I studied in modern times

Chapter 984 Yuanyou Innovation (2)

Zhao Xu took the test questions prepared by Zhang Heng and others and looked at them for a long time.

Zhao Xu finally made a decision: "The imperial examination system must be reformed!"

"Moreover, the reform of the imperial examination will begin this time!"

"Only in this way can I completely grasp the initiative of the imperial examination reform and send a clear and unmistakable signal to the people of the world!"

As a dynasty that fully used the civil service bureaucracy system to govern the country.

The Song Dynasty put a lot of effort into the imperial examinations.

Since the founding of the country, successive emperors have carried out reforms and adjustments, large or small, in response to the drawbacks of the imperial examination system.

Therefore, Zhao Xu's previous efforts in the law and mathematics subjects were able to gain recognition from both the government and the public so smoothly.

Even if some people objected, they all accepted and recognized it.

Because the Zhao family loves to trouble the imperial examinations.

Emperor Zhao, who doesn't bother with the imperial examination, is the outlier!

At the same time, history has ultimately proven that these efforts were beneficial to both the country and the scholars - it was precisely the continuous efforts of successive Zhao officials in the imperial examination system over the past hundred years that made the imperial examination system of the Song Dynasty increasingly perfect and fair.

Therefore, the Song Dynasty had an advantage over other dynasties in carrying out imperial examination reform - there would be almost no resistance.

Both the government and the public recognized and respected Emperor Zhao's authority in the imperial examination system.

This is easy to understand - Emperor Zhao won every time the imperial examination system was reformed.

With this expectation of always winning, Zhao Ji later even abolished the imperial examination system and replaced it with the Imperial College Three-House System to select scholars.

Therefore, what Zhao Xu needed to consider was not actually the question of whether to reform or not.

The question is how to change it and to what extent?

Thinking of this, Zhao Xu's eyes brightened.

"Yes!"

"I am still too deeply influenced by modern times!"

"Always trying not to offend anyone!"

In modern times, to put it bluntly, he is a petty bourgeois.

The petty bourgeoisie is inherently weak!

Fortunately, besides being a petty bourgeois, he is also an emperor!
A feudal autocratic emperor!
So, at this moment, the imperial side began to awaken.

In the previous life, the ruling experience from Shaosheng to Yuanfu began to prevail.

Zhao Xu's eyes began to firm up.

He murmured softly: "How can reform not offend people?"

"Throughout the dynasties, both ancient and modern, both in China and abroad, even in modern times, there is no example of successful reform without offending anyone!"

“This is where I went wrong!”

“Take this as a warning!”

Having said this, Zhao Xu's mind became firmer.

Immediately, he summoned Tong Guan and told him, "Tong, please wait for me and pass on my order..."

"Order the Right Prime Minister Pu Zongmeng, the Chief Censor Lü Dafang, the Imperial Examination Master Zhang Heng, the Acting Imperial Examination Master Wang Zishao, and Fan Bailu to immediately enter the palace to discuss the matter of the imperial examination!"

"Yes!" Tong Guan took the order and left.

Zhao Xu watched Tong Guan's figure disappear into the distance, then grabbed a piece of Yuanshu paper.

I picked up a pen and wrote eight words on it: The beginning and the end are the same, and the time is new!
This is a sentence from the Book of Documents, “Everyone has one virtue.”

It is said that this Book of Documents was a book of advice written by Yi Yin when he returned power to Taijia.

Of course, Zhao Xu knew that this was a fake.

Even in the Song Dynasty today, many scholars and officials knew that this was a fake (The Bamboo Annals were circulated among many scholars and officials in the Northern Song Dynasty).

However, this does not prevent Zhao Xu from using it as the basis of his own theory.

……

Kaibao Temple, Gongyuan.

Since being appointed as the director of imperial examinations, Zhang Heng, Wang Zishao and Fan Bailu were escorted here directly by the imperial guards.

There are special people to take care of your daily meals and daily life.

External contacts were naturally completely cut off.

Their letters, memorials, and all other documents were checked and reviewed by special eunuchs.

And only with permission can you communicate with the outside world.

Without the order from the palace, they generally would not communicate with the outside world.

At this moment, Zhang Heng and two other people were sitting together inside the Imperial Examination Hall of Kaibao Temple, discussing the test questions that had just been sent to the palace.

"I wonder if the emperor will have any objections after reading our test papers?" Zhang Heng said with some worry.

Wang Zishao remained silent, while Fan Bailu said, "Since the Xining period, the imperial court has selected scholars based on the classics..."

"The selection of scholars is based on the classics, although there are criticisms from the public..."

"Yes, the current emperor is pure and filial, and he puts the promotion of the late emperor's virtues first! He naturally advocates the late emperor's method of selecting scholars based on the classics!"

Yeah, yes!

Although Fan Bailu is a member of the old party, he is now a clear-cut figure in the old party who advocates the selection of scholars based on the classics.

This is nothing unusual.

Because there is also a faction within the New Party that recruits scholars based on poetry and prose.

