Chương 612: Zhuge Liang, Fa Zheng, Pang Tong

"I plan to establish a new 'Memorial Review Office' within the State Affairs Bureau, selecting twenty newly appointed young officials who haven't yet been corrupted by officialdom to specifically review all memorials. Those that fail will be stamped 'Fail' and sent back for rewriting; I won't even look at a single word! It'll save me time!"

"Now that the rules are in place, rewards and punishments must be clearly defined." Liu Ce's tone became serious.

"If ten consecutive memorials are deemed satisfactory, they will be publicly commended; those that are concise, clear, and highlight the key points will be given priority in my approval and my replies will be prioritized in resolving their issues."

"Conversely, if one paper is deemed unqualified, it will be sent back for rewriting; three times, a month's salary will be deducted; five times, a rank will be demoted; ten times, dismissal from office and never to be employed again! Go home and farm!"

"I'm giving you a three-month adjustment period. During these three months, any unqualified memorials will be returned without punishment. I will also organize training courses to teach you how to write new memorials. But after three months, if anyone dares to write a nonsensical memorial, I will not let them off lightly! I mean what I say!"

Liu Ce paused, looked at the assembled officials, and his tone became much more sincere, his voice softening:

"I am undertaking this reform today not to make things difficult for you, but for the sake of this country and for the people of the world."

"I raised you to govern the country and serve the people, not to become writers or sycophants."

"From now on, whoever can write concise and informative memorials, and whoever can get things done for me, will be promoted and made rich. Anyone who still wants to get by by writing nonsense and flattering others, will not be tolerated here. Go find somewhere cool to stay."

"Did you all understand?"

The entire court of officials bowed in unison, their voices louder and more sincere than ever before, so much so that the dust on the palace beams fell from the air.

"Your Majesty, we obey!"

After the court session ended, the officials, carrying the "Regulations for Memorials" and templates, walked and discussed among themselves, chattering like they were at a market.

Shen Wansan immediately took out paper and pen, leaned against a pillar, and wrote a model memorial:

"Minister of Revenue Shen Wansan reports: August's commercial tax revenue was X38. 8 million coins, expenditure was X17. 6 million coins, and the surplus was X11. 2 million coins. End of report. Year 6 of the Han calendar, the 15th day of the 9th month of the 6th year of Shenwu."

After finishing writing, he handed it to Jia Sixie, the Minister of Agriculture standing next to him: "Look how simple it is to write like this! It saves me so much trouble! Before, I had to think about allusions when writing this, but now I can just write numbers!"

Jia Sixie also wrote: "Minister of Agriculture Jia Sixie reports a bumper cotton harvest this year, with the estimated yield increasing by 20% compared to last year. Requests an increase in the purchase price by two qian. End. Sixth year of the Han calendar, the sixth year of Shenwu, the fifteenth day of the ninth month."

"Yes! That's how it's written! I'll argue with anyone who writes anything nonsensical!"

Several elderly scholars, clutching old memorials, squatted on the steps, wiping away tears, as if they had lost a family heirloom.

"My writing style for a lifetime! It's all changed like this! I can never write neat, parallel sentences again! My beautiful rhyming sentences!"

The young officials, however, clapped and cheered, as excited as if it were New Year's Day:

"Great! Finally, I don't have to write all that nonsense anymore! Before, it would take me half a day to write a memorial, and another half a day to look up all the relevant historical allusions. Now I can finish it in ten minutes! I can finally go home earlier to be with my wife and kids tonight!"

In the distance, Liu Ce was leading Li Dequan toward the inner palace, humming a little tune as he walked briskly, in high spirits.

"Li Dequan," Liu Ce said with a smile, putting his hands behind his back.

"Tonight I finally won't be reviewing memorials until late! I can go back and spend time with the children!"

"Congratulations, Your Majesty! You've finally gotten rid of all those pointless memorials!" Li Dequan said with a smile, jogging after him.

As the sun sets, golden sunlight shines on the glazed tiles of the Liangyi Hall, making them sparkle.

A small reform of the memorial system brought unprecedented efficiency and vitality to this vast empire.

...

In late October of the sixth year of Shenwu, Luoyang welcomed its first light snowfall of the winter.

Snowflakes, as soft as goose feathers, drifted slowly down and landed on the tiles of the Liangyi Hall, accumulating a thin layer of white, like a sprinkle of icing sugar.

The floor of the palace was scorching hot, and the gilded bronze incense burner was filled with the fragrance of pine smoke. On the table were freshly roasted chestnuts and hot milk tea. This was Liu Ceding's "winter office perk." Whether it was a court meeting or a meeting, everyone was given a cup of hot milk tea, and they could get a refill if they wanted more, and they could even add pearls.

Xun Yu, Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, Xun You, Guo Jia, and Xi Zhicai huddled around the brazier below the imperial steps, chatting and enjoying their warm milk tea.

Guo Jia said while drinking his milk tea:

"Wenruo, stop keeping us in suspense! What kind of talent did this year's imperial examination produce? I heard there was someone named Zhuge Liang whose policy essay left the examiners speechless. They said they had never seen such a insightful essay before?"

Xi Zhicai laughed and blew on his milk tea: "More than that. There was also Pang Tong, courtesy name Shiyuan, who was similar to Zhuge Liang. It's just that his appearance was... well, a bit abstract. But his writing was truly excellent, insightful and penetrating."

"What's wrong with abstract concepts!" Du Ruhui pushed up his crystal glasses, looking completely serious.

"As long as they can get things done! What we lack right now are capable people, not a prince consort. What use is someone who's good-looking but can't do anything?"

Fang Xuanling held a small notebook, marking as he spoke:

"There was also Fa Zheng, courtesy name Xiaozhi, from Fufeng. He was full of clever ideas, and his 'Strategy for Pacifying the Borders' was incisive, analyzing the Western Regions issue thoroughly..."

As they were talking, Li Dequan's shrill voice came from the back hall:

"His Majesty has arrived!"

The six men immediately stood up straight and bowed in respect:

"Your Majesty, we, your humble servants, pay our respects!"

Liu Ce, dressed in a dark blue padded casual suit, walked out yawning. His hair was still damp with snowflakes, and his face was flushed from the cold. He had just been playing in the snow with the children in the Imperial Garden...

He plopped down on the dragon throne, picked up the hot milk tea Li Dequan handed him, gulped down a large mouthful, and mumbled:

"No need for formalities. Get to the point, I need to go back and build a snowman, the children are waiting for me."

Xun Yu stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, this year's national civil service examination has concluded successfully. During the review of the papers and the palace examination, we discovered three exceptional talents, rare even in a century, and brought them here for Your Majesty to see. In all our years of reviewing papers, we have never seen such outstanding talents."

"Oh?" Liu Ce immediately perked up, sat up straight, even put down his milk tea, and his eyes lit up.

"Is this for real? What's your name? Where are you from? How old are you?"

"First place: Zhuge Liang, courtesy name Kongming, from Yangdu, Langya, is eighteen years old this year; second place: Fa Zheng, courtesy name Xiaozhi, from Mei County, Fufeng, is twenty-three years old this year; third place: Pang Tong, courtesy name Shiyuan, from Xiangyang, is twenty years old this year."

"Holy crap!" Liu Ce nearly slipped off the dragon throne, spilling some of his milk tea in the process.