Ye Feng smiled faintly: "The problem with the book is easy to solve."

“As long as the textbooks needed for the exams are printed through the power of the state and sold at low prices, anyone can afford to buy books as long as they tighten their belts.”

"By the power of the state?"

Pang Degong pondered for a moment and said: "Minggong's idea is good, but it will increase the taxes on the people."

"After all, the so-called cheapness is only because someone paid money in advance."

"It may not be a big deal in the short term, but if it continues for a long time, I'm afraid it will be a problem."

Ye Feng shook his head: "With the current printing technology, the cost is indeed not low, and it will indeed increase the burden on the people and the court. But how can we improve the efficiency of printing?"

“What would happen if we brought down the cost of printing books?”

Sima Hui's eyes sparkled: "By then, everyone in the world will be able to read and appreciate books, and everyone in the Chinese nation will be knowledgeable."

“If that day really comes, even Confucius and Mencius would feel ashamed if they were resurrected.”

"But is it really possible?"

Ye Feng looked at Guo Jia: "Feng Xiao, you should explain this issue."

Only at this moment did Guo Jia understand the reason why Ye Feng taught him the movable type printing technique some time ago. It turned out that Ye Feng had planned everything long ago.

Next, Guo Jia explained the principles of movable type printing in detail.

What fonts are used back and forth to speed up efficiency, and the cheap paper that Ye Feng had already produced.

After a series of things were said, the excitement in the eyes of Pang Degong and Sima Hui could not be described in words. They stroked their beards and said excitedly: "Ming Gong, this is a good thing that will benefit the world and will be remembered for thousands of years."

"Once this is successful, your reputation will rival that of Confucius and Mencius."

Ye Feng raised his lips and said, "Do you two still have any doubts? Today I am here to answer your questions. Feel free to ask!"

Sima Hui hesitated: "The fairness of the test questions is related to the fairness of the entire test."

"How do you solve this problem, my lord?"

"Even if you set the questions yourself, as long as they pass through human hands, there will definitely be some leakage."

"Perhaps when the empire is thriving, officials are afraid of you and dare not think crookedly. But if there is a man with great power and vision to mediate the relationship, or when the empire is declining, how can this system remain fair?"

Ye Feng said seriously: "The examination questions are set by the emperor himself. Anyone who has come into contact with the questions must be supervised by someone before the examination is over."

“Secondly, the punishment for cheating is maximized.”

"If anyone is found to be engaging in corruption and malpractice in various ways, we will kill them all."

"And their descendants will not be allowed to take part in the imperial selection examinations for three generations without special grace."

Pang Degong nodded and said: "In troubled times, severe punishments should be used. With this deterrent, there will be very few people who want to do evil things."

"But can you be sure that this punishment can be carried out smoothly?"

"The backgrounds behind those people who have all the power in the world must be extraordinary, otherwise how could they have such great power?"

Ye Feng smiled and said, "Only time can tell."

“As policy makers, we cannot expect everything to be perfect.”

"As the times progress, all systems are naturally improving."

"If the unworthy descendants of the future generations cannot even properly manage the existing system, then the empire will be finished."

"If a person grows old, gets sick and dies, this is God's will."

Pang Degong, Sima Hui, and Guo Jia were stunned for a moment, and then their eyes flashed with understanding: "Ming Gong (Lord) is right, how can we think so far ahead? Unless you are a true god, how can you think so far ahead?"

Ye Feng said: "So we should solve the current problem. You can explain all the questions you can think of." Guo Jia saw Pang Degong and Sima Hui were in deep thought, so he spoke first: "What are the subjects of the exam?"

"If it is just the Four Books and Five Classics, the selected people can certainly be teachers, but if they are to govern the country, I am afraid they will not know how to adapt."

“The subject of this exam is very critical.”

Ye Feng smiled confidently and said, "In addition to the Confucian classics of the Four Books and Five Classics, we also need to solve the problems we are facing now."

"This will help us select talents who are suitable for governing the country. Even some of the court's difficult problems can use the wisdom of many talented people to select appropriate solutions."

"Isn't this killing two birds with one stone?"

"In addition, they need to learn horseback riding and archery. Although they won't be sent to fight on the battlefield, at least they can carry things on their shoulders or in their hands."

"This is the only way to select people who are both civil and military talents and are useful to the empire."

Guo Jia blushed and said awkwardly, "My Lord, this is a good idea."

"My subordinate agrees."

"I will definitely exercise well in the future, at least to make my body look less frail."

Ye Feng patted Guo Jia on the shoulder: "I am not trying to hit you, but without a good physique, how can you govern the world?"

The reason why Ye Feng made a special reminder was because Guo Jia died young in history.

Although he came to this era, there is no guarantee that Guo Jia would not die early, so he gave a special reminder.

Guo Jia nodded repeatedly, looking convinced, and secretly made up his mind to exercise and obey orders.

It was precisely because of this idea that he was able to survive a serious illness and live for decades longer.

Seeing that Guo Jia had no objection, Ye Feng looked at Sima Hui and Pang Degong again: "Gentlemen, do you have any questions?"

"But it doesn't matter!"

Sima Hui said calmly: "Your idea is very good, and it solves the problem of reading difficulties in a way I can't imagine, but there is still a troublesome thing."

“Where is the exam?”

"If it's in Kyoto, the world is so vast, how can those poor scholars from remote places reach it?"

"Although they have obtained cheap books and overcome all difficulties, if they cannot take the exam, they are doomed to never enter the court's sight."

"If the imperial court provides funding, it will not only increase the pressure on the imperial court, but there is no guarantee that this little money can be put to good use."

"This kind of blind subsidy is definitely not a long-term solution."

"How should you solve this problem, my lord?"

“This is of utmost importance.”

"Otherwise, only people near the capital can participate, and this system will be meaningless."

Pang Degong and Guo Jia also looked at Ye Feng solemnly. They were all smart people and naturally knew how troublesome this problem was.

The biggest difficulty of this selection system, apart from studying, is distance.

The emperor is far away, how can people who are so far away take the exam?

If the problem cannot be solved, the support of the wealthy and powerful families will be needed. Even if one becomes an official, to whom will he be loyal?

When interests conflict, how will they choose?

(End of this chapter)