Water Margin: The opening scene involves assassinating Emperor Huizong of Song and forcibly taking L

There were also proctors from the Inspectorate standing nearby.

"Remove the name," Xiao Chu ordered.

Juan Guo was also present.

Extremely exhausted

All he wants to do right now is sleep.

The chief examiner was named Dong Xixian.

He was a student of the Imperial Academy who followed Zhao Yuan to Guizhou.

He picked up the red scroll with only a number on it and said,

"First place, number 109 in field B,"

"Total score: 394. Check the paper!"

Another proctor, based on the room number,

Find the corresponding ink scroll.

After repeated comparisons, it was said:

"The ink on the scroll did not obscure the name."

The ink scroll was held up and displayed to the public.

Several key examiners and invigilators could see it clearly.

Officials further away can also come over to take a look if they have any questions.

Xiao Chu said, "Remove the name!"

The names haven't been completely revealed yet.

Several heads then peered over.

Dong Xixian announced: "The first place winner of the Ministry of Rites examination is Li Tong from Nan Jianzhou!"

"Whose disciple is this?" Hu Anguo asked.

"I don't know."

The crowd shook their heads.

Everyone has seen the first-place answer sheet.

Not only are the essays on scriptures well-written,

Moreover, the answers for both math and physics are all standard.

Even how to predict years of disaster, implement work relief programs, and prevent civil unrest,

They were all written very logically and clearly.

Huang Shang said, "Since you are a scholar from Nan Jianzhou,"

"Most of them are students of Chen Zhimo (Chen Yuan)."

"Most likely," Hu Anguo said.

They guessed wrong.

Li Tong was merely Chen Yuan's junior apprentice.

He was a disciple of Luo Congyan, a junior brother of Chen Yuan.

Zhu Xi had many teachers.

One of the most crucial ones,

This is Li Tong, who ranked first in this year's Ministry of Rites examination.

Li Tong was fond of drunk driving when he was young.

He often gets very drunk in the middle of the night.

Then, sword in hand, he rode his horse and galloped for several miles.

This man has a very impatient personality.

It's like he has ADHD.

He became more composed after becoming Luo Congyan's apprentice.

Moreover, he devoted himself to studying.

He never participated in the imperial examinations.

Chen Yuan brought the "Strategies of Using the Way" back to Fujian.

Li Tong copied a document and began to study on his own.

I occasionally attend Chen Yuan's lectures.

He greatly admired Zhao Yuan's talent and learning.

He secretly asked someone to get his hands on all of Zhao Yuan's articles.

Chapter 1855 Public Announcement

This important figure in Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism...

Although he had never met Zhao Yuan,

His academic ideas had long been distorted by Zhao Yuan.

He couldn't resist leaving his seclusion to take the imperial examination!

Continue unrolling.

"The second-place candidate in the Ministry of Rites examination is Hu Quan from Jizhou!"

When Xiao Chu announced the name,

He stroked his beard with a broad smile.

This is his own personally taught disciple.

The first person is from Fujian.

The second person is from Jiangxi.

These two provinces were indeed very competitive in the imperial examinations.

Fortunately, the three provinces were grouped into one list.

They strictly limited the number of Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations).

"Wang Dabao from Chaozhou ranked third in the Ministry of Rites examination!"

Chaozhou belongs to Guangnan Road.

It has not been fully recovered yet.

It is not within the scope of this imperial examination.

Just as everyone was wondering,

Xiao Chu looked at it carefully again and said,

"This person is a former student of the Imperial Academy during the Song Dynasty,"

"Because of the incompetent ruler's separatist rule, it was difficult to return to one's hometown,"

"Therefore, he registered his residence in Kaifeng to take the exam."

This year, Kaifeng has an unusually large number of candidates for the imperial examination.

The main purpose was to facilitate a stay in the capital.

Scholars whose place of origin was in provinces that had not yet been recovered.

Wu Yanzhang said, "His ancestral home is Chaozhou, and his surname is Wang."

"She should be a descendant of the King of Min."

The King of Min was Wang Shenzhi, the warlord who burned down the Southern Shaolin Temple at the end of the Tang Dynasty.

One who occupied the entire territory of Fujian but did not declare himself emperor.

Moreover, the peasant uprising leaders were selected based on their merits, with light taxes and levies, and who were subject to the imperial court's direct control.

Although the imperial examination system flourished in the Song Dynasty,

However, it has not yet truly reached the grassroots farmers.

Every single one of the past Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations)

They were at least nouveau riche like the Bai family.

Or perhaps they are temporarily living in poverty.

But they belonged to impoverished gentry.

For example, someone like Qin Hui.

Only in the Ming Dynasty

Printing and papermaking costs have become lower.

Only then can truly impoverished peasant children rise above their circumstances through the imperial examinations!

Look at the top three in this year's Ministry of Rites examination.

That tells you what kind of people were in the Jinshi group.

.....

"Brother Bangheng, hurry and check the list!"

Li Yi stood at the door of the guest room and shouted.

"I'm coming."

Hu Quan pushed open the door and went out.

The two went downstairs together.

I encountered several scholars at the stairwell.

Some more people gathered on the street.

They marched in a mighty force toward Gongyuan Street.

It was already packed with people.

There were also wealthy merchants with their servants.

Waiting to play that "catching a son-in-law under the list of successful candidates" game.

Waiting and waiting,

Finally, officials emerged from the examination hall.

Soon, a list was posted.

The scholars were immediately in an uproar.

Because there are too few candidates for the imperial examination this year.

During the reign of Emperor Huizong of Song,

A single list could easily produce six or seven hundred successful candidates.

The first imperial examination of the Ming Dynasty

Only 350 scholars were selected for the imperial examination.

How cruel and ungrateful!

Li Yi muttered, "How come there are only three hundred and fifty people?"

Hu Quan said, "Let's go back a hundred years,"