Becoming a literary master starting from the story of Minglan

Sheng Changquan sat down, closed his eyes, and concentrated.

Inside the side hall examination room, the scents of sandalwood and ink mingled, and hundreds of candidates sat upright, holding their breath, with only the occasional soft crackling of candlelight.

He did not rush to look at the questions, but first regulated his breathing, allowing his mind to calm down completely, shutting out the noise and pressure from entering the hall and paying homage.

After a long while, he opened his eyes, his gaze clear, and began to examine the question.

When his gaze fell upon the six characters “the shame of Emperor Zhenzong’s capture in the north,” Sheng Changquan felt a sudden chill, as if he had been pricked by a cold needle.

This is not a matter from the previous dynasty, but the biological father of the current emperor! This matter is a hidden pain of the royal family, which the court officials are reluctant to talk about, but now the emperor himself has written it into his policy questions, stating that it is a "shame".

Sheng Changquan could almost feel the suppressed humiliation and hatred in the heart of the emperor through the back of the paper.

"Your Majesty... this is an attempt to avenge our defeat."

He thought to himself, the pressure suddenly increasing.

This is no longer just about examining essays; it's about exploring a realistic path that can comfort the spirit of the late emperor, reassure the hopes of the people, and align with the current national conditions.

He recalled the events of the earlier "Zhen" dynasty.

Emperor Zhenwu was a brilliant military strategist who expanded the territory, but the record of "the country being devastated and the population reduced by half" in his later years is equally alarming.

On one hand, there was the glory of Emperor Wu; on the other hand, there was the warning of the nation's overstretched resources. On one hand, there was the deep pain of the previous emperor's disgrace; on the other hand, there was the enormous risk that a major war might bring.

The trade-offs involved are incredibly difficult!
Sheng Changquan frowned.

"War is a matter of vital importance to the State; it is a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin. Hence it is a subject of inquiry which can on no account be neglected." The admonition of the ancient sages echoed in my mind.

While it is certainly satisfying to avenge a humiliating defeat, it would be a far greater sin if it emptied the national treasury, undermined the foundation of the nation, and caused immense suffering to the people.

Governing a large country is like cooking a small fish. Although Sheng Changquan is not very old in this world, his thoughts encompass the whole world and delve even deeper into the structure of the imperial court.

The upright officials represented by Han Zhang would naturally favor a stable domestic policy and advocate "strengthening the foundation and cultivating the source," while the military group led by meritorious officials such as Shen Duan would probably already be eager to take this opportunity to make achievements and revitalize the military spirit.

These two factions have been vying for power in the court for a long time. The Emperor has openly placed this controversy in the examination questions, and his intention to balance and test the waters is self-evident. He even thought of Xiao Qinyan, the newly promoted cabinet member with a delicate position, and Qian Muzhi, the second grand secretary who represents the Jiangnan region with its abundant resources...

Even more so, there were those like Shen and Sun, who fought but never broke apart, yet maintained a tacit understanding...

If this strategy only focuses on military matters, then it falls into a lower category.

The direction for solving the problem gradually became clear in a flash.

Sheng Changquan suddenly realized that he could not simply choose sides, it was either one or the other.

He needed a more balanced and pragmatic approach that could respond to the emperor's desire for revenge, take into account the realities of national strength, and at least to some extent bridge the differences within the court—a "middle way."

However, this "moderation" is not about compromise, but rather a more sophisticated strategy based on a deep understanding of the situation.

Having pondered this, a flash of inspiration struck him, and a clear and systematic framework had taken shape. What he needed to do was to propose a more systematic and higher-dimensional strategy that transcended the current understanding of the court.

With his thinking clear and the details well understood, Sheng Changquan no longer hesitated!

He rolled up his sleeves, took a well-fitting wolf-hair brush with excellent sharpness, dipped it in the thick ink of the Duanxi Old Pit Inkstone, and steadily wrote the first character on the spread-out imperial snow-white Xuan paper.

Seeing him finally put pen to paper, Sheng Hong, watching from afar, felt relieved. Just moments before, Sheng Changquan had remained motionless, causing his father immense worry. Now, his precious son had finally begun.

"May the saints bless my son, and may he pass the imperial examination smoothly and become a Jinshi..." Sheng Hong began his prayers in his heart again, "Ideally, he could be the third or second-ranked scholar... It would be best if he could become the top scholar..."

……

The characters written by Sheng Changquan have long transcended the scope of ordinary calligraphy. Because their soul comes from the modern era, they have integrated the strengths of many schools of thought and honed them through a lifetime of hard work, forming a unique style.

Writing at this moment was even more enjoyable, and in order to meet the solemn requirements of the palace examination, he deliberately restrained his usual free and unrestrained style, striving for each stroke to be upright, clear, and full of inner strength.

