amaotonovel Chapter 603 Supporters of the Childhood Examination
Chapter 603 Supporters of the Childhood Examination
“Yes.” Li Yuan readily admitted, straightening her back. “My niece is educated and sensible, so why can’t she give it a try? When my father was alive, he often lamented that the fall of Han was due to its closed-mindedness. Now Qin has opened the imperial examinations, regardless of background or gender, which is a truly enlightened move. Uncle, times have changed, and we cannot always look back.”
The study was silent, save for the crackling of the charcoal fire. Li Huan gazed at his niece and suddenly recalled eight years ago, when King Han An was captured and taken to Xianyang, and his younger brother Li Xu sighed from the city wall, "If we don't change, we will perish."
My brother is right. But he... but he can't let go.
"You may leave," Li Huan said wearily, waving his hand.
Li Yuan bowed and withdrew. Li He watched his daughter's retreating figure, his heart filled with complex emotions. His daughter was talented and ambitious, but was being born into the Li family a blessing or a curse?
Handan was the former capital of the State of Zhao.
Inside the Zhao Clan Ancestral Hall, more than ten clan elders of the Zhao family sat in a circle. The one in the main seat was Zhao Yan, a cousin of King Qian of Zhao, who was now sixty-three years old and had white hair and beard.
"Gentlemen, you have all seen the imperial edict." Zhao Yan's voice was hoarse, like a broken bellows. "Anyone aged thirteen or above may take the exam. The sons of the Zhao family... shall they go or not?"
“We can’t go!” A middle-aged man stood up. He was Zhao Wu, a descendant of Zhao She. “Although the State of Zhao was destroyed four years ago, there are still people in the State of Dai who are holding on. How can we surrender to Qin?”
“But the land that could have been replaced was already…” someone said in a low voice.
"So what? As long as the bloodline of the Zhao family remains, the State of Zhao has not perished!"
The debate raged on. Some advocated resistance, others suggested waiting and seeing, while still others remained silent—they knew that resistance was futile, but surrender was something they were unwilling to do.
At this moment, a young boy's voice rang out: "Grandfather, your grandson wishes to take the exam."
Everyone turned their heads and saw Zhao Yan's grandson, Zhao Tuo, who was fourteen years old. The boy's face was slightly pale, but he stood straight with a firm look in his eyes.
"Nonsense!" Zhao Yan shouted. "Who gave you the right to speak here!"
“Grandfather,” Zhao Tuo knelt down but did not bow his head, “I studied at the official school in Handan for three years. The teachings of the Qin teachers may not be entirely without reason. Moreover, if no one from the Zhao family enters the Qin system, how will our family survive in the future if no one is in the court?”
"Outrageous!" Zhao Yan slammed his hand on the table. "Your father died at the hands of the Qin army, and you dare to take the Qin examination?"
Zhao Tuo's eyes reddened, but his voice was even firmer: "Father died fighting for the State of Zhao, and I will remember that. But precisely because of this, I must study even harder. Qin was able to conquer the six states, so it must have its strengths. If I were to learn from Qin's system, I might be able to understand its strengths and weaknesses and wait for the right opportunity."
The ancestral hall was deathly silent.
These words are too blunt, so blunt that they are almost dangerous—the purpose of adopting the Qin system was to dismantle Qin and await the opportunity to restore the country.
Zhao Yan stared at his grandson for a long time, his eyes filled with complex emotions. Finally, he slowly said, "Do you know that if these words were to get out, the entire Zhao family would be..."
“Therefore, my grandson must pass the exam.” Zhao Tuo looked up, his eyes shining. “Only by getting involved can we protect the family, and only then can we… only then can we preserve the Zhao family line.”
He didn't say "restoration of the country," but everyone understood.
Zhao Yan closed his eyes, and after a long while, waved his hand: "Fine... If you want to take the exam, then take it. But remember, what you said today, once it came out of your mouth, entered my ears, and you must never mention it again."
"Grandson understands."
Jicheng was the former capital of the Yan state.
The atmosphere here was even more delicate. Although the Yan state was not completely destroyed, Ji City had been under Qin control for four years. King Xi of Yan had fled to Liaodong, and Crown Prince Dan had long been killed. The remaining Yan people were neither Qin citizens nor had they lost their homeland; they had become rootless drifters.
Yan Li, an elder of the Yan clan, looked at the imperial edict and sighed, "Thirteen years old... This is to cultivate Qin people from a young age."
"Elder, the King of Yan is still in Liaodong. If we let our sons take the Qin examination, we fear we will be accused of betraying Yan," someone nearby said.
