On the right side of Kaifeng City, across the street from Taiping Xingguo Zen Temple, is Qishengyuan, which is very spacious. But now it has been changed to the Ministry of Rites Examination Yuan.
The examination of the Ministry of Etiquette in the first year of Tianqi was held here two days ago.
Near dusk, as the long bell rang, the courtyard door opened wide. After a while, candidates taking the examination walked out in twos and threes.
Those who are downcast must have failed in the exam. But those who have done well in the exam do not seem to be very happy. Their faces are solemn, uncertain, and full of anxiety about the future.
There is a man in his twenties, wearing a gray cotton shirt. His name is Li Wei, whose courtesy name is Cunzhen, and he comes from Jizhou, Jiangxi Province. His steps are a little heavy, he frowns, and squeezes out a thick "ji" on his forehead
Come.
Next to me was a man in his early twenties, wearing a water-blue lake silk robe, with a much lighter expression.
His name is Chen Xiu, whose courtesy name is Daozhi, and he is from Yangzhou in the north of the Yangtze River.
The two walked out of the examination hall and went down the steps. They couldn't help but turn around and look at the simple and elegant entrance of the examination hall.
"The exam is over." Chen Xiu muttered, somewhat unbelievable.
"Yes, the exam is over. The scientific exam is over as well." Li Wei said angrily.
"Brother Dao, how did you do in the exam?" Chen Xiu asked.
"I should be able to keep a teaching position, but I still want to enter Sungkyun University." Li Wei was in a bad mood, but he still asked, "Brother Cunzhen, how did you do in the exam?"
"It's also a teaching position that should provide a guarantee. But I want to go to Piyong University."
"Piyong University?" Li Wei's face changed slightly.
Last year, due to the death of the late Emperor Zhemiao, the Spring Ministry of Etiquette Examination was postponed for a year. The two of them were arranged together at the White Horse Temple in Luoyang, well, it should be called the White Horse Temple now.
We happened to live in the same house again, and we had similar interests. After getting along for a year, we became good friends.
"Brother Dao, do you still want to become a disciple of Mr. Ji Sheng (Su Xie)?"
"Yes." Chen Xiu said with a look of longing, "Zirong Gong (Su Song) retired to Runzhou to write books. I have visited him several times with my teacher. I once wanted to worship Zirong Gong, but Zirong Gong
He is old and no longer accepts disciples. It would not be bad to become a disciple of Mr. Ji Sheng, the son of Zirong Gong."
Speaking of this, Chen Xiu's tone became a little excited, "Last year, Mr. Ji Sheng published "Physics - The Study of Things and the Theory of Principles" and translated the famous Thai and Western mathematics work - "Principles of Geometry". His two books made
I cleared the fog and saw Lushan. Now I heard that he is not only the director of the Institute of Physics of Gwuyuan University, but also the dean of Zhang Heng College of Piyong University. He is also responsible for establishing the Mechanical Research Institute... If I can be admitted to Piyong University, I will become his disciple.
, it couldn’t be better.”
Li Wei saw that Chen Xiu was a little excited, and he couldn't help complaining: "Brother Dao can worship under the Master, and it is not in vain to go through the Ministry of Etiquette Examination. Although there is no Donghuamen roll call
, it can be regarded as getting what it deserves.”
Donghuamen roll call?
Hearing this word, Chen Xiu's expression darkened, and he couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.
The Donghua Gate roll-call was the ideal dreamed by the scholars of the Song Dynasty. Unexpectedly, it was canceled by the officials. If I had known this earlier, I would have taken the exam a few years earlier. What if I was lucky and won? I would not stay here again.
Pity.
Compared with Chen Xiu who was just disappointed, Li Wei was heartbroken.
He is a very orthodox Confucian student. Although during the one-year postponement of the Ministry of Rites examination, the officials in the DPRK and the Central Committee have secretly indicated that the examination will be overhauled, and your subject may be a pilot. Spend more time learning arithmetic.
.
If you really have no talent in arithmetic, you can spend some time and energy memorizing official laws and regulations, or you can spend some energy collecting newspapers and magazines to learn about current policies.
It is best to concentrate on reading "Half Moon Miscellaneous Talk", a magazine sponsored by the Secretary Provincial Council. If you have mastered it, you can take the test at any time in Sungkyun and Biyong.
But Li Wei didn't bother to change his family. He felt that it was enough to devote himself to governing the country and learn the classics well, and the rest were all heretical and not worth learning.
Chen Xiu liked the so-called study of things, but he did not delay the study of the classics and meanings. Only then did Li Wei get along with him until now. He even felt that it was a pity that Chen Xiu was much more talented than him. If he had spent all his attention on the classics and meanings,
In science, his achievements will far exceed his.
Originally, he thought that among the thousands of candidates who took the exam, only a few would take the hint and change their careers.
