Chapter 520 Nine Years
The establishment of the Han Royal Military Academy finally gave top generals such as Lu Bu a place to display their talents, and they no longer had to sit idle all day because there were no wars to fight.

The academy adopts the same system as the Imperial Academy, with four major subjects: military tactics, martial arts equipment, formation coordination, and logistics dispatch.

These four major subjects were jointly established by generals and counselors.

Each of these is an ability that an outstanding general must possess.

Among them, the main focus of studying military strategies and tactics is strategic and tactical theories, and the core goal is to cultivate a global vision and strategic decision-making ability.

Students should first study carefully classics such as “The Art of War”, “Six Strategies”, “Three Strategies”, “Wu Zi”, and master core ideas such as “attacking the heart is the best” and “know yourself and know the enemy”.

Secondly, we need to deduce classic battles and review historical battles, such as the Battle of Julu and the Battle of Chibi, analyze the keys to victory or defeat, and learn to respond flexibly.

The third is to learn strategic design, master the planning and cracking of tactics such as fire attack, water battle, ambush, siege, etc., as well as psychological warfare and public opinion manipulation skills.

The practical forms include sand table simulation, debate attack and defense, and analysis of military intelligence emergencies.

As for martial arts and equipment, this is actually the use of personal combat power and equipment. Simply put, it is to improve individual combat capabilities and weapon proficiency.

The main focus is on learning the use and confrontation skills of weapons such as bows, horseback archery, spears, swords, halberds, and halberds, as well as the assembly and actual application of siege equipment such as ladders and catapults.

There is also a series of physical strengthening training.

Such as weight-bearing marching, close combat, and endurance training to adapt to high-intensity consumption on the battlefield.

The subject of formation coordination is mainly about learning military dispatch and coordinated operations, mastering military organization and battlefield control.

Not only do you need to study the layout and timing of changing formations of classic formations such as square formation, circular formation, cone formation, and goose formation, but you also need to be proficient in various signals.

That is, the standardized operation of flag signals, drums, horns, and beacons to ensure that commands are accurately conveyed.

In addition, strategies for coordination between infantry and cavalry, linkage between land and water, and connection between the vanguard and logistics must all be learned.

Logistics dispatch is about resource management and military governance, ensuring the sustainability of the war and the stability of the army, and it is also the most important subject.

After all, a war is largely a battle of logistics.

The main contents of the study are the military farming system, grain route protection, emergency supply plans, as well as building cities and villages, building bridges and roads, water source exploration and defensive fortification design.

In addition, military laws were formulated, such as “Seventeen Prohibitions and Fifty-Four Beheadings”, calculation of military merits, and measures to motivate morale.

It also includes spy infiltration, secret letter transmission, enemy reconnaissance and counter-reconnaissance techniques, all of which are part of the learning content of this subject.

These four major subjects are both civil and military, emphasizing both the wisdom of “attacking the enemy’s strategy” and the bravery of “one man guarding the pass”.

Moreover, the system has progressive levels, from individual soldier skills to commanding tens of thousands of people, gradually cultivating compound generals. This is the first systematic training system for military generals in history.

It is no exaggeration to say that as long as one can achieve excellent results in any subject, he or she will be a rare talent.

If one has excellent grades in three or more subjects, then he is an undeniable talent! He is a commander who can command an army alone!

In terms of teaching materials, they are mainly military classics, as well as works, war records, and notes by famous generals throughout history.

Generals such as Zhang Liao, Lu Bu, and Zhao Yun also compiled their military experiences and combat skills into books for the students to study.

He also teaches different subjects in the college.

The same is true for Sima Yi, Zhuge Liang, Chen Gong and others.

Because they are all experts in military strategy, military tactics, and military situations, no one is more suitable to be a teacher than them.

The Imperial College and the Military Academy were one for literature and one for military.

The foundation of the Han Dynasty was thus laid.

……

Time flies, and nine years have passed in a flash.

For ordinary people, nine years may seem a very long time, but for an empire, nine years is just a blink of an eye.

However, during these nine years, the Han Dynasty has undergone tremendous changes.

After the war, the people were able to live a stable life thanks to the court’s strategy of recuperation and policy support.

The population also increased from less than three million households to nearly four million households.

This growth is extremely exaggerated, and most of the credit goes to the census, because through the census, the population concealed by local gentry was exposed.

In addition, many refugees who had fled due to the war also returned to their hometowns, which further increased the number of registered population.

As the population increases, taxes will naturally increase.

