1848 Great Qing Charcoal Burners

Chapter 353 Like a Jinshi

"Among the scholars from Jiangxi and Anhui, a few scored reasonably well in the eight-legged essay and policy essay sections, but unfortunately their scores in other subjects were abysmal," Liu Qixian explained.

"Therefore, no one passed the exam. Among the candidates from Jiangxi and Anhui, the highest score was only 448."

Scholars from Jiangxi and Anhui arrived late, and although they were also cramming for exams at the last minute, they had far less time to do so than the scholars from Hunan and Hubei.

Therefore, among the five newly established practical subjects, the students from Jiangxi and Anhui generally performed worse than those from Hunan.

Peng Gang pondered for a long time and said, "Scholars from Jiangxi and Anhui have risked their lives to come to Wuchang to participate in the Northern Examination. If not a single one of them passes, it may discourage the scholars from Jiangxi and Anhui."

The existing list remains unchanged. Two candidates from Anhui and Jiangxi, each with the highest scores, will be selected to qualify for the palace examination as an encouragement.

Currently, apart from Dehua and Ruichang counties in Jiujiang Prefecture, Peng Gang has no other areas under his actual control in Jiangxi and Anhui provinces.

Even the counties of Dehua and Ruichang in Jiujiang Prefecture were on the periphery of Peng Gang's rule.

Peng Gang was pleasantly surprised that scholars from Jiangxi and Anhui provinces were willing to take the exam.

Peng Gang felt it necessary to select four candidates from Jiangxi and Anhui provinces as role models to encourage them, so that the next northern examination would attract scholars from Jiangxi and Anhui provinces.

"As you command," Liu Bingwen, Liu Qixian, and the others replied in unison.

They all agreed on this, as there were still separate lists for the North and South during the Ming Dynasty.

Even considering the current imperial examinations of the Qing Dynasty, the difficulty of the examinations varied greatly from province to province, especially in places like Jiangnan, a region rich in cultural heritage.

Many students, in terms of exam ability alone, were stronger than those from the border regions. The reason they failed to pass was simply because the competition in the Jiangnan region was far too fierce.

Peng Gang's selection of four scholars from Jiangxi and Anhui to participate in the palace examination was perfectly normal in the eyes of Liu Bingwen, Liu Qixian, Liu Rong, and others.

"Your Highness, the Wuchang Administrative School is short of students. All the candidates are well-versed in literature. I believe that those who did not pass the imperial examination could be admitted to the Wuchang Administrative School. After completing their studies, they could be given official positions and put to our use," Liu Rong stepped forward and suggested.

Of the four schools Peng Gang had already established in Wuchang, the Administrative School had the highest admission requirements. Therefore, from the very beginning, the Wuchang Administrative School faced the predicament of not having enough students.

“That’s exactly what I was thinking.” Peng Gang picked up the ranking list on the table and examined it carefully. Then he picked up a pen and drew another line under the administrative school.

"Scholars who did not make the list of successful candidates but scored above 400 points will be granted the same degree as Jinshi and will be allowed to study at the Wuchang Administrative School."

Those whose scores are below the cutoff for the Administrative Academy and who are under 35 years old, but whose physical fitness meets the requirements and who can pass the Wuchang Military Academy's examination, may also enter the Wuchang Military Academy for further study.

Those who do not wish to abandon their studies and join the army can pursue further education at Wuchang Normal School, and will be given a government-affiliated position upon graduation.

At present, Peng Gang's literacy campaign is still in the stage of training teachers and has not yet been fully rolled out.

For Peng Gang, intellectuals, even those with minor intellectual backgrounds, are rare talents.

Even those who failed to pass the imperial examinations should try their best to stay and work for us.

Once the results were determined, Peng Gang ordered Li Ruzhao, the official in charge of announcing the results, to post the list of successful candidates in front of the screen wall in Wuchang.

The Chengxuan Guan of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom was mainly responsible for the transmission of documents, the delivery of orders, and the communication of government affairs. He was equivalent to a liaison officer and confidential secretary between the various princes' palaces and government offices at all levels, and even the army.

The same applies to the officials in charge of proclamation in the North Palace; Peng Gang basically treated these officials as secretaries.

In terms of status, the Chengxuan official of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom was equivalent to a mid-level official in the Heavenly Kingdom. However, since the Chengxuan official was a close attendant of the princes, his actual status was much higher than his nominal status.

