Eight days later, on April 13th, the Taoist examinations began. Three days before that, Superintendent Li Yuantai had already visited Kaifeng Mansion. The so-called "Jianlin" meant that in compliance with the regulations of the imperial court, the presiding officer had to pass the annual examination and the scientific examination to test the school's membership.
, to avoid the pain of many scholars traveling around and the huge cost, the Tixueguanhui went to all the provinces and Zhili Prefecture twice to hold examinations during their three-year term (one term is three years, only one term per place).
As "press", the "press" here means test.
However, the annual examination and the scientific examination are not different from the Taoist examination. They are examinations for students who have become students. They are similar to the final examinations of later generations of students. The difference is that this is a qualification examination to ensure that students will not be left in ruins.
Academics - If you fail the exam, you will be demoted.
Before or after the examination of the students, the final examination is held for the children who have passed the county examination and the prefecture examination and are admitted to take the Taoist examination. This is called the Taoist examination.
Gao Pragmatic has passed the Xinzheng County Examination and the Kaifeng Prefectural Examination, and now he finally has the most junior scholar status: Tong Sheng.
Now he is going to take the final exam of this year. After passing the Taoist exam, he will have a serious title: a student member, which is commonly known as a scholar.
Superintendents conduct temporary examinations in stages, which is called outgoing examinations. When it comes to the level of road examination, it is stricter and more formal than county examinations and prefectural examinations. During the examination, strict security measures will be taken. According to the local states that they pass along the way,
, the county is allowed to escort the imperial seal and accompanying documents and documents, and is allowed to use postmen, horses, boats, and examination sheds to use official supplies, and the clerk's work and food set up in accordance with regulations are allowed to be reimbursed at public expense.
After the superintendent is appointed, he lives in the examination shed, which is used as a temporary official residence. Therefore, the examination shed is sometimes called the Xuedao Yamen. The attendant scribes brought by the superintendent in accordance with regulations must also live in the examination room and are not allowed to go out.
To avoid cheating, asking for bribes and red envelopes, buying and selling student enrollment quotas, etc.
There are even more severe regulations. For example, after the examination, the inspector is not allowed to visit relatives and friends, visit local gentry, etc. in the place of appointment.
Of course, the situation in Kaifeng Prefecture is different. This is Henan Province, and the inspector usually stays in Kaifeng, so the situation is reversed: the Kaifeng Taoist Examination candidates are Kaifeng Prefecture and Guide Prefecture. Candidates from these two prefectures
After the examination in Kaifeng Prefecture, the inspector will immediately leave for Weihui Prefecture, where another batch of Taoist examinations will be held. The candidates will come from Weihui Prefecture, Zhangde Prefecture, and Huaiqing Prefecture; and then go to Henan Prefecture (
The prefecture governs Luoyang County), and the candidates are from Henan Prefecture and Ruzhou; the last one is Nanyang Prefecture, and the candidates are from Nanyang Prefecture and Runing Prefecture.
In a word: strict rules.
The date for the Taoist examination had arrived, and Gao Pragmatic and Lin Bao, escorted by their accompanying servants, rushed to the entrance of the examination shed - commonly known as the Dragon Gate - at the fifth watch of the day.
This place is really crowded right now, with people rushing to take exams, people delivering exams, people selling all kinds of food, and even people watching the fun, everything is there. If there are any candidates who haven't had time to have breakfast, they have to hurry up.
Had breakfast at the food stall.
Gao Jingshi didn't have time to eat breakfast, but after all, he was different from ordinary candidates because he was rich, and very rich, so he had already had the exquisite food brought by Gao Jue and others from the inn, and he could eat whatever he wanted, no matter the portion or variety.
He eats.
However, Gao Qingshi always eats on time, and it's not actually breakfast time yet. His appetite is relatively average, so he just eats something casually and forgets it.
