I studied in modern times

Chapter 997 The Ministry of Rites Examination (3)

"By imperial decree, it is hereby approved: the first examination of this year shall be based on this classic text!"

"This classic text refers to the *I Ching*, *Book of Documents*, *Book of Poetry*, *Spring and Autumn Annals*, and *Book of Rites*!"

"The Ministry of Rites issued an edict on the day of Yiyou in the second month of the third year of the Yuan You reign: The ancestral system is detailed and concise, and the laws of the late emperor are excellent. I shall follow them!"

"In accordance with the imperial edict of the second year of the Xining era, two questions were set for each of the Five Classics!"

"Students may choose the scripture they are studying and answer the questions it presents!"

"When answering questions, you may refer to 'Explanation of Characters', 'New Interpretations of the Three Classics', ancient and modern allusions, commentaries, or your own observations, experiences, and feelings. The writing should be in the official script of the Imperial Academy!"

This was the final compromise reached by the chief ministers.

The New Party continued to maintain the official status of "Explanation of Characters" and "New Interpretation of the Three Classics" as the official reference books for the imperial examinations.

The old party, on the other hand, also included their own school of thought and classic texts.

During this process, Su Song, who spoke on behalf of Zhao Xu, suddenly intervened and brought up the story of Su Shi's response to the imperial examination in the second year of Jiayou, entitled "On the Kindness of Punishment and Reward," which Ouyang Xiu thought was good, but Emperor Renzong did not take it seriously and instead praised it as a good story.

This year's imperial examination included questions that allowed scholars to answer by sharing their interpretations, insights, and feelings about the classics.

As long as it can be self-consistent and does not escape the constraints of the teachings of sages on benevolence and righteousness.

Therefore, Su Song put forward the latest slogan, "The Six Classics interpret me".

And he won unanimous approval from everyone in the capital—this is how the scholars of the Great Song Dynasty should be!

Almost no one disagreed.

Because, indeed, the great Confucian scholars of the Song Dynasty, starting with the three masters of the early Song Dynasty, have always been like this.

Su Song simply summarized it systematically as "interpreting the Six Classics through my own lens".

That's reasonable, there's nothing wrong with it.

That's how everyone plays.

Thus, the basic framework for this year's imperial examination was formed.

Everyone got what they wanted.

win!
Officials from the Ministry of Rites, dressed in black robes, walked through the examination hall, beating gongs and drums.

He walked along carrying a brass megaphone, repeatedly reading official documents from the imperial court.

Although the important notes, examination order, and answer requirements for this year's imperial examinations had already been posted by the capital several days ago and published on the front page of the Bianjing Xinbao and Bianjing Yibao for three consecutive days.

However, in order to prevent scholars in the examination hall from being unaware of or forgetting the imperial regulations.

Therefore, Zhang Heng, the examiner, still required the officials of the Ministry of Rites' examination hall to give a three-part lecture before each examination.

To prevent anyone from using this as an excuse to cause trouble after failing the exam.

After the officials patrolled the examination hall three times, eunuchs dressed in purple robes carried locked boxes into the hall.

This was also one of the latest reforms in the imperial examinations—after the three chief examiners finished setting the questions and the emperor approved them, all the questions were immediately sent by specially selected eunuchs from the Imperial City Guard to the Printing Office of the Inner Palace Attendants for woodblock printing.

The entire process was overseen by Yulong Gudu.

All participants were confined to the Imperial City Printing Office throughout the entire process and were not allowed to leave or communicate with others.

After printing was completed, it was personally guarded by Yan Chen, the Left Commander of the Imperial Dragon Guard.

The goods were only allowed to be delivered to the examination hall on the day of the imperial examination.

This ensures that the exam questions cannot be leaked—and if a leak does occur, it can be quickly eliminated to find the source of the leak.

……

Bao Cheng looked at the test paper that had been handed to him.

Ten serious questions were divided into five categories and printed on them in ink.

The first category is questions based on the I Ching.

He didn't learn it...