The officials in charge of announcing ceremonies were divided into five ranks: the official in charge of announcing ceremonies before the palace, the chief official, the assistant chief official, the deputy official, and the assistant deputy official.

Currently, there are two officials in charge of public announcements in the North Hall: Liu Bingwen's son, Liu Sijin, and Li Ruzhao, a scholar from southern Hunan.

Peng Gang's more than thirty proclamation officers were all junior intellectuals who had joined him early on, and they came from either Guangxi or southern Hunan.

The same was true for the other princes' officials; they were mostly scholars from Guangxi and Hunan who had joined the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom.

The difference is that, according to the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom's system of officials with the same rank, the officials in charge of other halls would be granted a rank such as "official with the same rank" to clarify their status, and the officials in charge of other halls could also be involved in military affairs.

The boundaries between military and political affairs in the North Palace were relatively clear, but the Chengxuan official had no similar duties and could not get involved in military affairs.

Peng Gang would occasionally promote one or two Chengxuan officials to positions in the Shengku system or local areas.

Currently, the two places where Peng Gang has dispatched the most officials are Huangmei County and Daye Mining Bureau.

Li Ruzhao accepted the order and rode his horse to the Wuchang Examination Hall to release the list of successful candidates.

On the first day of the eleventh month, the area in front of the screen wall of the Wuchang Examination Hall was already crowded with people, and the north side was completely packed with them.

Many scholars had already gathered near the screen wall of the Wuchang Examination Hall, waiting for the results of the imperial examination to be announced.

The imperial examination determined whether one was qualified to become a Jinshi (进士), and whether one could pass the imperial examination to become a Gongshi (贡士) was the most important question for most of the scholars who took the northern examination this time.

After all, the subsequent palace examination usually only tests one policy question, and according to convention, the palace examination will not eliminate people in principle.

Being listed on the list of successful candidates in the imperial examinations was essentially equivalent to becoming a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations).

The apricot list was named so because it was published during the spring when apricot blossoms were in full bloom.

However, the list of successful candidates for the Northern Examination was somewhat misnamed, as it was released in November, much earlier than the Qing government's official list.

After all, the number of candidates participating in the Northern Examination was small, only a little over 1,800, so the grading speed was definitely much faster than that of the Qing Dynasty's metropolitan examination.

When Li Ruzhao and his entourage, escorted by more than thirty Northern Palace soldiers, posted the yellow notice that would determine the fate of hundreds of people high up, the entire scene fell silent for a moment, and then erupted into a huge roar.

"I won! I won! I won!"

"Sigh, I failed again."

"Alas, I am destined to miss the imperial examinations of the Qing Dynasty, and I will also miss this northern examination. This trip has been in vain."

The jubilant shouts of those who passed the exam were juxtaposed with the disappointed sighs of those who failed.

Later, many scholars in the back rows who couldn't see the list clearly made a noisy commotion.

The scholars' attention naturally focused first on the top of the list.

"The top scholar is Wang Kaiyun from Xiangtan!"

When the name of the top scholar was announced, a buzz of surprise and understanding immediately arose from the crowd.

Wang Kaiyun was exceptionally talented and renowned for his literary skills from an early age. He was already highly regarded among the candidates for the imperial examinations. Although his victory in the provincial examination was enviable, it was also reasonable and no one was surprised.

Wang Kaiyun himself, still dressed in a blue robe, stood on the outskirts of the crowd, a faint smile on his lips, showing little sign of elation, as if everything was under his control, and that he had expected to become the top scholar in the Northern Examination.

He simply nodded slightly, accepting the congratulatory glances from those around him with equanimity.

"Second place: Li Xucheng from Hanyang!"

"Third place: Zhou Jishen from Jiangxia!"

Most of the candidates taking the imperial examinations in the north were from Hubei, with the largest number coming from Hanyang County.

The names of the second and third place winners in the imperial examination drew cheers from even more local scholars.

Zhou Jishen was huddled together with his elder brother Zhou Jihong looking at the list of successful candidates when he heard his name listed third. He froze on the spot until Zhou Jihong patted him hard on the shoulder, at which point he exclaimed "Ah!" and his eyes welled up with tears. He thought of the nights he spent studying late into the night at the prefectural school, and even more so of his father's expectations at home.

Third place in the imperial examination! This was a ranking he had never dared to imagine before!

