In the Song Dynasty, there was an eunuch institution called the Royal Medicine Court, which specialized in collecting medicinal materials and prescriptions to serve the emperor's daily meals.
Gradually, they were also responsible for the emperor's daily wear.
Then he participated in the palace examination, responsible for printing the examination papers, sealing the examination papers, announcing the regulations of the palace examination, participating in the whole process of the palace examination, and assisting in formulating the first rank of Jinshi.
The eunuchs of the Imperial Medicine Court had powers involving politics, diplomacy, economics, military affairs, imperial examinations, and were often even responsible for drafting the emperor's decrees.
This department is very similar to the Liturgical Supervisor of the Ming Dynasty. It is a tool for the emperor to fight for power with civil servants!
There have also been some strong men, such as Li Xian, the coach of Xihe Kaibian, who was a eunuch in the Imperial Medicine Institute.
By the time of Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty, although the Imperial Medicine Institute was large in scale, it could not meet the emperor's needs. In the second year of Xining, the Imperial Medicine Institute was reformed and changed to a higher-level unit, and the emperor's clothing was handed over to the Shangyi Bureau.
Nowadays, reforms are taking place. The Shang Pharmacy Bureau and the Royal Pharmacy Institute are decentralizing their powers. The Imperial Pharmacy Institute is no longer the only one.
During the reform, the eunuch Yang Qiu who often imitated the emperor's handwriting and illegally promulgated edicts... disappeared.
In the past two years, Song Huizong finally realized that something was wrong. While dividing Cai Jing's party members, he was also dividing the increasingly arrogant eunuch group.
The scholars in this year's scientific examination are extremely lucky, so they don't have to worry about cheating in the imperial examination.
This was because the Shang Yao Bureau and the Royal Yao Yuan had just decentralized their powers. The eunuchs were busy trying to undermine each other and stared at each other. No one dared to leak the questions when printing the test papers, and no one dared to collude with the marking officer when sealing the test papers.
…
Six hundred and seventy-one tributes came early to wait outside Jiying Hall.
In the dark, Zhu Ming stood for a while, yawning from sleepiness.
Suddenly, the guard seemed to be shouting something.
The tributes in the front row filed in, and Ju Ming, who stood at the end, followed everyone inside.
The seats for the palace examination were randomly arranged, and Zhu Ming found his seat at the east back of the palace.
The sky was dimly lit, the emperor ascended to the palace, and ritual music was played.
All the scholars congratulate you.
Ju Ming was too far away from Song Huizong to see clearly what this guy looked like.
Immediately afterwards, the eunuch distributed the test papers.
The imperial examination paper was engraving and printed, and the title contained more than 500 words.
When the candidates got the test paper, they were instantly confused. This year they were actually taking the "Zhou Yi Shen Tong Qi" test!
Obviously, this is an examination question set by Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty himself, and has nothing to do with the question-setting officer of the Ministry of Rites.
The next palace examination was equally outrageous. The test was on the "Huangdi Neijing", which was about the five movements and six qi. This is also the theory of qi, which led to an upsurge in the study of qi in the late Northern Song Dynasty.
Bai Chongyan looked around, he had not read "Book of Changes Shen Tong Qi".
Qin Hui also has a head as big as a bucket. How the hell should he answer the question?
Although this situation is uncommon, it is not the first time.
Zhao Guangyi once personally set the questions, and the candidates "looked at each other in fear" and "didn't dare to write down their words." Even the number one candidate and the second place candidate couldn't understand the origin of the test questions, and they relied solely on their literary talent and blindness to get to the top.
Now it's very good, and I also tell you that the test questions are from "The Book of Changes".
The book "Zhou Yi Shen Tong Qi" mainly talks about tripods, medicines, fire conditions, and Taoism.
No matter how ridiculous Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty was, he did not dare to test alchemy directly. Instead, he chose a more serious one: The head of the imperial government, the reform and innovation. The secrets are managed, the Shubu Bao is opened. The leader of the road is the leader, and the key points are unified. Yao
The elephant moves internally, good and bad luck arises externally, the five latitudes are in the wrong order, and the movements are timely...
There were more than 500 words in the test question, but Bai Chongyan could only understand the first 24 words.
