Great Zhou Wensheng

Chapter 216 The Imperial Examination! Jiang Huiyuan begins with a [six]!

In the sixteenth year of Tian Shou, in the second month of spring.

Ziwei Palace, Luocheng Hall.

At the third quarter of the hour of Yin (3:45 AM), before the morning light had fully risen.

The three hundred tribute students, already dressed in their official robes and hats, stood solemnly outside the palace according to their rankings in the imperial examinations. The bluestone imperial path was completely silent, save for the suppressed breaths that rose and fell in the chilly spring air.

Jiang Xingzhou stood at the head of the assembled scholars, his dark robe accentuating his slender figure.

Afterwards, Liu Chun, the governor of Bashu, gripped his official tablet tightly, while Zhang Heng, the governor of Jibei, slightly moved his Adam's apple.

Li Yuankui, from Longyou Road, was ranked more than tenth in line when he suddenly felt a stickiness in his palms—only then did he realize that he was sweating lightly in the spring chill.

In the previous imperial examinations, all nine top scholars of the Great Zhou Dynasty failed, except for Jiang Xingzhou, the top scholar from Jiangnan.

The poem title "Ten Circuits of the Great Zhou" given by Tang Xiujin, the Minister of War, seemed tailor-made for the talented scholars of Jiangnan, resulting in the achievement of "ten poems that govern the country, unparalleled in the world".

This further highlights the significant gap between the candidates.

But today's palace examination is being conducted by His Majesty himself, who is setting the questions and grading the papers.

The emperor's mind is hard to predict.

Who knows what she's thinking?

If a policy examination were conducted on a specific, albeit minor, issue of the Great Zhou Dynasty, it would likely expose many of the scholars' blind spots in their knowledge!

Then the gap between candidates will be greatly reduced.

Even a comeback!

For example, the emperor's brush used to be sharp as a knife—the empress in recent years especially loved to test practical skills such as "converting grain into silver" and "border town trade".

Furthermore, the questions contained hidden risks—the previous champion was demoted to the top three because he misquoted the "Commentary on the Waterways Classic" when answering the question about "river management strategies."
They even included some unconventional exam questions, such as analyzing the losses, advantages, and disadvantages of the three different money and grain transport routes to the front lines in Longxi, which often caught many candidates off guard.

They didn't even know where the three roads were.

This was common in previous imperial examinations—the top scholar in the provincial examination often ended up in the second rank. The top-ranked candidates fell to the bottom ranks.

The Palace Examination was the highest-level examination in the Great Zhou Dynasty, a test that determined one's fate.

"Boom-"

The morning bell rang suddenly, startling the bronze bells at the corners of the palace.

Li Yuankui suddenly looked up, and on the nine-tiered imperial steps, the gilded palace gates were slowly opening.

"His Majesty has decreed! Summon the tribute students to the palace!"

The high-pitched voice of the eunuch in charge of ceremonies pierced through the morning mist.

As Li Yuankui adjusted his hat, his fingers paused, and he suddenly recalled the old servant's mutterings when he left the mansion: "Master said that the current situation in the court is all related to the northern frontier. Will His Majesty set out such a question?"

If so!

Li Yuankui couldn't help but reveal a confident expression; he had been paying close attention to the situation in the northern frontier. He wouldn't dare say he was the top scholar, but he certainly had a chance of being second or third.

The Imperial Examination Ceremony.

Outside the Ziwei Palace.

At the hour of Yin (3-5 AM), the golden dragon pillars on both sides of the Dan Chi (red steps) were already filled with high-ranking officials in red and purple robes.

Chen Shaoqing, the Grand Secretary, stood out among the civil officials of the Three Departments and Six Ministries, his fish-shaped pouch at his waist swaying gently in the morning breeze.
Ten feudal lords, clad in python robes and jade belts—the King of Langya, the King of Yue, the King of Han, the King of Liang, the King of Wei, and others—cast varying shadows among the ranks of military officers.

More than a hundred scholars from the Hanlin Academy stood like a forest in their blue robes, with the most prominent scholar, a great Confucian scholar from three dynasties, lightly tapping his palm with a whisk—a habit he had to use to gauge the rhythm of the talented scholars' responses.

Observers would assess the candidates' qualifications to prepare for future official selection and to recruit talented individuals.

Furthermore, the imperial court invited numerous envoys from the barbarian demon tribes to observe the grand imperial examination, in order to intimidate the surrounding barbarian demon nations.

"This time, in addition to the grand ceremony of the palace examination, there were 50% more barbarian envoys than in previous years."

Chen Shaoqing glanced at the west viewing platform out of the corner of his eye.

