Chapter 526 268: The Fire Begins

The murmured words betrayed worry.

Indeed, there was worry!

The North and South were pacified, the Nine States unified, and it has already been several years.

In these years, that Bright Spirit King has remained silent and still, seemingly unaware of the actions of the Northern Noble Families, the Three Sects' Lineage, and various forces, allowing them to fall into place, depend on the True Dragon, and make strategic moves.

This isn't normal!

The chaos caused by the True Dragon is an open strategy, plainly visible whether friend or foe.

Logically, both sides should be making moves on this chessboard, doing all sorts of maneuvering.

But that Bright Spirit King has not.

He remains unmoving, letting everything run its course, allowing the Northern Noble Families and the Three Sects' Lineage to easily change sides, join the Great Zhou, rely on the True Dragon, gradually forming a great power and controlling the Court's authority.

This makes everyone suspicious and secretly worried.

Why doesn't he move?

Is he powerless to break this open strategy, only waiting for death?

Or does he have unknown secret plans, already making moves in crucial places, just waiting for the right time to reveal everything and turn the tides?

Emotionally, one hopes for the former, but reason tells everyone that the latter is the most reasonable answer.

He has support, and a plan, and the rise of the True Dragon is probably within his calculations, so he appears indifferent, even tacitly allowing development and secretly promoting it.

What support, what plan?

No one knows!

It is this lack of knowledge that causes worry.

But regardless, now that things have come to this, with pieces in place, there is no choice.

The arrow is on the string, it must be released!

Even if that Bright Spirit King has some unknown secret hand and support, they can only respond to challenges as they come.

What plans, what schemes, ultimately depend on strength to decide everything.

Thus...

Time flies quickly, a blink, and several years have passed, bringing us to the Twenty-second Year of Celestial Mandate.

A new emperor ascends the throne, changing the old with the new, bringing great governance to the realm, with the Zhou Dynasty reaching a peak of prosperity, with all aspects flourishing into an unprecedented prosperous era.

Yet beneath the surface of this prosperity, inexplicable undercurrents flow.

Twenty-second Year of Celestial Mandate, July, Northern Capital, Great Court Meeting.

"Greetings, My Sovereign!"

In the Jinluan Hall, hundreds of officials assembled, bowing before the Emperor.

On the dragon throne, Song Yu sat high, the years have passed, reaching middle age, but still seemed to be in the prime of life, with only two short mustaches on his face, full of vigor and prominence.

"Speak your petitions if you have any; otherwise, the court is dismissed!"

The attendant announced, starting the court meeting.

"I have a petition!"

As soon as the words fell, a person stepped forward, dressed in a purple robe, clearly a Second Grade official.

Song Yu glanced and slightly frowned, but quickly relaxed: "Mr. Ye, what is your petition?"

This person's name was Ye Xuan, from the Ye Clan, originating from the Huangshan Academy, now serving as Minister of the Ministry of Rites in the Northern Capital, holding a Second-Grade Official Position, high-ranking and powerful.

"Reported to Your Majesty!"

Ye Xuan spoke meticulously, with calm and powerful words: "The Northern Lands have been pacified, the entire realm unified, for ten years now, all conditions are ripe, it is time to fully implement our Great Zhou policies in the Northern Lands, and conduct examinations in engineering, agriculture, medicine, mathematics, and other fields!"

"Hmm!?"

Upon hearing this, many in the court had sharp eyes.

The examinations are the method by which the court selects scholars, and are the stepping stone for scholars to advance, their importance is needless to say, directly affecting the court's development and operation.

But the Great Zhou's examination system differs from previous dynasties, not solely relying on literary and military merits, but heavily emphasizing various miscellaneous studies, including engineering, agriculture, medicine, mathematics, and even recently adding physics and other emerging sciences.

This is not a good thing, at least not for the Northern Noble Families.

Passing down knowledge through poetry and books, the examination system is controlled by both the court and noble families, especially those of Great Confucian Scholar households, each holding the power to interpret the classics, benefiting greatly, providing the foundation for the families and sects of scholars to establish themselves and pass down their heritage.

Therefore, regarding this unusual Great Zhou examination system emphasizing various miscellaneous studies, the Northern Noble Families and scholarly sects are highly resistant and unwilling to accept.

Fortunately, the Great Zhou was considerate back then, not forcefully enforcing it in the Northern Lands, dividing examinations into Northern and Southern lists, the Northern list as usual, still testing the Four Books, Five Classics, and sage articles, while the Southern list utilized various new studies like engineering, agriculture, medicine, and mathematics.

This division effectively appeased the Northern Noble Families and scholarly sects, so these years have been relatively peaceful.

But everyone knows this situation won't last forever, as the Great Zhou heavily values scientific studies, and the previous division of the Northern and Southern lists was to appease the Northern people and quickly pacify the realm.

Now that the realm is settled, and thriving, the Great Zhou policy of scientific examinations must be fully implemented, canceling the division of Northern and Southern lists.

How can a nation's examinations be divided into two?

Thus, Ye Xuan, as Minister of the Ministry of Rites, stepped forward.

He is a member of the Ye Clan, from Huangshan Academy, representing the "Academy Faction."

Huangshan Academy, the foundation of the Great Zhou Kingdom, highly values the path of science, with the "Science Institute" holding a higher position than the literary and martial institutes within, having produced innovations like steam engines with great national contributions, its voice carries weight.

As a member of the Ye Clan, and representative of Huangshan Academy, Ye Xuan naturally advocates for this scientific examination.

"I oppose!"

However, as soon as his words fell, someone among the officials stood up, also dressed in a purple robe, though of lower rank, holding a Third-Grade Official Position.

Upon seeing this, Song Yu frowned: "Mr. Wang, what do you have to say?"

This person was named Wang Shi, from the Yingchuan Wang Clan, a renowned Northern family, who pledged allegiance during the Northern expedition and assisted in capturing two Prefecture Cities, earning significant merits, thus gaining employment in the Northern Capital; after Song Yu's ascension, he was promoted to Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, holding a Third-Grade Official Position.