For Fang Zheng, being an emperor was truly a first-time job—though that was obvious. After all, ordinary people did not have the ability to become emperor twice.
And for Fang Zheng... being emperor really was not a job for humans.
There was just too much to do!
In terms of policy, Fang Zheng drew on a few things he remembered from later generations and improved them according to his own ideas. Take the imperial examination system, for example. As an important system for breaking the aristocracy's monopoly, there was no way Fang Zheng would let it go. Unlike the ancient imperial examinations, however, he specifically divided it into two tracks: liberal arts and sciences.
Of course, this created problems. In the past, the imperial examinations had all been liberal arts-oriented. After "graduating" through the examinations, liberal arts students could become officials or teachers, while science students clearly did not enjoy the same advantages. But Fang Zheng had made preparations to guarantee employment for science students. After the new dynasty began, he established numerous schools to ensure universal compulsory education, from elementary schools to high schools and universities. After graduation, those science students could choose to become teachers, devote themselves to researching fundamental disciplines, or work for state-owned enterprises.
On the commercial front, Fang Zheng chose to emulate domestic policies from the early days after liberation, implementing a fully state-controlled economic policy. Only sectors related to daily necessities were left to private enterprise; everything else was controlled by state-run workshops and merchant associations.
Politically, Fang Zheng also modeled his system after joining youth leagues and political parties when he had attended school in the past, establishing a Public Pavilion system. Anyone could apply to join the Public Pavilion, but they likewise had to pass political assessments and ideological education. Only those