Just skip it.

The second category is questions from the Book of Documents...

He had studied it, but after only glancing at the title of the question, he shrank back and wisely gave up.

The professor invited to the Xizhou State School was a disciple of Hengqu.

However, the disciples of Hengqu were not skilled in the Book of Documents.

The third category is the Book of Songs!

Bao Cheng smiled. The main focus of Xizhou State Academy is the Book of Poetry among the Five Classics, and the Analects among the Secondary Classics.

As for the rest?
I'm sorry, most students are still in the foundational stage.

Many people went to state schools, and even professors at Texas State School started teaching from rhyme books.

Otherwise, they wouldn't even be able to speak Mandarin!

To master the rhyme book, it would take at least three years.

Fortunately, although Xihe Road has a high illiteracy rate.

But the leaders of the Xihe tribes were not short of money!
Even in the past, powerful regional leaders like the Bao brothers would hire Confucian scholars at great expense to teach their children to read and write at home.

As for now?

All I can say is, please think of this as a modern-day Middle Eastern tycoon!

For example, Bao Cheng's grandfather, Bao Shun, made a pilgrimage to Mobang Mountain last year, donating more than a thousand catties of sesame oil, thousands of livestock, and offering gold, silver, jewels, and jade to the Buddha's tooth relic.

Naturally, they are also generous when it comes to education.

For example, the Xizhou State School, which Bao Cheng attended, was established only a short time ago—construction began in the first year of the Yuanyou era.

However, in terms of teaching staff, as well as academies, dormitories, farmland, and schools, it already surpasses many prefectures and counties within the inner prefecture.

Especially last year, after the Bao family, led by Bao Shun, went to Luzhou to pay respects to their ancestors and visit relatives.

Upon returning to Xizhou, he built the Xihe Bao Family Private School on his own ranch, modeled after the private school of the Bao family in Luzhou.

Because he was wealthy, Bao Shun directly ordered that all children of the Bao clan could enroll in the school.

Those with outstanding academic performance can enroll for free.

The top ten students in the private school each year could receive a reward of more than fifty strings of cash.

Recalling these things, Bao Cheng carefully looked at the questions.

Question 1: "Guan Guan the pheasant, on the river islet; a fair maiden, a gentleman's good match." Confucius said that "Guan Guan the pheasant" is joyful without being licentious, and sorrowful without being tragic. Why is that? Now the court wants to promote the meaning of "Guan Guan the pheasant" to align with the principles of self-cultivation, governing the country, and managing the family. You are to write a poem with the meaning in mind, limited to one thousand characters.

Question 2: "Big rat, big rat, don't eat my millet! I've served you for three years, yet none of you care for me." Mencius said: "The people are the most important, the state is next, and the ruler is the least important." The Zhou Rites say: "Equalize the rich and poor." Confucius said: "Equalize all, and there will be no poverty." In today's world, the rich may not own vast fields, but the poor have no place to stand. Today, the emperor wishes to uphold the ways of the former kings and follow the teachings of the sages to achieve prosperity for the people and strength for the nation. You are to use the meaning of "Big Rat" to write down the ways of the former kings and the teachings of the sages, and apply them to the laws of today. Limit: 1000 characters.

After reading the two questions, Bao Cheng frowned, feeling that they were a bit too difficult for him.

At that moment, he noticed that there seemed to be a piece of yellow hemp paper pasted on the test paper.

Curious, he picked up the yellow hemp paper and found that it was written in small regular script, listing the words that needed to be avoided in this imperial examination and how to avoid them.

For example, the names, posthumous titles, and temple names of the former emperors, as well as the name of the current emperor, must be avoided.

However, the current emperor is wise and, in order to avoid causing trouble for scholars throughout the land, has decreed that the names, temple names, and posthumous titles of all former emperors can be referred to by the names of their mausoleums.

For example, the late emperor could be inscribed with the name "Yongyu Mausoleum".

However, the emperor's personal name can be left blank when encountered, known as "a blank space".

