Chapter 143: Hooked (asking for monthly ticket)

The imperial edict on the reform of the imperial examination system exploded public opinion in Chang'an like Ivan the Great.

The officials were talking about it, but some of them were just talking about it.

Nowadays, few officials in Beijing took the imperial examination route. They either entered the government through family connections or were recommended by others to become officials.

The reaction from another part was a bit intense. Submitting documents was their way of attracting talents. How could they interfere in the selection of officials and cultivate their own cliques if this happened?
But no matter how intense their reaction was, they still didn't dare to say anything nonsense in front of Lao Li and could only accept it with a pinch of their nose.

This reform policy has proved the determination of the saint's will. Only those who have nothing better to do would stand up and confront Li Shimin.

Furthermore, although the anonymous system affected the powerful and wealthy in their efforts to win over their cliques, it was not too serious, because there were many ways to win over cliques, and the imperial examination was only one of them.

They certainly wouldn't risk the heads of their nine clans and go against Lao Li just for this matter.

Everyone wears shoes, so of course they won’t take them off and go barefoot.

What Chang'an City lacked the most was scholars.

After all, before the reform, Chang'an City, the best place under the feet of the emperor, was their way to leap over the dragon gate and ascend to heaven in one step.

The scholars were divided into two factions in this public opinion. One faction had some connections. They gathered together after dinner and talked a lot, which was nothing more than opposition to this reform.

You said that we are not allowed to submit papers now, so there is no way to make marks on the papers. How can we take this shortcut?
The other group was scholars from poor families who had no connections, and they wholeheartedly supported the reform.

In their view, having a fairer opportunity would be a good thing for them, the helpless children from poor families, and it would be better than anything else.

Therefore, after meals, this group of poor scholars began to make every effort to publicize the superiority of the new policy and became the tap water of the court's reform.

After a while, the two groups started a large-scale debate. Both sides always argued until they were red in the face and neither side was willing to give in.

The martial virtues of the literati in the Tang Dynasty were much more abundant than those of the sour Confucian scholars in later generations. Sometimes, when the arguments became heated, they would even develop into a physical fight. If the two sides could not decide who was better with words, they would settle the dispute with fists.

Fortunately, no trouble is allowed in Li Xiang’s Jianghu Restaurant, which has become a holy place for debate in the hearts of these people.

Seeing this, Li Shu actually had a stage set up on the first floor of the restaurant and held debates there every day.

The two sides exchanged sharp words, and their faces were almost touching each other, but because of the titles of Prince Hengshan and Princess Gaoyang, they did not dare to fight.

As the noise went on, the restaurant's business became more and more prosperous. Even on snowy days, there were curious people gathering outside to watch this rare and interesting event that only happens once in a century.

Naturally, the common people did not care about the reform. After all, there were few scholars in those days. The powerful and wealthy relied on favors and recommendations to enter officialdom, while ordinary people joined the army and pursued military merit to gain titles. Only scholars cared more about the reform of the imperial examination system.

Before the military merit system, the military household system, and the equal-field system were abolished by Li Zhi and Wu Zetian, there were still quite a lot of ways to advance in the Tang Dynasty.

Besides, the people also felt that this reform was a good thing. If a talented scholar emerged from their ancestral graves and took the imperial examinations, the environment he would face would be much better than before.

For example, the aristocratic families, although they were uncomfortable, still accepted the imperial edict of reform.

They also have enough confidence. With hundreds of years of cultural heritage, how can they not be able to compete with a group of peasants?

However, what they didn't expect was that Li Shimin was planning to redivide the world into ten regions.

In short, due to Li Shimin's high personal prestige, no matter how those people opposed, they could not cause any trouble, and the imperial examination system reform was carried out in an orderly manner.

Kong Yingda stood at the gate of Wubenfang Imperial College, looking at the distant sky with a trembling heart.

To be honest, as a descendant of the Kong family, Kong Yingda did not oppose the reform and even thought it was a good idea.

The prosperity of culture and virtue is what they want.

However, the Shandong gentry, who felt the real pressure, were extremely uneasy.

During a private gathering, Cui Shi and others urged Lu Hyun several times to quickly invite Fang Yiai out so that they could carry out their plan.

Of course, Lu Xuan was not idle either. He came to the Duke of Liang's mansion several times. Fang Yiai finally "could not resist" and instructed the servant not to reveal his whereabouts. Then he followed Lu Xuan to Pingkangfang again.

