Frost for a Thousand Years

Chapter 148 The Grand Scholars View "Ode to the Goddess of the Luo River"

There were only four days in total to grade the papers.

To be precise, it was three and a half days.

Finally, the emperor's will must be presented to determine the specific candidate.

The Jinshi examination differed from the Juren examination; it involved more interpersonal relationships and social interactions.

Because this exam is at a higher level and is more important.

Even those from humble backgrounds who could become the top scholar in the imperial examinations could not receive much support from their families. People like Zhang Zhao were able to eventually become at least a third-rank scholar.

Moreover, with only thirty successful candidates each year, the degree of academic achievement was extremely high.

For certain political reasons, the emperor would assign certain positions to different candidates each year.

For example, this time, he had some candidates.

"Song Shi'an has a younger brother... I think his name is Song Ce." The emperor, sitting on the dragon throne, asked, "Will he pass the exam this time?"

As the highest-ranking eunuch, Chen Bao naturally needed to know how to assess the situation.

As this was a top-level scientific expedition, he had thoroughly researched and identified all the key figures participating in the test beforehand.

"Your Majesty," Chen Bao explained, "In the previous provincial examination, he passed the Juren exam entirely on his own merit, excelling in the poetry and prose section but weak in the policy essay section. If he had performed exactly as he did before, he probably wouldn't have passed the Jinshi exam. Even if his policy essay level had improved significantly, he probably still wouldn't have passed."

There's nothing we can do. It's not that Song Ce is incompetent; it's just that a sixteen-year-old Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) is truly outrageous.

His father, Song Jing, was hailed as a child prodigy from a young age and passed the imperial examination at the age of twenty.

"The poem is quite good; could it be ranked first?" the emperor asked.

There are a total of 3,000 people, and you need to be in the top 100 to get the top grade.

He did indeed rank in the top ten in the provincial examination.

However, the imperial examination was held in six provinces, not just the province of Sizhou.

Most of these candidates were successful candidates in the imperial examinations for many years.

The prestige of being in the top ten of the provincial examination is certainly less than that of being in the top one hundred of the metropolitan examination.

To reach the top 100, one must perform better and of higher quality than before.

"Song Jing served more than half a year in prison for the Great Yu, so he deserves some compensation," the emperor said.

“Your Majesty, this is a good idea,” Chen Bao said, having found a solution. “Among the top-ranked essays in the first-class category, the differences are not significant. There’s not much difference between the top 100 and the top 200. If someone doesn’t reach the top 100, then place them at the bottom of the first-class category. Then, place Song Ce in the top few of the second-class category. In total, there should be a bottom-ranked Jinshi.”

The top few in Class B are not much different from the bottom few in Class A.

However, it is not ostentatious.

If both subjects were forcibly graded as Grade A, it strongly suggests a cover-up.

Moreover, essays in the second-best grade are not intended to be used as model essays or sold to test takers.

This means it will not be made public.

"No, let's set it as Grade B, First Place," the emperor said. "Otherwise, he might really think he passed the exam himself."

To grant a mere borderline Jinshi degree is an imperial favor.

Being ranked first in Class B is basically equivalent to saying outright that the emperor remembers the suffering you endured for the court, so he arranged for your youngest son to become a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations).

The other person will feel better too.

You've already made my son a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations), so what else is there to say? I'll just go to jail and get it over with, won't I?
"Anyone else, the rest of the Song faction?"

The emperor used that word directly and bluntly.

"Among the other candidates at Sun Situ's banquet, a few people had some goodwill towards Song Shi'an and did not flatter Situ..." Chen Bao also analyzed, "But I think it was mainly their rebellious feelings against Situ using them as pawns, and it was not so much that they supported Song Shi'an's land reclamation."

"Let these people take the exam themselves," the emperor said.

“There is one person who can truly be considered a supporter of Song Shi’an,” Chen Bao said seriously. “Wang Shuishan, a fellow Juren of Song Shi’an, almost failed the exam because his policy essay was too extreme, but the quality of his policy essay was still quite good.”

