Ming Dynasty: Tanks blocked the door and you said to me, "Long live Ming Dynasty"

"It's not spicy. If you don't believe me, just try it!"

Qingyu said, picking up two peppers and stuffing them into her mouth...

Zhu Youxiao:!!!

Those lips stained with red oil are so charming!

Plus, her tongue would occasionally lick him, and Zhu Youxiao lost himself...

So, after dinner was over, he followed Ren Yingying and Qingyu and left Kunning Palace...

He had some academic questions and wanted to discuss them with Qingyu.

Chapter 264 Whatever he says, you believe it

The eighth year of Tianqi, the ninth day of the fourth month!

The palace examination that the scholars have been waiting for for a long time is finally here!

The only difference is that the number of participants in this palace examination far exceeds any other imperial examination!

In addition to the top 300 candidates in the scholar category, 100 candidates were selected in each of the next seven categories, for a total of 1,000 candidates.

Early in the morning, outside the Huangji Palace, it was already bustling.

The eunuchs arranged sets of tables and chairs in the square outside the palace.

There was a Jinyiwei guarding each seat.

At the beginning of the Chen hour, Zhu Youcheng arrived at the scene on time. After obtaining consent, Wang Tiqian shouted at the top of his voice.

"The auspicious time has arrived. Open the palace gates and let the scholars enter!"

From the Huangji Palace outward, every few dozen meters, a eunuch would pass on this sentence.

The palace gates such as Huangji Gate and Wumen Gate were opened one after another from the inside to the outside.

Led by officials from the Ministry of Rites, the candidates crossed one threshold after another and arrived at the square outside the Huangji Hall.

Behind Zhu Youxiao was the dragon throne. He stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the faces one after another, and his mood became excited.

These people will be the cornerstone of the Ming Dynasty for the next thirty years!

"bye!"

Following a loud shout from the Minister of Rites Meng Shaoyu, all the candidates knelt down on the ground in unison.

"Your Majesty, long live His Majesty!"

Although scholars usually have the privilege of not having to kneel, today, here, that privilege is completely invalid.

Three kneelings and nine kowtows, this is a necessary step!

After all the formalities were completed, Zhu Youxiao slowly spoke.

"Since the Ming Dynasty began holding imperial examinations, there have been 82 examinations, and more than 22,000 people have passed the imperial examinations!"

"It was these 22,000 people who made the Ming Dynasty last for 260 years!"

"However, the Ming Dynasty has been gradually weakening."

"There are enemies outside who have long coveted the Ming Dynasty, and there are traitors inside who are committing crimes and causing chaos!"

"As candidates for the 83rd subject, I have high hopes for you!"

"I hope you can support the country and help me revive the Ming Dynasty!"

"There's no point in talking any more. Come on, put out the papers and start the exam!"

After a brief opening speech, the eunuchs walked among the candidates, holding the test papers.

Those who can sit here today are all lucky ones who have achieved good results in the imperial examination.

Many of them thought that the questions in the joint examination were simple, and perhaps this palace examination would be several levels more difficult.

But when the test papers were handed out, they were all stunned!

These questions are easier than those in the imperial examination!

The questions for the imperial examination were drafted by Zhu Youxiao, and they caught them off guard.

But the questions for this palace examination were drafted by six ministries!

For example, the questions given by the Ministry of War.

But so that the Dragon City Feijiang will be there, he will not teach Huma Du Yinshan.

Please write an 800-word essay on the topic of Hu!

Another example is the questions given by the Ministry of Revenue.

Silk handkerchiefs, hemp mushrooms and incense sticks, originally intended for civilian use, have turned out to be a disaster.

Write an 800-word essay on the topic of benefiting the people!

The topics given by the Ministry of Rites, Ministry of Punishments, Ministry of Works, and Ministry of Personnel were almost the same. They all gave one or two sentences of ancient Chinese text and asked students to write an essay using keywords.

Compared with those questions asked by Zhu Youxiao, these questions are what the scholars are best at!

As for the candidates of the last seven subjects, they only need to answer questions related to their majors, and they don’t even need to write a paper…

Since the exam began, the sound of grinding ink outside the Huangji Hall has never stopped.

Rustle, rustle......

The sun was moving little by little, and Zhu Youxiao sat on the dragon throne and watched them.

Lunch was delivered by the Imperial Kitchen. Each candidate received two large steamed buns, a chicken leg, a pile of pickles and a bowl of porridge.

These candidates managed to hold on for a whole day until the afternoon!

Not even one raised their hand to pee!

I don’t know how they held back, but Zhu Youxiao left three times.

After the gong for collecting the papers sounded, just as the candidates were preparing to bow and leave, Zhu Youxiao suddenly stood up and spoke.

