I was chased by my sickly junior brother who had two lives

Spring is late, the warm sun is shining, and the capital city seems to be carefully painted by nature with brilliant flowers everywhere.

The peach blossoms are bright red, blooming on the branches like a shy smile of a girl; the pear blossoms are pure white, just like the unmelted snow in winter piled up into a forest; the apricot blossoms are fragrant, just like the gorgeous clouds in the sky floating down to the earth.

The breeze blows gently, and the petals fall in all directions, just like a colorful rain of flowers. The entire capital city is like a natural splendid painting, slowly unfolding in time, which is beautiful beyond words.

After much careful discussion, Chen Jue and Chen Jia decided to invite all the new scholars to gather together in the name of a Hundred Flowers Banquet.

In this elegant environment filled with flowers and fragrance, we want to talk about our lofty ambitions, select talented people, and carefully choose capable ministers and generals for the splendid country of Da Chu, in the hope of injecting new vitality and wisdom into the country's prosperity.

During the preparations, Chen Jue took great pains to personally select a quiet and elegant garden in the city as the venue for the banquet. The garden has winding paths that weave through the flowers and trees, like a ribbon that cleverly connects the beautiful scenery.

The garden is full of flowers in full bloom, and all kinds of flowers grow freely according to the season and terrain, interweaving and setting off each other.

Chen Jia fully utilized her meticulousness and took full responsibility for arranging all matters related to the banquet. She carefully selected exquisite refreshments, arranged the tables and chairs in accordance with elegant rules, and used the finest silk and satin with exquisite embroidery patterns on the tablecloth, striving to create an ultimate feast for the eyes, ears, and taste for everyone.

On this day, the sun was bright but not glaring, and the breeze was gentle, bringing bursts of floral fragrance and fresh air.

The newly-appointed scholars came to the banquet one after another with great anticipation. They were dressed in gorgeous clothes, with fluttering sleeves, full of vigor and vitality, and their faces were filled with smiles of confidence and longing. When they entered the garden, they were all attracted by the picturesque scenery, and could not help but stop to admire it, their eyes full of intoxication with the beautiful scenery and anticipation for the upcoming exchange feast.

Chen Jue and Chen Jia were standing at the garden gate to greet them. Chen Jue stood tall and straight like a pine tree, his blue shirt fluttering in the wind, highlighting his elegance and majesty. His deep eyes showed wisdom and calmness. Chen Jia was gentle and charming, wearing a pink silk dress, as delicate and charming as a peach blossom in spring. Her black hair fell on her shoulders like a waterfall, and the pearls and jade dotted in her hair sparkled with a warm light in the sun. She smiled gently, showing her elegance and generosity.

The first to arrive was the newly crowned number one scholar, Lin Yuan. He walked forward with a steady step and a smile on his face. He bowed respectfully and said, "Mr. Chen, Miss Chen, I am honored to be invited here today. I have heard about the beauty of this garden for a long time. Seeing it today, it is indeed worthy of its reputation. It is truly a wonderland on earth."

Chen Jue returned the gift modestly and amiably: "Mr. Lin is too polite. This banquet is to provide a place for you to exchange ideas and express your thoughts. You are all talented people who have emerged from the imperial examinations of our Great Chu. You are like the shining stars. Gathering here today will surely spark sparks of wisdom and draw a blueprint for the future of Great Chu."

After everyone took their seats, Chen Jue raised his glass, slowly swept his eyes over everyone, and said loudly: "Everyone, today's Hundred Flowers Banquet is as colorful as the sea, just like our Great Chu is full of talents. You are all talented people who have stood out in the imperial examinations, and I believe you all have infinite longings for the future of Great Chu. Although the spring scenery is beautiful, it is easy to pass away, but the prosperity of Great Chu can continue because of your efforts. I hope you will speak freely today and express your opinions."

After saying this, he drank the wine in the glass in one gulp. His heroic spirit infected everyone, and they also raised their glasses and drank it all.

