On the sixth day of May in the second year of Xingqing in the Southern Song Dynasty, Lin'an City, Imperial City, Duancheng Hall.
Due to the small area of the imperial palace in the Southern Song Dynasty, the palace sometimes had multiple uses. Duancheng Hall is a multi-functional palace. It is called "Duancheng" when worshiping in the outskirts of Mingtang. It is called "Jiying" by strategists, "Chongde" by envoys at banquets, and "Lectures on Wushu" by military examinations and conferring officials. It can be changed at any time. plaque.
Nowadays, the imperial examination is used to select scholars, so the plaque in Duancheng Hall has been replaced and becomes the sign of "Jiying".
The imperial examination system of the Song Dynasty was formally established in the third year of Emperor Yingzong's reign, when "the Ministry of Rites issued an edict to hold tribute examinations every three years". The imperial examination is divided into three levels: the interpretation examination held by the states, the provincial examination held by the court's Ministry of Rites, and the last level is the imperial examination held by the emperor himself.
The Jie examination is in autumn, the provincial examination of the Ministry of Rites is in February of the following year, and the palace examination is held in the same year as the provincial examination. In the Northern Song Dynasty, the palace examination was usually held in March, while in the Southern Song Dynasty, it was held in March, April, and sometimes in May.
Zhao Hong was sitting on the royal couch, and there were several people sitting on the left and right. One was Xue Ji, the prime minister and assistant of the dynasty, and the other was Zhendexiu, who was involved in political affairs.
As for the other person, it was Zou Yinglong, the minister of the Ministry of Industry who had just entered the court.
Thirty years ago, 23-year-old Zou Yinglong won the first prize in the exam. His official career was ups and downs. He was suppressed by the two prime ministers Han Zhouzhou and Shi Miyuan. He stayed in the countryside to honor his mother. When the new emperor ascended the throne, he was immediately recalled to the capital by Zhao Hong to serve as counselor for political affairs. Concurrently holds the position of Minister of the Ministry of Industry.
Zou Yinglong was born in poverty. After becoming an official, he was honest and upright, loved the people like a son, refused to succumb to power and evil, and was loved by the people. His integrity and self-discipline are also the reasons why Zhao Hong values him and uses him.
In the political environment of the Song Dynasty, there was no one who was not greedy as an official, but a good official could be considered a good official if he could work with self-discipline and know right from wrong. By getting rid of the corrupt official Hu Ju and appointing the upright official Zou Yinglong, the new policy of the Song Dynasty is self-evident.
The title of the palace examination was written by the emperor himself: How to eliminate the "three redundancies and two accumulations", redundant officials, redundant troops, redundant expenses, and poverty and weakness?
The moment many scholars saw the title, their little hearts trembled several times.
Could it be that the emperor wanted them to quit their official careers or cut their salaries to share the worries of the emperor?
Zhengzou Ming, special Zou Ming, Taixue, official promotion and demotion system are unclear, and most of the officials' children have the privilege of favor. Ten sheep and nine animals.
Not to mention anything else, the number of Jinshi who were awarded special titles alone was as many as the number who were admitted through the official imperial examination. Coupled with the fact that the children of officials joined the officialdom, this resulted in redundant officials. What does it have to do with serious candidates like them, who have been studying for ten years?
As for redundant troops, the Song Dynasty court used civilized military methods to govern military affairs, emphasizing literature over military affairs. The army generals had no combat experience, the soldiers lacked training, and the sources of troops were numerous, resulting in redundant troops. This is due to the imperial system.
The emperor is training a new army and implementing a new policy. Could it be said that the emperor wants to change his ways and change the long-standing ancestral family law?
As for redundant expenses, civil servants and officials are indeed well treated, but the source of redundant officials and redundant soldiers lies in the court, and the scholar-officials only have a small amount of responsibility.
"Three redundancies" lead to "poverty and weakness", and land annexation, clarification of official administration, and hiding of taxes and gifts are also full of disadvantages and require vigorous rectification by the court.
Many candidates have brain teasers and already have countermeasures.
