Top Scholar

Chapter 339 Level
The fifth day of the seventh lunar month was the day the imperial examination was held.

Early that morning, all 780 scholars who were participating in the imperial examination, except for the twelve who were on sick leave, arrived early at the gate of the academy to wait.

When Su Lu and his party arrived, they saw that all the scholars were uneasy and their actions and expressions revealed their nervousness.

Today's decision wasn't just about deciding who could take the provincial examination; those who ranked fourth, fifth, or sixth would face corresponding punishments. Therefore, regardless of their perceived performance, the scholars were all nervous in their own ways…

"Will Uncle Su be alright?" Qiao Feng asked Su Lu in a low voice.

"It's alright. I asked for leave from the headmaster after the first round, but I can't take leave for the provincial examination next year," Su Lu said softly.

Even scholars who passed the county-level imperial examinations had to undergo annual assessments. Those who fell to the sixth grade or missed the exams without cause were expelled from the school.

Of course, the imperial court would not make things difficult for the old man forever. As long as a scholar is fifty years old and has studied for at least ten years, he can retain his scholar title for life and does not need to go to school anymore.

For example, Cheng Xiucai basically stayed in Erlangtan after the age of fifty and rarely went out.

"The provincial examination doesn't need to be so strenuous. Uncle Su will definitely be fine with just two essays," everyone said.

“Yes, let’s endure another ten years.” Su Lu nodded.

As they spoke, the gates of the academy slowly opened, and the scholars quickly stopped whispering and lined up to follow their respective instructors or teachers into the academy.

All the examination booths and seats in front of Minglun Hall have been removed and will be put back in two years.

After the students lined up in front of the Minglun Hall, the Grand Master beat the drum and ascended the hall.

"The students respectfully welcome the Grandmaster." All the students bowed in greeting.

"No need for formalities," said Xiao Tixue, looking at the scholars below the steps. "Initiate the case."

"Yes." Shui Xuezheng took the long list from the clerk of the Provincial Education Office, walked to the entrance of Minglun Hall, and read it aloud to the crowd:
"In this imperial examination, there were 780 candidates. Twelve withdrew due to illness, leaving 768. After two rounds of examinations personally conducted by the Grand Master, the papers were ranked into six grades. The names are as follows—"

"Eighteen people in the sixth class—Zhang Quan'an, Li Mingyi, Zhou Qi..."

The candidates whose names were called all collapsed to the ground on the spot, because it meant that the academic achievements they had worked so hard to obtain were gone!

"...Ma Baoguo! The above eighteen people are either illiterate, have committed serious violations, or lack knowledge. In accordance with the 'Imperially Approved Examination Regulations,' they are hereby expelled from the academy and punished by being made clerks!" the Water Academy Director announced loudly.

"Grandmaster, please give your student another chance!" Ma Baoguo was the first to react. He hurriedly crawled forward on his knees and kowtowed to the Grandmaster on the hard stone steps. After a few kowtows, blood appeared on his forehead.

The other dismissed scholars also hurriedly kowtowed and begged for mercy, their heads covered in blood, their cries pitiful. The effect of making an example of them was extremely remarkable.

"Alas, if only we had known this would happen, we would not have done it in the first place." The Grandmaster sighed and said, "Our academy has never wanted to ruin anyone's future, so we only assigned eighteen people to the sixth class. The fact that you all ended up in the sixth class means that your studies are a complete mess. Keeping you around will only ruin the atmosphere of the academy."

He was absolutely right. Everyone could see that the eighteen sixth-class students were all seasoned veterans in their thirties and forties. They were the kind of students who just coasted through school, relying on flipping through the books and writing a few essays before exams to try and get by.

"Grand Master, I have elderly parents, younger siblings, and six children to support. The meager stipend I receive is barely enough to fill a gap in our stomachs!" Ma Baoguo lamented. "I have to work three jobs: teaching at the community school during the day, doing accounting at night, and occasionally going out to consult feng shui masters. I simply have no time to study!"

