Taichang Ming Dynasty

Chapter 465: Palace Examination (Part )

After crossing the Jinshui Bridge and passing through Huiji and Guiji Gates, the examinees arrived at the square in front of Huangji Gate. The sun had already risen above the horizon, and daylight was about to break, but the several-meter-tall vermilion gate remained tightly shut. Li Tengfang paused before the Danbi, and the line of examinees also stopped on both sides of the Imperial Road.

At the hour of Chen, as the sun rose, a steady and resounding sound of bells and drums spread from the north. The three gates in the center of the rear eaves of Huangji Gate also slowly opened with this wave-like sound of bells and drums.

The moment the Huangji Gate opened, a burst of solemn and dignified drum music suddenly sounded from behind the gate. It turned out that the drummers and buglers of the Bell and Drum Department had already taken their positions, waiting for the Huangji Gate to open and for Wenquxing to enter.

Li Tengfang took another step, almost to the beat of a drum, and led the examinees towards the examination hall known as the Imperial Palace. Meanwhile, the examiners, led by the six ministers of the cabinet, and dozens of other deacons from various government offices had already lined up on the platform below the Imperial Palace in the established order.

"Bow!" With Li Tengfang's loud shout, all 231 examinees bowed in unison to the "examiners" presiding over the exam, performing the disciple's salute. The examiners returned the greeting with their hands clasped. At the end of the line of examiners stood a peculiar figure, unfamiliar with the exchange of greetings and merely filling in the gaps. Fortunately, with so many people present, no one paid special attention to the newly appointed Deputy Minister of Rites and Seal Holder of the Calendar Bureau, Deng Yuhan.

The temporary structure established for the palace examination included examiners, examiners, sealers, administrators, sealers, supervisors, supervisors, inspectors, and supply officers. These officials, collectively known as examiners, came from various government offices and were assigned based on need. For example, the examiner came from the Censorate, typically a seventh-rank censor. The supervisors came from the Imperial Guard, typically led by a high-ranking officer. This time, the inspector was Luo Sigong, the head of the Imperial Guard.

Logically, Deng Yuhan shouldn't be here. Not to mention the Calendar Bureau hadn't been officially established yet, and the craftsmen hadn't yet created a seal for Deng Yuhan to hold. Even if Deng Yuhan had officially become the Calendar Bureau's seal holder, there would be no place for an Imperial Astronomical Officer in the palace examination.

According to the old system, the palace examination was held on the first day of March. In the eighth year of Chenghua, because Crown Prince Daogong Zhu Youji took the exam, the palace examination was moved to the fifteenth day, and it has been followed to this day.

In other words, the date of the palace examination has been set. Unless there are special circumstances, it will be held on March 15th, and there is no need to observe the astronomical phenomena to predict good or bad luck.

Deng Yuhan's presence here was entirely due to the emperor's "favor." The day after the decision to establish the Calendar Bureau was made, the emperor sent a secret decree to Xu Guangqi through an eunuch, instructing him to find a way to get a Westerner in. The emperor's intention was to allow these Western scholars, who came to China to spread Western classics and obtain Eastern classics, to take a closer look at the Ming Dynasty's advanced system for selecting and appointing officials.

Xu Guangqi was in a dilemma. After all, the Imperial Examination didn't really require an Imperial Astronomical Official. Inexplicably inserting a Westerner would surely lead to impeachment by the Ministry of Rites. With the aftermath of the Shenyang Incident still unresolved, Xu Guangqi even hesitated to see a Westerner at the Ministry of Rites. However, the Emperor's decree had to be carried out. After much deliberation, he finally decided to insert Deng Yuhan.

Deng Yuhan was chosen because he held an official position within the Ministry of Rites. This was superior to the positions held by officials from the Imperial Observatory and the Yelusi (Yelusi) within the Ministry of Rites. Furthermore, this position was personally granted by the Emperor. Even if impeached by the Ministry of Rites, Xu Guangqi could subtly shift the blame onto the Emperor, thus ensuring that the censors would be more cautious in their comments. As for the specific duties, Deng Yuhan and the officials from the Guanglu Temple would be assigned to set up tables and chairs for the examinees.

After the ceremony, the examiners turned around and, led by Prime Minister Fang Congzhe, walked from the back to the front, approaching the steps under the eaves of the Huangji Hall. Soon, the examinees followed Li Tengfang's footsteps, ascending the steps to the Sumeru throne and arriving behind the examiners.

Li Tengfang returned to his seat and walked all the way to the side of Xu Guangqi, the Minister of Rites. From the moment he stood there, he was no longer the guide for the candidates but the examiner and supervisor of the palace examination.

At the stroke of noon, the gates of the Imperial Palace opened. Sitting in the front row, the top scorer Liu Bidada, second-place finisher Li Yukui, third-place finisher Cao Keming, and fourth-place finisher Fu Yongchun immediately saw the imperial throne in the center of the hall and the hundreds of tables and chairs beneath it. However, the supreme emperor was not on the throne at this moment.

