Hot flashes

Three hundred and seventeen candidates stood in rows according to their rankings. The ones at the very front, dressed in their finest clothes, stood ramrod straight, adjusting their attire again and again.

At exactly 5:00 AM, the palace gates opened.

The candidates were led through Chengtian Gate, along the long imperial road, and arrived in front of the main hall.

The palace doors were open, revealing a magnificent interior.

Xiao Jue sat on the throne, watching the people file in.

More than three hundred people filled the main hall. There were young people and old people. There were scions of noble families and children from poor families. They stood there, some with their heads down, some secretly glancing up, and some trembling with nervousness.

Xiao Jue spoke.

"Today's palace examination is being held, and I will personally set the questions."

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly to everyone's ears.

"There was only one question: Discuss the 'Way Between Ruler and Minister'."

He paused.

"Half an hour. Those who finish should hand in their papers."

After he finished speaking, the eunuch began to distribute writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones.

The candidates knelt down, laid out paper, ground ink, and picked up their brushes.

The hall was extremely quiet. The only sounds were the scratching of pens on paper and the occasional cough.

Xiao Jue sat on the throne, looking at those people.

Half an hour passed quickly.

The eunuchs began collecting the scrolls.

The "exam-reading ministers" were responsible for grading the papers. They screened all the exam papers and ranked them in a preliminary order.

After arranging them, they were presented to Xiao Jue.

Xiao Jue looked at each document one by one.

"I have selected the top three."

The eunuch's shrill voice rang out:

"First place in the top class, Cui Yan."

"Second place in the first division, Lu Shao."

"Third place in the top division, Lin Jun."

The hall fell silent for a moment.

Then people started whispering among themselves.

"Cui Yan? Is that Cui Yan from the Cui family of Qinghe?"

"That's him. His father is Cui Yin."

"Where's Lu Shao? From the Lu family of Xingyang?"

"right."

"What about Lin Jun? Who is Lin Jun?"

"I don't know... I've never heard of it..."

Zhou Heng, standing to the side, paused for a moment upon hearing the name.

Lin Jun.

He remembered the name.

He's the one who wrote the best piece about the floods in Jiangnan. He's from Jiangling Prefecture.

But in Jiangling Prefecture... the Lin family in Jiangling Prefecture isn't a prominent family. They're from humble backgrounds.

He looked at the three people who had stepped forward.

Cui Yan stood at the front, looking to be about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, with a dignified appearance and composed demeanor.

Lu Shao stood beside him, younger than him, with a polite smile on his face.

Lin Jun stood in third place.

He looked a little younger than the other two, around twenty-three or twenty-four years old. He wore a slightly worn robe, faded from washing, but very clean. His appearance wasn't outstanding; he had delicate features and gentle eyes.

Xiao Jue spoke.

"Cui Yan".

Cui Yan stepped forward and knelt down.

Xiao Jue looked at him.

"I have read your policy proposal. It is well written."

Cui Yan kowtowed.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Xiao Jue asked, "What are your thoughts on the Jiangling flood?"

Cui Yan was taken aback.

This question is not on the exam.

But he quickly realized what was happening.

"In my opinion, the problem with floods lies in the inadequacy of the dikes. The inadequacy of the dikes lies in the lack of diligence of those who repair them. The lack of diligence of those who repair the dikes lies in the lack of clarity in rewards and punishments. If Your Majesty were to be strict in rewards and punishments, so that those who repair the dikes would not dare to slack off, then the floods could be reduced."

Xiao Jue nodded.

"Lu Shao".

Lu Shao stepped forward and knelt down.

Xiao Jue said, "You say the way to enrich the people lies in reducing taxes and corvée labor. I ask you, where does the money for reducing taxes and corvée labor come from?"

A thin layer of sweat seeped from Lu Shao's forehead.

"I believe...I believe we should reduce redundant officials and save on expenses..."

Xiao Jue looked at him.

Which redundant officials should be cut?

Lu Shao opened his mouth, but couldn't say a word.

Xiao Jue did not press further.

He looked at Lin Jun.

"Lin Jun".

Lin Jun stepped forward and knelt down.

Xiao Jue looked at him.

"I have read your proposal," he said. "You said the key to disaster relief lies not in allocating more money, but in ensuring that the money reaches the people. I ask you, how do we ensure that the money reaches the people?"

Lin Jun raised his head.

"I believe that a special official should be appointed to oversee disaster relief. Every penny of the silver allocated by the court, down to the prefectures, counties, and villages, should be accounted for. When the people receive the silver, they should sign a document as proof. After the disaster relief is completed, the accounts should be sent to the capital for verification. Anyone found to have embezzled should be executed immediately."