Jinshi Su Jin stood up first, straightened his clothes, and said respectfully: "Sir, I have seen the magnificent scenery of this garden. Although the flowers are in full bloom, they need to be carefully cared for in order to last. Just as the mountains and rivers of our Great Chu are magnificent, there are often barbarians invading the northern border. If we want to keep our Great Chu peaceful, we must not relax our military defense. We should reform the military system, train elite divisions, strengthen border defense fortifications, and stockpile food and supplies, so that we can be prepared for any eventuality. The current military system may have the disadvantage of hereditary succession, causing some generals to be idle, while truly capable people find it difficult to display their ambitions. In addition, the treatment of soldiers is uneven, and the training lacks systematization and professionalism. If this continues, the border will be worrying."

Chen Jue nodded in approval and looked at Su Jin intently: "Mr. Su is right. In your opinion, where should we start with the reform of the military system? Reforms affect the entire system, so we need to consider everything carefully before we can make it effective."

Su Jin thought for a moment, stepped forward, and answered with a bow, "Sir, we can start with selecting generals. Abolish the drawbacks of hereditary military positions, select people who are brave, resourceful, and proficient in the art of war. We can set up military examinations to test archery, horse riding, military tactics, and other talents, so that people with real military talent can stand out. Furthermore, we should improve the treatment of soldiers, increase military pay, and ensure that soldiers and their families have a worry-free life. We should strengthen the intensity and professionalism of training, invite martial arts masters and experienced generals from all over the country to teach skills and practical experience, so that soldiers have stronger combat effectiveness and a sense of belonging. Only in this way can we build a tiger and wolf army to guard the borders of Da Chu."

Chen Jue and Chen Jia looked at each other and saw recognition in each other's eyes. Chen Jia said softly: "Jinshi Su is concerned about the border and has unique insights. If he can display his talents in military affairs, he will definitely contribute to the border defense of Da Chu. He is meticulous and thoughtful, has a deep insight into military shortcomings, and can propose practical and feasible strategies, which is really precious." She thought to herself that this boy is brave and resourceful, and has the ambition to serve the country. He is a promising talent. If he can be cultivated, he will become a great man in the future.

At this time, Jinshi Wang Qi stood up, his eyes sparkling and his expression excited: "Sir, I think that people's livelihood is the foundation of the country. Although the capital is prosperous now, there are still people in the countryside who are worried about their food and clothing. We should vigorously build water conservancy projects, reclaim wasteland, and promote new farming techniques, such as double-season rice planting, to increase grain production. At the same time, reduce taxes and labor service so that the people can rest and recuperate. I have traveled to the countryside and seen that the people worked hard in the fields, but because of the outdated water conservancy facilities, every time there was a drought or flood, they would have no harvest and their lives were miserable. Taxes and labor service were also as heavy as a mountain, which made the people breathless."

Chen Jue asked: "Mr. Wang, building water conservancy projects and promoting agricultural techniques will require a lot of manpower and financial resources. How do you solve the problem of allocating funds and manpower? These two are the key to implementation. If not handled properly, it may be difficult to continue."

Wang Qi responded calmly, saying, "Sir, we can encourage local gentry and wealthy businessmen to invest, and the court can give them commendations and preferential policies, such as granting plaques and reducing some business taxes, to encourage them to participate actively. In terms of manpower, we can organize the people who are idle during farming season to work instead of relief, which can not only meet the needs of the project, but also benefit the people. At the same time, we can set up a special agricultural office and send specialists to guide the promotion of farming technology to ensure that the new technology can take root."

Chen Jue nodded slightly, and admired Wang Qi's pragmatism and thoroughness. Chen Jia also felt that this person cared about the people, and if he could devote himself to the people's livelihood, he would be able to make achievements. She smiled and said: "Mr. Wang's idea is very thorough. If it can be implemented, it will definitely benefit thousands of people. He can go deep into the people and understand the people's sufferings. The plan he proposed is feasible. It can be seen that he has good intentions and is very concerned about people's livelihood."

