Great Zhou Wensheng

Chapter 153 The Autumn Examination Results are Announced, Attracting Universal Attention!
The first two rounds of the autumn imperial examinations have been completed, with only the final examination on the classics remaining.

now,

The night is dark.

As the night deepened and the dew grew heavy, all was silent.

Inside the Jiangnan Examination Hall, golden lanterns hung high, and the candlelight shone brightly, making the vermilion pillars glow with dazzling light.

Governor Wei Guanlan sat upright in the courtroom, the cloud and goose embroidered patch on his black official robe gleaming faintly under the lamplight.

He tapped his fingertips lightly on the rosewood table, pondered for a long time, then suddenly picked up his brush, dipped it in ink, and wrote the examination question on the snow-white paper:

[The third exam question in the autumn examination of Jiangnan Province was on the interpretation of classical texts:]
[Source: The Analects of Confucius, Book 2, Chapter 2]
Question: The key to good governance is to select the right people.

In the past, when Taigong fished on the Wei River, King Wen of Zhou took him back and the Zhou dynasty prospered; when Han Xin begged for food in Huaiyin, Xiao He chased after him under the moon and the Han dynasty became strong.

However, the selection of officials today is either constrained by family background or limited by seniority.

How can we ensure that no worthy individuals are overlooked in the countryside, and that the court is filled with pillars of society?

The assistant examiners below the hall all stiffened upon seeing the chief examiner's question on the interpretation of the classics.

The autumn examination was the crucial test for scholars to advance to the rank of Juren (a higher degree in the imperial examination system).
Those who pass the imperial examination will be formally registered in the Ministry of Personnel's records, thus gaining an official rank and awaiting the conferment of an official position, becoming county-level officials.

The governor set this question on the classics in order to select officials for the court!

As everyone knows,

At the beginning of the Great Zhou Dynasty, the Nine-Rank System and the Imperial Examination System were used in parallel.

However, powerful families controlled the path to officialdom, making it difficult for talented individuals from humble backgrounds to advance.

There's a saying in officialdom: "The highest ranks have no poor families, and the lowest ranks have no noble families." Poor scholars are relegated to low-ranking official positions!
Since His Majesty ascended the throne, the Nine-Rank System has been completely abolished, and officials are selected solely through the Imperial Examination, regardless of family background.

Fifteen years have passed since the first year of the Tian Shou era.

—He especially valued promoting scholars from humble backgrounds, elevating them to official positions, spreading them throughout prefectures and counties, and gradually bringing them into the central government.

Today, scholars from humble backgrounds make up as much as 10% of the court officials!
The share of powerful clans and aristocratic families has fallen to less than 90%.

This move was undoubtedly like a boulder thrown into an abyss, stirring up huge waves.

The imperial relatives and powerful families were furious, and the noble families hated it to the bone, secretly doing everything they could to obstruct it.

However, it was still unstoppable. Under the imperial examination system, scholars from all over the country flocked to the court, bringing a fresh atmosphere to the imperial court.

What the superiors like, the subordinates will like even more!

The examiners in each prefecture, county, and state understood the unspoken message. Every autumn, the questions on classical texts and policy essays would almost always involve the principle of "selecting the virtuous and capable," sweeping away all theories of "hereditary rites and laws" into the dustbin of history.

The deeper meaning is obvious—

What Your Majesty desires are the practical talents of outstanding individuals from humble backgrounds, not the decadent theories of privileged noble families!
Although many of these examiners also came from powerful and prestigious families.

However, the imperial examination system was already a national policy and an inevitable trend that no single family or clan could reverse.

His Majesty has now dispatched Governor Wei Guanlan to oversee the Jiangnan Circuit. One of his most important tasks is to sever the entrenched power of the Jiangnan aristocratic families and select talented individuals from humble backgrounds in Jiangnan to serve the country.

"The third session of the autumn imperial examination is about to begin!"

“Ding! Ding! Ding!”

Three gong sounds echoed through the examination hall.

The yamen runners, their official boots clicking in unison, carried examination boards soaked in tung oil as they moved among the rows of examination rooms.

In the night, the vermilion-lacquered plaques resembled sharp swords drawn from their sheaths.

Inside the examination hall, lights had already begun to twinkle, the tung oil lamp wicks crackling and popping, casting an unpredictable glow on the pale faces of the thousands of scholars.

Some people's fingertips trembled, soaking through the rice paper; some people's foreheads were covered in cold sweat dripping onto the inkstone; and some people—

After the first two rounds of elimination, only one thousand scholars remained in the Jiangnan Examination Hall for the final selection.

Three hundred people passed the imperial examination!
For every person who succeeds, someone else will inevitably fail!
Inside Examination Room No. 2, the tung oil lamp popped open with a "pop".

