In years of famine and drought, their village even rejected fatty meat.

Chapter 562 For what?

"Uncle Li, you're just too particular about the rules."

The middle-aged man with a wood-chopping knife hanging at his waist shook his head and said, "Back in the capital, I asked you if you wanted to kill the Green King, but unfortunately... you disagreed."

The middle-aged man was named Li Qiao. On the surface, he was Li Mingyuan's servant, but in reality... having spent many years with Li Mingyuan, he was no different from Li Mingyuan's family.

Li Mingyuan loathed the Prince of Qing, and Li Qiao loathed him just as much. Back when Li Mingyuan was still the prime minister, Li Qiao had proposed to kill the Prince of Qing, but unfortunately... Li Mingyuan did not agree to it at the time.

"Ugh!"

Li Mingyuan sighed softly and said, "Fighting and killing are ultimately not the right path!"

Li Mingyuan recalled what he had recently seen in Liangzhou. The cold disaster was raging, and coupled with the impact of nearly a year of war, Liangzhou had not yet reached the point where nine out of ten houses were empty, but the population had decreased by at least 40%!

When Li Mingyuan was prime minister, he had seen the population register of Liangzhou, which at that time had a population of 30 million, but now...

Li Mingyuan felt that Liangzhou's population was probably less than 20 million; a full 10 million people had disappeared from Liangzhou.

Of course, not all of these people died in battle or starved to death; some fled to other states, and some hid in the deep mountains and forests.

However, regardless of the circumstances, the sharp decline in population in this area is an undeniable fact. Many villages are now deserted, and even this vegetable market in front of us is sparsely populated, demonstrating just how bad the situation in Liangzhou is now.

Whenever Li Mingyuan saw those people struggling to make ends meet, he felt a complex mix of emotions.

Li Mingyuan loved reading as a child, but his family was not wealthy and could not afford to support his studies. However, this did not dampen Li Mingyuan's enthusiasm for reading. Since his family could not afford to buy him writing brushes, ink, paper and inkstones, he went to a private school not far from his home to audit classes. He did not care at all about the strange looks from the other children in the private school and eagerly absorbed the knowledge taught by the private school teachers.

Perhaps moved by Li Mingyuan's eagerness to learn, the private school teacher not only did not drive Li Mingyuan away, but also spoke louder each time he lectured, so that Li Mingyuan, who was listening outside, could hear more clearly.

Later, the teachers at the private school even allowed Li Mingyuan to enter the classroom to listen to the lessons, so that he could listen to the lessons openly and honestly with the other children.

Li Mingyuan was naturally overjoyed. Since he couldn't afford to buy pens, ink, paper, and inkstones, he would use his hands as pens and repeatedly write down what the teacher had taught on his desk, firmly memorizing this knowledge.

After class, Li Mingyuan did not dare to slack off at all, and used a twig to write these contents on the ground and read them repeatedly.

The private school teacher grew increasingly fond of Li Mingyuan's diligence in learning, and even bought him writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones at his own expense so that Li Mingyuan could study better.

With the help of his private tutor, Li Mingyuan was able to study for free from the age of ten until he was eighteen.

When Li Mingyuan was eighteen, a teacher named Liu Yuxi kept him behind after class and said to him, "Mingyuan, your knowledge is now no less than mine. I have nothing more to teach you."

Over the past eight years, Liu Yuxi has taught everything he could, and Li Mingyuan has even read through all the books in his home. It can be said that Li Mingyuan is now no less knowledgeable than Liu Yuxi, and may even be better.

"what?!"

Upon hearing Liu Yuxi's words, Li Mingyuan was stunned for a moment, then said dejectedly, "Teacher Liu, do you no longer wish to teach me to read?"

"It's not that I'm unwilling to teach you, but that I have nothing left to teach you."

Liu Yuxi shook her head, then asked, "Mingyuan, have you ever thought about why you study?"

What is the purpose of reading?

Li Mingyuan fell into deep thought. He had never thought about this question before. He just liked reading and had never thought about what he would do after reading.

"Some people study to become officials, some study to broaden their horizons, and some study to show off their knowledge."

Liu Yuxi said, "And you, Mingyuan, why do you study? Is it just because you like it?"

A hint of confusion flashed across the eyes of eighteen-year-old Li Mingyuan.

Seeing this, Liu Yuxi patted Li Mingyuan on the shoulder and said, "Go take the imperial examination, Mingyuan. You have a very good character. If you can pass the imperial examination and become an official, you will surely benefit the people."

"Imperial examination?"

After returning home, Li Mingyuan told his parents about Liu Yuxi's suggestion that he take the imperial examination. Although his parents were farmers, they were not dissatisfied with Li Mingyuan's study and were quite supportive.

But when they heard that Li Mingyuan was going to take the imperial examination, they frowned.

For ordinary people, the imperial examination was something that was difficult to access; they didn't even know how to participate in it.

"Mingyuan, if you want to go, then go. Your father and mother will fully support you."

Although he didn't understand the imperial examination system, Li's father was still willing to fully support Li Mingyuan.

Thus, with Liu Yuxi's help, Li Mingyuan embarked on the long road of taking the imperial examinations.

He first passed the preliminary examination, then the provincial examination, then the prefectural examination, and finally obtained the opportunity to go to the capital to participate in the metropolitan examination.

At this time, Li Mingyuan was already 21 years old.

At 21, Li Mingyuan was no longer the naive young man he once was. With the title of Xiucai (a scholar who passed the lowest level of the imperial examinations), he became famous in the neighborhood, and many people had heard of his reputation as Xiucai Li.

However, Li Mingyuan did not become complacent because of this. On the contrary, he studied even harder, hoping to show his skills in the imperial examination.

Before taking the imperial examination, Li Mingyuan still needed to solve a problem: the issue of travel expenses.

Li Mingyuan was born in Haizhou, while the capital was in the capital. The distance from Haizhou to the capital was no less than two thousand miles. For Li Mingyuan's ordinary family, the travel expenses along the way were definitely not an easy task.

As for his mentor Liu Yuxi... Li Mingyuan was certain that Liu Yuxi would be willing to help him if he were willing to ask, but his mentor had already helped him enough over the years, and he was too embarrassed to ask his mentor for help.

Thus, Li Mingyuan was caught in a dilemma. He felt embarrassed to ask his mentor for help, but if he didn't, he wouldn't have the travel expenses to go to the capital. Without the travel expenses, he would miss the imperial examination, and his years of hard work would be in vain...

Fortunately, at this time, Li Mingyuan's father stepped forward. He went door to door asking neighbors and relatives for money, and finally managed to borrow ten taels of silver for Li Mingyuan, enough for Li Mingyuan's travel expenses to go to the capital.

"Mingyuan."

When Li Mingyuan's father handed him ten taels of silver, he grinned and said, "Take these ten taels of silver. Spend them as needed on the road. Don't go hungry."