Furthermore, the given names of both Empress Dowager Cixi and Empress Dowager Ci'an are two characters each, and as long as the two characters are not written together, there is no need to avoid using them. The posthumous titles of the two Empress Dowagers' fathers and grandfathers may be written.

For example, Gao Zunfu, the father of the Empress Dowager, can be written as "Gao Muwu Gong", while Xiang Jing, the father of the Empress Dowager, can be written as "Xiang Kangyi Gong".

These are the imperial edicts of the two empresses.

In the Song Dynasty, there were more taboos than just these.

According to tradition, the name of the Grand Chancellor must also be avoided—this is why the dynasty honors the Grand Chancellor and reveres the way of governance.

It is also the source of the prime minister's supreme authority.

Sometimes, the imperial court would even require the prime minister to avoid using the names of his father or grandfather.

For example, when Bao Cheng was at the Xizhou State School, he heard the teachers of Hengqu say that during the reign of the late emperor, because the late prime minister Zeng Gongliang was virtuous and accomplished, not only the imperial examinations, but even official documents of the court had to avoid using the name of Zeng Gongliang's father, Zeng Hui.

Thus, the document from the Hall of State Affairs to the officials, which was originally written as "堪会" (Kan Hui), was changed to "堪当" (Kan Dang) to avoid using the taboo, until Zeng Gongliang retired.

Fortunately, the two prime ministers currently in power are both men of high moral character and integrity.

Therefore, they have all politely declined the court's request to avoid using the names of their fathers and grandfathers.

At the request of the two prime ministers, this year's imperial examinations will only require scholars to avoid using the last character of their names when mentioning them.

For example, the Left Chancellor Lü Gongzhu can be written as "Lü Gongzhuo", and the Right Chancellor Pu Zongmeng can be written as "Pu Zongmang".

These are all done by using homophones to avoid taboo.

After carefully reading through the requirements and methods for avoiding taboos, Bao Cheng turned his attention back to the two serious questions from the Book of Songs.

After thinking for a moment, Bao Cheng said softly, "I think I'll look at the other serious questions for now!"

These two questions were far too difficult for him.

However, after he read the other questions, he knew the answer.

He only had one path: the title of the Book of Songs.

At least, he seriously studied the Book of Songs at the Xizhou State School for more than a year.

The other four orthodox disciplines were too profound for him.

Therefore, Bao Cheng could only lower his head, carefully examine the question, and squeeze out more words from his limited knowledge.

Fortunately, he wasn't under much pressure.

He didn't come to Beijing with any expectation of passing the exam.

For him, this trip to the capital to take the imperial examination was purely to experience the atmosphere of the Song Dynasty's imperial examination system and, incidentally, to see the house his grandfather had bought in the Bianjing Academy.

……

The examinations were underway at the Imperial Examination Hall.

Zhao Xu was not idle either. At this moment, he was in the Chongzheng Hall, receiving representatives of the top students of the Imperial Academy who had been reported by the Academy this year.

Since the reform of the Imperial Academy, a scoring system has replaced the previous evaluation system that was too subjective.

The Imperial Academy then began a period of rapid internal competition.

The chaotic situation of the past, where promotions depended on connections and official positions depended on personal networks, is gone forever.

Especially those things that involve official appointments, which are related to the vested interests of the students.

Zhao Xu didn't even need to send out scouts and patrolmen to supervise; the students within the Imperial Academy spontaneously began to monitor their classmates in the same dormitory.

Especially among the students in the upper dormitory, the situation has escalated to an extremely exaggerated level!
no way!
Under the current credit system of the Imperial Academy, students not only need to have excellent academic performance, but also cannot have any weaknesses in any subject.

They also need to be good at practical administration, and knowledgeable in economics, criminal law, and even astronomy and geography.

Otherwise, once you are promoted to the upper class, you will need to go to the relevant government office for an internship.

In case no one wants him, or his internship performance in the government office is too low.

