“The strategist at the Danchi Court, a young phoenix with a clear voice.”

This was truly an exceptionally high praise.

It didn’t even follow the usual practice in most evaluations, where there’s often an element of mystique.

Even when speaking plainly, there’s usually a rule of starting with a bit of flattery and then getting to the point!

But this evaluation straightforwardly elevated her to an absolute high position.

Being too young, Yang Xiu couldn’t help but exclaim, “What did you write?”

Seeing the middle-aged scholar gesturing them inside and pointing towards Qiao Yan, Qiao Yan said, “I believe meeting Master Zi Jiang will clear things up for you.”

The middle-aged scholar, observing Qiao Yan’s calm demeanor even after receiving Xu Shao’s evaluation, maintaining composure in his response and movement towards the pavilion, despite Yang Xiu’s obvious defeat, didn’t retaliate against these provocateurs on the street.

This made him regard her even more highly.

He might not be one of the “many talented individuals in Ru Yong,” but he did follow Xu Shao closely, had some connections in Ru Nan, and had encountered quite a few young prodigies.

From his perspective, Qiao Yan had indeed shown talents of surpassing all the prodigies he had seen before, demonstrating an early mastery of the ability to look down on others.

This kind of person…

It’s no wonder they would write such words.

He thought to himself, wasting no time in ushering the two children into the pavilion.

The Dingzhong Pavilion could only be considered a temporary resting place, a bit rudimentary in its setup, but since Xu Shao and several others participating in the monthly assessment were gathered here, someone had naturally tidied up the place a bit.

It looked more like a literary gathering spot.

Passing through the inner gate, Qiao Yan saw the eight dignitaries sitting behind their respective desks, resembling a scene from a court trial.

Of course, besides these eight, there were others invited, but they didn’t compare in status to the main figures.

As soon as they saw someone coming, all eyes turned towards the two children.

Naturally, Xu Shao, seated at the head, did the same.

The performance of these two children at first glance earned his silent praise.

They both exuded the aura of great leaders…

Yang Xiu, sheltered under the Yang family, though only nine years old, must have encountered such occasions frequently, so it wasn’t hard to understand why he remained calm in such situations.

Qiao Yan, having grown up in Yanzhou under Qiao Yu’s tutelage, carried herself with even more composure than Yang Xiu.

Despite her young age, one couldn’t help but admire her exceptional demeanor.

Seeing Qiao Yan, he couldn’t help but recall her at the beginning.

The seemingly casual remark she made was:

“Returning from Jizhou, passing through Hulao and crossing the Luo River, finally arriving at Luoyang,

I suddenly heard people saying that there’s chaos caused by the Yellow Turbans,

disorder in the localities, and there’s a need to reappoint provincial governors to regulate the regions, which surprised me.”

Whether Qiao Yan was actually surprised or not, Xu Shao didn’t know.

But when he saw this opening and then saw the title of the essay, “On Provincial Governance and Feudalism,” he was genuinely astonished.

At least when Yang Xiu’s and Qiao Yan’s essays were presented to him, he certainly didn’t expect to see such a piece.

Her second paragraph went straight to the point.

“It must be understood that provincial governance is akin to feudalism.

In ancient times, when the world was divided and land was granted, there were numerous states, revolving in cycles.

However, when they come together, they attend court meetings in harmony, but when divided, there is no unity of heart towards the sovereign…”

This was actually an essay refuting the idea of provincial governance!

Not only Xu Shao, but the others also didn’t expect such a unique piece to come from her.

When they were summoned by Xu Shao, they initially thought Qiao Yan had written something childish.

But upon seeing this essay, they all reacted just like Xu Shao.

This… was this really something a child could write?

Yang Xiu couldn’t mistake the looks of astonishment on the faces of these eminent scholars when he and Qiao Yan entered.

However, he was certain that these looks weren’t directed at him, especially since he only received a commendation for quick wit.

This only made him more impatient to know what Qiao Yan had written.

After exchanging greetings with a few people, he politely asked, “Forgive my impudence, may I have a look at Lady Qiao’s work?”

With Qiao Yan’s and Xu Shao’s consent, the scroll finally appeared in his hands.

