I became emperor in the Tang Dynasty by relying on the palace fighting system

There was silence in the hall for a while.

Li Zhi had been helped by Wu Meiniang to sit back down, while the remaining prime ministers and court officials were still standing in the hall, standing solemnly with their hands folded.

The eldest princess stepped forward directly, scolded the people and then made a remonstrance. Now everyone stopped what they were doing, staring at the emperor and empress at the top, waiting for their decision.

Wu Meiniang said nothing, but turned her head and looked at Li Zhi quietly.

She didn't want to go against Li Zhi unless it was absolutely necessary, but today was really the best time to set an example of having both genders take the same exam.

As soon as Yu Dou Xuan Zun arrived, he killed Wu Minzhi with thunder and grew three years older in public, which undoubtedly left the most powerful deterrent to the ministers.

Moreover, Xuanzun has already said that he wants to establish an examination system for both men and women to take. If this matter cannot be accomplished in one go, it will inevitably make the male officials wary.

It will be difficult to bring up the past in the future.

Because offering the same course to both men and women has touched the bottom line of these men.

They have worked so hard to trample women under their feet and despise and play with them at will. Now that they have the privilege of being superior to all women just by virtue of their two ounces of meat, who would be willing to spit out the meat that has already been in their mouths?

Thinking of this, Wu Meiniang couldn't help but take another look at the leisurely Yu Dou Xuan Zun.

I thought: This Majesty is really a tiger! He actually dared to attack these men directly in such an occasion. He is really arrogant to the extreme.

In the hall, the eldest princess' voice was firm: "My daughters are all smart and clever. They can assist Xuanzun to improve the casting method and repair the armor for our Tang warriors. This will improve our Tang weapons and defend against foreign invaders!"

"I hope Your Majesty will consider the country and society of our Li Tang and open up the same exam for both men and women!"

The eldest princess is very smart.

She grasped the core interest that Li Zhi wanted most - the new casting method that would benefit the casting of Tang Dynasty armor and weapons, and persuaded Li Zhi to allow men and women to take the same exams.

Only after selecting officials for Xuan Zun would she lead her subordinates to improve the casting method she knew, and the court could learn the new casting method from Xuan Zun's subordinates.

Xuanzun selected his officials regardless of gender, but the court did not allow women to take the imperial examinations. This was the fundamental contradiction between the two sides.

However, Xuanzun holds what the imperial court wants - a new casting method, and the imperial court has a request to Xuanzun.

The kings, princes, generals and ministers all wanted to become officials beside Yudou Xuanzun, and all officials had requests to Xuanzun.

Then, there is a possibility for both parties to negotiate on the issue of opening the same course for both genders.

The core of politics is fighting and exchange, and the art of politics is compromise.

Fighting, fighting for power and interests.

Exchange, exchange of information, exchange of interests, all require both parties to sit down and negotiate properly.

Now, the Grand Princess is helping Li Zhao negotiate with the court.

Compromise is an art, but what matters at this moment is perseverance. It depends on who will give up first and surrender first, the emperor, his officials, or Li Zhao.

If Li Zhi and the vested interests of the patriarchal society lost, they would have just opened up the same examinations for both men and women and allowed women to take the imperial examinations.

If Li Zhao loses, it may be a long time before gender equality courses are offered, so we have to find another way.

The eldest princess is very smart. She has a keen insight into the interests and conflicts between Xuanzun, the emperor, the court, and the officials. She can use them skillfully to achieve her own goals. She is extremely clever.

Li Zhao, who was at the top, secretly gave a thumbs up to the eldest princess.

At the bottom of the stairs, Li Hong seemed to have just come to his senses. He quickly stepped out of the line and knelt down, cupping his hands and saying, "Your Majesty, women are weak and spoiled, how can they help Xuanzun improve the forging method? It is better to select a male official to assist!"

Princess Qianjin turned back curiously and said, "Why do you say that, Your Highness? There is no need for brute force to help Xuanzun improve the forging method. This kind of hard work of forging iron should naturally be left to the official slaves! Xuanzun's officials must be recording on the side! To record things, you only need to be able to read. What men can do, women can do too!"

Li Hong was speechless for a moment: "This..."

Then, Pei Yuan, the granddaughter of Chao Wang Li Yuanji, also stood up and knelt behind the eldest princess. "Your servant Pei Yuan, although I am incompetent, I am willing to serve the country. I hope Your Majesty will show mercy and give you a chance to assist the Tang Dynasty!"

One of the officials was still unwilling to give up and scolded her, "Women should be chaste, quiet and obedient. If they are exposed to the public as officials, it is a violation of women's virtues! Madam Pei, why don't you leave now!"

Pei Yuan was calm and composed, and used magic to defeat the magic: "Xuan Zun just said that she was selecting officials according to the laws of heaven. The heavenly court does not even distinguish between men and women when selecting officials. You are here to prevent women from becoming officials. Isn't this against the laws of heaven?"

The official was so angry that he blew his beard and glared: "You are not a faithful wife! Really..."

A new round of quarrel broke out below.

Pei Yuan, it turns out that her name is Pei Yuan.