"[How can we ensure that no worthy person is overlooked in the countryside, and that the court has many pillars of society?]"

When Xie Qihe saw the question on the interpretation of the classics, his expression changed slightly. The vermilion characters on the question board burned his eyes like a branding iron.

He let out a sneer, his knuckles turning blue from gripping the air.

Are there no worthy men left in obscurity?
Isn't this blatantly taking away the quota that originally belonged to nobles, relatives of the emperor, powerful clans, and aristocratic families, in order to select more scholars from humble backgrounds?!
Xie Qihe sneered.

This test of scriptural knowledge,

If I'm not mistaken, this year's autumn imperial examination will surely have more scholars from humble backgrounds among the top 300 successful candidates in the Jiangnan Circuit examination than in previous years.

At least 20% to 30%, approximately 60 to 100, were scholars from humble backgrounds!

Such a large share naturally had to be snatched from the mouths of the powerful clans and aristocratic families of Jiangnan!
but,

Although he was filled with righteous indignation, he dared not vent his emotions on the exam paper and could only answer honestly: Break down class barriers and select the virtuous and capable.

— Deviating from the purpose of the exam question and writing in a passionate manner is a major taboo in the examination!

"I have heard that the Duke of Zhou employed a virtuous man who sold firewood, and that Duke Huan of Qi rebuked a man who had shot an arrow at him."

A ray of moonlight slanted through the No. 1 examination room.

Jiang Xingzhou hesitated for a moment,

The examiner's intentions were obvious—this question, ostensibly about classical texts, was in fact an attempt to advocate for the Great Zhou Dynasty's national policy of "suppressing powerful clans and promoting those from humble backgrounds."

If candidates can pinpoint the essence of "family background is useless," they will surely meet the emperor's expectations.

Thinking of this, a slight smile appeared on his lips. He picked up his brush, dipped it in ink, and the wolf-hair brush danced across the rice paper:
[The reply was:]

Emperors and rulers rely on talented individuals to govern the world; the rise and fall of nations depend on the selection of capable people. Therefore, wise rulers are eager to seek out virtuous and capable people, while foolish rulers are hostile to them.

Your servant observes that the Book of Documents contains the instruction "no wise men are left undiscovered in the wilderness," and the Book of Poetry contains the criticism of "big rats"; this is because when a wise ruler is in power, he will surely cut down weeds and weeds to highlight orchids and magnolias; when a mediocre ruler is in power, he will always hide pearls and jade and value rubble and tiles.

The flaws of the Nine-Rank System for selecting officials lay particularly in its rigid adherence to family genealogy. Even mediocre members of prominent families like the Cui and Lu clans were included; those of noble lineage like the Zheng and Wang families were promoted even without talent. This led Zhao Yi to compose his satirical poem "On the World" and Zuo Si to lament in his historical poem "On History."

Your Majesty, it is humbly yours to broaden the channels for the imperial examinations and remove the barriers of social class; and to follow the example of Emperor Taizong, who used policy essays to test practical application.

Your Majesty has often pondered this: it is not that the reigns of King Cheng and King Kang were uniquely marked by the abundance of talents like Gao Yao and Kui, but rather that their exceptional fortunes were uniquely bestowed upon them during those reigns. If Your Majesty could govern with integrity and gather capable officials, then the court would be filled with outstanding talents, and there would be no need to worry about the stability of the realm.
As Jiang Xingzhou finished writing, a drop of ink hung from the tip of his brush, gleaming faintly in the moonlight.

Examination Room No. 350, Class C.

Gu Zhimian wiped the sweat from his forehead, the sweat soaking through his rough linen inner shirt, and wrote quickly.

His pen trembled, yet more determined than ever before—

In previous years, given his background, it would have been a stroke of luck for him to even make it into the top 1,000. A scholar from a poor family like him would probably have been eliminated in the first two rounds.

But the greatest stroke of luck was this final test of scripture—breaking down class barriers!
This is the frost and snow that he, a poor scholar, has accumulated for more than ten years, and finally he has waited for the spring sun!
That figure diligently studying at the Xue family's private school,

That patched-up shirt, a solitary figure traveling ten miles in the dead of winter to pursue his studies.

At this moment, they all transform into thunderclaps under the pen—

"I have heard..."
"Selecting officials should not be based on family background or social status; choosing people should not be limited by rank or social standing!"

Examination Room No. 73, Class A.

The flickering candlelight illuminated a glint of dark gold in Cao An's eyes, suggesting an air of scholarly refinement.

He lightly tapped the exam paper on the table with his fingertip, and the pages moved without any wind, faintly rippling with ink.

