Chương 538: Going to Luoyang

"But... what do those craftsmen and farmers know about governing a country? They're fine at building bridges and roads, but can they really manage to govern a country?"

"Governing a country is not solely based on the words of sages." Zheng Xuan shook his head, his gaze deep and thoughtful.

"To build water conservancy projects, we need people who understand river engineering; to manufacture weapons, we need people who understand machinery; to ensure the people have enough to eat, we need people who understand agriculture and sericulture; to reduce the incidence of illness among the people, we need people who understand medicine... Aren't these all part of governing a country? Can someone who can only recite the Analects of Confucius really build a good Yellow River dike?"

He paused, his gaze drifting towards Luoyang, his voice tinged with a hint of melancholy:

"This emperor is no ordinary man. He doesn't want pedantic scholars who can only recite classics with their heads bobbing; he wants talented people who can actually get things done."

Ultimately, the world needs people who take action to uphold it. This is practical learning, not just empty talk. The way of the sage lies in its practical application to the world.

"Then... teacher, should we still take the exam?" a disciple asked in a low voice.

Zheng Xuan smiled slightly, a hint of relief in his smile:

"Why not go? The way of the sages is to apply it to practical matters. Since His Majesty is testing us on current affairs and law, it is telling us that Confucian scholars cannot just talk the talk, nor can they just recite classical texts."

Go to Luoyang and see what this new world is really like.

"What you learn from books is never enough; you must experience it yourself to truly understand."

"Reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles."

...

Unlike the fervent reaction from Confucian scholars, the imperial edict sparked a wave of jubilation among other social classes.

For the first time, those who had been ignored and looked down upon saw hope.

In Chang'an, Ma Ping was in his own courtyard, fiddling with his newly invented wooden tools.

He was born with a stutter and was not good at speaking, but his fingers were so nimble that they seemed to dance.

The villagers called him "Wooden Horse Ping" and laughed at him, saying, "He can't even speak properly, yet he wants to be an official."

He could only keep his head down silently, his hands never stopping their work.

The neighbor came running in, panting, holding a notice in his hand, completely out of breath:

"Ma Ping! Ma Ping! Look! The emperor has issued an edict! He's going to hold the imperial examinations! The engineering exams will test your skills in engineering and architecture! You can become an official! An official!"

Ma Ping stopped what he was doing, and took the notice with some disbelief. His fingers trembled slightly as he read it word by word.

As he read, his eyes grew brighter and brighter, and his hands trembled slightly with excitement, almost tearing the notice up.

He was born with a stutter and was not good at speaking. Although he was skillful and invented many things, he was always regarded as a "strange skill" and was ridiculed.

His neighbors called him "the mute craftsman," and his relatives said he "didn't do his proper job."

He never imagined that one day he would be able to enter officialdom and serve his country through these skills.

"I... I want to go to Luoyang!" Ma Ping said forcefully, his face flushed.

Although he stuttered, every word he uttered was powerful and clear.

...

In Shouchun, Zhang Chang is treating a poor man.

He had just finished writing the prescription and instructed the patient to take the medicine on time.

His disciple rushed in with the notice, his voice trembling with excitement: "Sir! Sir! Great news! The imperial examination has opened up a medical field! It tests medicine and pharmacy! You finally have a chance to realize your ambitions! You don't have to stay cooped up in this little pharmacy anymore!"

Zhang Chang put down the pestle in his hand, took the notice, and read it carefully.

Having practiced medicine for many years, he has witnessed countless tragic scenes of families being torn apart and people dying due to a lack of medical care and medicine.

He has always hoped to establish a comprehensive medical system so that more people can afford medical treatment and medicine.

However, under the old recommendation system, it was impossible for a doctor to enter officialdom, let alone promote his ideals.

"Great! Great!" Zhang Chang slapped the table excitedly, making the medicine bowls on it jump.

"Pack your things, we're going to Luoyang! Take the best medicinal herbs and medical books with us!"

...

In Julu, an old man who had farmed for generations listened to the local official read the imperial edict. When he heard the words "agricultural science," his cloudy eyes suddenly lit up.

He spoke tremblingly to his silent son beside him, "Son... the imperial court... the imperial court is testing farming skills! You go! You go and try! Our Li family has been farming for generations, and now we finally have a chance!"

...

In Chengdu, in the brocade workshops, even the most skilled craftsmen stopped what they were doing.

The workshop owner patted him on the shoulder excitedly, his voice cracking: "Engineering! It tests your skills! Your ingenuity might actually get you a government position! If you pass the exam, my workshop will benefit too!"

...

In Jiangdong, where waterways are densely distributed, a hermit skilled in water conservancy emerged from his thatched hut, gazed at the northern sky, and murmured:

"Studying water conservancy... this world might truly be different now. My knowledge from all these years will finally have a place to be put to use."

...

In Jiuquan, a border town, a young man fluent in several foreign languages and familiar with the geography of the frontier clutched the copied imperial edict tightly, a fire burning in his heart. He believed that there might be a place for him in the current affairs.

He had interacted with the Hu people since childhood and could speak Xianbei, Qiang, and Xiongnu languages. No one thought this was a skill before, but now the court needed it.

Similar scenes were playing out in every corner of the Han Dynasty.

There were hesitant scions of wealthy families, overjoyed students from poor families, skilled craftsmen eager to try their hand at their craft, and hopeful farmers and doctors.

Some people criticized the emperor for deviating from the norm and destroying the teachings of the sages; others praised the emperor for his wisdom and martial prowess, which gave the people of the world a way to survive.

But in any case, that edict was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, stirring up huge waves.

The fates of countless people were quietly altered at this moment.

...

From March onwards, the official roads and waterways leading to Luoyang became increasingly busy.

Students from all over the country, carrying their bags, trekked through mountains and rivers towards Luoyang.

Among them were scholars dressed in Confucian robes, holding scrolls in their hands, reading as they walked...

There were craftsmen dressed in short clothes, their bags filled with tools and models...

There were farmers wearing straw hats, their feet still covered in mud from the fields...

There were traditional Chinese medicine doctors carrying medicine chests, inside which were treasured family-inherited secret recipes...

They spoke different accents and came from different social classes, but they shared the same goal—Luoyang.

Guan Ning, carrying his travel bag, was walking towards Luoyang with his page.

Unlike other Confucian scholars, he did not scoff at the division of subjects into different subjects and the imperial examination system.

On the contrary, he was full of curiosity about the new emperor's novel knowledge such as "investigation of things" and "chemistry".

"Sir, what exactly does 'investigation of things' mean?" the page asked curiously as he walked, his eyes darting around.

Guan Ning smiled slightly: "I'm not quite sure either. But I've heard it studies the principles of all things in the world. For example, why does an apple fall to the ground instead of flying into the sky; why does water flow downhill instead of uphill..."

"What's there to study about this?" The page boy curled his lip.

"It's better to memorize a few more articles by the sages; that's real useful knowledge."