Chapter 197: Starting the Road to the Township Exam
On the fourth day of November, midwinter, the yellow bell rings in the law.
At dawn, the north wind is strong, silver-gray clouds are galloping in the sky, the cold current is rolling, and a heavy snow is brewing.
It was extremely cold in November, and the Qinhuai River changed from its usual liveliness and seemed to be sleeping peacefully.
On this day, the Enke Provincial Examination officially kicked off. The Provincial Examination was divided into three sessions, each lasting three days and two nights, a total of 9 days and 6 nights. This is a comprehensive game of intelligence, physical strength, and physical fitness. For the candidates
, this kind of game has already started before entering the gate. Candidates taking the provincial examination in the entire southern Zhili Province must take the examination in Jiangnan Gongyuan. There are more than 10,000 candidates. It is often impossible to roll their names and enter the entrance hall early in the morning.
. Therefore, many candidates rushed here last night to queue up, trying to get into the examination room earlier and at the front.
When there are many people, it is easy for chaos to occur. Even if there are government officials and heavily armed sergeants to suppress it, there is still crowding and chaos outside the gate of Gongyuan. The exam has not even started yet. Last night, more than a dozen candidates were injured in the crowd and suffered head injuries.
Blood flow.
Zhu Pingan and the fat man Xue Chi came to line up around early in the morning. After arriving, they lined up separately. Before the crowding was serious, Zhu Pingan ran to a corner to hide. After the reinforcements of the sergeant suppressed him,
, and then ran to the queue again.
The weather was very cold, and Zhu Pingan wore thicker clothes. The clothes were made by his mother, Chen, from rabbit fur. Compared with other students, Zhu Pingan was much warmer. In addition to 3↓ clothes, Zhu Pingan also brought two
A rabbit skin blanket is used for sleeping in the examination room, a bed and a cover. Of course, other things such as food and examination supplies are also brought together, and the food is very abundant.
At around three o'clock in the morning, I heard the sound of a drum from the Mingyuan Tower of Jiangnan Gongyuan, and the sergeant of the government office began to check the candidates' entrance.
It was around six o'clock that Zhu Ping'an arrived in line. Zhu Ping'an brought a lot of things. The sergeant in charge of the inspection checked for a long time. The people in line behind him were very dissatisfied. They felt that Zhu Ping'an brought too many things, including blankets.
After a long time, the yamen servants inspected him for a long time. In addition, he brought too much food. The yamen servants have become chefs. The waist knife is only used to cut pastries, dried meat and the like for him.
There were so many complaints like this that Zhu Pingan was somewhat used to it.
After about fifteen or six minutes, Zhu Pingan's belongings were checked and the yamen let him in.
However, something went wrong when entering the venue.
An examiner surnamed Hu who was responsible for checking the candidates at the door stopped Zhu Pingan. This examiner was serious about his work, and it might be better to be rigid. During the invigilation, the examination was very strict based on the roster and the age and appearance of the candidates.
"Your record is that you are short and fat, and have a silly face. However, when I look at you today, why do you say you are fat? Are you taking the test for me?" Supervisor Hu stopped Zhu Pingan and asked in a stern voice.
To be honest, Zhu Pingan did not foresee this accident at all. Such problems had never occurred in the county examination, government examination, and college examination before. However, despite the suddenness, Zhu Pingan was not panicked at all.
"No. The student is Zhu Ping'an. After the college examination, the student studied day and night and lost weight. Moreover, Zhu Zi noted the meaning of "Wu Ye", and a person who is slightly fat is not fat. Please give me some advice, sir." Zhu
Pingan remained calm and answered calmly. After all, he was Zhu Pingan, so there was no mistaking that.
"Well, that makes sense, but are you looking stupid?" The examiner named Hu looked at Zhu Pingan and nodded, but then asked another question.
Zhu Ping'an could only show his trademark silly smile.
"Yes." The examiner nodded and allowed entry.
Finally, there was no danger. After Zhu Pingan entered the room, he was led by a guard into a dormitory. This is a relatively good dormitory, and it is far away from the "stinky dormitory", which is the toilet.
It's a top-notch lodge.
After putting everything in the dormitory, Zhu Pingan looked around. Just like the last college exam, the dormitory was very narrow. There were only two wooden boards at the top and bottom. The upper board was used as a table for writing answer sheets, and the lower board was used as a chair.
, two boards are put together as a bed at night. The difference is that now there is a pot of charcoal fire and two candles in the dormitory. The charcoal fire can be used for heating and cooking. Candidates are isolated from the outside world during the exam.
, you have to solve the problem of eating by yourself. The invigilator only cares about cheating in the exam. As for the other actions of the candidates in the room, the invigilator does not ask at all.
The next three days and two nights will be spent in this small cubicle "eating, drinking, sleeping"
Around nine o'clock, all the candidates outside were admitted. While waiting for the exam, Zhu Ping'an heard from several government officials that seven or eight candidates with cheat sheets were found during the inspection, and five candidates who took the exam for the exam were also found.
They were imprisoned together in a small cell in Gongyuan, waiting for the relevant authorities to make an announcement.
Unexpectedly, some people really cheated. In the future, these people will have no chance to take the scientific examination, and they may even be exiled and sent to the army.
Now thinking about the scene at the gate, Zhu Pingan felt a little sweaty on his back. If he hadn't been a little quick-witted, I'm afraid it would be hard to say. He is Zhu Pingan. This is undeniable and can be proven.
But if you prove it, you might miss the exam.
After all the candidates have entered at nine o'clock, the door will be locked. It will not be opened until the end of the exam, even if there is a fire or flood in the Gongyuan.
There are many people standing upstairs in Mingyuan. There are two examiners, four co-examiners, one promotion person. In addition, there are officials responsible for receiving papers, sealing them, transcribing them, reading them, patrolling the prison gates, and searching for suspects. By the year
The chief examiner signaled the drums to start the exam, and then the other officials performed their duties in an orderly manner. They all looked at the candidates below with a sense of nostalgia, watching the juniors and juniors starting school with the sophomores and juniors.
It feels almost like military training.
After the drums were played, the government officials began to hand out test papers and draft papers one after another.
Then, the exam questions are announced.
Today is the first session of the Enke Township Examination. According to the usual practice, the questions in this session are: "The Four Books" has three meanings and the Classics has four meanings.
When the government servant holding the test questions came over, Zhu Pingan quickly and neatly copied the test questions on the scratch paper.
This year, like previous years, this one also has three ways of meaning and four ways of classics and meanings in the "Four Books". Classical meanings are a subject in the imperial examination. The questions are based on scriptures and sentences, and the candidates write essays to explain the meanings. Of course, you have to use stereotypes
Only the style is good. These questions need to be answered in three days and two nights. No matter how you answer them or how you arrange your time, as long as you don't cheat, you can do whatever you want.
Because Zhu Ping'an hadn't eaten anything from early morning to now, so after copying the test questions, he cleaned up the things, spread a piece of cloth on the table, and then grilled the food he brought with him on the charcoal fire.
, and started eating.
After eating and drinking, Zhu Pingan cleaned the table, spread it with pen, ink, paper and inkstone, and officially started his road to the provincial examination. (To be continued...)