I Can Control My Ancestors-Chapter 301 - 13: As Heaven Moves with Vigor, the Noble Person Strives Unceasingly

Chapter 301: Chapter 13: As Heaven Moves with Vigor, the Noble Person Strives Unceasingly

"Did this person annotate it?"

He intently stared at Gu Ye and asked.

Gu Ye nodded slightly.

Seeing this, Zhong Hui first glanced at Liu Hui, then at the "Nine Chapters of Mathematical Art" in his hand, shook his head, and murmured, "What a pity."

To him, someone like Liu Hui, who lacked the demeanor of a distinguished scholar, even if slightly talented, could amount to no more than this.

Gu Yi was momentarily stunned.

Then he quickly realized that Zhong Hui must be indulging in his scholar’s prejudice again.

But he still let Liu Hui explain his annotations and clarify the potential benefits they might bring.

Although Zhong Hui had little regard for Liu Hui,

he clearly understood the importance of the matter and patiently listened throughout.

As Liu Hui spoke, shock once again registered on Zhong Hui’s face.

After Liu Hui finished explaining and left,

Zhong Hui didn’t hesitate in the slightest and immediately declared, "A special imperial examination must be set, using this ’Nine Chapters of Mathematical Art’ as the subject!"

"No!"

Gu Yi immediately controlled Gu Ye to shake his head: "The ’Nine Chapters of Mathematical Art’ can only be used as the topic for this imperial examination, and subsequent examinations must follow current events with other subject matters."

Mathematics needs innovation.

If future examinations were all to be confined to the ’Nine Chapters of Mathematical Art,’ it would hinder its development.

Gu Yi certainly wouldn’t make such a foolish move.

Zhong Hui paused briefly and eventually nodded in agreement.

He was impatient by nature.

Once the regulations for this examination were finalized, he immediately rose and left.

And Gu Yi did not idle either.

He directly controlled Gu Ye to head towards the Imperial Palace.

Liu Shan was no longer young now, with white hair already appearing at his temples.

What Gu Yi found remarkable was that—

Even at such an age, Liu Shan still retained his original heart.

He remained indulgent in pleasures.

Yet he was not indulgent in women.

This, whether in ancient or modern times, was indeed a rarity.

With Gu Ye’s suggestion, Liu Shan naturally did not refuse.

Although he didn’t understand it,

since it was proposed by a Gu Clan member, it must be correct as far as he was concerned.

The matter was swiftly decided.

The whole court was in an uproar!

A special examination for mathematics, even making it a separate subject in the next imperial examination!

This was like a bolt from the blue for the current Great Han!

No one could believe that all this could really be true.

Mathematics could actually be deemed worthy of standalone subject status?

Such a trivial subject.... was going to be placed on the same level as the classical left by the ancients?

Rumors and gossip surged instantly.

Many lamented that this move was a betrayal of ancestral teachings, a deficiency within Confucian education.

But all this ultimately proved futile.

Initially, Liu Shan would meet these people.

But later, seemingly finding it bothering, he stopped seeing them altogether.

And as the time for the imperial examination drew near,

No matter how difficult it was to accept, there would always be those who would bow to interests.

Indeed, some stubborn old Confucian scholars were willing to die to reverse this act.

Even Gu Yi couldn’t claim they were wrong.

Every era has its batch of stubbornly conservative individuals reluctant to embrace new affairs, clinging to their beliefs.

Yet time moves forward.

Not even they could stop it.

Nor could Gu Yi hinder its evolution.

In the eighth year of Yanxi, the imperial examination commenced.

Being the first examination after the Great Han’s reform, it garnered unprecedented attention.

Gu Yi was a man of his word.

He specifically selected a group to screen candidates before local examinations.

Anyone labeled as "disperse followers," regardless of status, was dismissed from taking the exams.

Winds of change swirled in various regions.

Everyone focused on the impending examination.

But at this juncture, news from the frontier reached Luoyang.

——Guan Qiujian had passed away.

As a key general left by Gu Chen, Guan Qiujian had been guarding the most threatening land, Youzhou State.

For decades, he made no errors.

His death was like losing a pillar for the Great Han.

Had the realm not been stable,

Gu Yi couldn’t have accomplished as much as he had in such a short time.

Although never having met Guan Qiujian, Liu Shan was deeply grieved by his death.

They were all Gu Chen’s legacies.

As time passed... fewer of them remained.

Gu Yi felt complex emotions, part sadness but mostly solemnity.

Guan Qiujian was gone....

Jiang Wei... Deng Ai, how much longer could they last?

Great Han’s tranquil times neared their end.

All that Gu Chen left for Great Han was fading with time.

If Kyushu truly wished for lasting peace, it must rely on the efforts of future generations.

From this day forward....

Gu Yi paid increasing attention to the movements of the barbarians and accelerated internal reforms.

But no matter how swift Gu Yi acted,

in an era where news traveled only through messengers, he could not rival time.

The death of Guan Qiujian was like a signal.

The zenith of civil and military officials in the Great Han court was waning.

At the year’s end,

Jiang Wan fell ill and had to resign the position of Chancellor.

He clearly understood his role.

To stabilize the court until Gu Ye grew older.

In his resignation, he directly proposed appointing Gu Ye as Chancellor.

This immediately unleashed a tremendous storm in the court, for although Gu Ye’s status was increasingly distinguished, becoming a national Chancellor at his age was indeed premature.