According to convention, before going to Huangji Hall to attend various grand ceremonies, the emperor would first take a rest in Zhongji Hall to wait for the time, and this time was no exception.

After a short while, the Ming Emperor Zhu Changluo appeared in front of everyone under the protection of Wang An, the eunuch in charge of the Silijian seal, and Wei Chao, the chief eunuch in charge of the Silijian pen.

Under the gaze of the examiners and candidates, the emperor, wearing a black crown and a crimson gauze robe, slowly walked to and sat on the dragon throne atop the high platform, between the golden pillars. Two eunuchs in charge of ceremonies stood at the foot of the Sumeru throne, facing the crowd.

The Chief Minister Fang Congzhe took the lead and entered the Huangji Hall and stood in front of the desk under the Sumeru throne. Other examiners and candidates for the palace examination also followed him into the Huangji Hall.

When the last footsteps faded in the echoing air, Minister of Rites Xu Guangqi stepped out and placed the imperial edict he had been holding for most of the day on the table. After putting down the imperial edict, Xu Guangqi returned to the ranks of officials. At this point, the two eunuchs in charge of ceremonies also moved to either side of the official line, facing the emperor.

"Long live our emperor! Long live! Long, long live the emperor!" Cabinet Chief Fang Congzhe led everyone in the hall to shout in unison, performing the ceremony of five bows and three kowtows to pay homage to His Majesty the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty.

"Stand up." The emperor's voice sounded calm, neither sad nor happy.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Fang Congzhe led the way in expressing his gratitude, pushing himself to his feet. He then walked to the table, picked up the scroll containing the imperial edict, and turned to face the crowd. Meanwhile, the two eunuchs in charge of ceremonies returned to their previous positions to await the announcement.

Typically, the examination questions were first drafted by the Grand Secretary and other members of the Imperial Cabinet, who would then send them to the emperor through the eunuchs in charge of ceremonies. The emperor would select one on the spot and order the eunuchs to print the corresponding number of examination papers. The imperial cabinet would only receive one sealed copy of the examination questions. The questions would be unsealed after the emperor had chosen the examiners, and the imperial cabinet would draft a formal imperial edict. This would be submitted to the officials of the Ministry of Rites on the day of the palace examination, who would then place it on the examination paper.

Fang Congzhe cleared his throat and recited:

"I believe that since ancient times, emperors who have fought to save the world and uphold the destiny of the world have invariably exercised great care in both the civil and military spheres. The Book of Documents praises Emperor Yao as both a martial and a civil ruler, possessing a perfect balance of virtues. Shun, on the other hand, is called civilized; Yu, a man of literary destiny; Tang, a sage and a martial ruler; and the Zhou dynasty, each embodying one of these two virtues. Could it be that these sages have had a bias in guiding the world and the people? Isn't there a mutual interplay of these virtues? Yin and Yang, softness and hardness, benevolence and righteousness, have been ingrained from the very beginnings of heaven and earth and cannot be abandoned to this day."

"Hongwei, our Taizu Gaohuangdi first founded the Xia Dynasty, and Chengzu Wendi paved the way for the nation. Both wielded a single sword to command their armies, and their civil governance shone brightly across the Milky Way. They expounded the Six Classics to instruct the people, and their spirit resonated like thunder. Civility flourished through military power, and military power was pacified by civility. What a great city! Truly emulating Emperor Yao, it rivaled the Yu, Xia, Yin, and Zhou dynasties in brilliance! Successive generations inherited the throne, carrying on the legacy of heaven. Although minor alarms at the borders did not cease to shock, the golden bowl remained unshaken, ensuring eternal reliance. Thus, the mighty spirits of the sages truly rest in peace, their glorious footsteps still lingering, and can we also celebrate their grandeur?"

"I, with my humble self, have succeeded to the throne, entrusted with the care of the people of the world. Day and night, I think of promoting your glorious achievements, governing diligently and befriending the virtuous. I have made it my great duty to appoint generals, manage the government, and command the army. I work with reverence day and night, never daring to rest in peace."

"Thinking of the dangers to the world, the first is the ugly descendants of Liaoyou, who defy our will and continue to roam the country to this day; the second is the lack of generals and soldiers, the garrisons are suffering, and the war garrisons are exhausted; the third is the corruption of the tax system and the ineffective monetary system, which is causing the national treasury to shrink day by day. The fourth is the gradual slackness of official administration and the gradual weakening of law enforcement, making it impossible to carry out orders.

Combining these four factors into one, it's clear that both external chaos and internal unrest are occurring. Some argue that this is the result of prolonged peace, with the right side complacent and the left side lax, which has led to this accumulated evil. However, it's said that civil affairs must be accompanied by military preparations. In ancient times, the commanders of the six armies were the six ministers of the emperor, tasked with internal improvement and external defense. This is not a wrong approach.

To change and govern well, it is important to know how to innovate. We should revive the outdated customs and make changes. We should relax the old ways and attach great importance to them. We should make sure that the laws are established and the orders are carried out without violating them, and that the rules and regulations are followed to make the customs and habits pure. How can we restore the old ways of our ancestors?

