Fang Butang unscrewed the thermos cup lid, took a sip and said:
"Looking back over the past two millennia of the military department's bigwigs and council court officials, forty percent have come from Dongxia's list of a hundred seeds.
The Four National Universities describe it as 'the Grand Dragon Gate'; crossing it allows one to stand at the pinnacle of power with boundless prospects."
Chen Ruofu sighed:
"In past years, the Nine Surnames controlled the upward mobility space, blocking too many roads in front of them, making it very difficult to cross.
Only the seed quota, from drafting to approval, is judged by the Judicial Court throughout, and the Nine Surnames dare not and cannot extend their hands."
The two were chatting enthusiastically when Fang Butang poured cold water:
