Reborn In The Three Kingdoms - Chapter 884

Chapter 884: 843. Opinions Of His Inner Circle About The New Idea Of Reform

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Chen Qun, with his ordered thoughts and passion for governance. Zhuge Liang, whose feather fan traced patterns in the air like a painter’s brush, his gaze fathomless. Chen Gong, severe and uncompromising, a blade sheathed in law. Mi Zhu, genial and sharp eyed, forever weighing silver against policy. Liu Ye, Lu Su, and others, architects of the dynasty, the men who had stood at Lie Fan’s side when Hengyuan was only a dream.

Lie Fan sat among them now, no longer the convivial sovereign of earlier hours but something more inward, more elemental. He drank sparingly, tasted a morsel here and there, and when he spoke, it was only to his council. The rest of the hall blurred for him, a painted scroll of noble silks and perfumed laughter, distant and hollow.

Sima Yi, ever the consummate host, ensured the Emperor’s cup was never empty, using the simple act of pouring wine as a pretext to remain close. Leaning in, his voice a murmur meant only for Lie Fan’s ear and those of the trusted men who had subtly drawn nearer, he recounted the Emperor’s explosive frustration and his radical proposed solution.

“His Majesty believes the very method by which we find our officials is flawed,” Sima Yi said, his words measured. “He spoke of a system not of birth or bribery, but of merit. A unified examination, open to all who have benefited from his educational reforms, to select the finest minds for the bureaucracy, regardless of their lineage.”

The reaction among the inner circle was not one of shock, but of deep, solemn consideration.

Jia Xu’s eyes narrowed, the weight of his years and his knowledge of men sifting through the implications. He, who had long preached balance between ruthlessness and prudence, saw the edge of steel in Lie Fan’s tone.

This was no whim born of wounded pride, this was anger transmuted into iron resolve. The Son of Heaven had peered beneath the silken veneer of his bureaucracy and found rot.

Rot that must be burned away.

Xun You inclined his head slightly, his gaze calm but deep with thought. He too understood the stakes. The empire had weathered storms, rebellions, conspiracies, and the desperate grasp of those clinging to fading power.

Chen Qun, the master of administration and law, remained still, but his eyes were alight with a fierce, intellectual fire.

The Gentleman Concord had been crushed before its venom could spread, yet its very existence had been a symptom of the old order’s decay. That order could no longer serve an age such as this.

They were the Three Excellencies, the pillars of the court. They had weathered rebellions, orchestrated bureaucracy, and built an empire from the ashes of war.

They understood that Lie Fan’s anger was not a petty tantrum, it was the righteous fury of a builder who had found termites gnawing at the foundations of his greatest work.

And his proposed solution was not a rash impulse, but the logical extension of a vision he had been cultivating for years through his schools and academies.

Chen Qun was the first to break the silence after Sima Yi finished sketching the bones of the idea. His voice, measured and deliberate, carried the cadence of a man envisioning pillars and girders even as he spoke.

“Your Majesty,” he began, bowing his head slightly in respect even within the privacy of their circle, “if we are to tear down the scaffolding of the old system, we must raise in its place something unshakable. A structure of rank and law, codified so clearly that none can twist it to favor birth over merit.”

His fingers traced invisible lines upon the lacquered table, as though marking a chart no one else could see. “Such a system would require a clear structure. A way to categorize and classify. I have… contemplated a framework. Officials could be accorded a ‘rank’ based on their performance in these examinations and their subsequent service. This rank would signify their precise status within the government hierarchy and directly correlate to their stipend, their responsibilities, and the respect they are accorded. It would provide a clear, objective ladder for advancement, transparent to all.”

He was describing the embryonic concept of the Nine rank system he was famous for in the original history, but refined through the lens of Lie Fan’s meritocratic ideal. It wouldn’t be based on a judge’s opinion of a candidate’s character, but on his demonstrable knowledge and achievement.

Jia Xu’s lips curled into a faint, ghostly smile. “A most elegant solution, Chen Qun,” he said, addressing Chen Qun by his courtesy name. “It creates order from chaos. It replaces the murky influence of family connections with the clear, measurable outcomes of examination halls. It would, as His Majesty intends, draw talent directly to the throne. A man who earns his rank through examination owes his position to the system the Emperor created. His loyalty is to the state, not to a local magnate who recommended his uncle’s son.”

Xun You nodded in firm agreement. “It aligns perfectly with the educational reforms Your Majesty has introduced and is being implemented. The schools nurture the talent, the examinations select it, and the ranking system nurtures and manages it throughout a career. It is a complete cycle, one that strengthens the central authority at every turn.”

He glanced at Lie Fan. “The Gentleman’s Concord is ashes. The old noble families are leaderless and discredited. There is no opposition left with the power to stop this. The timing… is providential.”

One by one, the other ministers added their support, each from their unique perspective.

