Only when your feet are covered in mud can you come up with brilliant ideas.

After the New Year, all the officials and civil and military officials in the court were busy.

The agricultural official in charge of cotton planting went to the fields every day, never daring to relax for a moment.

On the other hand, there has been no good news yet regarding the task of cultivating new rice varieties.

The days passed by.

As the weather gradually warms up, the spring breeze awakens the tender buds on the branches.

The large group that had traveled far away to live a simple life finally returned to Xianyang.

The first thing everyone did upon returning was to have a hearty meal.

The table was laden with steaming food. Han Xin buried his head in his food, shoveling it down his throat while complaining:

"My lord, you have no idea what a miserable life I lived over there. I had nothing..."

Sitting to the side, Liu's mother felt sorry for them and kept piling meat and vegetables into the two boys' bowls, saying, "Oh dear, look at these two children, they've become so thin! Eat more, they need to eat more to nourish themselves!"

Although Xiang Yu didn't speak, he ate at a speed no less than Han Xin, clearly showing he had been cooped up outside for too long.

Seeing this, Song sighed and rubbed his forehead in exasperation: "...Eat slowly, no one's going to take it from you."

"Hmm..." Han Xin mumbled a response, but his chopsticks didn't stop.

......

The following day, Commander-in-Chief Wang Ben led Han Xin, Xiang Yu, and their generals into the palace to meet the emperor, presenting them with a map of the Eastern Sea and a register of the surrendered people.

From then on, Japan was officially incorporated into the territory of the Qin Dynasty and named Pingying Island.

The Qin army, returning from their sea crossing, was able to rest and recuperate for the time being.

Meanwhile, Fan Kuai and Xiahou Ying had already begun preparations for the military campaign to conquer the southwestern mountains.

The army planned to march south from Sichuan and penetrate deep into the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau.

The Five-Foot Road, which was dug during the Qin Dynasty, was a vital passage built to connect these towering mountains.

Song also remembered reading about the products of this land in a book: millet, buckwheat and taro are mostly grown in the mountains and plains, and there are only a few rice paddies scattered in the small fertile plots of land in the river valleys.

Taro can be considered a distant relative of sweet potato, right?

More importantly, this place has a strategic geographical location; Yunnan and Guizhou served as a land route to India (ancient India).

If the Qin Dynasty wanted to unify the world, it could establish a garrison here and trade Shu brocade and Qiong bamboo canes for glass and gems from beyond the borders.

So, Han Xin and Xiang Yu had just returned from Haidong and had not yet had enough time to rest when Fan Kuai and Xiahou Ying had already mustered their troops and led them southwest.

As the vast marching army gradually disappeared into the distance, the dust slowly dissipated at the end of the mountain road.

Han Xin stroked his chin and sighed incredulously, "They haven't stopped for a moment?"

Song glanced at him and said, "What else? Pingying Island has a steady stream of silver mines filling the national treasury, and morale is at its peak. With such a great opportunity, we should seize the chance to expand our territory." After saying that, she turned around and patted Han Xin on the shoulder.

"Don't just stand there, you can start preparing to attack the Fuyu, Sushen, and Donghu."

"???"

Han Xin was completely bewildered and cried out in despair, "No, are you treating us like donkeys?!"

Without turning his head, Song casually remarked, "Donkeys are treated much better than you."

"Adults are truly inhuman!"

Han Xin complained angrily, but his eyes betrayed his eager excitement.

This is the Northeast region that Tianmu mentioned!

Barbarians? Fierce? Warlike? Untamed?

He wanted to personally lead the troops to test their strength and see if they could withstand the might of the Qin cavalry.

Behind him, Xiang Yu seemed to be deep in thought.

After the Eastern Kingdom was returned to Qin, now the southwest and northeast are rising up in succession.

The Qin Dynasty's expansionist momentum was unstoppable.

-

Time flies, and March is here in the blink of an eye.

The new imperial examination of the Qin Dynasty is about to begin, and candidates from all over the country are busy preparing for it.

Compared to the first imperial examination, this year's changes are simply worlds apart.

Last year's imperial examination saw a shortage of students in the Qin Dynasty, resulting in a small number of applicants and even fewer who were ultimately admitted, barely enough to fill a few vacant official positions.

But this year is completely different.

While recovering the Xiongnu and the Xiao Rizi, the imperial court has been vigorously promoting education. Libraries of all sizes have been built throughout all the counties and towns of the Qin Dynasty, and official schools in various places are constantly expanding and increasing enrollment.

In the past, reading was the exclusive privilege of aristocratic families; ordinary people didn't even have the opportunity to touch a book.

But things are different now. Children from ordinary families can also learn to read and study, and have the opportunity to make a name for themselves through their own abilities.

Therefore, there were a lot more students going to Beijing for the imperial examinations this time than in the first year, and most of them were from poor families.

Besides countless men going to the examination hall, many women also went to study and take the exam this year.

Whether they were ordinary farm girls or daughters of merchants or powerful families, they all harbored different thoughts.

In the past, women were confined to the inner quarters of their homes, with no way out for themselves throughout their lives.

But now, things are completely different.

Song Shaofu held a high position and assisted in governing the country, which was seen by the people of the world.

There were also Lü Zhi and Shao Jingshu.

These are all role models for them.

......

On this day, the wind was gentle and the sun was warm.

Song also gave a final lesson to a group of students preparing for the exam.

The hall was filled with people, their eyes fixed intently.

Song stood at the front of the stage, looking at the energetic young men and women in the hall, his eyes filled with sincere expectations.

Once the room quieted down, she slowly began to speak: "What do you all consider to be worldly-wise?"

After he finished speaking, the students looked at each other in bewilderment.

Why are you suddenly bringing this up?

But someone still stood up and answered: "Teacher, it should be that he has traveled all over the country, seen the vast landscape, visited many bustling cities, and seen the world's rare treasures."

Another person said, "Having read countless books, being knowledgeable about ancient and modern affairs, and hearing tales from all corners of the world—that's what it means to have seen the world!"

"Being knowledgeable, not being misled by rumors, and remaining calm in the face of adversity should be considered a sign of worldly experience?"

"Not being confined to a small courtyard, and not having one's vision restricted by old rules, is a sign of having seen the world."

The classroom was filled with a cacophony of voices, each offering a different answer.

After listening to all sorts of answers, Song waved his hand dismissively.

I will not comment on your answers today.

"I just hope everyone remembers that true knowledge comes from practice."

The students below looked at each other, their faces full of confusion, all trying to figure out the meaning behind those words.

Song didn't dwell on this topic for long, but slowly said:

"I urge you all to give your all. The grassroots need you, and the local people need you too."

-

Records of the Grand Historian: In the 29th year of Qin Shi Huang's reign, the second imperial examination was held.

The final question was posed by Song Ye, the current Minister of the Imperial Household, and yielded countless stunning answers that amazed the era.

Candidates are asked to write a 400-word essay.

The test takers: "!!!!!!!"

Students preparing for last year's "Sky Curtain" final question: "?"

That... it's just really helpless.