The Lone Star of the Tang Dynasty

"Discussion, okay, if you have any opinions, just put them forward!" Li Er's smile was a little cold. Since returning from Li Changge, he suddenly found that the children of the family who could not be cured in the past had become so powerless. After all, the group of people in front of them are not the core members of the major families, so the previous measures against the family have often had little effect. But now, Li Er realized that he could take advantage of this, and he now had the confidence to take actions that he didn't dare to take lightly before.

It turned out that Li Er was not unable to make such a decision, but was concerned about the huge cost and was uncertain about the impact of the imperial examination on the family. However, after seeing Li Changge's wisdom, Li Er no longer hesitated and doubted. Li Changge is his think tank and an important reliance on him in decision-making.

When Li Er asked everyone's opinion again, everyone was still hesitant.

Li Er sneered and asked, "You are clamoring to discuss, but you are silent when I ask." Do you really have an opinion, or do you just want to kick me off the stage because I'm not happy?" As soon as these words came out, a panic suddenly sounded in the Ganlu Palace, and countless people fell to their knees one after another, panicking.

"Don't dare!".

"The courtier's capital offense!".

"The minister is loyal, and the sun and the moon can learn from ......".

Li Er restrained his sneer, his face gloomy: "It seems that there is still no opinion." Since this is the case, we should handle this matter as soon as possible! If there is the slightest delay in passing the buck or acting in violation of the law, we will be severely punished!"

After that day, the news spread like wildfire......

First of all, in Chang'an City, countless wealthy families were like lightning strikes, and they were terrified.

His Majesty's decision to carry out the imperial examination is undoubtedly a direct challenge to their long-term control of the government and their monopoly on official careers, and it is even more important to shake their foundation.

For a time, the entire Chang'an City was boiling, and there was a lot of discussion in the streets and alleys.

Within a few days, this decision that shook the world spread all over the land of China, and everyone everywhere was shocked. When the poor students learned of this, it was like a long drought and a rainstorm, mixed with joy and sorrow. They rushed out of their homes one after another, gathered in the streets and alleys of the town, and bowed deeply in the direction of Chang'an, weeping bitterly to express their gratitude.

"Your Majesty has been gracious ......

."

"The sky has eyes, ......".

"I'm waiting for the children of the poor family to finally have the opportunity to change their fate, and we will go all out to repay Your Majesty's deep kindness!"

As this craze spread, the people of the world realized that this emperor was very different from all the emperors since the Western Jin Dynasty. He was not only a monarch who worked hard, but also a leader who genuinely cared about the well-being of the people, and was willing to break the class rigidity and give everyone a chance to show their talents. At this moment, the people's hearts are longing, and all people are returning to their hearts.

In an instant, people from all over the country rushed to tell each other, and countless scholars rushed to the county government to sign up for the imperial examination, and the scene was spectacular.

The whole country was immersed in jubilation......

...... on the other side

On the ancient road connecting Hedong and Chang'an, a tavern stands lonely outside the city of Taiyuan.

This tavern is run by a lame old man Xie Zhongyuan, who was originally a scholar, but because of his upright temperament, it was difficult to gain a foothold in the family gate left over from the Five Hu and Sixteen Kingdoms period, so in his later years, he used his meager savings to build a grass hut in this desolate place, and opened this tavern to chat.

On weekdays, due to the scarcity of people going to Chang'an, the tavern business is deserted, and there are very few copper coins earned.

In the afternoon of this day, Xie Laohan was resting in the tavern, chatting with a man who went to Chang'an Province, telling the story of his ancestors who were the famous Jian'an Xie family in the Eastern Jin Dynasty.

After hearing this, the man teased as always: "Old Xie Tou, you have been blowing this cowhide all your life, can't you save your energy?" Xie Laohan insisted: "You don't know anything in your later life, the status of the Xie family in Jian'an back then was not inferior to today's Taiyuan Wang family, how can it be regarded as boasting?" The man sneered at each other: "Then tell me, where is the Xie family who is so powerful now? You don't even have a wife, and you are still bragging here." "

Xie Laohan was not angry, but smiled indifferently: "I think that Sima Yan of the Western Jin Dynasty compared himself to Liu Che, known as Emperor Wu of the Jin Dynasty, and had more than 10,000 concubines, and now you can recognize a few descendants of the royal family with the surname Sima?"

The man was speechless for a while.

Xie Laohan continued: "So don't think that the Taiyuan Wang clan will be able to last for a long time if the power is now, and hundreds of years later, it will not also disappear. "

The man sneered again: "You also know that it will take hundreds of years, the Taiyuan Wang clan is now in full swing, where in the court is there no connection with them? You are just jealous." "

In the face of the man's sarcasm, Xie Laohan was speechless, and could only silently admit the reality - even if the Wang family is currently exploiting the people and arrogant, I am afraid that their downfall will take time.

However, at this moment, there was a sudden commotion outside the tavern.

"Little Liuzi, hurry up and keep up!".

"Ah Huang, you were still tired just now, and you ran the fastest as soon as you saw the tavern!".

"I'm not in a hurry to catch the exam!"

"Come on, just your little bit of learning, and it's ...... to go to Chang'an."

As the words spoke, five or six young scholars rushed into the tavern laughing and making a fuss.

This made the man who was talking and the old man Xie stunned.

On this road to Chang'an, there are few people in normal times, why did so many young people suddenly rush to Beijing to take the exam today?

At this moment, Xie Zhongyuan looked at this group of young people even more sluggishly, and his mind was blank.

One of them urged, "Old man, serve us the cheapest wine, and three taels of noodles per person! "

Several young people sat around the table, opposite an old man.

The atmosphere was a little tense, and everyone was staring at each other intently.

There was not the slightest expression on the old man's face, and a pair of deep eyes were as cold as ice.

He does not respond to the words of the young man, as if he is completely immersed in his own world.

"Uncle, what's wrong with you?" a young man couldn't help but break the silence, his voice slightly nervous, "We have no malice, we just want to eat a bowl of noodles." "

The old man moved slightly, a trace of doubt flashed in his eyes, and he asked in a deep voice: "The 'imperial examination' you just mentioned, but is it true?"

"Yes, sir. Another young man replied, "We are going to Chang'an to take the imperial examination." "

The old man's breathing suddenly became rapid, he stared at these young people tightly, and his voice trembled slightly: "You went to participate in the imperial examination by the will of His Majesty?"

"That's right, sir. A young man nodded, "Your Majesty ordered the reopening of the imperial examination to select talents. "

The old man suddenly burst into tears, causing everyone to panic. He cried like a child, tears running down his cheeks.

"I ...... I will see this day again in my lifetime......" said the old man in a choked voice.

The young people looked at each other, not understanding why the old man was so excited.