Becoming a literary master starting from the story of Minglan

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The examination was conducted in a side hall next to the Wenhua Hall, in a solemn and dignified atmosphere.

The finest agarwood burned quietly in the incense burner, its wisps of smoke rising straight up, yet unable to dispel the invisible smog that permeated the air.

The eight examiners, mainly four Grand Secretaries and several senior Hanlin scholars, were responsible for initially screening out those with clear writing and insightful views from hundreds of sealed examination papers. They then compared and deliberated carefully to determine the rankings.

The hall was mostly silent throughout the day, with only the rustling of papers turning and occasional whispers about the contents of a particular exam paper, as if a group of experienced hunters were assessing their prey.

There were other excellent papers during that period.

For example, one exam paper took a different approach, focusing on how to utilize the geography of rivers and improve the canal transport to ensure border logistics. Although it was slightly inferior in terms of macro strategy, it was quite insightful in terms of practical matters and won the praise of Qian Muzhi. He stroked his beard and nodded slightly, feeling that this young man understood the principle that "money and grain are the lifeline" and was a good candidate for practical work.

Another proposal strongly advocated "military settlements to strengthen the borders," putting forward a detailed plan for military and civilian settlements, believing that this was the way to secure the borders in the long term. This also sparked a quiet discussion among several senior officials, who felt that although this policy was slow, it was still a way to solidify the foundation.

However, the most eye-catching and most discussed papers were those that were outstanding in terms of writing style, insight, and demeanor.

Once the initial screening was complete, the eight examiners presented what they considered the best papers for joint evaluation and discussion of the top ten rankings, especially the top three. Beneath the seemingly calm surface, undercurrents began to surge. Disputes inevitably arose.

The ranking of the papers—one with a sound and comprehensive strategy and elegant handwriting, and the other with a bold and enterprising spirit and a powerful and vigorous writing style—became the focus of attention.

Although the examination papers were sealed, those present were all seasoned veterans of the political arena, well aware of the writing styles and viewpoints of the several renowned candidates. At this moment, they were simply engaging in a tacit game that would determine the future direction of the court.

Shen Duan, the Minister of War and Second Grand Secretary, was known for his fiery temper, and at this moment he was even more agitated.

With a loud "smack," he slammed the scroll advocating the Northern Expedition onto the table, making the teacup rattle. He insisted that this scroll, "fulfilling loyalty and righteousness, and being determined to make progress, best embodies the spirit of the nation and boosts the morale of the army and the people, and should be ranked first!"

Speaking of which, the military clique in the court has Zhang Yong, the Duke of England, as its true military leader.

However, the Duke of England was stationed in the northern border year-round to deter the Liang Kingdom and rarely returned to the capital. In specific matters of the court, especially in occasions that required immediate statements, his influence needed to be demonstrated through his representatives.

Shen Duan, the Minister of War, was one of the important mouthpieces of the military merit group in the court, especially representing those middle and lower-ranking military officers who were eager to be promoted through military merit, as well as some noble families who were eager to prove their own value and restore the glory of their ancestors.

The Duke of England himself, having weathered many storms, knew that war was a dangerous weapon, and in truth, he was cautious about easily starting a large-scale war.

However, the overall atmosphere within the Wuxun Group was one of seeking war!
The Xu family, as a long-time ally of the Duke of Ying, maintained a relatively stable stance, but also hoped to have the opportunity to consolidate their position on the battlefield. The Jing family, as a rising star, was even more eager to gain military merit to enhance their influence among the nobility.

These two factions have reached a rare consensus on the point of "using military force against Beiliang".

This meant that Shen Duan, as their representative in the court, had to unequivocally advocate for the war faction; otherwise, he would be unable to explain himself to his financial backers and supporters. He could even imagine how those Churchills would complain after court if he backed down now, "How could Minister Shen be so cowardly in front of the Grand Secretaries!"

Therefore, Shen Duan looked around at everyone, his voice loud and clear, with the undisguised frankness unique to military generals. His gaze swept over Han Zhang and Qian Muzhi, as if questioning them whether they had forgotten the beacon fires on the border.

"The northern frontier is currently in turmoil, with Liang bandits repeatedly raiding the border, burning, killing, and looting! We need this kind of spirit to inspire the people and deter the villains! If we select those who are too conservative, conservative, and only know how to 'wait for the right time' and 'accumulate national strength' as ​​the leaders, wouldn't that chill the hearts of the soldiers who are fighting and waiting for battle on the frontier?"

He became increasingly agitated as he spoke, even standing up, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the spot where a sword was not at his waist, as if he were about to volunteer for battle: "How can we demonstrate His Majesty's determination to avenge this humiliation? Can we, as his subjects, forget the shame of the late Emperor?!"

The last sentence was tinged with a hint of questioning and indignation, and his face was flushed with excitement. This emotion was half genuine and half a performance for a specific audience.

Grand Secretary Han Zhang remained seated firmly in the main seat, shaking his head with composure. Beneath his white eyebrows, his eyes were sharp as an eagle's, as if he could see through the self-interest underlying Shen Duan's impassioned words.

"Prime Minister Shen, please calm down."

His tone was calm, yet carried the undeniable weight of years of accumulated authority; each word was like a weight on a scale, attempting to stabilize the slightly out-of-control situation. "While his vigor is commendable, his desire to protect the nation and aspire to avenge past humiliations is also deeply appreciated and worthy of affirmation."

