I was compiling the daily records during the Wanli reign

Chapter 138 The Imperial Examination Concludes, the Top Three are Determined! Hai Gangfeng is Finally Reading His Pen

March 16th, near noon.

A notice posted outside the Daming Gate quickly attracted a large crowd of onlookers.

Daming Gate, the main south gate of the Imperial City.

It marks the boundary between the imperial city government offices and the bustling marketplace; across the street lies Qipan Street, teeming with vendors.

The notices posted here are mostly about things that are closely related to the lives of ordinary people.

Besides important announcements such as the emperor's enthronement edict, self-reproach edict, and the list of successful candidates in the imperial examinations, which were posted at the Meridian Gate, other notices such as those concerning tax adjustments and disaster relief were posted at the Great Ming Gate.

The content of any notice posted here quickly spreads throughout the city.

And at this time.

This posted notice is Shen Nian's treatise on a prosperous era.

However, its current title is: "Explanation of Doubts in the Imperial Examination of the Fifth Year of Wanli (1587)".

This proclamation explained the reasons for setting the essay question in yesterday's palace examination and the political aspirations it conveyed to scholars across the country.

In short: This topic aims to cultivate in scholars the love and respect for the people, and to prevent them from competing with the people for profit.

Many scholars who correctly predicted the topic were very excited.

When the imperial court was hotly debating the issue of falsely measuring land in Henan, setting up such a question was naturally intended to protect the interests of the people.

Only in this way can the land measurement method be strictly implemented.

Meanwhile, some candidates who wrote articles arguing that increasing land taxes was a good way to replenish the national treasury looked dejected.

They overlooked the current strength of the court, the purpose of the new policies, and the prevailing atmosphere in the court and officialdom.

among them.

The most appealing sentence in this proclamation to the people was: What is a prosperous age? It is when all the common people in the world can have enough to eat.

Anyone who cares about the people or is struggling to make a living would be moved by these words.

Because of the bureaucratic writing style of the past.

Descriptions of a prosperous era are often empty phrases like "the granaries are full, the army is strong, and the world is as peaceful as spring sunshine."

Now, this announcement puts the people of the world first.

Unlike previous edicts that merely offered empty slogans to show concern for the people.

This time, the imperial court used the imperial examination questions to express its concern for the people of the world and to tell officials who wanted to enter officialdom that their primary goal in being an official was to ensure that "all the people of the world can have enough to eat."

Utmost sincerity, utmost honesty.

This greatly increased the public's goodwill towards the imperial court.

Also.

Some officials who were unaware of the matter were inquiring about whose idea the palace examination question was and who drafted the document.

Upon learning that it was Shen Nian, a compiler in the Hanlin Academy, many officials fell silent and showed no surprise whatsoever.

It's perfectly normal that this was done by Shen Ziheng!

At this moment, Shen Nian has been branded by many officials as a "commoner official," while the opposite of commoner officials are court officials.

A commoner official is one who takes the needs of the people as the starting point in everything he does; while a court official does whatever the court tells him to do.

There are quite a few officials who are called "people's officials".

But more than 90% of them are people who seek fame and fortune by using this to gain official recognition.

Some people think Shen Nian is the same.

However, one cannot help but admire Shen Nian's ability to consistently demonstrate his uniqueness in many political matters, earning him the high regard of the emperor, the cabinet, and the Hanlin Academy.

Shen Nian completely ignored these idle gossips.

No matter how well you do in officialdom, people will still find inexplicable angles to criticize you.

What he needs to do is to grow quickly so that once he is in a high position, these words will have no effect on him.

……

March 18th, early morning, Qianqing Palace.

After the young Wanli Emperor finished dressing and having his meal, he prepared to go to the Wenhua Hall.

Today is the day for the announcement of names in the palace examination.

He was going to the Wenhua Hall to open the examination papers, determine the top three in the first-class examination, and add them to the imperial list, affixing the emperor's seal.

at this time.

Empress Dowager Li walked in from outside, followed by two maids and Feng Bao.

"Your son greets Your Majesty!" Young Wanli hurriedly bowed.

