With the process of the life simulator as inspiration for plagiarism, Chu Chen created a miracle with his actions.
A lamp, a pen, and one night, a miracle was born.
The plan for the six subjects of the imperial examination was written down, along with a copy and organization. The systems of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Chamber of Commerce were also written out, and then all these were sewn together into booklets with string.
"Damn, I can't take it anymore, I need a break. I'll sleep first."
Chu Chen put down his brush, feeling the fatigue in his palms, wrists, and energy, and complained, "I didn't expect that I, a dignified Foundation Establishment realm cultivator, couldn't handle so much homework!"
He opened the door and called a servant to take his place at the imperial city, meaning he would not attend today's court session.
Then, Chu Chen returned to his room and fell asleep.
He slept until four in the afternoon before getting out of bed.
"It's about an hour until evening. I didn't expect I slept for so long!"
"Forget it, it's not a big deal to be a little late. I'll deal with it tomorrow."
Chu Chen ordered food to be prepared and ate heartily.
The next day, Chu Chen was absent from the court session again. After the court session ended, he estimated that the Empress had finished her meal and was taking a nap before heading to the imperial city.
The Empress was still summoning Chu Chen in the imperial study.
With a hint of anticipation, she asked, "Chu Chen, you've come to see me. Have you written down the plan?"
Chu Chen nodded and placed one or two booklets on the table.
The Empress picked up one of them and began to read.
"Articles, poems, and the Four Books and Five Classics are all classified as 'Guoyu'? That's not bad, but why is 'Suanchou' included in the imperial examinations, and as a separate subject? What is the meaning of these scores?"
After reading for a while, the Empress encountered content she didn't understand and looked up with a frown, asking, "Your Majesty, Suanchou is a very necessary separate subject. All officials, whether in the court or in the local government, will use Suanchou. Without knowing Suanchou, they cannot count numbers and naturally cannot do their jobs well."
"If Your Majesty is interested, you will discover something."
Chu Chen cupped his hands and replied unhurriedly.
"Oh? What is it?" The Empress raised an eyebrow and asked curiously.
Chu Chen smiled slightly and said, "In the court and local governments, all corrupt officials are skilled in Suanchou among their peers. These people calculate in their minds with great speed, treating officialdom as a business. They think about how much cost they have invested and how much time they need to extort the people's wealth to recoup their losses."
The Empress fell silent for a moment, recalling past court sessions, and found that it was indeed as Chu Chen said. At least the management of the faction led by Chen Yuanliang was like this.
She sighed, "You are right. These corrupt officials are very proficient in arithmetic and algebra, otherwise, they couldn't embezzle so much money."
After speaking, the Empress no longer objected to Suanchou being a separate subject in the imperial examinations and continued to ask, "What is the purpose of the scores?"
Speaking of scores, Chu Chen's smile widened, "This imperial examination is divided into six subjects, each with a certain score. The scores are allocated more or less according to practical application and importance. After the scholars take the exam, the one with the highest comprehensive score will be considered the most balanced talent."
"Of course, if needed, promotions and appointments can also be made based on scores in individual subjects. For example, if the Ministry of Revenue lacks a Suanchou expert, the person with the highest Suanchou score in the final examination can be directly assigned to the Ministry of Revenue."
The Empress was stunned for a moment, somewhat surprised that scores had such a function.
Her furrowed brow relaxed, and she smiled, "So that's how it is. These scores are like a ruler, measuring a person's talent in a certain aspect. I understand, and I think this method is very good."
After speaking, she continued to read and, upon seeing "Physics," asked with confusion, "What kind of subject is this Physics?"
"Your Majesty, Physics is the study of 'Gewu' (the investigation of things), the fundamental laws governing the operation of all things in heaven and earth. For example, why is there light in the sky, where does the sun's light come from, why does water flow from east to west, and why do people fall downwards when they jump from a height, instead of being blown into the air like leaves by the wind."
"All of this has its laws, and I have summarized these laws as Physics."
Chu Chen's words about Physics shocked the Empress. No one had ever said such things before, and she herself had never paid attention to them.
Now that Chu Chen mentioned it, the Empress was also curious. Why did these phenomena occur?
"Can Physics truly explore and verify natural laws?" the Empress couldn't help but ask.
"Of course, it can. Discovering laws is simple; it only requires a hint, a leader, and attention. However, mastering and applying them in daily life requires not only a lot of time for research but also substantial financial support."
"But once researched and applied, the benefits are immense. For example, the waterwheel I invented utilizes the principle that objects fall when thrown from a height and the principle of water flowing from east to west."
"This is the benefit brought by Physics."
Watching Chu Chen speak so clearly and logically, the Empress's mouth slightly parted, wanting to say something but afraid of embarrassing herself.
Finally, she said, "If you publish a book on Physics in the future, bring it to me to read and broaden my horizons."
"Your subject obeys!"
Chu Chen cupped his hands and smiled, feeling proud of the shocked expression on the Empress's face.
With her curiosity about Physics piqued, the Empress continued to read.
For the remaining subjects of Politics and Agriculture, the Empress glanced at them and understood their purpose. Combined with the scores, it was all about summarization and specialization.
The Empress had no objections to this. However, regarding cultivation, the Empress pondered for a long time, unable to make up her mind, and asked, "The imperial examinations select civil officials. Why add cultivation as a requirement?"
"Your Majesty, the body is the foundation of everything. Although civil officials do not need to fight on the battlefield, local officials have to travel through the countryside, and they need a good body to govern the area. Even officials in the court have to travel around and sometimes stay up late to handle urgent state affairs."
"And for the Ministry of Works, how can they conduct on-site inspections for water conservancy projects and teach agricultural techniques without a good body?"
Chu Chen paused slightly at this point and smiled, "Furthermore, my requirements for the cultivation of scholars are very low, only requiring the most basic Body Tempering realm. Ordinary blacksmiths who have been working for years have this level."
The Empress nodded, recalling the frail appearance of many scholars. They indeed needed good health.
She knew that by including cultivation in the imperial examinations, scholars who wished to become officials in the future would definitely strengthen their physical training or increase their cultivation, indirectly improving the overall physical fitness of the citizens of Yunyue Kingdom.
Although the individual requirements were low, it was a significant step forward for the overall physical fitness and cultivation of the citizens of Yunyue Kingdom.
Of course, if not for the high yield of those three new crops, the Empress would not have agreed.
The Empress then looked at the plans for the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Chamber of Commerce, much of which she did not understand.
However, the Empress had become smarter. Since she didn't understand but knew they were useful, she decided not to inquire further and would know their merits and demerits once they were implemented.