Unlike Xu Shao, who started reading from the first paragraph, Yang Xiu’s eyes immediately fell on the title of the document—

“On Provincial Governance and Feudalism.”

He turned directly to Qiao Yan and asked, “How did you come up with this?”

Qiao Yan replied nonchalantly, “Just some thoughts.”

But that was enough to deceive Yang Xiu.

In truth, saying it was just some thoughts was somewhat inappropriate.

Although it looked like a self-proposed essay, considering the identities of the people present, it would significantly narrow down the scope of topics she could write about.

Who were the people mentioned by the scholar who brought them into the Dingzhong Pavilion?

Han Rong, Chen Ji, Wang Qian, Bian Rang, Wang Kuang, Chen Lin, Xu You…

All were renowned figures of their time!

The most significant commonality among these renowned figures of their time was that they all served under He Jin.

Of course, this service didn’t necessarily mean they were attracted by He Jin’s “loyal subordinates” and sincerely worked for him. It was because:

Firstly, the turmoil of the Partisan Prohibitions had just been resolved, and they all needed to seek temporary refuge under someone to navigate this transitional period of returning to officialdom.

Being summoned by the Three Excellencies was one option. For example,

He Yong, who was praised by Xun Yu as a talent worthy of being a state counselor,

was later summoned by the Minister of Works and eventually gained a leading position in the deliberations of the Three Offices.

Another example was Huang Wan, recommended by Grand Commandant Yang Ci in the court.

However, the easy replacement of the Three Excellencies was an all too real possibility, especially when chaos still prevailed in various regions and natural disasters were frequent in recent years.

If the current emperor wanted to find a scapegoat for a disaster, he would directly force one of the Three Excellencies to resign.

With Emperor Liu Hong’s unpredictable emotions, it wasn’t impossible for someone to be removed due to a disagreement in stance.

So, He Jin, as the Grand Marshal, who wouldn’t be easily removed from his high position, became the first choice for these scholars.

Secondly, He Jin wielded great power but lacked foresight, making him highly likely to become a useful “tool” for them to eliminate the eunuchs.

That was the common ground among the people present.

Since they were already there and wanted to gain a good reputation from these people,

Qiao Yan considered it entirely normal to have utilitarian thoughts.

Therefore, she didn’t find the phrase “play to their interests” something to be ashamed of.

But this “playing to their interests” had to be done just right.

For example—

She couldn’t say she also wanted to join in the extermination of the eunuchs.

This direct alignment with a faction wouldn’t benefit her in the least.

Given Xu Shao’s reputation in the monthly assessments, for Qiao Yan to gain acceptance, this essay had to be showcased.

So, while writing something nearly radical might seem to please the scholars, it could also antagonize Emperor Liu Hong, potentially jeopardizing her position as a county marquis, which she had already secured.

It could even nullify the rapport she had built with Bi Lan.

Hence—

She could appropriately present elements favorable to He Jin’s position in this essay but couldn’t directly align herself with any faction.

In other words, she needed to refute something unfavorable to He Jin while also not undermining Liu Hong’s power balance.

Ideally, she should convey the stance of a loyal subject of the Han dynasty.

Was there a proposition like this available?

Yes!

It’s precisely her essay refuting the provincial governance system!

This is the only proposition that doesn’t benefit He Jin, might not necessarily benefit the aristocrats, poses a threat to the current emperor, and happens to be a system proposed by the royal family to address the chaos in the four corners of the empire.

On the way to Luoyang, sailing on the Luo River, Qiao Yan heard this news from Bi Lan.

From Yang Xiu’s perspective, Qiao Yan’s writing might seem extensive and conclusive, giving a sense of accomplishing everything at once.

But when judging the position and stance of the “judges” in this matter, her thoughts had already taken countless turns in an instant.

Moreover, she not only had an age difference with Yang Xiu, but she also had the natural advantage of viewing this issue from a future perspective.

Because in another era, similar situations had occurred.

After the Anshi Rebellion, during the Tang Dynasty, from Emperor Shunzong to Emperor Xianzong, the imperial authority weakened, and various fiefs became independent.

After the failure of the Yongzhen Reform, Liu Zongyuan wrote an article criticizing the restoration of the feudal system, titled “On Feudalism.”

Do the fiefs and separatism in the late Tang Dynasty resemble the provincial governance system in the late Han Dynasty?

