Tibet.

Chapter 1439: Imperial Examination Loophole
As soon as December began, a heavy snow fell, and the entire Guanzhong Plain was covered with snow.

There was a blazing charcoal fire in the imperial study of Huaqing Palace. Suddenly, a string of sparks burst out, crackling and making the room exceptionally warm.

Li Ye was reading a memorial written by Wei Yingwu, the governor of Suzhou. Wei Jiansu pointed out that for three consecutive years, the proportion of scholars from Jiangnan in the imperial examinations was too low, and this year, the number of scholars from Jiangnan in the Jinshi examination was completely wiped out.

Wei Yingwu believed that the imperial examination questions were unfair to the scholars from Jiangnan.

Wei Yingwu was referring to the final policy essay topic.

"Your Majesty, Jiangnan is a remote corner of the country and knows very little about the major events in the world. If they occasionally know something, it is only a few words and not detailed. However, the countermeasures require extremely high standards and are extremely realistic. For example, Liaodong Anxi, Longyou Nanzhao, require knowledge of astronomy and geography, and historical origins. I have also read the works of the successful candidates in the imperial examinations. Their thoughts are more mature and far-sighted than those of the prime minister. Officials for decades have all felt inferior to them. Is this really what they think and worry about, or is it the teachings of their fathers and elders?
Most of the scholars in Jiangnan are in their twenties. How can we make them understand the major events of the country? How can we make them become prime ministers, worry about the country and the people, have far-reaching insights, and consider the layout of the Tang Dynasty for a hundred years?

Your Majesty, this is difficult!
In addition, the imperial court and local governments are advocating traveling thousands of miles and reading thousands of books. Has the imperial court ever considered the financial situation of poor scholars?

Your Majesty often says that children from poor families should be self-reliant, but when has the court ever considered children from poor families when designing systems?
I have spoken nonsense, because I have seen, heard, and worried too much, and I cannot help but speak out. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me!"

Wei Yingwu's memorial deeply touched Li Ye and forced him to start reflecting. In fact, this was not the first time Wei Yingwu raised this point. His father Li Dai also criticized him for arbitrarily changing the imperial examination system, which caused endless harm.

Since the reform of the imperial examination system in Helong began, the drawbacks of the reform have become increasingly obvious in the past two years. In the Kaiyuan and Tianbao periods, there were still many children from poor families who passed the imperial examinations and became Jinshi, but since the reform, the number of such people has become fewer and fewer, and there have been basically none in the past two years.

Originally, the test only examined the content of the books, which was fair to both the children of poor families and the children of the powerful. But now, with the addition of policy questions, it is not only unfair to the children of poor families, but also to the children of rich families, and only benefits the children of aristocratic families and eunuchs.

This was a huge cognitive error made by Li Ye. He took it for granted that all scholars in the world should understand national affairs. In fact, in the information-blocked Tang Dynasty, only those closest to power could know a little bit about national affairs. Most people knew nothing, not even local officials.

There was also a trend of studying abroad, which was originally encouraged by Li Ye, so that students could go out and see the world and not be bookworms. However, he overlooked the issue of the cost of studying abroad. Even if the government subsidized food and accommodation, it was impossible to avoid spending money. The most basic transportation expenses were not small. A month away would cost at least three or four strings of money. This was a heavy burden for poor families, but it could not be entirely borne by the local government, which was unrealistic.

Therefore, many reforms seem fair, but in fact contain huge unfairness. Many decisions that were taken for granted in the past have hidden huge hidden dangers in the future, and the bad consequences are beginning to appear.

At this time, the palace maid reported at the door, "Your Majesty, Prime Minister Wei and Prime Minister Zhang are here!"

The two men arrived just in time, and Li Ye hurriedly said, "Please come in quickly!"

Soon, Wei Jiansu and Zhang Li walked in together and bowed together, "Your Majesty!"

Li Ye apologized, "It's so cold, and you two came to Huaqing Palace!"

"Your Majesty, it's okay to come here once in a while!"

Normally, Li Ye and important officials of the court communicated through letters, but since these two people came in person, it must be something important.