"Everyone!"

"Today is just the first part of the palace examination!"

"The next subject is to join the army in the battle!"

"After we go back, we must prepare well!"

"I will be waiting for you in the Beijing Camp in three days!"

As soon as this statement came out, everyone was stunned!

Even Wen Tiren and Zhu Youjian looked at Zhu Youxiao with surprise.

Just because they didn't get any information about this matter in advance!

Sun Chengzong frowned, walked closer and whispered.

"Your Majesty, there is no need to let the candidates follow the army. If anything goes wrong..."

Zhu Youxiao smiled and waved to Wen Tiren.

After he came over, he asked without any context.

"Master Wen, do you know the difference in appearance between the scholars of the Han and Tang dynasties and those of today?"

Wen Tiren was stunned and answered tentatively after thinking for a moment.

"Scholars in the Han and Tang dynasties carried swords, but scholars today carry fans?"

Zhu Youxiao nodded, but then asked, "What's the use of holding a sword?"

Wen Tiren said: "One is a symbol of status, and the other is that you can draw your sword and help when you see injustice!"

"Take Li Bai as an example. In addition to his literary talent, his swordsmanship is also first-rate."

Zhu Youxiao then turned to look at Sun Chengzong: "Teacher, do you understand my intention?"

Sun Chengzong's brows gradually relaxed, a gleam of light flashed in his eyes, and he looked at the candidates and nodded slowly.

"I understand!"

"Today's scholars all like to pretend to be cultured and have long lost the spirit of the Confucian scholars of the Han and Tang dynasties!"

"Well, let these candidates go with the army and experience the cruelty of the battlefield!"

"If they can come back alive, they will be reborn!"

The other ministers heard the conversation between the three people nearby and couldn't help but widen their eyes, but they couldn't find a reason to refute.

It is really that the current atmosphere among scholars is too unbearable!

The candidates below looked at this side eagerly, but in the end, no explanation came.

There was only Wen Tiren's light words.

"Now that the Holy Order has been issued, all of you should go back and prepare!"

"If you are afraid, you can explain the situation to the Jinyiwei around you!"

"It's all gone!"

Hearing this, the examinees were all dumbfounded. Looking at the test papers being taken away, they walked out of the palace in a daze under the guidance of the Jinyiwei.

"No, I won't go to the battlefield! I'm the only son in the family. If something happens to me, there will be no one to take care of my mother in her old age!"

Suddenly, a scholar shouted in the crowd.

The Jinyiwei beside him glared at him and said, "What are you arguing about! Write down your name and place of origin!"

"Master Wen has made it very clear. No one will force you to go if you don't want to!"

The scholar immediately took the booklet handed to him by the Embroidered Uniform Guard and wrote down his information.

After doing this, he breathed a sigh of relief.

Once there is a first one, there will be a second one. Some timid scholars soon stood up and followed his example.

Wang Rujin, a scholar from Fenyang, also wanted to withdraw, but just as he was about to open his mouth, he felt someone pulling his clothes.

When he turned around, he saw Fu Shan looking at him seriously.

"Are you crazy? Do you really think you can just not go if you don't want to?"

Wang Rujin was a little puzzled: "Didn't Elder Wen say......"

Fu Shan raised his hand and blasted his head over.

"Whatever he says, you believe him?"

"How can a timid official take on important responsibilities in the future?"

Xue Zongzhou, who was also a scholar from Shanxi, came up, held the arms of the two men on the left and right, and said with a smile.

"Don't be afraid. When we get back to the battlefield, I'll protect you!"

"Let's go back and write our suicide note!"

Chapter 265: No Victory, No Return

Fu Shan, Xue Zongzhou, and Wang Rujin.

These are three people who have quite a few disputes in official history.

Fu Shan and Xue Zongzhou were both students of Yuan Jixian, the assistant governor of Shanxi Province. Xue Zongzhou and Wang Rujin later joined the anti-Qing army together and eventually died in battle at Jinci Fort.

After learning about this, Fu Shan wrote "The Biography of the Two Sons of Fen" with tears in his eyes to praise the integrity of the two men.

Rather than saying that these three people appeared on the stage of the times ahead of time because of the butterfly effect brought about by Zhu Youxiao, it is better to say that it was due to the general trend.

And people like them were countless in this imperial examination.

Such as Shi Kefa, Gu Yanwu, Ma Shiqi, Du Yinxi, Yan Yingyuan and others.

However, this imperial examination was different from usual ones. Due to Zhu Youxiao's sudden decision, the results of the palace examination had to be postponed until after the Northern Expedition.

While these candidates were busy writing their suicide notes, Zhu Youxiao was looking at the equipment that Zhang Yan had sent with a miserable look on his face, and he was speechless!