Tang Dynasty, my wife Wu Zetian

Chapter 61 Empress Wu's Suggestions for Imperial Examination Reform
The spring breeze is proud of horseshoe disease, seeing Chang'an flowers in one day.

Getting a name on the list of successful candidates is undoubtedly the biggest dream of scholars in this era.

By February, the Ministry of Personnel had been submitting memorials continuously, seeking instructions on matters related to the imperial examinations.

Li Zhi has been too busy recently. On the one hand, the Sanmenxia blasting plan has reached the implementation stage.

On the other hand, Liu Rengui, Shangguan Yi and others asked for an imperial decree to rectify the administration of officials. Li Zhi also secretly supported them and instructed them to start with the Ministry of Revenue.

Furthermore, Cheng Zhijie's army had already reached Liangzhou, and once they passed Shazhou, they would border the territory of Western Turkestan.

This war, which has been awaited for several months, is about to begin.

For a time, Li Zhi found it difficult to focus all his energy on the imperial examination.

He originally wanted to carefully consider the imperial examination reform plan, but after a deeper understanding, he found that it was full of difficulties.

First of all, the imperial examination system in the Tang Dynasty was newly established and was extremely immature and difficult, with only dozens of people passing the exam each year.

These few dozen people are nothing compared to the hundreds of dignitaries who entered the officialdom through family connections.

Moreover, among the dozens of people who pass the exam every year, there are also a large number of children from aristocratic families.

Although the children of prominent families could enter officialdom through connections, the number of vacancies was limited, and the remaining children would also take the imperial examination.

The educational resources these people possess are far superior to those of ordinary people from poor families, and they are born with great advantages.

In addition, the influence of the powerful on the chief examiner leads the chief examiner to favor the children of the powerful.

In such an unfair environment, it is rare for ordinary candidates to reach the final step.

It is not easy to change this situation, even for the emperor.

First of all, the imperial examination was an ancestral system, and it was difficult for Zhangsun Wuji and others to abolish it. It was also not easy for Li Zhi to change it, as he would definitely be opposed by his ministers.

Not to mention the powerful and wealthy, even Liu Rengui, Li Yifu and others might not support him, because this would affect the interests of all those in power.

There are only so many vacancies for court officials every year. If we want to increase the number of places in the imperial examinations, we must reduce the number of people who enter the government through family connections.

Officials above the fifth rank can all benefit their descendants through inheritance. Would they be willing to reduce the number of inheritances?
That morning, Li Zhi paced back and forth in Ganlu Palace when he suddenly said to Wang Fusheng, "Fusheng, go and get the queen."

After a while, Wu Meiniang arrived at Ganlu Palace. After greeting Li Zhi, she softly said, "Are you all calling me here because you are worried about the imperial examination?"

Li Zhi pulled her to sit down and said, "You've been thinking about this recently, right?"

Wu Meiniang glanced at him and said sadly, "I have indeed been thinking about this matter. I want to share everyone's worries, but I am afraid of being blamed, so I dare not say more."

Li Zhi pretended not to hear the latter part and said, "Tell me how to change the imperial examination this time. Do you have any good ideas?"

Wu Meiniang said sternly, "I have three ideas. Please correct me."

Li Zhi said, "Tell me about it."

Wu Meiniang said, "To increase the number of candidates in each subject or to lower the admission standards would violate ancestral rules, and the ministers and royal family would certainly oppose it. Therefore, I suggest adding more exam categories."

Li Zhi pondered, "Are you trying to reduce the difficulty by adding more subjects?"

Wu Meiniang said: "Everyone is wise."

The imperial examination currently consists of four types of examination contents, namely: scripture copying, calligraphy interpretation, oral examination and policy essays, with two questions in each category, totaling eight questions.

Those who pass all the questions will be ranked A, and those who pass six questions will be ranked B.

If two more questions are added, the first grade will have to pass ten questions, which is more difficult.

However, the standard for Part B can be retained at six questions, which will increase the number of people who pass.

Wu Mei Niang said, "Since everyone has proposed this, the court officials will definitely submit a memorial to increase the difficulty of the second grade to eight questions. If they do so, it will only backfire."

Li Zhi nodded and said, "I know what's going on. Please continue."

Wu Meiniang said, "Secondly, Your Majesty can add a palace examination and personally set the questions in the main hall. This way, cheating can be eliminated."

After listening to this, Li Zhi felt something in his heart.

This is exactly what Wu Zetian did later. It seems that she had considered this when she was young.

"Good, what about the last one?"

Wu Meiniang said, "Although the palace examination can prevent the powerful from cheating, many talented people cannot pass the examiners' test before they even reach the palace because they offend the powerful."

Li Zhi said: "Then do you have any solution?"

