Ming Dynasty: Domination of the World from the Imperial Examination

Chapter 35 The Ming Dynasty cannot have only southerners!

Xie Min smiled bitterly.

He actually hoped that he could win, but he just didn't have much confidence.

During this period, students from the north gathered several times and discussed the imperial examinations in private. His talent was quite good in the north, but it seemed a bit mediocre in the south.

Confucian classics were not popular in the north.

The unresolved wars in the north in the early years also seriously affected the spread and development of Confucian classics in the north, which could not be caught up by suspending studies for ten years.

Even though Your Majesty has strengthened support for Confucian classics in the north.

Still not enough.

After the imperial examination, students from all over the country communicated more frequently, and from the conversations and exchanges with students from the south, he increasingly felt the depth of the south's research on the Four Books and Five Classics.

It's simply incomparable to students from the north.

He was not on the invitation list for this banquet, which could explain something further. At least in the eyes of some officials in the Ministry of Personnel or the organizers, his talent and knowledge were not enough to attend a banquet of this level.

Jie Min bowed and said bitterly, "I hope to accept Brother Xia's good words, but if the number of candidates for the imperial examination is not increased this time, I am afraid it will be difficult to pass. You have never had in-depth exchanges with southern students, so you don't know their interests in the study of classics."

"We in the north are so far behind them."

Xia Zhibai smiled heartily and said, "Brother Jie, you are wrong."

"How could the court not know what you said?"

"If I remember correctly, in the fourth year of Hongwu, the current emperor said something like this, 'In the Yuan Dynasty, officials only valued their own ethnicity and looked down upon Chinese scholars. Southerners were not even allowed to be included in the government. How could this be fair? I only employ people based on their talents, regardless of north or south.'"

"Soon after, His Majesty will resolutely announce the abolition of the imperial examination system."

"Based on our understanding of the imperial examinations at that time, the conclusion is almost the same as the one announced by the court."

“There are very few people who can put what they have learned into practice!”

"There is nothing wrong with this conclusion, it's just not complete."

"We have gone through the Tongshi, Yuanshi, and Xiangshi before we came to the examination hall for the Huishi. Many of us scholars have achieved honors, and many of us hold official positions."

"If I get high school this time, it will be a step up."

"Become a court official!"

"Therefore, compared with other selections, the imperial examination is not only a test of talent and learning, but more importantly, its political significance."

"Suppress the Southerners!!!"

"Suppress the southerners?" Jie Min's eyelids twitched, and she looked at Xia Zhibai in surprise. She didn't expect Xia Zhibai to say such a shocking thing.

Xia Zhibai said: "Putting aside the exam itself, just looking at it from a political perspective, abolishing the imperial examination was inevitable. At that time, the number of southerners admitted to the imperial examination was far higher than that of northerners. The number of southerners who passed the imperial examination accounted for more than 70% of the total number."

"The imperial examination system cannot achieve the goal of selecting talents in a balanced manner, and is not conducive to the stability of the Ming regime."

"The north was not stable at the time. If the imperial examinations were to continue, after two or three sessions, the proportion of students who passed the imperial examinations in the south would only be higher. How could the northern scholars not make trouble? The north was not completely stable to begin with, and many scholars still missed the old Yuan Dynasty. How could the court not be worried?"

"So for the sake of stability in the North, and to appease people's hearts."

"The imperial examination system will definitely be abolished."

Xie Min seemed to be thinking about something.

This was indeed an angle he had never considered.

If we look at it from a political and court perspective, this should indeed be considered. The Ming Dynasty cannot have only half of the country, and it certainly cannot have only southerners in power.

Jie Min holds a position in the local government. After Xia Zhibai's reminder, he instantly understood a lot of things.

He said slowly: "After abolishing the imperial examination system, Your Majesty has repeatedly awarded the Four Books and Five Classics to schools in the north, and has also moved school officials from the south to the north and established many schools in the north. This is actually intended to support the study of classics in the north."

“To achieve a balance between the north and the south.”

Xia Zhibai nodded.

He continued: "These measures can indeed promote the spread of Confucian classics in the north and improve the cultural and educational level of the north to a certain extent, but it is impossible to catch up with the south. The differences between the north and the south are ultimately economic and political issues."

“It’s not something that can be balanced in a short time.”

"I will make a bold guess about this imperial examination." "The examination will be greatly modified."

"As far as I know, people from the north of the Yangtze River have solid writing skills, while people from the south of the Yangtze River have rich writing skills."

“This is the easiest distinction to make between the north and the south at the moment.”

"If it falls on the test paper, it is a policy question."

Jie Min looked at Xia Zhibai suddenly and knew why Xia Zhibai said in the Imperial Examination Hall that day that the policy questions in this imperial examination were not important.

He made this deduction very early on.

Because southern students are better at writing, eloquent, and good at quoting from classics, in the more free format of policy questions, the articles written by southern students are often much better than those of northern students.

The most feasible way to achieve a balance between the north and the south in the imperial examination.

It's a one-size-fits-all approach.

Let the policy questions be the icing on the cake.

If the South is strong, the policy will be invalid; if the North is strong, the policy will be used to make certain compensation for the South in order to achieve a preliminary balance on the list.

This is indeed the most effective way.

It is also the simplest and most practical.

Xie Min looked at Xia Zhibai deeply for a few times, and said with a wry smile: "Brother Xia, your inference is really too shocking. I can't help but be shocked."

Xia Zhibai smiled and said, "Political matters should be considered from a political perspective."

"Your Majesty is a common man, so he is more pragmatic. Therefore, the pragmatism of 'focusing on the basics' and 'putting morality first and literature second' is more favored by Your Majesty. Although the south is prosperous in classics, it is too superficial and cannot be used for great purposes."

“Although the study of classics is not popular in the north, students there pay more attention to practical matters.”

“It will be more valued.”

"Except for the third round of the examination, the first two rounds are about basic knowledge. Northern students may be able to break through the siege. With your practical ability, you are more than enough to make the list."

Xie Min nodded.

A look of relief appeared on his face.

If it is true as Xia Zhibai said, he has a great chance of passing the imperial examination this time.

He looked at Xia Zhibai and said, "If I can really pass the exam, I will definitely prepare a banquet to entertain Brother Xia."

Xia Zhibai laughed.

Xie Min also smiled and asked curiously, "But Brother Xia, are you really not going to attend this small banquet?"

"No." Xia Zhibai shook his head.

"I have a rather straightforward personality, so if I go to such an occasion, I'm afraid there will be a lot of conflicts. Besides, I have confidence in myself, so I'd better avoid such banquets if possible."

"I'll trouble Brother Jie to pass on the message for me."

Jie Min nodded and said, "If Huang Zicheng and others see your refusal, you will inevitably be seen as frivolous, arrogant, and someone who doesn't take other people seriously."

"Is it really worth it?"

Xia Zhibai smiled and said, "I am a vulgar person, I cannot imitate elegance."

"If they want to talk about me, let them talk."

"But please, Brother Jie, remind them so that they don't forget that I still have a bet with them."

"Scholars value trust."

"I hope you won't go back on your word."

"Haha."

Jie Min smiled bitterly and nodded.

(End of this chapter)