Cultivation Begins with Caring for Sister-in-law-Chapter 509: Chen Mo: I Request the Restoration of the Imperial Examination System

Chapter 509: Chapter 509: Chen Mo: I Request the Restoration of the Imperial Examination System

Returning to Yao’er City, Chen Mo was met with unprecedented admiration from the people.

Chen Mo indeed deserved their admiration.

Not only did he avenge them and drive away the Jin Xia Barbarians, but he also provided money and grain without exploiting or oppressing them in the slightest.

In the eyes of the people, Chen Mo was a great person.

And as Chen Mo looked at the cotton clothes handed to him by the people, he felt deeply moved.

These cotton clothes were not new; rather, they were extremely worn out, unattractive, covered with patches, and had stains that couldn’t be washed away. Yet looking at the people who gave the cotton clothes, with their frail figures, Chen Mo could guess that these clothes were a precious asset to them.

But now, they had given this precious asset to him.

Chen Mo initially wanted to return the cotton clothes to the people but seeing their expectant eyes, he chose to accept them and turned to instruct Sun Meng to give monetary compensation.

The army rested and reorganized in Yao’er City, where Chen Mo issued strict orders: soldiers were not to interfere with the normal life of the people and were prohibited from taking even a thread from them.

In the military tent, Zhi Ning walked in with a basin of hot water, speaking softly: "I’ve brought you a basin of hot water for soaking your feet."

As she spoke, she placed it by Chen Mo’s feet and helped him take off his shoes.

Recently, Zhi Ning rarely served in this way.

Originally, Zhi Ning thought Chen Mo would take advantage of this moment to make advances, but he did not. She looked up and found that there was something on his mind.

"What’s wrong?" she asked, as she held Chen Mo’s feet and placed them into the warm water of the wooden basin.

Chen Mo sighed and said, "Zhi Ning, on this journey north, what did you see?"

"???"

Zhi Ning did not understand the meaning behind Chen Mo’s words.

The next moment, Chen Mo spoke to himself: "I saw the hardships of the people, a dwindling population, dilapidated homes, homeless people, unburied bodies by the roadside. I thought I was already accustomed to these sights, that my heart had become numb.

Yet, today, returning to Yao’er City, when a citizen took off their cotton clothes and handed them to me, I was still touched. They just want to survive, yet hardships keep finding them."

Upon hearing this, Zhi Ning’s eyes flickered; her long, beautiful eyes fixed on Chen Mo for a long time, before she said: "Do you want to change all this?"

After a moment of silence, Chen Mo nodded and said: "I want to end this current chaotic world."

Zhi Ning slightly raised her eyebrows, ending a chaotic era is basically what a founding monarch aims to do.

"To say, my initial thought was only to protect my sister-in-law well and live a better life, not wanting to be the damned marquis I am now. But reality pushed me to this step..." Chen Mo said.

Zhi Ning did not finish speaking but raised her head to stare at the man before her, feeling that his image had become much grander at this moment.

"Once I return, I will petition the Court to reduce taxes in the North and reinstate the imperial examinations." Chen Mo said.

"Reinstate the imperial examinations?" Zhi Ning was taken aback; tax reduction is good for the people, but what’s the purpose of reinstating the examinations?

"To select talents and restore order in the North." Chen Mo said.

Even though the Court had already issued an edict allowing Chen Mo to operate conveniently in the North, including appointing and dismissing officials, the entire North, including Qingzhou, comprises nine states with hundreds of counties, needing numerous officials.

If they continue using previous officials, not much will change.

Moreover, it would be beyond his "control."

Only those trained and appointed by himself would be trusted.

And the reinstatement of examinations can only be valid with a decree from the Court.

If he privately reinstates them in the North, it would be overstepping, showing contempt for the Court.

Yet he still needs the banner of the Court.

"Oh."

Zhi Ning vaguely understood; she wasn’t as well versed in this aspect as her elder sister.

At this moment, Sun Meng’s voice sounded outside: "Marquis, something’s wrong, there’s trouble."

Zhi Ning quickly stood up, stepping aside.

Chen Mo said: "Come in and speak."

Sun Meng walked in, saluted, and said: "Marquis, urgent message from Yu State, Jin Xia Army has broken Shuofei County, our army suffered nearly two thousand casualties, General Yue is injured, and is now withdrawn to Li County."

Upon hearing this, Chen Mo, who was soaking his feet, instantly stood up, disregarding drying them, directly stepped out of the basin barefoot, and took the urgent message from Sun Meng’s hand.

After reading the contents of the letter, Chen Mo’s face darkened immediately, with killing intent in his eyes, he said: "Transmit my order, the army will set off in a quarter of an hour."

"Understood."

...

While Chen Mo quickly led troops back to Yu State.

The news of Chen Mo capturing Haiyan Pass and rescuing tens of thousands of Great Song citizens was spreading across the land.

Initially, it was only spreading in small circles, known only to a few powerful and insightful individuals.

But now, the citizens were fully aware.

For a time, the world admired him, praises were everywhere.

Having just recaptured Youzhou and already gaining massive fame, Chen Mo was once again wrapped in a glow of righteousness.

The people of Qing, Yu, Lin, and Huai Four States, everyone’s face shone with pride, especially the people of Qingzhou, who would tell people that Chen Mo is from Qingzhou, and some even bragged about growing up in the same village as Chen Mo, running around naked.

The scholars and literati of the Four States were tirelessly writing articles and poems extolling Chen Mo’s great achievements, praising his greatness.

In the midst of this, Chen Mo quickly became the subject of the populace’s admiration.

They did not know the Emperor of Luonan, but they knew Chen Mo of Qingzhou.

...

Yu State.

Wanyan Xiaji led troops to break Li County, with Chen Army retreating to Cyan Mountain Town.

Wanyan Xiaji realized that Chen Army was stalling him, avoiding direct confrontation, always retreating when outmatched.

He was aware of the happenings in the North of Great Song and knew the Chen Army in Yu State was waiting for Chen Mo’s return.

He learned about the capture of Haiyan Pass by Chen Mo at the same time as receiving a withdrawal order from the Jin Xia Khan.

In truth.

Upon hearing the news of Chen Mo capturing Haiyan Pass, Tuoba Hui panicked.

Fearing that Chen Army would take a direct offensive, while Jin Xia had limited forces in the North, coupled with internal factors, to be on the safe side, Tuoba Hui ordered Wanyan Xiaji to withdraw his troops and return to aid.

On the city wall of Li County, Yue Puzi looked at the worried Wanyan Xiaji, pondered for a while, and said: "General, when a general is in the field, the emperor’s orders can be ignored. The Chen Army in Yu State is simply not our match; it won’t be long until our army can capture Yu State and seize Yue Ruyan.

Although Chen Mo led his troops to capture Haiyan Pass, with his limited forces, he dare not venture deeply into our country; ultimately he will retreat from Haiyan Pass, there’s no need for the General to provide reinforcements."

This much, Yue Puzi could see, and Wanyan Xiaji, naturally, could also see.

Moreover, he could confidently guarantee that Chen Mo leading Chen Army would absolutely retreat from the Haiyan Pass rather than advance.

But he was not the Khan.