The examination process of the provincial examination is just like that, highlighting the hardship and simplicity, which is really lackluster.
There are three exams in total, the first on August 9th, the second on August 12th, and the third on August 15th.
Of course, we all know that the most important thing in the provincial examination is the first eight-legged essay on classics and meanings, and admission basically only depends on your performance in the first session.
As for the strategies for the next two games, writing official documents, poems, songs, etc., they are all just formalities.
But even if it is just a formality, it is very difficult. You have to get up early in the morning to enter every performance, and then sit in a small single room that is only three feet long and wide and leaks both wind and rain until it gets dark at dusk.
At the same time, we have to complete high-intensity writing. For example, on the first day, we have to write three questions on the Four Books and four questions on the Five Classics, a total of seven eight-legged essays!
Therefore, the provincial examination is really not easy, and it is a high-intensity torture on the physical and mental strength of the candidates. Many scholars fell seriously ill directly after passing the examination.
It is very difficult. Scholars all have to go through this process. The most miserable ones are those who have gone through ten or eight provincial examinations and still failed. I am talking about the Suzhou literary giant Wen Zhengming.
But being able to withstand the ordeal of so many provincial examinations also proves from the side that Wen Zhengming has excellent physical fitness, and there is a reason why he can live to the age of ninety.
On August 15, the 16th year of Wanli, the last round of Wuzike Township Examination in Nanzhili was completed, and the scholars who walked out of the examination room were exhausted.
But as long as they are given a little time to breathe, they will immediately be resurrected with full blood and enter a state of carnival after being relieved from high pressure.
Before the announcement of the provincial examination results at the end of August, thousands of scholars were equal, with no failure, no sorrow, and no review.
After handing in the paper at dusk, Lin Tailai walked out of the dragon gate with his friends and discussed the evening's arrangements.
Jin Shiheng, who felt as if he had been in jail for a few days, was listless. He said to Lin Tai, "Maybe we can wait until tomorrow? I just want to lie down tonight."
Lin Tailai snorted coldly: "How can I better serve the country with weak and powerless insects like you?"
If others dare to ridicule him like this, Jin Shiheng will definitely retaliate, but Lin Tailai can say whatever he likes.
After all, Lin Tailai was a ruthless person who had taken three exams in armor, and the burden was heavier than any other exam candidate. He couldn't accept his physical strength.
At this moment, a middle-aged man dressed as a government servant suddenly rushed over and shouted to Lin Tailai:
"Mr. Lin! I am an official of the Suzhou Prefecture! The Prefect asked me to give you an urgent message!"
Lin Tailai frowned and said, "What happened?"
The yamen officer quickly reported: "It rained for more than ten days in a row in Susong, and there was flooding!
At the end of last month, a strong wind suddenly blew up in Susong's Second Mansion, and the waves in Taihu Lake were two feet high. Then, for more than ten days, heavy rains continued day and night in Susong's Second Mansion. Now the floods have spread, countless seedlings have rotted, and the cottages have drifted away!"
Damn it! When Mr. Lin heard the news, he couldn't help but be shocked.
Although he is a time traveler, it is impossible for him to remember the climate disasters in a specific year, and most liberal arts time travellers do not study climate.
Most of the scholars around Lin Tailai were from Suzhou Prefecture and Songjiang Prefecture, and they were all a little panicked at this time.
Unexpectedly, during the exam period, my hometown suffered a major disaster!
Many people are even more surprised that after the flood occurred in Suzhou Prefecture, the governor immediately thought of reporting to Lin Tailai. What kind of wise man is this?
Official Lin suddenly raised his arms in grief and anger and shouted: "If the imperial court had listened to me and re-opened the old route of Wusong River, why would it be like this!"
No one reacted, but they didn't know how serious it was.
Later, I heard Lin Tailai ask the government official: "What is the price of rice in Suzhou now?"
The yamen servant replied: "Before the villain came, the price of rice had risen to two taels per stone, four times the usual price!"
In front of everyone, Lin Tailai gave a loud instruction: "Go back immediately and tell the government office that there should be 80,000 kilos of rice in the Suzhou City United Farmers' Warehouse. Not a single grain is allowed to be sold. All of it will be used for disaster relief!"
Although many people around do not understand why it is Lin Tai who has the final say in the government-civilian Jinongcang, it does not prevent him from praising Lin Tai for his righteousness at this moment.
According to the current market price, 80,000 shi of rice can be exchanged for hundreds of thousands of taels of silver. Although most of the property rights belong to the government, private individuals can still pocket tens of thousands of taels of silver!
To be able to resist the temptation of such huge profits and use all 80,000 shi of rice for disaster relief is truly a generous act.
Although the man surnamed Lin was domineering, ruthless, extortionate, and committed evil, he still maintained the bottom line in the face of major issues of right and wrong.
Lin Daguanren said to his friends: "We can't gather together tonight." Then he turned around and left without hesitation.
Jin Shiheng quickly asked from behind: "Where are you going?"
Lin Daguanren replied: "I'm going to find Hai Qingtian!"
