In the imperial examinations and imperial examinations, all except officials from the Ministry of Rites can participate in reviewing the examination papers.
"Your Majesty, the first ten papers for this palace examination are all here." Pang Chunlai squinted his eyes, hung a pair of glasses on his chest, and handed the answer sheet to the female officer with a trembling forehead.
The female officer forwarded it to Zhao Han and gave it to the emperor to see in person.
The imperial examination paper is an ink paper, which is the original paper that the examinee answered. It is not copied into a red paper like the general examination... If the candidate's handwriting is recognized and there are elders who are responsible for marking, he can easily cheat.
of.
Therefore, in traditional court examination papers, those with nepotism need to avoid suspicion.
Yang Tinghe did not avoid suspicion back then and participated in the evaluation as the chief assistant. As a result, his son Yang Shen won the first prize and has been criticized and questioned for hundreds of years.
Zhao Han only scanned a few lines of the first-place paper and knew it must be a scholar from the old list.
The articles written by Xinbang scholars are more straightforward and often have an unconcealable spirit.
However, the writing style of the scholars in the old list was more complicated, focusing on principles, and they were more calm than aggressive.
The policy statement in front of me is mature and prudent, citing scriptures. It has been spoken from ancient times to the present day.
I guess I usually read newspapers and discuss the situation in overseas countries. The core point is the Sino-Barbarian Debate, which says that while opening up sea trade, we must not be influenced by foreign barbarians.
European religions should be completely banned. Moreover, in overseas Han-populated areas, local Han people should be encouraged to open schools.
He has literary talent, a stand, a vision, and his principles are correct. No wonder he was rated number one by the cabinet ministers.
The second-placed paper is probably from a scholar from Xinbang.
Let’s talk about the importance of finance first, saying that it was because of the lack of money that the Ming Dynasty fell into an endless cycle of more and more peasant uprisings. It also discussed the past dynasties. The collapse of a dynasty was often accompanied by a financial collapse.
Let’s talk about the European colonists again. Countries such as Spain and the Netherlands were driven by profit to colonize across the sea.
Therefore, this candidate emphasized that we must not close the sea. The benefits of four-sea trade, if the European barbarians increase by one point, the unified China will decrease by one point. The emperor has already sent troops to control Ryukyu, Taiwan, Luzon and Guangnan, and then Batavia
and Malacca must be captured.
He also said that while focusing on maritime trade, we should not ignore the Silk Road. When the population in the north is sufficient, we should follow the example of the Han and Tang Dynasties and seize control of the Western Regions. Once we control the Western Regions, we will not only be able to gain profits from overland trade, but also cut off the foreign trade routes of the Mongolian grasslands.
, it is also beneficial to the control of the Mongols without any harm.
This candidate will also delineate the sphere of influence for China in the future, that is, the east of Malacca and the east of the Seven Rivers Basin, which must be under the control of the Chinese court.
"Okay, discerning!"
Zhao Han was very happy and drew a circle on the answer sheet with his pen.
The third answer sheet was written with great momentum and the writing style could be called majestic. Unfortunately, it was all correct nonsense, so Zhao Han threw it aside.
The first paper about keeping a promise in the meeting was not ranked in the top ten. Zhao Han quickly browsed to the 21st paper before encountering it.
All the ministers were a little uneasy because the emperor did not give them any face.
According to the Ming Dynasty's palace examination rules, the emperor will generally not change the rankings recommended by the cabinet ministers. Even if it is changed, it will be from the top three, top five, or top ten, and the one he likes will be selected as the top pick.
The emperor himself read dozens of answer sheets to express his distrust of his ministers.
Two hundred papers are too many.
Zhao Han basically browsed quickly and read carefully when he found something he liked. He personally read more than 80 of the previous copies.
He put together several of the best articles and compared them repeatedly, and finally Yubi circled the top three.
He said happily: "Let's dismantle the name list here."
This is the job of the rescue room.
In addition to being familiar with politics, the officials in the imperial office must also have excellent calligraphy and excellent writing skills. After all, they are the ones who usually write the imperial edicts.
Today, the chief official of the royal palace is Yuan Jixian, a native of Yichun, Jiangxi. He served as the highest emissary to Shanxi in the Ming Dynasty, and Master Fu Qing was his student. He also helped Wang Tiaoding escort Chongzhen's children southward.
Yuan Jixian opened the blank names on the answer sheet and announced to the ministers one by one that he was the champion: Li Kaiji, a native of Luling, Jiangxi.
Second place: Zhang Shouyue, from Nanhai, Guangdong.
Tanhua: Shen Wei, from Yiyang, Hunan.
They are all southern scholars who received traditional education and new education. Their average age is only 21 years old. Two graduated from Jinling University and one graduated from Guangzhou University.
The imperial examination is not about knowledge, it is about vision and thinking. It is about how compatible they are with the emperor or ministers. It is not just about studying well that will lead to the top spot.
The cabinet ministers were speechless, but at the same time they were mentally prepared for this.
Immediately afterwards, Yuan Jixian picked up the ink pen and wrote the names of these three people on the framed yellow list.
After writing Huang Bang, Yuan Jixian began to write biographies again.
Female officer Shang Bao brought the emperor's seal and asked Zhao Han to stamp it on the yellow list. Song Yingxing took the yellow list to Fengtian Hall and handed it to Chen Maosheng who was already waiting there. Yuan Jixian handed the biography to Honglu Temple. Dear Zhang Dai.
That morning, the imperial list was posted.
The list of the top three Jinshi was announced first. Cui Wenxiu, a North Korean student studying abroad, stood under the list and kept silently reciting: "Don't have me, don't have me!"
Scholars who have been admitted to the general examination will not be eliminated by the palace examination, and of course they do not want to appear on the third list.
