Chapter 2809

Chapter 2809: Fifth-Rank Reader

Naturally, after Yun Xi returned, he met many old friends and shared his insights on various subjects, making his homecoming a complete success.

Upon returning to the capital, Yun Xi did not rush to report for duty at the Hanlin Academy. Instead, he rested at home for about five days before officially ending his leave and entering the academy.

As the first person in the dynasty’s history to enter as a Fifth-Rank Reader directly after becoming the Zhuangyuan (top scholar), he naturally faced some exclusion from others in the Hanlin Academy.

However, this gave Yun Xi more time. He needed time to adjust his state of mind. This exclusion was actually beneficial, allowing him to focus on his own tasks.

His first task was to read through all the historical records and documents left by previous dynasties in the Hanlin Academy. His second task was to construct the outline for the assessment tasks given by Wang Lanxuan. His third task was to let people ignore him, which allowed him to understand the situation in the Hanlin Academy more quickly.

It had been twenty consecutive days since Yun Xi entered the Hanlin Academy. As a Fifth-Rank Reader, he had not yet been summoned by the Emperor. This led everyone to believe that the Emperor had appointed him to the Fifth Rank solely because he had achieved the rare feat of passing six examinations at once.

In reality, the Emperor had wanted to see Yun Xi for a long time. However, knowing that Yun Xi needed time to adapt to the Hanlin Academy and understand its affairs, the Emperor decided to give him a month to familiarize himself with the environment.

Sure enough, once thirty days had passed, the Emperor sent Li Sheng to summon Yun Xi.

Regardless of the circumstances, Yun Xi was an Imperial Reader. Therefore, the Emperor seeing him was a legitimate and open matter.

It was only then that the talents in the Hanlin Academy realized that the Emperor had never forgotten about Yun Xi.

Yun Xi followed Li Sheng to the Imperial Study and bowed to the Emperor.

The Emperor smiled lightly and said, "Wangzhi, how have you felt during this month?"

The Emperor seemed quite familiar and approachable.

Yun Xi paused slightly at the Emperor’s attitude, then replied, "My feeling this month is that two-thirds of the people in the Hanlin Academy are just going through the motions, treating this place as a spot to polish their resumes."

Because of the rule that one could not enter the Grand Secretariat without being a Hanlin scholar, entering the Hanlin Academy had become the dream of many candidates. Those who entered felt they had taken a major step in life, leading to a mindset of "ringing the bell for a day as a monk for a day" within the academy.

The Emperor laughed, and Wang Lanxuan beside him also smiled.

"See? I told you this boy couldn’t be fooled," Wang Lanxuan said.

The Emperor nodded slightly and said, "Therefore, Wangzhi, if I handed the Hanlin Academy over to you, how would you handle it?"

Yun Xi looked at the Emperor and asked, "Does Your Majesty plan to start reforms from the Hanlin Academy?"

"The framework for local reforms is gradually taking shape," the Emperor did not answer directly. Wang Lanxuan began to explain, "Starting from agriculture, commerce, and industry. The Emperor’s work over the past few years has not been in vain. These areas are starting to develop. Since these are foundational sectors, those who passed the imperial examinations did not take them seriously."

"How pedantic," Yun Xi sighed. "Without farmers, how would there be food and clothing? Without merchants, how would refined goods circulate? Without workers, how would houses be sturdy and roads smooth? In my view, among the four classes—scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants—I look down most on those who only speak in classical particles like 'zhi hu zhe ye.' Many of them come from farming backgrounds, yet they consider themselves superior. I say, Your Majesty, if you want to reform the imperial examinations, the foundation is not in the Hanlin Academy, but in every candidate. If children from all four classes could participate, talent would not be restricted by rigid categories."

"Unrestricted by rigid categories?" The Emperor pondered slightly.

Yun Xi nodded. "Let me put it this way. Currently, besides the descendants of scholars, only descendants of farmers can take the imperial examinations. Those with merchant or artisan household registrations are not allowed. But Your Majesty, look at the Ministry of Revenue. They calculate silver every day and worry about the nation’s funds. If someone skilled in commerce managed it, knowing how to use existing resources to create more wealth, wouldn’t that be better? Descendants of scholar families clearly cannot do this because they look down on merchants, considering them stinking of copper coins. But they don’t think: without merchants, how would they see goods transported from outside? How would currency circulate? Which family’s development doesn’t require money? Those who say merchants stink of copper coins are actually envious and resentful because they cannot earn money themselves."

Yun Xi paused. "As for artisans, their crafts greatly enrich current life. For example, the wheels on carriages. Without them, how would those not skilled in riding and shooting travel? Would they really rely on two legs? Without artisans, there would be no boats on rivers or bridges. I say, those who claim artisan household registration is lowly are actually lowly in their own thinking."

