Qing Yao

Chapter 114 We're Not Stupid

What does it mean to be granted the title of Jinshi (a high-ranking scholar)?

You need to understand what benefits your background can bring you, both in the long term and in the short term, so you have a clear idea of ​​them.

However, this was a very technical question, and Zhao An was embarrassed to ask others, as that would make him, as a professor, seem unprofessional. So he could only ask Professor Lou for advice.

Indeed, it's embarrassing if the principal of a prestigious municipal high school doesn't know the benefits of getting into Tsinghua or Peking University.

Teacher Lou blushed and refused to tell him.

Blushing isn't from embarrassment, it's from anger.

Professor Lou took the imperial examinations for decades but never even passed the provincial examination. It was only because the chief examiner saw his advanced age that he was admitted to the Imperial Academy as a supplementary candidate. That's how Professor Lou came to be today. But you, Zhao Youlu, who couldn't even pass the county examination, became a top-ranking scholar and a Jinshi. Your academic qualifications are even higher than Professor Lou's, who has studied the classics for decades. Why is that?
Anyone would be a hit!
The Emperor is blind; he's really getting senile with age!
What's more, Zhao Youlu shamelessly asked him about the specific differences between a Jinshi (进士) and a Juren (举人) in officialdom. This enraged Teacher Lou, who had never cursed before. He grabbed a copy of "The Great Learning" from the table, pointed at Zhao An, and cursed: "Zhao Youlu, are you a candle?! You speak without thinking! What right do you, a Jinshi who can't even pass the county exam, have to look down on us Juren!"

Uh?
Zhao An didn't expect Teacher Lou to get so angry. Thinking about it, he realized that it was his fault. He had unintentionally offended the group of scholars by saying those words to Instructor Wu earlier.

But that's not what he really meant. He just hoped that Instructor Wu would realize that he was far inferior to Professor Zhao, who was a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations), in terms of both academic qualifications and cultural level. So, he shouldn't argue with Professor Zhao. Would admitting the facts really benefit him later?
Professor Zhao may not be particular about other things, but when it comes to colleagues, he is definitely willing to invest emotionally.

Didn't you see that Professor Zhao gave each of the examiners in the marking team, except for the Prefect, the Assistant Prefect, and the Magistrate of Jiangdu, a red envelope of fifty taels of silver as soon as he received his correspondence course graduation certificate?

"Lord Lou is well aware of the situation at the time. He knows that I only spoke in anger. How could I possibly look down on you scholars, especially since you, Lord Lou, are so well-read and full of talent?"

After a while of coaxing and cajoling, Teacher Lou's temper subsided. What else could she do but go?
Even if the kid's diploma is fake, it was still issued by the Ministry of Rites and has a big steel seal on it!
It couldn't be more real.

You can say he's ignorant and incompetent, that he's opportunistic, that he's scheming and unethical, but you can't say his academic credentials are fake.

On the surface, it's clear that Zhao, the Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination), is superior to Lou, the Juren (successful candidate in the provincial imperial examination).

So, you can't think about it, or you'll suffocate.

After putting down "The Great Learning" and sitting quietly for a while, Teacher Lou still told Zhao An about the advantages of being a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations).

Based on what Teacher Lou said, Zhao An sorted it out himself.

First of all, anyone who hasn't received basic education or gone to school is considered illiterate.

All those who went to school were called "Tongsheng". Those who did not pass the county examination were equivalent to kindergarten students, those who passed the county examination were equivalent to primary school students, those who passed the prefectural examination were equivalent to junior high school students, and those who passed the provincial examination and became Xiucai were naturally high school students.

That's generally correct, since it's called the "Children's Examination".

Just from the name, you can tell it refers to the learning experience from kindergarten to high school, that is, the transition from childhood to adolescence.

Why can high school students enjoy various preferential treatments such as tax exemption and not having to kneel before officials?

To put it bluntly, it's because of low literacy rates.

Back in my previous life, when the country was founded, there were plenty of junior high school graduates who became township heads.

