I studied in modern times

Chapter 1036 The debt of gratitude owed to the Zhao family can never be repaid (1)

The following day was the fourth day of the fourth month, Gengchen.

Zhao Xu returned to the Jiying Hall to participate in the special imperial examination for this year.

Compared to yesterday's solemnity, the Jiying Hall was much more cheerful today.

Because, in fact, this special recognition of the title of Jinshi was a favor bestowed by the Zhao officials upon those old tribute students who had repeatedly failed the imperial examinations.

Those who were willing to participate in the special examination were generally older candidates who were over fifty years old and had basically given up on the imperial examination system.

For them, the title of "specially selected scholar" was a consolation and also part of their united front work.

After all, being specially recommended for official rank is not as prestigious as being a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations).

Apart from the top three, most of the specially recommended Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) were appointed to minor official positions such as professors or instructors in state or county schools.

Even the top three would only be given a position equivalent to a fifth-class Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) – usually, they would only be granted the title of Jinshi and initially appointed as a minor official.

Naturally, the imperial court did not attach much importance to this.

In other words, Zhao Xu, as the emperor, had to be present in person.

No one else, including the two palaces and the prime ministers, came.

Even Zhao Xu, sitting upright on the throne, did not focus his energy on the special examination for those who had been specially recommended.

After receiving the homage of the newly appointed scholars, Zhao Xu leaned back on his cushion as the palace examination officially began, listening to Shi Deyi, who was standing beside him, report on the recent situation in the capital.

"Everyone, after yesterday's palace examination, thirteen local militias in Bianjing City reported to Kaifeng Prefecture that they wish to compete for the title of Jinshi this year!"

"There are thirteen in total?" Zhao Xu chuckled.

Tuansi, similar to a modern etiquette company, originated in the early Tang Dynasty and was a folk organization that developed and evolved along with the imperial examination system.

Its initial scale was very small, consisting of "idle people in Chang'an who gathered together and called themselves the Jinshi Group".

To put it simply, it is a dynamic social organization, a non-governmental organization specifically established to curry favor with and flatter the newly appointed scholars.

Their primary goal was to become lackeys of the newly appointed scholars, thereby clearing their names and gaining official status.

Even if you can't win it, making some money is still a good thing.

However, by the time of the Song Dynasty, the Tuan Si (a type of military unit) had become formalized, with a serious organization and discipline.

This was unavoidable. The Song Dynasty expanded its imperial examination system, and starting with Emperor Taizong, the number of newly appointed Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) kept breaking historical records.

This year, the number of attendees has reached an unprecedented seven hundred!

In the Tang Dynasty, the number of successful candidates in each imperial examination was usually no more than twenty or thirty, and sometimes as few as seven or eight.

The two are not even in the same order of magnitude.

The things they need are naturally worlds apart.

At the same time, the profits involved are also incredibly high—the gathering of newly appointed Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) generally begins after the results of the palace examination are announced, the names are read in the hall, and the list of successful candidates is passed on, and continues until the Ministry of Personnel appoints them to official positions.

It could take as long as four or five months!

Even if you only earn one string of cash from these people each day, over these few months it would amount to thousands or even tens of thousands of strings of cash in profit.

It's impossible not to be tempted!
Moreover, the officials in charge of the gathering could also use this opportunity to build relationships with these newly appointed scholars.

The benefits are self-evident!
Therefore, after each imperial examination, those in Bianjing who considered themselves capable would report to the Kaifeng Prefecture, announce the establishment of their own groups, and compete for the right to host the annual gathering.

However, the sudden appearance of thirteen regiments still made Zhao Xu wary.

"Are any of the sons, nephews, or retainers of the three generals involved?" Zhao Xu asked after a moment of contemplation.

"Reporting to everyone, the Investigation Division has not yet discovered anything!"

"Hmm!" Zhao Xu nodded: "Your Excellency, continue the surveillance. If you discover any members of the Three Offices involved, report to me immediately!"

During the reign of Emperor Renmiao, for a long period of time, the Tuansi (a military unit responsible for the gathering of newly appointed Jinshi) could be regarded as a subsidiary of the Three Military Commands.

This bad habit was only gradually improved after Zhao Xu's father ascended the throne.

Zhao Xu also took strict precautions against this.

Zhao Xu could tolerate the Imperial Guard generals leading the soldiers to repair courtyards, dig wells, and do mortar work.

Because these things, though they still corrupt the Imperial Guard.

But at the very least, the Imperial Guards could still develop some skills through these experiences.

Zhao Xu also needs an engineering team skilled in mortar removal to put out fires for him everywhere.

However, it's a bit much for the Imperial Guards to disguise themselves and organize banquets, arrange singers and dancers...

At the same time, Zhao Xu was also worried that they would corrupt the "simple and honest people" of the First General of the Imperial Dragon.

Naturally, we will crack down on any such cases we discover! We will show absolutely no leniency!

"Yes, sir!" Shi Deyi accepted the order.

