in2ebook Chapter 608 Female Invigilator
Chapter 608 Female Invigilator
The banquet was grand, inviting prominent nobles and wealthy merchants from Linzi. The music was melodious, the dances graceful, and the guests chatted and laughed, clinking glasses and exchanging toasts, as if all was well.
At the banquet, Li You witnessed both the extravagance and the crisis facing the State of Qi.
The nobles lived extravagantly—some drank from golden cups, some ate from jade platters, some had maids kneeling to serve them, and some bestowed pearls upon dancers on the spot. The wealthy merchants flaunted their wealth and competed in extravagance—competing to see whose clothes were more magnificent, whose carriages more luxurious, and whose mansions more imposing.
The servants standing by looked pale and were dressed in rags. The geisha forced a smile, but her eyes were full of exhaustion.
This is the State of Qi, outwardly prosperous but inwardly corrupt.
Midway through the banquet, Li You "accidentally" left a document on the table. It was a few pages of excerpts from the "Qi Region Governance Plan," specifically the section on salt and iron monopoly reform.
Hou Sheng's steward found it and presented it to Hou Sheng. After reading it, Hou Sheng's expression changed drastically.
The pages stated: Salt and iron production will be changed to a franchise system, with public auctions and the highest bidder winning. Operators will need to pay a franchise fee to the imperial court, but they can set their own prices and operate independently. The imperial court will only collect taxes and will not interfere in the operations.
What does this mean? It means that if Hou Sheng arranges for his confidants to win the salt and iron trading rights, he can openly monopolize the salt and iron trade and make huge profits, instead of having to do it secretly and share the profits with other officials as he does now.
More importantly, the plan also mentions that the former nobles of Qi can obtain special privileges first and enjoy tax benefits.
Hou Sheng was tempted.
After the banquet, Hou Sheng kept Li You behind alone.
“Brother, it’s been a long time since we last met. To tell me the truth,” Hou Sheng cut to the chase, no more beating around the bush, “that document… is it real or fake?”
Li You smoothly switched identities, his tone becoming intimate: "What does 'elder brother' refer to?"
"Salt and iron franchises, contracted auctions... Would the King of Qin really do such a thing?"
Li You said solemnly, "The King of Qin's word is law. Not only salt and iron, but also ports, shipping, silk... all can be granted special licenses. Whoever has the capability and offers the highest price will win. My elder brother has many trusted confidants in Qi. If they were to contract these businesses..."
A greedy glint flashed in Hou Sheng's eyes. He seemed to see mountains of gold and silver beckoning to him.
"Can the King of Qin really guarantee the interests of the nobles in Qi?" Hou Sheng asked again, as this was what he was most concerned about.
“Not only do we guarantee it, we also want to expand it,” Li You said. “The princess said: Integration is not destruction. People from the six states, as long as they have the ability and can make contributions, can all find a place in the new dynasty. The nobles of Qi are good at business, so let them do business and grow stronger. The court collects taxes, merchants make money, and the people benefit—a win-win-win situation.”
After a long silence, Hou Sheng finally said, "I understand. But this matter is of great importance, so please allow me to discuss it with His Majesty."
"Of course," Li You said, bowing. "However, Prime Minister, you must act quickly. My king wishes to become emperor and must unify the world before his ascension. If Qi submits voluntarily, it will be richly rewarded; if we wait for the royal army to come east, then..."
He didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was clear—those who surrender voluntarily will be treated well; those who are passively destroyed, well, that's another story.
Hou Sheng nodded: "I will give you a reply within ten days."
Li You took his leave. By the time he left the Prime Minister's residence, it was late at night, and the city of Linzi had fallen silent, with only the distant echo of the night watchman's clapper resounding.
He looked up at the sky, where the stars shone brightly. He knew he was one step closer to success.
Hou Sheng's greed for money was his weakness and also his weakness.
Next, it remains to be seen how Hou Sheng will persuade the King of Qi.
On March 18, the training of more than 200 female invigilators ended, and they will be dispatched to various places tomorrow.
