Becoming a literary master starting from the story of Minglan

Just as Sheng Changquan was resting with his eyes closed inside the carriage, lost in thought, the judgment that would determine the fate of these candidates for the imperial examination was being carried out intensively in the Wenhua Hall within the many palace walls.

Inside the Wenhua Hall, the air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood, creating a solemn and dignified atmosphere, as if even the air itself carried a heavy weight.

The eight examiners—led by Grand Secretary Han Zhang, followed by Vice Grand Secretary Qian Muzhi, Grand Secretaries Shen Duan and Xiao Qinyan, and four senior Hanlin scholars—had all bathed and burned incense, dressed in solemn court robes, and sat behind large desks with grave expressions.

Hundreds of sealed and transcribed examination papers in vermilion ink were neatly stacked on a long table in the center of the hall, like a book of fate awaiting final judgment.

The reason why the Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet were so respected was not only because of their power and ability to control the overall situation of the court, but also because their members could participate in the preliminary selection of the palace examination and select candidates for the imperial examination.

After all, every Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) would have some degree of kinship with the court after entering it, which would affect the future power structure of the court.

As the examination began, the only sounds in the hall were the rustling of papers turning and the occasional soft rustling of official robes as officials adjusted their postures after sitting for a long time.

Each examiner had sharp eyes, like an experienced farmer scrutinizing seedlings, carefully evaluating each policy essay that passed through their hands. This was not only to judge the quality of the essays, but also to examine the knowledge, stance, potential, and even the power that these future pillars of the court might represent.

I don't know how much time passed, but finally someone encountered a test paper of sufficient weight.

Grand Secretary Han Zhang held an examination paper in his hand, reading it intently.

As he looked at it, he unconsciously straightened his slightly hunched body, his withered fingers tapping a rhythm lightly on the table.

The book begins with the quote, "The most important things for a nation are sacrifice and war," which sets a grand tone. Then, the tone shifts to emphasize that "war is dangerous and perilous, and must be carefully considered," and that it is necessary to "assess the situation and one's own strength," which shows great composure.

The article then proceeds step by step, analyzing the Liang Kingdom's "strength in its claws and teeth, weakness in its heart," pointing out its internal weaknesses such as numerous tribes and a fragile economic structure. It proposes the core strategy of "appearing defensively on the outside, strengthening its armor and weapons internally, accumulating grain, and delaying the declaration of kingship," and elaborates on how to gradually weaken the Liang Kingdom through means such as "strengthening border defenses," "developing border trade," "dividing and weakening it," and "accumulating national strength," so as to achieve a decisive victory when the time is right.

The entire piece is written in a steady and logical style, with appropriate use of classical allusions. It not only responds to the calls for revenge but also displays a mature and pragmatic spirit of governing the country. What is even more remarkable is that its strategy seems to be an attempt to balance the views of the pro-war and pro-peace factions in the court, showing a political acumen beyond its years.

Han Zhang nodded slightly and whispered to Qian Muzhi, the second prime minister beside him, "Prime Minister Qian, come and look at this scroll."

"The arguments are insightful, the analysis thorough, and the countermeasures solid. In particular, the eight characters 'externally display a defensive posture, internally strengthen the military' deeply capture the essence of 'using stillness to control movement, and using softness to overcome hardness.' Even more commendable is the proposal of 'promoting trade and benefiting industry to weaken their power,' which focuses on economic checks and balances. This demonstrates a mature understanding of national affairs and a deep knowledge of when to advance and retreat, far surpassing those who merely engage in theoretical discussions. What do you think?"

He handed over the exam paper, his tone revealing undisguised admiration.

Qian Muzhi took the document and quickly skimmed through it. He skipped over the specific military plans and focused on the parts about developing border trade, stabilizing people's livelihoods, weakening enemy countries through economic means, and emphasizing that "full granaries" are the foundation of "accumulating strength." After a moment of contemplation, he said, "The writing is eloquent and insightful."

"What Prime Minister Han says is absolutely right!"

Qian Muzhi was born in Jiangnan, representing the interests of a large number of gentry and merchants. He was most concerned about taxes, canal transport, and the stability of people's livelihood: "In particular, the idea of ​​'promoting trade and benefiting industry to weaken their power' and the emphasis on domestic governance and recuperation is a prudent approach."

"If this policy is adopted, it may avoid large-scale conscription of laborers and increased taxes, so that the money and grain of Jiangnan will not be excessively consumed, and the people will have a chance to breathe."

He couldn't find any major faults in the policy essay's prudent and pragmatic approach, especially its consideration of people's livelihood and the economy. In fact, he quite agreed with it. He stroked his well-maintained beard and nodded, saying, "This essay is of excellent quality."