However, after taking the examination in the examination hall these two days, he suddenly discovered that many scholars who usually yelled at him in front of him and vowed to defend the classics, principles, and Neo-Confucianism had long been quietly studying arithmetic, practicing policy theory, or practicing refined theory.
Study the law.
But Li Wei could not hate these "traitors".
Anyone who can take part in the Ministry of Etiquette Examination has not studied hard for more than ten or twenty years and gone through innumerable hardships to get to this point.
Who wants to give up easily?
"Dao Zhi, what has changed the scientific examination now? I am heartbroken and confused, but also confused."
"Brother Cuzhen, don't worry. I have an elder relative who is serving in the Shangshu Province. He knew that I would finish the exam today, so he specially prepared a banquet in Panlou to wash away the fatigue. Brother Cuzhen, why don't we go together?
Ask him for advice."
Li Wei thought about it for a while. Although he felt a little embarrassed, he really wanted to know how the future scientific examination would be changed. What kind of future would he have after passing the scientific examination this time.
So he agreed and went to Panlou together.
On the way, Chen Xiu introduced his relatives and elders to Li Wei.
"My cousin's uncle, whose surname is Zhang Kangguo and whose courtesy name is Binlao. He calls my grandmother aunt. He received the favor from my grandfather and grandmother and was able to study smoothly. During the Yuanfeng period, he was a Jinshi. During the Shaosheng period, Cai Daguan, the Minister of Planning, recommended him.
He promoted the two provinces of Zhejiang and Changping, sent out warehouses to provide famine relief, and helped the sick and weak, which was a great achievement."
"In the second year of Yuanfu, the officials sent King Jian to comfort the Sixth Route of Shaanxi, and then sent troops to Xixia. Uncle Ying (Jiang Zhiqi) was recommended as the transfer envoy of the Sixth Route of Shaanxi to assist Duke Qifu (Zhang Kai). At that time, the army was paying for food and had many affairs, and Uncle Ying was in poor health
No, it's a bit unsatisfactory. Cai Daguan also recommended my uncle as the deputy transfer envoy."
"Later he was transferred to the post of deputy chief envoy of Qinchuan County. At the end of last year, Cai Daguan officially decided to take charge of the planning department, so he recommended my uncle to be the right minister of the planning department."
"Right Minister of Planning?" Li Wei was startled.
He never expected that Chen Xiu's relative who was in charge of the Ministry of Finance was actually a minister, and he was also the Minister of Planning who was responsible for the prime minister's wealth in the world.
When they arrived at Panlou and reported their names, Chen Xiu and Li Wei were led to a private room by the waiter.
The knock on the door was answered, and they pushed the door open and saw two men. One was in his early forties, wearing a Taoist uniform; the other was in his twenties, wearing a light-colored Jianwang uniform.
The eldest one is Zhang Kangguo.
"My nephew pays homage to my uncle. This is my good friend Li Wei, who is from the same department. He is a native of Jizhou, Jiangxi."
"The Taoist exam can be considered completed." Zhang Kangguo sighed. As someone who has been through it, he knows that it is difficult to pass the provincial exam and he has suffered."
Then he turned around and said, "Li Cunzhen is indeed a talented person and a hero among people. This is my good friend Yuwen Zhongda (Yuwen Cuizhong), who is from Guangdu, Yizhou and is currently studying at Yumo Hall."
After listening to Zhang Kangguo's introduction, Chen Xiu and Li Wei couldn't help but show admiration on their faces. Yumo Hall, affiliated to the Hanlin Academy, was the highest institution of law in the Song Dynasty. Those who could study there were all outstanding people.
"I just happened to meet the first batch of enrollment in Yumo Hall. Yuwen was not talented, but he was lucky enough to pass the exam." Yuwen Cuizhong said a few words modestly.
After the four people sat down, Zhang Kangguo asked Chen Xiu a few questions about Li Wei's exams.
Chen Xiu answered a few questions and then asked what the two wanted to ask.
"Uncle, although Cunzhen and I have both passed the exam, we still have many doubts in our hearts. Now that the government system is being restructured, the exam is also undergoing major changes, which makes us confused. If we are lucky enough to pass the exam, we don't know what our future will be like.
If you are unsuccessful and don’t know how to prepare for the exam, please ask your uncle for advice."
Zhang Kangguo laughed and said, "Ask me, you are right. On the official day of the first day, starting from the official "Guoti Da Gao", the new official system was officially promulgated. To be honest, we are not clear about this complicated new official system.
It just so happened that starting in February, the Ministry of Secretaries organized all ministries and colleges in the three provinces to start studying. After more than a month, the study was understood clearly. The relevant education and examination systems were also clarified."
After speaking, Zhang Kangguo pointed to Yu Wencuizhong, "Zhongda happens to be the first beneficiary of the new education and examination system, and I can give you my own personal explanation."
Yu Wencuizhong quickly declined: "I just happened to ask Mr. Bin for advice."
The three of them listened attentively, waiting for Zhang Kangguo's explanation. This chapter has been completed!
