I studied in modern times

Chapter 975 Jinming Lake

In the first month of the third year of Yuanyou, Jiaxu (26).

Zhang Heng, the head of the imperial examinations, Fan Bailu, the acting head of the imperial examinations, and Wang Zishao wrote to the emperor: "The late emperor extended favors to the clan members. As the imperial family grew larger, the treatment of relatives and strangers did not decline. The emperor selected their talents and issued an edict that the clan members who wished to take the imperial examinations in the imperial court could follow the regulations for external officials and not be granted official titles. They were allowed to take the examinations, but the number of candidates was limited to 50. Now the number of candidates for Mingshu and Mingfa Jinshi has been increased in the imperial examinations, but the number of candidates for Mingshu and Mingfa of the clan members has not been increased. Is this the system of the holy dynasty that respects the elders and relatives? I beg you to increase the number of candidates for Mingshu and Mingfa of the clan members according to the regulations."

The emperor agreed to it and issued an edict to clarify the law and calculation, and to increase the quota, but no more than twenty.

Zhang Heng and others made another memorial: Since our ancestors took office, the culture of our holy dynasty has been flourishing, but there are countless problems in the imperial examinations, with swindling students being the worst. We request that new rules and regulations be established, and that the Imperial College and the Imperial Academy be ordered to print and copy books for the reference of the tribute students, and from now on, it is forbidden for the tribute students to bring books into the examination hall.

In addition, those who harbored hostility often hid their clothes in their sleeves and asked the court to customize and grant cloth to make clothes for tribute students, and wait for them to change clothes when they entered the palace to stop harboring hostility.

The emperor agreed to this and ordered the officials to customize the size of tribute clothing, which was divided into three grades and would be awarded after the tribute test.

As a result, the Tailoring Bureau and the Brocade Bureau each submitted a petition, requesting that clothes be made of linen and that tailors in the capital be hired to make them. The request was granted.

Zhao Lingshuo, Junior Minister of Imperial Households, wrote in a memorial: Since we have been blessed by the grace of the late emperor, the system of clan schools has been established, and professors have been hired to teach the clan's children. The clan's desire to learn has grown stronger day by day... Today, the court advocates the study of mathematics and law.

I beg that in the sect’s school, there should be more teaching on mathematics and law.

The emperor agreed to it and ordered to add one more house for Qinxian, one house for Guangqin, one house for Muqin, one house for Mingsuan and one house for Mingfa, and to appoint officials from the capital to the positions.

Zhao Xu's political demands were basically met.

On the same day, due to the long cold weather and no clear weather, the spring banquet was called off.

At this time, Zhao Xu had already driven, accompanied by Qian Xie and other major officials of Kaifeng Prefecture, and protected by the Dragon Guards, to the Jinming Lake outside the city of Bianjing.

Since the eighth year of Yuanfeng, when the late emperor was seriously ill and the imperial court issued an edict to cancel the Jinming Lake bidding competition, there has been no bidding activity here for three full years.

The Jinmingchi Competition and the Shangyuan Lantern Festival are two major celebrations in which Emperor Zhao and the people enjoy themselves together.

It was also one of the rare national entertainments in the Middle Ages.

The Zhao officials may not understand military affairs.

But when it comes to governing and maintaining stability, they are all extremely talented.

Even that bastard Zhao Ji pretended to be close to the people when he was competing with Jinming Lake at the Lantern Festival.

This year's Lantern Festival was cancelled due to heavy snow in Bianjing city on the day of the Lantern Festival.

Even the Spring Banquet that was about to be held in Jiying Hall according to tradition had been cancelled due to the severe cold.

Naturally, the Jinmingchi competition in March became a grand ceremony comparable to this year's imperial examination.

In fact, in Zhao Xu's eyes, its importance may even be higher than this year's imperial examination.

After all, the imperial examination is ultimately just a way to select officials.

Moreover, this year is a weak year for the imperial examination. In Zhao Xu's impression, the ministers selected in this year's imperial examination are of very low quality.

At least, in Zhao Xu's previous life, when he came to power and wanted to select talented people from his Flying Dragon List, he couldn't find many who were suitable.

Of course, this may also be related to the political situation at this time in his previous life.

After all, in his previous life, this year's imperial examination had the political intention of suppressing the New Party.

A large number of scholars from the New Party or those who were inclined towards the New Party were eliminated in the imperial examinations!

Zhang Chi was able to pass the imperial examination because Su Shi mistook his paper for that of his student Li Di.

Therefore, in reality, the talents that could be selected from the Flying Dragon List in his previous life were limited to those in the old party.

Unfortunately, the old party has been severely suppressed in the past decade or so and is short of talent.

There is even a risk of generational discontinuity.