He started by making a statement of affirmation, which was meant to give Shen Duan and the Wuxun Group behind him a way out and to appease them. But then his tone changed abruptly, as if he were speaking with a hidden barb.

"However, governing a country is like treating an illness; it requires weighing the pros and cons, prescribing the right medicine, and, more importantly, taking a long-term view and considering the fundamentals. How can we put the country and its people in danger because of momentary impulses or the demands of a few?"

The meaning of "the demands of a segment of the population" is quite clear.

He extended his thin but steady fingers and gently tapped the scroll of sound strategies, as if caressing a treasure concerning the fate of the nation: "Looking at this scroll, it is a mature and comprehensive plan for governing the country. It not only clearly responds to His Majesty's ambition to avenge the humiliation and proposes positive measures such as 'training troops and selecting generals' and 'promoting trade to reduce the power of the enemy,' but also fully considers the current situation in which our country's strength is still recovering and the people's livelihood still needs to be restored."

"His words, 'strengthening border defenses, filling granaries, and accumulating national strength,' represent a steady and progressive approach, proceeding step by step. This aligns with the essence of His Majesty's national policy of 'striving for good governance and seeking progress while maintaining stability,' which has been consistently emphasized."

He raised his voice slightly and scanned the room, intending to gain the approval of more neutral parties.

"If we rashly start a large-scale war, exhausting our troops on a distant expedition, and suffer setbacks, our funds and supplies will be depleted, public morale will waver, and the very foundation of the nation may be damaged. At that time..."

Han Zhang paused, not speaking explicitly, but that heavy pause, and the four vague, lingering words "repeating the same mistakes," pierced the hearts of Shen Duan and everyone who knew about the late emperor's "northern hunt" like an invisible needle.

Shen Duan's face instantly turned ugly. He opened his mouth, wanting to refute that it was only "what if," or "how could one spare one's life to avenge a humiliation?" But he found that in the face of this bloody historical lesson and the possible responsibility of "ruining the country," any overly radical defense seemed pale and powerless. He could only snort sullenly and sit down heavily.

In contrast to Shen Duan's impassioned speech, Qian Muzhi, the Minister of Rites, appeared much more tactful, much like a shrewd accountant.

He added slowly from the perspective of people's livelihood and economy, still holding his cup of pre-rain Longjing tea at just the right temperature, as if he would drink this cup of tea first even if the sky were to fall.

"What Han Xiang said was mature and prudent, truly the words of an old minister who plans for the country. Shen Xiang's worries are also for the country and the people, and his feelings are pitiful."

He first offered equal criticism to both sides, skillfully demonstrating the art of diplomacy, before getting to the point and beginning to calculate in his mind: "The proposal of a Northern Expedition involves countless amounts of money and grain, and the war will be endless and difficult to resolve in just a few years. Although our dynasty has had a period of recuperation, and although Jiangnan is wealthy and the canal transport is efficient, it is still a huge pressure to support a war that will affect the fate of the nation for a long time. It will inevitably require increasing taxes, which may damage the people's strength and shake the foundation."

He gently blew on the tea foam, took a small sip, and let out a satisfied sigh, as if savoring the aroma of the tea, or perhaps organizing his words to make them more persuasive.

"The strategies proposed in this volume are more prudent, emphasizing internal governance, replenishing granaries, allowing the people to rest and recuperate, and gradually accumulating national strength. Moreover, its theories of 'economic checks and balances' and 'promoting trade and industry to weaken their power' are quite innovative. If implemented, they may subdue the enemy without fighting, achieving remarkable results and saving national strength. This would be of great benefit to the country and the people."

His words not only supported Han Zhang, but also subtly expressed the difficulties of the Ministry of Revenue and the Jiangnan interest group he represented. Furthermore, he firmly stood on the moral high ground of "cherishing the people's strength" and "speaking out for the people," making it difficult for the pro-war faction to refute him forcefully.

"but!"

Qian Muzhi put down his teacup, then suddenly changed the subject, a meaningful smile appearing on his face, like an old fox who had discovered a new option and felt that perhaps he could achieve his goal in a different way.

"After careful examination, I find this paper to be quite good!"

He magically produced another eloquent scroll advocating for reform of officialdom and the distribution of wealth among the people, and gently pushed it in front of everyone as if displaying a fine piece of porcelain.

"This volume is beautifully written and erudite. What is even more remarkable is its close adherence to the essential principle of 'strengthening the foundation of the nation.' The statement that 'when officials are clean and honest, the people are at peace; when granaries are full, the foundation of the nation is stable' deeply captures the essence of governance. In the present day, perhaps such policies that focus on improving domestic affairs can better benefit the people and make our dynasty's foundation more solid. Moreover, the writing style is calm and composed, which shows that the author is upright and a talented person."

This is Yuan Shen's exam paper.

Ultimately, the Yuan family, to which Yuan Shen belongs, is a local power in Henan Province, which is also a region bordering the Jiangnan region. Their decision to promote Yuan Shen at this time is likely due to some other ulterior motives.

Although it was an imperial decree, Qian Muzhi's faction was still worried that there was something wrong with it. Since Yuan Shen couldn't get ahead, they decided to help him out.

Stand up for him! (End of Chapter)