When creating a character, you have to do it thoroughly. Today, Fang Yiai has been completely labeled as "henpecked".

Of course...if this happened in someone else's family, Fang Yiai might still be laughed at - but this is the Fang family after all, and it can be regarded as an ancestral ideological imprint. His father Fang Xuanling is known to be henpecked by everyone in the court and the country. This trick, this trick is called "father-like".

Considering that Fang Yiai was not interested in women at all, Lu Hyun did not arrange any beauty trap this time, but simply let Ye Yuannu perform singing and dancing.

Ye Yuannu actually has very good skills. After all, Guo Degang once said that prostitutes are all skilled women.

In fact, while watching the dancing, Fang Yiai was still thinking that dancing was not as practical as washing his feet.

Wash your feet, yes, wash your feet!
After the aristocratic family takes the bait, hmph, I will use this achievement as an excuse to ask Shu'er to wash my feet properly!

"Brother Fang, I heard that when Brother Lu went to your house the day before yesterday, he saw that you still had injuries on your face?" Cui Shi asked with a smile, and his tone sounded a bit gloating.

"Stop talking, you've bumped into the door." Fang Yiai waved his hands and looked so unnatural.

"Oh..." Cui Shi, who thought he had found Fang Yiai's weakness, said "oh" meaningfully.

However, Lu Xuan suddenly said, "That's not right, cousin. I remember you told me that you fell on the ground. How come you bumped into the door today?"

"Ah, this..." Fang Yiai opened his mouth, not knowing how to "prevaricate".

"Could it be that they heard that you came to Pingkangfang and were beaten by Princess Gaoyang?" Cui Derang asked with a gloating look.

Fang Yiai opened his mouth again. He actually wanted to say a few words and then admit it to dispel the other party's suspicion. He never expected that they would think of it first.

What do you call this? This is called running in both directions!
You lay down before I even put any effort!
Seeing Fang Yiai's embarrassed look, everyone believed it to about 70%.

"Hey, this is my cousin's own hobby. Brother Cui, you said you..." Lu Hyun was trying to persuade him in a hypocritical manner.

Fang Yiai sighed, bowed to the four people and said, "To be honest, what Brother Cui said just now is true. It was the fierce woman in the family who did it."

As he said this, Fang Yiai's expression became noticeably depressed.

When it comes to acting, Fang Yiai's acting skills are far better than those of the young actors.

The four of them looked at each other, and there was clearly a different look in their eyes.

"Brother Fang, you are joking. Everyone knows that the princesses of our Tang Dynasty are gentle and virtuous. They are first-class matches. For example, Princess Xiangcheng and Princess Changle are both well-known virtuous women." Cui Shi said with a smile: "Even if there are some misunderstandings, Brother Fang should not call Princess Gaoyang a shrew, right?" "Don't say anything." Fang Yiai picked up the jar of wine and drank it all in one gulp with a bitter face.

After drinking, he burped again, his face showing unhappiness.

(Emo Fang Yiai)

It doesn't look like acting at all, it really feels like a bitter wine going down the throat and causing pain in the heart.

"Alas." Fang Yiai sighed deeply again, and it sounded like a real sigh.

"Cousin, I toast to you." Lu Xuan picked up the wine glass and saw that Fang Yiai had finished drinking the wine jar. He looked at the waiter beside him and said, "Why don't you serve General Fang some wine?"

The waiter understood and came forward to bring a jar of grape wine to Fang Yiai, and placed it gently next to him.

This grape wine is not cheap in this season. But in order to get the point across, they accepted it.

"No more talking, it's all in the wine." Lu Xuan looked at Fang Yiai picking up the wine jar again and sighed with him.

Fang Yiai took a big gulp and said indignantly, "You said...hiccups, Gao Yang, ever since she started that business with the Prince of Hengshan, she hasn't been home on weekdays. Does she even act like a wife?"

This was just talk. In fact, Fang Yiai didn't mind this matter.

But the others didn't know and just thought that Fang Yiai had already had complaints.

"You're right. How much knowledge can a woman who wears clothes in two pieces and combs her hair in three tufts have?" Cui Derang said, "If you ask me, it's better for this woman to stay at home and take care of her husband and children. Why go out and show her face in public?"

"That's right." Everyone responded.

After taking two more gulps, he saw Fang Yiai coming up to listen again, looking dizzy, so Cui Shi gestured to Ye Yuannu.

Ye Yuannu didn't dare to stay and hurried out of the house.

