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Chang'an is as prosperous as ever, but many changes have quietly taken place in the market.

Among the neighborhoods, many outsiders with unfamiliar accents appeared in many houses and houses.

Moreover, this situation is becoming more and more common every day.

So many people found that they suddenly had a new neighbor overnight.

Big businessmen from Guandong, waving gold and five-baht coins, bought real estate in Chang'an City.

Qi Li and the others couldn't squeeze in.

But Shangguanli and the land around it were speculated to the sky by these people.

But after all, these big dog owners are only a minority.

If a county has one or two such big dog owners, it is already very good.

How many counties are there in the whole world?

The large influx of middle class people from Guandong was what caught the people of Chang'an off guard.

These young people who come to Chang'an with the dream of taking part in the examination next year, or of becoming a high-ranking official and becoming a successful person, often start their journey with thousands or tens of thousands of money in their arms.

After arriving in Chang'an, they rented some relatively cheap and economical houses.

Some people even share apartments with others to reduce financial pressure.

"Yan Yi's statistics show that there are nearly 30,000 scholars from Guandong in Chang'an City now!" Ji An sat on the carriage, opened the curtain, and looked at the flow of people outside the window, feeling worried.

A group of thirty thousand scholars!

Moreover, the number of people is still increasing!

Hundreds or even thousands of scholars from Guandong enter Hangu Pass every day.

A few years ago, when the late emperor was on the throne, the total number of scholars from hundreds of schools in the world was probably only about 50,000.

But since taking office today, this number has snowballed and begun to expand infinitely.

First of all, today we encourage and reward private schools.

Schools all over the world, encouraged by the imperial court's policies, absorbed a large number of students.

In Yingchuan County Middle School alone, there are hundreds of schools.

Some academies only have three or five disciples, but those in famous universities often have hundreds of disciples.

The source of students has expanded, but their qualifications have become mixed.

In the past, scholars who dared to call themselves scholars had to at least concentrate on the guidance and teachings of their teachers. After studying hard for ten years, they dare not say that they fully understood what they had learned. At least they had to understand what their teachers taught them.

Dare to go out on study tours and talk with heroes from all over the world.

What about now?

A few guys who have been studying for two or three years and have just learned how to write and arithmetic, and have never even read the classics, dare to wear a sword, wear a crown of advancement, and call themselves scholars. We must put "the world as the priority"

.

For a time, the gentlemen were sweeping the floor, and the scholars and scholars were in ruins.

In the past, a scholar who was respected by others and served as a model and example for the world.

Nowadays, at least in Chang'an, there is no big difference from ordinary people.

This is like the stars of later generations who have countless crazy fans.

But among those who deal with celebrities every day, few are star-chasing.

Worship, respect, or admiration are all things created by distance and one's own imagination, and are most easily broken and destroyed by reality.

"Should I talk to His Majesty..." Ji An thought in his mind.

Maintaining the status and special treatment of scholars is something that all schools of thought, regardless of faction, will do.

The butt determines the head!

But the current situation has become very subtle.

A bunch of children of emerging middle-class landowners and businessmen found a teacher near their home, studied for two or three years, and then rushed to Chang'an excitedly, clamoring to take the exam.

Thousands of troops and horses crossed the single-plank bridge together.

During this process, it often happened that the old master was beaten to death with random punches.

For example, in last year's examination, a certain scholar who had studied for three years and was a self-taught scholar made it to the third round.

But many scholars who have been studying for ten years or even since they were born have fallen into disgrace and died for the second time.

Can you say that the scholar who made it to the third round was not a scholar?

Believe it or not, if tens of thousands of "scholars" rioted together, Tumo Xingzi would drown you?

Moreover, for the sake of profit, teachers and scholars in those local academies will also join the ranks of protecting these people.

The reason for this phenomenon is also very clear to Ji An.

This is what is bound to happen with the examination system designed today.

The test questions mainly test common sense content, and even the most difficult test questions are mostly arithmetic.

In all the files, there is not a single question that tests some subtle meaning or explains "why the saint did what he did."

Even the classic questions involved are mostly fill-in-the-blank questions and dictation questions.

Who can't do this?

"How is the emperor's examination selecting talents for the country? It is clearly selecting swordsmen, pens, and officials!" Similar discussions have long been held in the public opinion circles.

However, due to the recent influx of more and more "scholars" in Chang'an City, it has even formed a phenomenon and has become the focus of public opinion.

Countless people cried out bitterly that we should raise the threshold of the examination, add understanding of the classics and the words and deeds of the sages, express and elaborate on the topics, so as to truly select the "pillars of the country".

Although Ji An felt that this did seem to make some sense.

But he couldn't support it.

Not only cannot we support it, we must stand up and oppose it!

The reason is simple.

Although he did not climb up through the examination, his capable officers and confidants all came from the examination.

If he dares to agree with these arguments, his subordinates will immediately rebel.

In the past four rounds of examinations, a total of more than 7,000 officials have contributed to the Han Dynasty.

Although the vast majority of these officials are just junior officials from a certain township, such as wall men or pavilion chiefs, who can barely be regarded as officials.

But they have formed an interest group that is scary enough.

Coming from the examination system, they will naturally protect this system.

What's even more frightening is that now, more than 60% of the grassroots officials in Guanzhong are already these scholars.

They have built a huge system from top to bottom.

He went up to the ministers who served the emperor, and went down to the countryside to manage and organize the people, and traveled around.

From the civilian officers in the army who serve as counselors and staff officers to generals, to the supervisors who hold rulers and guide workers in the workshops.

They have penetrated into every aspect and every system of the Han Empire.

Want to challenge them?

Unless we take action today, no one can deal with it.

Even today's prime minister may lose a tooth if he is not careful.

Thinking of this, Ji An sighed.

He knew that it would be useless whether he said it or not.

The general trend of the examination has been achieved and cannot be reversed without human effort.

Ji An couldn't help but sigh. Then, he lowered his head and looked at the memorial he was going to report to the emperor.

He is a minister, even though the outside world says, "Although he is not the ninth minister, he is actually the ninth minister."

But in fact, it is no different from all the ministerial orders of the Han Dynasty in the past.

He was a secretary who read memorials to the emperor and compiled documents.

If there is any authority, it is only because of the blessing of the emperor.

The carriage passed through the imperial road of Chang'an City and soon entered the palace grounds of Weiyang Palace.

After passing through the palace gate, Ji An got off at Simamen just like before.

Then, he saw Yan Yi, who had been transferred to the Nei Shi Yamen and served as the Nei Shi Cheng.

"Ji Shangshu!" Yan Yi saw Ji An, walked up to him, bowed his hands and said, "I've been waiting here for a long time, Shangshu!"
To be continued...