Jinting Han people

Chapter 77 Scholar Strategy Test (5k)

On the 25th day of the second month of the ninth year of Taikang, Liu Xian officially went to the Imperial College to take the examination for the scholar.

Before dawn that day, the Anle Mansion had already made arrangements. First, Liu Xian was made to get up and take a hot bath. Then he changed into a very elegant Confucian robe with a lotus pattern on a blue background, a black Confucian cap on his head, and purple silk shoes on his feet. These clothes had been fumigated overnight, and when Liu Xian put them on, he felt quite uncomfortable.

Then came breakfast. His wife, Ah Luo, personally cooked a bowl of carp soup noodles under Ah Chun's guidance and served it to Liu Xian, wishing him success and good fortune. Liu Xian took a sip and noticed the salt seemed too much. But looking up, he saw his wife's eager eyes, and he didn't want to disappoint her. He smiled and drank the noodles and soup, both clean and empty.

After breakfast, Liu Xian prepared to leave. Zhu Fu led him out, Fanyu. After a year of training, this steed from Shangdang had become remarkably docile, yet it retained its majestic appearance. Sixteen-year-old Liu Xian, riding it, immediately looked exceptionally heroic, drawing praise from the entire household. His second uncle, Liu Yao, even exclaimed publicly, "He truly resembles my elder brother in his youth."

Even Anle Duke Liu Xun rarely came out at this time, and encouraged Liu Xian with a cold face, saying: "Try hard in the exam and don't let down the reputation of your ancestors", and then hurried away.

It was clear that everyone had high hopes for Liu Xian's official career. Liu Xian, previously relaxed, was now feeling somewhat uneasy. But he knew this was the burden his mother had been talking about, so he responded with a confident smile, bid farewell to his family with his head held high, and embarked on the road to the Imperial College with Zhang Gu and Xi An.

Over the past year, Liu Xian had become familiar with this route. After about two quarters of an hour, he passed through Kaiyang Gate and entered the South Market, then from there passed the Xiping Stone Forest and entered the Imperial College. Passersby along the way couldn't help but glance at him repeatedly: today was also the day for the Imperial College students to take the Scripture and Archery Test, and many were dressed very formally. But even so, Liu Xian stood out from the crowd, looking unattainable. Some couldn't help but whisper, wondering which noble family this young man from.

At this time, the apricot blossoms at the Imperial College were in bloom, their delicate pink color resembling both a misty pink cloud and a red snowfall. Many people wandered among them, mostly students preparing for the imperial examinations. Most of them looked nervous, mumbling to themselves, clearly preparing their thoughts for the upcoming exam.

Liu Xian dismounted and left Fanyu at the Imperial College stables. As he walked out, he heard someone calling from the side. He turned and saw it was Liu Cong. The Prince of Taiyuan, still as usual, wore a half-smile, a look of intoxication on his face. He stood with his hands behind his back and asked, "I heard you're going to take the Scholar's Examination today. Are you confident?"

Liu Xian smiled and said, "I'm not sure, let's just leave it to fate."

"Okay, if you can say that, it's usually a sure thing."

"What about you? How are you preparing for today's Imperial Academy Archery Strategy?"

"Me?" Liu Cong pointed at himself and laughed. "How could I, a Xiongnu hostage, possibly participate in the shooting test? I'm just trying to get by. When it's my turn to inherit the tribe, I'll return to Bingzhou and send a new hostage to Luoyang, and the cycle will repeat. Life is so boring."

When Liu Cong said this, although his tone was joking, it was not difficult to hear the loneliness and insincerity in his voice. It was obvious that he still very much longed to win the first place in the shooting test.

The two of them didn't say anything more. Liu Cong patted Liu Xian on the chest, encouraged him with "I wish you success", then turned and left.

Liu Xian stood there for a moment, sighed, then said goodbye to Zhang Gu and Xi An and walked towards the Imperial College examination hall.

