Ming Dynasty: Domination of the World from the Imperial Examination

Chapter 5 The prime of life!

Hearing Xia Zhibai's arrogant words, Jie Min and other northern students' faces changed slightly. How could they, the scholars, think of the word "Tian Ce"?

There has only been one person since ancient times.

Even this has been criticized by many literati. If Your Majesty heard Xia Zhibai's remarks, what would Your Majesty think?
After Li Shimin was promoted to the rank of General of Tian Ce, he directly launched the Xuanwu Gate Incident. Even if Xia Zhibai used this to boast about his ability, how could these literati say such words?
This is bringing disaster to yourself!
Lian Zining couldn't help but sneer out loud. Xia Zhibai's confident look in front of him really made him feel a little unsure.

but now.

Xia Zhibai is no longer anything to be feared.

He is just an ignorant person who does not know the immensity of heaven and earth. He has read a little bit of books and understood some principles, so he thinks he is very great.

In fact, he is just a frog in a well.

It's a laughing stock.

Lian Zining looked around, but he was not prepared to be the center of attention. He came from a family of profound learning and had known a truth very early on.

The wood is beautiful in the forest, and the wind will destroy it.

The only ones who could compete with him for the top spot in the imperial examination this time were Hua Lun and Huang Zicheng. Hua Lun had just taken over Ding Xian's words, which clearly left him an excuse.

When the time comes, he will secretly stir up some noise and pass those words to the ears of officials in the court. Even if Hua Lun ranks higher than him in the imperial examination, it will be difficult for him to become the number one.

He now has only one competitor.

Huang Zicheng.

Lian Zining raised his left hand, made an "eight" shape, and stroked his mustache at the corner of his mouth. His eyes moved shrewdly, and suddenly, his eyes lit up.

Lian Zining said: "The top scholar is not someone who can get the title by just talking big. In the end, it all depends on knowledge. Now that the test has just ended, can you briefly tell us your answers to the test?"

"Let me open my eyes?"

"And by the way, let's see if you, the self-proclaimed Tiance No. 1 Scholar, are really worthy of the title."

Lian Zining looked at Xia Zhibai with a hint of provocation.

Ding Xian also reacted at this moment. His face turned blue and red. He felt humiliated and stared at Xia Zhibai with red eyes.

He said angrily: "This guy is just a showman. He has no real knowledge. If you ask him to show his knowledge, he doesn't have the ability to do so."

"I'm afraid I won't even open my mouth."

Xia Zhibai frowned.

His questions were indeed not suitable to be spoken out. Once they were spoken out, all the people present would be punished, and he did not want to implicate innocent people.

I don't want to implicate other people.

He said calmly: "After the Ming Dynasty's reform of the imperial examination, the questions and answers are no longer important. What is important is the palace examination."

"even……"

"The palace examination is not important either."

"What's important is the emperor's consideration of the selection of new officials. If they are appreciated in the palace examination, they can easily rise to a higher position."

"If you don't like it, no matter how good your writing is or how many nice words you say, it will only be for show and will not be of much use."

"You guys take the imperial examination too seriously!"

As soon as Xia Zhibai's words came out, they immediately aroused dissatisfaction among the people around him, and there were constant angry scolding.

"Insanity!"

"You have no talent or moral integrity, yet you dare to say such big words?"

"The imperial examination is a system universally recognized as the fairest. How can you slander and defame it?"

"..."

Xia Zhibai chuckled and said in a relaxed tone: "You have misunderstood one thing after all. Studying is studying, and being an official is being an official. These are two different things."

"Reading makes people wise, but if you only think about reading, taking exams, and becoming an official overnight, it's so empty and broad." "I think you are just sitting there doing nothing."

"The imperial examination is a bigger stage for us to showcase what we have learned to the world and attract the attention of the world, but it is just a threshold."

"Even if you haven't become a juren, if you look down on yourself because of this, you will actually be inferior."

"As one grows older, one becomes stronger, and one's heart will not change even when one is old; as one grows poorer, one becomes more resolute, and one's ambition will not fall."

“The world is vast and there is much to be accomplished.”

"The ranking in the imperial examination can only prove that one's knowledge is indeed better, but truly governing a place well is more capable, and this is far more important than the knowledge in books."

"It's superficial on paper, and I absolutely know that this matter has to be done."

"Even if you fail the imperial examination, if you work hard in the local area and win the praise of the people, you will sooner or later be promoted by the court and praised by the local people."

“This is the value of being an official.”

"The imperial examination does not determine everything. It is just that people with good academic knowledge have more opportunities to succeed and have more choices."

“But it’s not absolute.”

“I once heard a saying: Don’t give the world to someone you despise.”

"Let's encourage each other."

“Northern students may not rank as high as those in the south, but their contributions to the stability of the country, the restoration of life and production in the north, and the bridging of the north and the south are far greater than those in the south.”

“Perhaps many of them may not have achieved the same results in the imperial examinations as those in the south, but their future achievements may not necessarily be inferior.”

"Justice lies in the heart of the people."

"The people have sharp eyes. They can see clearly those who are truly doing practical things and those who are just floating around."

As soon as Xia Zhibai said this.

Jie Min and others were thoughtful, and the depression that had been pent up in their hearts was relieved a lot at this moment.

Xia Zhibai looked at Huang Zicheng and the others, a hint of contempt appeared on his lips, and continued: "As for arrogance? Why not?"

"It's like being young and frivolous."

"I, Xia Zhibai, am only 22 years old. At the tender age of twenty, I passed the boy's examination, the academy examination, and took first place in the provincial examination, becoming the champion of Kaifeng Prefecture."

"I am also full of confidence in this imperial examination. Why can't I be frivolous? Do I have to wait until I am old, facing a blank piece of paper, and write a few words: I am old and want to express my youthful enthusiasm?"

"But will the old man still be as wild as a young man? Will I still be the young man I am today?"

"You all seem to be in your twenties or thirties, but you look old and lack the vigor and vitality you should have."

"We are young students, full of vigor and vitality, full of scholarly vigor and ambition."

"Pointing out the mountains and rivers, writing passionate words, and looking down on the nobles of the past."

"..."

Listening to Xia Zhibai's heroic words, the people around him looked at him sideways with a hint of solemnity. Compared with Xia Zhibai's confident and maneuvering style, they were indeed a bit too pedantic.

It's too lifeless.

Xia Zhibai added: "This time the imperial examination will be held again after a ten-year hiatus. If nothing unexpected happens, the court will select many more officials than usual."

"We are indeed still young and lack experience and qualifications, but given time, we may become the backbone of the world."

"Why shouldn't I be confident?!"

"We can influence the direction of the world in the future. If we don't even have this confidence, how can we be good officials and benefit the people of the world?"

"Also, Lian Zining, you have too many little tricks up your sleeve. You are scheming but have no foresight. Since you want to embarrass me, I will make a bet with you."

"I'll bet my life on you guys, that none of you will become the top scholar in the end. Do you dare to make this bet with me?"

(End of this chapter)