There stood dozens of barbarian envoys wearing feathered headdresses. The leader, a special envoy from the Northern Snow Wolf Clan, narrowed his golden eyes and stared intently at the figure in the dark robe at the very front of the tribute student procession, filled with hatred.

Suddenly, nine cannon salutes were heard, and the Empress's bright yellow canopy appeared from the main hall.

The barbarian envoys suddenly took a half step back—they recognized the bronze axe hanging beside the canopy as the sacred weapon that the late emperor had once used to behead the demon saint of the northern frontier.

The imperial examination has begun.

Three hundred tribute students filed into the main hall, their footsteps echoing the dripping of the water clock.

"This is the Golden Palace?"

At the very end of the group of tribute students, Gu Zhimian's steps were unsteady, and he seemed dazed.

He never dreamed that one day he would be able to ascend to this golden palace and meet the emperor.

Of course, for many tribute students, this palace examination was probably the only opportunity in their lives to meet the emperor.

From then on, local officials had no chance to travel to the capital to meet the emperor.

The moment Jiang Xingzhou looked up,

The incense in the hall suddenly stopped—and then, three hundred sandalwood tables were arranged in the shape of the Big Dipper, like the array of the Xuanji Diagram.

On each desk sat a set of gilded Xuan brushes, pine soot ink sticks, and even the paperweights were made of white jade with dragon patterns in the uniform imperial style.

"The top scholar in the spring imperial examination, Jiang Xingzhou of Jiangnan Circuit!"

As the candidates entered the hall, the eunuchs leading the way announced their names, their voices echoing across the dome.

Above the nine-tiered steps, behind twelve layers of gauze curtains, the Empress's exquisite silhouette was like a flower seen through mist.

This veil allows one to see the emperor wielding his brush, but makes it difficult to discern his expression.

Only the jade algae hanging from the twelve-tasseled crown occasionally struck each other, producing a clear, icy sound.

The imperial lady-in-waiting, Nangong Wan'er, served him, her wrist holding the inkstone steady as a rock, the vermilion spreading a blood-red hue in the inkstone.

Jiang Xingzhou arrived at the front seat of the hall, bowed, and then knelt on the cushion.

He noticed that the table in front of him was three inches shorter than it had been during the imperial examination—this height was just right for maintaining the most upright sitting posture to write.

Nangong Wan'er suddenly raised her eyes and gave Jiang Xingzhou a deep look.

A drop of cinnabar splashes onto the snow-white Xuan paper, just like that night at the White Horse Temple, a touch of cinnabar red.

"The imperial examination of the Great Zhou Dynasty has arrived—"

The eunuch's shrill voice ripped through the silence.

A slender, jade-like finger extended from behind the gauze curtain, handing a scroll of bright yellow imperial edict to a female official with a sword at her side.

The scholars' spines suddenly straightened.

The imperial edict was sealed with lacquer, and there were traces of the phoenix-patterned jade seal.

The first question in the Grand Zhou Dynasty's imperial examination:

The eunuch's shrill voice pierced the deathly silence as he took the examination questions, personally written by the Empress, from Nangong Wan'er. The Empress's handwriting on the edict was as red as blood.

The Book of Documents says, "The lesson of Yin is not far off; it lies in the time of the Xia dynasty."

We now desire long-term peace and stability.

ask:
How can a nation prosper?

Why did the country perish?

What method should be adopted, and what losses should be avoided?

Each student is to compose a poem within one hour!
The moment the eunuch unfolded the bright yellow imperial edict,
Inside the hall, the three hundred tribute students had already held their breath and focused their attention. The three hundred writing brushes were eager to be used, hanging neatly on the paper, like arrows lined up in formation ready to be released.

However, once the palace examination questions were released...

"pat-"

A few drops of cold sweat fell onto the Xuan paper, instantly spreading into ink stains.

The wrists of the three hundred tribute students holding pens froze, their faces turning deathly pale, and the air in the hall suddenly solidified.

This is a policy question about governing the country, which is very broad, covering the rise and fall of a nation.

This question is about policies for governing the country, but the answer is deliberately written in the style of a fu (a type of Chinese prose-poem).

It is important to know that there are different formats for articles, such as "poetry, lyrics, and fu". Among them, "fu" is the most difficult because it is a very long piece, often with hundreds of words.

Even for those who have passed the imperial examinations or become successful candidates in the provincial examinations, writing a long poem can take half their lives!
"sand--"

Amid the sound of three hundred sheets of Xuan paper being turned over simultaneously, Li Yuankui suddenly coughed, his face turning red.

Write a poem!

It requires extremely strong writing skills.

Write a plan!

It requires an insight into the gains and losses of a nation that surpasses that of ordinary people.

Combining the two is simply deadly!
Gu Zhimian gripped the pen tightly, his throat tightening, his eyes reddening. "How...how do I begin?"