Today is the imperial examination day. The twenty large buildings in the center of the Imperial College have been requisitioned, but Liu Xian's examination room is not here. He was arranged to stay in a small building two hundred steps away from the Imperial College. Although it does not occupy a large area, it is very gorgeously decorated.

Not only are the walls painted with red ochre, but there are also several portraits of Confucius painted on the corridor in front of the dormitory, showing a naive and kind smile to the candidates. It is hard to associate it with Confucius' life full of confusion and setbacks.

When Liu Xian arrived, there were about twenty or so candidates standing there, all looking in his direction. It was no wonder, as most of them were not young. The oldest were probably in their forties, the youngest in their twenties. Standing among them, Liu Xian even looked a little immature.

Liu Xian wasn't exactly conceited. Those who could take the exam were generally talented individuals from the local prefectures and states. They simply lacked sufficient connections, forcing them to waste years and build up their experience to finally be able to take the Imperial Academy's exam. Although he often considered himself unfortunate, compared to them, he was still incredibly lucky.

Before the time for the test came, Liu Xian went straight to the end of the team and sat down, holding the document and waiting for his name to be called.

In front of him was a middle-aged man in his late twenties, with a broad build, calloused hands, and an upright posture. He was clearly a martial artist. He was very polite, and upon seeing Liu Xian, he introduced himself seriously, saying, "My name is Tao Kan from Poyang, also known as Shiheng. I came to Beijing this year to take the examination for filial piety and integrity. May I ask who you are...?"

He was from Jiangdong and had a strong Wu accent. It took Liu Xian two tries before he finally understood. He quickly replied, "My name is Liu Xian, courtesy name Huai Chong. I'm here today to discuss strategy with the scholar. It's a great honor to meet Brother Tao."

As soon as he said he was here to take the examination for the scholar degree, everyone's eyes suddenly changed.

Most people here take the Xiaolian exam. While this exam also requires a policy essay, it's easier said than done, as filial piety is a prerequisite. A long essay is sufficient. The Xiucai exam, on the other hand, requires five consecutive policy essays. There's no shortcut, and only those with a deep understanding of history and current affairs can do it. Everyone respects anyone who dares to take this exam, no matter how young.

Tao Kan was similarly surprised. He looked at Liu Xian, unsure of his response. After a long pause, he finally said, "Then I wish you all the best in advance."

After a while, the school bell rang, and Ji Shao, the chief academician of the Imperial College, walked out of the school, divided everyone into groups according to their subjects, and waited in turn for their names to be called on to answer their questions.

There were only three candidates in the Scholar category, and besides Liu Xian, the other two were both over 40. They looked nervous, and their eyes looked at Liu Xian with a bit of doubt and uncertainty. Perhaps it was because of Liu Xian's age that they had self-doubt, or perhaps it was because they thought of their own repeated failures in the exams when they were younger, which made Liu Xian a little nervous too.

Fortunately, this atmosphere did not last long. Soon, Ji Shao in the school called Liu Xian in. He was the first one to make a scholar strategy today.

As soon as he entered the room, Liu Xian saw five middle-aged men sitting in the room. Although they looked different, they all had a literary demeanor and were obviously the examiners of this strategy.

Liu Xian only knew Ji Shao, the head of the group and the chief academician. After the ceremony, Ji Shao smiled at him and said in a relaxed manner, "Don't be so reserved, Huai Chong. Just think of it as a casual chat about the classics." He then introduced the four people around him one by one. From left to right, they were Pan Yue, the Shangshu Lang, Zuo Si, the Zhongshu Lang, Le Guang, the Shizhong (minister of the court), and Shan Jian, the Huangmen Lang.

When the four heard that the examinee was the Prince of Anle, they all showed an amused look. However, since it was the policy test, they couldn't elaborate and quickly got to the point. That is, the examiner presented the policy questions that had been prepared long ago, and the examinee gave a policy response to the questions.