Combined with the policy of allocating land tax to households promulgated five years ago, the tax revenue of the Han Dynasty has more than doubled compared to nine years ago!
This was the result of Liu Xie’s order to reduce taxes and levies and adopt the “one in thirty taxes” policy during the reign of Emperor Wen!

If the “15% tax” policy is still used, tax revenue will only be higher than it is now, and of course the people will live a slightly harder life.

However, achieving this within just nine years is enough to show that the reforms of the New Deal were extremely successful, which was something that even Emperor Wen and Emperor Jing could not do.

The whole Han Dynasty was full of vitality.

……

Chang’an, Weiyang Palace.

The weather was great today, and Liu Xie hosted a banquet for his ministers in the imperial garden. During the banquet, beautiful maids presented by Goguryeo were dancing gracefully.

Most of the people attending the banquet were cabinet members. Liu Xie sat in the main seat, drinking and admiring the charming dance of the beauties at the table.

Nine years have passed, and Liu Xie is now over thirty years old.

But the years have not left much trace on him.

Compared with nine years ago, he is now much more mature and calm. If he was sharp and heroic back then, he is now restrained.

It is like a jade seal, just lying there quietly, yet it exudes majesty and solemnity that cannot be ignored.

“My dear ministers—”

Liu Xie raised his chopsticks and tapped the wine jar lightly, attracting the attention of everyone at the table. The dancers stopped dancing, bowed and retreated.

Liu Xie smiled and said, “Since you are all here today, I will announce a good news.”

“That means universities, middle schools and primary schools. Now they have been fully built in all the counties of our Han Dynasty!”

“The eternal foundation of our Han Dynasty has been established!”

Liu Xie’s tone was full of happiness and joy.

Nine years. Nine whole years.

It took such a long time, and the three major stages of schools, large, medium and small, were finally completed throughout the Han territory.

This is four years longer than the originally estimated five years.

And there is nothing we can do about it.

After all, investing in education is a bottomless pit that only brings in money but never gives out, and it has no real economic benefits.

The Han Dynasty needed construction and the people needed resettlement, and money was needed everywhere. It was impossible to invest all the money in education, so the comprehensive construction of the school was delayed until now.

But no matter what, it was finally completed. After Liu Xie finished speaking, cheers suddenly rang out at the table, and everyone’s face showed excitement.

The establishment of large, medium and small academies represents the thorough establishment of the talent training system of the Han Dynasty. From now on, all the talents in the world will continue to flow into the court!

The country will prosper because of this!
Liu Xie raised his hand to suppress the cheers of the crowd, and then said with emotion: “Over the years, our Han Dynasty has gone from being devastated after the war to being prosperous today, and all of you present here have made great contributions.”

“This cup is for you, my dear ministers!”

As Liu Xie spoke, he raised the wine jar and drank it all in one gulp.

“Your Majesty the Holy Might——!”

The ministers also raised their glasses in response.

Liu Xie raised his hand to wipe the wine from the corner of his mouth, then smiled and said, “However, as far as the construction of the school is concerned, there is one person who has made the greatest contribution.”

“I won’t name this person, you should all know him.”

All the ministers burst into laughter and looked at Guo Jia.

Everyone has witnessed the contribution that Guo Jia has made to education reform over the years. It is no exaggeration to say that he has worked hard. He is undoubtedly the number one contributor.

“Your Majesty, I am so ashamed to accept your praise.”

Guo Jia stood up, bowed deeply, smiled bitterly and said, “He looked a little thin and haggard now, with some white hair on his temples.”

This is the result of all the hard work over the years.

Today, as the chief academic officer of the Imperial Academy, the highest institution of learning in the Han Dynasty, Guo Jia has become a leading figure in the scholar community and is revered by countless scholars.

Liu Xie said with a smile: “Everyone here is an acquaintance, so don’t be modest. You can’t escape this glass of wine anyway, drink it quickly!”

Jia Xu also smiled and said: “Your Majesty gave me wine, Feng Xiao cannot refuse. When did you become unwilling to drink wine?”

Guo Jia said helplessly: “I have been feeling unwell recently. Doctor Zhang has told me to rest more, eat light food, and drink less alcohol.”

He paused here, stepped forward to take the wine glass from Liu Xie, and said with a hearty smile: “But since Your Majesty has given me the wine, I cannot refuse it.”

After saying that, he raised his glass and drank it all.

All the ministers cheered and applauded.

Guo Jia choked after not drinking for a long time, and his face turned slightly red. After a while, he bowed to Liu Xie and said, “Your Majesty, now that the public schools have been fully built, do you think it’s time to start the imperial examination?”

