"It seems my idea was not wrong; not offending the gentry, powerful families, and the elite all at once means I won't face immediate collapse."
After reviewing the realm of his spiritual platform, Chu Chen reflected on the process of this life simulation. It was somewhat better than the last, but still insufficient.
"Yet, I was still besieged by surrounding nations. Is there a way to prevent them from attacking? The effect of the 'Era of Peace' achievement only applies to sudden declarations of war; it cannot counter wars that have been planned and prepared for a long time."
"It's not a perfect method to avoid war. I wonder if I'll be able to unlock talents or achievements in the future that completely prevent invasions."
Chu Chen sighed, harboring some hope but feeling it was unlikely.
"Next, I'll wait for the Royal Merchant Guild to take effect. However, before that, I'll simulate a few more lives."
With that thought, Chu Chen opened the Life Simulation System again and began a new round of self-simulation.
He conducted ten life simulations intermittently, pausing after each to summarize his experiences and thoughts. By the sixth simulation, he had achieved a rather satisfactory path of reform.
The subsequent four simulations yielded no significant changes.
[Congratulations to the host for completing self-life simulation, gaining 120 points. Current points: 30,000.]
[...]
He glanced at the available talents, none of which seemed particularly impressive. Chu Chen casually selected one and smiled, looking at the thirty thousand points in his account.
"Now I have thirty thousand points, which seems enough for thirty draws. However, there's no rush. I'll draw when the need arises."
Chu Chen closed the system and lay down to sleep.
This mundane routine of clocking in at the administrative office daily and handling official matters continued until after the autumn harvest, when Chu Chen finally broke free from this state.
On this day, in the Hall of State, the Empress sat high on her throne, with civil and military officials arranged on either side. Chu Chen occupied the foremost position among the civil officials.
Within the hall, three hundred tribute students stood nervously.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, all three hundred tribute students have arrived!"
Wu Sheng, the Minister of Rites, announced with a cupped fist.
The Empress nodded, trying to maintain an air of authority while also conveying a touch of warmth. She smiled and said, "You, the tribute scholars, have emerged victorious from the rigorous selection process and are all pillars of the Yunyue Kingdom."
"In this imperial examination, only the top thirty will be granted the title of Jinshi. The remaining two hundred and seventy will be bestowed the title of Tong Jinshi Chushen."
"With this status, you may all serve as officials and clerks. I urge you all to continue to be diligent and not to be disheartened by failure."
"Your humble subjects obey!" the three hundred tribute students quickly bowed.
The Empress smiled slightly and beckoned. A eunuch placed the manuscripts on the dragon table. The Empress glanced at them and said, "The imperial examination is for me to assess your strategies for governing the nation, your suggestions, and your policies. You may speak freely and boldly; I hereby grant you amnesty for any offense."
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace!"
The three hundred tribute students were extremely excited. What was the purpose of studying the classics if not to rise in rank and fortune, or to have a stage to perform their strategies for governing the nation?
Now that His Majesty was personally asking for their policy proposals, they were naturally thrilled.
The Empress looked at the papers on the dragon table and asked, "The first policy question: How should Yunyue Kingdom develop its national strength?"
"Your Majesty grants you a quarter of an hour to ponder. After a quarter of an hour, you will answer in order from front to back!" the old eunuch beside her shouted.
"Your humble subjects thank Your Majesty for your grace!"
The three hundred tribute students bowed according to the etiquette previously taught by the Ministry of Rites, not daring to show any disrespect.
They then earnestly considered how to answer this policy question to satisfy His Majesty and the ministers present, so that they might pass the imperial examination and become Jinshi.
A quarter of an hour later, the old eunuch immediately shouted, "The response to the first policy question begins now!"
Soon, the tribute student standing at the very front bowed with a cupped fist and said, "Your Majesty, your humble subject believes that the key to increasing our dynasty's national strength lies in the hearts of the people. When the people's aspirations are unified, they will work together to serve the nation."
"Therefore, your humble subject believes that local taxes should be reduced, allowing the common people to have surplus money and their households to have surplus grain. This will lead to an increase in population. If our dynasty's population doubles within twenty years, our national strength will naturally flourish, effectively doubling!"
The answer of this first tribute student was faultless. The Empress nodded in acknowledgment and then pointed to two characters on a piece of paper on the table. The old eunuch beside her understood and immediately bent down to write on a small side table.
After the eunuch finished writing, he shouted, "If there are no additions, the next person will answer."
"Your humble subject has no additions."
As soon as the first tribute student finished speaking, the second tribute student replied, "Reporting to Your Majesty, your humble subject believes that a prosperous populace leads to a prosperous nation, and a strong populace leads to a strong nation. Therefore, increasing national strength must begin with improving the lives of the people. Since ancient times, food has been paramount to the people. The yellow earth of the fields is everything to the common folk. They spend their lives cultivating the land, and each has their own understanding and achievements in farming."
"Your humble subject believes that if officials are dispatched to collect the farming experiences of various commoners, compile them into a book, and organize them, then the knowledge and experience of officials related to the imperial fields will be promoted. This will lead the common people to improve their farming methods, including tools, planting techniques, tax discussions, and crop varieties. Thus, farmers will increase their yields, and the nation's grain trade will increase, leading to greater commerce."
"Like the surging of water, the rolling of mountain snow, a great momentum can be achieved, and naturally, the people will be prosperous, the nation will be prosperous, the people will be strong, and the nation will be strong!"
The Empress nodded, her expressionless face indicating that he had barely passed.
Following him, many other tribute students answered in turn, but none could elicit a look of joy from the Empress. Their policy proposals were all similar, yet like castles in the air, lacking any practical foundation.
Subsequently, the Empress had the old eunuch randomly select fifty people to test their familiarity with the Four Books and Five Classics, and also to test specific agricultural matters, such as when to sow, how to cultivate, when to harvest, and how much grain to obtain.
Afterward, she had the old eunuch conduct a random check of their arithmetic skills.
Finally, the Empress asked, "What should our Yunyue Kingdom do now?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, your humble subject believes that filling vacant official positions and assigning officials to take office is an internal matter; transporting grain and fodder to the first, second, and third lines of defense to prevent invasion by enemy countries is an external matter. Only by combining internal and external measures can we achieve long-term stability."
After the tribute student at the forefront finished answering, several others followed suit.
Amidst the crowd, a man with a goatee, thin in build, and over thirty years old, suddenly lowered his head and chuckled. He thought he was unnoticed, but to his surprise, the Empress perceived it immediately.
She then asked, "The one with five horizontal strokes and six vertical strokes, why do you laugh?"
"Uh~" The goatee tribute student was stunned for a moment. He cupped his fist and shouted, "Replying to Your Majesty, your humble subject heard something amusing and could not help but laugh. I beg Your Majesty's punishment."