That's it!
Conversely, as long as one's academic performance is excellent, one can be promoted to the upper dormitory and obtain an opportunity to intern in the six ministries or even the capital, and in the process, gain the appreciation of a certain important figure.

Then let's take off right away!
A typical example is Ma Gu Zong Ze, whom Zhao Xu chose.

This was a Zhejiang native who was specially recruited into the Imperial Academy by Emperor Zhao Xu in the eighth year of the Yuanfeng era.

In less than three years, they made the leap from being an outer dormitory student to an upper dormitory student.

Now, I am interning at the Academy of Sciences, which is known as the literary capital of the world and the hall of scholars.

The person who mentored him during his internship was Fan Chunren, who has now declared Mabai to be in power.

His current mentor is Zhao Cheng, a veteran official of three dynasties and a renowned minister.

Before entering the capital, Zhao Cheng had served in various local prefectures and counties for decades, accumulating rich experience in grassroots administration.

Conservative estimates suggest that Zong Ze's name will be on the list of officials to be appointed from the Imperial Academy after this year's imperial examinations, following the usual practice.

Moreover, it is very likely that he was appointed to an official position as the top student in the Imperial Academy.

Once appointed to an official post, according to the Yuanfeng story, he would at least be a sub-prefect.

Now, according to the new policies of the Imperial Academy, the work experience of students in the upper dormitory during their internships is recognized after they become officials.

In other words, it means that as long as Zong Ze takes office, it is tacitly agreed that he will have the seniority of a sub-prefect for one year!
In contrast, a prefectural judge in the Song Dynasty served for a maximum of two years.

This means that after Zong Ze leaves his official post, he only needs to go to a local area for a short while before he can return to the capital to be reassigned.

This is even more satisfying than becoming the top scholar in the imperial examination!

Even the top scholar, upon first being appointed, would only be a ninth-rank official in the capital!

It was under these expectations that a large number of talented individuals emerged from the intense competition within the Imperial Academy.

Moreover, he's not the kind of bookworm who only knows how to study.

They are all talented individuals who have interned in government departments such as the Six Ministries and Kaifeng Prefecture, and whose internship evaluations were quite high!
Zhao Xu looked at the list in his hand and compared it with the internship reports of the Imperial Academy students that he had ordered his men to retrieve from the Six Ministries and Kaifeng Prefecture. His eyes shone with excitement.

Who says the Song Dynasty lacked talented people?

"It's just been overlooked!"

"It seems I'll have to start a 'life-or-death' examination at the Imperial Academy right after the results of the imperial examinations are released!"

They selected scholars directly from the Imperial Academy, rather than through the imperial examination system.

This is something the New Party has been pushing for since the Xining Reforms.

However, the Imperial Academy in the past was riddled with problems and shrouded in secrecy, which meant that the Imperial Academy's three-stage system of selecting scholars could only be carried out on a small scale.

The Imperial Academy of today has completely abandoned the highly subjective evaluation system of the past.

From outer dormitory students to inner dormitory students and then to upper dormitory students, everything depends on grades.

Those with high scores are promoted, while those with low scores are demoted or even sent back to their place of origin.

Upon reaching the upper-level student stage, they began to learn and be taught practical administrative affairs, and then strive for internship opportunities in relevant government departments.

Finally, after completing the internship and achieving high scores, one must pass the official examination to be granted an official position.

This system is not perfect.

However, compared to the past, when the evaluation method was rife with opaque operations and the future of students was determined entirely by the subjective judgment of a few people, it is undoubtedly a huge improvement.

"We need to discuss this matter with some of the elders and try to gain their support!"

Zhao Xu thought for a moment, then summoned Tong Guan and instructed him, "Go to the residences of Grand Tutor Wen Yanbo, Military Governor of Zhangde Zhang Fangping, and Military Governor of Baoning Feng Jing, and convey my decree that I wish to visit Yujin Garden with the three elders tomorrow morning..."

It just so happens that he has never been to Yujin Garden since he woke up in Qingning Palace.

(End of this chapter)