Chapter 160.2
Half a month quickly passed by.
The examination papers of all the candidates had been graded, and the top 1000 papers were selected and handed over to Lin Beifan.
Lin Beifan needed to select three hundred top candidates to enter the court as officials.
Lin Beifan looked through them with a smile, one by one.
Among them, some insights and methods greatly broadened Lin Beifans horizons.
Indeed, two heads are better than one! With the assistance of so many examinees, it will be much easier to deal with the noble families!
Then, Lin Beifan picked out nearly 300 papers from these exams and handed them to Li Linfu, saying, The people behind these examinees are from the noble families; they cannot be allowed to enter the court as officials, so I have singled them out! Additionally, you should publish these papers, let them fight among themselves like dogs!
Yes, Your Majesty! Li Linfu accepted the order.
Another day passed, and the list of successful candidates was posted.
Those who passed the imperial examination were naturally ecstatic, dancing with joy, while those who did not pass could only walk away in dejection.
At the same time, various examination papers were also put on display.
The candidates behind those papers were thrown into panic!
Curse that foolish emperor, hes practically roasting them over the fire, so sinister and cruel!
Not only did they fail, but their failure was also exposed for all to see. How could they possibly explain this when they return home?
Its over! This time, its definitely over!
The faces of each great noble family turned even uglier!
After all the things they had done, not a single matter was accomplished; instead, they had stirred up a whole lot of trouble!
Call those people back! I didnt expect that they would be so respectful to our faces, but behind our backs, they were plotting against us. How ruthless! If we cant deal with that foolish emperor, cant we deal with them?
Lets set aside the matters of the noble families for now.
After Great Xia selected 300 talented individuals, they went through another round of examinations in the palace, picking out the top three scholars. Then, based on their abilities and scores, they were assigned to various departments within the Six Ministries and Nine Ministers.
With this, Great Xias shortage of talent was resolved, and the kingdom began to operate at high speed once again.
After the Ministry of Rites finished its recruitment, it was the turn of the Ministry of War to take action.
They began a large-scale conscription, carried out in three phases. The first phase conscripted 400,000 men, the second phase also conscripted 400,000, and the third phase adjusted the number of troops depending on the needs of the court, gradually completing the conscription task arranged by Lin Beifan.
The court has finally started conscription, Ive waited so long that the flowers have wilted!
This time, I must join the army, gallop across the battlefield, and establish a distinguished career!
My goal isnt that grand, I just want to earn enough for a concrete house, then come back and build a life with my wife!
I feel the same way, haha!
Aspirants flocked in great numbers.
Among these applicants, many talents from the Beggar Sect had infiltrated.
They had been in Great Xia for several months now, and through hard work, they had shed their beggar status to become common people, their lives vastly improved from before.
Yet, they were not satisfied.
They yearned to, like their predecessors, become officials to earn a fortune, marry, and have several plump children.
Only by joining the military could they fulfill this wish.
This time, I must make a name for myself!
I dont want to be a beggar anymore, nor do I wish for my descendants to be beggars!
I must become a general so that I can bring honor to my ancestors!
To become a general, to be a true man who stands tall under the heavens!
With this hope, they enlisted in the military.
And the Great Xia Military Academy, under the organization of Cao Cao, once again opened its doors for a new class.
He selected about 40 of the more outstanding and capable junior officers from the entire army and provided them with systematic military training, enabling them to shoulder greater responsibilities.
The various major actions of Great Xia quickly spread to the neighboring Great Xue Kingdom.
The civil and military officials of the Great Xue Kingdom were in a state of panic.
It was known that now only their country bordered Great Xia.
Great Xia was recruiting soldiers and training officers, which certainly meant they were preparing for war.
If they went to war, who would they fight?
It can only be them, the Great Xue Kingdom!
Moreover, the Great Xue Kingdom has thoroughly offended Great Xia. It would be surprising if Great Xia didnt send troops to attack them.
Thus, they entered the palace and reported the matter to the Great Xue Emperor, hoping to make early preparations.
However, the Great Xue Emperor was unusually calm: Dont worry, no matter how much they stir things up, its useless. Do ants dream of defying heaven?
After the officials left, the Great Xue Emperor couldnt help but look in the direction of Great Xia.
Soon, my breakthrough will come, just endure a little longer!
At this moment, Lin Beifan was surveying the entire country through Empire Sandbox.
Observing that the entire nation was developing steadily according to his plan, he nodded in satisfaction: Now, the population of Great Xia has broken through 20 million, Domestic Resources have exceeded 500 million taels, and the total military strength has surpassed 200,000! As long as we can coax one more Innate and one Grandmaster and then expand our territory, we can advance to a dynasty!
The most difficult task was to get a Grandmaster!
Up to now, Lin Beifan had not yet encountered a Grandmaster, so he didnt even have the opportunity to coax one.
At this moment, Lin Beifan noticed something unusual in the Empire Sandbox.
Huh? Theres a group of monks here?
Through the perspective of the Empire Sandbox, Lin Beifan observed that the monks were wearing very exquisite robes, which looked quite extraordinary.
Leading the group was an old monk, clad in a splendid kasaya with a brocade pattern, his head adorned with a Vairocana hat, a tin staff in hand, eyes closed and face serene, exuding a majestic and dignified aura.
At first glance, one could tell he was a highly accomplished monk.
Amitabha!
The old monk brought his palms together and spoke with kind eyes and a benevolent expression, Ahead lies Great Xia, a land said to be without a single temple or a monk seeking Buddha, a barbaric place for Buddhism! Without the flourishing of the Dharma, all beings suffer! Therefore, we have come to spread the teachings of Buddha, to ferry all beings, and to free the people from the sea of suffering!
Master is most virtuous, Amitabha! the monks said in unison.
With that, they stepped into the territory of Great Xia.
Along the way, they saw the common folk toiling away, their faces towards the yellow earth and their backs to the sky, working the fields with great hardship, which filled their eyes with even greater compassion.
Amitabha! The world is a vast sea of suffering, and all beings are in distress! Only through faith in Buddha and worship of Buddha can one attain great liberation, great ease, and great freedom! This poor monk shall help them escape the sea of suffering!
When the master makes a move, success is sure to follow; the Buddhist Sect is about to gain a few more devout followers! a young monk flattered.
The old monk shook his head: Disciple, you flatter me too much. Its not that easy, is it?
However, there was still a hint of pride in his tone.
In fact, he did have some skill in proselytizing, which is why he had been sent to spread the teachings of Buddhism.
He arrived at the fields and said loudly to a few farmers working the land: Amitabha, greetings to all the donors!
Everyone looked up to see a lavishly dressed old monk approaching them.
The other party was dressed in an exquisite brocade kasaya, holding a staff that shone like gold in his hand, his face full of compassion, presenting a very appealing image.
The group of farmers looked at each other, and one of them asked, Are you a monk from afar? What brings you to us?
This poor monks name is Sanchi! My visit to Xia this time is primarily to spread the teachings of Buddhism and to ferry all sentient beings to salvation! As the saying goes, Buddha ferries those who have a predestined affinity. You donors are precisely those with such an affinity with Buddha, and so this poor monk has specifically come to enlighten you, Amitabha! the venerable monk said with a dignified and treasured appearance.
Whats the use of learning Buddhism? someone asked him skeptically.
***
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