"Liaodong?" Yan Li smiled bitterly, his wrinkles as deep as ravines. "Liaodong is a bitterly cold land, and even the King of Yan himself can hardly survive. The people of Jicheng must live on." He paused, then made a decision, "Have all the eligible children register. As for whether or not to take the exam... we'll talk about that later."
"That woman..."
“Women should go too.” Yan Li’s eyes were filled with desolation. “When Ji City was captured, the Qin people did not burn, kill, or loot. The women of Yan survived. So we should let them live even better. Study, take exams, become officials… It would be a good thing if women could live a decent life.”
He thought of his granddaughter, Yanwan, who was fifteen years old and loved reading, but could only stay at home. Perhaps this was an opportunity.
Yingdu was the original capital of the State of Chu.
This place had only been occupied by the Qin army for half a year, and the palace where King Fuchu burned himself was already in ruins, with the charred beams and pillars still wailing in the wind.
Inside the Jing family mansion, the patriarch, Jing Ke, summoned his clansmen. They were from a collateral branch of the Chu royal family, and after Xiang Yan's surrender, the Jing clan was one of the few major clans to choose to submit. But submission did not equate to contentment; how could they so easily forget the eight hundred years of Chu's rule?
"I've read all the edicts." Jing Ke's voice was weary, his eyes bloodshot. "The fate of the Jing family must be decided today."
"Patriarch, General Xiang has already surrendered, what choice do we have?" a young clansman said indignantly. "But taking the Qin examination... this is really..."
"Humiliation?" Jing Ke interrupted, his voice hoarse. "Yes, it is humiliation. But you must understand, the State of Chu is gone. The King of Chu burned himself, Xiang Yan surrendered, and of the Zhao, Qu, and Jing clans, only my Jing clan remains in power. If the Jing clan also resists to the end, who will protect the millions of people in Chu?"
He stood up and walked to the window. Outside was the street market of Yingdu; a Qin army patrol had just passed by, their armor reflecting a cold light. The common people hurried by with their heads down, not daring to look directly at him.
“Let the young men take the exam.” Jing Ke turned around, tears welling in his eyes. “Not only must they take the exam, but they must pass it. The Jing family must establish itself within the Qin system, preserve the bloodline of the Chu people, and wait… wait for the day when heroes emerge again from the land of Chu.”
Someone sobbed softly. The pain of national subjugation was etched into their bones. But those who survived must continue to live.
Daliang was the former capital of the State of Wei.
This place was the most peaceful. King Wei surrendered on the fifteenth of the first month and was granted the title of Marquis of Guiming; Crown Prince Ji of Wei studied at the Daqin Academy, was appointed as a guest minister, and served as an advisor in the Newspaper Department. The people of Wei seemed to have accepted their fate long ago.
Inside the Daliang Academy, a group of teenagers were discussing something. The academy was an official school established by the Qin state, teaching Qin law, Qin history, and Qin literature.
"I'm definitely going to take the exam!" a round-faced boy exclaimed excitedly. "His Highness the Crown Prince is already serving as an official in Xianyang, so what do we have to hesitate about?"
“But…Wei has only been destroyed for a month.” Another thin boy said in a low voice. He was the son of a former official of Wei, whose father died in battle when the city fell.
"So what? Didn't the King of Qin not kill the King of Wei? He even granted him a title of Marquis. I've heard that the Great Qin Academy in Xianyang has students from all over the country, studying the most profound knowledge in the world. If you can pass the exam and go to Xianyang to study, that would be a great fortune."
At this moment, a clear, cool female voice interjected: "That's right, we must take the exam."
Everyone turned to see Wei Shu, the only female student in the academy, the daughter of a collateral branch of the Wei royal family, who was fifteen years old this year. She put down the bamboo slip in her hand and said coldly, "Wei has just been destroyed, and the Qin people will definitely be on high alert against the Wei people."
"Then...whether we still take the exam or not?"
"Test? Of course we must test them." A sharp glint flashed in Wei Shu's eyes. "Precisely because we are on guard, we must test them well. We must let the Qin people know that the Wei people surrendered not because they were afraid, nor because they lacked talented people. Only in this way can the Wei people have a foothold in the Qin system."
She picked up the copy of the imperial edict, her fingertips tracing the words "Women are also permitted to participate in the examination," a slight smile playing on her lips. This was an opportunity, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. She would take the exam, she would pass it, she would let the world know that the women of Wei were no less capable than the men.