On the other side, Shen Duan, the tutor, picked up a test paper. After reading just the first few sentences, his tightly furrowed brows suddenly relaxed, and a faint red glow even appeared on his face.

This examination paper begins by bitterly recounting the "humiliation of Emperor Zhenzong's capture in the north," using strong language filled with grief and indignation. It then vigorously advocates "emulating Zhenwu," arguing for "reorganizing the army and strengthening its military capabilities, and launching a major northern expedition," believing that only by "wiping out the enemy's stronghold" can the past shame be avenged and national prestige restored. The text elaborates on how to train a new army, upgrade weaponry, and choose a route for the northern expedition, even proposing the radical idea of ​​"using war to sustain war." The lines are filled with the unique vigor of a military family and a thirst for military merit, as if one could hear the sounds of clashing swords and galloping horses.

"Good! Excellent! This is the ambition that every son of the Great Hong should have!"

Shen Duan nodded repeatedly as he read, and couldn't help but tap the desk lightly with his palm. The sound was particularly clear in the quiet Wenhua Hall, attracting the attention of the other examiners.

However, he paid no attention to it, and said to Li, a scholar who was on good terms with him, "Scholar Li, come and see! Such vigor, every word is powerful and every sentence is generous, it makes people's blood boil! It is much better than those who are timid and only know how to talk and stick to their own ways! It should be ranked as the best!"

He was convinced that this must be the work of Wang Youchen, who was on good terms with his Shen family and also came from a military family. This kind of pro-war rhetoric was exactly what he wanted and also aligned with the interests of the noble group behind him.

Scholar Li took the article and glanced at it. Although he felt that the article was magnificent and the writing was excellent, he had some reservations about its radical parts, especially the idea of ​​"using war to support war," which was easy to disturb the people. However, out of consideration for Shen Duan, he vaguely replied, "What Prime Minister Shen said is true. This article does have a heroic spirit, is ambitious and enterprising, and its spirit is commendable."

Xiao Qinyan, on the other hand, silently reviewed the papers without readily expressing his opinion.

He had a handsome face and deep, calm eyes, yet he moved quickly, passing through test papers one after another, mostly pausing briefly before putting them down. It was difficult to discern his true thoughts from his calm and composed expression.

His steady movements paused almost imperceptibly when he picked up another exam paper.

The handwriting on this exam paper is elegant and refined, with a profound and subtle style. Every stroke reveals a deep foundation, clearly a masterpiece of the official script. It is evident at a glance that it is the result of years of diligent practice.

Looking at the article again, the opening quote, "The best strategy is to attack the enemy's plans; the next best is to disrupt their alliances; the next best is to attack their army; and the worst is to besiege their cities," immediately reveals remarkable insight and a high level of understanding.

The article then proceeds without immediately proposing specific strategies. Instead, it first provides a comprehensive overview of history, analyzing in detail how Emperor Wu of the previous dynasty, despite his military prowess, exhausted the people's resources, and how earlier dynasties dealt with border troubles, both successfully and unsuccessfully. The article's extensive knowledge, drawing on numerous classical texts, is truly remarkable.

The subsequent strategy focused on "diplomatic maneuvering" and "strengthening the foundation," emphasizing the use of diplomatic means to contact and restrain the surrounding forces of Liang, while vigorously reforming the bureaucracy and enriching the people, interpreting "defense" as actively "waiting for the right time."

The article is florid, logically clear, and elegantly written, appearing extremely prudent and comprehensive. One could even say that it is overly concerned with maintaining a balanced and thorough approach, seemingly unwilling to take a clear side in the sensitive debate between defense and offense, lest it offend either side. Its sharp edge is carefully concealed by its exquisite and rigorous argumentation.

A glint flashed in Xiao Qinyan's eyes, and the habitual, faint smile on his lips deepened, carrying a knowing understanding of the secret.

He was almost certain that this must have been made by Yuan Shen, the young master of the Yuan family in Henan Province.

Considering the Yuan family's promise to "close the gates for sixty years" due to past events of the previous dynasty, and the subtle background of the emperor's special decree allowing only one of them to serve in office, Xiao Qinyan understood.

This young man is not without talent; on the contrary, he is exceptionally talented. However, the heavy historical burden of his family forces him to choose the safest, even somewhat conservative, path.

This policy essay perfectly embodies his strategy of "concealing his shortcomings" and "seeking stability." It demonstrates sufficient talent and knowledge to establish himself while avoiding getting involved in future court disputes due to his clear stance. It can be said that he is well-versed in the way of self-preservation.

He calmly categorized the paper as "superior," but unlike Shen Duan, he did not praise it loudly. He simply commented, "The writing in this paper is indeed excellent."

To those unaware of the situation, these words led them to believe that Prime Minister Xiao favored the article, and immediately everyone circulated it, giving it high praise.

...(End of chapter)