Daming Town Haiwang

Chapter 2170, It's time for the imperial examination again

Time flies, and it will soon be autumn, and the whole capital city becomes lively again, because the triennial imperial examination will start soon.

This is the first time since Emperor Zhengde took the imperial examination. The emperor attaches great importance to this matter. At the beginning of the year, he passed the mansion newspaper. The newspaper notified the world that the number of people admitted this year will be nearly 200 more than before. The total admission quota will exceed 700.

This can be regarded as the largest number of admissions since the concept imperial examination.

You must know that in the past, the number of places admitted to the imperial examination was only about 300. Later, with the increase of Dongbang and Daming overseas provinces, the number of places was gradually expanded to about 500.

This time, Emperor Zhengde approved an additional 200 places, which is obviously a kind of grace.

Because in the first year of Zhengde last year, according to past traditions, the new emperor would not only grant amnesty to the world, but also open Enke to show his benevolence, righteousness and morality.

But last year, Emperor Zhengde did not open Enke. There are many factors in this, the most important factor is that it is time for the imperial examination in the second year of Zhengde, and there is no need to open Enke.

The imperial examination was a big event for the entire Ming Dynasty, it only happened once every three years, and every time the imperial examination was held, the entire capital would become extremely lively.

Talented scholars from all over the Ming Dynasty gathered in the capital to write and splash ink, and also left a large number of classic numerals, couplets, calligraphy and so on in various places in the capital.

At the same time, every imperial examination also adds a lot of new stories to the young and old in Ming Dynasty.

The story of a rich lady falling in love with a poor scholar, and the poor scholar finally getting married after high school is very old-fashioned, but everyone still listens to it with great interest, wondering whether they can become the protagonist, the gold list Title, bridal chamber flowers and candles, since then embarked on the Kangzhuang Avenue.

What about the story of a talented man and a beautiful woman in a brothel? The head of the Yihong Courtyard and Xiaoxiang Pavilion fell in love with a certain talented scholar.

At the end of the scholar high school, the carp leaped over the dragon gate and soared into the sky. In the end, the old bustard had to choose to let him go, which left a beautiful love story for everyone.

There was also a poor scholar who came to the capital to take the exam. The poor man had no money to stay in a hotel, so he could only sleep on the street. A kind person helped this scholar, not only letting him live in his own home, but also providing him with meals.

As a result, the scholar lived up to expectations. As expected, after high school and becoming a high-ranking official, he rewarded his benefactor heavily.

There are too many stories like this, too many, and when it comes to the imperial examination, these stories are being told all over the capital.

The operas in the theater sang the stories of the poor scholar and the rich daughter, the newspapers also published the story of the scholar struggling to study, and the stories of the scholar were the most talked about among neighbors.

In this era when everything is inferior and only reading is high, the stories of scholars are the mainstream of this era, and they are also the stories that everyone likes the most.

This time the imperial examination has increased by 200 places, which also makes the number of people in the imperial examination this time exceed the unprecedented 5 people. Many grandpas who are already in their fifties and sixties are trembling and accompanied by their family members. Take the test.

Many people who had already given up on the imperial examination also thought that there would be more places this time, so they would come and try again.

In addition, the traffic in Daming has become more convenient now, with cars, trains, ships, etc., making it easier to go to Beijing to catch the exam.

In addition, the living standards of Ming people have become higher, and more people are studying in new schools, and more people are studying in old schools than before.

These factors have led to more and more candidates taking part in the imperial examination every year. This year, an unprecedented 5 people came to the capital to take the imperial examination.

In addition, there are still some scholars who are full and have nothing to do come to the capital to join in the fun and watch the excitement. It is estimated that there may be more than [-] scholars in the capital during the imperial examination period.

There is no way, the transportation is so convenient now, the trains in Daming almost cover most of the provinces, and even the Yunnan, Guizhou and Sichuan areas in the southwest have been served by trains, so it is very easy to enter Beijing with a train.

In addition, there are vehicles, ships, motorcycles, etc., and there are concrete roads everywhere. It’s okay to go to the capital to see the imperial examinations and feel the atmosphere. Anyway, it’s Daming now. There are no restrictions in this area anymore, you can go as you want.

Even many ordinary people who have nothing to do can come to the capital to join in the fun and feel the atmosphere of the imperial examination.