Zhuge Liang, the Minister of Personnel, the very man who would be tasked with managing the flood of new officials, lifted his fan and let its feathers drift lazily against his chin, his eyes gleaming with quiet fire.

“The efficiency gains would be profound, Your Majesty,” he said, his voice calm and clear. “My ministry spends countless hours untangling webs of patronage and assessing the dubious recommendations of local governors. A standardized examination score, followed by a clear rank… it would streamline appointments immensely. We could place the right man in the right position based on proven ability, not on whose name he carries.”

He allowed himself the faintest smile, like a lantern glow behind silk. “As Minister of Personnel, I would welcome this more than spring welcomes the thaw.”

Chen Gong, as Minister of Law, gave a grim nod of approval. “The law thrives on impartiality. This system, if implemented fairly, is the embodiment of impartiality. It judges a man on what he knows and what he has done, not on who he knows. It would be the greatest weapon against corruption and nepotism we have ever wielded.”

From Mi Zhu, the Minister of Finance, let out a good natured sigh and a soft chuckle, the kind that seasoned wine merchants reserve for bitter vintages, that broke the serious mood.

He shook his head, a wry smile on his face. “Ah, Your Majesty, you truly know how to keep your old treasurer on his toes. I can already see the abacus beads multiplying in my sleep! The cost of hosting empire wide examinations every few years… the stipends for all these new ranked officials… my poor treasury will groan under the weight of such meritocracy!”

But his eyes twinkled, showing his true feelings. He was joking, but his underlying message was one of support, he was already calculating the long term economic benefit of a more efficient, less corrupt bureaucracy, even if the initial investment was substantial.

Lie Fan listened to them all, his earlier anger soothed by the sight of his brightest minds not just agreeing, but eagerly building upon his vision. They were already solving problems, anticipating challenges, and refining the idea into a workable policy. This was why he had gathered them. This was the engine of his dynasty.

A genuine smile, the first since the unpleasantness, finally touched his lips. He picked up his cup, not to drink in frustration, but in a gesture of camaraderie.

“Then it is settled,” he said, his voice firm and carrying a new warmth. “We will let the revelry continue tonight for my nephew. But tomorrow, the work begins. Excellencies, Ministers… draft the initial proposals. I want a framework for this examination system and Chen Qun’s ranking structure on my desk within the week. Let the world enjoy its peace tonight. Soon, we will give the scholars of the empire something new to study for.”

He raised his cup. This time, it was not a toast to a newborn, but to the birth of an idea.

“To a stronger Hengyuan,” he said.

His ministers raised their cups in unison, their faces set with determination. “To a stronger Hengyuan!”

As the hours slipped by and the moon climbed high, the tide of revelry began to ebb. One by one, the guests melted away into the lacquered corridors, their jeweled slippers whispering like secrets on the polished floors. The laughter dulled to murmurs, then to silence, broken only by the distant sigh of wind through palace eaves.

When at last the final bow was given and the last toast drained, the banquet was done. Midnight draped its velvet mantle over Xiapi, and the city beyond slept beneath a sky pricked with silver stars.

The grand hall of the Sima residence was now a cavern of quiet aftermath. The scent of wine and rich food lingered, a ghost of the celebration that had once filled the space to its rafters. Servants moved like silent shadows, beginning the meticulous work of clearing the remnants of the feast. The brilliant silks and jewels of the guests were gone, leaving behind an emptiness that echoed with the memory of laughter and music.

Lie Fan rose from the high table, the movement fluid and commanding even in the stillness. Sima Yi was at his side in an instant, his expression a blend of gratitude and residual concern.

“Your Majesty, your presence tonight was a gift beyond any we could have hoped for,” Sima Yi said, his voice low and sincere as they walked through the now-deserted hall. “The honor you have bestowed upon my house and my son will be remembered for generations.”

Lie Fan offered a tired but genuine smile, the weight of the evening’s political revelations momentarily set aside. He clapped a hand on his brother in law’s shoulder. “Zhongda, enough of that. We are family. It is where I should be. To celebrate the birth of my nephew is a joy, not an obligation. Remember that.”

They passed through the main gates of the residence, where the night air was cool and carried the distant, sleeping breath of the city. Awaiting him was a sight of serene beauty. The imperial procession stood ready, torches flickering and casting dancing light upon the polished lacquer of the carriages and the armor of the guards.

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Name: Lie Fan

Title: Founding Emperor Of Hengyuan Dynasty

Age: 35 (202 AD)

Level: 16

Next Level: 462,000

Renown: 2325

Cultivation: Yin Yang Separation (level 9)

SP: 1,121,700

ATTRIBUTE POINTS

STR: 966 (+20)

VIT: 623 (+20)

AGI: 623 (+10)

INT: 667

CHR: 98

WIS: 549

WILL: 432

ATR Points: 0

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