This is the unique secret technique of the Cao family of Jiangyin, passed down through a single lineage, called "Zhegui Wenshu" (The Art of Winning the Laurel). It uses literary talent to glimpse the secrets of heaven, can change one's fate, and enhance one's literary talent. It has always been a technique coveted by candidates for the imperial examinations.

I wouldn't dare say I could become the top scholar in the provincial examination, but passing the provincial examination would be relatively easy!

"[Question: The key to good governance lies first and foremost in acquiring the right people.]"

His gaze sharpened slightly, a confident smile appearing on his lips, and he picked up his pen to write swiftly.

"[He replied: A nation is established by talent, and a government is governed by talent. Therefore, wise rulers are eager to seek out talented people, and sage rulers treat scholars as honored guests.]"

"The Duke of Zhou spat out his food to welcome guests, and the world turned to him; Emperor Zhao of Yan built a platform, and all the wise men gathered. This is because the key to order or chaos lies in the way one employs people."

The sound of the clapper at midnight shattered the silence of the examination hall.

"Collect the papers! Clang clang clang!"

The yamen runners struck the gong again. Inside the Jiangnan Examination Hall, between the examination rooms...

Thousands of flickering oil lamps trembled simultaneously.

The rustling sound of paper pages drifted between the examination rooms.

The scholars all stopped writing, their pale faces flickering in the lamplight—

Some people tied their examination bags with the same solemnity as if they were bestowed a title of nobility.

Some people's fingertips trembled, as if they were betting the fate of their entire clan.

Thousands of exam papers were collected by the yamen runners and placed into exam bags. Their black boots trotted over the blue bricks as they were presented to the examiners' desks.

Inside the examination hall, candlelight blazed brightly.

Prefect Wei Guanlan sat upright at his desk, holding a vermilion brush, his gaze deep and thoughtful.
The academic administrator, Du Jingchen, leaned slightly forward, his fingertips lightly tapping the paper, as if he were carefully considering the words.

The prefects and examiners from various prefectures lined up on both sides, some intently reading the papers, others discussing them in hushed tones; the only sound in the room was the rustling of the exam papers being turned.

The examination papers on the interpretation of scriptures have their own strict evaluation criteria—

The rationale is as follows: Does it closely adhere to the theme of "selecting talents from poor families"? The logic is rigorous.

Three key points: the appropriate use of Confucian classics and historical cases.

The second-best literary achievement is characterized by its parallel structure and fluent, expressive language.

One must be bold and insightful: the depth of criticism of current affairs must be both subtle and sharp.

As the examiners and co-examiners reviewed the papers, they would sometimes nod in approval, and sometimes frown in deep thought. Once a paper was finished, they would lightly mark it with their red pens, either circling or annotating it, all of which concerned the scholar's future.

Finally, the chief examiner, Wei Guanlan, determined the rankings of the autumn examinations.

"Emperors who govern the world must rely on outstanding talents."

"The rise and fall of a nation truly depends on the selection of its officials!"

Governor Wei Guanlan held the scroll and pondered for a moment. He realized that it was written by Jiang Xingzhou. He paused, his red brush poised, and exclaimed in admiration, "This is the writing of a national hero!"

Du Jingchen, the academic commissioner standing nearby, picked up the scroll and examined it closely, finding it filled with exquisite beauty:
His explanations of the classics were like those of an experienced official wielding a pen, and his policy arguments resembled those of a renowned general deploying troops. Furthermore, his writing was elegant and eloquent, giving his examination essays the grandeur of a high-ranking official.

"Great article!"

"Jiang Sheng not only writes excellent poetry, but he is also quite outstanding in policy questions and classical texts."

Du Jingchen nodded to himself in satisfaction.

"This question is correct, and can be considered a 'perfect model of essay writing for the imperial examinations,' taking into account classical studies, current affairs, and literary talent, making it a guiding principle for scholars in Jiangnan taking the exams."

Wei Guanlan tapped the scroll with his knuckles, then dipped his brush in vermilion and wrote his comments:
"According to the provincial standard, Class A, First Place."

—Breaking through the mold and fusing the classics, such as the bronze vessels in the Imperial Ancestral Temple, the vessels are grand and upright;

It criticizes current malpractices incisively and hits the nail on the head;
The writing flows smoothly, with a suitable balance between parallel and free-flowing prose.

The autumn imperial examinations have concluded, and the gates to success have been opened.

A thousand candidates, all pale as paper, emerged from the Jiangnan Examination Hall, their steps unsteady and faltering, as if they had just escaped from a fierce battle.

Three consecutive autumn examinations, a battle of wits day and night, exhausting all my thoughts and energy to ensure my writing was flawless.

Some people leaned against the wall, panting; some looked up at the sky and closed their eyes; and some even staggered a few steps before fainting to the ground.