As for passing the provincial examination and becoming a Juren, it is equivalent to entering a college or university, and its value is much higher than that of the Tongsheng examination.

Passing the provincial examination is like getting a bachelor's degree after completing a junior college program, while entering the palace examination is roughly equivalent to getting into a top-tier university (like a 985 or 211 university).

So, Zhao An, who was granted the title of Jinshi, should theoretically have scored high enough for the 211 university entrance exam, but the school he attended was ranked at the bottom, and he was willing to accept any major he was assigned to.

There was no other choice.

What are the advantages of being a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations)?

The biggest advantage is that Zhao An will be a regular official from now on, and his promotions and transfers will be handled through the proper channels, no longer subject to the restrictions of donating money or having a different educational background.

In theory, it's perfectly fine to place it in the main hall.

Because the diploma is a tangible asset.

The saying goes that only those who have passed the imperial examinations can enter the Hanlin Academy, and only those who have passed the Hanlin Academy can enter the Grand Secretariat.

Those who are ranked third in the imperial examinations cannot be directly assigned to the Hanlin Academy, but if you are good at being an official and perform well, it is not impossible to be promoted to the Hanlin Academy to gain prestige.

Having experience in the Hanlin Academy makes promotion much easier.

Some positions that Zhao An could not hold due to educational restrictions were now open to him.

For example, the Ministers and Vice Ministers of the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Personnel were required to be Jinshi graduates to hold these positions, as were the examiners for the provincial and metropolitan examinations and the provincial education commissioners.

Previously, Zhao An had never held such prestigious positions because he was a graduate of a donation-based system. Now, however, things are different; as long as he is willing to work hard, he will have the opportunity.

Another advantage is that officials who passed the imperial examinations (进士) were promoted faster than those who passed the provincial examinations (举人) or were students of the Imperial Academy (监生).

An official who passed the provincial examination and became a Juren (a successful candidate in the imperial examinations) could take ten years to reach a certain position, while an official who passed the metropolitan examination and became a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) could do so in four or five years, or even faster.

Even if you spend money to buy an official position, you don't have to wait in long lines like students of the Imperial Academy or those who passed the provincial examinations. You can just stand at the front of the line. If you have enough money, it's a sure thing.

Of course, those in the top three should still avoid the top one or two.

It depends on the specific circumstances. The immediate advantage is that Zhao An, a professor at the prefectural school who is a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations), can be on friendly terms with the provincial education commissioner, because there is only one such Jinshi professor in the entire Qing Dynasty.

Birds of a feather flock together.

Those who passed the imperial examinations were naturally close to each other, and those who passed the highest level of the imperial examinations naturally found each other agreeable.

Even if Zhao An's status as a fellow Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) is highly questionable, the Jinshi community still has to acknowledge and accept him; otherwise, it would be disrespectful to the old master.

Since they are both graduates of the imperial examinations, they should definitely take good care of each other.

Zhao An had always wanted to buy a substantive official position in waterway management, canal transport, or salt administration, but these positions required not only sufficient funds but also educational qualifications.

Now everything's fine, all that's needed is to secure the funding.

"There's another benefit, but don't even think about it. You'll never get it in your life."

Teacher Lou clearly looks down on people.

This successfully piqued Zhao An's curiosity: "What benefits? Lord Lou, please tell me. How will I know I'll never enjoy these benefits in my lifetime if you don't tell me?"

Looking at Zhao An, who had a thirst for knowledge, Teacher Lou snorted irritably: "Those who become Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) and rise to the rank of second grade or above in officialdom can receive a posthumous title from the imperial court after their death."

Upon hearing about these benefits, Zhao An immediately lost interest. He wasn't interested in Wenzheng, Wenxiang, or Wenzhong at all, not even in Emperor Gaozong's temple name.

The starting point should be the Great Ancestor, preferably the Great Ancestor, but the Great Ancestor or the Holy Ancestor are out of the question, sorry.