The training took place in the drill ground next to the Bureau of Personnel and Merit, with temporary tents erected. Empress Lü stood on the platform, looking at the women. The youngest among them was eighteen, and the oldest was no more than thirty, but their eyes all shone with light—the light of hope, the light of confidence.
During the ten-day training, these women learned invigilation procedures, Qin Dynasty legal texts, and emergency response methods, and also conducted mock invigilation sessions. Their transformation from initial nervousness and unfamiliarity to composure and proficiency is clearly visible.
Two hundred female invigilators, led by Empress Lü, completed ten days of rigorous training and were about to be dispatched to examination centers in various prefectures. During these ten days, they learned more than just the procedures.
Empress Lü stood on the high platform, her voice clear and resonant: "Remember this, this examination is not just about the test itself, but the first time the world has scrutinized a woman's role in officialdom! If a man makes a mistake, it is his personal fault; if a woman makes a mistake, it is the fault of all women!"
The woman in the audience stood solemnly.
"Searchs must be thorough, but never humiliate people." Lü Zhi demonstrated the search procedures, crisp and efficient, without touching sensitive areas. "If any contraband is found, confiscate it immediately, but never humiliate people in public. Be cold in your words and firm in your attitude, but be righteous in your heart."
"When patrolling the examination hall, keep your steps steady and your eyes sharp. You must prevent cheating and maintain order. If any man provokes you, do not argue. Write down his name and report it later. Your role is that of an invigilator, not a shrew."
She surveyed the entire room: "My final words: You are not alone. Xianyang is your support, and the princess is watching you. This journey is to pave the way for women throughout the land. If the path is paved well, future generations will have an easy way to walk; if it is paved poorly, future generations will have no way to walk. Be careful! Take it seriously!"
"Yes!" Two hundred women responded in unison, their voices echoing across the training ground.
The night before departure, at the Princess's residence.
Ying Wuyou summoned Lü Zhi and several team leaders.
“The situation varies from place to place, so you need to be prepared.” She spread out a map. “In Yingchuan, the old Han family is deeply entrenched and will definitely make things difficult for female examinees. Li Yanran has a special status and can provide support, but she is also an easy target. Lü Zhi, please give her some pointers.”
"The north is bitterly cold, and few women take the exams, but the people are known for their fierce nature. When Su Yao goes there, we must use both soft and hard tactics. We must establish our authority while also winning her over."
"The land of Chu has just been annexed, and the people's hearts are not yet settled. The leaders of the expeditions to Chu must be extra careful to maintain the proper conduct. They must uphold the authority of Qin law while also respecting the customs of Chu. Chu food and drink may be provided at the examination venue, and candidates may wear Chu clothing to take the exam."
She gave detailed instructions, showing great care and attention to detail.
Empress Lü was deeply impressed. Although the princess was young, her thoughtfulness far surpassed that of ordinary people.
“Also,” Ying Wuyou took out a stack of specially made copper tokens, “these are ‘Inspector’ tokens, one for each of you. If you encounter local officials obstructing you, candidates causing trouble, or serious cheating, you can use this token to urgently dispatch local troops or criminal officials. Do not use it lightly unless absolutely necessary.”
The bronze plaque was heavy in my hand and engraved with the four characters "Imperial Gold Plaque".
Everyone felt a chill run down their spines. This was an immense trust, and also a heavy responsibility.
On March 19th, in Xianyang, spring rain fell like silk threads.
Empress Lü Zhi stood atop the city wall of Xianyang, watching over two hundred carriages depart in all directions. Inside the carriages, the first batch of female examiners were either nervous, excited, or apprehensive. Little did they know that they were participating in making history—this was the first time in Chinese history that women had served as examiners for the official imperial examinations.
Zhou Chang appeared beside her without her noticing.
"Does Lü Dianji think they are capable of doing the job?"
"Yes." Lü Zhi answered without the slightest hesitation, "Women's resilience often far exceeds men's imagination. Once they have chosen this path, they will definitely continue on it."