I run a training class in Shu Han

Chapter 17 Approved

In the Han Dynasty, the only way to enter an official career was to first study at the Imperial Academy.

After completing their studies, those who excelled in the first category would remain in the palace, while those who excelled in the second category would be sent to the provinces for training.

After gaining rich local administrative experience, they would be recommended by their superiors (i.e., recommended for filial piety and integrity) and then selected to enter the central government.

After further examinations at the central level, individuals will be assigned positions based on their individual abilities before they can formally embark on their official careers.

However, due to the decline of the Imperial Academy, the recommendation system for candidates based on filial piety and incorruptibility became the main channel for selecting talents in the late Eastern Han Dynasty, and was gradually monopolized by aristocratic families.

The fact that four generations of the Yuan family held high-ranking positions and that their disciples were found all over the country is a direct manifestation of the corruption within the system of recommending filial and incorrupt officials.

Now that Yang Hong has reopened the Imperial Academy, where everyone is equal before the rules and the best are selected, it has naturally affected the interests of some groups.

Furthermore, in addition to civil officials, military officers will also be included in the scope of study and evaluation.

This was no ordinary establishment of the Imperial Academy; it was a reform that overturned traditional academic practices and the system for selecting officials.

"absurd."

Li Yan was the first to stand up and object.

"The late emperor established the empire with benevolence and righteousness, and Your Majesty wins the hearts of the people with virtue and wisdom. If you were to abolish the system of recommending filial and incorrupt officials, wouldn't that be forgetting your ancestors?"

The purpose of the recommendation system for filial piety and incorruptibility was to break the monopoly of official positions by military merit nobles and gentry in the early Han Dynasty, to open up channels for the common people to rise in rank, and to set a benchmark for all officials based on morality.

"Emperor Wu of Han ordered each prefecture and kingdom to recommend one person for filial piety and one person for integrity each year. Later, these were combined into the 'filial piety and integrity' system. This system has been in place for over three hundred years and has selected countless virtuous officials for our great Han Dynasty. How can you abolish it with just a word?"

"Throughout history, virtuous ministers have been known for their noble qualities, loyalty to the emperor, and love for their country. Have you ever heard of a person of questionable character being remembered for generations?"

"If someone only has ability but lacks virtue, wouldn't they be the next Dong Zhuo?"

The Dongzhou faction launched a counterattack, targeting Yang Hong directly.

Yang Hong, however, remained calm and did not take these words to heart at all.

"When Emperor Wu of Han first established the system of recommending filial and incorrupt officials, he did indeed intend to select people with excellent character and abilities for official positions. However, a person's character can be fabricated. If it is used as the sole criterion for judgment, is it not biased?"

During the reigns of Emperors Huan and Ling, eunuchs held power, and there was a folk rhyme: "Those recommended as scholars are illiterate. Those recommended as filial and incorruptible live separately from their fathers." Scholars were illiterate, sons did not support their parents, and the system of recommending filial and incorruptible individuals had become obsolete.

"The power of selection is in the hands of powerful families. Local officials are no longer officials of the court, but officials of those aristocratic families. There is no way out for children from poor families. Isn't this a threat to His Majesty?"

Yang Hong bluntly exposed the drawbacks of abandoning the system of recommending filial and incorrupt officials, leaving the Dongzhou faction members present speechless.

Ji Xiu, are you crazy?

Li Yan clenched his back teeth, his hands, hardened by years of battle, gripped tightly, his knuckles turning white.

Although he and Yang Hong had disagreements on political matters, they never used their positions for personal revenge. He even recommended Yang Hong to serve as an official in the Shu region of the prefecture.

More importantly, Yang Hong is a member of their Dongzhou faction.

Why didn't they discuss such an important matter with me beforehand, and instead petitioned the emperor in court?

"Ji Xiu, I have always known that you are loyal to the emperor and incorruptible. However, such a major matter could, at best, affect the operation of the court, and at worst, shake the foundation of the country. You must not speak rashly."

Wang Lian tried to dissuade him.

Yang Hong's "Revitalization of the Imperial Academy" was not only a screening process for future officials, but also an elimination of existing officials in the court, which would be a major purge of the power of powerful clans in the court.

"Your Majesty, I believe that reviving the Imperial Academy is a feasible plan!"

