The Emperor, seated above, had been about to lose his temper. But seeing them engaged in heated debate, he raised an eyebrow in surprise, sat back down, and calmed his anger.
He wasn't afraid of them arguing—he was afraid of them not arguing at all. This at least showed some semblance of capable ministers.
Thus, the departments argued about Yong'an's tax revenue for over half a month. Just as the Emperor was growing impatient, they finally proposed solutions.
"What the Ministry of Personnel fears is essentially the gentry competing with the common people for profit," the Minister of Revenue offered a solution. "How about this: our ministry will negotiate with the gentry and powerful clans in each prefecture to ensure local interests don't conflict. Then the Ministry of Personnel can proceed with promotion?"
"That's more acceptable." With the Ministry of Revenue compromising, the Ministry of Personnel officials looked somewhat relieved. "But negotiation alone isn't enough. Before that, the Ministry of Revenue must also screen suitable crops for each prefecture, so local areas can better adapt promotions to their conditions."
"After promotion and planting, how to expand sales channels is also a problem?" the Ministry of Revenue raised another issue.
"Perhaps prefectures could cooperate?" After arguing for half a month, the Ministry of Personnel wasn't idle either. "For example, the south likes soy sauce but isn't suitable for growing soybeans, while the north likes sweetness but can't grow sugarcane. The north could help the south grow soybeans, and the south could help the north grow sugarcane?"
"That creates transportation issues." The Ministries of Personnel and Revenue looked toward the Ministry of Works.
"As long as funds are available, our Ministry of Works can handle large-scale water conservancy and roads nationwide." The Minister of Works initially wanted to stay out of it, but when the conflict suddenly turned to him, he didn't shy away.
His ministry simply lacked money. With funds, the Huayin flood four years ago wouldn't have happened!
It was rare to see departments arguing but then sitting down to discuss and collaborate. The Emperor watched his ministers below proposing ideas, raising questions, and finding solutions. His authoritative eyes, usually filled with anger, finally softened considerably.
It wasn't easy—finally seeing these idle court officials handling matters properly, instead of just shifting blame like before.
Yong'an Prefecture had done well! Xu Huaiqian had done well!
As he watched the gradual change, the Emperor's mood improved greatly. He turned the jade thumb ring on his hand, growing increasingly eager to meet the scholar named Xu Huaiqian, who had transformed Yong'an Prefecture and was now changing the court!
How had he performed in this year's provincial exams?
As he wondered, the clearly impatient Grand Secretary of the Hanlin Academy stepped forward, ignoring the arguments among the ministries: "Your Majesty, I have a matter to report."
The Emperor looked over: "What is it?"
"It's regarding this year's imperial exams," the matter was significant; the Hanlin Academy didn't dare conceal it. "This year's provincial exam topic was tax revenue, something never tested before. It has caused widespread dissatisfaction among scholars nationwide. Since the exams ended, Xiucai in many places have gathered to protest, shouting that current affairs are useless and demanding the exam reforms be reversed."
Hearing this, the Emperor's good mood vanished entirely: "Without reforming the exams, just reciting poetry and prose every day—can that fill the people's stomachs? Can it generate tax revenue like Yong'an Prefecture's 200,000 taels annually? If it could, I'd let them recite poetry and prose all day long!"
Just when he finally saw some competence in his ministers, the scholars outside were causing trouble again.
Hadn't he given them opportunities for poetry and prose? The Xiucai exam wasn't reformed—besides current affairs, there were still questions on poetry, prose, and eight-legged essays. Wasn't that enough?!
If it were all poetry, prose, and useless policy discussions, selecting ministers like before who couldn't handle anything, what use would such a country be?
Since the news of Yong'an's high tax revenue reached the court, the Emperor hadn't been this angry in a long time. The previously lively court fell silent instantly.
The ministers inwardly cursed the protesting scholars—why protest now, of all times, when Yong'an's taxes had surged? They were asking for trouble!
Sure enough, after his outburst, the Emperor issued a decree: "Publicize Yong'an Prefecture's tax revenue from this year across all prefectures. Let those scholars shouting that current affairs are useless see whether current affairs have any use or not!"
After speaking, the Emperor's gaze sharpened again: "If they still shout that current affairs are useless after seeing this, then these scholars need not take the exams anymore. They can recite poetry and write prose at home for the rest of their lives."
