What era was Shenzhou in now, exactly?
Was it powerful? No—it was far stronger than the East of the Main World at the same point in history.
Shenzhou had seventy-eight provinces and a total area of around 21.45 million square kilometers. Its core territories included Bohai Commandery, which extended onto the Silla Peninsula, the Indochina Peninsula, the Nanyang Islands, the South Asian Subcontinent, the Tamil Peninsula, and the Western Australian Coast. The recorded population was 890 million. Of course, owing to gaps in the census, the actual population was even higher.
Was it independent? Very much so—one could even call it self-sufficient to the point of being willful!
Shenzhou had preserved its cultural lineage intact. Compared with China in the Main World at the same point in history, it had more native systems of thought with which to explain the world. For example, ethnic concepts such as Han, Manchu, Mongol, Zhuang, and Tibetan did not exist in Shenzhou. In the East of the 20th Century, the concept of ethnicity had actually originated in the West. Intellectuals had borrowed Western learning to explain the East, and had drawn ethnic boundaries in the process.
Here in Shenzhou, there was only the concept of the Huaxia peoples. All belonged to the Yanhuang Nation by blood, differing only in their branches. Culturally, propriety was the dividing line. According to the Hua-Yi Distinction, those who entered the Huaxia fold and upheld propriety were Hua; those who abandoned propriety and left it behind were barbarians. Guided by this principle, Shenzhou's great scholars had governed, assimilating peoples all the way to the South Asian Subcontinent.
But! Compared with the two eras, all this about Shenzhou gave off an air of decline. When faced with the impact of a changing age, it seemed harder to develop the right, objective ways of responding.
Although Shenzhou's top advisors still thought primarily in Eastern terms, the early-maturing ideals of family and state, formed two thousand years ago, had accumulated so much logic over the long course of development that they had become too profound for the common people to grasp.
Among the ignorant masses of the present day, the crude ethnic chauvinism imported from the West was much more appealing. And, over the past thirty years, Molecular Genetics had offered proof that the paternal bloodlines of the Chinese were remarkably pure.
Without any major historical calamities to drive home a deeper understanding, ordinary people in Shenzhou had formed a simple view of the Nation and Ethnicity. The political correctness of "the Yanhuang Nation must forge ahead through every obstacle" had begun to drive out sounder ideas. Eight hundred million people across Shenzhou pushed forward with absolute confidence, insisting that Shenzhou stand toe-to-toe with the world.
Wei Keng said, "I don't oppose standing toe-to-toe with the world. But your industrialized population is only forty million. Everyone else is barely literate. If you think the people at the top can contribute their brains while those below contribute their courage, and that this will fulfill Heaven's mandate, you're taking a dead-end road. And not just any dead end—it's one where you won't wake up until you're on the brink of national ruin and extinction."
Before returning to the family board meeting, Wei Keng changed his itinerary midway and made a surprise visit to the family's industrial park in Xijing. It was the most technically advanced business under the Luoshui Group: the Luoshui Cloud Aviation Machinery Company.
When Wei Keng saw the clean, orderly workflow in the factory, he felt slightly relieved. Compared with the chaos outside, the industrial zone was another world. All the workers lived in a residential community attached to the Industrial park, complete with a dedicated kindergarten, supermarket, and restaurant. In the production workshops, a series of precision machine tools shaped tiny, diamond-shaped mortise joints as fine as embroidery needles, which were inserted into the machines like acupuncture needles. Precise data labeled "yin and yang" kept appearing on electronic displays as the workers operated the equipment with practiced ease. All of it showed that Shenzhou still held a firm grasp on the world's most advanced industrial technology.
After touring his industrial park and learning about the various supply chains involved in production,
Wei Keng opened his system—the transmigration system linked to his consciousness—and compiled information on Shenzhou's technology from his own perspective.
He sorted the technology industries in the international market into three columns: green, yellow, and red.
The green column covered areas with strong market competition, which were still at the technological forefront: nuclear power, electronic communications, and Maglev Railway technology. Shenzhou had a unique advantage in these fields thanks to its Inlaid Willow Craft.
The industries marked yellow were large-scale aviation, satellites, shipbuilding, and high-energy physics applications. Shenzhou went toe-to-toe with the other world powers in all of them.
The red column, where Shenzhou lagged far behind, was Life Science. Europe and Shengyang had already begun developing technologies such as enhanced soldiers and mechanical implants for living organisms. After having chips implanted, European War Dogs could supposedly understand a hundred tactical commands. Dolphins, meanwhile, were being turned into combat creatures that guided underwater bombs using powerful sound waves, through "special training"—in reality, drugs and chip control.
It had to be said that Shenzhou's culture paid little attention to animal husbandry. Apart from the deep emotional and cultural significance of oxen used for plowing, horses, dogs, pigs, and sheep were all viewed as livestock. When a culture deemed certain things lowly, it naturally tended to neglect the technologies that would require effort to develop them.