Seeing this, bystanders were powerless to help and could only smile bitterly—only those who were taking the exam together could truly understand the bitterness they were going through.

The imperial examinations are like a battlefield, and the autumn examinations are like going to war.

They were not soldiers wielding knives and risking their lives, but scholars who used their pens as swords.

After a day of continuous battles, their talent, energy, and physical strength had been completely exhausted. As they walked out of the examination hall, they felt as if they were living the rest of their lives after a great battle.

The main street outside the Jiangnan Examination Hall was bustling with noise.

The servants and maids who had been waiting outside for a long time stepped forward to help their exhausted young masters.

Some offered warm ginseng soup, some whispered words of comfort, and others, more anxious, had already set up a sedan chair and carefully helped the person inside.

The bustling crowd dispersed in an instant.

Inside the examination hall, the chief and deputy examiners were still working diligently to grade a thousand examination papers and rank the candidates for the autumn examination.

The top 300 students will be admitted!

Tomorrow at noon, the results of the autumn imperial examinations will be announced.

"Take care, brothers!"

"We'll meet again tomorrow at noon, beneath the golden list!"

The candidates bowed to each other in farewell, their voices filled with both exhaustion and anticipation.

After the autumn imperial examinations concluded, the examination hall was closed and the papers were graded.

Jiang Xingzhou could no longer stay at the examination hall and had to return to the Jinling Inn.

"Young Master! Young Master Jiang!"

Qingfei's clear voice pierced through the noisy crowd, and her lotus-colored sleeves swayed gently in the autumn breeze.

She had already prepared a green-curtained carriage and was now standing on tiptoe, peering towards the examination hall.

Jiang Xingzhou, along with Han Yugui, Cao An, Lu Ming, and the others, dragged their weary bodies out of the examination hall gate.

Qingfei quickly went to greet them and helped her young master Han Yugui and the others into the carriage.

As the carriage curtain fell, Cao An was still yawning and muttering, "I've been sitting on these benches in the examination hall for over ten hours, and my back is about to break!"

Although the Jinling Inn, located just across the street, had a hefty rent, it was now proving to be a good option.

A moment later, the carriage stopped in front of the carved gatehouse.

Jiang Xingzhou didn't even have dinner. He went straight upstairs and fell into a deep sleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.

The night outside the window was still dark, and he slept soundly until the next day when he woke up refreshed.

The lobby of Jinling Inn was bustling with activity.

Hundreds of scholars finished their lunch early and gathered in twos and threes, some leaning against the railings, others sitting around tables, all discussing the results of the autumn imperial examinations that would be announced that day.

Most of the hundred or so scholars from Jiangzhou Prefecture gathered at the Jinling Inn.

Although the results haven't been released yet, everyone has already calculated it a thousand times in their hearts—after all, the thousand scholars who made it to the third round of fierce competition already know each other's strengths and weaknesses.

"Brother Jiang has won the top spot in the first two rounds, so regardless of the result of the last round, the title of 'Jieyuan' in Jiangnan is undoubtedly yours!"

The rest can only compete for [second place, third, fourth, and fifth place]!

Lu Ming slammed his hand on the table and stood up, which drew laughter from everyone.

The top five in the autumn imperial examinations of Jiangnan Province are the most important rankings for candidates from Jiangnan Province, almost guaranteeing them a place in the imperial examinations. They also have priority in being appointed to official positions by the Ministry of Personnel in the imperial court!
Jiang Xingzhou smiled noncommittally and swallowed the last mouthful of chicken soup.

This soup, made with thousand-year-old ginseng, was specially prepared for him by Qingfei, who said it was to make up for the effort he had put into the three autumn examinations.

The sun was shining brightly outside the window. He put down the porcelain bowl and straightened his clothes: "It's almost time. I should go to the examination hall and wait for the results."

"Let's go together!"

The scholars, along with their friends and companions, flocked to the Jiangnan Examination Hall like a tidal wave.

The streets suddenly became lively, with people in blue robes and turbans forming a flowing blue wave.

When they arrived, the Jiangnan Examination Hall was closed, but the area outside was already packed with people.

The powerful clans and aristocratic families of the ten prefectures of Jiangnan Circuit all came out, their ornate saddles and fine horses blocking the entire Gongyuan Street.

Furthermore, wealthy and powerful families in Jinling City had booked private rooms in restaurants along the street early on, pushing open the carved windows to overlook the grand event from a high vantage point.

The eaves of the teahouses along the street were crowded with onlookers, and vendors took the opportunity to sell fruits and snacks, their cries rising and falling.

The entire city of Jinling seemed to be in an uproar on the day the results of the autumn imperial examinations were announced.

Thousands of yamen runners and soldiers maintained order on the main street outside the examination hall.

(End of this chapter)