Li Zhao smiled as he looked at this woman who bravely stood up and spoke frankly about her desires and ambitions.

"Just mentioning the same subject for men and women at a banquet has caused these men to react so violently. If we bring this up at a grand court meeting, I'm afraid we won't even have anyone to support us." Li Zhao complained to his system assistant:

"On the way to the General Immortal Palace, I had already thought about it. I chose the Hundred Days Banquet to give me the opportunity to select my own officers and hold the same examination for both men and women. Only then did these women stand up and speak for us."

Recalling his plans in Shanglin Garden, Li Zhao was filled with emotion.

Qing Luan was very confused by this: "Host, why do you have to engage in politics at your Hundred Days Banquet?!"

Li Zhao glanced at her with a smile: "Where do you think politics should be conducted?"

Qing Luan said without hesitation: "In the court, in the officialdom!"

Li Zhao said, "No, you are wrong. Qingluan, if you want to get involved in politics, you can do it anywhere."

Her eyes were as deep as the sea: "In the fields, on the farmland, in the court, at banquets, wherever there are people, there will be rivers and lakes, and there will be trouble."

"Those men will never agree to let women take the imperial examinations and become officials. If I follow the formal process and directly submit the petition, I can be sure that those men will unanimously reject it." Li Zhao sneered.

"All men in the world wear the same pants and have the same tongue. Only by catching them off guard at the banquet can we succeed in the imperial examination for women."

Li Zhao had already thought about it, and her eyes were fierce.

Qingluan nodded: "That's right. If you kill Wu Minzhi today, it will undoubtedly greatly intimidate those men. Then when you insist on opening the same course for both men and women, the resistance will be much smaller."

Seeing her taking every step so carefully, Qingluan couldn't help but ask, "But Zhaozhao, aren't you too persistent? Why do you have to be so anxious..."

Li Zhao interrupted her: "Why do you think that is?"

Qingluan shook her head. She was just an AI, and a newbie at that. She didn’t understand the complicated political activities of humans!

Li Zhao hummed and laughed, and suddenly said something that had nothing to do with the topic she raised: "Qingluan, do you know?"

"For many years, women have been excluded from all public spaces and public affairs. Everything they have has been plundered by men, and they are not allowed to speak out in politics, economy, military, science and education and other fields."

"Even if there are some exceptionally talented people who manage to come out on top, they will be rejected and suppressed by all men."

"It can be said that in the living space occupied by men, women are rarely seen. They are forced to become men's vassals and shadows, and endure the trampling and oppression of men."

"But is this really the case? Are women really that weak?" Li Zhao was communicating with her system assistant. She said slowly:

"I want to try and see if women can unite and suppress men in public spaces. If they can, then we can implement the next step of our plan..."

Qingluan was confused: "Wait, Zhaozhao, what are you talking about? Why am I getting more and more confused?"

Li Zhao collected his scattered thoughts and said calmly: "Forget it, you won't understand even if I tell you. Just tell me straight -"

“The reason why I chose to bring up the gender equality subject at the banquet is because there were men and even more women at the banquet.”

"At the banquet, the majority of men opposed our opening of a coeducational program, but similarly, the majority of women supported our opening of a coeducational program."

"Opening equal courses for both sexes is not just a matter for the two of us, but also something that will benefit all women. In a court dominated by men, we are alone and have to seek allies, and the women in the men's families are naturally our ready-made supporters."

Li Zhao's eyes were calm. "The women of the Tang Dynasty were knowledgeable, intelligent, and had their own thoughts and ambitions. They were never kept in captivity."

The women of the Tang Dynasty, the lovely women, the women who are as graceful, domineering, passionate and outspoken as peonies!

Everyone says that peonies are delicate, but who knows that the Luoyang peony has the courage to not fear being burned by flames?

Even if the flames burn all their branches and leaves, as long as the roots are still there, their flowers will bloom more beautifully next spring.

Li Zhao chose to believe, believe in the bravery of the women of the Tang Dynasty.

"Once I propose the same selection of officers for both sexes, there will surely be some far-sighted women who will see the benefits of it."

"Then, whether for the sake of their families, their descendants, or themselves, they will stand up, speak for us, and do their best to promote gender equality in the classroom."

There were both men and women at the Hundred Days Banquet, and there were probably even more women than men. It was unlike the imperial court, where men had the final say.

In such a public space, once all women join forces, they may be able to suppress men.

Li Zhao's current identity is too special, so special that just a casual word from him can stir up endless storms among the princes, generals and ministers who control the entire country.

Li Zhao smiled proudly: "By then, we can just sit back and watch the fight and wait for the net to be closed."

She worked hard and spent three months to create the current situation.

In this particular situation, he only needed to make a slight move, casually throw out the bait of the new forging method, and say that he would open the same course for both men and women, and he would be able to attract countless women to fight hard for him, charge into battle for him, and reap the fruits of victory.

Why do we have to close the net?

Li Zhao glanced casually at the prime ministers who were watching from the sidelines, and also at Li Zhi who was frowning and silent.

Because the real decision-making power on whether to open the imperial examination for both men and women lies in Li Zhi's hands.