Cui Shi winked at Lu Xuan again, and Lu Xuan understood and said, "Cousin, what kind of business is this that would make Princess Gaoyang stay away from home every day? Can't she put down the business and go home to accompany you?"

"Of course it's a business that makes money... a business that makes money." Fang Yiai laughed, "Actually, Er, there's nothing wrong with going out. Er, making money is a good thing."

"What kind of business is that?" Lu Hyun asked.

Fang Yiai raised a finger and said, "Shh, let's talk in a low voice. You are my cousin, I am telling you!"

"You are not allowed to tell anyone else!" Fang Yiai added.

"Don't worry, cousin. I won't tell anyone." Lu Hyun promised.

"Then, then you ask that prostitute to leave." Fang Yiai pointed outside the door.

"Okay, okay, they are all out." Lu Hyun said with a smile.

Fang Yiai looked at Cui Shi drunkenly, and Cui Shi asked, "Brother Fang, shall I go out too?"

"You, you don't need to." Fang Yiai smiled innocently and patted Lu Xuan's shoulder. He was born with supernatural strength, and in order to pretend to be drunk, he completely lost his strength and almost broke Lu Xuan's shoulder.

On the other hand, he did it on purpose.

Damn, you cheated your relatives, right?
Lu Hyun endured it with a grimace, not daring to scream out for fear of ruining the situation.

"You are my cousin's good friend, and you are also my brother, Fang Yiai!" Fang Yiai knocked on his chest, making a dull thumping sound: "I don't need to tell you who I am, Fang Yiai. I can tell you myself. I am absolutely...good to my friends!"

"Then cousin, please tell me." Lu Xuanqiang asked with a smile.

"Of course, the wool business!" Fang Yiai smiled.

"Wool?" Cui Shi pretended to be unconvinced and said, "What business can be made with wool? Brother Fang is really joking. That stuff is just trash that no one wants on the grassland."

"Brother Cui, you don't know this, right?" Fang Yiai chuckled, "This method of turning wool into yarn was invented by me and my team!"

Several people were shocked. They just wanted to learn a little bit and then find someone to test it on after returning home. Who would have thought that Fang Yiai actually knew how to do it?

This thing was actually developed by a rough man like him who is a warrior?
Thinking of this, everyone's heart was burning with excitement.

This is an unexpected gain!

I had originally prepared to study at home, but I didn't expect that the other person knew everything. This saves time... I can even send people to the grassland to purchase wool first. Cui Shi knows that his uncle Cui Tingzhi has a good relationship with Bazhuo, the young Khan of the Xueyantuo tribe, who is a large tribe with hundreds of thousands of sheep!

If we can get to Xueyantuo first and hook up with Bazhuo, the other party will definitely not mind selling waste things like wool.

Not only can you make money, but you can also trouble the royal family. Isn't it a great thing to kill two birds with one stone?
"Then I wonder how my cousin did it?" Lu Hyun asked again, and at the same time motioned Cui Derang to pick up a pen and paper to record the details.

Fang Yiai burped and began to explain the steps to them in detail, mixed with his own bragging, such as how he discovered this step and how he thought of that step. It sounded like the typical behavior of a drunk.

Lu Hyun smiled patiently, and when Fang Yiai finished speaking, the four of them felt excited.

This recipe finally worked!
After Fang Yiai finished his story, he fell into a deep sleep, lying straight on the ground like a corpse, snoring loudly.

He is indeed Li Shimin's son-in-law, in terms of engines...

"What should we do now?" Cui Derang asked as he put away his paper and pen.

Lu Xuan smiled and said, "After all, he is my cousin, so I still have to send him home. Alas, drinking will only make things worse!"

Fang Yiai lay sprawled on the ground, and after hearing these words, he almost couldn't help but punch him in the eye.

If he hadn't been thinking about Li Xiang's plan, he would have taken action.

Forget it, business is more important. Don’t let momentary anger ruin big plans!
After sending Fang Yiai home, Lu Hyun and the other four immediately returned home and began to purchase the materials Fang Yiai mentioned and conduct experiments on them.

To their delight, what Fang Yiai said was completely correct and they did get high-quality wool.

Since the experiment has proved the reliability of the method, several families decided to purchase scarce commodities on the grassland in Chang'an, Luoyang, Taiyuan and other places, and then hand them over to Cui Tingzhi's uncle and nephew, asking them to go to the grassland again to exchange for wool!
(Second update sent)

(End of this chapter)