When it comes to the question of what system to use to select scholars for the imperial examination, ideology is not considered, it just depends on where the butt is.

Those who come from humble backgrounds generally support the selection of scholars based on the classics.

Those who are officials or poets and scholars basically support the selection of officials based on poetry and prose.

As for other arguments and positions, most of them are just drawing the target first and then shooting the arrow.

Only people like Su Shi would be so foolish as to really believe that selecting officials based on poetry and prose is better than selecting officials based on the interpretation of classics.

Zhang Heng sighed and said, "The emperor is naturally the most filial son in the history!"

"But……"

He lowered his head: "The emperor's heart belongs to me, and everyone knows it!"

He was the chief official in charge of the imperial examinations.

He is also a trusted confidant of the government!

Naturally, we have to follow the government's baton.

And what does the current emperor like? How could he not know?

Practical learning!

What is the primary purpose of the imperial examination?
To allocate talents for the country and select people for the world?

wrong!
Because this is only a secondary purpose of the imperial examination.

The primary purpose of the imperial examination is to select the ministers that the emperor likes!
Therefore, after the New Deal of the Qingli Period, the imperial examinations of the Song Dynasty began to turn to governing the country and saving the times.

To this end, all shackles and all details will no longer be obstacles.

In the imperial examination in the second year of Jiayou, Su Shi simply made up an allusion, and was still admitted!

And to this day, it is still regarded as a legend among scholars!

As for the previous emperor, in order to carry out reforms, he directly abolished the method of selecting scholars based on poetry and essays, and instead used the method of selecting scholars based on the interpretation of classics, and used Wang Anshi's "Zi Shuo" and "New Interpretation of the Three Classics" to select scholars.

Therefore, after being appointed as the director of the imperial examinations, Zhang Heng already had a certain awareness.

Officials of all dynasties who made changes to the imperial examination system would begin by appointing ministers in charge of the examination.

In each imperial examination, the selection of the chief examiner and the two acting examiners usually reflected the attitude and inclination of the current government towards the imperial examination.

At the same time, it also determined the focus and options of the imperial examination questions at that time.

Therefore, for those children of officials who are familiar with the imperial court.

As long as you know who the ministers in charge of the imperial examinations are and who are the ministers who are in charge of the imperial examinations, and then look through their resumes, articles, and poetry collections, you can probably guess the direction of the imperial examinations, and then go all in on that direction. As long as your level is not too bad, you will basically be a Jinshi.

The only difference is the ranking.

This is also a blatant way of cheating for children from official families in the imperial examination system.

Therefore, when the emperor ordered him to be in charge of the imperial examination, Zhang Heng already had a rough idea in his mind - let him be like Ouyang Wenzhong who presided over the imperial examination in the second year of Jiayou, to bring a new atmosphere to the literary world of the Song Dynasty and reverse the literary atmosphere since Xining.

But the problem is...

Zhang Heng looked towards the direction of the imperial city.

Since being appointed as the director of tribute examinations, he has been waiting for orders from the palace.

This way he can ask targeted questions.

Unfortunately, he never received a clear order from the palace, so he had no choice but to adopt Fan Bailu's opinion and drafted the questions for this year's imperial examination based on the story of the eighth year of Yuanfeng.

Then, according to my own guess, I significantly increased the practical content in the essay test.

He can only go so far.

Because, guessing the Holy Spirit's mind recklessly, even if you guess right, can be fatal!

Just like the story of Yang Xiu in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, which has now been serialized in the Bian Jing Xin Bao.

After hearing what Zhang Heng said, Wang Zishao just smiled and said, "Duke Ziping imitated Zhuge Wuhou and was careful and attentive. Although he made no mistakes, I am afraid he will not achieve anything in the future!"

"We have been blessed by the government and have been ordered to preside over the imperial examinations to recruit talents for the country. We should be brave enough to take on the task and share your worries!"

Zhang Heng was dejected.

This is his character flaw.

He is not like Zhang Dun, who loves adventure and often goes all in.

He is also unlike Zhang Qie, who, no matter how hesitant he is before, will move forward courageously once he makes up his mind.

He is a typical technocrat.

I am used to doing things according to the arrangements of my superiors.

Once there are no instructions or requirements from above, he will habitually look for stories and routines.

Then do things according to the story and the routine.

This was the biggest setback in his official career, and it left him with a lesson. After Zhang Heng resigned from his newly appointed post as the magistrate of Huzhou, he returned to the court to serve as the judge of salt and iron, and concurrently served as the daily recorder.

During his tenure, Zhang Heng boldly proposed that the three departments' finances should prepare annual budgets, first estimating the money spent in a year, and then using this as a basis to allocate tax collection and expenditures for the year.

In this way, it will benefit both the public and private sectors and reduce the burden on the people.

then……

Zhang Heng was besieged from both inside and outside and had no choice but to leave in dismay.

It was not until the Xining period that he returned to the court.

Even so, his bold proposal at the time made him enemies both inside and outside the government.

As a result, he, the top scholar in the second year of Jiayou, had a very bumpy career and official rank.