After much deliberation, he decided to write about the benefits of the reform to the imperial government. He was half-blinded. Anyway, it had something to do with the test questions, which was in line with Cai Jing's political correctness of the reform.
In fact, the test questions not only include the content of alchemy, but even Taoist explanations include the dual cultivation of tonic and tonic. However, it is very obscure. People who do not understand Taoism cannot understand it at all, and think that the whole article is about the governance of kings and ministers.
Ju Ming had read "Zhou Yi Shen Tong Qi" before traveling through time, and was deceived by Xue Daoguang in various ways. He had a different understanding of the book (the outer alchemy method was explained as the inner alchemy method).
While studying ink and observing, Zhu Ming looked at Song Huizong from a distance.
Do you want to give the emperor a complete paper on inner alchemy cultivation?
Forget it, lose your share.
Ju Ming sat there thinking, and it was not until Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty left that he wrote down the title: A policy for cultivating oneself, harmonizing the family, and governing the country.
The imperial examination strategy in the late Northern Song Dynasty was limited to 1,200 words, but more than a certain number of words was allowed.
Ju Ming was so bold that he actually promoted his "Tao Yong" school of thought in his imperial examination articles.
At the beginning, he quoted the "Book of Changes" to explain the principle that people's daily use is the Tao. Then he quoted the "Book of Rites" and said that they are interlinked, talking about the common points of self-cultivation, family management and country governance.
The method of self-cultivation combines Confucianism and Taoism, and cultivates both internal and external aspects.
It also compares "refining essence to transform qi, refining qi to transform spirit, refining spirit to return emptiness, refining emptiness to combine with Tao" to the various steps of governing a family and a country.
Jing is all the people in the world.
Qi is the wealth produced by all peoples.
God is the order of operation of the country and the court.
Lianxuhedao is the perfect integration of essence, energy and spirit to achieve the harmony and unity of the country, wealth and people.
In the first few hundred words, he caters to Song Huizong's obsession with cultivating Taoism. In the last few hundred words, he advises Song Huizong not to exploit too much, otherwise it will destroy the harmony of spirit, energy and spirit. This is not good for cultivating Taoism and maintaining health.
It is not good for governing the country.
Finally, it is completely consistent with the surface and inner meaning of "The Book of Changes". It compares governing a country to refining an elixir. It can only be completed if you have both essence, energy and spirit. If you don't treat the people well, the elixir you refine will be defective.
The theory of "Daoyongpai" is mixed in throughout the whole process.
I wrote until dark, revised it repeatedly, and copied it onto a blank answer sheet.
After handing in the papers, the palace officials lit lanterns and sent the scholars off.
Everyone did not dare to make any noise, and only started chattering after leaving the palace gate.
Qin Hui said distressedly: "How can I take the test of the Book of Changes? My answer is how kings and ministers govern the country."
Bai Chongyan said: "What I wrote was about reform."
Lin Xun came up and said, "I also wrote about reforms, but I tended to worship rituals and restore ancient times."
Most of the scholars looked miserable. Who would read the Taoist scriptures if nothing happened?
The topic of this palace examination spread, causing scholars all over the world to study "Zhouyi Shen Tongqi" one after another. No one expected that the next time they would take the "Huangdi Neijing" exam, they would also specifically test the theory of luck in it.
"What did you write about success?" Bai Chongyan asked.
Ju Ming said: "Cultivate yourself, harmonize your family and govern the country."
Everyone discussed it over and over again, all speculating on the emperor's thoughts when asking the question, and they continued talking until they left the city and returned to the inn.
There were also scholars who secretly rejoiced.
For example, the three brothers He Su, He Tang, and He Ju from central Sichuan all passed the Jinshi examination this year. Moreover, they are disciples of Shu school. They usually like to read Buddhist scriptures and Taoism, and have thoroughly studied "The Book of Changes".
In history, He Su was the number one scholar in Jin Dynasty. He later impeached and brought down Wang Fu and other traitorous officials. During the Jingkang period, he was also responsible for negotiating with the Jin soldiers.
At first it was the main war faction, but gradually it became a war-promoting peace faction.
Because he believed in Taoism, he also took the lead in the "Liujia Divine Soldiers Guarding the City" incident. He was so comatose that he was ill and sought medical treatment.
