Chapter 521 Guo Jia is seriously ill, Ma Liang and Ma Su

“Feng Xiao!”

Liu Xie was horrified, and this shout also brought the singing and dancing to an abrupt halt, with everyone turning their eyes over.

When they saw Guo Jia covering his mouth with blood constantly flowing out from between his fingers, their faces changed.

Guo Jia looked down at the blood in his palm with a dazed look. He looked up at Liu Xie and twitched his lips slightly: “Your Majesty, I…”

Before he could finish his words, he fell into Liu Xie’s arms.

Liu Xie held the unconscious Guo Jia in his arms and shouted with a ferocious look, “Quickly call the imperial physician!”

“quick–!”

……

A quarter of an hour later, in the Greenhouse Palace.

There were no other beds in the palace, so Liu Xie placed Guo Jia on the bed where he usually rested in the Greenhouse Palace.

This is undoubtedly against etiquette, but at this moment Liu Xie could no longer care about so many things. He only cared about Guo Jia’s safety!

Hua Tuo and Zhang Zhongjing were both invited over and were treating Guo Jia by the bed.

Liu Xie, Jia Xu, Zhuge Liang, Sima Yi, Fa Zheng and other ministers gathered around.

Guo Jia’s face was pale and his eyes were closed.

There was still blood at the corner of his mouth.

Zhang Zhongjing took his pulse with a very solemn expression. After a long time, he withdrew his hand and let out a long sigh.

“Sir, how is Fengxiao doing?”

“Is his life in danger?”

When Liu Xie saw Zhang Zhongjing finished taking the pulse, he immediately asked, his voice revealing an unconcealable nervousness.

After so many years as an emperor, he has developed a shrewd demeanor that allows him to remain calm even when faced with a huge crisis.

But since it concerned Guo Jia’s life, he had to worry.

Zhang Zhongjing stood up and bowed, then said, “Your Majesty, Situ Guo is not in danger of death for now, but his health is in very bad condition.”

Liu Xie breathed a sigh of relief when he heard that Guo Jia was still alive, but the following words made him worried again.

Jia Xu couldn’t help but ask, “Feng Xiao has always been in good spirits, why did he suddenly become like this?”

“He was still in the Cabinet yesterday, working with us all night to handle government affairs.”

Although Guo Jia had been in poor health before, his condition improved a lot after treatment.

He suddenly vomited blood and fell into a coma today, and was told that his physical condition was extremely bad. This is totally unreasonable.

Hua Tuo shook his head and said, “Guo Situ’s health has never been very good. He was deeply corrupted by the Five Stones Powder and alcohol and sex in his early years. Even though I prescribed medicine for him to regulate his body, it is only a temporary solution and not a cure.”

“In addition, Guo Situ holds an important position, and his work is exhausting and his responsibilities are heavy, which further increases the burden on his body.”

“Guo Situ’s emotions fluctuated too much today, causing his qi and blood to become disordered, which led to him vomiting blood and falling into a coma.”

After hearing Hua Tuo’s words, everyone fell silent.

Everyone looked at Guo Jia lying on the sickbed with a mixture of admiration and grief. Fa Zheng, Lu Su and others even had red eyes.

As colleagues, they all had a good relationship with Guo Jia. Now seeing Guo Jia like this, how could they not feel sad?
Liu Xie pursed his lips slightly and asked hesitantly, “How long will Feng Xiao… last?”

This is a heavy topic.

But he had to ask.

Zhang Zhongjing sighed, “It is not easy for Situ Guo to save his life. As for how long he can live… I can only say that it all depends on God’s will.”

“Guo Situ must rest and rest from now on. Don’t overwork yourself anymore.”

After receiving this answer, Liu Xie fell silent again.

After a long while, he nodded and said, “Thank you, gentlemen. Please don’t go too far. Just wait near the Greenhouse Hall.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Hua Tuo and Zhang Zhongjing bowed, then stood up and left.

Not long after they left, Guo Jia slowly woke up from his coma, but his eyes were extremely cloudy and lifeless.

“Filial piety.”

Seeing Guo Jia wake up, Liu Xie walked to the bedside and sat down, holding his hand, and said self-reproachfully: “It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have let you drink that glass of wine, and I shouldn’t have let you work so hard…”

Liu Xie’s voice made Guo Jia’s originally scattered gaze gradually focused. He turned his head slightly, looked at the familiar face of the emperor beside him, and forced a smile.

“His Majesty……”

“I’m here.”

Liu Xie’s eyes were red as he spoke softly, fearing that if he spoke in a louder tone, Guo Jia’s spirit would be blown away.