Li Jixiu, a scholar from Hebei Province, also held this idea, but unfortunately he was disappointed in the end.
He only got seventh place in the three rankings.
Most of these results will be thrown directly into the local government, and you will be promoted from the ninth rank official, and then slowly rise up based on your political performance and qualifications. Fortunately, the promotion paths in the new dynasty are different. As long as you are a Jinshi, the ninth rank official can continue to climb up. , unlike in the Ming Dynasty when one could be promoted to the seventh rank at most.
Then the second list is posted.
Wang Zunxun and Sun Chengen were historically the two number one scholars in the Shunzhi Dynasty. Today, one is ranked first in the second ranking list and the other is ranked 19th in the second ranking list.
Among them, Wang Zunxun's paper was judged by the cabinet minister to be the first, but it was passed down by Zhao Han.
"First place!"
The central clerk shouted, took out the yellow list and posted it.
"Tanhua, Shen Gongwei, is from Yiyang, Hunan, and graduated from Jinling University!"
Shen Wei stood in the crowd, with a somewhat honest smile on his face.
He was just an ordinary farmer. Before the Datong Army regained Hunan, his family was a self-cultivated farmer. He couldn't even afford to study in the village school, so he could only sit outside the class and listen.
Then households were divided into households, and Shen Wei also went to a new-style primary school, and was promoted to Jinling University at public expense.
Moreover, when Shen Wei was in college, he went to the imperial court through his teachers and changed some of Hunan's policy policies.
"Congratulations to Brother Shen, congratulations to Brother Shen!"
"Same joy, same joy!"
Suddenly, a wealthy businessman rushed over, grabbed Shen Wei's sleeve and asked, "Has Mr. Shen ever been married?"
Shen Wei said: "There is an engagement."
The wealthy businessman was immediately disappointed, and those around him who were eager to try also sighed and left.
Shen Wei was also lamenting that the female classmate with whom he fell in love was the only daughter of a wealthy businessman, and her parents had to find a wife before they agreed to the marriage.
"Second place in the list is Zhang Gongshou, a native of Nanhai, Guangdong, and graduated from Guangzhou University!"
The scholars in Guangdong suddenly burst into cheers and cheered and celebrated around Zhang Shouyue.
A group of merchants rushed to Zhang Shouyue again and hurriedly asked about the marriage. Zhang Shouyue smiled and said, "To be honest, the dog is already one and a half years old."
Well, this one has a son.
"The number one scholar, Li Gong succeeded, was from Luling, Jiangxi, and graduated from Jinling University."
Suddenly a scholar shouted mischievously: "The number one scholar is not married yet and has no engagement contract.
Whoever catches your son-in-law at the bottom of the list, hurry up!"
Li Kaiji was so frightened that he ran away and ran all the way back to the inn before giving up.
Standing in the guest room, Li Kaiji straightened his clothes, raised three fingers and said: "I swear today that I will play my best and work hard to serve your Majesty Yao and Shun!"
Shen Wei, who was second on the list, used to be a self-cultivated farmer. Tanhua Zhang Shooyue, her family has always been a wealthy businessman.
As for the number one scholar, Li Kaiji, his parents were from a military household in the suburbs of Luling County. To put it bluntly, they worked as serfs for military attachés. As far back as he could remember, he never had enough to eat, and both his eldest brother and third sister starved to death.
It wasn't until Zhao Han led the Datong army to kill, occupied Luling County, and divided the fields among the military households that Li Kaiji finally turned around.
My father and eldest brother are dead, and my second brother has become the backbone of the family. Although it is still very hard,
But plowing my own fields every day is indescribably enjoyable.
The eldest brother-in-law is also a military householder. He joined the army to fight with His Majesty and is now the commander of the 7th Division of the Datong Army. If it weren’t for his poor cultural background and his inability to write a few words, he might have already become a brigade commander. After all, his military qualifications are There.
Life at home is getting better day by day.
There have been no major disasters in Luling County, and the food grown cannot be used up. The old mother occasionally cooks food and asks the second sister-in-law to sell it in the city. The second sister-in-law can also make money by spinning yarn. The family also raises chickens and ducks. The second brother was a good farmer, so he used the extra money to buy pens, ink, paper and inkstones for Li Kaiji.
His Majesty the Emperor is still alive, and the family does not dare to establish a shrine for the Emperor. The old mother, on the first day of every month,
They would go to the mountains on the outskirts of the county to offer incense to the martyrs at the Yinghun Temple, and at the same time thank His Majesty the Emperor for his kindness in rebuilding.
My old mother often said: "Third son, how can our family afford His Majesty's kindness? You must study hard, become an official in the future, and do good work for Your Majesty."
Just as Li Kaiji was reminiscing about the past, his classmates shouted from downstairs: "Old Li, Old Li, come down to pick up the guests!"
“Bang bang bang bang!”
Then there was the sound of firecrackers popping away.
The innkeeper held up firecrackers and set off, while the shopkeeper shouted with a smile on his face: "Today's room rate and food are all 20% off! The new top scholar will live in our hotel! Whoever comes to stay in the hotel in the future will be able to get Wenquxing It’s so joyful. Children stay in the inn, all of them are smart. Scholars stay in the inn, all of them are high school champions! I will give the owner a suggestion to change the name of the inn to Zhuangyuan Building! Throw money! "
"good!"
The store clerk scattered copper coins all over the floor, and passersby scrambled for them.
It's not to grab money, after all, no matter how nimble your hands and feet are, you can still grab an extra three to five cents, it's just to get a chance to enjoy Wen Quxing's nobility.
Form is important.
The significance of restoring the imperial examination is not only to regulate the selection of officials, but also has another symbol in the hearts of the people.