Chapter 484: Two or three things about the imperial examination
Author: The best is like no water
Chapter 484: Two or three things about the imperial examination
In fact, the imperial examination system of the Tang Dynasty was not taken seriously.
This can be seen from the fact that only this year the official arrangements for the Minister of Rites to arrange the imperial examinations have been made.
In the past, those in charge of the imperial examination were just ordinary Yuanwailang.
Yuanwailang is only from the sixth rank, while the Minister of Rites is from the fourth rank, which directly reflects the degree of importance.
As for the coming of Prince Li Yunze this time, it is purely his personal action and has nothing to do with the importance of the court.
The imperial examination subjects in the Tang Dynasty usually consisted of six subjects, among which the scholar subject was abandoned after Emperor Gaozong because it was too difficult.
Because there are very few people who can pass the exam, and there are not even a few people who register for this subject, there is no need to keep them.
Among the remaining five subjects, Jinshi and Mingjing are the most important, and the most candidates take the exams for these two subjects.
In the early Tang Dynasty, the Ming Jing Department was higher than the Jin Shi Department, but after the middle Tang Dynasty, the status of the Jin Shi Department began to be higher than that of the Ming Jing Department.
People respected Jinshi more and more, so much so that Jinshi became synonymous with the imperial examination from then on.
Compared with the previous recommendation system and even the nine-grade Zhongzheng system, the imperial examination was undoubtedly a groundbreaking good thing, giving ordinary people a small but real way to rise.
But after so many years, especially after Li Sanlang recognized money but not people, it has become extremely rancid.
The imperial examination gradually evolved into a means for aristocratic families to maintain their own status. They used various means to obtain quotas, which greatly reduced the ability and quality of those who succeeded in the examination. However, many truly knowledgeable talents, celebrities, and outstanding scholars suffered from exclusion.
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Among them, there are those who are proud of it, such as the flower-appreciating prodigal son Yu Jiao, who said, "In the past, the sordidness was not worthy of praise, but now the dissolute thoughts are boundless. The spring breeze was so good that the horse's hooves were so bad that I could see all the flowers in Chang'an in one day."
There is also the famous gravedigger Huang Chao who said, "On the eighth day of the ninth month when autumn comes, I will kill all the flowers after they have bloomed. The fragrance will reach the sky and penetrate Chang'an, and the whole city will be covered with golden armor."
Meng Jiao's "After Passing the Imperial Examination" and Huang Chao's "Ode to the Chrysanthemums of the Unqualified Queen" are the most realistic portrayals of the imperial examinations in the Tang Dynasty.
Just like this, Li Yunze was sent many copies of business documents.
Juzi handed over the scroll of poems and prose he usually wrote to the official office of Shangshu Province, that is, the Ministry of Rites, so it was called Nasheng Juan, also known as "Gong Juan".
The poems and essays that Juzi privately submitted to some dignitaries were called "Xingjuan".
This is a way to increase your visibility and therefore your chances of being selected.
After all, the examiner knows your name and will be more impressed after seeing your masterpiece.
Since it was Li Yunze who finally chose who would be admitted this time, these papers were delivered to him.
Li Yunze flipped through the pages, but found none of the works by Du Fu, Gao Shi, Wang Zhihuan and others that he had valued before.
"These are all done by some outstanding talents who participated in this imperial examination." The examiner in charge of this imperial examination, the Minister of Rites, recommended Li Yunze with a smile, "They are all rare talents."
It should be said that those who can participate in the imperial examination are basically talented people.
The only difference is that those sent to Li Yunze and recommended by the Minister of Rites are basically the children of noble families and noble families.
After all, studying is an extremely expensive thing, and an ordinary family cannot support a single scholar even if it goes bankrupt.
Only aristocratic families and noble families have this strength, which naturally means they have more talents.
The so-called public recommendation is to recommend to the examiner through connections, which can be regarded as a disguised advance appointment.
Although the Minister of Rites was the examiner this time, unfortunately there was a prince watching from the side, so the matter could only be transferred to him.
The so-called operations of later generations have actually been understood by the ancestors long ago, and they are all leftover from the ancestors' tricks.
Li Yunze sighed softly and put the scroll in his hand aside.
He looked at the old man in front of him and asked, "Young Master Bogui Geng?"
The Minister of Rites was stunned for a moment, then responded with a smile, "Back to your Majesty, I am 75 years old this year."
Li Yunze nodded meaningfully and said, "Young Uncle Zong is really old and strong."
This sentence not only talks about his age, but also that he can still have a son at such an age.
He even asked Li Sanlang to name his son.
The words here have already explained the problem very well. Li Yunze, the Minister of Rites, is very familiar with him, and he must be a figure whose name is recorded in history books.
That's right, this Minister of Rites is the famous He Zhizhang!
It was He Zhizhang who wrote "Returning Hometown".
"When a young man leaves home and his elder brother returns home, his local pronunciation remains unchanged and his hair on his temples fades away. When children see each other but don't recognize each other, they laugh and ask where the guests are from."
Needless to say, this is also a poem that must be memorized when I was in school.
Fortunately, when Li Yunze was in school, he never failed in Tang poetry. After all, he had few words and was easy to memorize.
It's a pity that when it came to "chirp, chirp, chirp", I was dumbfounded. It's really fatal to be unable to read hundreds of words.
Of course, compared to the works of the famous poet He Zhizhang, he is more famous for being Li Bai's friend.
The famous "Song of the Eight Immortals in Drinking" is the poem "Li Bai wrote a hundred poems about drinking wine. He went to sleep in a restaurant in Chang'an City, but the emperor couldn't get on the boat because he called me, and he claimed that I was an immortal in wine." He Zhizhang was included in the poem.
