After the county examination, everyone in the academy did not relax their vigilance. The government examination and the college examination followed immediately. Only after passing these two examinations can one be considered a scholar.
Chen Zhongqian came first in the county test, and naturally received praise from his husband. Dean Yue called him to talk, and it took him a long time to come back.
Lushan Ming was waiting in the corner. Seeing Chen Zhongqian appear, he immediately stepped forward to block his way.
"What did you say to the dean again? It took so long."
Chen Zhongqian said, "I told you earlier, if you want to know, just ask Dean Yue. I don't have the habit of repeating what I said to others."
Lu Shanming snorted coldly, "It's quite impressive that you won the first place this time, but don't be complacent. It's still early for you to catch up with me."
Chen Zhongqian asked him, "Did you get the top spot back then?"
Lu Shanming shook his head. There was nothing to be ashamed of. He was the only one on the list. It was normal not to.
Chen Zhongqian asked him again, "Is that the top ten?"
When he asked this, Lu Shanming was stunned for a moment, and then shook his head in embarrassment.
He is number 21.
Chen Zhongqian smiled and said, "Be prepared this autumn. If you are worried that you will not do well in the exam, you can also follow the example of others and give me two taels of silver and I will help you review."
Lu Shanming gritted his teeth, "How dare you humiliate me!"
"I'm just trying to find a way for you, but you think it's humiliating. Then I don't know what to say."
In fact, Chen Zhongqian didn't really dislike Lushan Ming. He just saw that he was as anxious as a rooster every day. He thought it was quite interesting and wanted to tease him.
Lu Shanming gritted his teeth, but Chen Zhongqian had already left. He could only curse a few words secretly, and then made up his mind to make good preparations for autumn.
It didn't take long for the news to come that the imperial court was going to raise taxes. People who went to shops to buy daily necessities needed to pay taxes. In addition, the land tax also increased a bit.
The current land tax is already very high. It has been rising slowly over the past ten years. Unexpectedly, it will continue to rise.
The news quickly spread throughout the town, and a gentleman from Yueshan Academy even asked questions in class for students to answer, about this tax.
The students' analysis was succinct, but in fact they knew in their hearts that the imperial court was increasingly unable to hold on.
It happened to be the holiday, and Chen Zhongqian called Chen Zhongda to go home with him. The two of them sat in the carriage, both of them silent.
Halfway through, Chen Zhongda asked, "Brother, do you think being an official is really a good way out in these troubled times?"
Chen Zhongqian asked him, "Then think about why you are an official. If it is for status, glory and wealth, then being an official in the current world is indeed not a good way out."
"But if you are worried about the world and want to contribute to the people of the world, even if it is just a small amount, then scientific examination is a good way out."
In fact, Chen Zhongda himself couldn’t figure out why he wanted to take the scientific examination?
That's because he entered school as soon as he could remember, and his grandfather kept telling him that it was his duty to gain fame and shine, and that he was the hope of the Chen family.
Grandma kept telling him how much money he had spent at home, and if he was to be successful in the future, he must be filial to his elders.
So these two things were equated with the scientific examination in his mind. Thinking about it now, he seemed to have never thought about the significance of the scientific examination to himself.
Chen Zhongda couldn't think of an answer for a while, so he asked, "Brother, tell me, what is the purpose of your scientific examination?"
Chen Zhongqian smiled and said, "At first it was because of my parents. They worked so hard to make money so that I could study with peace of mind. I can't let them down."
"It's just that I'm weak and sick, so it's more difficult for me to study well than others. In the end, it's more like proving myself."
"But now it's for my wife and children, and also for the Yuan Kingdom."
He is too weak to join the army and fight, so he has to do what he is good at and defend the country in his own way.
The prosperity of the country is inseparable from whether the people can live a stable life. War is not the key to the prosperity of the country, the people are.
"Now that the imperial court has raised taxes again, the people's lives are almost unbearable."
Chen Zhongda sighed beside him, "How can we, a mere scholar, be able to influence national affairs? Even if our scientific examinations go well and we become citizens and have official positions, I'm afraid we won't be able to say anything on such a major matter."
Chen Zhongqian asked him, "What if there are a hundred small voices or a thousand small voices added up? Can the court hear it?"
When he said this, the string in Chen Zhongda's heart suddenly rang.
The reason why he struggled repeatedly was because he felt that his power was too weak. Even if he successfully passed the scientific examination and became an official, nothing could be changed.
But Chen Zhongqian's words reminded him that one person can't change anything, but one more person means more hope.
If he becomes an official, he must be a good official and must protect the people of the area. Then he is hope to the local people.
"Brother, I understand, thank you for clarifying my doubts."
As he talked, he soon returned to the village. People everywhere were talking about raising land taxes.
"Village chief, what should we do? The harvest has not been good, and the court has to add a 10% field tax. How will we live like this?"
"If God doesn't show mercy, if there is a drought or a flood, or there is a locust plague, the whole family will starve to death."
Someone next to me said, "Bah, bah, bah, you don't know how to say something auspicious. It must be good weather."
The man curled his lips and said, "If my words were so effective, I would wish for a box of gold to fall from the sky. Don't worry about whether it is available or not. Think about the land tax first."
"Oh, this is nothing we can worry about. With the official document above, the land tax must be paid, otherwise we will be arrested."
"If you ask me to arrest you, I will arrest you. If a family has to guard a basket of food for half a year, it is better to go to jail."
"You might as well be eating in the army than in prison. Why didn't you run faster when you were drafted?"
Someone else said, "The imperial court really doesn't treat us people as human beings. It wants money for marches and wars, and the treasury is empty, so it just looks to the people for money. Farmers face the loess with their backs to the sky. Is it possible to dig out gold or silver from the ground?"
?”
Everyone is talking loudly. Liu Lai, a gangster in the village, said, "Why are you talking so much? You don't dare to speak back. If you want me to say it, if you are not satisfied, just pick up a carrying pole and go to the government."
Someone next to him immediately hit him and said, "If you don't want to live, we still want to live. Be careful what you say. Nothing is counterproductive."
In these troubled times, there are many people who are looking forward to changing their appearance, but most people know that they are not the material, so they can only curse the court in their hearts.
Only Liu Lai is so courageous. If one person has enough food and the whole family is not hungry, he dares to say anything.
He said nonchalantly, "I'm almost out of food and still worried about so many things. I'm not afraid."
Everyone dispersed quickly, fearing that if the word spread, they would be beheaded.