Northern Song Dynasty: Starting from the son of Song Renzong

Chapter 141 Question
The sixth year of the Qingli period.

Zhao Xin is eight years old.

of course!

If we use the later method of calculating actual age, he would be at most six years and three months old.

Although he is a little small, his height and weight are already good.

This year, I measured it specially.

He is almost four feet tall and weighs about forty kilograms.

Converted to later standards, it would be roughly over 1.25 meters tall and weigh 45 kilograms.

His height is about two standard deviations higher than that of the average child.

The reason why he has achieved such a good development is that he is not picky about food.

Many children don’t like to eat vegetables when they are young.

But he just can't live without green vegetables.

Someone like Ms. Miao is only about 1.6 meters tall, or at most 1.7 meters tall.

Compared with his 1.25 meters tall, it can only be said that he is now seven-tenths as tall as Miss Miao.

The head is almost up to Miao Niang’s navel and down to her chest.

Seeing that Zhao Xin asked Madam Miao to measure his height, Madam Zhu next door and others naturally teased him.

"Why does Zui Xinglai want to grow up so quickly?"

Zhao Xin said, "Grow up quickly so that you can do great things."

Madam Zhu was speechless, then smiled and asked, "What big thing does Zui Xinglai want to do?"

Zhao Xin replied, "Of course, we should learn from Emperor Taizong Wen, who was intelligent when young and powerful when old. He wielded a three-foot sword and unified the world in a few years."

When Madam Zhu heard what Zhao Xin said, she was also stunned.

Perhaps they couldn't believe that Zhao Xin, who was only 1.25 meters tall, had such great ambitions.

but……

Madam Zhu thought about it again. Why didn’t she remember that Emperor Taizong of their Song Dynasty had made such an evaluation?
She remembered that Emperor Taizong of our dynasty rode a donkey cart and ran back after being shot in the thigh by an arrow.
Where do the few years come from to unify the world?

of course!

Madam Zhu did not ask. After all, she was a woman, and if she remembered or said something wrong, it would be a big joke.

Zhao Xin saw that she seemed to be thinking about something.

He also said: "I am talking about Emperor Taizong Wen of the Tang Dynasty!"

Only then did Mrs. Zhu suddenly realize.

She said that Emperor Taizong of our dynasty could not be what he said.

Be reasonable!
Looking at Zhao Xin growing up, Madam Zhu couldn't help but feel a little envious.

If my son were still alive...

Do not!
This is too greedy. For her, being alive is a blessing.

How could she dare to demand to be as excellent as Zui Xinglai?

these two years.

In addition to his relationship with Madam Zhang, the emperor also had a princess.

However, he did not have any children with other concubines.

But unfortunately...

Just the year before, the princess born to the emperor and Lady Zhang died again.

This is the third princess born to the emperor and Madam Zhang.

However, all these princesses died within just five years.

Now, the one who lives the best life in the entire harem is only Madam Miao.

Huirou, no problem at all.

When he is most excited, he can jump and dance.

to be frank!
If you say you are not envious, that would be a lie!
even……

Some people were wondering if Madam Miao was doing something secretly behind their backs.

Otherwise, why could the children in her family survive, while all the children born to others died?

Yes!

You heard it right.

Almost all the children born to other people died during these five years!
can only say……

Madam Miao lived in fear in the harem.

Why do you have both a son and a daughter while other people’s sons and daughters all die young?

Is this just an accident?
When Zhao Huirou saw Zhao Xin measuring his height and weight, she came to join in the fun.

"Sister, it's my turn!"

"Then come on!"

Madam Miao measured Zhao Huirou unhappily.

However, Zhao Huirou is now even shorter than Zhao Xin.

But this is also very normal!

Because even in later generations, many second children generally grow faster and are stronger than the eldest child.

Madam Zhu also noticed this situation.

Then he asked, "Why does Huirou feel shorter than Zuixinglai?"

Madam Miao said, "If you don't eat well all day, you will definitely be shorter than Zui Xinglai."

Mrs. Zhu could only say, "Girls don't have to be that tall."

Zhao Huirou said to Miao Niangzi: "Sister, did you hear that?"