"So I'll give you a job as a clerk, enough to support your family." Xiao Tixue, who had seen many people take the path of pathos, was unmoved and waved his hand.

Then officials went up and helped Ma Baoguo and the others out of the academy...

After the cries of the eighteen people gradually faded into the distance, the Grandmaster reprimanded the silent crowd, saying:
"The imperial court established schools and provided stipends so that you could study diligently, not so that you could hold positions without doing any work and obtain official titles by chance! Today, we are dismissing them not because the academy is heartless, but because there are rules for the examinations and regulations for scholarship! If you are demoted to the sixth rank in the future, you will not be spared either!"

"Yes, we will take this as a warning," the students quickly replied in unison.

"Continue," Xiao Tixue instructed.

“Fifty people in the fifth class—Zhang Chongwen, Zhao Siqi, Zheng Siqian, Yang Cunren…” the water studies officer continued reading.

Although the students whose names were called did not faint, they all turned ashen-faced and knelt on the ground, unable to get up.

"...Xie Anyi, Deng Dengde, Jiang Mingli, and the above fifty people are either poor in literature or lack practical skills or have shallow knowledge. The students with stipends are demoted to students with additional stipends, the students with additional stipends are demoted to students with secondary stipends, and the students with secondary stipends are demoted to students with blue robes, to observe their future performance."

Fifty people trembled with fear and accepted the punishment. Although they got up afterward, they would never be able to hold their heads high again for at least a year.

Then there were 230 people in the fourth class, all of whom had their stipends suspended for a year and were punished with bamboo clappers upon returning to school.

The three hundred and ninety-nine people in the third class were neither promoted nor demoted, neither rewarded nor punished. They could no longer participate in the examination for the lost scholars; they could only try again three years later to qualify for the provincial examination.

The remaining seventy people were classified as first and second class, and were eligible to take the provincial examination in Chengdu. Among them, the fifty people in the second class could fill vacancies in the expanded student body.

Su Lu counted the fifty people; only seven were his classmates. He couldn't help but sigh inwardly, realizing that the imperial examinations were indeed far superior to the children's examinations. The school had accumulated far too many talented individuals…

The last name read by the Water Academy Master was the list of twenty people in the first class. In addition to being eligible to take the provincial examination, they could also be promoted to subsidized students.

"Zhu Zihe, Bai Yunshan, Xiao Tingjie, Zhu Zigong, Su Man, Xu Chengye, Lin Zhihong, Lei Jun, Deng Dengying, Su Dan, Qiao Feng, Cheng Wanzhou, Lei Shengyuan..."

Of the twenty people this time, thirteen were fellow students from Su Lulonggang Academy.

But Su Lu had no time for sentimentality. His own learning was unparalleled, because among these twenty people, he wasn't among them…

"I'm done reading." Shui Xuezheng's voice was hoarse from reading so much. "Are there any names I haven't called yet?"

"Reporting to the Headmaster, this is student Su Lu," Su Lu stepped forward amidst the shocked gazes of the crowd. "I have no ranking..."

"Oh." Shui Xuezheng quickly reviewed the seventy people in the first and second tiers again, and indeed, none of them had the name of Xiao Sanyuan. "Wait while I verify it."

After saying that, he turned and went into the hall, whispering, "Grandmaster, Su Hongzhi..."

"I know." Xiao Tixue raised his hand, stood up, and stepped down from the platform. "You may leave."

"Yes." Shui Xuezheng hurriedly stepped aside.

Xiao Tixue walked out of Minglun Hall, stood on the steps, and looked at Su Lu expressionlessly, wanting to appreciate the ashes on his face.

To his surprise, Su Lu's calm and composed demeanor only fueled his anger.

But with so many eyes watching, he couldn't delay for too long, so he coughed lightly and said, "Hongzhi, your writing has reached a new level, and it would be a shame to rank it as first class. So I specially designated it as special class."

"Wow!" The students exclaimed in surprise. They had never heard of such a thing before. In addition to the "six grades of promotion and demotion", there was also a special grade.