As for human beings, Shenzhou had inherited the Zhou Rituals, and its religion had opposed human sacrifice since ancient times. No matter the circumstances, the innocent should never be offered up to please Heaven. After the Zhou overthrew the Shang, they established the Zhou Rituals and drew a clear line between themselves and the Shang Civilization. That distinction later became a key element of the Hua-Yi Distinction.
So, large medical companies in Europe, America, Shengyang, and even Soviet Russia had been conducting human experiments in recent years with their governments' tacit approval. Culturally, they had monotheistic religions and traditions of atoning for sins after the fact.
But in the East? Not a single company dared to try anything like that. In Eastern culture, there was no tidy ending where company executives were removed, replaced by good people, and allowed to atone and wash away their sins until the world saw them differently. Everything associated with them would instead be nailed to the pillar of shame. Just look at Qin Hui, still kneeling there a thousand years later. No one in later generations named Qin dared claim kinship with him. Atonement? He was condemned to the kind of eighteenth-level hell from which there was no return.
It could be said that the West in this world had managed to drive Shenzhou back during World War I not just through hard work, but through sheer ruthlessness! Shenzhou wouldn't do it, but those with monotheistic religions could harden their hearts and press ahead. They could wring oil from the bones of Africans, wipe out the Indigenous peoples of North and South America, and test anthrax weapons directly on small Pacific Islands.
Wei Keng arrived at the family board meeting. Looking at the Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth Branches, he thought that his old father really had been a hero. The First Branch had sons, too, and Wei Qiang had left five children behind in this world.
Of course, this was no time for family reminiscences.
Wei Keng called out the names of the people in charge of every department, one by one. The process was like a homeroom teacher taking attendance at a university.
He had to meet the people in charge of every industry. This wasn't merely a symbolic gesture.
From his seat at the top, it was impossible for him to know everything happening below. After all, Wei Qiang hadn't planted a worm in every one of their stomachs.
As a Weak Master who wanted to understand what was happening below, he had to show that he was willing to keep the channels of communication open and hear everyone in the organization state the facts. That way, at least he could make it clear that he wasn't easy to deceive.
The greatest danger facing a Weak Master was being isolated by the system as it operated, while the people below began making their own connections and handling things themselves. That was how Qin Er Shi had ruined everything.
After meeting all the important figures,
Wei Keng clapped his hands and said, "Everyone, let's follow the example of Xiao Gui Cao Sui. I'm no great talent, but I know my own limits. You're all department heads, masters in your fields. I'll be counting on you from here on. However—"
The people present lifted their heads slightly and glanced at Wei Keng. Everyone knew that in Chinese conversation, the turning point was where the main point began.
Wei Keng took out a personnel transfer plan.
With a pleasant smile, he said, "I think the departments still need to exchange people. Calling everyone members of the Wei Family might be a bit of a stretch, but we're all from the same school of thought and eat from the same pot. Surely no one objects to that."
Wei Keng's personnel plan covered positions such as accounting and human resources.
The transfers didn't affect any technical positions. Everyone being moved was a deputy in their department. For example, the deputy in Department A would become the deputy in Department B. None of the department heads were moved, so no department's authority changed hands.
The people who spoke for the various branches across the company fell silent. They had nothing to say about Wei Keng's approach, but they all knew what would happen next.
Inserting a new person into each department broke up the little circles that had formed. It would be harder to get away with anything improper from then on. Running water stayed fresh, and a door hinge never rusted.
Wei Keng didn't want to fall out with these younger relatives who had been promoted by Wei Qiang. He simply adjusted things according to the personnel records Wei Qiang had left him, making the different sides keep one another in check and uphold the rules.
As for Wei Keng himself, he had his own plans to carry out.
In a world that was entirely new to him, what mattered most? He had to connect with the local pulse.
In the 21st Century, many wealthy people and prominent figures had children who returned from studying in Europe and America with little to show for it, yet remained stubbornly set in their ways, imposing the social outlook they had picked up abroad on everything around them. It was a lesson to keep in mind.
So, after the meeting, Wei Keng called his butler over and made his first clear request.
The study was now piled high with high school textbooks he had bought from Teaching Bookstore.
The butler asked again, seeking confirmation. "Master, you want to go to school?"
Wei Keng picked up a glass of milk and gulped it down. "What, don't I have the right to an education?"
The butler asked, "Master, then what school do you want to attend?"
"I told you already: I'll decide based on my exam results. Don't bring up letters of introduction again. There's no need to contact any school, either. I'd even be fine with failing. I just want to see how the people the company hires every year study."
Wei Keng had his butler rent him a place outside and find a retired teacher to tutor him. Then he began his campaign to pass the exams.
As an average student by Main World standards, Wei Keng was fairly confident about getting into college.
Besides, wasn't this attempt practically his second or third time retaking the exam?
