Chapter 294

Chapter 294

Can a strategist not ascend the throne? Volume 9: The Calamity of Drought and Locusts, Flying Troops to Liaodong, Chapter 294: Examination and Talent Selection

Belonging to the book:


Can a strategist not ascend the throne?

Chapter 294: Examination and Talent Selection

To be honest, working in Chang’an for a long time might leave some aftereffects.

For example—

When Tian Feng was just summoned by Qiao Yan, his first reaction wasn’t whether his undercover identity was exposed, but whether there was something wrong with the content of the recent exam questions he assisted Chen Ji in creating.

Logically, it shouldn’t be.

To ensure that the Hongwen Hall selection, tentatively scheduled for April, meets the current needs, this year’s questions even included post-disaster governance after locust plagues and droughts, decisions on publishing, the coordination of law and reason in the face of major disasters, handling ethnic relations during disasters, and the rotation of garrison duties in critical passes under possible manpower shortages.

As for the multiple-choice and true/false questions Qiao Yan mentioned, they were also based on known facts.

They even prepared two sets of papers, allowing candidates to decide whether they were more inclined towards academic advancement or practical politics, choosing the direction more suitable for themselves to avoid errors in personnel selection.

But Tian Feng paused mid-thought.

Had he been acting as Yuan Feng for too long, or had he gone silly from creating exam questions, that he genuinely considered himself Qiao Yan’s subordinate!

Moreover, even if there were issues with the exam questions, he, as an assistant, wouldn’t be the first to be blamed.

There’s still Chen Ji above him; he can’t let his disciple bear the brunt, right?

Rather than this, he should be more concerned about whether he had shown any flaws.

With a somewhat uneasy heart, he entered Qiao Yan’s office and saw her holding a new template paper, not looking like she was about to reprimand him, even gesturing for him to take a seat.

Tian Feng couldn’t help but feel relieved.

Qiao Yan said, “I heard from Mr. Yuan Fang about your various performances in Hongwen Hall over the past two years, and I feel that placing you in this position is somewhat underutilizing your talents. If this examination can select capable talents, you should be promoted.”

“Although Hongwen Hall can’t lack a good assistant like you, Mr. Yuan Fang and Wenruo also have their own positions in the court, at most, they can redistribute some of the work.”

Her second sentence directly blocked Tian Feng’s intended reason for refusal.

Moreover, the teacher Qiao Yan chose for him, Chen Ji, is one of the Nine Ministers. No matter how much he rises in the court, he won’t surpass Chen Ji’s position in a short time, truly allowing him to enter the “system.”

Tian Feng replied, “I just feel that my experience is still insufficient, and my contributions are not enough, not worthy of your special attention.”

Qiao Yan shook her head, “You are being too modest. Although the general direction of these examination papers was initially outlined by me, the consideration of difficulty in every detail was meticulously deliberated by you and Mr. Yuan Fang, fearing any misjudgment in selecting talents, truly a rare seeker of truth.”

Not to mention, because of Tian Feng’s situation, Qiao Yan almost wished other families would send their undercover agents to her side.

Such people, to avoid being discovered for slacking off, have to exert at least seventy to eighty percent of their abilities.

Especially in the current situation, no one would mind having more people on their side.

Especially since Qiao Yan has plans for external expansion this year.

Unfortunately, there aren’t many scapegoats like Yuan Shao left.

After lamenting in her heart, she turned her gaze back to Tian Feng.

He seemed somewhat uncomfortable with Qiao Yan’s praise.

But these words were just the beginning, as Qiao Yan’s next sentence was something Tian Feng was even more reluctant to mention.

“By the way, since you came from Ji Province to Bingzhou, and then to Chang’an, it’s been two and a half years. Are your family in Ji Province still unwilling to settle here with you?”

Tian Feng’s expression froze for a moment, “They…”

“I heard you’ve sent your salary back several times and brought them letters of greetings. They’ve sent you New Year gifts and greetings, but living apart like this isn’t a long-term solution.”

Qiao Yan spoke while giving Tian Feng a sympathetic look, “In the first year of Jian’an, your son came to Chang’an to see you once. When he returned, Fengxiao had people add more gifts for him to take back. Unfortunately, he never came again. I thought if he was unfilial, I would personally write to reprimand him, but upon careful consideration, I felt it couldn’t all be blamed on him.”

“Indeed, it’s not easy to relocate and settle elsewhere. Moving around the Guanzhong area is easier, but Ji Province is far and difficult. You need a more stable position and a suitable residence for your family. Isn’t that right?”

Tian Feng: “…”

What could he say? He couldn’t say that the person Guo Jia mistook for his son, whom he vaguely acknowledged, was actually Yuan Shao’s son, who could never reside long-term in Chang’an, held here as a hostage.

Yuan Shao, of course, couldn’t just let Tian Feng’s family come over, fearing that this long-term undercover agent might eventually defect.