The first question was written by Ji Shao. He took out a piece of paper and asked in front of the crowd: "In the past, the wise kings of the Three Dynasties established great undertakings. Their literary and moral systems were different, but their reputations remained the same. However, they have long since dispersed. Can we know the reasons for the gains and losses of the Three Dynasties and the changes in the people? Now we are going to return to the past to remedy its shortcomings and to clarify its customs to eliminate its corruption. Where will the systems of the Three Dynasties follow? How will the path of civilization differ from that of the ancient times?"

This question is a typical example of learning from the past, asking how to learn from the institutional changes of the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties to improve the current system's shortcomings. Firstly, it tests the strategist's understanding of classics and history, and secondly, it examines his observations of the current system.

This was Liu Xian's forte, and he immediately responded with a stroke of his pen: "I've heard that those who govern a country or a family all desire to advance civilization and strengthen governance, achieve prosperity, and pass down their achievements for generations to come. However, customs and practices change, and we must adapt to the changing times. Even sages and philosophers cannot change this."

The beginning is to point out the main point. If a country wants to achieve great order, the so-called system and government affairs should actually be adapted to local conditions and the times. There is no irrefutable method.

"The Xia people valued loyalty. The downside of loyalty is simplicity. Nothing can remedy simplicity better than respect. The Yin people reformed and refined it. The downside of respect is ghostliness. Nothing can remedy ghostliness better than culture. The Zhou people corrected and transformed it. The downside of culture is superficiality. To remedy superficiality is the return to loyalty. It is said that loyalty is the downside of crudeness, while respect lacks ceremony. The Zhou learned from the shortcomings of the two kings and promoted culture to distinguish between different ranks. However, those who fled returned superficially and lacked sincerity. The superficiality of sincerity is the return to loyalty. The three dynasties followed one another like water to help a fire. The so-called righteousness of adapting to the times is the way to remedy shortcomings. The Xi Emperor was simple and unsophisticated, and transformed without action. Later sages followed suit, but their priorities may have differed. This is not because the sages differed, but rather because of the changing times."

In the following paragraph, Liu Xian explains the topic based on ancient history.

The foundation of the Xia Dynasty was loyalty, but loyalty could not withstand the long-term test of interests, so the country eventually perished.

The Shang dynasty adopted a revisionist approach, governing the country through authoritarianism and faith. However, this approach was unpredictable and unstable, ultimately leading to its demise by the Zhou people, who valued precise systems and codified laws. However, the Zhou dynasty's problems were that its institutions were too rigid to be enforced long-term, ultimately relying on Confucius's advocacy of loyalty and filial piety to survive.

It can be said that the political changes in the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties were actually the result of each generation being able to do what it was supposed to do. Instead of thinking about big problems that would arise thousands of years later, it is better to think more about what to eat at the moment. This is the most important political wisdom.

"Now the Great Jin Dynasty expounds its origin, its sagely achievements are growing day by day, it follows the will of Heaven and obeys the will of the times, and the nine rulers are united. All the rulers of the barbaric lands have joined in the cause. However, the great principles have passed, and people have changed over time. It is said that the current government should abandon the frivolous and retain the simple, returning to the basics. Then the people will gradually be transformed, and great harmony can be achieved."

Finally, they discussed their thoughts on current politics. Liu Xian first sang the emperor's praises, then, quite obliquely, said that the country's current problem was that society, from top to bottom, lacked loyalty. If they could educate everyone on this point and make them loyal, perhaps a peaceful and prosperous era would be possible.

After answering the first strategy, Liu Xian handed in the countermeasure.

The second question was a practical question, asked by Shangshu Lang Pan Yue. It said:
"Today, the four seas are united, the winds of the land are one, and the world is governed by the Way, a prosperity unparalleled. However, to the north lie the untamed captives, and to the west the ugly Di people. Therefore, counselors cannot rest easy, and those on the border cannot rest in peace. How can we permanently eliminate these dangers and bring order to the world?"

Simply put, he was asking Liu Xian that although the country was unified, there were still border threats in the northwest. How should he deal with them?

