This time it was Pang Tong's turn to speak.

He pondered for a moment, then smiled and said, "My lord, based on the blueprint you drew and our own understanding, we have selected some books as must-reads and increased the printing efforts so that people all over the world can have access to these books."

"But there is one difficult point. Who will set the test questions?"

"This is related to the fairness of the imperial examination system, so it is very important. Otherwise, if the questions are leaked and the powerful people get them in advance, they can ask experts to answer the questions in advance, and then the imperial examination will not play the role of selecting pillars of society."

"What do you think?"

Pang Tong smiled and said, "I have discussed this with Kong Ming several times, and I always feel that no matter who I give this matter to, there is a risk of leakage."

"After all, the benefits involved are too great and exciting."

"But I will leave it to you, my lord, and there will be absolutely no favoritism. Therefore, I think that once the imperial examination system is implemented, the emperor must personally set the test questions for each exam, and no one can be told about this before the big exam."

"We will try our best to ensure the absolute confidentiality of the test questions."

Ye Feng nodded: "This is not too much, I can agree to it."

Pang Tong said: "There may be disagreements on the next question."

“The problem with reading.”

"If you want to teach poor children to read and write, you'll need to spend a lot of gold and silver."

"Especially poor families, they need the support of the court. Kong Ming believes that the court should strongly support them, at least so that the poor can have education and not fall too far behind others."

"But I think a person's origin determines many things. My lord, although you want to change the situation in the court, you can't use the interests of the world to serve the interests of a few people."

"How many people are separated from their wives and children and cannot afford to eat? Who should they turn to for help?"

“You can’t say that scholars are noble and ordinary farmers must support them.”

"Education for the poor can be supported, but too much is as bad as too little."

"Especially if there is a long-term need for financial appropriations and no income at all, such expenditures will not be affordable even for a hundred years, no matter how powerful the empire is."

"Therefore, I think we should be cautious."

Ye Feng looked at the two of them for a long time and said with a smile: "You two both have good ideas."

"But everything needs to be moderate."

"I agree with Shi Yuan on this point. Background is also an advantage for people."

"I can't say that my future children will start from the same starting line as ordinary farmers. If that were the case, the country would not be able to function without hierarchy."

"Another point is that reading and writing requires willpower, which is not suitable for everyone."

“If these books were given to ordinary people easily, they would not value them.”

"What's more, Mencius said: When Heaven is about to confer a great responsibility on a man, it will first test his mind, toil his muscles and bones, and make him poor. It is normal to encounter some difficulties and hardships."

"So our help to these ordinary students should not be in books, but in travel expenses." "All those who take the imperial examination need to travel thousands of miles. If they don't have books, they can copy them from others. They can also survive if they have little food and clothing, but how can they survive if they travel thousands of miles in a place where they are unfamiliar with?"

"Wouldn't it be a pity if he was prevented from taking the imperial examination just because of some money?"

Zhuge Liang's eyes lit up: "My Lord, are you going to use the money from the court's subsidies for this?"

"Indeed, this is an important matter."

"My lord, you have a keen eye and can see the problem at a glance."

Pang Tong hesitated and said, "My Lord, if we provide travel expenses for the candidates, the cost will only be higher."

"This kind of rootless support is too much of a burden to the court. My lord, please think twice."

Pang Tong did not agree with Ye Feng's decision, but instead made another suggestion.

Zhuge Liang retorted: "This is a matter of great importance for a hundred years, a matter of great importance for the ages. A little investment is certainly worth it."

"These students have received the grace of the court and passed the imperial examination. They will only be more grateful to the court and work harder."

"The more talented people there are, the more prosperous the empire will be. Shi Yuan, can't you figure this out?"

Pang Tong said: "I am just talking about the facts. There are many places in the world where you need to spend money, but not many places to make money."

"Blindly spending money is definitely not a long-term solution. My lord, please think twice."

Ye Feng waved his hand: "Don't worry, I have considered this matter."

“The funding is not for everyone, it’s not all funding, and it’s not something that people can take advantage of, and it’s not given to them for free.”

"Hmm? What do you mean, my lord?"

Pang Tong and Zhuge Liang were both a little confused and obviously did not understand the deeper meaning of this.

Ye Feng said: "As the saying goes, if you borrow, you must return. It will not be difficult to borrow again."

“They don’t appreciate things that are given for free.”

"But if it's borrowed, it's different."

"First, it prevents the rich from playing tricks. They don't need this little money, so they don't need to borrow money from the court in such a complicated way."

"Secondly, it will not lead to a situation where there is expenditure without income, thus dragging down the government's finances."

"Financial resources are not inexhaustible, so we must allow them to have the possibility of returning, otherwise the loss will be too great."

"Third, the amount of money will vary according to the distance you travel, and it is the lowest standard, just enough to cover your own travel expenses, and to ensure that you don't starve to death. After entering the capital, you must stay in a place arranged by the court, otherwise you will be disqualified from the exam."

(End of this chapter)