He could only hesitantly say, “Yes.”

Qiao Yan continued, “The current situation is special, with natural disasters imminent. I’m not optimistic about the prevention measures in Ji Province. If you see clearly, you should persuade them at this time. No matter how hard it is to leave one’s homeland, survival is more important.”

“Fortunately, there’s a legitimate reason to confer an official title on you. As I mentioned earlier, after the talent selection in early April, I will reward you sufficiently on the grounds of the court gaining talents. By then, your family should be able to make a decision, right?”

Although Qiao Yan’s tone was gentle, merely inquiring about the separation of a subordinate and his family, Tian Feng couldn’t help but feel a hidden threat.

But he suddenly thought, while Qiao Yan said so, it was already the Jian’an era, and talents willing to serve had already been divided by various factions. Those waiting to rise through this examination were just the batch lingering in Hongwen Hall.

These people couldn’t be said to be without talent, but they certainly didn’t qualify as great talents.

If he were promoted because such talents were selected, it would be somewhat untenable.

Tian Feng quickly replied, “I understand your kindness, but please cherish your reputation and don’t make an exception just because of my family situation.”

Qiao Yan smiled, “Naturally, if there are any issues with this examination, I will hold you accountable. This matter is crucial, so don’t slack off here.”

She paused, then added, “But speaking of which, I have another idea to arrange before you take the papers for printing.”

She handed Tian Feng another piece of paper, saying, “Take a look at this.”

Tian Feng stood up to take it and saw that although there were few words, the content was crucial, detailing considerations for the layout of the April examination questions.

Other arrangements weren’t significant, but one was particularly special.

On the right side of the paper was a vertical line, separating the area for name and origin, and above this line was a word: binding line.

Tian Feng had a vague guess but still looked at Qiao Yan and asked, “What is this?”

“After the examination, collect the papers and hide the names in this way before grading.”

Qiao Yan’s eyes sparkled with interest as she explained further, “Before this examination and selection, most of these participants have lived in Chang’an for quite some time. Some gossip and anecdotes have reached me and the graders. There are good news, of course, but also bad news—fights, once writing disrespectful words, are not uncommon.”

“Because Chang’an is inclusive, these actions didn’t violate the five punishments, so no penalties were imposed. But if grading is affected, that would be unfortunate.”

“Mi Zhenping once drunkenly scolded me, but I still deeply admire his…”








The eloquence and literary grace of this person are rare in the world. Although their personal morals may be lacking, there is no need to criticize or blame them. Others are the same. If talents are missed due to various impressions from the past few months, then the selection method is at fault.

After much thought, I believe it is best to anonymize the names of these candidates. Regardless of who the respondent is, judging solely by their talent is the most appropriate.

If Qiao Yan had proposed this anonymization idea when there were many educated people among the commoners, or in a relatively peaceful era, it might have faced opposition from those afraid of being replaced by lower-class individuals or those seeking connections.

However, she proposed this idea at just the right time, with reasons perfectly suited to the current situation.

This slight leniency towards talent’s character, as long as it does not violate the law, demonstrates the magnanimity of the Grand Marshal.

Who would oppose such an innovation?

Moreover, from Tian Feng’s perspective, Qiao Yan’s establishment of this measure is clearly not only to prevent interference from preconceived impressions but also to promote competition in this assessment.

Now that everyone’s names are sealed, with no connections to ancestors or parents to rely on, the only criterion for judgment on the entire paper is ability. Who has real skills and who is just a pretender can be clearly distinguished here.

This move undoubtedly suits the taste of the Han Dynasty’s scholars!

Is it possible that some who originally did not intend to participate in this selection might be drawn in by this special rule, using this method to test their abilities?

Qiao Yan also said, “In addition, I have sought permission from the Son of Heaven. Those who pass this assessment can serve in suitable positions for one month. If they find the Chang’an court’s philosophy incompatible with theirs, they can leave at any time, with the court covering their travel expenses. During this period, they will not be exposed to core secrets here, and it will not be too late to learn about them after settling here.”

“If there are no objections to the anonymized assessment, I will have the notices posted as soon as possible.”

Listening to Qiao Yan’s detailed explanation, even from an enemy’s perspective, her demeanor and actions are admirable. Thinking about the scholars who might be selected for the court, Tian Feng feels his future is not bright.

Could it be that after the April assessment, he will really be promoted and become one of the official officials in Chang’an?

If he is then required to bring his family to settle here, would he really have to ask Lord Yuan to send Yuan Xi under the identity of Yuan Xi?

With these worries, Tian Feng informed Chen Ji of Qiao Yan’s two additional explanations for the assessment.

Chen Ji, upon hearing this, unable to grasp Tian Feng’s complex emotions at this moment, immediately clapped and praised, “The Grand Marshal truly lives up to her title. With such arrangements, if talents still flee from Chang’an, it would be my fault, Chen Ji.”