Liu Xian remembered Chen Shou's teachings, grasped the central idea of "less is worse than more", and continued to write in a rambling manner:

"I have heard that when a sage governs the world, he follows the principles of heaven to spread virtue, follows the prevailing winds of the valley to promote benevolence, integrates the three talents to govern things, and opens the four senses to attract the virtuous. Therefore, he toils day and night, diligently selecting talents, spreading their light among the hidden and the hidden. The talented and virtuous leap like a dragon, and the imperial way shines brightly; the pure virtue spreads like a wind, and the king's teachings are promoted. Thus, when Gao Yao was promoted, the unkind were driven away; when Lu Jia respected the Han Dynasty, the distant barbarians bowed their heads. Now, the virtuous message of the holy dynasty emanates from the tents, and the pure wind soars far and wide. The military flags point south, sweeping across the Yangtze and Han rivers; the wars march westward, and the Qiang and barbarians admire our teachings. This is the time to truly spread the four gates and to promote rites and teachings."

"Thus, the most talented and able-bodied flock to the scene upon hearing a call, and those with extraordinary talents and aspirations gather in droves in the face of danger. We empty high palaces to await the virtuous, and establish high titles to treat the scholars. We are more eager to show good qualities than to be hungry and thirsty, and we are more eager to employ people than to influence them. We shut off the doors of flattery and sycophancy, and abolish the music of Zheng music. This is how we achieve peace and harmony in the world. Even if there are untamed bandits in the northwest, or captives in the desert who refuse to pay tribute, conquering them would be exhausting, and capturing them would be useless. Therefore, Ban Gu said: 'There are lands that cannot be cultivated for food, and people that cannot be enslaved and kept as slaves. If they come, we punish and repel them; if they leave, we prepare and defend them.' This is the art of maintaining border security."

Simply put, it means answering questions irrelevantly and pretending to be deaf and dumb.

The question was about how to resolve border problems, and Liu Xian's response was that we should first manage domestic affairs. He repeatedly cited anecdotes to prove that as long as the Jin Dynasty's domestic affairs were well managed, border problems would naturally be eliminated. As for your question about why? I think anyone who understands will understand.

But does it make sense?

In Liu Xian's opinion, any knowledgeable person should be able to see that the Jin Dynasty has too many internal troubles, and it is obviously more reliable to deal with internal troubles first than to deal with border troubles.

Liu Xian submitted the second countermeasure.

Zuo Si, the Secretary of the Central Secretariat, also asked a practical question, but combined it with the ancient teachings, and said:

"The people were bright and brilliant, so the Tang Dynasty was peaceful and prosperous; the Mandate was in place, and many talented people prospered the Zhou Dynasty. Therefore, the Book of Documents praises the song of the wise and virtuous, and the Book of Changes values the beauty of the golden orchid. This is why dynasties rise and fall over time, and why states rise and fall. Successful rulers diligently seek talents, and men of reputation are eager to recruit talents. This is rational, yet things go against the grain for thousands of years. What path led to the rise of kings in the past? What is lacking in the decline of later dynasties that leads to this?"

This question basically asks, the rise and fall of a country depends on attracting talents. Everyone knows this truth, but why do some dynasties prosper by attracting talents, while others decline due to the loss of talents?

Liu Xian took this question a little more seriously. He could no longer repeat himself or sing praises. He had to interpret it from the perspective of the classics:

"Prosperity in government depends on the appointment of virtuous individuals, and peace and tranquility require the selection of talented individuals. Therefore, when the twenty-eighth are promoted, all the ministers are in order; when there is chaos, ten men bring peace to the world. Wu Ding promoted the likes of Fu Yan, and Zhou Wen brought the men of Wei Bin, placing them in high positions and entrusting them with the affairs of state. Therefore, they were able to rise like dragons in the heavens, and their merits will be passed down through the ages. Our ancient kings, even from humble homes, sought to promote the humble, leaving no Fu Su in the mountains, and no songs like 'Fadandan' in the countryside."

