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In addition, other issues involve people's livelihoods, the economy, and the coordination between civil and military affairs.
Half an hour later, without any buffer time, the eunuchs collected the examination papers one by one.
In just half an hour, the number of words written on paper was not much. Compared to modern penmanship, writing with a brush was slower, so the review process was also quick.
Dugu Han reviewed each paper, placing those he found satisfactory to his right and those he deemed average to his left, arranging them according to the rankings of the Imperial Examination.
Suddenly, a paper on current political affairs appeared before him. This paper was much more concise compared to the lengthy essays he had seen earlier.
From the lines, both the content and the handwriting revealed the writer's broad-mindedness and righteous spirit. The boldness and fluidity of the characters were unlike that of ordinary people.
Even he couldn't help but be astonished; how could others not be?
As an emperor, he had been cultivating various abilities since childhood. The natural elegance in one's handwriting could not be achieved overnight, yet this person was indeed extraordinary.
He took special note of the name and was even more surprised. How could this be? This was his first thought.
The paper clearly bore the three large characters: Yang Yichen.
The name Yang Yichen had appeared in his ears more than once. After the Imperial Examination, this young man became a household name, and Dugu Han in the palace had also received news about him.
This was largely thanks to Crown Prince Dugu Li and Queen Wang, who had set their sights on this talented individual early on. They had praised him multiple times and expressed their desire for a marriage alliance with him.
"Your Majesty, I have a niece who is thirteen years old, exceptionally beautiful, and skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. She truly matches this year's top scorer in the Imperial Examination; I hope you can grant them a marriage," Queen Wang said, her enchanting Dan Feng eyes gazing at Dugu Han with a hint of allure.
She hoped that her whispers would draw Yang Yichen to her side, becoming another great support for Crown Prince Dugu Li.
However, upon learning that this young man was only fifteen years old, Dugu Han refused: "This young man has excellent results, but his age is indeed a factor. His experience and qualifications cannot compare to others. Just because he performed well in the Imperial Examination does not mean he is exceptional overall; let’s reconsider later."
Yet, reflecting on his own thoughts at that time, Dugu Han suddenly felt shocked. How could it be possible? How could a fifteen-year-old boy possess such profound insights? He realized that this young man was no less capable than himself.
Young Talent, Young Talent! Dugu Han couldn't help but laugh heartily.
The people below were shocked by the Emperor's expression, and they began to speculate countless times, but no one understood why the ruler looked this way.
The exam papers that followed paled in comparison to Yang Yichen's, losing the brilliance it had just moments ago.
After carefully reading through each sentence, Dugu Han spent half an hour determining the top ten and the bottom forty; all that remained was the on-site questioning.
This segment tested psychological resilience the most. This assessment method was similar to modern interviews, where one's demeanor and choice of words revealed their character and mental endurance.
"I know that you are all the best of this cohort. Now, for the next question, feel free to express your thoughts without any reservations."
"Regarding the questions from your exam papers, you may discuss them openly. First, let's take current political affairs as an example and share your views freely!"
Among the fifty candidates, not a single person dared to answer first. After all, they were facing someone extraordinary—the ruler who held their lives in his hands. A single word or glance from him could lead to their downfall.
Yang Yichen, dressed in a dark blue scholar's robe, stood in the center. The room fell silent as high-ranking ministers in front turned their attention to see who would speak first.
After a moment of contemplation, Yang Yichen decided to delve deeper into his previous answers: "We all know that the battlefield is a place of constant change. We must fully integrate timing, location, and personnel to control the situation.
So what is most important? I believe it is hardware strength. What do we mean by hardware strength? It refers to our weapons. Good weapons can significantly reduce casualties and minimize losses. For instance, more powerful bows and arrows, swords, and..."
As Dugu Han listened to his every word, he became deeply engrossed and was impressed by his unique perspective: "Who are you?" With so many people present, how could the Sovereign remember names? Being remembered was a mark of honor.
Yang Yichen took a step forward, hands clasped before him, slightly bowing his head: "Your Majesty, I am Yang Yichen!"
"Oh!" It was rare for someone in their twenties to be among the top fifty in this Imperial Examination, let alone a fifteen-year-old boy—he was incredibly young!
"Continue! I know what you've said; however, do you know how to improve weapon quality? The military emphasizes weaponry; I have invested heavily in research but have seen no significant results."
He had asked the right person; Yang Yichen was well-versed in this topic.
"I have some research on this matter. I understand that for bows and arrows, the strength of the bowstring is crucial. However, improving this strength is quite challenging—especially with traditional methods. At this point, it is necessary to add a switch next to the bowstring as an aid."
"When you draw the bowstring, this switch comes into play. The strength of your arm will double the power of the arrow shot, and the range will also significantly increase."
Dugu Han smiled broadly, staring intently at Yang Yichen, nodding in agreement from time to time. Hearing the thoughts expressed by the young man filled him with joy, as if he had stumbled upon a treasure. "Go on, go on!"
There was no room for anyone else to interject. Yang Yichen's mouth was dry, but he finally concluded, "Reporting to Your Majesty, I have finished my answer."
"What about the others? Feel free to share your thoughts!"
The other candidates, witnessing Yang Yichen's outstanding performance and receiving praise from the emperor, wished they could shine just as brightly.
One by one, the candidates shared their ideas, and Dugu Han began to form a general judgment in his mind.
A certain official seated in the first row on the right side suddenly brightened his eyes when he heard Yang Yichen's response.
Crown Prince Dugu Li could hardly hide his delight as he glanced at Yang Yichen several times, wishing he could have him join his ranks immediately.
The morning passed quietly, and the Imperial Examination reached its conclusion at noon. "Thank you for your hard work, my loyal ministers. The results will be announced in three days. You may leave now!"
"Dismissed!" Following the same sharp voice as before, the emperor first entered the Inner Room through a side door behind the dragon throne and then departed.
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