"Oh, right..." Zhao Xu suddenly remembered something: "Is this year's market still at Taiping Xingguo Temple?"

"Yes, everyone. The governor has sent an order to Taiping Xingguo Temple, and yesterday, Taiping Xingguo Temple began preparations for the gathering..."

"How much money did the governor allocate to Taiping Xingguo Temple?" Zhao Xu asked.

"Reporting to everyone, the Left Prime Minister has approved three thousand strings of cash!"

Zhao Xu chuckled: "These days, the Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) are really living in a good time!"

"If it weren't for the Emperor's sagacity, they probably would have had to pay out of their own pockets to rent the venue for the gathering!"

“That’s right!” Shi Deyi immediately said, “The late emperor’s virtue extended his grace to scholars. He not only ordered the capital to select a venue for the newly appointed scholars to gather, but also provided all the expenses for the gathering from the treasury!”

Zhao Xu nodded: "Yes!"

"The virtue of our late father is immeasurable! May all scholars in the world know and be grateful for his kindness..."

As he spoke, Zhao Xu couldn't help but rub his hands together, wondering if he should ask Feng Jing to organize people to write a few articles to recall the late emperor's kindness to the new graduates, and at the same time remind the new graduates—you must remember the bitterness of the past and appreciate the sweetness of the present!
We must always remember the kindness and favor shown to the late emperor and the current emperor!

In particular, those who passed the imperial examinations from humble backgrounds should think about the hardships their predecessors endured before the Xining era—in those years, they not only had to pay out of their own pockets to rent the venues for the market, but they also had to share the expenses of the market.

In addition, when the candidates were called out to express their gratitude during the palace examination, they also had to pay a sum of money as a token of appreciation.

As a result, the scholars who came from humble backgrounds were already heavily indebted with high-interest loans before they even became officials. In the past, the pawnshops of the two royal temples, Daxiangguo Temple and Taipingxingguo Temple, were specifically engaged in lending money to newly appointed scholars.

Moreover, their interest rates were determined directly based on the ranking of the newly appointed Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations).

The higher the ranking, the lower the interest rate; the lower the ranking, the higher the interest rate.

There have even been cases where poor scholars who passed the imperial examinations were burdened with high-interest loans that could take ten or even twenty years to repay.

In this medieval era, they successfully achieved the miracle of getting a job with a loan, a feat that doesn't even exist in modern times.

Fortunately, all of this came to an end under the wise and powerful late emperor who cared deeply for the people.

In the third year of the Xining era, the practice of awarding silver to those who had received imperial favors was abolished.

In the sixth year of the Xining era, an imperial edict was issued to select a site for the newly appointed Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) to gather.

Furthermore, the newly appointed Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) were granted 3,000 strings of cash, while those from other examinations received 700 strings, to cover their expenses during the recruitment process.

In the ninth year of the Xining era, the amount was increased again—an additional 200,000 coins were granted to each person, and an edict was issued to the Imperial Examination Hall: newly appointed Jinshi and other candidates should collect money in advance, and if there is indeed a shortage, the official funds of the Imperial Examination Hall shall be used to make up the difference!
The state treasury directly covered the expenses, allowing newly appointed scholars to feast, socialize, and even visit prostitutes (of course, few dared to do this, as they could be impeached and dismissed if discovered).

Unfortunately, Zhao Xu's father was too humble; despite bestowing such great favors, he rarely publicized them.

Zhao Xu felt that this was not good.

Where can you find someone who does a good deed but doesn't publicize it or let the world know?
If that's the case, wouldn't all the good deeds have been for nothing?
With this in mind, Zhao Xu had already made up his mind.

We must make sure that the newly appointed scholars and future scholars know that the Emperor Zhao's kindness is higher than the sky and deeper than the sea, and that the Emperor Zhao's kindness can never be repaid!

At the same time, they also had to write poems of gratitude.

Everyone should be grateful for the late emperor's great virtue and Zhao Xu's holy grace.

It also has to be well-written!
As for whether it will increase the burden on the successful candidates?

Ha ha!

Zhao Xu had read the information in modern times.

During the period of the imperial examinations, besides feasting and socializing, the most common thing the newly appointed scholars did was to shut themselves in and write all sorts of poems in response to each other.

The thanks were extended from the professors of the county and prefectural schools all the way up to the prefect, the vice-prefect, the transport commissioner of the circuit, the judicial commissioner, and the chief examiner of the provincial examination and the imperial examination.

In addition, there were those senior officials and scholars who had guided them during their studies and examinations, even those they had only met a few times...

And thank you all!
There were so many people to thank that after each imperial examination, the newly appointed scholars would hire a large number of people to write poems and essays in gratitude on their behalf.

As a result, a specialized industry chain emerged.

Many scholars who failed the imperial examinations, after running out of money in the capital, earned their way home by writing for others.

so……

Is it wrong to simply ask them to write a few more poems expressing their gratitude for the late emperor's grace and Zhao Xu's kindness?
(End of this chapter)