writing skills."

Wu Xuejiu clapped his hands: "Brilliant! Avoiding the weak and focusing on the strong, selecting only capable people! This strategy is excellent!"

Chen Wei nodded: "Practical questions can give veteran soldiers or junior officers with some experience a chance to try."

"Third, ensure fairness." Chen Xing's tone turned serious. "The Ministry of Personnel will take the lead, with the Military Council and the Control Yuan jointly establishing the 'Examination and Merit Bureau,' responsible for setting exam questions, invigilating, and grading papers. Exam questions will be kept strictly confidential, and I will personally review the final version just before the exam. Exam discipline will be strict; those who cheat will never be admitted and will be punished according to the law. Grading will employ the methods of 'anonymizing' and 'copying,' concealing the candidates' names and handwriting. Multiple examiners will independently grade the papers, and the average score will be taken to avoid favoritism. The final list of admitted candidates must be personally reviewed and approved by me."

A complete and workable plan was presented to everyone. Although the details still needed to be improved, the clear direction and logical thinking gave everyone hope.

"When will this test be held? What will happen to the successful candidates?" Zhao Tiezhu asked impatiently.

"Preparations will take time. I'll give you a month," Chen Xing decided. "Mr. Wu, you will be in charge of the Examination and Appointment Department, with Uncle Zhao and Chen Wei assisting you. Li Shu will be responsible for security and oversight. Immediately draft detailed regulations, including registration methods, examination venue setup, examiner selection, marking process, number of admitted students, and subsequent training and appointment plans. Submit these to me within five days. Then, immediately post the 'Opening of the Imperial Examination' notice, along with the 'Star Laws,' widely in Xinghuo Fortress and all newly attached fortified villages, ensuring that everyone knows!"

"Yes, sir!" The crowd responded in unison, their eyes blazing with enthusiasm.

For the next month, everyone in Starfire Fortress was busy preparing for this unprecedented "Starfire Trial." The notices caused a huge stir wherever they were posted.

"Regardless of background or past grievances, as long as one has a clean record, everyone can take the exam?"

"Passing the exam guarantees an official position? A government job?"

"The exam isn't about classical Chinese phrases; it's about accounting, canal repair, and case solving?"

[At this point, I hope readers will remember our domain name: 10 ...

The news spread rapidly through teahouses, fields, and neighborhoods. Countless impoverished scholars who had been overlooked, poor young men with only a rudimentary understanding of literature, lowly clerks who had failed in their clerical and accounting work under the Black Mountain Army, and even some ordinary young people with aspirations for advancement, all felt a burning flame of hope ignite in their hearts. The clerks at Xinghuo Fortress already enjoyed good treatment, and with the guaranteed promotion path provided by the *Star Laws*, how could they not be tempted by such a fair examination opportunity?

In no time, long queues formed in front of the registration point inside Xinghuo Fort, and temporary registration offices were set up in various places of Xinfu. The clerks in charge of registration were extremely busy. Many families rummaged through their drawers and cabinets to find dusty books, or tried every means to borrow copies of "Star Laws" and arithmetic primers, studying them day and night. Some clever people even inquired about possible "practical" questions and discussed them with each other.

A month later, in the mid-autumn season, the sky was high and the air was crisp.

The largest drill ground within Xinghuo Fortress was temporarily converted into an examination hall. Hundreds of simple desks were neatly arranged, and soldiers from the Trapped Camp stood solemnly around the perimeter, halberds in hand, creating a dignified atmosphere. Thousands of candidates who had passed the initial qualification review, carrying small baskets containing writing brushes, ink, and water, entered the examination hall one by one, filled with excitement, nervousness, and anticipation, after passing through strict checks and taking their assigned seats. Among them were simply dressed farm boys, still somewhat immature-looking teenagers, steady-looking middle-aged men, and even a few men with distinctly non-Han Chinese features.

On the high platform, Chen Xing personally presided over the proceedings. Zhao Tiezhu, Wu Xuejiu, Chen Wei, and others stood to his left and right. A bell rang, and the exam papers were distributed.

Inside the examination room, only the scratching of pens on paper could be heard, occasionally punctuated by the soft panting or coughing of students due to nervousness. Everyone was engrossed in writing, pouring their hopes for the future into every word.

Chen Xing's gaze slowly swept across the silent yet vibrant examination hall, his heart filled with conviction. The seeds sown today would surely grow into the strongest pillars for the future of Starfire Fortress.