The imperial examination system has not yet been officially implemented.

Because of lack of conditions.

The establishment of public schools, the creation of new disciplines, and the training of a large number of lower-class people to read were all done in preparation for the imperial examinations.

Now all public schools have been built, and after nine years, the people have fully accepted the new learning, and the imperial examination is now on the agenda.

“Um……”

Liu Xie put down the wine jar, fell into deep thought, and then looked at Zhuge Liang, “Kong Ming, what do you think?”

Although replacing the recommendation system with the imperial examination system was a must, it required a good timing, and he found it difficult to make a decision on this point.

After all, this is a earth-shaking event.

“Your Majesty, I think it is the right time to implement the imperial examination system.”

Zhuge Liang’s eyes were firm and he explained clearly: “The comprehensive establishment of public schools has enabled countless children from poor families to receive new education. The public’s acceptance of new education has laid a solid foundation of public opinion for the imperial examination.”

“Under the previous system of imperial examinations, recommendations were mostly controlled by aristocratic families, and many talented people were buried because of their humble origins. The imperial examinations did not care about origins, but only talent. As long as one had real talent and knowledge, one could pass the imperial examinations and become an official to serve the country.”

“The implementation of the imperial examination system at this time will help select more truly knowledgeable and capable people for the court, and it is a move that complies with the will of the people.”

“This will not only inspire the people to study, but also enable the country to recruit talents in all aspects of construction and prosper. Now that the war has ended and the country is in a period of recuperation and vigorous development, the timing of promoting the imperial examination is perfect. I hope Your Majesty will not hesitate.”

Zhuge Liang spoke eloquently and obviously supported Guo Jia.

He also participated in the education reform, knowing that the public’s acceptance of new learning was already very high and everyone was looking forward to a new way of selecting talents to replace the recommendation system.

After listening to Zhuge Liang’s words, Liu Xie nodded slightly and said, “In this case, let’s follow the advice of Feng Xiao and Kong Ming.”

“When we meet at court tomorrow, I will officially announce to the world that from now on, we will select talents through the imperial examination system, and hold the first spring examination in the history of our Han Dynasty!”

The current promotion system for primary, secondary and high school public schools is actually the same system as the imperial examination system, because promotion from primary school to secondary school, from secondary school to university, and from university to the Imperial College or military academy all require successive examinations, which is no different from the imperial examination system.

However, the imperial court never truly abolished the recommendation system, and many stubborn scholars and Confucianists still insisted on following this path.

Now, it’s time to officially break the old and establish the new.

Guo Jia was very excited when he heard this. He bowed deeply and said, “Your Majesty is wise!”

The ministers also stood up and said, “Your Majesty is wise!”

Liu Xie collected his thoughts and said, “Okay, okay, let’s just drink and have fun today and not talk about state affairs.”

“Keep playing music, keep dancing!”

As Liu Xie finished his words, the music started again and the dancers walked into the room and started dancing again.

Liu Xie raised his hand and called Guo Jia to his side, and asked with a smile: “The imperial examination system will soon replace the recommendation system… Fengxiao, how do you feel?”

He knew that this had always been Guo Jia’s dream.

Guo Jia has also been working hard for this.

Hearing this, Guo Jia’s eyes were slightly complicated, and he said: “I have waited for this day for too long, thank you Your Majesty for your fulfillment.”

The promise that the emperor had made to him was finally going to be fulfilled.

Liu Xie patted his shoulder and sighed, “After this is over, Fengxiao, you can have a good rest. Look at how haggard you are now… Alas.”

Guo Jia has worked hard over the years, and Zhang Zhongjing also told him that Guo Jia’s health was not good and he could not continue to work so hard.

Although he had tried to persuade him, Guo Jia was too stubborn, so he could only ask Zhuge Liang and Fa Zheng to help Guo Jia share some of the work.

But this won’t work.

Hearing the sincerity in the emperor’s words, Guo Jia was moved and nodded with a smile, saying, “I will leave the cabinet when the reform of the imperial examination system is completed.”

“However, although I cannot continue to serve in the cabinet, I can still teach the prince, which should not be so tiring.”

He is now forty-two years old. Although other people would still be in their prime, his health was seriously weak in his early years and now he feels increasingly lacking in energy.

“Not always.”

Liu Xie laughed and said, “The prince is naughty. It might be more troublesome for you to teach him.”

Guo Jia couldn’t help but smile. Just as he was about to say something, his face suddenly turned red and he subconsciously covered his mouth.

However, a trace of scarlet still flowed out from between his fingers.

(End of this chapter)