Li Xiaoyi and Wang Fangyi came to Zixiao Temple at almost the same time. At that time, Chen Jingke was chatting happily with Kong Yingda.
Kong Yingda came here to deliver a new batch of dictionaries. This kind of work naturally did not require him, a prince of the country, to come over to offer wine. His real purpose was to meet Yihe and others.
After meeting these young and outrageous editors and talking with them, he said with great emotion:
"Seeing you is like seeing the future of the literary world. There will be successors, and there will be successors."
This was the first time that everyone was praised by a contemporary scholar in person, and they were all very happy.
Chen Jingke smiled and said, "To get such compliments from you is enough for them to show off for a lifetime."
Kong Yingda said modestly: "Thank you for your praise. Many of your ideas are thought-provoking, so why not write them into a book?"
Chen Jingke shook his head and said: "Everyone has an idea. To turn it into a book requires profound knowledge and rich experience, and these two are what I lack most right now."
"Let's wait a few years to write a book, so as not to waste these ideas and make people laugh."
Kong Yingda said approvingly: "The real person's concerns are not unreasonable. Anyway, you are still young. It will not be too late to write a book in twenty years."
Chen Jingke said "Ah, yes, yes, yes" on the surface, but what he was thinking in his heart was: Let alone twenty years, I don't want to wait for two years, time is not waiting for me.
Moreover, my most important knowledge has already been developed and is slowly being incubated: science.
However, he would not say this directly, or he would not tell anyone, and there was no way to explain it.
Just do it slowly, and when the day comes, everything will fall into place naturally.
The two chatted about academic matters for a while, and then turned the topic to the ongoing academic administration and the upcoming imperial examination system.
Chen Jingke talked about some mature experiences of later generations, as well as the problems that will be encountered and how to solve them, etc.
Kong Yingda was very happy and admired Chen Jingke very much.
I have heard rumors before that this Mr. Chen is not a simple person. He is behind many new things that have appeared in recent years. Now it seems that the rumors may not be false.
So he specifically asked about the imperial examination system: "The sage plans to establish the imperial examination in all states and counties next year, and in three years it will be spread to every county. I wonder if you have any suggestions?"
This plan was made by him, how could Chen Jingke not know what was going on.
Moreover, the plan for Li Shimin mentioned all the little tricks such as name anonymity, copying and correcting papers, cross-marking by multiple people, and the need to publish all the papers on the list.
The above are all summed up experiences from past dynasties, and the Tang Dynasty got it right in one step.
But recently he did think of another loophole, related to cheating. He originally wanted to tell Li Shimin, but the same thing happened to Kong Yingda, so he said:
"The original plan was that each candidate would have a private room, and all the food, accommodation, and test papers would be taken in there."
Kong Yingda said: "Yes, this method has been used before to prevent plagiarism from each other."
Chen Jingke shook his head violently and said: "Wrong, wrong, wrong, absolutely wrong. Not only does this law not prohibit cheating, but it will make cheating rampant."
Kong Yingda smiled and said: "You are talking about entrainment, right? We have already thought of this. Just search yourself before entering the examination room. Although it is insulting to politeness, it is also to ensure fairness and justice."
Chen Jingke knew that he had not yet realized the craziness of cheating after the rise of imperial examinations, so he gave a brief reminder:
"What if someone writes the article on cloth, sews it in the middle of clothes, or puts it in the soles of shoes?"
"Candidates need to bring their own food. Why did someone write the words very small, then ball up the paper and stuff it into the soybeans?"
Kong Yingda was very surprised. There were too many cheating methods, too hidden and too difficult to guard against.
But what Chen Jingke said next made him completely collapse: "What if someone stuffed the article into the valley?"
Kong Yingda was dumbfounded. The scene of opening his buttocks to check the valley road appeared in his mind involuntarily. He shuddered violently. It was so terrifying.
"No... not that much."
Chen Jingke said: "When you can become an official after passing the exam, when tens of thousands of people compete for hundreds of places, when some people still fail to get what they want after taking the exam for 20 or 30 years, nothing is impossible."
In the past, when there was a monopoly on knowledge, most of the people who could study were from wealthy families, and those who participated in the imperial examinations were basically these people.
There are many paths for them, and even if they fail to pass the exam, they can still become officials through other channels. Even if they don't become officials, they are still celebrities in the local area. They have ancestral property for them to eat, drink and have fun, so they don't have to go out of their way to stuff answers into the valley.