Xiao Jue remained silent.

The hall was quiet for a moment.

Then Xiao Jue spoke.

"it is good."

Lin Jun kowtowed.

Three days after the palace examination ended, the imperial edict was issued.

Early that morning, 317 newly appointed scholars gathered outside Chengtian Gate and stood in rows according to their ranking.

It was still dark and the fog was so thick that you couldn't see people's faces even a few steps away.

At exactly 5:00 AM, the palace gates opened.

A eunuch emerged carrying the imperial edict, followed by two rows of ceremonial guards. He stopped on the steps, unfurled the yellow silk, and his shrill voice pierced the morning mist, each word striking a chord in everyone's ears.

"By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:"

After the palace examination, 317 candidates were selected. Cui Yan, ranked first in the first class, was appointed as a compiler in the Hanlin Academy, a sixth-rank official. Lu Shao, ranked second in the first class, was appointed as an editor in the Hanlin Academy, a seventh-rank official. Lin Jun, ranked third in the first class, was also appointed as an editor in the Hanlin Academy, a seventh-rank official.

Cui Yan knelt at the front, and upon hearing his name called, he kowtowed. The moment his forehead touched the ground, his face remained expressionless.

Lu Shao himself breathed a sigh of relief. Compiler, a seventh-rank official. A little better than he had expected. He had originally thought that, given his inability to answer the question in the palace examination, he would be lucky to even get into the Hanlin Academy.

Lin Jun knelt third, and upon hearing the words "appointed as a compiler in the Hanlin Academy," he paused for a moment. Then he slowly kowtowed, his movements slower than Cui Yan and Lu Shao's, as if confirming that this was not a dream.

The eunuch continued reading.

Sixty-seven Jinshi (successful candidates in the second class) were granted the title of Jinshi. Two hundred and forty-seven Jinshi (successful candidates in the third class) were granted the title of Tong Jinshi.

After the imperial edict was read aloud, the eunuch put it away.

"Congratulations, esteemed sirs."

More than three hundred people kowtowed in unison, shouting "Long live the Emperor!"

When Lin Jun stood up, his legs felt a little weak. A stranger helped him up, wearing a similarly worn robe. The man smiled at him and whispered, "Lord Lin, steady yourself."

Lin Jun was taken aback for a moment, then quickly thanked him.

The person waved his hand, already pushed away by the crowd.

In the following days, documents from the Ministry of Personnel were sent out like snowflakes.

There were 67 Jinshi (successful candidates in the second class of the imperial examination). According to the rules, a court examination was held first, and then the candidates were assigned based on their scores.

The top performers could continue their studies at the Hanlin Academy and become probationary scholars. The rest were assigned to various departments of the Six Ministries, the Censorate, and the Censorate of various circuits, with ranks ranging from seventh to eighth grade.

There were 247 people who passed the imperial examination in the third rank. Most of them were to be assigned to local areas.

County magistrates, registrars, and instructors were all available, ranging from the eighth to the ninth rank. A few exceptionally talented individuals were allowed to remain in the capital, starting as minor officials in various departments.

The courtyard of the Ministry of Personnel's Selection Office has been bustling with people these past few days; the threshold has almost been worn down. The newly appointed Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) are holding their documents, queuing up to register, to receive their official certificates, and to find out where they are going.

Some are happy, some are worried.

Three days later, the list of junior scholars was released.

Of the sixty-seven successful candidates in the second-class imperial examinations, twenty were selected to continue their studies at the Hanlin Academy. Three years later, most of these individuals would enter the Six Ministries, becoming the backbone of the imperial court.

The remaining forty-seven people were assigned to various departments within the Six Ministries. New recruits joined each of the six ministries: the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Works.

The ranks weren't high, ranging from the seventh to the eighth rank. But this was the capital, this was the Six Ministries, a place many people could never enter in their entire lives.

The top three scholars who passed the imperial examinations also received their official certificates one after another.

Two hundred and forty-seven people were dispatched to various places. Some went as far as Yunnan and Guizhou, while others went as close as Zhili (Hebei).

Some went to the county to serve as county magistrates, some to the prefecture to serve as registrars, and some to the state to serve as instructors. Their ranks weren't high, but at least they were officials.

The inns in the capital city were empty day after day.

Those scholars who came from all over the country, some stayed in the capital, and some went to the provinces. They carried their bags and official credentials, and embarked on different journeys.