The female anchor turned into the dean of an ancient academy

Chapter 11: Principal Election (1)

The first to appear was Li Chongguang. He cleared his throat and then blurted out a poem he had just written on the theme of peace.

The scenery is new in all four seasons, with flowers blooming and birds singing.

The Great Wall stands tall and majestic, and the country is strong and prosperous.

The Empress Dowager was wise and kind, with great achievements in both civil and military affairs.

The people are grateful and his name will be praised for generations to come.

Li Chongguang's voice echoed on the stage. After he finished reciting that meaningful poem, there was applause from the audience, but the applause was filled with complex emotions. There were some who supported him, but there were also many who doubted him.

His face was full of pride, and there was a barely perceptible cunning glint in his eyes.

Cen Jiexiao looked at Li Chongguang's seemingly smug expression and thought to herself: This poem, on the surface, praises the peaceful and prosperous times, but in fact it contains a hidden mystery.

As a modern woman who traveled through time, she had a deep understanding of the people of this era. She knew clearly how implicitly inflammatory and chilling such poems were to the people of their time.

Li Chongguang went on to say that now in the Great Zhou Dynasty, the country is peaceful and the people are prosperous. No one picks up things on the road and no one locks their doors at night.

The Langju tribe in the north was defeated by us in one fell swoop, and the Xixiang tribe in the west was firmly suppressed by us. Our elite army of the Great Zhou is invincible.

Isn't this what peace is all about? Today, while the Emperor doesn't rule the country himself, the Empress Dowager personally handles all matters, big or small. Therefore, this poem of mine celebrates the Empress Dowager's achievements and expresses my gratitude for the peace and prosperity she has brought to the Great Zhou.

Cen Jiexiao's brow furrowed slightly as she secretly speculated on Li Chongguang's true intentions. His words seemed to be a tribute to the peaceful and prosperous times, but in reality, they were implying that the empress dowager alone had the final say in the world. His poem, rather than a praise of the peaceful and prosperous times, was a blatant celebration of the empress dowager's absolute power.

Cen Jiexiao was secretly alert in her heart. She knew that Li Chongguang's poem was not as simple as it seemed. She had to be careful and not be fooled by Li Chongguang's superficial writing.

Chen Zigui also expressed doubts about Li Chongguang's poetry, whispering to Cen Jiexiao, who was standing nearby, "I think Li Jianyuan's poetry is too contrived and overly glossed. True literature should reflect social reality and the lives of the people, not simply pursue flowery rhetoric."

Chen Zigui mentioned that the reason why the works of some great scholars throughout the dynasties have been passed down through the ages is that they dared to face social problems and used the power of literature to awaken people's consciousness.

After hearing this, Cen Jiexiao replied in agreement, "I agree with you, Senior Brother. I believe that true literature should focus on social issues and reflect the suffering of the people. Only in this way can it resonate with people and achieve progress."

Chen Zigui nodded in agreement and said, "That's right. Literature should be a mirror of society, reflecting the truth. Only by facing problems head-on can we find solutions."

Just as the two were whispering to each other, Li Chongguang had finished his answer and returned to his seat, still looking relaxed and complacent.

"Now, please welcome our second candidate, Chen Zigui." As soon as Lord Han finished speaking, thunderous applause erupted from the audience, nearly overturning the entire hall. The crowd erupted in excitement, everyone clapping enthusiastically and excitedly, some even standing up, waving their hands and shouting loudly.

"Big Brother! Big Brother!"

"Big brother is mighty!"

"Come on, big brother! We believe in you!"

Whether it was the serious gentlemen, the young students, the literati, the traveling merchants, etc. in the audience, everyone was full of expectations for Chen Zigui.

As the eldest senior brother of Zhaoyin Academy, Chen Zigui has an unshakable position in everyone's hearts. The extremely popular Chen Zigui walked to the center of the stage under everyone's attention. He walked steadily and looked calm.

Dressed in a blue shirt and with the proud air of a scholar, Chen Zigui bowed respectfully to the three examiners and the people in the audience.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the topic I drew is slightly different from the one just given by Li Jianyuan. Mine is 'People's Livelihood'. Please listen to what I have to say." Chen Zigui's voice was clear yet gentle. His deep voice seemed to carry a magical power, which instantly quieted the people in the audience. Everyone held their breath, looking forward to Chen Zigui's next wonderful performance.