Empress Dowager Li nodded and gently waved to the side, leaving only the young Wanli Emperor, Empress Dowager Li, and Feng Bao in the hall.

Just as the young Wanli Emperor was filled with doubt.

Empress Dowager Li said, "Your Majesty, after we open the examination papers later, could you please raise the rankings of Grand Secretary Zhang and Grand Secretary Lü's sons? If they are in the third rank, they should at least be raised to the top ten of the second rank. If they are in the second rank, Grand Secretary Zhang's second son can be raised to the first rank. He doesn't have to be the top scholar, but he can become the second or third scholar. Only in this way can we truly demonstrate the Emperor's boundless grace!"

Empress Dowager Li placed great importance on interpersonal relationships and social etiquette.

She knew that the reason why the Ming Dynasty was thriving was because Zhang Juzheng and Lü Diaoyang were in charge of the cabinet, so she wanted the young Wanli Emperor to take this as a favor and make the two of them grateful.

In addition, Zhang Juzheng was furious that the eldest son of the Zhang family had failed the imperial examination in the previous one.

If the Zhang family can produce a top-ranking scholar in this imperial examination, Zhang Juzheng will be extremely grateful for the emperor's favor and will work even harder in handling state affairs.

Little Wanli frowned slightly.

“Mother, if it were in the past, I would have followed your advice.”

"However, the incident of the corpse remonstrating during this imperial examination has had a great impact. If I were to do this, I fear... I fear it would cause scholars throughout the land to question the fairness of the imperial examination. Furthermore, these two have already obtained the status of Jinshi, and how far they will go in the future will depend on their political achievements after they become officials. Placing them at the forefront is not a good thing, and it would also cause the two Grand Secretaries to bear a bad reputation."

"The Grand Secretary and Grand Secretary Lü have hinted to me more than once that I should not show favoritism to their sons because of them. I should not tamper with the imperial examinations. I should just take better care of them in the future!"

Emperor Wanli rejected Empress Dowager Li's suggestion in a very gentle tone.

Empress Dowager Li opened her mouth as if to speak, but found herself at a loss for words. She then said, "Very well, then Your Majesty may decide what to do!"

Upon hearing this, the young Wanli Emperor was overjoyed.

In political affairs, he was already capable of handling things independently and would not blindly follow Empress Dowager Li's advice.

Empress Dowager Li continued, "The day after tomorrow, three hundred girls of marriageable age will enter the palace and live there for a month. We will observe their words and actions and hand them over to Feng Bao's men. Your Majesty does not need to inspect them personally."

After observing their behavior for a month and eliminating a group of girls, the two empress dowagers will then select suitable candidates.

"Your son understands!" said the young Wanli, bowing respectfully.

At present, if Empress Dowager Li did not rely on Zhang Juzheng, she would have no way to manage the affairs of the previous dynasty.

Because the young Wanli Emperor could always refute him with reason and evidence.

However, she still made all the decisions regarding the young Wanli Emperor's life. She was reminding him not to meet these girls on his own.

Some girls would stop at nothing to become imperial concubines.

If they were to encounter the young Wanli Emperor, they would do everything in their power to get into his arms. If the two of them were to become intimate, the royal family would lose face.

Therefore, Empress Dowager Li had no choice but to remind the young Wanli Emperor.

After the young Wanli Emperor officially appointed his empress, he could then freely choose and favor any of the palace maids he wished to visit.

……

A moment later, the young Wanli Emperor arrived at the Wenhua Hall.

The three examiners, Ma Ziqiang, Shen Shixing, and Wang Xijue, had neatly arranged the 480 exam papers according to their scores on the imperial desk.

Then, Feng Bao began to unpack the scrolls.

Emperor Wanli read all of these imperial examination papers.

At this moment, he has the power to decide the top three positions and can change the current rankings.

The two eunuchs behind Feng Bao skillfully wrote down the names and hometowns of the first, second, and third class of students on paper.

It was finished in no time.

Emperor Wanli glanced at the list, gave it a cursory look, and set it aside.