However, as knowledge gradually becomes more popular and there are more and more scholars, and the only way for society to provide jobs for scholars is the imperial examination, certain things will inevitably happen.
Kong Yingda had never experienced the world after the popularization of knowledge, so it was normal to think of this situation. Except for him, no one in the Tang Dynasty at this time except Chen Jingke could have thought of this.
But the great thing about a wise man is that he can have a premonition of what may happen through other people's descriptions.
Kong Yingda is undoubtedly a very smart person, so after listening to his description, his expression became serious.
"If it is as the real person said, then this matter must be prevented. Since you have a premonition, you must have a way to deal with it, right?"
Chen Jingke said: "There is an immature idea to gather everyone in one place for exams and let them monitor each other."
His solution was simple: cancel the one-room-for-life system. Divide the Gongyuan into two parts, one is the residential area and the other is the examination area.
If you take an exam during the day, you must enter the exam room within the specified time. You will not be able to leave until the time is up, and then you will move into the residential area together.
As for whether the candidates will face the answers in the residential area, it is up to them to communicate as they like, as long as they do not communicate in the examination room.
Moreover, in the examination room, everyone is a competitor, who would easily reveal the answers to each other?
After Kong Yingda thought about it, he said with deep approval: "Okay, this method is indeed good. There is no better way than mutual supervision. I will go to the palace to discuss this matter with the saint later."
After saying that, he cupped his hands towards Chen Jingke and said, "Thank you, Master, for your guidance, otherwise we will leave hidden dangers for future generations."
Chen Jingke said: "Kong Jiu is too polite, it's his duty."
After a few more pleasantries, Kong Yingda stood up and said goodbye. Before leaving, he went to Wang Yuetan's office to say goodbye to Yihe and the others.
It shows how much he loves this group of people.
After they left, Wu Shu came over happily with an account book and said: "Finally, we have taken away all these dictionaries. Our warehouse can hardly hold them."
"Not to mention it takes up a lot of space, but it also has to be protected from fire, moisture, insects and rats, which is really troublesome. Now that it's all gone, we can save our worries."
After her marriage, she became more and more beautiful, her eyebrows became more charming, and her figure seemed to be expanding again.
At this time, Chen Jingke's heart was beating wildly at the sight of Qiao's beautiful smile. He looked around and no one came forward to hug her, rubbed her cheek and neck with his face, and said: "Tonight..."
Wu Shu's body softened and she leaned into his arms. Her pretty face was flushed and her eyes were intoxicated. She bit her lip and said, "Isn't it the turn of those two tonight? Are you willing to do it?"
Chen Jingke's mind was full of peaches, so he didn't have the time to care about Qingxing. He said, "It's not the wheel. Do I need to discuss with others where I want to sleep?"
Wu Shu lay in his arms and chuckled: "The real man is really manly. I like him very much."
Chen Jingke: "..."
After being intimate for a while, he rearranged his clothes and came to the front yard to meet his two future subordinates.
"You two must have been waiting impatiently. I'm really sorry. Kong Jijiu came to visit just now and I really couldn't leave."
Li Xiaoyi and Wang Fangyi stood up and said, "I have seen the captain, but we came at the wrong time."
The two of them didn't feel anxious at all. When they learned that the other was their future colleague, they tentatively chatted.
Then I found that the other person's talent was no less than my own, and while I admired him, I also wanted to make friends.
One was intentional and the other was intentional, and the more they chatted, the more they became more and more speculative. If Chen Jingke didn't come, they could talk until night.
Chen Jingke came to the main seat and sat down, saying: "Sit down, you two don't need me to introduce you?"
The two of them looked at each other and smiled, and Li Xiaoyi said: "No need to trouble the captain, Captain You and I hit it off right away."
Wang Fangyi was stunned for a moment. He didn't expect Li Xiaoyi to admit it so readily. The relationship between the two direct subordinates was very good, how could the general be happy?
Then he fell into doubt. Did Li Xiaoyi really not know this, or did he completely ignore the Qianqi Captain?
It's not like that. When we were chatting just now, his respect for the captain didn't look fake.
Chen Jingke didn't know what he was thinking. Hearing Li Xiaoyi's words, he smiled and said, "Haha, that's good. I was worried that you two wouldn't get along."
"Your Majesty and I have been working hard for you two to come here for several months. Please don't cause any conflict, otherwise I won't be able to enter the palace."
Both of them were surprised. They didn't expect that it was his request that they come to Qianqi.
