Map of the Kingdom's Warfare.

Summary

Zhang Xuan and his officials discussed the rankings for the A-ranking scholars based on their essays. Pei Ju highlighted the issue of the imperial examination favoring those from prestigious families due to their broader experiences. Wen Yan Bo presented the essays of three scholars: Gao Ji Fu, who proposed innovative border control strategies; Xue Shou, who suggested abolishing slavery and reducing taxes to promote population growth; and Zhu Sui Liang, whose essay illustrated the conflict between local gentry and magistrates through a case study. Zhu proposed establishing a Hall of Virtue to oversee magistrates, which sparked concerns about potential gentry influence. Ultimately, Zhang Xuan ranked Zhu Sui Liang first for his calligraphy and insights, followed by Xue Shou and Gao Ji Fu. Pei Ju and Su Wei later speculated on Zhang Xuan's change in demeanor after his visit to the Empress Dowager, considering the implications for his future leadership.

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