There are some similarities but not exact parallels.

However, one thing is the same: the existence of the military governors independent of the central government after the Anshi Rebellion and the Jiedushi even led to the downfall of the Tang Dynasty under Zhu Wen’s hand.

Similarly, the provincial governance system gave the provincial governors the power to recruit troops and independently govern, becoming the final catalyst for the fragmentation of the Han Dynasty.

Liu Zongyuan used his article “On Feudalism” to criticize the defense of the feudal system, mainly targeting regional governors.

Qiao Yan could also learn from this.

While openly criticizing the feudal system, she was actually aiming at the recent proposal of the provincial governor system in the court.

The only person she might offend by writing this proposition is Liu Yan, who is currently the most enthusiastic about restoring the provincial governor system!

However, criticizing Liu Yan wouldn’t actually harm her in any significant way.

The students of the Yuan family in Runan are spread throughout the country, holding high positions.

At this point in time, the Yuan family has no intention of establishing their own power.

The first batch of provincial governors appointed by Emperor Liu Hong will only go to those like Liu Biao, Liu Yan, who are of the Han royal family, and Huangfu Song, who are loyal ministers with military power, not to the Yuan family, who are just recovering from the disaster of the party restrictions.

The provincial governor system or the feudal system does not benefit the Yuan family at this stage.

They won’t care about Qiao Yan’s remarks; instead, they’ll find them reasonable.

As a grand general, He Jin recruits soldiers and enjoys great prestige.

Naturally, he doesn’t favor the provincial governor system either.

Although he might not necessarily oppose it, if someone were to obstruct it on his behalf, he wouldn’t be displeased; he might even feel that there’s no conflict between them.

The shield, there’s a possibility of drawing it in.

And for the most widespread group of aristocrats, as they gather around He Jin, sharpening the blade of purging corrupt officials, it’s indeed necessary to oppose any other force dividing power from He Jin at this time.

The top tier among them doesn’t need to gain positions through the feudal system to have a platform for their ambitions.

So Qiao Yan can write!

Not only can she write, but she’s also highly likely to gain the approval of Xu Shao and those other literati, who believe her counsel can be presented to the current emperor.

In fact, she’s guessed right.

A child of merely ten years old who can manipulate the Yellow Turban forces, causing them to kill each other, can refute Zhang Jiao’s teachings of peace and maintain the legitimacy of the Han Dynasty.

Now, if she has the ability to insightfully comprehend the political opinions in the current situation and present her own views, they must evaluate her on the same level.

If her arguments don’t conflict with their interests, they will even regard her as a confidant, a prodigy.

And if she also possesses a layer of prestige valued by the current emperor, and perhaps has already gained some political capital—

Xu Shao and those present must give her an exceptionally high evaluation to show their favor towards her.

However, Qiao Yan didn’t entirely rely on her viewpoints to receive this praise.

She didn’t have the audacity to directly copy Liu Zongyuan’s entire article, but learning from his essay’s viewpoints and structure should be fine, right?

His style is called “comprehensive yet concise,” with precise sentences. As long as she mixes in her own detailed and concise explanations and criticism of the current situation, it should work.

Adding some of her own experiences and insights from the Yellow Turban Rebellion would make it more relevant.

Furthermore—

When Liu Zongyuan gives examples, he mentions figures from ancient times.

But couldn’t she use some modern examples?

Wouldn’t this be the perfect opportunity for her to subtly bridge the gap with those who hold different opinions?

“Now the emperor recognizes Qiao Yan just like how the Han emperor knew Meng Shu and Wei Shang.” Yang Xiu’s expression became subtle as he read this part.

Glancing at Qiao Yan, he saw her calm expression, as if she was just describing the advantages of implementing the county system under the pretext of Huang Wan’s recommendation,

allowing talented individuals to be fully utilized, rather than showing goodwill towards their Yang family in Hongnong.

Even the mention of Emperor Liu Hong knowing everyone present through He Jin seems like it’s simply mentioned because it conveniently fits the context of the article.

The general situation mentioned in passing.

“The implementation of the county system allows for punishment of the guilty and rewards for the capable.

Those who are praised in the morning can be criticized in the evening.

