Chapter Thirty-Six: An Interlude... The Ministry of Works and the Ministry of War Compete for Talent

Chang Hao’s affair was not yet fully resolved; there remained a minor epilogue.

When Chang Yuankai learned that his son had suffered humiliation, he was indignant. How could He Zhizhang, a mere sixth-rank official, dare to bully him, a third-rank minister with real power? At the very least, justice must be served to restore his dignity.

The results of the imperial examination also greatly displeased Cui Shi, who had helped Chang Hao with his answers.

Cui Shi hailed from the illustrious Cui clan, renowned as the foremost noble family in the realm. Since the Han dynasty, their fame had only grown through the Tang, producing countless men of learning and virtue. No other family could rival them. Every son of the Cui family took immense pride in their heritage. In their eyes, the glory of the Cui clan even surpassed that of the imperial house. After all, even the longest-reigning dynasty, the Zhou, lasted no more than eight centuries, while the Cui family’s prosperity had endured over a thousand years. In that time, more than thirty Cuis had served as prime ministers, and over four hundred had held posts of the fifth rank or higher—a record of grandeur unmatched in any age. Thus, the Cui surname earned the epithet “the Prime Minister’s Name.” Among the common folk, it was said, “An ugly daughter of the Cui family never lacks a suitor, while even a princess of the royal house may fret about marriage”—a testament to their renown.

As the current Prime Minister and the most distinguished figure of his family, Cui Shi naturally held himself in the highest regard.

Since he had agreed to Chang Yuankai’s request, Cui Shi aimed directly for the top rank. For the classics and policy essays, he had consulted ancient texts and drawn upon learned precedents for his answers. Yet when the results were announced, not only did he fail to claim the top scholar’s title, he did not even make the list. He felt as if he had been publicly slapped in the face.

Chang Yuankai submitted a memorial of impeachment, bringing charges against He Zhizhang before Emperor Li Dan.

Cui Shi mobilized his followers to launch an attack on He Zhizhang, accusing him of favoritism in the examination.

Faced with such accusations, He Zhizhang’s conscience was clear. He brought forth two examination papers in court and confronted the ministers with them.

The poem “The Brocade Zither” by Pei Min left the entire court, civil and military alike, shaken. Even the retired emperor Li Dan recited, “This feeling may become a memory to be cherished, though at the time it was already fraught with confusion. What a poem, what lines! On this poem and these lines alone, Pei Min’s talent is evident—the title of top scholar is his by right.”

But what truly caused a sensation was the method for controlling the Yellow River by bundling water and flushing out silt. The aged Vice Minister of Works, Tao Yan, was so moved that he wept and bowed, exclaiming, “Your Majesty, this humble minister submits that we should immediately follow Pei Min’s proposal—send surveyors, prepare stone and timber for dikes, bundle water and flush silt, and avert next year’s floods. Pei Min’s great talent should be put to use in the Ministry of Works.”

Emperor Li Dan was visibly moved. “According to your assessment, Minister Tao, is Pei Min’s method for controlling the river feasible?”

Tao Yan, with utmost certainty, replied, “It is entirely feasible! A brilliant and flawless suggestion.”

Tao Yan had attained his rank largely through his accomplishments in water management. Since the pre-Qin era, the Yunmeng Marshes in Jingxiang had gradually broken apart, altering the hydrological network and affecting Dongting Lake. From the Han and Jin dynasties onward, population growth and intensified cultivation in the Yangtze basin led to severe deforestation, increasing silt in the river. By the Tang dynasty, water levels in the middle Yangtze had surpassed warning points, threatening the livelihoods of the people in Jingxiang. Being a native of Jingxiang and long tormented by floods, Tao Yan devoted himself to the study of flood control, toiling ceaselessly and achieving remarkable results. During Empress Wu’s reign, the Yellow River had breached its banks with disastrous losses. The famed chancellor Di Renjie brought Tao Yan to court and made him Director of the Waterworks, tasking him with the river’s management. After thorough investigation, Tao Yan realized that silt control was the key, launched river dredging operations, and achieved great success, earning him promotion to Vice Minister of Works, the ministry’s second-in-command.

