[050] The township examination is here, and the Gongyuan is open!
The eighth day of August.
The day has finally arrived for the provincial examination.
Just after the fourth watch, Su Ping woke up from his dream.
Logically speaking, for such a grand day, the more appropriately dressed, the better.
But Su Ping went against the norm and put on a coarse cloth shirt brought from Xiaohe Village.
This Confucian shirt has been washed and turned white, and the cuffs are even slightly rolled. At a glance, others would just think that Su Ping was a poor man from the surrounding countryside who went to Beijing to take the exam.
After yesterday's leftover meal left him feeling full, Su Ping took the cloth bag he had packed long ago and went out.
When he reached the door of the mansion, Su Ping looked back.
Two big bright lanterns swayed in the wind, bringing a bit of warmth.
Su Ping knew that this lantern was not lit for him.
Looking around, the entire Shanghua Street is brightly lit, and every household has hung a lantern at the door.
This is the tradition of Yangjing.
Every time when the imperial examination starts, as long as there is no shortage of money at home, lanterns will be hung in front of the door.
It not only has the meaning of lighting the way forward for today's candidates, but also means that the Daqing government and the public attach great importance to the imperial examination.
Su Ping's steps were steady and powerful, neither fast nor slow.
When we arrived at the square in front of Gongyuan, there were already many students waiting here.
There are those who are well-dressed and surrounded by boys carrying large and small bags, and there are also those who are alone, like Su Ping, with only a rucksack or a suitcase in addition to a decent Confucian shirt.
Su Ping didn't see anyone familiar here, and his cold eyes, as if he didn't want to approach strangers, also stopped the candidates who wanted to talk.
As time went by, more and more candidates gathered in front of Gongyuan Gate.
Not long after, with the sound of a gong, the crowd quickly separated to both sides.
Two rows of armored soldiers with guns came first and stood on the left and right.
Immediately afterwards, a tin-topped official sedan came slowly and stopped in front of the gate of Gongyuan.
The bearer of the sedan chair opened the curtain: "Sir, Gongyuan has arrived."
"Um."
The people in the sedan responded with a calm response, bowed their heads slightly and got off the sedan.
He is about forty years old, eight feet tall, wearing a Zhongjing crown and a dark blue white pheasant patchwork suit.
This is the attire of a Hanlin bachelor.
Su Ping in the crowd narrowed his eyes slightly, and this person's information flashed in his mind.
Zhu Tianlu is a fifth-grade bachelor of the Hanlin Academy.
Although his rank is not high, Zhu Tianlu was born in the imperial examination and stayed in the Hanlin Academy during his three-year term. Being a proper reserve member of the cabinet can be said to be extremely valuable.
Su Ping has read his articles and policy papers. His wording is gorgeous yet rigorous, and he can be regarded as a successful example of exam-oriented education.
If nothing else happens, after a few more years, he will definitely have a place in the cabinet.
At this time, all the outside supervisors and examiners, including the transcribers, test takers, patrollers, and examiners, all came out of the Gongyuan to greet him.
Zhu Tianlu exchanged a few brief greetings and then said: "We shoulder the important task of collecting materials for the country, and I hope all colleagues will be cautious."
The officials said yes, and then followed Zhu Tianlu into the Gongyuan Courtyard.
Then, a loud voice sounded at the gate of Gongyuan.
"The time has come! In the twelfth year of Yongtai's reign, the Dingyou Keping Tianfu Rural Examination will be held and the hospital will be opened!"
"All candidates enter the palace in order!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a muffled sound of "Clang——" exploded.
That was the sound of the iron gun in the soldier's hand.
All the candidates looked tense and even lowered their heads.
Su Ping took out the test card from his arms and slowly moved forward with the crowd, feeling neither humble nor happy.
Occasionally there were screams and cries from the front of the team.
This is when a candidate is caught with an entanglement when passing the inspection. Not only will his qualifications for the provincial examination be revoked, but his sponsor or teacher will also be punished.
What's outrageous is the one in front of Su Ping.
He looked dull and dull, but he found two egg shells stuffed with paper balls from the dry food he brought with him.
The paper was spread out, and it was densely packed with small characters that were difficult to read with the naked eye.
"Haha~ I didn't use this trick before."
The prosecutor had a look of hatred on his face, as if he was insulted, and waved his hands in disgust: "Just tell me the truth."
The honest candidates followed the officers and soldiers to the side obediently as if they were mourning their heirs.
When it was Su Ping's turn, the card supervisor looked at the card test, then rubbed his eyes and read it again.
When he looked up again, his face was already a little more earnest.
"It turns out to be my master's disciple."
With that said, the license supervisor took a look at Su Ping's examination card to the prosecutor.
The prosecutor understood.
Although Su Ping's body was still searched, under his command, the officers and soldiers' movements were extremely gentle, completely different from other candidates, and they wanted to even open their buttocks to take a look.
Su Ping also didn't expect that Wen Daoyuan's sponsorship would be such a convenience.
He passed the inspection with almost no manipulation.
Just as he was about to enter, another person came up and smiled at him and said, "Su Sheng, come this way."
Su Ping knew that this person was a patrol officer, so he cupped his hands to express his gratitude and followed behind.
Not long after, Su Ping was led to his dormitory.
Although he had been prepared for it, his heart sank when he saw the cell he was assigned to.
The Pingtianfu Gongyuan examination shed is very different from the ones I have visited in my life.
The most obvious one is that there are old trumpets, trumpets, and seats.
All dormitories are of the same specifications, both in terms of area and materials.
Only the three days of exam time allowed there to still be a ‘base number’ here.
That is, the dormitory near the toilet, commonly known as the smelly dormitory.
Although the number Su Ping was assigned was not a bad one, but...
It's also too close to Mingyuan Tower.
Su Ping turned slightly sideways and looked at Mingyuan Tower, which was only three feet away on the right side of the dormitory, his eyes changing.
"This place is close to Mingyuan Building. It is the quietest place in the entire examination room. Susheng can take the exam with peace of mind."
The inspector did not forget to show his favor, "The bell in the building is not ringing at this time. If Su Sheng needs anything, please let me know. I know how to supply it."
"Thank you for your kindness, sir. There is no shortage of students."
Su Ping thanked him.
Now that I have a relationship with Half-Saint Wen Daoyuan, I cannot accept this kind of favor casually.
"That's fine."
Seeing that Su Ping was not enthusiastic, the inspector nodded and left.
At that moment, Su Ping entered the dormitory, laid out his pen and ink, and began to close his eyes and rest his mind.
Time passes slowly.
About half an hour later, all the candidates were admitted.
Boom——
Boom——
Boom——
The bronze bell rang three times, and the gate of Gongyuan slowly closed.
The officers and soldiers spread out and locked all the buildings one by one.
Then the test papers were distributed.
Because of the location of the dormitory, Su Ping was among the first to get the test papers.
"Um?"
Su Ping's eyes flashed, "Is there a third way?"
In Zhongzhou's imperial examination, one additional question was added to each pass of the Third Tong Examination, in order of Ming Jing, Ming Dharma, and Ming Jing Yi.
Ming Jing and Ming Fa are both fill-in-the-blank questions, corresponding to Confucian and Taoist classics and Daqing laws, while the meaning of Jing is about reading comprehension.
After the provincial examination, there are only two official questions.
One is the meaning of the scriptures, and the other is the policy theory.
This has not changed for thousands of years.
But today, there is an extra one for no reason!
Temporarily added subjects?
Su Ping opened the three sealed paper rolls one by one.