He then looked at the palace examination essays of the top three in the first rank, and then at the palace examination essays of the top ten in the second rank. After pondering for a moment, he said, "Let it be so!"

Immediately.

An official from the Imperial Edict Office wrote the names and hometowns of the first, second, and third class of officials on the imperial edicts that had been prepared beforehand.

Feng Bao, along with Ma Ziqiang, Shen Shixing, and Wang Xijue, carefully inspected the items from the side.

We guarantee that there are no errors or omissions.

Afterwards, the officials of the Imperial Seal Office, under the instruction of the young Wanli Emperor, began to affix the emperor's seal to the imperial edict.

Thus, the imperial examination list for this year was officially created.

... About an hour later, Ma Ziqiang emerged carrying the imperial edict.

He will join officials from the Ministry of Rites in holding the grand ceremony of announcing the imperial examination results and posting the imperial edict outside the Meridian Gate.

At this moment, the scholars had already completely surrounded the Meridian Gate.

The 480 candidates, dressed in uniform imperial examination attire, stood in a line at the very front.

Lean slightly.

Outside the Meridian Gate, ceremonial music began to play, and officials from the Court of State Ceremonies started announcing the names of the candidates.

"The first place winner is Shen Maoxue, a native of Xuancheng County, Ningguo Prefecture, Southern Zhili."

"The second place in the first class is Song Xiyao, a native of Fenyi County, Yuanzhou Prefecture, Jiangxi Province."

"The third place in the first class was Zeng Chaojie, a native of Linwu County, Guiyang Prefecture, Hengzhou Prefecture, Huguang Province."

The top three teams were all announced individually.

Upon hearing their names, all three were required to step forward, kneel, and kowtow in gratitude for the Emperor's grace. As for the second and third class, they only needed to prostrate themselves on the spot and perform four prostrations.

Soon, officials from the Court of State Ceremonial began reading out the list of candidates for the second rank.

"The first place in the second class was Tang Xianzu, a native of Linchuan County, Fuzhou Prefecture, Jiangxi Province."

"The second place in the second class was Lu Kejiao, a native of Lanxi County, Jinhua Prefecture, Zhejiang Province."

"Third place in the second class, Feng Mengzhen, is from Xiushui County, Jiaxing Prefecture, Zhejiang Province."

"The fourth place in the second class is Liu Tingjie, a native of Zhangpu County, Zhangzhou Prefecture, Fujian Province."

……

"Zhang Sixiu, ranked thirty-second in the second class, was from Jiangling County, Jingzhou Prefecture, Huguang Province."

……

"Ranked 39th in the second class, Lü Xingzhou was from Daye County, Wuchang Prefecture, Huguang Province."

……

Zhang Sixiu was slightly displeased when he heard his name called.

But I quickly let it go.

He knew that he hadn't done well on the palace examination, and that this ranking was already quite good.

Lu Xingzhou, on the other hand, was very excited. This position was undoubtedly the most suitable for him.

soon.

After the list of the fifty-seven successful candidates in the second class was read out, the remaining successful candidates couldn't help but frown.

The difference between the top three teams is enormous.

The first-place winner in the first class was directly appointed as a sixth-rank official and a compiler in the Hanlin Academy; the second and third-place winners were directly appointed as seventh-rank officials and compilers in the Hanlin Academy.

Those who passed the imperial examinations in the second and third classes had to first observe government affairs and study criminal law and regulations in various government offices in the capital for at least half a year before they would be successively appointed to official positions.

Those ranked second class could serve as principal officers in the Six Ministries in the capital or as prefects in other regions; those ranked third class mostly served as county magistrates, judges, or doctors.

The starting point is obviously lower.

And this gap is sometimes difficult to bridge even in ten years.

unless.

Unless one can become a junior scholar who can remain in the academy like Shen Nian.

soon.

The names of the top three were read out one after another, and it wasn't until noon that the list of the top three was finally read out.

Then, the officials of Shuntian Prefecture escorted the top scholar home with parasols and ceremonial regalia, while the others returned to their own homes to prepare for the imperial banquet the next day.

