Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong shook their heads: "My Lord has explained the matter so clearly. If we still don't understand, how can we be qualified to preside over the imperial examination system?"

Ye Feng smiled and said, "Since you don't have any questions, I would like to ask you a question."

"How can we gain trust?"

"In ancient times, a thousand gold coins were used to buy a thousand-mile horse, but it was not obtained. Isn't our imperial examination system more valuable than a thousand gold coins?"

“So it is extremely difficult to gain the trust of the world.”

"Can you two figure out a solution?"

Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong were stunned and fell into deep thought for a moment.

After thinking for a while, Zhuge Liang said, "If you want to gain people's trust, you must first establish the system of taking the imperial examinations, just like selling horse bones for a thousand gold coins. You must be as valuable as a thousand-mile horse in the future."

"Secondly, vigorously promote the imperial examination system and tell the people of the world that if they want to become an official in the future, they must pass the imperial examination. The descendants of the lord's trusted ministers should be allowed to participate in the imperial examination, and the examination should be conducted fairly and impartially, with the capable ones promoted and the mediocre ones demoted."

"As long as we can do these two things, I think we can win the trust of the people of the world."

"As long as the imperial examination system is implemented, after a few times, everyone will be eager to participate."

Ye Feng clapped his hands and smiled, "Well said."

"Shi Yuan, do you have anything to add?"

Pang Tong said: "It would be best if the imperial examination system could not admit the sons of important officials for the first time, so that the people would know that this is the best way for ordinary people to advance, because only in the imperial examination system, if you are truly talented, can you leapfrog those children of noble families who are far higher than you."

Ye Feng nodded slowly: "That's a good point, but it's a bit of acting after all."

"As long as there is falsehood, it must be hidden."

"If the imperial examination system was shrouded in conspiracy from the beginning, how can it be considered fair and upright?"

Pang Tong looked a little embarrassed: "My lord, you are following the kingly way. The righteous are invincible."

"I was wrong just now, please forgive me, my lord."

Ye Feng shook his head: "You are right."

"If the first imperial examination system allowed the son of an important official to win first place, the people would certainly be suspicious. Even if it was fair, people would still suspect something fishy was going on."

“This is human nature!”

"So Shi Yuan allowed children from poor families to take the exam, which was more conducive to establishing fairness in the imperial examination and easier to gain people's trust."

"But the tricks are still too low-level."

"We can definitely find someone to take the top spot."

"Find someone?"

Pang Tong and Zhuge Liang were both stunned: "Who can guarantee that he will win the championship?"

"Lord."

Before they could finish their words, they saw Ye Feng looking at them with a smile, and they suddenly understood what Xiao Ran had asked them to do.

Ye Feng smiled and nodded: "You are smart people, you should have thought of it."

"That's right, let the two of you take the imperial examination in person."

"The imperial examination system is a test for both of you. Only by winning it can you go further." "What? Do you want to challenge?"

"You have made contributions to Jingxiang. Even if you don't agree, I won't blame you, so don't feel any psychological burden."

Pang Tong, Zhuge Liang said without hesitation: "We have been entrusted by our lord to improve the imperial examination system, but only by truly participating can we understand the minds of these students and guide them more effectively."

"We are also willing to accept the challenge and accept the fair challenge."

The two men's eyes were filled with high morale.

Ye Feng patted the two on the shoulders and said, "That's right, you are still young. The more you experience, the further you can go."

"In addition, arrangements regarding the ranking of candidates in the imperial examinations need to be made with caution."

"Whether they are the top or the bottom, they are all pillars of the court and need to be trained."

"Experience?"

Ye Feng nodded: "Yes, as the deputy of a county, it takes three years to adapt and three years to govern."

"The capable ones go up, the mediocre ones go down."

"That is to say, the imperial examination system is just a stepping stone. Whether you can truly gain a foothold in the court depends on how well you govern the counties."

“Practice is the only criterion for testing truth, and it is also the place where all students can realize their ideas and ambitions.”

Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong had a hint of doubt in their eyes.

They all thought that their talent was to assist the prince, become prime minister, and decide the fate of the world. However, they did not expect that after taking the imperial examination, they would have to start from the lowest level in a county.

This was unacceptable to them.

They believe deep down that if you doubt someone, you shouldn't employ him, and if you employ someone, don't doubt him.

If Ye Feng trusted them, he should have soared to the sky after completing the great achievement of the imperial examination system, but he still had to go to a county, so naturally he had doubts.

But after all, they were in awe of Ye Feng, so even if they had doubts, they didn't dare to speak.

But Ye Feng could see it, and asked with a smile: "I feel uncomfortable."

"Do you think a county needs to be governed by itself?"

"This is a waste of talent!"

"right?"

Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong quickly knelt down and said, "Please forgive me, my lord."

"We are confused. The lord uses the imperial examination system to select talents, which is not limited to one style. Why does he still use this method to examine the talents after selecting them through the imperial examination system?"

"Life is short. It would be a waste to let talented people waste their time in a corner. I'm afraid it's too much."

Ye Feng smiled and said, "You are only focusing on the present, not the future."

"Let me ask you a question. How many people like you have there been throughout history?"

Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong fell into deep thought again. (End of this chapter)