Zhizhang rides a horse like a boat, and falls into a well and sleeps under the water.'
By the way, "Song of the Eight Immortals in Drinking" was written by Du Fu, not Li Bai.
He Zhizhang didn't know what Li Yunze meant, so he could only laugh.
In fact, he really didn't want to come.
It's a pity that the famous dispute between Li and Li broke out a few months ago, which is an important event that has entered the history books.
In the previous examination for civil servants, Li Ang was inconsistent in appearance and appearance. On the surface, he said that he would not accept requests and that anyone who asked for help would fail.
The imperial examination official wailang was responsible for the duties of the imperial examination.
Li Ang's words were beautiful, but unfortunately, Li Quan exposed his true colors.
"At the beginning, Ang Qiangfu, if not asked, and if there is a request, he will obey first."
To put it bluntly, although Li Ang said he would not allow requests, he would obey them as long as they were asked. This is a typical example of duplicity and non-compliance.
After this matter became a big deal, Li Sanlang transferred the responsibility for presiding over the imperial examination to the Ministry of Rites, and appointed Wai Lang, a member of the Ministry of Rites, to be responsible for this matter.
Historically speaking, from the beginning of He Zhizhang to the last imperial examination in the late Qing Dynasty, the real examiner has always been Yuanwailang of the Ministry of Rites.
Of course, He Zhizhang naturally does not know that he has set a historical precedent.
He just feels so bored now.
Originally, I came to preside over the imperial examination for a good job, so being able to get the commission would naturally be a good source of income.
It's a pity that King Shou made a mistake and came here to preside over the imperial examination.
Now, the final decision-making power fell into the hands of King Shou, and he, the examiner, was really just the examiner.
"This king already knows about this."
Li Yunze didn't have a good impression of He Zhizhang. He was still attached to his official position and refused to leave even though he was old. He was also talkative but not pragmatic. Naturally, he had no good impressions.
He reached out and put the papers aside, "Just keep these things."
"Stay all of them?!"
Now it was He Zhizhang's turn to be dumbfounded: "Your Majesty, there are dozens of copies here."
In the imperial examinations of the Tang Dynasty, there were usually only three or five people, but more than ten people could not survive.
Li Yunze actually left all the papers here, and He Zhizhang didn't know what to say for a moment.
He really wanted to remind Li Yunze, 'Your Majesty, don't be too greedy. Although you are given gifts for every request, be careful if you accept so many gifts at once, be careful!'
Li Yunze didn't know what he was thinking, and he didn't want to know.
He picked up the tea bowl on the side and said, "I understand that Young Uncle Zong is in charge of the imperial examination."
He Zhizhang had no choice but to stand up and say goodbye.
When he came here, he was doing free work for the imperial court, but he could not get any benefits just by working.
Really helpless.
"So what if there are dozens of copies? How can we call the imperial examination if we don't select hundreds of people during the imperial examination?" Li Yunze put down his tea bowl and smiled, "You have never seen a real official examination. Those are all in units of tens of thousands."
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The Tang Dynasty had very strict control over official official positions. Now, with a population of almost 50 million, there were only less than 20,000 official official positions, which was about one to three thousand. In other words, 3,000 people could support one person.
This is mainly because productivity is not high and too much is unaffordable.
It is precisely because of this that not many people took the imperial examination and became officials.
But Li Yunze has decided to hire more people this time, because after he takes office, he will have to get rid of too many people who have spent money to become officials, and he needs to train successors in advance.
When the formal imperial examination was conducted, it was far from as rigorous as imagined.
There was no careful inspection deep into the valley, no identity test, and no sergeants constantly patrolling back and forth.
The examination room here is like a self-study classroom in later generations. Not only are there all kinds of cheating methods, but there are even people who come to take the exam for you.
The test taker was very good, and one person provided answers to several candidates.
The popularity of taking exams on behalf of others is called ‘saving a few people’.
Li Bai, who went to watch on Li Yunze's order, came back angrily and complained about the unfairness of the examination room, "What's the point of this kind of imperial examination!"
"Taibai."
Li Yunze, who was not angry at all, smiled and motioned to Li Bai, "Sit down and talk first."
When Li Bai sat down angrily, Li Yunze asked slowly, "Taibai also thinks that such an imperial examination is meaningless?"
"It's natural."
Li Bai, who blushed, immediately said, "Zimei and the others have studied hard for many years and are knowledgeable people, but they have to compete with those who cheat. How unfair!"
"Then what does Taibai think this king should do?"
"Of course we will drive out all those who cheated and took the exam for themselves!"
"Okay." Li Yunze nodded, "If this king does this, maybe this imperial examination will be much cleaner, but what about next time?"
"Next time?" Li Bai was stunned.
"If I do this, there will be no next time." Li Yunze said slowly, "There are so many people who point to the imperial examination to become an official and to make a fortune, they will regard me as a thorn in their side, and they will never let it happen.
I will have another chance to supervise the scientific examination. Wait until
If you take the imperial examination again in the future, it will still be the same as now."
"Taibai, tell me, how can we completely prevent this?"
This really touched upon Li Bai's knowledge blind spot. He thought hard for a long time, but he could never find a complete solution.
In desperation, he could only hand over to Li Yunze and "Dare you ask your Majesty for advice."
"There's only one way."
Li Yunze's smile gradually turned cold. "Only if I ascend to the throne, I will eradicate all these scumbags and restore peace to the world!"
PS: Thank you to book friend Liu Suifeng for your 100-point reward and support. I am deeply grateful. Thank you!