But their surprises were also different. What surprised Li Xiaoyi was how did he know about him?
What surprised Wang Fangyi was that it was him who asked for him to come to Qianqi? If this was true, then he would have to reconsider what his grandmother said about him just having a name but no real power.
Chen Jingke continued: "I won't ask too much about Qian Qi's affairs. The usual management depends on you two."
The two men stood up quickly and said: "My subordinates must work together with the Zuo Captain/Right Captain to manage Qianqi well and not let the Captain down."
Chen Jingke waved his hands and said: "Just sit down and talk... As the saying goes, you should be polite before fighting. There are a few ugly things I want to say."
"Everyone must learn what I teach, and the decisions I make must be implemented."
"If anyone violates the rules and is related to us both inside and outside the family, I will not punish you, but I will ask His Majesty to transfer you away."
The two of them looked stern and said: "I only obey the command of the captain."
Chen Jingke nodded, then put on a smile and said, "Let's talk about something else. I don't like to be secretive. I always say what I have to say."
"Qianqi is an experiment, used to verify something for the saints and civil and military ministers to see. After the experiment is completed, regardless of success or failure, Qianqi will be disbanded. By that time, everyone will be dispersed to various armies."
"It makes no sense for you to fight for power and intrigue here. Instead of engaging in meaningless competition, it is better to cooperate and complete this experiment well. Only then will everyone have a bright future."
"Yes." The two of them looked at each other and saw the surprise in each other's eyes. Is Qianqi an experiment?
Chen Jingke said: "Because of your special status, I will tell you the truth. Don't tell others, so as not to cause unnecessary confusion."
The two said: "Yes, I will keep my mouth shut."
Then Chen Jingke talked to them about his ideas and the points of reform, so that they could cooperate with him in conducting experiments.
When the two of them heard that everyone was literate, everyone understood the art of war, they loved soldiers like sons, the military and civilians were in harmony with each other, and they were building a high-quality new army, they were shocked.
Not only were he shocked by Chen Jingke's strange idea, but he was also shocked that the emperor would allow him to conduct such an experiment?
Li Xiaoyi confirmed one thing in his heart. This Mr. Chen is indeed extraordinary. My uncle did not lie to me.
Chen Jingke didn't care whether the two of them could accept it or not, and talked with them for more than two hours before ending the meeting.
Looking at the two people who were walking a little confused, he showed a wicked smile.
He did it on purpose, wanting to see the acceptance and coping methods of talents whose names have been recorded in history.
After seeing the two of them off, he looked at the sky and sighed.
Why isn't it dark yet?
…
Let's say that Li Xiaoyi did not go home after leaving Zixiao Temple. Instead, he went to his uncle Li Shenfu, told today's conversation exactly as it was, and asked: "Is everything he said true?"
Li Shenfu looked calm and said: "Really, that's why the saint has never used Baiqisi again when traveling this year."
Li Xiaoyi took a deep breath and said: "Such a... strange idea, how could a saint actually agree to it?"
Li Shenfu said: "That's why I said that his status in His Majesty's heart is much higher than you think."
Li Xiaoyi nodded, and then asked: "But, do I really want to learn what he taught me?"
Li Shenfu affirmed: "Learn, you must learn. But what you should believe and what you shouldn't believe is up to you."
Li Xiaoyi suddenly realized: "I understand."
…
After Wang Fangyi returned home, he went straight to see Princess Tong'an. He did not dare to say that Qian Qi was a test subject. He just said:
"Grandma, Chen Zhenren's Qianqi Captain may not be as simple as you think. It is probably true."
Princess Tongan asked: "Oh, what did you find?"
Wang Fangyi thought for a while and said: "Liang Jungong and I were able to serve in Qianqi because of his suggestion to the saint. Moreover, he can ask the saint to transfer us at any time."
Princess Tong'an said in confusion: "The saint actually asked him to serve as the captain of Qianqi. What did he think?"
Wang Fangyi shook his head and said: "No one can guess the thoughts of the saint, but fortunately you are mature and prudent and allowed me to visit Captain Chen, otherwise there will be trouble later."
Princess Tong'an said proudly: "It's good to know. Although you are smart, you are still young and have a lot to learn."
…
The establishment of Qianqi was progressing very quickly. The emperor gave the order at the end of September and the soldiers were basically in place by the beginning of October.
But this matter did not attract everyone's attention, because at this time, the court announced several major actions one after another.