This statement essentially sentenced the protesting scholars to political death. The court officials understood clearly; no one stepped forward to speak for them.
Firstly, regarding the exam reforms, His Majesty had already executed many people. Now, with Yong'an's tax surge as precedent, the ministers were busy promoting Yong'an's success nationwide—who had time to care about these scholars?
Thus, when the Emperor issued this decree, not a single official in the full court opposed it.
The protesting scholars had demonstrated for over half a month. Seeing no one from the exam authorities stopping them, they thought their plan was succeeding and grew excited daily, shouting outside exam halls and government offices.
It was at this moment that an edict publicizing Yong'an Prefecture's massively increased tax revenue spread throughout all Administrative Commissions.
"What?!"
"Yong'an Prefecture's annual land tax can reach two hundred thousand taels?!"
"Are you joking? The maximum land tax for a prefecture is sixty to seventy thousand taels at most. How could it possibly be two hundred thousand? Are they growing gold?!"
As soon as the news broke, people across all prefectures were discussing it. Initially, no one believed it. But with the imperial proclamation posted publicly, even the most skeptical had to admit it was true.
The Emperor's word is not a joke.
If the government posted such a proclamation so prominently without basis, wouldn't the Emperor lose all face?!
The candidates waiting for the Emperor to revert the imperial exams were baffled. Instead of an edict reversing the reforms, they got a proclamation about Yong'an's tax revenue. While they were scratching their heads, the chief examiners collectively sighed in relief.
With so many scholars protesting, the examiners feared the Emperor might actually revert the policy. Therefore, all the exam papers collected had been left ungraded.
They were afraid grading them would be pointless if the policy changed.
Now, seeing the Emperor publicizing the tax revenue everywhere, they knew the current-affairs-based exams would definitely not be reversed. They sprang into action.
Not only did they start grading the papers, but they also drove away the protesting candidates from the exam compounds and government offices.
"Those who say current affairs are useless, go take a good look at the imperial proclamation!"
"If your poetry and prose can also make a remote prefecture's tax revenue reach two hundred thousand taels a year, enable every household under its governance to earn ten to thirty taels, ensure everyone has enough to eat, clothes to wear, and access to education—then come back and tell us current affairs are useless!"
These protesting scholars all held the Xiucai degree; they had official status. The harassed exam and government offices couldn't easily deal with them. But now, with a valid excuse, they used it to shut them down.
The candidates were dumbfounded!
What tax revenue?!
What annual income of ten to thirty taels?!
What "everyone has enough to eat, clothes to wear, and can read"?!
It sounded like a fantasy tale—they couldn't understand it! Weren't they discussing the exam reforms? How did it circle back to tax revenue?
The dismissed scholars from various prefectures, bewildered, went to check the posted proclamations.
Seeing the described scene in Yong'an Prefecture, they were incredulous: "Is this something a remote prefecture could achieve in just one year?"
"Is the Emperor fabricating a prefecture's tax revenue just to avoid reforming the exams and deceive us?!"
Scholars who only knew poetry, prose, romance, and nature refused to believe the proclamation was true.
Especially the scholars from Suzhou Prefecture: "We've never even heard of this Yong'an Prefecture! How can we be sure what's written is true?!"
"Moreover, two hundred thousand taels a year is an astronomical figure. Even Suzhou Prefecture at its peak couldn't reach that tax revenue. How could an unheard-of remote prefecture achieve it? If there's no trickery involved, who would believe it?"
In short, no matter what, these scholars refused to believe the proclamation. They were convinced it was fabricated by the Emperor to avoid exam reforms. Instead of quieting down, their protests grew even more intense.
When the Emperor heard this, he was so angry he almost laughed. If these ignorant Xiucai were to become Juren or even Jinshi and become officials, it would be the biggest joke in the world!
Helpless, the Emperor issued another decree: "This year's exam papers from all Administrative Commissions will not be graded locally. All are to be sent to the capital for me to review personally. If there truly are individuals with literary talent so astounding it moves heaven and earth, I will revert the exams. If not, the current-affairs-based exams will continue."
This time, the scholars didn't dare protest further. They all looked eagerly towards the capital, hoping that one or two exceptionally talented individuals nationwide could persuade the Emperor to change the exams back.