Li Dan gazed intently at Tao Yan, fully aware of his authority in hydraulic affairs, and was about to give his assent.

But Guo Yuanzhen, Minister of War, quickly interjected, “Your Majesty, Pei Min’s policy essay on frontier defense incisively exposed the flaws in our present military system. He has extraordinary foresight. As he wrote, ‘Without strong armies, the nation cannot awe the barbarians; if they do not fear us, our borders will never be secure.’ Such talent would be wasted in the Ministry of Works. He should be transferred to the Ministry of War, where I could make great use of him.”

Tao Yan, furious, glared at Guo Yuanzhen. “Minister Guo, what do you mean by this?”

Guo Yuanzhen turned aside and replied, “A nation seeks talent wherever it may be found. What other meaning is there?”

Tao Yan retorted indignantly, “It was my ministry that discovered this talent—why should the Ministry of War interfere?”

Guo Yuanzhen was not to be outdone. “What do you mean by your ministry discovering him? Ten days ago, Commander Xue mentioned Pei Min to me, saying he was instrumental in reclaiming Liaodong and Liaoxi. We simply hadn’t located him yet. You were merely quicker to act.”

“You—” Tao Yan began, but Emperor Li Dan, visibly weary, interrupted, “Let us set this matter aside for now. Pei Min’s talent is clear, but according to the regulations, he must pass a further examination by the Ministry of Personnel before his assignment is determined. There is no need for you two to quarrel and disrupt our harmony.”

Tao Yan and Guo Yuanzhen dared say no more, but exchanged a fierce glare.

Li Dan made a final pronouncement. “There is no further need to debate Pei Min’s abilities. He is truly worthy of the top scholar’s title. As for Chang Hao, his carelessness warrants punishment, but is revoking his qualification not too severe? His essays reveal a talent no less than Pei Min’s. Especially on the issue of frontier defense, where his prudent and solid approach appeals greatly to me, in contrast to Pei Min’s boldness.”

Though Emperor Li Longji was the reigning sovereign, as long as the retired emperor Li Dan presided, he sat to the left of the throne, as in his days as crown prince. Hearing these words, Li Longji’s lips curled in a faint, cold smile: “Grave maladies demand drastic cures. The present military system has already undermined the empire’s strength—how can prudence suffice against Tubo, Turks, and Khitan?”

Recalling Li Dan’s recent attitude, Li Longji did not intend to contradict him openly, but thought to himself, “If ever I wield true power, all these outdated, rigid institutions will be swept away...”

Seeing that Li Dan still wished to grant Chang Hao some recognition, He Zhizhang grew anxious. He had no desire to see an incompetent candidate enter the final three and ruin his reputation. He was about to protest when Li Longji spoke: “Father, I have a suggestion. Since the examiner has already disqualified Chang Hao’s paper, to reverse that decision now would be improper. Yet the purpose of the exams is to select talent, and losing such talent would be our empire’s loss. Why not temper justice with mercy? Let the punishment stand, but grant special favor—a supplemental test. I will personally set two new essay questions for Chang Hao. If he passes, he may be ranked among the successful scholars; if he fails, he has only his own lack of learning to blame.”

Chang Yuankai’s expression changed dramatically; he had not expected Li Longji to turn the tables on him at such a critical moment.

He Zhizhang was overjoyed. “I second this proposal.”

Chang Yuankai dared not let Chang Hao be retested and voluntarily withdrew from the competition.

Thus, the top three scholars were finally confirmed: Pei Min as the top scholar, Lu Ze as second, and Feng Zhi as third. The court would sponsor a banquet at Qujiang on the third day of the third month to celebrate their success.

With this episode, not only was Pei Min’s status as the top scholar firmly established, his reputation spread throughout the court and capital. With the laurels of first place, there was no one in all of Chang’an who did not know his name.