You are a scholar who has studied the past and the present, and you have the old art of combining them. If you can grasp the root and the essence of the subject, clearly express it in your writings, without any vagueness or omissions, and do not conceal anything, I will adopt your advice."

After the reading was completed, the chief reader, Congzhe, collected the scroll of imperial edict, placed it back on the table, and then returned to the line of officials.

After Fang Congzhe stood still, the emperor, who was the chief examiner, said, "Appoint all the candidates to take their seats."

Yesterday, supply officers from the Guanglu Temple and the Ministry of Rites had directed attendants dispatched from the Silijian to arrange the examination tables and stools. Each table was to be furnished with a cushioned stool, a set of four study items, and a wooden plaque bearing the examiner's name.

Following the guidance of the wooden signs, the candidates quickly took their seats according to their order.

After the last person sat down, the examiners, who were composed of poets from the Hanlin Academy and academic officials from the Zhanshi Mansion, came out and came to the left side of the hall. They received and distributed the essay questions and answer papers one by one from the patrol officers of the Jinyiwei.

The examinees each took their papers and placed them on their desks, but were in no hurry to answer. They still had to wait for the emperor's order to start the examination.

About half a quarter of an hour later, all 231 examination papers were distributed and the examiner returned to the examiner queue.

At this point, all ceremonies and preparations for the examination were complete. Officials other than the three categories of examiners—supervising officials, invigilators, and inspectors—saluted the emperor and exited the hall.

Some of them had their work temporarily completed and left. For example, Minister of War Cui Jingrong and Minister of Justice Huang Kezan, who had been appointed as examiners, were merely present for the day, returning to their offices as usual before gathering in Wenhua Hall to begin reviewing the papers the next morning.

Some waited in a temporary rest area. For example, He Zongyan, the Grand Court Minister, and Zhang Wenda, the Left Censor-in-Chief, who also served as examiners and sealers, had to wait until the last examinee handed in their papers and left the hall, completing their assigned tasks before leaving. However, compared to the examiners and patrol officers, they had a much easier time, not having to endure the agonizing wait in the hall.

"All candidates can answer the questions now." After the main gate of Huangji Hall was closed again, the president of the palace examination finally gave the signal to start the exam.

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The Palace Examination essays were similar to the third round of the Imperial Examination, with no strict formatting requirements. Candidates were free to express themselves freely, as long as they stayed within the boundaries of what was acceptable, such as "absurd and offensive remarks" or "unwarranted accusations against the government."

That being said, since it was a policy essay, candidates throughout history would consciously adhere to the basic principles of essay writing. Generally speaking, they would first focus on the questions raised in the palace examination, citing classic texts for analysis, then highlight the shortcomings of current statecraft, and finally tactfully and humbly present their own insights and proposals for improvement.

The palace examination was primarily a formality, and while there were rankings, no papers were rejected. So even if a candidate wrote a whole essay full of eulogies and superficial nonsense, it wouldn't be a problem. Of course, it's best not to try to gain recognition by speaking out directly against the emperor. Regardless of whether speaking out against the emperor would cross the red line, even if it didn't, the paper wouldn't be presented to the emperor. If your language was too harsh, you'd probably be rejected by the examiner during the preliminary review, not to mention being picked up by the examiner. If you want to be rewarded for "criticizing me to my face," you'd better wait until you're summoned to see the emperor in person.

There is no strict regulation on the time for submitting papers in the palace examination. As long as you submit it before sunset and the palace gates close, it will be fine.

Generally speaking, by noon at the earliest, candidates would begin submitting their papers and returning home. Before then, the supreme Emperor would quietly depart. After all, watching people write was truly boring. It was a great honor for the Emperor to personally conduct the examination, taking the time to allow the candidates to gaze upon His Majesty's face, letting these future officials know what their master looked like.

Nearing noon, the fighting outside the city of Shenyang was still going on, and people in the Huangji Hall began to hand in their papers and leave.

At the same time, Bi Ziyan, the newly appointed Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, who was in charge of Liao's military pay, and Sun Yuerong, the head of the East Factory, also arrived at the Tianjin Zhongwei Post Station with their respective entourages.

"We've arrived at Tianjin Posthouse. Let's rest here." Sun Yuerong pulled the reins and said to Bi Ziyan.

"Captain Sun, there are less than 120 miles to go." Bi Ziyan exhaled a long, tired breath. "We can change horses along the way and reach Beitang today."

"There's no need to rush now. We're already outrunning the money." Sun Yuerong had already dismounted. "Besides, don't we have to change horses at the post station?"

"Captain Sun, it seems there is already someone in this post station." Bi Ziyan also got off the horse.

Looking at the fresh horse hoof prints that led into the post station from the other end of the road, Bi Ziyan judged that at least ten people had already checked into the post station. If this was a single person with many followers, then the other person must be at least a third-rank official.

"If they have it, then they have it. They can't compete with us for space." Sun Yuerong shrugged nonchalantly.

(End of this chapter)