The one who stepped forward to speak was Qiao Zhou of the Yizhou faction.

"Emperor Wu promoted the recommendation system for those who were filial and incorruptible, which required that those with genuine talent and learning first, and then with good character, before they could enter the court to serve as officials. The Imperial Academy proposed by Ji Xiu was the same."

"Therefore, I believe there is nothing wrong with this action."

Old ginger is spicier, and Qiao Zhou quickly found a loophole in the rules.

Although the Yizhou faction had deep roots, it had no real power and only held nominal positions.

If the Imperial Academy could be promoted in Yizhou, then their aristocratic families could establish themselves in the imperial court and gain a foothold.

"Now that His Majesty has just ascended the throne and the court is newly established, there are internal and external troubles. If this new policy of the Imperial Academy is implemented, it will undoubtedly destroy the original system of the court. When the court is in chaos, it will be the people who suffer."

The new policies of the Imperial Academy directly affected the interests of these aristocratic families, so Li Yan naturally would not agree to them.

This also became a major reason for opposing the implementation of the Imperial Academy.

"Yizhou is currently exhausted, like a weak patient. If the cause of the disease is not completely eradicated, the consequences will be endless."

Qiao Zhou, being a great Confucian scholar of Yizhou, would certainly be able to serve as a teacher at the Imperial Academy if he were to promote the Imperial Academy, where he would impart knowledge and skills.

By then, his disciples will be everywhere, which will be an important force in the rise of the Yizhou School.

Seeing the Yizhou faction's strong support for Yang Hong, Li Yan suspected that the two sides were secretly colluding to take advantage of the instability of the court after the new emperor's ascension to the throne for their own benefit.

The Dongzhou faction itself is not deeply rooted. If the new policies of the Imperial Academy are really promoted, then the interests of these people will be the first to be affected.

"Prime Minister Zhuge, what is your opinion on this matter?"

Li Yan now only hopes to gain Zhuge Liang's support, since this seriously infringes on the interests of the Jingzhou faction.

Zhuge Liang closed his eyes slightly, gently waved his feather fan, and after a moment of contemplation, said, "I believe that Duke Xiao of Qin's edict seeking talented individuals saved the weak Qin from a crisis, and only by building upon the accumulated strength of six generations could it sweep across the six states and unify China."

"The current situation of our great Han Dynasty is that it is surrounded by the covetous eyes of Wei and Wu, and its people are poor and its soldiers are exhausted. It is even worse than the weak Qin Dynasty in the past."

"The need to find talented individuals is urgent."

These words instantly brought about a dramatic change in the entire court situation.

The Dongzhou faction, led by Li Yan, was already weaker in terms of foundation and strength. Now that the two have joined forces, they will be powerless to resist.

Could it be that this new policy of the Imperial Academy is a pretext for the Jingzhou faction to use the Yizhou faction to suppress their Dongzhou faction?

When did those two secretly collude?

Thinking of this, Li Yan felt a cold sweat break out on his back; this had seriously threatened their interests in Yizhou.

Zhuge Liang may have used this opportunity to gradually marginalize them, or even kick them out of the game.

"Your Majesty, the new policies of the Imperial Academy are of great importance and have far-reaching implications. They will harm the foundation of the nation and will also chill the hearts of the soldiers who fought and bled for the late Emperor."

Now that things have come to this, Li Yan can only try to appeal to emotions in an attempt to salvage the situation.

After all, the Dongzhou faction had fought and been wounded for Liu Bei, and Liu Shan could not ignore their interests.

"My beloved ministers, I have seen and remembered your dedication to the Han Dynasty."

"Minister Yang's request is also for the sake of the future of our Great Han Dynasty."

"I have reviewed all aspects of the new policies, and they are very direct and effective in addressing long-standing problems."

"When Huang Yuan rebelled, many ministers advised me to hold Chengdu and wait for reinforcements."

"But I insist on taking the initiative. Because if there is one Huang Yuan now, there will be countless Huang Yuans to provoke my Great Han in the future."

"I said back then, 'Strike once to provoke, and you'll be spared a hundred blows.' The same applies to the new policies."

"A radical transformation is necessary for the Han Dynasty to rise from weakness to strength."

"The petition to establish the Imperial Academy has been granted!"