Those who passed the imperial examination in the same year as Su Lu felt that this was only natural...

"Instructor Hai, please read his Four Books essay." Instructor Xiao then took out Su Lu's exam paper from his sleeve and handed it to Su Lu's principal.

"Yes." Haihan hurriedly stepped forward, took it with both hands, and began to recite it with great vigor.

All the officials stood solemnly like pine trees, listening attentively to Su Lu's article. They were all learned men, and their reactions were naturally identical to those of Inspector Xiao and his five advisors; they were all deeply moved by the profound teachings of the sages that resonated like the harmonious melody of metal and stone…

When the poem reached the line "Having repeatedly experienced both use and rejection, I remain content and find some solace in my heart," many people lowered their eyes slightly, their expressions moved.

Although they were scholars and officials admired by the people, most people, no matter how hard they tried, could only remain impotent officials their whole lives, unable to complete that final leap to the sky. Therefore, they were deeply moved by the gentleman's way of advancing and retreating in this article.

Those elderly students with graying temples swallowed hard, their Adam's apples bobbing slightly as they recalled their years of arduous academic pursuits. Their eyes welled up with tears, but they dared not wipe them away, expressing their empathy only through soft sighs.

Even the young students shed their restlessness, their eyes becoming clear and resolute. Their previous anxiety about fame and fortune quietly faded away, leaving them feeling a sense of liberation.

Even after the last line, "Together we remain, without waiting to be entrusted to the Creator," had been spoken for a long time, the room remained silent, yet without a trace of dullness.

All the staff members lowered their eyes, each lost in thought...

They finally understood why the Grandmaster had given Su Lu a special grade: Su Lu's level of Lesser Three Realms had surpassed that of ordinary mortals like themselves, and he was progressing towards becoming a legendary sage.

After waiting for the students to calm down a bit, Xiao Tixue slowly spoke: "This year is the last time our academy will hold an examination. Next year's annual examination will be presided over by the newly appointed Grand Master. As I bid you farewell, I have a few words from the bottom of my heart to share with you all."

"We students respectfully accept your teachings!" all the students responded in unison.

"You are all outstanding scholars, having toiled for ten years to earn your place in the academy—a truly remarkable achievement. You should be focused solely on your studies, oblivious to the world outside, but in these times of great hardship and turmoil in the court, at this critical juncture for the survival of the righteous path, it is all the more necessary for you to uphold your principles and remain untainted by worldly distractions," said Supervisor Xiao earnestly.
"Our institute will publish Su Hongzhi's article in schools throughout the province. If you ever feel disappointed or confused about the current situation, take it and read it to understand the state of mind of 'I do not lose myself, you do not lose yourself, what does it matter whether you use it or not'."

"Remember! Learning is not just about verses, but also about cultivating a righteous spirit—as long as we scholars uphold integrity, distinguish right from wrong, and refuse to flatter or yield, the righteous spirit of the world will never be extinguished, and there will eventually be a time when the clouds part and the sun shines through!" The Grandmaster's voice suddenly rose, more impassioned than ever before:

"Your predecessors have followed one after another, sacrificing their lives for righteousness. Now that I have returned to the capital, I must also speak out for justice and stand against the treacherous officials! You must firmly believe that dark clouds cannot obscure the blazing sun, and the chaos will eventually come to an end!"

"At that time, though we will be gone like a gentle breeze, it will be your time to use your knowledge to serve the country and benefit the people. I hope that you will uphold your integrity and righteousness, continue to strive for excellence, live up to the teachings of the sages and the trust placed in you by the nation, and ultimately become pillars of society, working together to uphold the bright and clear world of the Ming Dynasty!"

By the end, his eyes were red and his voice choked with emotion as he said, "This is the true purpose of the imperial court establishing schools..."

"We will never forget the teachings of the Grandmaster! We must take our predecessors as our role models and live up to the teachings of the sages!" The students said in unison, their voices resounding through the sky!
P.S. I'll revise this later, please vote with monthly tickets!!
(End of this chapter)