Everyone: "???"
Why did you suddenly go to Hai Rui for good? Could it be that you want Hai Rui to be responsible for disaster relief?
After passing two intersections in a row, Mr. Lin looked left and right to make sure no one he knew was following him.
Then he quickly said to Protector Zuo Zhang Wen: "You will return to Suzhou immediately and take my instructions back in person, not in writing."
Zhang Wen responded seriously: "Sit down and talk."
Lin Daguan then spoke again: "First, start the grain exchange for looms plan! Ten stones of rice can be exchanged for a loom, and you can exchange as much as you can."
According to Suzhou's normal price, the price of a loom would be equivalent to thirty or forty stone meters.
“Second, industrial park workers and workers who are willing to enter the industrial park can borrow three months’ rations from Jinongcang interest-free!
Third, after meeting the above two requirements, Jinongcang will try its best to relieve the victims, but it can only borrow one month’s rations!”
After Zhang Wen listened to Lin Daguan's instructions, he turned around and left, returning to Suzhou City to convey the implementation.
Then Lin Daguan continued walking to the north of the city. He really wanted to visit Hai Qingtian.
Hai Qingtian lived in an official residence, and the dignified residence of the censor of the right capital of Zheng Erpin was just a small courtyard with a single door and two entrances.
Nowadays, Hai Qingtian's health is deteriorating and he can only lie down at home to recuperate most of the time. He can no longer pay close attention to style and discipline. This makes the entire Nanjing officialdom breathe a sigh of relief.
In the original history, Hai Rui should have died last year, but under the powerful stimulation from time to time by the butterfly effect in this time and space, Hai Rui has survived until now.
Lin Tailai asked his entourage to wait outside the door and entered Hai Rui's house alone.
Seeing Lin Tailai, Hai Qingtian, who was half lying on the hospital bed, couldn't help but said sarcastically:
"It's a pity that I am in my dying years and often bedridden, so I cannot catch you personally for cheating in the imperial examination."
Lin Tailai did not answer the question and said directly: "Sir, do you know? There is a flood all over Susong. It's all because you cut off the lower reaches of the Wusong River."
Twenty years ago, when Hai Rui was the governor of Jiangnan, he cut off the lower reaches of the Wusong River from the sea and changed its course into a tributary of the Dahuangpu River.
Hai Rui's qi-nurturing skills are very strong, but Lin Tailai always makes him inexplicably angry. He immediately said angrily: "That's nonsense! Don't blame me for everything!"
The flood has reached this level, but the lower reaches of the Wusong River will not have much impact!
Even if the lower reaches of the Wusong River flow freely into the sea, floods like this will still happen this year!
After all, the Wusong River is just a river and cannot bear the floods that spread throughout Susong!"
Lin Tailai sighed, "You are so old, how come you still don't understand the principle of correcting your mistakes when you recognize them?
It is only right to make up for the mistakes of the past as soon as possible during your lifetime!
Taking advantage of this flood opportunity, you can write to the imperial court and request that the old Wusong River be dredged again, and the channel of Susong waters into the sea be expanded to reduce future floods."
Hai Qingtian said firmly: "I did nothing wrong, and there is no need to make amends or corrections.
The purpose of diverting the Wusong River to the Dahuangpu River is to prevent pirates from driving directly into the hinterland south of the Yangtze River through the Wusong River."
Consolidating maritime borders and eliminating hidden dangers is the eternal law!
"I understand!" Lin Tailai seemed to suddenly realize, "You have to protect the interests of the only remaining Guangdong Shipping Company!"
Hai Qingtian: "???"
Does Hai Rui have any relationship with Guangdong Shipping Company?
At first, the imperial court established three municipal shipping departments, one each in Zhejiang, Fujian, and Guangdong. However, after the Jiajing Japanese Rebellion, the municipal shipping departments in Zhejiang and Fujian were abolished and have not been restored to this day.
Therefore, at present, the Guangdong Municipal Shipping Department is the only surviving Municipal Shipping Department of the Ming Dynasty. It is said that Fujian has been actively seeking to restore the Municipal Shipping Department in recent years, but it has not yet received approval from the imperial court.
Official Lin lied with his eyes wide open: "I am from Guangdong, so you don't want the Wusong River to open to the sea and affect Guangdong's foreign trade!"
"Nonsense!" Harry suddenly felt angry and coughed violently. He suspected that he was about to cough up blood.
You have to be reasonable when talking nonsense. What kind of nonsense are you, Lin Tailai, talking about?
Although my hometown, Qiongzhou Prefecture, is part of Guangdong, it is on Hainan Island and is completely different from Guangdong itself, especially Guangzhou Prefecture!
So how did you become a Cantonese? Are you, Lin Tailai, geographically illiterate?
Lin Tailai said: "Then I'd better send a memorial to the court and request that the old route along the lower reaches of the Wusong River be reopened, so as not to let me continue to misunderstand."
Lin Daguan had discovered it before. He went to the official to talk about business. As long as he was not directly cursing people and mediating the rebellion, no one would even discuss it.
To be continued...