Li Ye asked the two to sit down and asked the maid to serve hot tea. After drinking the hot tea, the two felt much better. Wei Jiansu said, "This time, the two of us came here to abolish slavery."

Li Ye nodded and demanded that officials at all levels must complete the abolition of slavery before the end of the year. It could be said that this was a death order without any ambiguity. Li Ye also knew that officials said one thing and meant another, and that touching their vital interests was more difficult than touching their souls.

But there were some things he had to do. In fact, emperors of all dynasties had demanded the abolition of slavery, but basically failed. The Song Dynasty did the best, but once it came under the rule of backward nomadic peoples, slavery began to spread again.

"Do you two want to ask for another half year's extension?"

"Your Majesty, the reaction from both the government and the people is indeed quite strong. Slaves are property after all. If you abolish them, you can't just do it. And there is no way to compensate for the losses. I suggest that we give a little compensation. Everyone is also motivated to do it. In addition, there is indeed some pressure on time at the end of the year, especially your Majesty's measures to punish the whole family, which have made officials generally dissatisfied."

Li Ye nodded, "It is indeed inappropriate to punish the whole group of officials. It can be cancelled. I also know that time is very tight at the end of the year, but even if it is June next year, everyone will definitely not take any action. They are shouting that time is tight. The deadline is always postponed. If a group of officials are not punished, they will never be deterred. As for compensation, if compensation is given now, what about the officials who used to be honest and abolish slavery?
I have banned the slave trade since the year before last. The slaves in their hands have worked for them for at least two years. The money they spent on buying the slaves has long been earned back. Although the court's finances are abundant, they cannot be squandered at will. I will not give them a penny in compensation."

Zhang Li had no choice but to say: "Many officials have said that although servants are slaves, they have lived together for many years and are like family members."

"Wait a minute!"

Li Ye interrupted Zhang Li with a wave of his hand and said dissatisfiedly: "Prime Minister Zhang, those who say these things are simply shameless. What do you mean by being as close as family? Would these officials sell their families as slaves? They are enjoying the service of slaves, but they still say they are as close as family. They are whores and at the same time they are chaste. If anyone dares to say this, I will remove them first."

Wei Jiansu and Zhang Li dared not say anything. Li Ye also felt that his tone was too harsh, so he softened his tone and said, "I am not abolishing slavery, but I am changing the occupation of slaves without compensation to employment, and I am going to pay them so that slaves can also start families and raise offspring."

After a pause, Li Ye continued, "Emperors of all dynasties have called for the abolition of slavery. They see the same problem as I do, the population problem. The Tang Dynasty has experienced civil strife and there is already a shortage of men. Now there are a large number of foreign women. Are there really no men left? Not entirely. A large number of young and strong Han men have become slaves. If these young and strong men are released, there will be at least one or two million more people. If they can marry and have children, and continue their descendants, the population of the Tang Dynasty will slowly increase.

Why do I strictly prohibit officials from owning slaves? Because if officials themselves have no slaves, they will not allow civilians to have slaves. This is human nature. Ordinary people can never get what those in power cannot get.

The two prime ministers should go back and publicize more. There will be a major investigation led by the Internal Security Bureau at the beginning of next year. I don't want any official to be found to continue to keep slaves."

Wei Jiansu and Zhang Li both felt a little ashamed and nodded together, saying, "I understand. I will immediately go back and arrange for the Council of State to discuss your majesty's request to abolish slavery and then publicize it."

Li Ye smiled and said, "I was just about to send someone to invite you over, and you came. What a coincidence."

"Is there anything important, Your Majesty?"

Li Ye nodded. "Regarding the imperial examination, I think some reforms are necessary. The main one is the third question of the Jinshi exam, "Countermeasures". I have been too biased towards practical issues, which is unfair to many scholars. This year, no scholar from Jiangnan passed the Jinshi exam. The problem here is very serious. Let's discuss it together in the Political Affairs Hall! How should the third question be changed? It should be both practical and not out of touch with the book."

(End of this chapter)