Madam Miao just wants to beat people up!
However, after this year, Zhao Huirou looked at Zhao Xin and estimated that she would never be able to beat Zhao Xin in the future.

Measurement completed.

The woman continued chatting.

And Zhao Xin also went outside and wandered around.

Feel……

Do I need to improve my harem?

Although I am only eight years old now, I am actually only six years old.

I think I could find one among the daughters of the fallen soldiers.

At least he had to take advantage of the noble cause of treating the descendants of soldiers well.

then……

Zhao Xin went to the back garden of the imperial palace to look for one.

of course!

The other person is as young as him, and he doesn’t even know what he will look like when he grows up.

In this way, I got through the holidays and rest days during the Chinese New Year.

When he went to court again, Zhao Xin began to propose his plan for the imperial examination for the new year.

Of course, this plan will not be implemented this year.

Instead, it will be put off until next year.

At least……

The scope of the exam, the content of the exam, and the ratio of questions should all be defined for everyone.

Let everyone know roughly what kind of questions this type of question includes.

As for why I made such a suggestion.

Zhao Xin simply put the blame on his father.

The first thing he said was, "Dad, you asked me to re-draft the examination system and examination method for the imperial examination. I have already done it."

When a normal person heard this, he would think that it was Zhao Zhen who asked Zhao Xin to do this, rather than Zhao Xin doing it on his own initiative.

Since this was said during the court session, everyone was present.

therefore……

Everyone is paying special attention to this matter.

After everyone heard about the change in examination method.

My first reaction was that it had become more difficult to pass the imperial examination.

It used to be once a year or two years, but now it has been changed to once every three years.

The second reaction was to increase the proportion of policy essays to 40% of the total score.

This is definitely not a good thing for people who are not good at policy making.

In addition...

Zhao Xin and Ouyang Xiu had already prepared a set of reference test papers together, and took them out as well.

If his father has no objection, this set of test papers will be posted in all states and counties.

For reference by candidates.

When it comes to policy essays, the principle of setting questions is that you cannot ask recent questions or questions that were asked in the Song Dynasty.

Just ask about things that have already happened.

Ask them to answer questions about things that happened in the Han Dynasty and the Tang Dynasty.

otherwise……

If they were to ask about current affairs, they would all start to criticize the current situation, saying that the court was not good here and there, which might cause party disputes. After reading it, Zhao Zhen nodded in the court, pretending that he had just seen it and said, "Zui Xinglai has considered it very carefully. See if anyone else has any problems. If not, the officials will pass it down."

Everyone else got one.

Looked at them all.

in fact……

It is not much different from previous exams, at least for the first 60%, there is not much difference.

The difficulty of the subsequent policy discussions has also increased accordingly.

The first question is, if you were an official during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han, how do you think you should work with Emperor Wu of Han to resolve the issue of the Huns in the north?

The second question is to explain the origin of the abundant martial virtues in the Han and Tang dynasties.

At first glance, this question made even the people in the court scratch their heads.

but……

At least it is fair to all candidates.

At least you can all go and look up the book.

It won't happen that someone asks you how to deal with Xixia, but you have never been to Xixia.

As for saying that you don’t even know the history of Han and Tang dynasties.

Then there's no way!

No one can save you from this! It's you who don't read books.

In addition...

Zhao Xin also listed the official history books of various dynasties as compulsory examination books.

But this is a bit rare in the past.

But it was easy for the ministers to understand.

Because His Royal Highness the Prince of Yu only finished reading "Book of Han", "Book of Sui" and "Book of Tang".

If he doesn't use these three books to make questions, he can use that book to make questions.

After everyone finished looking at the test questions, they looked at each other.

There is a feeling that it’s good that I have reached shore.

whatever!
Anyway, I don’t have to take the exam.

Seeing that no one had any objections, Zhao Zhen directly ordered it to be passed down.

Let all the scholars in the world take a look at this title.

Fortunately, I was mentally prepared enough before the next imperial examination.

Wait until the test paper is on the street.

The ordinary people also became curious.

Because in the past, they might not necessarily encounter questions like this one in the exam.

natural!

As soon as the test questions were released, many people in Tokyo began to discuss the issue.

"It feels like the government wants to do something next."

"But this question is too difficult!"