So, in the end, even the top scholar could only be chosen from the tallest among the short ones - Li Changning.

And who is Li Changning?

He was born during the Jiayou period and is now in his fifties.

His wife, Qin, was the aunt of Qin Guan, who was a student of Su Shi.

The most important thing is that Zhao Xu remembered that someone told him later in Shaosheng that Li Changning, the top scorer on the Longfei list, actually did not pass the Fajie test at the beginning.

In other words, he didn't even have a solution.

He was able to take part in this year's imperial examination purely by taking a shortcut - recommendation.

Who is the sponsor?
Sun Jue! Well, this current Minister of Rites is Huang Tingjian's father-in-law and Su Shi's good friend.

At the same time, he was one of the examiners who was later recommended by Su Shi to enter the Imperial Academy and assist in marking the papers.

The problem arises - when an old scholar who has failed in the exams many times meets a sponsor who is familiar with him.

May I ask if his sponsor recognizes this person's writing style?

Therefore, there was a reason why the bearded man was demoted to Lingnan to eat lychees and even exiled to Yazhou in Zhao Xu's previous life.

You dare to do this even on my Dragon Flying Ranking?
What a courage!
Now, Zhang Heng is in charge of the imperial examinations, while Fan Bailu and Wang Zishao are temporarily in charge of the imperial examinations.

These people will definitely select a group of ministers who share similar values ​​and positions as them to enter the Imperial Examination Hall to assist in marking the papers.

Under such circumstances, perhaps some talents that were buried in Zhao Xu's previous life might be selected.

Of course, it doesn’t matter if you don’t have it.

What Zhao Xu valued was no longer traditional literati.

Real talent and hard work are what he values.

Therefore, Zhao Xu came to Jinming Lake almost as soon as he finished dealing with the arrangements for the imperial examination to inspect the preparatory work in Kaifeng Prefecture.

However, when Zhao Xu arrived, the weather was still very cold.

Jinming Lake is still covered with solid ice.

On the ice, the palace eunuchs were busy chiseling the ice.

Then the chiseled ice blocks were transported from the ice surface to the city of Bianjing using a sled.

Since the beginning of winter, thousands of blocks of ice have been transported to Bianjing every day.

The best quality and cleanest ones are naturally sent to the imperial city ice cellar for storage first.

The rest was distributed to various government offices in Bianliang and stored in ice cellars of the homes of relatives and royal family members.

This ice is the raw material used by the royal family and dignitaries in Bianjing to make various cold drinks in summer.

Zhao Xu saw the situation on the ice and asked Qian Xie, who was accompanying him, "Prefect Qian, has Kaifeng Prefecture made any preparations for this year's Jinming Lake competition?"

Qian Xie was at a loss for a moment, then lowered his head and replied, "Reporting to the emperor, I have ordered the left and right inspectors of Kaifeng Prefecture and the counties and towns within the prefecture to follow the example of the seventh year of Yuanfeng. After the weather clears up, hire workers to clean up the silt in Jinming Pond, and then repair the dragon boats in preparation for the competition!"

"That's it?" Zhao Xu narrowed his eyes. "Since the Emperor's promotion, the competition at Jinming Lake has been suspended for three years!"

"This year, we are experiencing snow and cold weather again. The counties in the prefecture, the west of Beijing, the east of Beijing, and the east of He have been cold for a long time without clearing up..."

"I want to have fun with the people and celebrate with the world at Jinming Lake. How can I be careless?"

Zhao Xu studied abroad in modern times.

In modern times, he has not only learned the problem-solving ideas of small town test-takers.

At the same time, he also studied the secrets of Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism!

He knows very well what he and his country should do after experiencing this rare snowstorm in the first month of this year.
Acknowledge the damage this unprecedented disaster has brought to the country?
Then work hard and take a rest?
That is what the ministers of the capital should do!
Not what he, the emperor, should do!

What does the emperor have to do?
Let the people of the world, let the people under his rule, believe and be sure that he, as the emperor, cares about and is concerned about their sufferings.

It will definitely lead them out of the predicament.

Even the skinny coolie in the city of Bianliang would be able to hold his chest high with pride when he remembers that he has such a good official who cares about his suffering all the time!
Instead, resentment is boiling and evil is rising - the emperor takes turns to sit on the throne, and this year it is my turn!

Therefore, we must whitewash the situation!

It is necessary to mobilize public opinion and create momentum in order to fool the people of the world.

Especially the broad masses of working people——

It’s just a small snowstorm, not worth mentioning. Now our Holy Lord is on the throne, and our good days are still ahead!
To achieve this, public opinion is certainly important.

But a large-scale celebration of unprecedented scale is also the key.

The Jinmingchi Competition was the large-scale celebration chosen by Zhao Xu.

(End of this chapter)