"Eighteenth place, Hu Chunfang from Jiangxia!"

Upon hearing his name called, Hu Chunfang, a scholar from Jiangxia, stomped his feet repeatedly in excitement, bowed to all directions, and kept chanting, "Heaven rewards those who persevere! Heaven rewards those who persevere!"

When Zhou Jihong finally found his name at the bottom of the list, he couldn't help but let out a long sigh of relief and wipe the fine beads of sweat from his forehead.

Although he ranked last on the list, he had ultimately leaped over the dragon gate and had not disappointed his father's expectations. He held his younger brother's hand tightly, and the two brothers smiled at each other, everything understood without words.

Only a minority of scholars were able to pass the imperial examination. Many more, after repeatedly confirming that their names were not on the list, instantly lost their color, replaced by expressions of dejection, disappointment, resentment, and confusion.

Some covered their faces on the spot, not wanting others to see their loss of composure; some stood there blankly, as if their souls had been taken away; others forced a smile and congratulated their fellow villagers or friends who had passed the exam, but their eyes could not hide their sadness.

“So be it, so be it, it’s fate…” an older scholar shook his head and sighed.

"Ten years of hard study, and I'm not even as good as that little brat!" Some people complained indignantly, their eyes sweeping over the calm and composed Wang Kaiyun in the distance.

After the initial great disappointment, some scholars with a better mindset comforted themselves.

"Sigh, speaking of which, although I didn't pass the exam this time in Wuchang, I did manage to get a thick, brand-new quilt. I would never have been willing to buy such a good thing back home."

"Exactly! We've been eating and staying here for free for over a month, with plenty of oily and flavorful meals every day, and even whale oil lamps for lighting. I've never received such treatment before when taking the imperial examinations."

"I also saw amazing things like trains, steamships, and telegraphs, which broadened my horizons and made the trip worthwhile."

These words resonated with many who had failed the exam, and their frustration seemed to ease somewhat, making them feel less distressed.

Just as the unsuccessful candidates were sighing and preparing to return home with mixed feelings, Li Ruzhao issued another proclamation.

The proclamation clearly stated that, in the spirit of valuing talent, all those who, although their total score did not reach the passing score for the metropolitan examination, but whose score was above 400, would be granted the title of "Jinshi" and allowed to enter the Wuchang Administrative School for further study.

"Like a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examination)?"

The unsuccessful candidates were initially stunned, then overjoyed. Although they were still unsure whether a Jinshi degree was truly equivalent to a Jinshi, for many candidates, especially local candidates, it meant entering the Wuchang Administrative School for further studies.

It is well known that the Northern King likes to promote talented people from among the members of the Kiyota Squad and grant them official positions.

In counties where the policy of "land to the tiller" has been implemented, some county magistrates, registrars, county assistants, and most of the civil service officials came from the land clearing team.

The Wuchang Administrative School served as a personnel reserve for the Qingtian Team, and half of the current Qingtian Team members came from the Wuchang Administrative School.

Moreover, the principal of the Wuchang Administrative School was Liu Rong, the deputy examiner for this Northern Examination.

It is an honor for a student to be able to serve as an assistant examiner.

Li Ruzhao then announced: Those whose scores do not reach the administrative school line, but are under 35 years old, in good health, and who can pass the Wuchang Military Academy's examination, may also enter the Military Academy for further study!
However, the idea that literature was valued more than martial arts was deeply ingrained, and very few students who failed the imperial examinations were willing to abandon their studies and join the army to enter the Wuchang Military Academy.

The few who were willing did so because Peng Gang was the principal of the Wuchang Military Academy, and entering the Wuchang Military Academy meant becoming a disciple of the Northern King.

For young scholars who were unwilling to join the army and failed to meet the aforementioned standards, the proclamation offered a third option: they could voluntarily enter the Wuchang Normal School for further study, and upon completion of their studies, they would also be granted a substantive position!
The Wuchang Normal School was far more attractive than the Wuchang Military Academy.

The principal of Wuchang Normal School was Liu Bingwen, Peng Gang's teacher, who was also the chief examiner for the imperial examination in the north. Many unsuccessful candidates believed that becoming Liu Bingwen's student would guarantee them a bright future.

The three decrees, like three rays of sunlight, pierced through the gloom of failure, illuminating the path forward for almost all the scholars who had failed the exams.

