In a few days, Song Mu already knew the arrangements of many examiners for this spring.
The examiner's name is Chang Yidong, who is now the dean of Gongyuan. He once served as the governor of Bashu County. He entered Chang'an a few years ago and became the minister of the Ministry of Rites. After entering the realm of bachelor, he was promoted to the dean of Gongyuan.
Song Mu knew a little about Master Chang. He had invited him to give lectures at the Imperial College many times. He was a cheerful middle-aged man. He had also served as the examiner of the local imperial examination, and he seemed quite satisfactory.
Most of the other deputy examiners were officials from the Ministry of Rites and Gongyuan, but Song Mu didn't pay too much attention to them.
Fortunately, the news has not spread now. Otherwise, Song Mu would have caused so many things as an examiner.
But soon, Song Mu was summoned by Chang Yidong, who asked many examiners to come to discuss the Spring Examination questions.
After Song Mu got the news, he went to Gongyuan. When he arrived here, the examiners had also arrived and were sitting in the room drinking tea.
Seeing Song Mu's arrival, these people all turned their heads. Among them were faces that were familiar to Song Mu, and they handed over to each other.
"Master Song is here, let's start discussing."
Song Mu had just sat down here when a thin middle-aged man over there stood up and said.
This person was none other than Chang Yidong, dressed in a traditional Confucian style and looking at everyone.
"Yesterday I met with Prime Minister Feng and several elders, but the title of this Spring Festival will be slightly changed."
"The adults want me to come up with a question and then submit it to the boss and His Majesty for review."
Everyone was stunned when they heard this.
In the past examinations, His Majesty first proposed a general topic, and then the boss of the Ministry of Rites added a few main topics, and then handed it over to many examiners to discuss together, discuss many plans, and then submit them to the level for selection.
Even so, there have been cases where the exam questions asked by the examiner are not the same as the final exam paper.
This method has been used for many years, but now it suddenly changed.
Everyone felt that they were caught off guard, and someone asked immediately.
"Sir, there are rules, or..."
"There is only one requirement, and that is that there are many candidates this year, and the number of successful candidates must be higher."
"So today, there are only three things that I want to discuss. What principles should be discussed in the classics and meanings, what should be discussed in policy discussions, and what should be discussed in poems? You can all write down roughly."
After hearing this, all the officials touched their beards one after another and looked thoughtful. Song Mu sat aside, and when he saw several adults taking out pens and papers, he also lowered his eyes slightly.
The different method of setting the question this time made Song Mu think it was quite unusual, but if he thought about it carefully, there might be a different meaning in it.
If the questions are set according to the past, there is no way to know, and it will be fair to everyone. But if I can say a few words, it will be of benefit to His Highness who is about to take part in the exam.
Although there is no cheating method, after all, I know better what His Highness is good at now. If the questions are mastered, everything will be smooth sailing, which will be infinitely better than scratching one's head and ears.
But this is too far-fetched. After all, it is hoped that more Jinshi will be promoted this spring.
Everyone was bowing their heads in deep thought, occasionally writing something on the paper. Chang Yidong was also sitting in his seat, also writing.
After a while, Chang Yidong asked.
"Have you guys come up with anything?"
At that moment, a minister of the Ministry of Etiquette whom Song Mu knew stood up, raised his hands towards the other party and said.
"Sir, I have been thinking about the principles of the classics, that is, the discussion of 'the golden mean', and the policy discussion is about easing the war in the four frontiers. I don't know what to do?"
After this person said this, everyone looked calm, but Song Mu frowned slightly this time.
Song Mupin had some other flavor to what the other party said.
What Na Ce discussed about easing the war in the four frontiers was an idea promoted by Prime Minister Feng a few years ago. The so-called easing of border wars, replacing conquests with cultivation, and stabilizing the border areas, although it changed the previous fierce attack method of the Wen Dynasty, also achieved good results. Effect.
There were many discussions about this matter in the Wen Dynasty, saying that Prime Minister Feng had the suspicion of moderation, and Prime Minister Feng was one of the few scholars who majored in literati without books.
What the other party said this time seemed a bit flattering.
Sure enough, everyone still exchanged some looks, and then Chang Yidong spoke.
"These questions are not bad, but they may not be conducive to breakthroughs in the examination."
Gu Xiang
"Everyone, do you have any other good ideas?"
Everyone was hesitant at the moment, but they also began to express their thoughts.
Among them, the most discussed ones are the monarch and his ministers, benevolence, righteousness and virtue, or the orthodoxy of the dynasty.
Chang Yidong also had many affirmations and criticisms, but he never showed full interest. After a long time, Chang Yidong's eyes suddenly turned and fell on Song Mu.
"Master Song, I wonder if you have any ideas?"
Everyone looked over after hearing this, and Song Mu stood up quickly, but hesitantly.
Chang Yidong laughed and said immediately.
"Lord Song was born in the Number One Scholarship. It's true. The volume of classics and meanings you wrote back then is the best in the world. The four sentences of the Number One Scholar are like thunder."
"I think your opinion will be different from ours."
Several people nodded, seeming to agree with what Chang Yidong said, while Song Mu quickly handed over.
"My lord, I'm ridiculous. I don't have much experience, so I only have a superficial opinion."
Saying this, Song Mu immediately spoke to the other party.
"Concerning the principles of this scripture, from what you have said, I thought that maybe I could capitalize it and say... what is literature?"
"What's the point of literature?"
Everyone repeated it secretly, and then someone said it.
"Sir Song, this kind of question is so broad, but if you really want to do it, it will be difficult to judge the paper, and it will be difficult to focus on the key points when taking the test."
Song Mu shook his head and continued.
"The literature and Tao mentioned below are not Confucianism. Literature is the key to our cultivation and the master of great power. The so-called literature and Tao means having great power. What should we do?"
"The sage said that if you achieve great things, you can help the world. I will examine myself three times every day, and all my dealings are based on the Tao. Our Confucianism and Taoism are based on the Six Virtues, Six Practices and Six Arts, but this time I will only discuss them."
"Articles convey the Tao, what is the Tao of literature, what is the Tao of literature, and what is the Tao of literature? It is not about broadness, but about subtleties."
Everyone was slightly silent when they heard the words. Chang Yidong, who was sitting in the seat, also paused slightly when he heard the words. He also felt that what Song Mu said might be too broad.
Just as he was about to speak, he heard Song Mu say something else.
"After all, as your Excellency has said, in order to have more Jinshi this time, we must not be careless in discussing the meaning of the scriptures in this first session."
As soon as these words came out, Chang Yidong was stunned, and suddenly felt that what Song Mu said made some sense.
No one said anything, so Chang Yidong spoke up.
"Sir Song's words are quite strange, but they are indeed different and worth discussing again."
After hearing what you said, Song Mu just smiled and sat back down.
Chang Yidong asked again.
"Then I wonder what Mr. Song thinks the policy report should be written about?"
Song Mu looked thoughtful this time, and then just said one sentence.
"Throughout the ages, policies and discussions have mostly been about people's livelihood, and Song really has no excessive views."
Although it was just a short sentence, it seemed to wake everyone up. This Chunwei policy attaches great importance to practicality, but does not like to sing praises.
Chang Yidong smiled even more when he heard this, and said a few words of kindness.
As for the subsequent poems, everyone was surprised that this matter was not overly controversial. Song Mu said that the poems he wrote back then were for battlefield use, and they would be more useful this time.
In this way, the topic for this time was briefly finalized, but the result made Song Mu feel a little indescribably happy.
It seems that all the adults listened to what I said. '
In this way, maybe it will be a good thing for His Highness when the time comes.
…
