The old man looked at him and secretly shook his head. Did he really think that the examination was as simple as lifting a pole and hitting a date? One had to know that this year's county examination was like a competition between heroes. It was extremely difficult to escape!
"I have some connections and know a little about the articles in the county examination.”
The old man suddenly thought of his purpose for coming here today. He said without leaving a trace,"I heard that this year's county examination's essay is about the relationship between the court and the Turks. If it were you, how would you answer?”
Yang Hao wasn't surprised that the old man could tell him the exam questions.
It was not the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The imperial examinations of the Tang Empire were inherited from the Sui Dynasty and were not as strict as the Ming and Qing Dynasties. In the Tang Empire, candidates could even ask celebrities to submit their poems and essays to the examiner before the examination. This would make them familiar with each other and greatly increase the chances of getting a name on the Golden Roll. Some could even learn about the subject questions in advance, thus achieving twice the result with half the effort.
Yang Hao lowered his head and pondered for a moment. He did not directly answer the old man's words. Instead, he recalled the major events recorded in the history books about the ninth year of Wude. He then slowly said,
"This year's questions are really interesting."
The old man raised his hand and stroked his slightly white goatee. A smug smile appeared on his face. This question was more than just interesting. He should have seen who set this question for this year's county examination.
Yang Hao tilted his head to look at his father and asked,""Father, if it were you, how would you answer this question?”
"If I were to answer this question?" Yang Jingming was wolfing down the rice with his head lowered. When he heard Yang Hao's words, he raised his head and puffed up his cheeks. He said matter-of-factly,
"Of course it's to slow down. Isn't this the Imperial Court's long-standing policy? If we can avoid fighting, we won't fight. If we can make peace, we will make peace. Even if the Turks wanted to invade Puzhou's border, the King of Qin would station troops in Puzhou to guard against them, but we haven't sent a single soldier to the Turks. Moreover, His Majesty has been a subject of the Turks for several years and has offered countless gifts of gold and silk. Isn't this obvious?”
" No wonder you're not as good as your son." The old man glanced at him and cursed in his heart." If I ask you to participate in the county examination, I'll let you pass in one round!"
What Yang Jingming said was not wrong, but it was all in the past. Moreover, Li Yuan had always regarded the matter of becoming a minister as a thorn in his heart. He had always wanted to avenge his past humiliation. Unfortunately, the Tang Empire had only been established for a few years. The people were in dire straits and there were many things to be done. If he wanted to fight the whole country, the outcome was still unknown.
However, things were different now.
A confident smile appeared on Li Yuan's lips. The two Turkic Khagans were constantly fighting, and the Khagans had been suppressing Tuli. Tuli could no longer hold it in and wanted to ask the Great Tang for help.
This was the time to switch between offense and defense!
"Father, you said it very well."
At this moment, Yang Hao nodded his head in satisfaction and added,""But it would have been even better if we had considered it a little more. If we chose to slow down our attitude toward the Turks, that would have been the middle plan. If we could negotiate peace, that would have been the best plan.”
Negotiate peace?
The old man's eyes widened and he couldn't help but ask,""What peace? The Imperial Court is not like it was in the early days of the founding of the empire, when the heroes had to obey the Turks, but now that the heroes of the world have either died or fled, how many of them can contend with our Great Tang? Why should he go to the Turks now? In this old man's opinion, this battle with the Turks is the right choice! If you answer the question with the strategy of negotiating peace, you will be eliminated in one round!”
"Fight the Turks? With what?" Yang Hao sneered disdainfully and said,""Are we going to start a war with the Turks just because the Turkic Tuli Khagan has sent someone to ask for help?”
The old man was shocked at that moment. He looked at Yang Hao in disbelief. How did he know about such a confidential matter?
One had to know that the number of people in the imperial court who knew about this matter could be counted on one hand. With their official positions and character, and with the matter of state affairs, they would definitely not reveal it to others.
"Why do you say that?" the old man asked in shock.”
Yang Hao held a pair of chopsticks in his right hand and a small bowl full of rice in his left hand. He raised his hand to pick up the sashimi sauce. He lowered his head and chewed on his cheeks as he said,
"Old man, have you ever heard of the saying,'Resist foreign aggression before stabilizing the internal sect'?”
"Let me put it this way. There is a great drought on the east side of the river, and a locust plague is about to ravage the counties. If the Imperial Court were to fight the Turks now, do you think the Turks would still want to join forces with the Great Tang soldiers to attack the Jie tribes when the flames of war come to a standstill? I'm afraid he won't do that and will choose to join forces with Jie Li to attack our Great Tang. At that time, there will be internal and external problems, so what?”
The old man's expression changed drastically.
This news was like a bolt from the blue.
"How did you know?" The old man tried his best not to tremble, but he still could not hide his shock."You're just a country boy who doesn't leave the house. How do you know about the world's major events?”
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