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Ministry of Personnel.
Minister Office.
After lunch, Li Nuo and his wife went to the Ministry of Personnel.
Song Zhe handed a thick roster to Li Nuo, and with a barely perceptible frown, asked, "You’re planning to take the Imperial Examination?"
Li Nuo didn’t hide his intentions and nodded, "If I want to practice Legalism, I still need to hold an official position. I can only try to take the exam..."
Song Zhe was silent for a moment and then said, "There are more than four years left. Since you’re going to take it, prepare well and don’t disgrace your father."
Li Xuanjing had been the unrivaled top scholar in all Six Arts, unmatched by anyone before or after.
If his son did not participate in the Imperial Examination, it would be fine; but if he did, not expecting him to become a top scholar in one exam was one thing, but at least he should pass as an Advanced Scholar. Otherwise, it would be a disgrace to the Li Family.
He had never thought that Li Nuo would participate in the Imperial Examination happening in half a year’s time; after all, just two months ago, he had been considered the dimwitted son of the Li Family.
To go from knowing nothing to mastering the Six Arts and being listed as a successful candidate on the gold-rimmed list in just six months— even Li Xuanjing could not have achieved such a feat.
Li Nuo didn’t offer any additional explanation to his father-in-law. With a clear goal in mind, he took the past Advanced Scholars’ list and went directly to the year of the last Imperial Examination, which was Zhisheng thirty.
That year, a hundred candidates passed as Advanced Scholars.
He didn’t need to look at the rest of the list; Li Nuo’s gaze was fixed on the first few lines.
The top scholar of the year Zhisheng thirty was named Cui Shu. He was the overall top scholar of the last Imperial Examination, but not the top scholar in any individual subject.
This indicated that the person was well-rounded in all subjects, without notable strengths or weaknesses—a capable talent, but not what Li Nuo was looking for.
He needed those who were warriors in specialized subjects.
He skipped over the name of the top scholar in mathematics.
Music Department Top Scholar Liu Shang, Shooting Department Top Scholar Wang Shao, Ritual Department Top Scholar Zheng Zhan, Horse Riding Department Top Scholar Du Tong, and Book Department Top Scholar Pei Ziyi—Li Nuo mainly focused on candidates from Music, Shooting, and Horse Riding departments.
The Book Department was a mix of disciplines. The top scholar of the Book Department’s compositions might not be the best, but it suggested that his combination of calligraphy, painting, law, and composition was the highest overall.
Li Nuo had another candidate in mind for the Ritual Department; how could a young examinee possibly understand rituals as well as an Assistant Minister of Rites?
He still needed to find the right opportunity to get his second uncle into the position.
Li Nuo copied down the names of these three individuals on a piece of paper and said to Song Zhe, "Lord Father-in-law, could I take a look at the records of these three?"
He needed to know where these three were currently serving. If they were not in Chang’an, he would have to look for other candidates.
Song Zhe glanced at the names and asked, "What do you want with the records of these three?"
Li Nuo honestly replied, "These three are the top scholars of individual subjects in the most recent Imperial Examination. I would like to seek their advice to see if there are any tricks to these subjects..."
It was a sufficient reason.
In his previous life, when he was still in high school, the school would also invite past top examinees to share their test-taking experiences with the juniors.
Song Zhe took the paper, stepped outside the office, and called, "Lingshi Feng."
An official immediately jogged over.
Song Zhe handed the note to him and said, "These are the top scholars in individual subjects from the last Imperial Examination. Go to the Archives and retrieve their records."
"Yes."
Lingshi Feng responded and immediately jogged toward the Archives.
Song Zhe walked back into the Room and said to Li Nuo, "Your idea is not wrong, but most Advanced Scholars neglect the Six Arts after their success. It’s been over three years since the last Imperial Examination. Asking them to take the exam now, let alone becoming top scholars again, it would be difficult for them even to pass the spring examinations..."
Despite this, Li Nuo still had to try.
Shortly after, Lingshi Feng entered with three records in hand.
These three records were very new, with only a few pages each. Li Nuo flipped through two and felt a hint of disappointment.
Horse Riding Department Top Scholar Du Tong and Shooting Department Top Scholar Wang Shao, after becoming Advanced Scholars, served in Taipu Si and Guardian Si respectively.
Both these institutions were in Chang’an, yet these two individuals had been transferred to the border army one and a half years ago, thousands of miles away from Chang’an.
Song Zhe glanced at the records and said, "The Horse Riding and Shooting Departments are related to military formations. If they can’t stay in the Ministry of War, they can pursue the path of Military Officers. However, they were promoted quickly. The Du Family and the Wang family are both influential clans; they must have used their power to transfer them away."
Only one record remained in front of Li Nuo.
Music Department Top Scholar Liu Shang.
Upon opening this record, Li Nuo breathed a sigh of relief.
Liu Shang had also been promoted six months ago and now held the position of Director of Music at the Music Bureau.
The Music Bureau was a subordinate department of the Taichang Si, responsible for the musical performances at various grand events.
As the head of the Music Bureau and holding a Standard seventh-rank official position, Director Liu Shang oversaw thousands of musicians.
With the constant need for musicians at various court events, it was clear that the Music Bureau was in Chang’an.
Not long after, Li Nuo and Song Jiaren left the Ministry of Personnel.
Soon after, a young figure emerged from the Ministry of Personnel and boarded a sedan chair.
Capital Prefecture Office.
This was Zhao He’s second visit to the Capital Prefecture Office; this time, he was brought into a tall government office and waited a long time before someone entered.
Zhao He immediately bowed and greeted, "My lord!"
The middle-aged man raised his hand to signal him to sit and personally poured him a cup of tea, asking, "Has something happened at the Ministry of Personnel again?"
Zhao He quickly replied, "My lord, that Li Nuo went to the Ministry of Personnel again today and looked up the records of three officials."
The middle-aged man’s brow twitched, putting down the teacup he had picked up and asked, "Which three officials?"
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