After making a big mistake, He Su and Zhang Shuye led troops to fight in the streets, and the Jin soldiers agreed to peace talks. The Jin people asked Song Qinzong to go out of the city to negotiate in person, and asked He Su to go back to deliver the message, and then... nothing happened.
He Su's behavior during the Jingkang period was sometimes correct and sometimes confused. He thought of the stupid trick of letting the Liujia magic soldiers participate in the battle, but also had the damn courage to organize street battles. When he went to the Jinbing camp, he was so frightened that he became weak.
However, he always maintained his integrity and tried his best to reduce the negotiation losses for the Song Dynasty.
In the end, he died on hunger strike. He was a complex person who is difficult to evaluate.
…
The eunuchs of Shang Yao Bureau and Imperial Pharmacy Hospital were hostile and competitive with each other, always keeping an eye on each other's mistakes.
When the answers to the palace examination were revealed, no one cheated, let alone colluded with foreign ministers.
This year is the first imperial examination after decentralization, and they have not yet decided a winner.
The officials in the Ministry of Rites who set the exam did not even know what the exam questions were, because Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty temporarily changed the questions for the palace exam after he locked up the palace.
The imperial examination articles in the late Northern Song Dynasty were also transcribed into red scrolls. Even the handwriting could not be recognized clearly without removing the names.
There are 10 preliminary examiners, and Guozi Siye Chen Xun is one of them.
After Chen Xun read Ju Ming's test paper, he already guessed whose paper it was from the "Tao Yong" theory mixed in it, and directly commented: "I don't know what to say about weird theories."
After the preliminary examiners write down their comments, they must be submitted to the review examiners for review.
After reading Zhu Ming's paper, the reviewing examiner Qiang Yuanming gave the completely opposite comment: he is quick in thinking, clear in reasoning, and has a lot of advice in his arguments. He is an upright person.
Qiang Yuanming is Cai Jing's old buddy and a veteran of Cai's party.
But now he has stepped out of the Five Elements and no longer gets involved in political struggles. He can peacefully serve as an imperial party and take charge of the prince's education.
Since he is an imperialist, he naturally knows how to figure out the holy will.
The first few hundred words of Ju Ming's article are all about spiritual practice. The emperor must have liked it after reading it, so of course Qiang Yuanming would give it a favorable review. As for the content of the last few hundred words of advice, it is also in line with Confucian political correctness.
There are also those truly upright ministers who frowned after reading the article and were confused about Ju Ming's position.
The first half talks about self-cultivation, and even talks about refining energy and refining energy. It's sheer nonsense. It's obvious that he is obsessed with cultivating Taoism, and he is probably using Taoism to flatter the emperor.
The second half of the chapter talks about governing the country, and also strictly implements the words of advice, admonishing the emperor to treat the people well.
Is this person really evil?
As a result, these upright reviewers rated Ju Ming's paper as average or inferior. They first refuted his adulation of Taoism and Confucianism, and then affirmed Ju Ming's advice.
The final assessment is the first place.
The eunuchs of Shang Yao Bureau and Imperial Pharmacy Academy don't care about the candidates' essays, and they talk about Taoism and their Tongtong evaluation is superior.
Soon they started to quarrel with the ministers. At this time, the eunuchs were not as powerful as they were in the Southern Song Dynasty, so they could not quarrel with the civil servants.
In the end, both parties compromised. Among the top ten, the first nine were decided by the civil servants, and the tenth place was decided by the eunuchs.
However, eunuchs still have the power to send papers!
Ten papers were supposed to be sent to the emperor, but the eunuchs sent a total of sixteen. Three from the Shang Pharmacy Bureau and three from the Royal Pharmacy Institute. They were all articles related to monasticism, just to make the emperor happy.
Sixteen papers were placed in front of Song Huizong. He listened to two of them carefully and felt that the speed was too slow, so he simply took them to read by himself.
He Su's answer sheet contains an implicit discussion of Taoism, and is written with great literary grace, which can be liked by the emperor, eunuchs and civil servants. It is the undisputed number one answer sheet!
After reading the thirteenth volume, Song Huizong's eyes lit up: "Refining essence to transform Qi, refining Qi to transform into spirit, refining spirit to return to the void, and refining the void to combine with the Tao? This is a master of Taoism! It is even rarer to be able to understand both Confucianism and Taoism and quote scriptures.