The brushstrokes begin with a concealed tip, move steadily, and end cleanly. The structure is rigorous yet expansive, the composition is well-balanced, and the overall flow of energy is harmonious.

It possesses the broad and vigorous structure of Yan Zhenqing's calligraphy, incorporates the rugged elegance of Ouyang Xun, and even subtly carries a trace of Zhao Mengfu's graceful charm. Yet, it does not resemble any particular school entirely, forming its own unique style. Within its upright and meticulous form, it reveals an indescribable sense of purity and strength, as well as extraordinary depth.

He was completely absorbed, with nothing on his mind, as if the entire world consisted only of the words on his pen and the strategies in his heart.

The hall was extremely quiet, with only the soft rustling of hundreds of brushes across the paper, creating a subtle and continuous sound, like silkworms eating leaves. Occasionally, someone would cough lightly out of nervousness or make a slight movement, which seemed particularly abrupt.

Sunlight streamed through the high windows, casting bright beams of light that silently swirled among the dust motes. Time seemed to slow down and become solemn at that moment.

Sheng Changquan wrote with ease, beginning with "I have heard that the most important things for a country are sacrifice and war," acknowledging the importance of military preparedness. He then shifted his focus, emphasizing that "war is dangerous and perilous, and we must be cautious," and that it is necessary to "assess the situation and our own strength."

Next, he elaborated on his argument in stages: first, he analyzed the Liang Kingdom, pointing out that its "reliance on military strength" was superficial, while its weakness lay in internal tribal conflicts and a weak economic structure. He suggested emulating the ancient strategists like Guan Zhong, who employed methods of weighing resources and employing "diplomatic maneuvering" to control the economy and divide the country politically. Then, he analyzed the Great Flood, stating frankly that "internal affairs need improvement, and granaries need to be filled," indicating that a war of national annihilation was not yet imminent, implicitly aligning with the views of the Qingliu faction.

Finally, Sheng Changquan proposed the core strategy: "Outwardly show a defensive posture, inwardly strengthen the army and armor, accumulate grain, and delay declaring oneself king," meaning that one should not be in a hurry to achieve success, but should proceed steadily and surely.

Specific strategies included strengthening border defenses, training soldiers, and consolidating the defensive line; developing border trade to facilitate division; and sending capable personnel to infiltrate and reconnoiter, thereby gaining the initiative.

At the same time, we must also be determined to reform our domestic affairs, accumulate national strength, and wait for the right opportunity to achieve success in one fell swoop.

At the end of the article, Sheng Changquan reiterated that this strategy was a "mature and prudent approach to governing the country," which not only responded to the call for revenge but also embodied a pragmatic spirit.

Sheng Changquan knew that this article was not only about rankings, but could also reach the ears of the emperor and affect national policy, so he carefully considered every word to ensure it was flawless.

When he writes about crucial points, he quotes extensively from classical texts, analyzes the current situation with incisive insight, proposes strategies, and strives for thoroughness. His writing is logically rigorous and interconnected, demonstrating both profound reflection on history and clear planning for the future.

Just as his thoughts were flowing freely and his pen was moving swiftly, the official, seated high above, once again casually swept his gaze across the entire room.

Finally, as if drawn by a magnet, it landed on Sheng Changquan, who was in the center of the front row and was the top scholar of this year's imperial examination.

The emperor himself was a great lover of calligraphy and had a profound understanding of it. He also possessed an extraordinary ability to appreciate excellent handwriting.

He had already seen several of the young scholar's calligraphy works through certain channels and greatly admired his unique and exquisite calligraphy. Now, seeing Sheng Changquan so focused and divinely inspired in such a solemn and tense occasion as the palace examination, he could only imagine that his handwriting must be extraordinary!
Moreover, the Emperor suddenly remembered that Consort Rong, whom he favored most, had once asked him for a calligraphy work by Sheng Changquan...

Upon thinking of this, the official's fondness for "good calligraphy" and his desire for "talented people" intertwined, making him somewhat restless.

He shifted slightly, almost subconsciously, and slowly rose from his throne.

This was like a huge stone being thrown into a calm lake!
The personal eunuch standing to the side was startled and quickly stepped forward. The civil and military officials of His Majesty were even more on edge, and countless eyes, filled with surprise and inquiry, focused on the Emperor.

The emperor ignored the crowd and slowly walked down the steps, his steps steady, but his goal clear: to walk towards the area where the scholars were answering their questions.

This is an extremely rare occurrence in the imperial examinations—the emperor himself descends from his seat to inspect the examinations!
In an instant, the air in the entire examination hall of the Zichen Palace seemed to freeze completely. (End of this chapter)