Chen Zigui recited his own poems, his voice rising and falling, as if narrating the subtleties and trivialities of the lives of every ordinary citizen, full of emotion and profound meaning, whispering his expectations for the future and memories of the past.

"I have lost my land and my little farmland, and my family is now poor. I shed tears in the wilderness, and my collar is full of hatred." As soon as he uttered the first sentence, there was silence in the audience.

"Where are the plows of the past? The rice and wheat have turned to dust." The second line of the poem brings people into that desolate scene. The once prosperous scene has now become a thing of the past.

"Where can we go when our homes are broken and our loved ones are gone? We have no way to make a living and are suffering." The third line of the poem brings people into the situation of being homeless. The unsustainable life is like scars deeply engraved in their hearts.

"I hope that Heaven will see with open eyes and grant the people fertile land and a good harvest." His last line of the poem carries a kind of expectation and longing, like a cry, echoing in everyone's heart.

Sister Cen Xiao's eyes lit up involuntarily. She didn't expect that the eldest brother chose "people's livelihood" and the poems he created were full of power and appeal.

"This senior brother is truly talented and knowledgeable, and has beautiful verses, and his poems are very close to her modern perspective." She murmured to herself.

"His last sentence seemed like a challenge and questioning of the old order of the entire dynasty." She thought to herself, this Chen Zigui is not simple.

At this moment, Lord Han's expression changed slightly. He silently looked at Chen Zigui who was presenting his work, with a hint of complexity and worry in his eyes.

"How can the suffering of the people be ignored?" Chen Zigui paused and glanced at the people in the audience. His voice was low and powerful, with an unquestionable majesty.

"Every time the people hear that we will make plans and decisions in the future, but making plans and decisions in the future does not mean standing idly by, but seizing every opportunity to actually gain more for the people." His voice was like a flash of lightning, piercing the silent air and striking everyone's heart.

"Most of the land will be returned to the court to balance the land rights between the nobles and the common people. The nobles can cooperate with the common people to cultivate and reclaim wasteland to increase agricultural output. Everyone will have land to farm, every family will have enough food to eat, and everyone's livelihood conditions will be improved." He made a bold suggestion, a plan that subverted tradition, like a stone falling into a calm lake, causing ripples.

"Although the national treasury is currently full and abundant, Your Majesty, the Queen Mother and the ministers in the court have made great contributions to governing the country. However, the seriousness of the problem is that our Great Zhou has been fighting wars frequently every year and has long been exhausted. It is strong on the outside but weak on the inside. If this continues, it will inevitably lead to a precarious and passive situation." Chen Zigui analyzed the current situation in a calm tone, like an experienced doctor diagnosing a patient's condition.

"Today, prices in major cities in southeastern my country are soaring, and ordinary people can only barely make ends meet, while remote areas are continuously producing all kinds of supplies. Sadly, the lack of efficient and smooth logistics channels has led to a large backlog of supplies." He used precise language to describe the real dilemma, like a keen observer looking for a solution to a problem.

"If our Great Zhou can establish an effective material distribution network, then goods from remote areas can be sent to large cities for sale, thereby earning the appropriate profits. The imperial court can also receive corresponding tax revenue, and the livelihoods and lives of the people in remote areas can be effectively protected."

He proposed a feasible plan and a hopeful future, like a wise leader guiding the direction of a country.

"In short, stripping the nobles of their land and uniting them with the people is the way to strengthen the people. Promoting the flow of goods throughout the country, improving trade, and increasing tax revenue is the way to enrich the country. Only when the country is enriched and the people are strong can the so-called livelihood of the people be truly guaranteed."

His last words, like a vow and a promise, echoed in everyone's heart.

After Chen Zigui finished speaking, the atmosphere at the scene had become particularly different. The people in the audience began to fall into thought. They were silent, their minds filled with Chen Zigui's words.

Some people frowned slightly, as if thinking about the feasibility of Chen Zigui's words.

Others expressed admiration, thinking that Chen Zigui's views were insightful.

A few people had complicated expressions, as if they were weighing the pros and cons and didn't know how to make a decision.

Now, the atmosphere in the entire conference hall has become noticeably quieter and more depressing.

Chen Zigui himself knew that his previous expression was too straightforward and resolute, so he said nothing more, bowed, and returned to his seat.