Guo Jia put his other hand on Liu Xie’s hand with great effort and said in a weak voice: “Imperial Examination… Kong Ming…”

Liu Xie felt a pang in his heart when he heard this. He had been with Guo Jia for many years, and the emperor and his subject had long been of one mind. How could he not know what Guo Jia meant?

Even in this situation, Guo Jia was still obsessed with the reform of the imperial examination system, the dream he had been working towards all his life.

“Don’t worry, I will let Kong Ming take over the entire reform of the imperial examination. You should have a good rest and don’t talk anymore.”

“The imperial examination reform has not yet been completed, and you have not yet taught the prince. How can you abandon me?”

“Don’t even think about being lazy.”

Liu Xie’s voice was a little choked.

Zhuge Liang even stepped forward and bowed deeply, saying in a trembling voice: “Please rest assured, Minister Guo, I will definitely carry out the reform of the imperial examination system to the end and ensure that the Spring Examination will be held smoothly!”

Even though Guo Jia was so seriously ill, he still remembered to entrust him with this important task. How could he not do his best?

After hearing what Liu Xie and Zhuge Liang said, Guo Jia smiled with relief, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from him, and fell into a deep sleep.

He was so tired.

Liu Xie reached out and felt Guo Jia’s breath and found that although it was very weak, it still existed. Only then did he feel relieved.

Just stay alive.

Liu Xie gently put his hand down, carefully tucked in the quilt for him, and then stood up and left the inner hall.

All the ministers followed closely behind him and came to the front hall together.

After Liu Xie walked up to the dragon throne and sat down, he said nothing. All the ministers also lowered their heads and kept silent. The hall was eerily quiet.

Finally, Jia Xu stepped forward and broke the silence, saying, “Your Majesty, what should we do next?”

He knew that Liu Xie was upset now, but the emperor was the backbone at this time and everyone needed to obey the emperor’s orders.

Liu Xie stroked the jade ring on his thumb, and slowly stood up and said, “Call all the officials…”

“Ascension!”

……

Since Guo Jia fell ill, Liu Xie no longer delayed the reform of the imperial examination system.

He held a court meeting that day and formally announced to all civil and military officials that the system of recommendation, which existed in name only, would be abolished and replaced by the imperial examination system. Many officials in the court objected to Liu Xie’s decision, led by the major aristocratic families.

But Liu Xie showed his domineering side for the first time in a long time and suppressed all the voices of opposition.

Guo Jia didn’t know how long he could live. Now time was Guo Jia’s life, and he didn’t want to waste any more time.

He wanted his true right-hand man to fulfill his dream and see the success of this reform before he died.

Soon, the news spread like the wind to all parts of the world, with Chang’an as the center.

Countless scholars cheered when they learned about this!
Although the system of recommendation, as the orthodox way for the imperial court to recruit officials, has become weak in recent years, its status remains unshakable.

As long as the imperial court is not abolished, it will remain a huge mountain weighing on the heads of all scholars!
But now, the emperor officially announced the abolition of the recommendation system and replaced it with the imperial examination system, which meant that their new learning had become orthodox!
The significance is so great that it is difficult to express in words.

At the same time, as the news spread, the court also announced that it would hold the Spring Examination and the Palace Examination in Chang’an.

The original promotion path of the Imperial College was from elementary school to middle school, from middle school to university, and then passing the examination to enter the Imperial College.

Generally speaking, it was not difficult to enter the Imperial College before.

Because the imperial court needed to train a large number of educational talents, they were spread to schools all over the Han Dynasty to cultivate seeds of reading.

Therefore, the policy we have always adopted is a loose entry and loose exit policy.

However, starting from this spring examination, the Imperial College will adopt a policy of strict admission and strict graduation and begin to cultivate truly high-end talents.

Guo Jia and his team had already drafted the specific examination regulations.

To enter the Imperial Academy, one must pass the Spring Examination, and only three hundred people are selected every year.

This is just the requirement for admission to the Imperial College.

After entering the Imperial Academy and studying for three years, one has to pass another round of exams before graduation.

The top twenty among them will be personally met by the emperor and tested, which is called the palace examination.

The first place in the palace examination will be awarded the title of top scholar, given a plaque for the first place in the imperial examination, a top scholar archway will be built, and a top scholar ceremonial guard will be awarded. He will be allowed to parade through the streets of Chang’an, and the news will be announced to the world and recorded in the history of the Han Dynasty forever.

The second and third place winners of the Palace Examination will be awarded the titles of Bangyan and Tanhua, and can parade through the streets with the No. 1 scholar. The Spring Examination and the Palace Examination will be held together every year.

When this news spread, scholars all over the world were excited!

Number one scholar, what an honor!

Why do scholars study so hard? To bring honor to their families! To be a farmer in the morning and a minister in the evening!