"What kind of background?" the emperor asked.

“His father previously served as a groom for a military clerk, and later became a groom for a lieutenant general. Once, he was injured in the leg during a battle, and because of his seniority, he became an eighth-rank county lieutenant, and was quite clean,” Chen Bao said.

The emperor preferred ordinary people.

If an ordinary person has ability, he will work even harder in the officialdom and attribute his advancement to "imperial grace".

The children of aristocratic families are different. Even if they are promoted, they feel that it is because of their own ability and the strong support of their family, and they will not feel any gratitude for being recognized and rewarded.

"His strategies are quite good, aren't they?" the emperor asked.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Chen Bao replied.

"Very well, anyone who achieves the highest rank in policy essays will be granted the title of Jinshi," the emperor said.

"Should we still make it obvious?" Chen Bao asked.

"That won't be necessary," the emperor said. "The selection of officials in my Great Yu is for the emperor, not for Song Shi'an."

Making Song Ce a Jinshi was a way of giving face to Song Shi'an.

The reason Wang Shuishan was made a Jinshi was to provide Song Shi'an with someone he could use, not because of his personal connections.

This principle may seem complicated, but it's actually quite easy to understand.

If Wang Shuishan's essays were of the highest rank, or even above average, he would have had a chance to pass the exam. However, if his prose and poetry were of a lower rank, he would be eliminated.

Because the positions for those who passed the imperial examinations were at the back, it was very dangerous.

Anyone with a bit of connections can get it rejected.

The emperor appointed Wang Shuishan as a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) because he wanted to employ someone with genuine talent and a clean background who could fully utilize his abilities.

At this point, we can't do Song Shi'an this favor.

"Your Majesty, the two new Jinshi this year are both from Sizhou. So there might be too many Jinshi from Sizhou, about twelve or thirteen people."

Of the six provinces in the empire, Sili Province accounts for forty percent.

"Detained from Yangzhou."

The moment Your Majesty uttered those four words, the frown on one's brow was smoothed out, and one felt as if strolling through a Norwegian forest.

Why is he an emperor?
"Your Majesty is wise," Chen Bao said.

"Chen Bao, Song Shi'an passed the imperial examination with top honors, is that difficult?" the emperor suddenly asked.

“Your Majesty, although you have already given the Grand Secretaries a warning, unless you directly appoint Song Shi’an as the top scholar, most of the Grand Secretaries will still recommend Sun Qian.” Chen Bao answered truthfully, “If Song Shi’an does not clearly surpass Sun Qian… it will still be difficult.”

"If it's difficult, then so be it."

The emperor was not too bothered by it and casually said, "Song Shi'an should know that reform is more difficult than the imperial examination."

.........

After a full day, the scholars who were grading the papers finally produced six hundred articles, which were then copied and presented to the seven Grand Secretaries.

Each person reads nearly a hundred articles.

Gu Yixin is getting old and should watch less. The rest, the scholars will share the burden equally.

Zhang Zhaoti's compassion for the ancient masters led him to read more.

Each Grand Secretary has the authority to assign a Grade A rating, and can directly assign a Grade B rating.

Grade B, Upper-middle, Middle, Lower-middle, Lower.

As for Grade A, anything above average requires a consensus among everyone.

Therefore, the allocation of mid-to-high-level positions is very cautious, with a maximum of twenty-odd positions.

Above that, there are no more than ten people.

Zhang Zhao was rated B seven times in a row.

Finally, I found a good article.

A smile appeared on his face.

"Gentlemen, this piece can be considered a masterpiece," Zhang Zhao said excitedly.

Everyone's attention was drawn to him.

Especially Sun Kang.

Can brilliant essays be found in scientific expeditions?
Could it be the poem "Ode to the Goddess of the Luo River"?

However, he shouldn't be considered a hero.

Because of it, it's a bit feminine.

“Read it,” Gu Yixin said.

Soon, a scholar read aloud to everyone.