Following the implementation of the New Deal on Jiangnan East Road, the establishment of martial arts halls, and the training of new armies, the emperor followed suit in Sichuan and Liangzhe West Road, and punished corrupt officials with iron-blooded means...
Isn't this a series of new policies and practices that the emperor has worked hard to govern since he ascended the throne?
Li Angying came from Panyu, Guangdong and came from a family of officials. In his early years, he studied under Cui Yu, a great scholar from his hometown and Sichuan envoy, and majored in "Spring and Autumn". He learned the brave, upright and selfless "Spring and Autumn Writing Technique" and "Small Words and Great Meanings". , and now returning to the country's long-standing shortcomings, it does make him feel a little guilty.
However, his family was wealthy and he traveled around when he was young. He was well-informed and had some insights. He recalled what his mentor Cui Yu said in the past and what Zhao Hong did on Jiangnan East Road, so he started writing.
Wang Huilong, who comes from Jianhai, Taizhou, Zhejiang, is a real boy from a farm family. He has lived in poverty for ten years and has a deep understanding of the suffering of the people. After thinking about it for a while, he started writing.
Looking at the scholars in front of him who were writing vigorously, Zhao Hong frowned, thoughtfully.
There is no elimination in the palace examination, only ranking. In other words, these people in the palace will all be disciples of the Emperor and officials of the Song Dynasty court.
"The state uses subjects to collect the world's elites, righteousness to observe their mastery of classics, endowment to observe their erudition, theory to observe their knowledge, policy to observe their talents."
The imperial examination has attracted scholars from all over the world, but how many real talents are there?
During the Song Dynasty, there were more than 130 prime ministers, 120 of whom passed the imperial examination and became officials. It can be said that the basically fair, open and equal imperial examination allowed the Song Dynasty court to select almost the smartest talents in the world. It was also called China's "fifth great invention" by later generations and was adopted by civil service systems all over the world. Learn from.
But accompanying it were the huge drawbacks of the imperial examination system. Politics, literature, philosophy, the Four Books and Five Classics, most of them are Confucianism, and less of them are science and technology.
But even so, even if Zhao Hong had already established Jinling University and would build Lin'an Academy next, he still could not cancel the imperial examination, and governing the country was inseparable from the imperial examination. As long as there is a small amount of policy guidance, substantial changes can be achieved in the selection of scholars through the imperial examination.
Because of this, he came to take part in the imperial examination in person for the first imperial examination after he ascended the throne, even during the period of observing filial piety.
Zhao Hong walked down and watched the Jinshi students answer questions one by one. He stopped next to a candidate who was writing fast.
"...Dang Qiandao and Chunxi, there were those who were in the imperial court and were ashamed to give gifts to the family; those who were appointed to outsiders were ashamed to enter the capital. Nowadays, bribery of goods and services has become a common practice, and Tian does not know how to blame it. , the atmosphere of governing the world, I want it to be prosperous, not to be oppressed. In the past, people gave false orders, but when it came to fleeing and killing, the people in the city waved their hands to warn them. Above the imperial court, there were more sharp people than experienced people, and they were talented in political affairs. , rich in classics..."
"Ma Guangzu of Dongyang has met His Majesty!"
Noticing that Zhao Hong was looking carefully, the examinee quickly stood up and bowed.
"You have a quick mind. Yes, the word is also written with sharp edges and majesty. Can you compose a poem based on the sufferings of people's livelihood?"
Zhao Hong nodded and asked the proud candidate.
The candidate has a Chinese character face, thick eyebrows and big eyes, and looks a bit like a warrior from Yanzhao.
"Your Majesty, I have made a fool of myself."
Ma Guangzu suppressed the fluctuations in his heart and quickly pondered. Zhao Hong pointed at the paper on the table.
"Write it on paper!"
Ma Guangzu thought for a moment, then sat down and started writing.
"The child who leans against the door and his wife, who is the kitchen head, cries to each other when she has rice but no money.
In order to bring relief to those who are in need, don't teach that there are hungry people in poor valleys. "
"I'll go! Can you write a poem in seven steps?"