It was during the Yuanfeng period that he was allowed to wear purple by special order of the previous emperor.

After learning this lesson, Zhang Heng naturally became extremely cautious in politics. Unless the situation came to the point, he would never do anything risky.

Once bitten by a snake, one will be afraid of ropes for ten years.

Therefore, facing Wang Zishao's sarcasm, Zhang Heng could only be depressed.

When Wang Zishao saw Zhang Heng's expression, he just laughed and stopped talking.

The goal he wanted has been achieved.

Naturally, there is no need to continue to provoke Zhang Heng.

Fan Bailu, who was standing by, looked at the way the yanei was getting mad and couldn't help but curse in his heart: "You little villain!"

"Flatterer!"

Fan Bailu certainly knew that Wang Zishao, the young master of the yamen, was actually expressing his stance to the palace.

Just to gain the reputation of a loyal minister.

In fact, if this young master were really asked to preside over the imperial examination this year, he would probably be more cautious than Zhang Heng.

This is the imperial examination!
Up and down, so many eyes staring!

If there is no imperial decree and any changes are made without authorization, the whole family will be punished if there is any mistake!
Therefore, in Fan Bailu's opinion, Wang Zishao was purely doing a business with no capital!

As the three of them sat in silence, there was a knock on the door.

Tuk-tuk-tuk...

The three of them turned their heads at the same time and looked towards the door.

But then I saw a familiar figure pushing open the door.

It’s Tong Guan who is beside the emperor!

Tong Guan looked at the three of them and said with a smile: "Everyone has an order..."

"The Imperial Examination Master Zhang Heng, Acting Imperial Examination Master Fan Bailu, and Wang Zishao, come to the palace to see the emperor!"

"Yes!" Zhang Heng and the other two quickly stood up, then faced the direction of the imperial city and bowed.

……

An hour later, Zhang Heng and three others, led by Tong Guan, entered the quiet room in the east hall of the Funing Palace.

And here, they saw the Right Prime Minister Pu Zongmeng and the Chief Censor Lu Dafang sitting on stools in the quiet room. The two important ministers were dressed neatly, holding jade ribbons in their hands, and sitting upright.

Zhang Heng and the other two bowed quickly.

Pu Zongmeng and Lu Dafang sat on the stools and nodded slightly in return. During the whole process, there was no sound and everything was self-evident.

"Three of you, please take a seat first..."

Tong Guan personally moved three porcelain stools behind Pu Zongmeng and Lu Dafang, and then said, "Everyone is bathing and changing clothes, and will be here soon!"

Zhang Heng and the other two bowed to express their gratitude, then walked to the three stools and sat down carefully.

As soon as the three of them sat down, they saw the right prime minister Pu Zongmeng raise his head and look at the beam above the throne in the quiet room.

Zhang Heng and the other two followed Pu Zongmeng's gaze and saw a piece of Yuan Dynasty paper pasted on the beam.

There was a familiar imperial handwriting on the paper.

"The beginning and the end are the same, and the time is new!" Zhang Heng and the other two read the words on the paper, and their hearts were filled with a loud bell, and they suddenly woke up.

This is a sentence from the Book of History: "Everyone has the same virtue."

Any scholar who has read the Book of Shang will subconsciously remember the original text of this sentence.

"It is not that God favors me, but that God blesses me with one virtue; it is not that I seek from the people, but that the people return to one virtue... Now the successor king has just accepted his mandate, and he should renew his virtue, and be the same from beginning to end, and the times will be renewed day by day..."

But Zhang Heng and others are not ordinary people.

Therefore, countless ripples also rose in their hearts at the same time.

Zhang Heng took a deep breath and swallowed.

The moment he saw those eight words, another sentence flashed through his mind.

Alas! The temple of seven generations can be used to observe virtue! The leader of ten thousand men can be used to observe politics!

As luck would have it, the Song Dynasty has been passed down to the current emperor's family for exactly seven generations.

What’s even more coincidental is that Song inherited Shangji and succeeded the virtue of fire and obtained the mandate of heaven!

Therefore, the Song Dynasty regarded the King of Shang as their ancestor.

Therefore, the Shang chapter in the Book of Documents became another form of ancestral system!

And it is an ancestral system with countless BUFFs stacked up!
Shang - one of the three dynasties, is it the policy of the previous kings or the law of the ancestors!
What is even more coincidental is that the current emperor, like Taijia, is also the new king who has succeeded to the throne and is in a transitional period of governing the country.

So many coincidences, added together, and superimposed on the ancestral laws and policies of the previous kings in the Book of Shangshu.

The government's intentions are naturally obvious!

What does "beginning and end are the same, time is renewed day by day" mean?
Connect with the following text 'Appoint officials only if they are virtuous, and appoint the right people if they are right'

Let’s take a look at what Zhang Heng and Zhang Ziping’s current assignment is?
This is for the imperial examination.

The government is making the principle clear - the method of selecting candidates for the imperial examination must be reformed this year!
And it’s not a minor change!
Maybe there will be another major change like the one in the second year of Xining!
(End of this chapter)