Wu Meiniang said, "If the examiner wants to be partial, he must know the names of the candidates. He can ask the candidates to cover their names and then reveal them after the results are out."

Li Zhi pondered for a moment and said, "Please allow me to think about it again."

Wu Meiniang smiled and said, "Then I won't disturb you anymore." Then she took her leave.

Li Zhi pondered for a long time in the hall, slowly sorting out his thoughts. Wu Meiniang's three methods were all feasible, and the newly added examination category could be "poetry and prose."

This was originally a category added to the imperial examination during the reign of Emperor Gaozong of Tang. It was originally called essays, and during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, the name was changed to poetry and prose.

It was this reform that led to a significant increase in the interest of Tang Dynasty scholars in poetry after Emperor Gaozong.

The Four Great Talents of the Early Tang Dynasty all emerged after this reform.

Having said that, although Wu Meiniang's proposal is good, there will be great resistance.

It is difficult to pass any one of them, and in order to pass all three, some special measures must be taken.

Li Zhi took out a piece of paper and kept thinking about and evolving his plan on it.

After a long time, there was finally a vague plan.

However, there is still a lot of information missing in order to complete this plan.

Li Zhi thought for a moment and thought, "I'm too unfamiliar with the imperial examination system at that time to fully understand its shortcomings. It would be best if I could ask someone who had taken it before."

If you think about it carefully, there are only a few ministers around you who entered the officialdom through the imperial examination. Even Liu Rengui relied on recommendations from others.

Suddenly, an idea struck him, and he instructed Wang Fusheng, "Call Di Renjie to appear before the emperor."

Di Renjie has not had a happy life since he entered the Dali Temple.

There were two Dali Temple Shaoqings, who were the deputy chiefs of the Dali Temple, and one of them was the immediate chief, who was called Siqing.

The Minister of Dali Temple was named Xin Maojiang, an important member of the Guanlong Group.

He is a serious and rigid person, and likes to do everything according to rules and regulations.

He didn't like people like Di Renjie who went beyond the rules, and coupled with the conflicting identities between the two, it was natural that he would make things difficult for them.

Other officials of the Dali Temple were also dissatisfied with Di Renjie.

Not to mention the other Shaoqing, even several temple directors and temple secretaries were older than Di Renjie and had more experience than him.

Di Renjie was not promoted based on his merits. There were many rumors saying that he got the position by currying favor with the queen, which made many people secretly despise him.

If other young people were targeted like this, they would have been furious and had conflicts with their colleagues.

Di Renjie was different.

Although he is young, he is very broad-minded and calm. Even if someone is rude to him, he just laughs it off.

Everyone felt like they were punching cotton and could do nothing to him.

As time went by, people gradually discovered that he had a sharp mind and was quick in his actions, and that he did have extraordinary qualities.

After half a month, although most of the Dali Temple officials still had a bad attitude towards him, there were a few who recognized him as their superior.

When Wang Fusheng sent someone to announce the decree, Di Renjie was discussing an old case with a temple official.

After receiving the imperial edict, Di Renjie hurried into the palace, came to Ganlu Hall, and met Li Zhi.

Li Zhi did not rush to talk about business. He first asked him about the situation in the Dali Temple, whether his work was going smoothly, and whether anyone was making things difficult for him.

Di Renjie said, "Your Majesty, my colleagues at the Dali Temple have been very kind to me."

Li Zhi knew that the Dali Temple was the territory of the aristocratic factions, and Di Renjie would not be given any special care.

He said this, which showed that despite being young, he already knew how to deal with people and there was no need for him to worry too much.

Li Zhi smiled and said, "I asked you to come here because I have something to ask you."

Di Renjie said, "Your Majesty, please give your orders."

Li Zhi pondered for a moment and said, "Di Qing, you have participated in the imperial examination, right?"

Di Renjie said, "Your Majesty, I took the imperial examination in the third year of the Yonghui reign and took the Mingjing exam. I was lucky enough to pass."

Li Zhi said, "Tell me, was the imperial examination fair? Was there cheating? Did the examiner accept bribes? Or did he show favoritism to someone?"

Di Renjie was shocked. He didn't dare to speak casually about such an important matter.

Wang Fusheng whispered, "Di Shaoqing, His Majesty transferred you to Chang'an because he wanted you to share his worries. If you cherish your position and don't want to offend others, wouldn't that be disappointing His Majesty's expectations?"

Di Renjie's heart trembled, and he said proudly, "Your Majesty, it's not that I'm afraid of offending you, but this matter is of such importance that I dare not speak rashly."

Li Zhi said slowly, "Fu Sheng, find a chair for Di Qing and ask him to sit down and think about it carefully. We can speak again after we have thought it through."

Wang Fusheng accepted the promise and ordered someone to bring a chair for Di Renjie to sit on.

Li Zhi continued to handle official business.

(End of this chapter)