"Thus, the transformation is profound, the world is moved, the gods respond, phoenixes soar, sweet dew falls in abundance, sweet springs spurt forth, cinnabar grows spontaneously, all things flourish, the sun and moon shine again, harmony pervades the four quarters, and the great way is accomplished; the righteousness of ruler and minister is established, the affection between father and son is strengthened, the way of husband and wife is clarified, the proper distinction between elder and junior is distinguished, from the nine provinces to the vast wilderness, hearts are moved from overseas, envoys come in again to pay tribute, and the voices of praise are solemn, facing south and bowing."

Liu Xian first affirmed the importance of recruiting talent, following the theme's thread. Then, drawing on stories from the Shang and Zhou dynasties and incorporating the concept of the sympathetic connection between heaven and man, he argued that selecting officials shouldn't be done blindly, but rather should be guided by Confucian principles, prioritizing loyalty and filial piety. This, he argued, is a testament to Confucian political correctness and is crucial to understanding.

But this was not enough, he then wrote:

"Today, the path to recruiting talented individuals is open, but the work of teaching is not extensive. Consequently, the desire for advancement and competition is ever-vigorous, but the heart to study is not cultivated. If we open four gates to recruit and train talents, promote the five teachings to demonstrate virtue, examine the performance of the best, and assess their merits and demerits, then place them in the hundreds of officials and various departments, so that they can coordinate affairs and measure things appropriately, and regulate and promote national laws, then we will surely achieve prosperity, conform to the good deeds of the past, and the wise and virtuous will respond to each other, and the friendship will be revived."

This is Liu Xian’s personal opinion on the selection of officials.

He felt that the system of recommending candidates for the imperial examinations was indeed a very good policy, but at present, when combined with the Nine-Rank System, it still had great drawbacks, because the recommendation system was too narrow, and many people from prominent families could enter the officialdom without much study, which was really not conducive to the ecology of the officialdom.

The Zhongzheng system should be abolished, the scope of recommendation should be expanded, and the examination and performance evaluation system should be developed and extended to all bureaucratic groups. Then the court politics will be much more peaceful.

After answering, Liu Xian wiped the sweat from his forehead and handed in the test paper.

This question is the most difficult of the five strategies, and the following two are much simpler.

The fourth question asked Liu Xian whether there was a conflict between laws and rituals. This question asked Liu Xian what he thought of the Taishi Code, which the emperor had revised in his early years.

Liu Xian repeated the same words again, the main idea of which was that laws, rituals and music should not be neglected.

The fifth question asked Liu Xian, "Now that the world is at peace, should we reduce our military preparations?" This was a discussion of the policy of suspending military operations after the destruction of Wu.

Liu Xian argued that the so-called "peace under heaven" refers to domestic affairs. When has peace ever been achieved on the frontier? As the saying goes, "Even if the world is at peace, forgetting war will lead to danger." Military training is necessary even in peacetime to maintain long-term peace.

After answering the five strategies, Liu Xian had written nearly two thousand words, his hands numb. Looking out the window, he could see the sun was already high in the sky. Almost an hour had passed since he entered. Several examiners were sorting through the test papers, but they didn't say much.

Ji Shaoze, the Imperial College's chief academic officer, smiled at Liu Xian and said, "Huai Chong, there are two more people waiting to take the imperial examination. You should go back and wait for the news. It will probably take ten days, and we will send you the official certificate and the memorial together. Then you will have an official position."

What this means is that Liu Xian answered the question very well this time and basically passed.

Liu Xian immediately felt reassured. He bowed to the examiners again and walked out of the door.

As soon as he stepped out, two pairs of eyes focused on him. Liu Xian smiled at the two waiting people and let out a long breath. From afar, he saw Zhang Gu and Xi An waiting in the apricot forest, surrounded by birdsong, flowers, butterflies, and bees. He took a step forward, head held high, and walked over...

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(End of this chapter)