Isn’t it still in the hot summer that a large number of students from all over the Ming Dynasty have gathered here in the capital? In their words, the purpose of coming to the capital in advance is to get familiar with the climate and living habits of the capital, so as not to Acclimatized.

In the previous imperial examinations, there would always be some candidates who performed abnormally due to acclimatization, and eventually regretted for life.

After many exams arrived in the capital, because the exams were in autumn and winter, the weather was relatively cold. Some students from the south were infected with the wind and cold, so naturally they couldn't perform well.

In addition, some candidates were in such a hurry that they did not have a good rest and review, which led to abnormal performance in the exam.

In short, there are various factors in it. If you come to the capital in advance, you can reduce the impact in this regard. Come to the capital in advance to familiarize yourself with the climate of the capital. At the same time, you can prepare well here in the capital with peace of mind, without rushing of.

There are many candidates who believe this, so every year, a large number of candidates come to the capital a few months in advance to prepare for the imperial examination.

Of course, for these scholars, socializing is also very important.

When visiting the princes in the next court, whether it is related or not, it is also necessary to get involved, such as the same family, fellow countrymen, etc., in short, they have to walk more, walk around, and ask for some calligraphy or something before leaving , these are the rules.

From now on, if the high school becomes an official in the court, these are all ways, and they are also important ways to get promoted.

In addition, those who are from the same country and family in the same year will have to move around more if they take the imperial examination together. Maybe if they go to high school together, they will be officials in the court in the future. To support, to help out.

Anyway, for scholars in this era, reading is very important, and making friends and visiting friends is also very important. If you come to the capital in advance, it is natural to move around more, get to know more talented people in the Ming Dynasty, the princes in the court, etc. Wait.

This is why it is very expensive to study and study.

Whether it is to visit seniors who are officials in the court, or to eat with friends, to visit brothels, to listen to music in Xiaoxiang Pavilion, it is very expensive.

Not to mention anything else, going to visit the princes in the court, depending on the level and position, would cost several hundred taels of silver at any one time, and even with the development of Ming Dynasty, the current market price has risen It's very powerful, a few hundred taels of silver is already a bit out of hand, and it's going to be thousands of taels.

If it is an important minister in the court, with a high position and authority, then the cost will be even greater, and it may be tens of thousands of taels of silver at will and it will be gone.

For children in ordinary families, this is simply unaffordable.

In addition, the places where scholars go to get together are very expensive places, such as going to the Xiaoxiang Pavilion to listen to music once, drink tea and drink, and so on.

Anyway, it’s a place to spend money. If you don’t have money, you really can’t afford to study the old school, and you can’t enjoy it.

The combination of many factors also made the whole capital city become extremely lively when autumn was just beginning in the capital.

Everywhere you can see groups of scholars in long gowns, holding fans and shaking their heads, talking about the world and talking about it.

At the same time, frequent merchants also began to launch various activities one after another, such as free meals and drinks for couples, poetry gatherings, receptions and the like.

However, for Hu Xiwen, who came from an ordinary family, the reason why he came to the capital ahead of time to take the exam was to prepare well for the exam and strive for high school in one fell swoop.

Hu Xiwen is from Chengdu, Sichuan. His ancestors are not from Chengdu, but from rural people in the mountains of Sichuan. Chengdu has developed rapidly since the train was connected, and it has also become the development engine of the southwest region, attracting a large number of people. Go to Chengdu to work and settle down.

Hu Xiwen’s parents also moved to Chengdu at that time, and made a living in Chengdu by working part-time. Because the family has been farmers for generations, Hu Xiwen’s parents also tried their best to send Hu Xiwen to a private school, hoping that he can be admitted to the primary school. Officer, Guangyao door lintel.

Hu Xiwen also lived up to expectations. He was smart since he was a child, and he was talented in studying old school. He is only [-] years old. He took part in the provincial examination for the first time last year and passed the high school. high school.

Regardless of his young age, he is full of talent, literary talent, and talent. The key is that he is still studying hard. Now the scholars who came to the capital together are visiting relatives and friends everywhere, but he, Hu Xiwen, is still rented by himself. In the house, I read carefully and prepared for the exam.

Of course, this is also because he has a small pocket and can't keep up with the consumption of those people.

In order to go to Beijing to take the exam this time, his parents handed over more than 100 taels of silver they had saved for several years to him. The words are definitely enough, so we must save some points.

(End of this chapter)