Poor but talented scholar

Chapter 80 The Scoundrel

Seeing Lu Chuan approaching, he hurriedly patted his bottom and said, "Chuan'er, you must be exhausted. Dad bought some hot buns, eat them while they're hot."

Given the controversies of the first two days of the literary gathering, the comprehensive policy discussion on the third day is all the more important.

The exam questions on this day were no longer solely about relief or specific themes, but rather combined four major topics: law, people's livelihood, taxation, and border defense into one.

The exam paper was three zhang long, requiring students to come up with a complete strategy for governing the country within three hours, addressing the current problems of the Great Qian Dynasty.

Today, Lord Chen sat upright on the high platform, with two more examiners beside him, both of whom were instructors sent by the prefectural government.

"Today's test is called 'Practicing the World,'" Lord Chen said solemnly. "We do not seek flowery language, but only what is incisive and to the point. Anyone who speaks empty words or boasts will be expelled from the garden and never allowed to enter Shengwen Garden again."

Lu Chuan sensed that the Xuan paper distributed today was thicker than yesterday's.

Lu Chuan has put pen to paper.

In the first chapter, he discusses the "abuses of taxes and corvée labor".

He didn't talk at length about reducing taxes and corvée labor, but directly pointed out the necessity of "integrating the poll tax into the land tax".

He wrote: "If the poll tax is not abolished, the people will have no peace; if the land tax is not distributed evenly, the country will have no long-term plan."

He calculated with specific figures that if the poll tax were evenly distributed across the land, the imperial court's tax revenue would not only not decrease, but would also deter powerful landlords from evading military service.

As he wrote this, he thought of the few families in the village who had died out, who had to flee famine because they couldn't afford the poll tax.

In the second chapter, he discusses the "foundation of the law".

In response to the current situation of mutual protection among officials, he proposed "inspection avoidance" and "people suing officials is not rebellion".

In the third chapter, he discusses "border defense and trade routes".

He proposed replacing warfare with trade and replacing transportation with land reclamation.

The instructor on patrol walked up behind Lu Chuan, intending to point out some mistakes, but when he saw the phrase "equalization of land tax and poll tax," he froze on the spot, as if struck by lightning.

"This is outrageous and utterly treasonous!" The instructor was shocked, yet he couldn't help but continue reading.

Lu Chuan's rigorous arguments and detailed data startled even this seasoned scholar who had spent decades in officialdom.

These things are not something a country boy could imagine.

This requires a profound understanding of people's livelihood and a broad perspective on governance.

Lord Chen also came down.

He stood behind Lu Chuan for a full half hour, until Lu Chuan finished writing the last sentence: "If a scholar does not study diligently, he will not know the suffering of the people; if a ruler does not seek practical results, he will not avoid the worries of the nation."

Lord Chen took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

He knew that once this article was submitted, Lu Chuan would either be a future prime minister or a figurehead.

Three hours later, the sound of the chime rang out.

Lu Chuan put down his pen.

Collect the rolls, seal them, and provide feedback.

An eerie silence fell over the attic.

Several elderly men argued heatedly over Lu Chuan's exam paper.

Some say his words are "the words of a madman, which will surely bring disaster to the world," while others say they are "a savior's pen, which will be passed down through the ages."

Finally, the prefect reappeared.

He picked up Lu Chuan's three-zhang-long scroll and read it from beginning to end, his face turning from green to white, and then from white to red.

"Lu Chuan," the prefect said.

Lu Chuan stood up, neither humble nor arrogant: "Your student is here."

"Do you know the consequences of your policy proposal?" the prefect asked, staring at him.

"Your Excellency, if I truly desired stability, I wouldn't have uttered the 'bonsai theory' on the very first day." Lu Chuan looked directly at the prefect. "If scholars only seek stability, then the world will never have a stable day."

The prefect remained silent for a long time, then suddenly burst into laughter.

"Good! What a fine example of not seeking stability." The prefect slammed the examination paper heavily on the table. "Today's literary gathering tests not only talent but also courage. In terms of comprehensive policy essays, none of you here can match even a fraction of Lu Chuan's ability."

"By order of this prefecture, in this literary gathering, Lu Chuan of Qingyang stands out as the first place winner!"

The moment the words "first place" were uttered, the room fell into a deathly silence.

Amidst the gazes that were filled with shock, jealousy, and other complex emotions, Lu Chuan calmly tidied up his book box.

He walked up to Lord Chen, bowed deeply, and then bowed to the prefect.

"First place? The prefectural examination hasn't even started yet, and he's already been given first place here at Shengwen Garden!"

A student dressed in a white silk robe slammed a teacup heavily onto the table.

He was a member of the Zhao family, a prominent clan in the prefectural city. This literary gathering was originally intended to pave the way for him, but now he has become the background character in Lu Chuan's writing.

"What good is it if someone writes well? In the end, that kind of person is worthless."

The voice of the Zhao family member was not quiet, and it sounded particularly jarring in the gradually dispersing pavilion.

Lu Chuan had already reached the door, but stopped in his tracks upon hearing this.

"Brother Zhao just said that this kind of person is ultimately worthless?" Lu Chuan turned his head to look.

Young Master Zhao snorted coldly, "What, did I say something wrong? You're just relying on a few crooked talents to write some outrageous and sensational theories to grab attention. In the officialdom of the Great Qian Dynasty, family tradition and lineage are what matter."

"You're just a peasant; even if you win first place in the literary competition, who will recognize you in the prefectural examinations or at court?"

Several scholars around him chuckled softly, their eyes full of amusement.

Lu Chuan didn't get angry; instead, he laughed.

"Brother Zhao keeps mentioning his family's scholarly background. I would like to ask, since the founding of the Great Qian Dynasty, which law promulgated by the founding emperor states that 'sons of farmers are not allowed to have any future'?"

Young Master Zhao's expression changed slightly, and he was about to argue when Lu Chuan didn't give him a chance to speak.

"You sit here in this elegant pavilion today, eating rice grown by farmers and wearing cloth woven by peasant women. You complain about this and that, yet you don't know that every inch of this great Qianlong empire is sustained by the kind of worthless people you speak of!"

Lu Chuan took a step forward.

"By saying I'm useless, you're implying that all the countless sons of farming and scholarly families in the world are useless. Brother Zhao, are you perhaps questioning His Majesty's intention to hold the imperial examinations regardless of background?"

"Or is it that in your Zhao family's eyes, the literary and academic achievements of the Great Qian Dynasty should be the private property of aristocratic families like yours, and that even a peasant's son who dares to dream of them is considered worthless in your eyes?"

"You...you're talking nonsense! When did I ever say I questioned the Emperor's will?" Young Master Zhao was so shocked that he broke out in a cold sweat. In the Great Qian Dynasty, being accused of disrespecting the Emperor's will and monopolizing fame and fortune was a capital offense!

"Since you dare not question the Emperor's will, then Brother Zhao is humiliating all the poor scholars in the world."

Lu Chuan gave a cold laugh, cupped his hands in greeting to the prefect and Lord Chen, who were still at the head of the table, and said in a loud voice, "Prefect, you are here, and Lord Chen is beside you. Today, my classmate Zhao openly proclaimed the hierarchy of social status in Shengwen Garden, showing contempt for the importance of farming and studying. Although I am of low rank and my voice carries little weight, I dare not agree. If writing well means being unambitious, then may I ask Brother Zhao, in this Great Qian Dynasty, what kind of background is considered successful?"