Not long after, the test room started to explode, and everyone went to the roll call at the gate to wait for the roll call. When a candidate from a certain county was called, a large paper sign would be erected in the courtyard. The sign was rectangular, with the surroundings empty and the center
A candle is lit with the words "Point to a certain county" written on it, and the candidates' names are written in ink on one side. Ten people's names are written on each board, which is held up by someone. In the dark night, the candidates can be seen clearly from a distance.
Follow the sign with your name on it and follow the person holding the sign out of the examination room.
It is dozens of feet away from the dragon gate to the roll call place at the gate. A bamboo shed has been erected here, with railings on both sides. The middle can accommodate two or three people walking side by side, similar to the entrance of a railway station during the peak period of Spring Festival travel in later generations.
The difference is that there are nine twists and turns in the tented passage in the examination room, which is called "Kowloon Factory." Candidates carry long-eared bamboo baskets and walk slowly on the twisting passage. The factory ends and the roll call is completed. It is better than the order during the Spring Festival.
too much.
The Taoist examination was called by the inspector himself. Li Yuantai, the admiral of the Henan academic administration, sat in the west room of the north hall. As usual, the door was opened, and as usual, the prefect's promotion officer, the first county instructor, the academic instructors and the Linbao came in to see.
The master of ceremonies shouted "Promote the official to come in", the prefect bowed without ceremony, and the superintendent stood up to answer the salute. Then he called the head county and school instructors to come in, with the same etiquette as the prefect. Finally, Lin Baojin was called, and the superintendent sat still this time.
Let them see it.
At this time, the candidates' names began to be called. Xinzheng County ranked relatively low. Gao Pragmatic was not in a hurry and waited with peace of mind. It took a long time before he heard his name being called. Gao Pragmatic quickly replied loudly: "Yes!"
On the superintendent's case, there is a list of names submitted by the instructors of each school. Each person's name on the list is detailed with their place of origin, age, face, beard or not, black and white face, whether there are pits and scars, as well as three generations of resumes, and are protected by Lin.
Handwritten signature.
These practices are much stricter than those for county and government examinations. Their purpose is to prevent impostors from taking the exams. The purpose of summoning Linbao to the superintendent is also the same. If the candidates who come forward have the above-mentioned disadvantages
, they will point it out immediately.
If it is indeed the person he is, he will sing: "So-and-so guarantees", Lin Bao responds: "So-and-so guarantees", then the candidate will hand in the "Dao test paper check" for verification, and go to the paper issuance office to collect the test paper and draft paper.
If it is an imposter and Lin Bao is not aware of it or deliberately conceals it, once discovered, Lin Bao will be deposed and punished, while the person who is in charge will kneel in shackles in front of the camp gate to show the public, and then be punished.
Gao pragmatically went through this process, and after receiving the papers, he went to the inspection office to wait for inspection. As a rule, candidates are only allowed to bring long-eared bamboo baskets, also known as examination baskets, with writing and food in the baskets, even in some places in Jiangnan.
Even inkstones are not allowed to be brought in. As for pieces of paper, nothing is allowed to be brought in to prevent cheating.
As a result, the inspection is strict and relatively slow. Even if multiple inspection openings are arranged, the speed cannot be faster - not only the items in the test basket must be inspected one by one, but also food such as steamed buns and steamed buns.
Open it and take a look at it to prevent the copied eight-part article from being included.
This is not the end of the story. After the items have been checked, the person must also be checked. The examinee has to undress, take off his shoes and socks, and be naked wearing only a pair of shorts for inspection. The clothes that have been taken off are also checked by someone to prevent copying from above.
If there are words, even a lantern must be held in the ear hole to see if there are any inclusions. It is really more stringent than searching for thieves, and it is simply too polite.
When Gao Pragmatic saw this formation, he couldn't help but murmured in his heart: How did the goddesses and immortals in some novels who disguised themselves as men in the Ming Dynasty to take the imperial examination pass this inspection? With all their clothes on, you are just like an airport.