"Tell me, what is the source of the abundant martial virtues of the Han and Tang dynasties?"

"Of course, there are strict rewards and punishments!"

Then he said there were all kinds of them.

If it is better, you can talk about the fubing system, and if it is worse, you can just say everything.

This policy now accounts for 40% of the total.

In fact, it’s not that there were no policy discussions in the past.

only……

Policy essays are not taken seriously.

But now it accounts for 40% at once. If you are not good at this, your score will definitely be lowered. At that time, even if you write good poems and essays, you may not pass.

Nowadays, poetry and prose only account for 20%.

This is definitely greatly compressed.

"You'd better go home and read the Book of Han, the Book of Sui, and the Book of Tang."

"It is said that... this is a question asked by His Royal Highness Prince Yu."

In the homes of some officials.

Some younger students also went to the homes of some officials to discuss the reform.

Zhao Xin's current fame really spread throughout the world in an instant.

Even the women in many officials' families had heard of the name of His Royal Highness Prince Zhao Xinyu.

Only eight years old!
It's already that outstanding.

He had already begun to preside over the imperial examinations of the court and even set the questions.

Look at your own home again!

But it is also true.

This is probably the first time in all these years that the imperial court has "leaked" the exam questions.

So much so that in Meizhou, a bright-eyed ten-year-old boy has the opportunity to do the questions in advance.

"This topic is interesting!"

"If the officials in the court today were all officials during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han, and if these officials suggested that Emperor Wu of Han just give money to the Xiongnu, then Emperor Wu of Han would probably chop them off."

"What about fighting? Fighting is not an option! In the later years of Emperor Wu of Han, the entire Han Dynasty was in such poverty and destitution."

"This test is about what you, as a subject, should do when facing a monarch like Emperor Wu of Han."

"This question is a good one."

"But why does it feel like I'm going to die anyway?"

His younger brother also asked: "Then brother, do you know how to answer?"

The other party said, "I don't know either. Never mind. Let's go eat something first! I'm a little hungry!"

Brother: “Uh…”

Southeast at this time.

There was a 26-year-old young man who also saw the court's determination to reform.

After reading the test questions, the young man began to wonder how to answer them.

to be frank!
This question is quite challenging.

The main reason is that Emperor Wu of Han’s personality was so outstanding.

He was a very powerful king.

If you say you don't support him in fighting the Huns, then you will definitely be dead.

But you said you want to fight, can you fight? Moreover, Emperor Wu of Han also lost most of his battles in the early period, until Wei Qing and Huo Qubing came into being, and the record suddenly improved.

Then after Wei Qing and Huo Qubing passed away, it seemed that the war was not going well again.

The young man quickly put himself in the situation and wondered what he could do for Emperor Wu of Han.

however……

Emperor Wu of Han knew how to make money, but he didn't know how to fight a war.

It seems that if I were in the era of Emperor Wu of Han, there would be nothing I could do.

As for what you said about digging up Wei Qing and Huo Qubing in advance, that is wishful thinking.

This question is obviously not about this.

The young man sat there with the questions in his hand for half a day.

At the same time, he was also considering whether he should meet His Royal Highness the Prince of Yu if he had the opportunity to return to the capital.

after all……

After this year, it will be about time for him to change his official position.

You can take a trip to the capital at the same time.

These two questions stumped the young man for two days.

Finally, I thought...

I just don't want to think about it anymore.

If you can go back to the capital, why don't you just ask the person who set the question?

Within the next month.

Countless students were scratching their heads over these two questions.

At first it seems simple and easy to answer.

In fact...

After listening to what other people said, I suddenly felt that this question seemed too difficult.
Especially for some people who only know how to memorize, if you ask them to have a dialogue with Emperor Wu of Han and solve the issue of the Huns in the north together with Emperor Wu of Han, their brains will really be blank.

If the policy essay asks questions about current events, no matter what answer you give, it seems to be correct.

Because it didn't happen, whatever you say is right! No one else can verify it.

But what about Emperor Wu of Han!

Now that you know some of the conditions and results, you can't talk nonsense.

Because others can deduce based on your nonsense whether you were chopped down by Emperor Wu of Han or by the Huns.

(End of this chapter)