Since leaving Teacher Lou's place, I've been greeted with congratulations all the way.

Fortunately, Zhao An had made preparations in advance, and had his follower Liu Xiaolou exchange one hundred taels of copper coins and put them on his shoulder in a cloth bag. He would give fifty coins to anyone who came to congratulate him, even if it was a cleaning lady.

Zhao An did not neglect the several Ministry of Rites staff members who came from the capital. He gave the clerk in charge two hundred taels of silver and the others one hundred taels each. He also asked Ma Xuezheng to take them to the designated restaurant of the prefectural school for dinner, and to invite a few girls to play in the evening. After that, they would go to the famous bathhouse in Yangzhou for a bath and enjoy the pleasures of the "three knives".

A complete, end-to-end service, everything is taken care of.

All expenses are paid into the public purse.

It wasn't that Zhao An was reluctant to part with the money; it was that he didn't have much money left in his pocket.

When the prefect heard that Zhao Youlu had been granted the title of Jinshi by the emperor, he was quite dazed for a while. Fortunately, there was a precedent of being promoted five ranks, which prevented the prefect from losing his composure again.

He said to his trusted advisor, Master Sun, with a hint of emotion, "They say that when a country is about to perish, there will be monsters. Do you think Zhao Youlu is a monster?"

Master Sun was so frightened that his heart skipped a beat. He quickly reminded his benefactor that there were some things he must keep to himself and could not say.

The prefect knew he couldn't say such things. If it reached the Emperor's ears in the capital, even if he were a Manchu from the Upper Three Banners, let alone a descendant of a virtuous minister, he would probably have to make a trip to Ningguta.

Wu Xundao, who is highly skilled, looked rather haggard, as if he had just recovered from a serious illness and was unable to continue working. He had to take leave and rest at the guesthouse.

He couldn't fall asleep alone in bed, his mind replaying the events of the day. The more he thought about it, the angrier he became, and the more upset he felt. If it weren't for the neighboring instructor knocking on his door when he came home from get off work and finding him in time, Instructor Wu might have died in the line of duty.

Zhao An was also surprised when he heard about this, and immediately ordered Ma Xuezheng to deliver two hundred taels of silver to Instructor Wu as a token of his condolences.

He still respects qualified professional scholars.

Just like how prison wardens respect intellectuals.

The difference between a professor who donated his academic credentials and a professor who passed the imperial examination was clearly evident on the list of candidates for the prefectural examination. All the students recommended by Zhao An passed the examination. Of course, Guan Ming, the son of the salt commissioner of Lianghuai, also became the top candidate in the Yangzhou prefectural examination as he wished.

Everything went perfectly, and everyone was happy.

Old Ding and Old Song weren't too happy about it.

When the news reached the Ganquan County government office like wildfire, Old Ding was busy hearing a civil dispute case. When Master Ji whispered something in his ear, he was stunned and after a long pause, he uttered a few words: "Damn it, he's just like me?"

Master Ji nodded. "That kid Zhao An is just like you, Your Excellency."

The thought of resigning and retiring grew stronger, and I felt that I couldn't stay in Yangzhou for even a moment longer.

Upon hearing the news, Instructor Song was stunned for a moment, then became very happy, thinking it was a great thing. He then went to the county magistrate and praised Zhao An profusely.

"My lord, this Zhao An is truly something. We can't go wrong following him. Hey, he became a Jinshi in just a few months. Give him a few more years and he'll surely become a Grand Secretary. The more I think about it these past few days, the more right he seems. The faster Lord Zhao rises, the safer we will be."

Just as they were getting into the conversation, the county magistrate spat out a curse and then grabbed Instructor Song, saying, "Come on, let's go to Hengli and borrow 50,000 taels to spend."

"Fifty thousand taels?"

Instructor Song was startled. "There's too much! How are we going to repay it?"

"Repay? Why should we repay?"

The county magistrate looked like he had finally figured it out. "Even the Emperor is so confused. If we still want to repay this money, are you the fool or am I?"

(End of this chapter)