This is the treatment given to the first place winner.

The top scholar is destined to be remembered in history.

The list of successful candidates in this imperial examination is also known as the "Shen Maoxue Jinshi List".

This day.

For the people of the capital, it was undoubtedly a day of celebration.

More than 400 people have passed the imperial examinations, defying fate and obtaining official positions, which will inspire more scholars to strive for a career in government.

And this moment.

The officials from the Ministry of Rites and the Hanlin Academy responsible for this year's provincial examination, palace examination, and announcement of results were all granted permission to go home and rest.

They've been exhausted lately.

Tomorrow, they will also attend the Imperial Banquet and then receive rewards from the young Wanli Emperor.

After learning of their sons' rankings, Zhang Juzheng and Lü Diaoyang both smiled faintly.

They are satisfied.

If they really make it into the top three, they will inevitably be questioned by countless scholars and intellectuals, and such voices may even reach unofficial histories, claiming that they manipulated the imperial examinations.

The common people have always loved to hear such rumors and would absolutely believe them to be true.

……

Near dusk.

Emperor Wanli received a memorial from Yin Zhengmao, the Minister of Revenue, regarding an investigation, and a memorial from Zhu Zaiting, the Prince of Zhou from Henan, requesting the donation of land to the people.

In his memorial, Yin Zhengmao stated that he had investigated and found that the false land survey in Henan was not an incident in Xiangfu County, but a conspiracy conspired by provincial officials from the governor down to advance their own careers and curry favor with the imperial family, thus benefiting the imperial family while harming the common people.

In addition, he truthfully reported the reasons why King Zhu of Zhou donated land to the people.

After reading it, the young Wanli Emperor was overjoyed.

He liked officials like Yin Zhengmao who could bring "surprises" to the court.

Immediately, the young Wanli Emperor summoned Zhang Juzheng and informed him of the joyous occasion.

Then, Zhang Juzheng prepared to draft a document overnight, so that when he went to court the next day, he could commend Yin Zhengmao and Prince Zhu Zaiting of Zhou.

Of course, the main focus was on praising King Zhu Zaiting of Zhou.

Yin Zhengmao was commended because he did a great job.

The purpose of honoring Prince Zhu Zaiting of Zhou was to make all the princes and vassals in the country understand the court's intention: even if they were stingy, as long as they weren't stupid, they would definitely donate land to the people.

While it's highly unlikely that they will donate as much as 500,000 mu of land, donating 50,000 or 100,000 mu is still feasible.

With so many imperial princes and vassals, this was no small number.

At this moment, the young Wanli Emperor was in a very good mood.

Having a Minister of Revenue who is not only good at accounting but also at making money is a great fortune for the Ming Dynasty.

……

The following day, he went to court.

The young Wanli Emperor and Zhang Juzheng worked together seamlessly, praising Minister of Revenue Yin Zhengmao for nearly half an hour and Prince Zhou Zhu Zaiting for more than an hour.

Soon, these words of praise would reach the ears of all the local vassal states through the post stations.

at the same time.

The provincial officials in Henan involved in this case will be severely punished according to the laws of the Ming Dynasty. Even if some manage to keep their official positions, they will almost certainly never have another chance for promotion.

Unless, of course, he can also do something as grand as Yin Zhengmao, which allows the court to amass wealth through madness.

……

And this moment.

Inside a post station in Taiyuan Prefecture, Shanxi Province.

Hai Rui had collected twenty-four bamboo baskets of documents.

of course.

It was impossible for him to present all twenty-four bamboo baskets of documents to the young Wanli Emperor or the cabinet for review.

He needed to sift through and organize this information, turning it into a thin memorial.

A memorial to the throne, like the "Memorial on Governance," that could shock the entire court.

He felt he could start writing tonight.

At this moment, none of the officials and merchants in Shanxi dared to touch Hai Rui.

Because Wang Chonggu and Zhang Siwei did not move.

The two were certain that Hai Rui could not harm them, and that if Hai Rui were to meet with misfortune in Shanxi, many Shanxi merchants and officials would be buried with him.

(End of this chapter)