But if one person is given control over an entire province and they cause chaos, it becomes a matter of regret.”

This describes the problem that arises from the provincial governor system resembling the feudal lords system.

If a provincial governor is incapable of governing or even causes chaos in the region, because of their excessive power, the local people can only suffer silently.

“If a rebellion were to arise in such a province and they could easily defend their position, what could the court do?”

Yang Xiu was not well-informed about the court’s affairs, but the others present were.

Xie Jian, the governor of Yizhou, was killed by the Yellow Turbans due to his oppressive rule and corruption.

Therefore, Liu Yan, who proposed the provincial governor system, was seeking the position of governor of Yizhou.

What is Yizhou? It is a place with treacherous terrain, fertile land stretching for thousands of miles, known as the Land of Abundance—this is how Zhuge Liang described Yizhou.

Qiao Yan was almost pointing at Liu Yan’s nose and scolding him.

If you propose the provincial governor system and then want to become the governor of Yizhou yourself, if you fortify yourself in a strategic location and harbor ill intentions, what can the court do to you?

This remark, compared to the scathing insults of Xu You and Chen Lin, seemed a bit mild coming from Qiao Yan, probably because of her young age.

But thinking about it, speaking with a bit of subtlety, the emperor would definitely appreciate it, further enhancing her reputation.

“The way of the world is for the virtuous to be in positions of authority, while the unworthy are below. If there are rebels but no disloyal officials, then the world will be united, and the virtuous will support each other…”

“…”

“The downfall of Qin was due to its governance, not its system. Now, the country has set up governors and officials everywhere, making it difficult to change.”

“…”

“Yan does not wish to see a sage born in her time, as the feudal system obstructs the path to the center, leaving no way to establish oneself in the world, only to express her humble opinions in writing.”—

Yang Xiu fell silent.

Everyone here was nine or ten years old, just trying to gain a reputation as child prodigies.

How did you manage to write something at this level in your little essay?

Now he realized that Xu Shao had merely given Qiao Yan the evaluation of a fledgling phoenix with a clear voice, perhaps slightly restraining his praise.

Yang Xiu wasn’t very politically sensitive, but even he could see that this was indeed a piece that could be circulated among the officials in Luoyang and even presented to the emperor.

The ending was a bit idealistic and naive, but the idea of the virtuous in power and the sage’s influence was clearly a defense of Han rule, especially after the Yellow Turban Rebellion.

He paused here.

He couldn’t help but lower his head, clutching the silk cloth in his hand tightly.

Even if he didn’t want to admit it, he had to admit that compared to this essay on the provincial governor system and feudalism, his cleverly crafted Q&A seemed like child’s play.

But to lose to someone like this…

As he raised his head again to look at Qiao Yan, he couldn’t help but feel like he was in a state similar to Xu Fu idolizing his idols, with a hint of desire for a rematch in a few years, of course.

His recovery speed was quite impressive.

However, before Yang Xiu could propose some sort of three or five-year agreement to Qiao Yan, the main entrance of the Dingzhongguan was suddenly pushed open.

Qiao Yan followed the sound and saw a familiar face.

The intruder was none other than the eunuch Zhang Rang!

Even though those present harbored intense hatred towards Zhang Rang, they couldn’t change one reality: when Zhang Rang, as the emperor’s special envoy, appeared in a place, no one could stop him from entering.

Zhang Rang was aware of the calculations of these people, but since he wasn’t here for them anyway, he didn’t care about their disdainful looks.

He only looked at Qiao Yan and said, “His Majesty has heard that Marquis Qiao has come to seek Xu Shao’s evaluation today, and he has sent me to deliver the decree—”

The decree given to Zhang Rang by Emperor Liu Hong stated that if Qiao Yan truly received Xu Shao’s commendation, she would be allowed to enter the palace for an audience.

Zhang Rang had arrived here and heard about the evaluation of “a fledgling phoenix with a clear voice.”

So, it seemed that the plan regarding the palace audience was about to come true.

Seeing Qiao Yan bowing to receive the decree, Zhang Rang continued, “Marquis Le Ping is summoned to enter the palace for an audience.”

Qiao Yan’s eyes lit up. Her effort in writing this article hadn’t been in vain!

She was finally going to meet the reigning emperor!