Ming Dynasty: Domination of the World from the Imperial Examination

Chapter 63: Scholars’ affairs are not limited to the Four Books and Five Classics!
A drizzle was falling.

Hua Lun and the others were also soaked, but they felt their scalps tingling when they heard Xia Zhibai's outrageous words.

They knew that Xia Zhibai was a very arrogant person, but they didn't expect him to be so arrogant that he even seemed to look down on His Majesty.

What kind of person is Your Majesty?
How could they question it?

Let’s listen to the dragon’s roar?

What is Dragon's Roar? There is only one true emperor in the world, and that is Your Majesty.

He is clearly provoking Your Majesty!

This is courting death.

Hua Lun and the other two looked at each other, and the hands holding the swords began to become slightly nervous.

Lian Zining took a deep breath and didn't dare to take up this topic at all. This was not something they could get involved in, whether it was true or false.

He said angrily: "Stop talking nonsense here. If you want to die, don't take us with you."

"I don't believe what you said at all. I only know that you didn't even make it into the top three in the imperial examination. You are not qualified to meet His Majesty, let alone become the top scholar."

"You've been lying!"

Xia Zhibai frowned, glanced at Lian Zining, and nodded, "I indeed did not make it into the top three."

"But the palace examination has not been held yet. Don't you realize that something is wrong?"

Hear the words.

The three of them's faces immediately turned dark.

Of course the three of them knew the reason.

It is precisely because they were fooled by Xia Zhibai. If the court continues to let them take part in the palace examination, doesn’t it prove that the court does not know people well?
Isn't this all your fault?

Huang Zicheng said angrily: "Don't you know the real reason why the palace examination will not be held?"

"Because of you, the three of us had to give up the imperial examination. Ten years of hard study were all wasted in one day!"

"You've ruined us all!"

Huang Zicheng's eyes were bloodshot and he was furious.

He was so furious. He had never seen a thief crying "stop thief" before. Xia Zhibai had hurt them so badly, yet he was still pretending to be innocent.

Hua Lun and Lian Zining also looked annoyed.

Xia Zhibai had a calm face, ignoring the anger of the three people, and said calmly: "You take the imperial examination too seriously, you take yourself too seriously, and you take His Majesty's attitude towards scholars too seriously."

"When has your majesty ever cared about the opinions of scholars? Your majesty can kill even the ministers of the court at will. When has your majesty ever cared about the influence of scholars?"

"Your Majesty is from the lower class."

“If nothing else, the bottom layer is the most pragmatic.”

“Everything else is false.”

"If the court is really dissatisfied, they can just expel the three of you. Why wait for you to resign voluntarily?"

"Your Majesty does not tolerate any grain of sand in his eyes."

Hear the words.

The three of them frowned.

They thought about it carefully and it seemed to be true.

Hua Lun's eyes darkened, and he said uncertainly: "If it's not our fault, what other reasons could there be?"

"Because of me." Xia Zhibai nodded and looked at the three people with a smile, looking calm and relaxed.

"because of you?"

Xia Zhibai said: "Because my name is not on the list, and because I came back suddenly, and proved that what I said was true."

"This disturbed your majesty's mind, and you didn't know how to deal with it for a while, but considering your majesty's mind, I'm afraid he has calmed down."

"This matter will be resolved soon. I don't know how it will be resolved, but my name will definitely appear on the list of candidates for the palace examination."

"I'm sure."

Hua Lun hesitated to speak. He really wanted to ask if what Xia Zhibai said before was true? Did he really meet His Majesty in advance and let His Majesty make a choice?

But he didn't dare to ask. He was even more afraid to ask.

These are not things he can find out.

He didn't know why Xia Zhibai was so arrogant, but Xia Zhibai's arrogance was indeed different from that of others, and it was full of confidence.

If what Xia Zhibai said is true, then will there be any changes in this imperial examination?
Hua Lun's eyes moved slightly, and he looked at the others for a few times, then lowered his voice and said, "Even if what you said before is true, you were not on the list before, so it is hard to convince everyone to select you as the top scholar."

"It must be me." Xia Zhibai said with certainty.

"why?"

"Because only if I am the top scholar, all this farce can end. If I give you the top scholar title, do you have the confidence and dignity to accept it?"

The three men's faces turned blue and red. Although they didn't want to admit it, their reputation was ruined now and they really didn't have the face to be the top scholar.

I just feel ashamed.

Xia Zhibai smiled and said, "This is not a bad thing for you, because you can't suppress me. I am on a different path from you."

"It's not that I want to be the number one scholar, but that the Ming Dynasty needs me to be the number one scholar."

Xia Zhibai stood with his hands behind his back, looking up at the sky, as if he wanted to compete with the sky for height.

Hua Lun and the other two were startled.

They just felt that Xia Zhibai was becoming more and more arrogant and more and more confident.

It seems like the world is in his hands.

Xia Zhibai retracted his gaze and said calmly: "You are actually half a court official, but at the moment, you don't have the awareness of being an official."

"To have too high a vision and to read too many books by sages is not necessarily a good thing. The books by sages are meant to teach people to read, but if you use them, they are of no use at all."

"Only by taking root in the grassroots, drawing nourishment from the grassroots, integrating knowledge and action, and combining the theory in the book with practice can we achieve the greatest effect."

"Only then can you be worthy of that position!"

"Officials should serve the people."

"Sometimes you should lower your heads and take a look at the people living at the bottom of society. They are the ones we must take seriously in the future."

"It's written in the Book of Rites."

"A gentleman is cautious when he is alone, does not deceive others in secret, humbles himself, and is virtuous and honest."

"A true man stands between heaven and earth. He should cultivate the great and upright spirit of heaven and earth and do things that are upright and aboveboard."

"Restrain yourself, be cautious, guard your heart, and understand your nature."

"Control yourself with the same mind that you use to control others, and tolerate others with the same mind that you tolerate yourself."

"In my opinion, scholars like us should also have this ambition, to be tolerant of the world, and take these grassroots people into our eyes and hearts."

Hua Lun raised his head and looked ahead. The refugees were in tattered clothes and looked extremely miserable. However, when they took the bowl of hot porridge, their faces were full of gratitude and thanks.

The three men subconsciously showed disgust and contempt for the scene before them. They were of high social status and had never dealt with these refugees.

I don't want to contact these people.

Xia Zhibai walked in the rain, towards the group of refugees queuing in the rain. His voice came through the rain: "Scholars' affairs are never limited to the Four Books and Five Classics."

"Being on the list of successful candidates only proves that we have reached a certain level in our studies. It also means that we are no longer gifted in studying."

"Starting a career in politics."

"Everything will start from scratch!"

"Are you ready to enter the next stage, to return to the beginning of your studies, and to begin another ten years of hard study with the heart of a child?"

"This time I'm not asking for 'learning'."

"It's for the people!"

The three were speechless.

Xia Zhibai had already walked far away, and he returned to the small mound. Several teenagers hurriedly brought a pot of rice porridge, and another round of porridge distribution began.

Looking at Xia Zhibai distributing porridge in the rain and chatting and laughing with the common people, the three of them fell completely silent.

(End of this chapter)