During the banquet, Jinshi Li Han also spoke up: "Sir, I think the inheritance of the Great Chu culture is also very important. We should build more schools, not only in the capital, but also in all prefectures, so that more poor children have the opportunity to study and learn. We should also organize scholars to sort out ancient books, compile encyclopedias, and collect the great achievements of the Great Chu culture to pass on to future generations. Nowadays, although there are some schools, they are mostly concentrated in prosperous places. Students in remote counties have no way to study, and culture is difficult to popularize. Ancient books are also scattered everywhere, lacking systematic organization. If this continues, the Great Chu culture may be in danger of being discontinued."

Chen Jue pondered for a moment: "Mr. Li, building a school is good, but where will the teachers come from? How to ensure the quality of teaching? A school is a place to educate people. Without good teachers, it will be difficult to achieve results."

Li Han replied, "Sir, you can select talented people from all over the country as teachers and give them generous treatment to attract them to engage in education. For example, increase their salaries, provide them with housing, and grant them honors. At the same time, conduct regular assessments to ensure the survival of the fittest and encourage teachers to teach with all their heart. You can also set up an exchange mechanism between schools so that teachers can learn from each other and improve together."

Chen Jue and Chen Jia listened to the opinions of these scholars and kept weighing their options. Chen Jue thought to himself that these scholars had their own strengths, some were good at military planning, some focused on improving people's livelihood, and some were keen on cultural inheritance. They all had their merits. How to place them in the most suitable positions so that they could give full play to their talents was the key at the moment.

Chen Jia seemed to see through Chen Jue's thoughts and said softly, "Xiao Jue, these Jinshi are like bright stars, each with its own brilliance. We should consider them comprehensively and find the best place for them to display their talents, and not bury them. They are like uncarved jade, and they only need to be placed in the right place to bloom with unparalleled splendor."

Chen Jue nodded, "Sister, you are right. I see that Lin Yuan is quick-witted, has the world in mind, and has the ability to be a prime minister. He can first enter the Hanlin Academy to participate in government decision-making and accumulate experience. In the future, he will be able to share the worries of the emperor and make plans for the country. Su Jin has extraordinary military insights. He can enter the Ministry of War to gain experience, start as a grassroots officer, and gradually put his military concepts into practice. In time, he will surely become the mainstay of the border of Da Chu. Wang Qi cares about people's livelihood, so he can be sent to a local position, starting as a county magistrate, and implement his policies that benefit the people in a certain area. It will surely benefit the people and enable them to live and work in peace and contentment. Li Han loves culture, so he can engage in cultural compilation and collation in an academy or the Hanlin Academy, so that he can immerse himself in ancient classics and write a strong and colorful stroke for the inheritance of Da Chu culture."

As the communication deepened, Chen Jue and Chen Jia had a clearer insight into the advantages and potential of each Jinshi. Sometimes they listened attentively, sometimes they asked questions and discussed, and their mood changed from initial expectation to joy and cherishment for these talents.

Every conversation was like opening a door to the future, allowing them to see that with the help of these talented people, Da Chu would become more prosperous.

After the banquet, Chen Jue and Chen Jia bid farewell to the scholars. Looking at their departing figures, Chen Jue said with emotion: "Today's Hundred Flowers Banquet is really fruitful. With such talented people, our Great Chu will prosper. They are like seeds sown in spring, and they will surely grow into towering trees in the future, supporting a prosperous sky for Great Chu."

Chen Jia smiled: "Yes, Xiaojue. You have made careful preparations and were able to skillfully test and select candidates during the banquet. In the future, these scholars will shine in their respective positions, and Da Chu will surely prosper. Today's banquet is not only a feast of delicious food and beautiful scenery, but also a gathering of wisdom and ambition, laying a solid foundation for the future of Da Chu."

Afterwards, Chen Jue reported the selection results and his evaluation of the Jinshi candidates to the crown prince in detail. The crown prince was overjoyed and praised Chen Jue and Chen Jia's actions. He immediately arranged for the Jinshi candidates to take up their posts and began their journey to serve the Chu State.