His mind was a complete mess; the classics and historical texts he usually studied were now like a tangled mess, and he couldn't even find a single thread that connected to the topic.

If he encountered this question in the examination hall, he would probably faint on the spot.

Fortunately, this is the imperial examination.

When the emperor himself came, he only distinguished between people of high and low status, and did not dismiss anyone.

However, if the writing is mediocre and ranks last among the top three, it will be difficult to catch the eye of the Ministry of Personnel.

Inside the hall, the sound of paper rustling filled the air as three hundred scholars hunched over their desks, writing furiously. The scent of ink mingled with the smell of cold sweat in the air.

Only the boat on the river remained as still as a rock.

He sat cross-legged on the cushion, his eyes gently closed, his breathing long and even, as if isolated from the anxiety around him. The scholars of the Hanlin Academy, their crimson robes fluttering, walked slowly past him, their gazes lingering on him briefly before silently moving away.

The chief examiner of the palace examination was the emperor himself.
The emperor's brush, in vermilion ink, determined the rankings of the top three scholars.

High-ranking officials from the three provinces and six ministries, along with scholars from the Hanlin Academy, lined up on both sides like hawks patrolling, their eyes sweeping over every inch of the examination papers—those who cheated should be executed.

But the boat on the river remained motionless.

The brush was not dipped in ink, yet the paper remained as white as snow.

Hanlin Academician Zhao Mingcheng strolled across the river to his desk, his hands clasped behind his back, his crimson official robe rustling softly.

Seeing that Jiang Xingzhou was still sitting upright with his eyes closed, and the Xuan paper on the table was as white as new, Zhao Mingcheng's lips twitched almost imperceptibly.

"Ah"

He sneered inwardly.

Jiang Huiyuan, who was once famous, ultimately had his shortcomings. His poems and essays may have been amazing, but when it came to policy essays, he didn't even have the courage to pick up a pen!
His Majesty's question is an iron threshold—if you cannot write a magnificent essay, even if you are the top scholar in the imperial examination, you will have to obediently settle for second place.

Passing the third grade?
It's probably going to break!

Out of the corner of his eye, Zhao Mingcheng glanced at Chen, the Grand Secretary in his purple robe and jade belt, at the corner of the hall, and gently stroked his fingers in his sleeve.

I can't answer this question.
After today, the absurd rumor circulating in the court—the unprecedented six-time top scholar in the imperial examination—should surely vanish into thin air.

Although Jiang Zhenguo was known as the protector of the country, he ultimately failed to surpass Lord Chen's feat of achieving the highest honors in the imperial examinations. Each had its own merits!
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but feel smug.

This huge hidden danger was eliminated without any effort!

Liu Chun, a tribute student from Sichuan, was writing with great speed when he suddenly sensed something amiss in the atmosphere of the hall.

He glanced up and saw Jiang Xingzhou's desk in front of him—

The ink was not ground, and the brush was not moved.

The man in the green robe sat quietly like a pine tree, his eyes slightly closed, resembling an old monk in deep meditation.

Even many of the proctors noticed Jiang Xingzhou's unusual behavior! They all turned to look at him.

Liu Chun's brush paused, and a drop of thick ink quietly spread.

"Could it be."

His heart was pounding.

Could it be that this "theory of taxation" hit Jiang Huiyuan's weak spot?

Although one is not necessarily rejected in the palace examination, the ranking greatly affects one's future.

If only it could be at this moment.
Liu Chun took a deep breath, his knuckles turning white from the effort.

opportunity!

Golden opportunity!

If someone can outperform Jiang Xingzhou in the essay section, the top scholar position may change hands!

Liu Chun dipped his brush in ink and wrote with sharp strokes on the Xuan paper.

Inside the hall, the water clock dripped slowly, and wisps of incense smoke curled from the incense burner.

Three hundred tribute students, their foreheads glistening with sweat, wielded their brushes with the rustling of turning pages, filling the hall with the sound of their calligraphy.

Suddenly, a crisp "snap" was heard—

Ji Beizhang abruptly put down the ink block, his eyes gleaming with intense light.

"It's done!"

His parallel prose flowed like a surging river, each word a gem, subtly revealing the brilliance of his talent.

The light grew ever brighter and more intense, hovering at the peak of the [Da Fu] realm, seemingly about to break through its shackles—

[Mingzhou] is imminent!

Zhang Heng's Adam's apple bobbed, and his pen trembled slightly with excitement.

It should be noted that this is the most difficult type of fu (a type of classical Chinese prose-poem) to master, and it is already quite rare for ordinary Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) to be able to [exit the county].

If it can truly become a masterpiece of [Mingzhou]
Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced down the imperial steps, and the top scholar's red brush seemed to be waving before his eyes.

