Chương 615: Divisional Lines, The Army Returns

Although schools have been built, the foundation is too weak, and the teaching staff is inadequate, lagging far behind the north.

"Students from the South have it tough too," Xun You added, sighing.

"Many people had to travel thousands of miles to Luoyang to take the exam, enduring wind and rain, sleeping outdoors, and easily falling ill. Some even died on the way. They didn't have enough money and couldn't even afford to eat. So many students from poor families simply gave up the exam and abandoned their chance to change their fate."

Liu Ce said, "So what solutions do you have? Tell me about them."

Fang Xuanling said, "A solution for the imperial examination system has already been found: provincial-level admissions. Each province will scientifically allocate a fixed number of admissions based on factors such as population ratio, educational foundation, and economic level, so that students from the south will also have the opportunity to pass the exams."

We cannot allow the North to take all the spots. Furthermore, referring to His Majesty's previous implementation of the new memorial format, we should implement a similar format for the next imperial examination to standardize the process.

"However, for entrance exams, such as the Imperial Academy and other universities, if the score requirements are standardized nationwide, students from the south will never be able to outperform those from the north because their foundation is far inferior."

Liu Ce thought for a moment, then smiled and said, "Isn't that simple? Just divide the area into zones."

"District demarcation?" Everyone looked blankly at each other.

"Your Majesty, what is district demarcation? We have never heard of it."

"It means dividing the country into four major regions based on their economic and educational development levels," Liu Ce said, counting on his fingers as he spoke, gesturing as he went.

"Youzhou, Jizhou, Bingzhou, and Sili are the four places with the best development and the highest level of education, so they are designated as one region."

Yanzhou, Yuzhou, Xuzhou, and Qingzhou were divided into two regions; Jingzhou, Yangzhou, Yizhou, and Liangzhou were divided into three regions; Jiaozhou, the Western Regions, the Northern Grasslands, and the Japanese Islands—these most backward areas were divided into four regions.

"During the entrance exams, different districts use different admission score lines. District 1 has the highest score line, followed by District 2, then District 3, and District 4 has the lowest."

For example, in university admissions, a score of 90 is needed for Zone 1, 80 for Zone 2, 70 for Zone 3, and 60 for Zone 4. This ensures that a certain percentage of students from each zone can get into good universities.

"In this way, students in the south don't have to compete head-on with top students in the north. As long as they do well in their own province, they can get into good schools."

After they finish their schooling, encourage them to return to their hometowns to become teachers or officials, thereby boosting education and economic development in their communities. This virtuous cycle will reduce the gap between the north and south by more than half in less than ten years. This is called "poverty alleviation through education."

Upon hearing this, everyone's eyes lit up, and they all gave a thumbs up, with exclamations of praise rising and falling.

"Your Majesty's idea is brilliant!" Du Ruhui exclaimed excitedly, his glasses nearly falling off.

"It ensures fairness while also taking care of less developed regions. Previously, students from the south felt the court favored the north, but now with the regional divisions, no one has anything to say! There will be no more 'regional discrimination'!"

"That's right!" Guo Jia nodded, slapping his thigh.

"Moreover, this will encourage students in the south to study hard, because they will have something to strive for and hope for. When they return after completing their studies and contribute to their hometowns, the educational level in the south will quickly improve. In the future, our Han Dynasty will be full of talent! Talent will flourish everywhere!"

"Your Majesty is wise! We are utterly impressed!" The crowd bowed again.

Liu Ce stood up, stretched, and his bones cracked a few times.

"Alright, both things are settled. You two quickly draft the standardized training system and the zoning plan, make sure the articles are detailed, and show them to me in a week. If there's nothing else, you can all go now, I need to go back and be with the kids."

"Your Majesty, we obey your decree! We respectfully see you off!" The crowd bowed in farewell.

As soon as Liu Ce reached the entrance of the palace, he saw Zhuge Liang, Fa Zheng, and Pang Tong still standing at the bottom of the steps, staring blankly at the snowflakes, their bodies covered in a layer of white.

He walked over, patted Pang Tong on the shoulder, and said:

"Shiyuan, don't be ashamed. Looks don't matter; competence is what matters most. I value your talent, not your appearance. Work hard, and you'll have a bright future."

Pang Tong was so moved by Liu Ce's special visit that he was overcome with emotion and tears welled up in his eyes. He choked out as he spoke:

"Your Majesty, I will certainly live up to your expectations! I will devote myself to the cause until my dying breath! I entrust my life to Your Majesty!"

Zhuge Liang and Fa Zheng also bowed and said, "Your Majesty, we will certainly do our utmost to serve you!"

Liu Ce smiled and nodded, waved his hand, turned and walked towards the inner palace, leaving a trail of footprints in the snow.

Watching Liu Ce's departing figure, the three exchanged a smile, their eyes filled with determination.

They knew they had encountered the best monarch and ushered in the best era.

But the golden age of the Han Dynasty had only just begun.

...

September 28th, the seventh year of Shenwu.

The sky above Luoyang was ablaze with the light of hundreds of thousands of red candles and millions of crimson dragon flags.

Looking down from the city tower, the entire city resembled a red ocean, with flags fluttering in the autumn wind.

Three days ago, when the first warhorse carrying an urgent message rushed into the Mingde Gate of Luoyang, before the dust kicked up by its hooves had even settled, the cannon in the hands of the Imperial Guard roared to life.

Three cannon shots boomed, making the bronze bells at the Vermilion Bird Gate ring loudly. Then came the second, the third… From the south to the north of the city, from the palace to the marketplace, twenty-four cannon shots exploded in succession, announcing news that would set the entire Han Dynasty ablaze with excitement— The army has returned in triumph.

All the soldiers who went to war have returned.

In one year and five months, they conquered the Xianbei and Xiongnu in the north, expanded their territory to the North Sea, and their horses drank from the vast ocean...

The Western Regions and their kingdoms were pacified, the Silk Road was reopened, and it reached all the way to the west of the Pamir Mountains...

To pacify the Indochina Peninsula, encompassing Funan, Pyu, Shan...

He crossed the sea to the east, annihilated all the Japanese islands, and the sea never rose again.

Expanding territory by 30, 000 li and destroying dozens of states, there has never been such a glorious military achievement since Emperor Gaozu founded the Han Dynasty.

"His Majesty has decreed a general amnesty! All land taxes nationwide are waived for one year! The hometowns of soldiers on campaign are exempt from taxes for three years!"

The eunuch who delivered the imperial decree rode a fast horse through every street and alley of Luoyang, shouting as he ran until his voice became hoarse.

Before he finished speaking, the crowd, who had been waiting for a long time, erupted in deafening cheers, the sound rising in waves.

The elderly people were in tears, murmuring "God bless us"...

The women tossed their bouquets into the air, petals fluttering down...

The children chased after the messenger horse, holding up freshly broken willow branches and shouting "Victory to the Han Dynasty!" They ran until they were covered in sweat.

Thirty miles outside Luoyang, the army's camps stretched as far as the eye could see, like a black ocean.

The soldiers, who had just taken off their armor, put on brand-new uniforms sent by the Ministry of Rites overnight. Holding steaming hot wine and meat in their hands, their faces still bore the marks of the battlefield, but their eyes were full of joy at returning home. Some of them couldn't help but wipe away tears.