"Long live the Northern King!!"

"Your Highness's kindness is beyond measure! This student will repay it with the utmost gratitude!"

The scholars, who had been dejected just moments before, were now flushed with excitement. Many of them could hardly contain themselves and turned towards the direction of the Northern Prince's residence, straightening their clothes and bowing deeply in gratitude.

"Brother, I... I scored 412 points! I can go to the political academy!" A young man grabbed his companion's hand and said incoherently.

"I'm going to the military academy! A true man should strive for fame and fortune on horseback!" Another man straightened his chest, his eyes gleaming with renewed fighting spirit.

Even the older scholars who had no intention of enrolling in school were deeply moved: "The Northern King's thinking is so thorough, unprecedented in history. Even if we return home, this experience is enough to make us stand out among our peers."

The provincial examination was followed by the palace examination.

Peng Gang held the palace examination in the main hall of the Northern Prince's Mansion, and examined each candidate in order of their ranking by asking them policy questions.

Aside from a very few individuals who performed exceptionally well in the palace examination and left a deep impression on Peng Gang.

For example, Hu Chunfang, who was originally ranked eighteenth on the list, was promoted to third in the second class by Peng Gang.

Of course, Peng Gang also lowered the rankings of those who performed extremely poorly in the policy-related questions.

However, there were not many candidates whose performance in the palace examination and the metropolitan examination differed greatly; for most candidates, their rankings did not change significantly.

After the palace examination, the top scholar was Wang Kaiyun, the second-ranked scholar was Li Xucheng, and the third-ranked scholar was Zhou Jishen.

Basically, it's the same ranking as the one on the Xingbang list.

After the palace examination, the three top-ranked candidates from the first class, along with the top ten from the second class, totaling thirteen people, were appointed by Peng Gang as Chengxuan officials.

The three men in the first rank were appointed as deputy chief proclamation officers, and the ten men in the second rank were appointed as deputy chief proclamation officers.

Those who can stand out from more than 1,800 candidates must have some strengths.

Peng Gang decided to keep these thirteen people by his side and train them intensively. As for the remaining second and third class Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations),

They would complete a one-month training course at the Wuchang Administrative School and then complete a three-month internship at the Qingtian Team. Based on their performance during the training and internship, they would be granted an official position.

Just as Peng Gang was taking the imperial examination, Remy, the manager of the French firm Leming & Co., who had been unable to meet Peng Gang, was furious about the tea delivery problem and demanded to see Peng Gang.

However, Peng Gang was very busy during the palace examination, and Remi was unable to see him. He had no choice but to settle for second best and meet Peng Gang's younger brother, Peng Yi.

Seeing Remy's angry face, Peng Yi assumed that Remy had been scammed by hooligans in Hankou again because of the Frenchmen from the Liming Foreign Firm.

The three soldiers from the British Indian colony who attempted to rape local laundry women were, after negotiations, executed after being paraded through the streets of Wuhan.

The victims received compensation ranging from 150 to 300 taels of silver.

When word of this spread, many local and even out-of-town scoundrels felt they had discovered a way to make money.

They treated the foreigners in Hankou like walking silver coins, and went to Hankou specifically to find foreigners to stage accidents for extortion.

Although the situation of staged accidents in Hankou has improved considerably after more than forty scoundrels who staged accidents were punished and sent to Daye to work in the mines.

However, money can be a powerful motivator, and occasionally there are still some audacious scoundrels, especially those who are desperate to win big in gambling dens and take risks. There are still quite a few who defy the odds and commit crimes.

Peng Yi assumed that Remy had come to see Peng Gang specifically about the French merchants being scammed in Hankou, so he said to Remy, "Mr. Remy, the affairs in Hankou are currently being handled by Chen Xingwang, who is temporarily in charge. If any of your country's merchants are scammed in Hankou, you can contact Mr. Chen. If Mr. Chen is too busy to see you, you can also contact Wang Dalei, the magistrate of Hanyang County. Magistrate Wang is not that busy. There is no need to bother His Highness the Northern King with these matters."

"I didn't come here for these trivial matters! I came here for the delivery of the tea. Your merchants are just like those unscrupulous merchants I encountered in Shanghai, equally untrustworthy!" Remy said angrily.

"Sir, I must lodge a strong protest against your discriminatory treatment of our French trading company!"

(End of this chapter)