"Ode to the Mountains and Rivers of Dayu"

"The great river originates from the mysterious garden of Kunlun and flows into the jade-like stream of the stars..."

"Once, Ji Wang's horse was shattered; once, Qi's sword was submerged in the waves..."

As he read it aloud, all the high-ranking officials showed their approval.

As the chief examiner of the poetry and prose examination, Grand Academician Sun Kang, taking a deep breath, couldn't help but exclaim: "His writing is brilliant, his style is magnificent, and his penmanship is powerful. In this life, he seems to have a grand vision of encompassing the world."

"It's clearly not a forced use of words or a piling up of idioms; the sense of depth is particularly strong."

"Yes, especially the phrase 'shattering the horse of Ji Wang,' which is indeed a source of inspiration for the Chinese people today."

“I really like it,” Zhang Zhao added. “This kind of article is exactly what Dayu needs.”

"Any objections to Grade A?" Gu Yixin asked.

Everyone nodded in agreement; there were no problems.

"Having read more than half of the article, I feel I can already lock it in as the best in the genre of prose and poetry," Zhang Zhaorui commented. "The writing is superb, and the ideas are magnificent. Those that can rival its grandeur are somewhat lacking in writing style. And those that can rival its writing style are somewhat lacking in grandeur."

"Yes, only when both are combined can it be worthy of being called the best in poetry and prose."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

And everyone knows it.

This is Sun Qian's.

why?
While writing styles and punctuation may be similar, the habits of word choice and sentence construction are rarely similar, though not entirely without exception.

When these three elements come together and all agree, it can be pinpointed that it must be him.

Since the goal is to have Sun Qian pre-select the champion.

They must have studied all of Sun Qian's poems and essays.

Don't underestimate the business acumen of seasoned veterans...

However, Sun Kang was somewhat uneasy.

I've already reviewed more than half of the exam papers, so why hasn't the "Ode to the Goddess of the Luo River" been published yet?
Could it be that I was eliminated?
Please don't let this get to you!

Finally, in the last few posts, someone saw it.

"Is there a legend about the goddess of the Luo River?"

One person asked in surprise.

The others were puzzled, but Gu Yixin answered them: "No."

"Let's all listen to this article together."

The exam papers were handed to the attending scholar.

All Grand Secretaries, begin to listen.

"Its form is like a startled swan, graceful as a swimming dragon. It shines like autumn chrysanthemums, flourishes like spring pines. It seems as if light clouds veil the moon, as if swirling snowflakes drift in the wind..."

"Without a proper matchmaker to convey my affections, I entrust my words to the gentle breeze. I wish my sincere intentions would reach you first, and I will offer my jade pendant as a token of my affection..."

"I grasped the reins and raised the whip, but lingered there, unable to leave."

The Ode to the Goddess of the Luo River, after being localized and having some of its meanings modified, has come to light.

All seven Grand Secretaries were completely absorbed, and somewhat dazed.

Even someone as arrogant as Xie Lingyun claimed that he was only one-eighth of Cao Zhi.

So even the usually composed Gu Yixin was completely moved.

He didn't react this way when he first heard "Exhortation to Learning".

"Exhortation to Learning" can certainly be compared to the books of sages, but it is something that humans can write, requiring profound insight.

And this is something no human could write.

Only someone with exceptional talent can effortlessly display their skills during scientific expeditions.

"Beautiful, so beautiful."

In response, a scholar said with emotion, "The wind god Pingyi calmed the evening breeze, the water god Chuanhou stopped the waves, and Feng Yi struck the divine drum. As the goddess disappeared, I also felt a sense of loss."

It tells the story of a serendipitous adventure.

He encountered a perfect and sacred goddess.

They had a chance encounter on a date.

Then, they returned from the realm of gods to the mortal world...

No one knew how to begin.

Only Gu Yixin set the tone, remarking with emotion: "Perhaps we will be passed down through the ages along with this 'Ode to the Goddess of the Luo River'."

(End of this chapter)