Zhao Hong picked up the paper and looked at the candidates in surprise.
He is a master of poetry, but that is because of plagiarism. This candidate actually did it right away in the palace. He really underestimated the talents of the world.
"Your Majesty, I wrote this poem a few years ago. I did everything in front of His Majesty, which made Your Majesty laugh."
Ma Guangzu was honest and said with a blushing face.
"Okay! Be honest and aboveboard, and answer the questions well!"
Zhao Hong nodded, put down the paper, and moved on.
"Your Majesty, this is Xin Yong, the grandson of Xin Jiaxuan. He is only seventeen years old and has a quick mind, but he is a bit too arrogant. Xin Su, a graduate of the Jiangwu Hall, is his cousin."
Xue Ji pointed at a candidate who was answering the test and whispered.
Xin Qiji’s grandchildren!
Zhao Hong nodded happily. The tiger father had no sons, so Xin Qiji had someone to inherit his grandfather's legacy.
"Why didn't you write a few words? It's better to be a centurion than a scholar. Do you want to give up martial arts and follow literature?"
Zhao Hong asked curiously when he saw that the "black and hard" candidate's test paper was blank, with only the words "Better to be a centurion than a scholar" on a piece of paper next to it.
"Your Majesty, compared to civil affairs, I would rather go to the battlefield to make achievements and expand the territory of the Song Dynasty!"
"Black and Hard" quickly stood up and bowed respectfully. He was almost 1.9 meters tall, which made Zhao Hong, who was over 1.7 meters tall, look up, feeling extremely stressed.
The words "black and hard" caused the Jinshi who were answering papers to look up in surprise.
Li Angying and Ma Guangzu saw it clearly and secretly complained in their hearts. This guy loves to be unconventional and bold. If he goes too far and angers the emperor, then the joke will be big.
The two of them locked eyes unconsciously, and together with the other Jinshi, they looked at the place where the accident occurred.
"So, you are going to give up writing and practice martial arts?"
Zhao Hong was slightly surprised. It is rare for a dignified scholar to go to the battlefield to make achievements.
Could it be said that he canceled the hunt for people under the ranking list and the parade on horseback, so that scholars also started to think about it?
"Your Majesty, I don't have to join the army, I just want to serve the country eagerly and share the worries of the king. Life is short. If you get mixed up in the officialdom, live like a fly and a dog, or occupy a prominent position when your hair is gray, I will not be reconciled!"
The answer of "black and hard" was sonorous and powerful. Zhao Hong was speechless for a moment. Many Jinshi blushed secretly. Several ministers were annoyed. Zhen Dexiu started to scold him.
"That's nonsense! The whole palace is filled with the pillars of the country, how can we talk about it?"
"Don't talk nonsense in front of His Majesty!"
Zou Yinglong glanced at Zhao Hong nervously and then scolded him.
What a fool!
Doesn't this make the whole palace of Jinshi mocked?
"Your Majesty, I would like to ask you, gentlemen, among all the Jinshi in the palace, except for a few talented people, aren't everyone here just to be an official?"
"Black and tough" bite the bullet and still stick to his point of view.
"Okay, let's sit down and answer the questions."
Zhao Hong stopped several angry ministers and looked at the names of the candidates.
"Wang Wen, remember, whether you are in politics or the military, you are doing things for the country and the people, regardless of each other. If you are just for promotion and wealth, the court will have its own legal sanctions!"
Zhao Hong felt unhappy and walked away.
"Dark and hard" is right! He worked thousands of miles to become an official just to get promoted and make a fortune. Most of the scholars here were like this, which also made him inexplicably depressed.
All the smart people in the world come to be officials. Isn't this a big disadvantage?
"If you don't sit down yet, answer the paper carefully!"
Zhen Dexiu's eyes widened, "black and hard" and he quickly nodded and sat down, wiped the sweat from his head, picked up the pen, looked at Zhao Hong's back, rolled his eyes, and continued writing.
Li Angying and Ma Guangzu were frightened and secretly lucky, so they each immersed themselves in answering the papers.
In the main hall, silence returned.