The scholarly integrity revered by the Han Dynasty makes it impossible for anyone to oppose the fairness proposed by Qiao Yan.

For those whose average ability is not as high as those who entered the court early and whose family status is relatively equal, this assessment method undoubtedly makes the outstanding ones appear more competent and, in turn, increases their value.

Feeling that they themselves would be the winners, they are grateful to Qiao Yan.

But is the significance of this anonymized exam only this?

Hearing the reactions after the assessment rules were posted, Qiao Yan couldn’t help but show a subtle smile.

Those participating in the selection now are scholars who already had the conditions to read and study. In the future…

It might not be the case!

But such words need not be said in this joyous occasion.

“I don’t think it’s all joy,” Cheng Yu couldn’t help but comment, “Tian Yuanhao has been tricked by the Lord. He is now worried that a great talent will be selected in this exam, making him truly rewarded by the Lord for setting the questions.”

Qiao Yan raised an eyebrow, “Does Zhongde think I just casually told him that? If I hadn’t known in advance that someone had the idea to participate in the exam, I wouldn’t have made such a promise.”

So, the current situation is exactly what Tian Feng fears.

Due to the lack of personnel, those who set the questions also have to grade the papers. Thus, in his unease, he faced the grading of these answer sheets.

The handwriting need not be mentioned.

For today’s scholars, the words they write are their face.

Although not everyone needs to write as beautifully as Wei Ji, Zhang Zhi, or Cai Yong, at least the characters should be smooth and the paper clear. Thus, what is being compared is the level they show in their answers.

Halfway through grading, Tian Feng saw an answer that even made him feel a bit startled.

Some of the words in this paper are still a bit naive, but this does not affect the “uniqueness” revealed between the lines. If one likes to take unconventional paths in governing people’s livelihoods, it might be problematic, but what if it’s in military strategy?

This is a true genius!

Tian Feng had the intention to slightly lower the score of this paper, perhaps allowing this talent to flow elsewhere, but this would go against his conscience. Moreover, Qiao Yan had considered the possibility of personal bias interfering with judgment—each answer sheet had to be graded by at least four people, removing the most deviant score and taking the average.

If Tian Feng made any inappropriate judgments, it would only bring him trouble.

Sure enough, after giving a normal score and passing it to Xun You, who was called to grade, he saw Xun You exclaim “good” after reading a few lines.

Xun You, usually reserved, couldn’t help but show such a reaction, indicating that this person truly has talent.

Before Tian Feng could lament such a talent falling into Qiao Yan’s hands, he heard Chen Ji slap the table, then grimace in pain as he realized he hadn’t slapped his leg.

Tian Feng turned and cautiously asked, “Teacher, what brilliant answer did you see?”

“Not just… look at this answer, this person came at just the right time,” Chen Ji couldn’t help but show joy. “Do you remember, the Grand Marshal’s requirement for our Hongwen Hall was to find talents with economic abilities. Here comes one!”

What good news! Great news!

Tian Feng took the paper and saw that this person had written extensively on measures to stabilize grain and commodity prices and avoid barter disrupting the monetary system during droughts and locust plagues.

This is not just an economic talent, but also a person with great practical potential!

Thus, when the two most outstanding papers were judged and the anonymized seals were removed, they attracted the attention of all the graders.

“Fufeng Fa Zheng…”

This is the respondent of the paper with the unique strategies.

Fa Zheng’s name is not yet famous, but his great-grandfather Fa Xiong once served as the Prefect of Nan Commandery, his grandfather Fa Zhen was a renowned scholar, and his father Fa Yan once served as an official in the Ministry of Masses and the Left Supervisor of the Court of Justice. With the background of the Fufeng Fa family, it’s not hard to guess why he participated in this assessment.

Fa Zhen’s proud and aloof temperament is clearly inherited by his grandson, who did not want to enter the sight of Chang’an people as someone’s grandson or son, nor did he want his age of nineteen to influence the judgment of his abilities.

Qiao Yan’s anonymization decision perfectly hit his heart.

He probably thought this was the best time to prove his abilities!

On the other hand, the paper showing extraordinary economic talent also revealed the respondent’s name.

“Lingling Liu Ba… I vaguely remember, did the Grand Marshal once invite him?” Chen Ji stroked his chin and asked.

“You’re not mistaken,” Xun You replied, “The Lord invited him two years ago, but he not only didn’t come, he even went to Jiaozhou under the pretext of visiting friends, seemingly afraid of being directly caught and brought to Chang’an.”

Hearing this anecdote and seeing Liu Ba’s response on the paper, Chen Ji couldn’t help but laugh, “What is this called?”

Qiao Yan, just arriving, heard Liu Ba’s name and said, “This is called a forest of phoenix trees attracting phoenixes to roost.”

Now, Chang’an can indeed be considered a forest of phoenix trees!