I will surely be among the top three!
Suddenly, the wolf-hair brush danced with the strokes of dragons and phoenixes, and the final paragraph of parallel sentences fell like a knife or axe.

His talent suddenly surged, spreading out ripples of brilliance across the answer sheet—

A sudden flash of blue light appeared in the hall, startling Zhao Mingcheng.

He rushed to Zhang Heng's desk in a flash, and saw on the exam paper—

His talent soared like a rainbow, reaching straight to the palace beams!
"Excellent! Wonderful!"

Zhao Mingcheng's fingertips trembled, and he almost couldn't suppress the cheer in his throat.

This "Ode to Pacifying the Country" truly reaches the level of Mingzhou, with its parallel prose resounding like the sound of gold and jade, and its use of allusions resembling an old official judging a case.

He glanced at Zhang Heng, a cold smile playing on his lips.

What a brilliant Zhang Heng!
Whether you are Liu Chun from Shu or Zhang Heng from Jibei, as long as you can stop Jiang Xingzhou's momentum of passing the imperial examination with six top honors, it will be a great achievement!
The Grand Secretary will surely praise and support him greatly!
"cough."

Hanlin Academician Zhao Mingcheng was suddenly jolted awake from his ecstasy, quickly composed himself, and walked away.

But then, the other examiners passed by Zhang Heng one after another to see how well his essay was written.

The blue light inside the hall gradually intensified, and bursts of talent and brilliance rose one after another, like sparks spreading across the plains.

Suddenly, a burst of brilliant energy shot into the sky from the southwest corner, and in an instant, a radiant light appeared from the northeast.

But see—

Those leaving the county are like fireflies, while those arriving at the prefecture are like stars falling from the sky.

The high-ranking officials from the three provinces exchanged surprised glances as their crimson robes fluttered slightly.

Minister of Rites Wei Shili stroked his beard and chuckled: "The 'Millennial Dragon and Tiger List' is indeed no exaggeration. In previous imperial examinations, being able to produce a poem on 'Mingzhou' was already commendable, but now..."

Before he finished speaking, three streaks of azure light suddenly intertwined and pierced into the cloud-covered roof from the due east, illuminating the golden dragon pillar in every detail.

Minister Wei Min squinted his dim old eyes: "Top scholars from Bashu, Jibei, and the Central Plains have all produced works from [Mingzhou]? This is no easy feat!"

He casually tapped his palm with the jade tablet in his hand, "Unfortunately, the rest are still a bit lacking!"

Minister Wei's gaze swept over Jiang Xingzhou, who was still sitting upright with his eyes closed, and he suddenly noticed that the sleeve of the Jiangnan scholar's robe moved slightly without any wind.

The beaded curtain on the side of the hall swayed slightly. The court officials watching the palace examination whispered among themselves, but their eyes couldn't help but glance at the blank sheet of Xuan paper on the scholar's desk.

"This cup of tea, Huiyuanlang, is probably going to get completely cold."

The Vice Minister of Revenue held the jade tablet hidden in his sleeve, his voice extremely low.

The Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices stared at the nearly empty ambergris incense on the altar and scoffed, "Hard to say! Back then, when Lord Chen took the imperial examination, wasn't he also the last to hand in his paper?" Before he could finish speaking, he shook his head.

Suddenly a gust of wind blew through the room, and Jiang Xingzhou opened his eyes. The paperweight on the table rang softly.

The whispers of the officials on the side of the hall fell silent instantly, and the purple-tipped brush remained quietly on the inkstone, not even dipped in ink.

Like a sword yet to be drawn, its sharpness lies within its sheath.

The incense in the golden censer inside the hall had burned out, and all eyes in the hall suddenly turned towards Jiang Xingzhou, as if a hundred rivers had flowed into the sea.

The empress, who had been sitting languidly on her throne, suddenly straightened her holy body, her eyes still sparkling even through the gauze curtain.

Sitting before the Emperor, Nangong Wan'er was somewhat anxious, but when she saw Jiang Xingzhou finally begin writing, her beautiful eyes lit up.

Jiang Xingzhou's wide sleeves drooped down, and with a slight lift of her fair hand, a scroll of snow-white waves slowly unfurled.

The Xuan paper was three feet longer than the usual exam papers of previous years. When it was spread out, it looked like a white ribbon cascading to the ground, startling the nearby candidates who hurriedly pressed down on the corners of their own fluttering scrolls.

The moment the purple brush dipped into the ink, the azure light of talent that filled the hall suddenly froze, as if repeatedly suppressed by a terrifying aura.

The brush tip hangs three inches above the paper, frozen in place.

Suddenly, I saw dragons and snakes rise from the bottom of his wrist—

"six"

(End of this chapter)