"You are right," the Emperor admitted. "But this year’s imperial examinations have already passed. It seems difficult to improve the examinations now."

"It can be said to be difficult, but it can also be said to be easy," Yun Xi said with a faint smile. "A few days ago, I saw that the previous dynasty once held a special academy called the Talent Academy. The talents there were truly unrestricted. They could learn accounting, artisan skills, or various other knowledge. The excellent ones, such as those learning accounting, could enter the Ministry of Revenue from the lowest position and gradually promote based on annual assessment results. Similarly, artisans could enter the Ministry of Works. Those who wanted to join the military but there were no border wars could enter military academies to learn relevant knowledge. This way, a reserve of generals would also be established. There are other fields too; as long as one has outstanding skills, they can have a good future. For example, those good at medicine can take exams to become imperial physicians, and those good at cooking can take exams to become imperial chefs. With such competition, some people wouldn’t even be able to slack off if they wanted to."

"The world is just this cruel. If you cannot succeed, let those who can succeed take your place," Yun Xi said with a cold smile. "Moreover, this allows for a direct assessment table. Those who fail the assessment are dismissed directly."

"Talent School," Wang Lanxuan said after hearing Yun Xi’s suggestion. "I have heard of this. It seems the previous dynasty indeed had such a school, and even women could enter."

"Of course. For example, embroidery is generally women’s work. But when an embroidery master creates something like double-sided embroidery, shouldn’t such people pass down their skills?" Yun Xi said seriously. "Hoarding one’s own broom does not mean burying skills in the river of history."

Yun Xi’s words made the Emperor ponder again. "Wangzhi, can you create a framework for a Talent School for me?"

"Yes," Yun Xi thought for a moment and nodded. "The framework is easy to make, but finding a responsible person requires someone with prestige." Yun Xi said seriously, "It is best if this matter is handled by a royal family member trusted by Your Majesty. Just state that it is to build a great Confucian state, requiring talents from all aspects. If these talents perform well in assessments, they will receive different rewards. As for the rewards, I need not explain them explicitly."

Others might not know what the rewards were, but they did. These rewards were corresponding positions. As long as they had the ability, they could attain them. Similarly, this would impact conservative people. If these people could awaken and engage in良性 (healthy) competition, that would be good. Otherwise, talented people could gradually sideline them and eventually discard them. The outcome would not be what some people wished to see.

The world was just this cruel. Only in this way could people value the new policy reforms more and truly understand the current Emperor’s determination. The new policy reforms were not just talk, nor could they be faked to pass muster.

After hearing Yun Xi’s definite reply, the Emperor said, "In that case, prepare a plan and framework for me. Later, Minister Wang and I will discuss who to put in charge of this matter."

This matter seemed important, but it could not appear too important. Therefore, the person in charge needed to have some authority, so as not to give the impression that they had such specific capabilities.

Yun Xi nodded immediately. "I will prepare it upon returning and deliver it tomorrow."

The Emperor hummed in acknowledgment, then said, "Wangzhi, the reform you mentioned is a branch of the imperial examinations. However, I really cannot stand the current state of the Hanlin Academy. How can it be changed?"

"There is nothing that cannot be changed," Yun Xi said with a faint smile. "The Hanlin Academy is like this only because of the rule that one cannot enter the Grand Secretariat without being a Hanlin scholar. What if this rule became empty words? Then the existence of the Hanlin Academy would simply be to draft documents for Your Majesty and teach some talents. Of course, those with experience could teach future heirs to the throne. Other positions in the Hanlin Academy do not have much work. Therefore, except for necessary tasks such as historical compilation, document editing, and other research related to mosquitoes, the number of people in some positions can be reduced. The reduced personnel can be directly sent to other regions."

A hint of cunning flashed in Yun Xi’s eyes. "Give people the impression that the Hanlin Academy seems noble but is actually a dangerous place. The positions in the Hanlin Academy are limited. Those who do not get the corresponding positions can only be sent out directly. They cannot even stay in the capital. Outside, they are no different from other sent-out jinshi, except that their rank can be raised by half a level as a consolation."

Wang Lanxuan pointed at Yun Xi and said, "You are deliberately causing trouble. Who among those from the Hanlin Academy does not consider themselves superior?"

"So they are already high. Isn’t being sent out half a level higher than general sent-out officials?" Yun Xi said with a grin.

However, many people would rather be a Seventh-Rank official in the capital than a Sixth-Rank official sent out. The difference was incomparable. The capital was the center of the nation’s culture, politics, and economy. Once out, it was difficult to return, far more difficult than just a half-level promotion.

"Don’t you think this is better? It makes people realize that the existence of the Hanlin Academy is just so-so," Yun Xi said with a serious face.