He opened a book and, at first glance, was confronted by all kinds of formulas he didn't recognize! That was right—the physics symbols were completely different from those in the Main World.
Wei Keng stared at the arcane script for a full thirty minutes, then slapped his forehead.
"System, replace all the formulas with the ones I'm familiar with."
The formulas were soon converted in his field of view. Now the questions looked much more familiar.
In Jianye, Ke Feijia was working in the lab. After work, he checked the system and took a look at Wei Keng's situation. Seeing that Wei Keng was trying to take the public examinations here, he was a little surprised. But he smiled and said slowly, "Not bad."
Ke Feijia's lowest expectation was that Wei Keng might lead a chaotic private life after arriving in this world and cause some trouble; even that would be tolerable. So long as Wei Keng didn't misuse his authority or pick fights with him, there wouldn't be any major problems. As for Wei Keng taking Shenzhou's mass examinations now, its purpose might be unclear, but it was still a positive move.
Ke Feijia still had to give Wei Keng a few pointers: first, all exam activities had to remain within the field of view of security personnel; second, Wei Keng's activities during this period had to remain confidential, and he had to use an alias.
The Gaokao, especially the science-track Gaokao, was difficult in some ways, but it wasn't like Fan Jin passing the imperial exam and rising to the top overnight.
In his previous life, Wei Keng had only managed to get through the Gaokao. The acceptance rate for first-tier universities was around ten percent. After grinding away and failing, he had retaken the exam and was lucky enough to reach the cutoff. Did science and engineering require special talent? Objectively speaking, Wei Keng thought they did! He knew for a fact that he had no talent for English. No matter how many words he memorized, he still couldn't choose the right preposition in a cloze test. By the same logic, science probably required a bit of talent, too.
But the talent needed for science and engineering wasn't rare at all. At least half of ordinary people had it. Any boy who thought about shooting power and angle while playing basketball could grasp parabolas to some extent. Anyone who had set off firecrackers, poured out the gunpowder, and used it to ignite wood shavings could probably make sense of chemical formulas in a chemistry lab.
"I'm an average student, not an idiot. With my aptitude, getting into university takes about a year of absolutely focused study!"
In the Main World's 21st Century, most working-class families had the means and time to provide an environment where their children could focus entirely during those crucial years of high school. And if home wasn't a good place to study, they could send their children to Maotanchang. There wasn't a single internet café in the whole town, and the school confiscated every phone. That was the key to getting into college.
Yet the conditions that Eastern families in the Main World's 21st Century took for granted were actually beyond the means of most middle-class families here.
In Shenzhou, the acceptance rate for first-class Ge Wu universities was only one percent.
After finishing the exam, Wei Keng found himself thinking, "These questions aren't ridiculously hard. At least the big physics problems weren't like the Jiangsu Paper: a small ball hits a pulley, then loops around a ring-shaped track, finally falls off the table and collides elastically with another small ball, and then you have to work out the kinetic energy of both balls after the collision through a whole chain of nested steps.
"And it wasn't just the Jiangsu Paper. You could put a positive spin on that kind of exam, saying it tested whether you could spot potential problems with a rocket once you entered the aerospace industry. There were straightforward exam papers, too. The BJ Mock Paper was very straightforward."
There was no doubt that Wei Keng had cleared the one-percent cutoff, and he had scored thirty points above the admission line. But he was an honors student? That was a little beyond what he'd expected.
At the celebratory dinner he held for his tutor, Wei Keng inadvertently found the answer to his question.
The tutor beamed at him across the dinner table. "I've watched you work so hard these past six months, and I still can't believe you're a member of the Wei Family's inner branch."
Wei Keng asked with some curiosity, "What's wrong? Is the Wei Family's inner branch not big on studying?"
The tutor said, "None of them work as hard as you. Up at seven thirty every day, asleep at midnight, two practice papers a day! Ah, it's been a long time since I saw a student work so hard."
Children from wealthy Shenzhou families didn't have to work themselves to the bone. Meanwhile, most commoner families had to deal with worries like unemployment, and an unstable home had a major impact on academic results.
The circumstances Main World children took for granted—no interruptions, with clothes and everyday necessities all provided—were beyond the reach of most families in this world.
Wei Keng brought the determination he had built up through two lifetimes of studying and preparing for major exams in the Main World. He thought he had reduced his conditions to match those of ordinary people in this world and was ready to fairly test just how fierce the competition was.
The result? Most people in this world didn't have the energy to compete with him.
It was still best to work hard for the Gaokao. Life wasn't limited to the Gaokao, but it was the safest route. It didn't just mean you had earned a diploma; it also meant you had competed fairly alongside the largest part of society.
If you didn't do well the first time, don't lose heart. Take stock, identify every weakness, then patiently retake the exam. Don't let one failure knock you down. Believe that you're not as fragile as you think.
Before you continue