"The second matter is that we must prepare to hold an examination across all of Britain. A test that evaluates candidates based on their scholarly knowledge or martial prowess. Those who pass will be assigned suitable positions."
Lot's next step, of course, was to implement the imperial examination system.
Or rather, a civil service selection system akin to what England would later adopt.
Through examinations, they would select the most suitable candidates to serve as officials.
His literacy campaign would take time, so for now, they needed to recruit already-educated individuals to fill bureaucratic roles.
Even foreign nobles were acceptable.
As long as they were paid salaries rather than granted land, the central government would maintain firm control over regional governance.
Of course, the literacy efforts within his own territory would continue.
Only a properly educated populace could withstand the coming decline of the Age of Gods.
The people they must be allowed to unleash their own strength.
Lot thought to himself.
Kay, however, still had reservations about Lot's plan.
"Your Majesty, are you certain this is appropriate? Won't they just become new lords in the end?"
"Of course not. Kay, you still don't understand the difference between the system I'm establishing and the old feudal lords."
The commandery system wouldn't produce new lords because if officials were appointed by the central government, their authority derived from the king. These officials would naturally owe their loyalty to the crown. In contrast, Western feudalism tied status to bloodline, meaning lords had little reason to remain loyal to the king.
What Lot sought now was to shift regional control from hereditary bloodlines to centralized authority.
This examination system would inevitably be plagued by cheating and unfairness at first. But as long as the foundation was laid, Lot believed that once literacy improved, the system would evolve.
He didn't elaborate further, simply instructing Kay to carry out the plan.
This era's literacy rates were, frankly, dismal. So Lot didn't rigidly demand that all low-level officials be literate. Instead, he tailored requirements to specific administrative roles case by case.
"Understood."
Kay nodded silently and set to work.
As he turned to leave, Lot suddenly called him back.
"Oh, and Kay this examination must have no restrictions based on status. Whether noble or commoner, anyone with a specialized skill may participate."
Naturally, most qualified candidates would still be nobles or clergy at this stage.
But from the very beginning, Lot wanted to establish one principle:
No discrimination by birth.
Otherwise, the entire system would devolve into empty formalism.
...
With Kay gone, Lot prepared to resume his usual idleness.
"Time to find Morgan," he mused.
The rest of the paperwork could be left to her.
I'd much rather play with my daughter.
What fun were documents compared to a child?
Overthinking would just kill too many brain cells.
"Holding my wife at night, carrying my daughter by day that's the proper life for a transmigrator like me."
With this thought, Lot returned to the palace.
Entering the gardens, he heard cheerful laughter.
He quickened his steps.
There, on the grass, Morgan was lifting Gawain into the air, playfully bouncing her.
Seeing this, Lot deliberately lightened his footsteps and crept up behind them.
At that moment
Morgan was murmuring to Gawain.
"Gawain, why aren't you growing taller yet? Once you do, your father and I will have plenty of work for you. Your father Lot has so much to do. You'd better hurry up and grow so you can help him."
[Good grief, Gawain's only a month old, and you're already planning child labor? That's ruthless. A baby won't be useful for at least another decade you can't just speed up her growth!]
[What, do you have a 'one-click adulthood' function hidden somewhere?]
Morgan's expression stiffened.
Damn it Lot had overheard everything.
[Let's see what else Morgan says. Perfect material to tease her with later.]
Tch
This pervert.
Daring to think like that.
Hearing Lot's inner monologue, Morgan's eyebrow twitched.
"Lot, what are you eavesdropping for?"
She turned her head and caught Lot mid-sneak.
The moment their eyes met, Lot immediately straightened up, feigning innocence.
"Eavesdropping? I just came to find you."
Not a trace of guilt on his face.
Morgan shot him a sidelong glance but didn't press the issue.
Lot all those skills he learned from Scáthach, and he never uses them for anything proper.
Flirting with his wife, playing with the baby, slacking off when possible, shifting blame when necessary.
Lot…
Do something useful for once.
"So, how did things go?"
Morgan asked if he'd resolved the earlier problem.
"Pfft with me here, what problem couldn't be solved?"
Lot thumped his chest proudly.
"How did you do it?"
Morgan's eyes lit up with interest.
She never doubted Lot's capabilities. But she was intensely curious about his methods.
"Easy enough…"
Grinning, Lot recounted his actions in detail, ensuring Morgan fully grasped his reasoning.
"You're amazing."
Her praise was genuine.
"I know I'm amazing. Haven't you told me before?"
Lot smirked at her.
"Since when ?"
Morgan paused, then immediately realized his implication.
Ugh!
"Humph, I won't waste time on you. I'll go handle the specifics. Here you keep playing… ahem, watching Gawain."
Rolling her eyes, she handed Gawain to Lot and left to deal with administrative tasks.
Lot had handled the hardest part the drudgery was still her responsibility.
Now alone with Gawain, Lot found himself with nothing to do again.
Just then, he felt the familiar stirring of his "Angler Never Returns Empty-Handed" ability activating.
"Should I take a trip to the River of Time?"
The thought crossed his mind.