Song Mu's carriage moved forward for a while, but it couldn't move any further. The streets going south and north were jammed with carriages, and it was impossible to clear the way in front of the Gongyuan.
The scale of this trial seemed to be larger than in previous years. Thousands of carriages came at once, and the battle was really scary.
Fortunately, it was only the middle of the morning, and there was still a long time to wait to enter the examination hall, so Song Mu and others were not in a hurry. They even jumped out of the carriage and greeted the students in the adjacent carriages.
And when those students knew that the person standing next to the carriage was actually Song Mu, the legendary Jie Yuan of Jiangnan West Road, they immediately came to offer their hands. Seeing that the team could not move at all, someone even brought a stove and heated up a pot on the spot. Tea was poured out to everyone.
"This year is indeed different from previous years. With this scale, I think there will be hundreds of Gongshi this year, and one or two hundred Jinshi."
"Haha, we don't expect to become a Jinshi after the palace examination. As long as you become a tribute scholar, that is, you are born with the same Jinshi, and your future will be bright."
Song Mu was sipping hot tea from his own cup, and heard several people talking next to him.
Among the realm of literati in the Wen Dynasty, after the realm of Juren was the realm of Jinshi.
It's just that there is another realm of Jinshi, which is a little special, but essentially it is another name for Gongshi.
When the Wenli imperial examination was first established in the Wen Dynasty, the Gongshi after the examination were also called Jinshi, but some of the Jinshi could possess a special ability.
Yan Sheng.
But the Jinshi of Yansheng can make breakthroughs in their realm in the future, otherwise they will basically stop.
So the Ministry of Rites reclassified this and classified Gongshi as Tongjinshi first. After the palace examination attracted Wenxing's Tongjinshi, he was awarded Jinshi status.
In this way, a Wenmai tourmaline can also be embedded on the Wenshi waist plate, and then become the Wenmai home.
But no matter what, as long as he can pass the examination, it is an absolute recognition of a person. He has reached an important node in the world's literati ladder and is looked up to by the world.
These people talked like this, and occasionally asked Song Mu to talk a few words, and the atmosphere was quite harmonious.
But at this time, the team also continued to move forward, and everyone boarded the carriage and continued moving forward.
The carriage moved forward slowly, and the situation ahead gradually became clearer. On the square in front of the north gate of Naganoyuan, there was an amazing scene.
All I could see was that there were several rows of tall racks set up in this large square. The racks were tightly sewn with straw curtains to block the cold wind blowing from all around.
In this square, small tents have been set up one by one at this moment, and many people are walking around among them.
If it weren't for the neat colors of the tents and the well-dressed people with smooth faces, others would have thought that these were refugees stationed here.
Song Mu also learned about these people from here.
"There seem to be more people this year. If you look at the shops around, they are full of people."
"Haha, that's for sure. Brother Zhu, don't you know who will take part in this exam this year?"
"The year before last, Song Mu, the leader of Jiangnan West Road!"
"Song Mu? Is that the Song Mu and Song Jieyuan who wrote two top-notch visions in the provincial examination?"
Others exclaimed, and now the discussion was even more heated.
"No, the vision caused by Song Jieyuan is of great benefit to people, especially the wisdom vision, which is enough to make people crazy."
"No wonder I saw a lot of children here."
"Oh, if I had known this, I should have brought my wife and children to Chang'an."
These people were chattering away. Most of the discussions at the moment were about Song Mu. More and more people were gathering in the surrounding squares. Even the coldest month of winter could not dampen their enthusiasm at all.
Song Mu also smiled slightly when he saw this situation, only feeling that this was a hardship for these people.
After all, they are not as good as students at the Juzi level. Even if they are frozen for nine days, they are still alive and well. It is really a bit torture for ordinary people to survive in this weather for nine days.
However, you will get something if you put in the effort. After all, the General Examination is different from other exams. There is no student in the examination room who is not the leader of the province or the country. Under such an exam, there will definitely be someone who can stand out and create a phenomenon.
You know, the most widely spread imperial examination phenomenon in China, the story of white hair turning into black hair, actually happened.
Song Mu's carriage was gradually approaching the direction of Gongyuan. Liu Kaidong next to him looked at the scene outside in a daze for a moment.
"For such a grand occasion, we have to work a little harder."
Song Mu and others nodded one after another. At this moment, soldiers appeared in front and ordered the many carriages to stop here, and the students got off and walked.
Song Mu and others got off the carriage one after another, found the person arranged by the Jiangnan Guild Hall to take the carriage away, and then carried their things forward.
Each student was holding a huge baggage and carrying an examination basket. They looked extremely bloated. At this moment, they passed the soldiers and walked towards the gate of Gongyuan.
The field of vision in front of him finally became a little wider. Song Mu looked up to the left. The wall of the examination hall, which was more than ten meters high, stood tall. The gate of the examination hall on that side was tall and closed. There were soldiers on duty at the moment. Many soldiers were on duty. Students are lining up in front of the gate waiting for the opening to enter.
Song Mu also followed and lined up, but suddenly heard a voice.
"Brother Song."
Song Mu turned around and saw that it was Tan Weiyi who was heading this way. He was also holding many things in his hands, but he came forward happily.
"Brother Song, we are going to take the test together this time."
The other party stood in the team. Song Mu also introduced each other and learned that Tan Weiyi was the son of the current right prime minister. Liu Kaidong and others also quickly saluted.
"Brother Song, what I just learned about, do you know how many candidates will participate in the examination this time?"
"There are a total of 5,400 people, which is already the highest number in history!"
"so many people!"
Several people heard this and exclaimed again and again. Although they already had a general understanding of the number of candidates this time, everyone was inevitably a little surprised when they heard such data.
"Yes, so this year is really lively. This also shows that our cultural dynasty is extremely prosperous."
"Five thousand people, that's enough to sweep away an army of monsters."
Everyone nodded, but Tan Weiyi changed the topic again and said with a smile.
"Besides, I know who the examiner of this examination is."
After hearing this, Song Mu immediately raised his eyebrows, and several people around him looked at him.
"It's the Grand Scholar Yan Fu! I just saw his rainbow light falling into the Gongyuan, and there were many Gongyuan masters following behind him."
After hearing this, everyone was immediately stunned, but Song Mu suddenly frowned and spoke immediately.
"Master Yan Fu, has he been an examiner before?"
Tan Wei shook his head.
"I've never done it before, so I think it's interesting."
"Hey, if this gentleman is the examiner, something will be wrong."
Liu Kaidong, who was next to him, frowned and looked at the crowd with a stern expression.
"This gentleman has served in the Hanlin Academy, the Ministry of Personnel, and the Ministry of Etiquette. Now he is responsible for the compilation of Tianwen Magazine. It can be said that he has a very wide range of interests."
"And if I remember correctly, this lord rarely published articles or poems. We have no impression of his strategies and intentions."
After hearing this, several people suddenly frowned a bit. It was like they were hit hard before the exam started.
…