There has been no first in literature since ancient times, but the imperial examination has given a first place, and that is the top spot in the palace examination, the top scholar!

As long as you can get the top spot, you will be the best among all the scholars, and will be directly recorded in the history of the Han Dynasty and enter the cabinet directly!
Bring honor to the family, leave a name in history, govern the country and ensure the people’s safety!
Three wishes fulfilled at once!
Which writer could refuse such an honor?
Many students who have graduated from the Imperial Academy cried out in regret and were extremely envious of the scholars of today and in the future.

They graduated too early. If they were given a chance, they would definitely fight for this title!
In addition to the Imperial College, the selection mechanism at the Han Royal Military Academy is almost the same, with the same spring examination and palace examination, and the first place in the palace examination is called the martial arts champion.

However, the top scholar in literature attracted more attention.

“The palace examination! And His Majesty will personally examine the top 20 scholars. Doesn’t that mean we can all become disciples of the emperor?”

“The Emperor’s disciple! The Emperor’s disciple!”

“Your Majesty has personally chosen me as the top scholar, and I can also join the cabinet to assist in government affairs. What an honor this is!”

“In the morning, I am a farmer, and in the evening, I am the emperor. To govern the country and bring peace to the world, this is the ideal of my generation of scholars!”

“I must win first place!”

“But I heard that the Spring Examination is more difficult than before, and the Palace Examination is even more difficult.”

“No matter how difficult it is, I will give it a try!”

……

At one time, scholars who had been admitted to universities from all over the country rushed to Chang’an. Some scholars, although not qualified to take the exam, also came to participate in this world-renowned event.

It was not enough to boast in the past,
There is no limit to debauchery now.

The spring breeze is full of joy and the horses are galloping.
See all the flowers in Chang’an in one day!

This short poem fully expresses the romanticism and pursuits in the hearts of all scholars.

Who doesn’t want to pass the imperial examinations and get a good reputation, bring honor to their family, and rise to the top? This is the dream of all students!

Chang’an City was already very prosperous.

Because of the arrival of the Spring Examination, the flow of people in Chang’an City increased dramatically, and all the inns, big and small, were fully occupied.

Young students can be seen everywhere on the streets, and the owners of brothels and pleasure boats in Chang’an are all smiling from ear to ear.

Because which student coming to take the exam doesn’t have some money?

Moreover, most scholars like to have fun and it is very common for them to call their friends to go out together.

However, there are still many students staying in the inn to continue their studies in preparation for the imperial examination that will be held soon.

“Ji Chang, stop staying in your room reading all the time.”

“I heard that there are more than a dozen new girls in Shangbi Pavilion, and there is also an oiran who is good at singing. Let’s go and take a look. I’ll treat you!”

A young man stood at the door of the room and invited another young student with graying eyebrows in the room.

However, the latter just sighed upon hearing this and said helplessly: “I don’t really like going to places like brothels, so you guys should go and have fun.”

“But I think it’s time for you, Youchang, to focus on your studies. The Spring Examination is coming soon, so you should prepare well.”

These two people are the two brothers of the Ma family.

One is Ma Liang and the other is Ma Su.

Before Ma Liang finished speaking, Ma Su sneered, “It’s just the Spring Examination, not the Palace Examination. Isn’t it a piece of cake for me?”

“I will definitely enter the Han Imperial Military Academy. Just prepare for the graduation exam. I’m leaving now.”

Ma Su had just graduated from university and came here to take part in the Spring Examination.

Ma Liang was already a student of the Imperial Academy. This time he was taking part in the Imperial Academy’s graduation examination, and his ultimate goal was to get into the top 20 and enter the palace examination.

After Ma Su finished speaking, he turned around and left, calling on others to go out for fun together.

Looking at his leaving figure, Ma Liang, who stayed in the room, smiled bitterly with a complicated expression.

Ma Su could take it easy, but he couldn’t.

The competition for this Imperial College graduation examination is extremely fierce. Countless talented people will compete for the qualification to enter the palace examination and compete for the top three places.

But he had to compete.

Because Ma was implicated in Ma Chao’s rebellion, although he was not punished by the emperor, his reputation was greatly damaged.

Especially after Ma Teng’s death a few years ago, the Ma family fell into decline and never had a place in the court again.

So he must achieve outstanding performance in the palace examination.

Thus revitalizing the Ma family!
Thinking of this, Ma Liang’s expression became more determined. After collecting his thoughts, he prepared to close the door and go back to continue reading and reviewing.
However, at this moment, a scholar in a white robe suddenly walked past his door holding a pile of books. One of the books accidentally fell to the ground, and the latter was unaware of it.

“Wait a minute, brother, your book fell…”

Ma Liang noticed this scene, bent down, picked up the book and shouted to the scholar.

(End of this chapter)