Before the rural examination, there are two supplementary examinations presided over by the academic administration, namely the subject examination and the general admission examination, and finally the candidates are selected to participate in the provincial examination.
Both the scientific examination and the annual examination are aimed at students, but this is not the case for the general examination.
Any student who failed in the annual examination, or a Confucian scholar who did not have the honor of being a student, could sign up to take the exam.
If you pass the general examination, you will be qualified as a Confucian scholar, and you will also get the exemption from the provincial examination.
In fact, among the 3,000 candidates for the Jiangnan Provincial Township Examination, more than 1,000 were all Confucian scholars.
Moreover, the admission rate in the Confucian rural examination is not low. Every year in the rural examination, candidates with Confucian background often account for 20 to 30%.
Therefore, in order to compete for the quota of more than a thousand Confucian scholars, as many as 20,000 scholars signed up to participate in the Jiangnan Province Great Recruitment Examination this year, and the competition was also fierce.
Comparatively speaking, it was much easier for Wei Chen to get the quota for the provincial examination. He and Sheng Changbai ranked first in the last year's examination, and they automatically obtained the quota for the provincial examination early. They did not have to take the scientific examination and the college entrance examination. Make-up exam.
After a big exchange, the candidates for the provincial examination were finally decided. Scholars from all over the province flocked to Jiangning, the provincial capital, and the business of the brothel inn in Jiangning City became prosperous again.
The brothels and inns in the city have taken the opportunity to increase their prices, but they are still full. Many candidates can only stay in private houses. Of course, the prices will only be more expensive. Those who can't afford it can only live in dilapidated temples outside the city.
Walking on the street at this time, there are scholars everywhere wearing square scarves and straight blouses. If you don't know how to speak, you will be embarrassed to talk to others.
For a time, the city was full of articles, and the air was full of sourness. What followed was the rise of various cultural gatherings, large and small. The scholars gathered together, chanted poems and sang harmony, and enjoyed each other's admiration.
Of course, there are also serious literary gatherings.
Some seniors who have achieved very high rankings in the imperial examinations will be invited by governors and academic administrators to come to the stage to teach and impart examination experience to candidates.
This highly practical cultural meeting is very attractive to candidates who are interested in the provincial examination. Thousands of people often gather in front of the stage to listen to the lectures, and the scene is spectacular.
Hearing that Wei Chen and Sheng Changbai had arrived in Jiangning, classmates from Sheng's voluntary school made an appointment to gather at Sheng's house.
However, when the appointed day came, when Wei Chen and Sheng Changbai went out to greet the guests, they found that not only Tao Dazhi and Chen Jun, but also Wang Yaochen, Weng Dingfan, and Tang Henian were coming.
"I invited these three."
Seeing the surprised look on Wei Chen's face, Tao Dazhi explained with a smile: "The provincial examination is coming soon. It is useless to work behind closed doors. It is only right to communicate and discuss with each other. You are all famous talents among the students in Jiangning Prefecture, so we should unite I am determined not to lose my reputation as the provincial capital of Jiangning Prefecture."
Wei Chen bowed his hands to the three Wang Yaochen in greeting, and then chuckled and said: "Brother Tao is more thoughtful. I had also thought about going to a few literary conferences to gain more knowledge before the provincial examination. However, I have not been in Jiangning for a long time, and there are too few people of the same age who I know well. Tao Brother, this move really solved my urgent need."
Sheng Changbai also nodded in agreement: "The emphasis of cultural gatherings is communication. The more people there are, the better."
Wei Chen looked at Wang Yaochen, Weng Dingfan, and Tang Henian: "What do you think, three gentlemen?"
"Since I'm here, I've already had this intention." Wang Yaochen smiled and cupped his hands, and Weng Dingfan and Tang Henian also nodded in agreement.
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When Wei Chen heard this, he couldn't help but smile with relief.
During the boy's examination, he, Wang Yaochen and the others were competitors, and it was normal for them to admire each other. But at this time, the provincial examination was coming, and everyone was a student representing Jiangningshi Mansion in the provincial examination, so they naturally felt the same hatred and hatred.
That night, Sheng Changbai arranged for five scholars to stay in this grand residence. From the next day, this quiet and spacious mansion became a school for seven Jiangning nobles.
In the morning, they will take turns telling their thoughts on the exam, or commenting on the essays written by each person the day before.
In the afternoon, they attended local cultural gatherings in Jiangning and listened to lectures by famous teachers.
Tao Dazhi had a wide network of contacts and was very well-informed. There was no literary conference held in Jiangning city that he did not know about.
Of course, there are not always high-quality cultural events to attend. When there is no literary meeting, Wei Chen and Wang Yaochen, two recognized masters, will come up with topics. Everyone will write their own essays and then comment on them in the evening.
Although the schedule was full, no one felt bored. Everyone's patience had been tempered in the long road to the imperial examination, otherwise they would not have reached this stage.
Moreover, it is a very happy thing in itself for a group of like-minded young people to get together.
The seven scholars gathered in the grand mansion now are all top imperial examination masters in Jiangning Mansion. Although they cherish each other, they can't help but secretly compete with each other in their hearts.
Of course, this kind of competition is beneficial and everyone is happy to see the results.
No one wants to be pulled too far down by others, so everyone is full of energy. What follows is the great progress of this small group of seven people as a whole.
In Jiangning City in July, the heat was scorching, but a new whirlwind called "Jiangning Seven Sons" blew through the Jiangnan literary world, allowing thousands of scholars from all over the province to experience firsthand the heritage of Jiangning, the provincial capital.
Titles similar to the Seven Sons of a certain place and the Three Heroes of a certain place have always been common, but most of them are just flattering each other in a small circle, building momentum for each other, and mostly boasting elements.
But the "Seven Sons of Jiangning" are not self-proclaimed, but the reputation of the seven Wei Chens who have earned their reputation by relying on their true talents and hard work.
Since July, the seven members of Wei Chen have won the first place in various literary societies of all sizes. Once, they even defeated hundreds of fellow scholars and took the top seven places in one fell swoop.
Since then, the name of the "Seven Sons of Jiangning" has become more and more famous, and even became famous throughout Jiangnan Shilin.
Wei Chen once participated in the Boat Poetry Festival in Yangzhou and gained great fame. Wang Yaochen and others also became famous in Suzhou Prefecture, Changzhou Prefecture and other places. More than half of the seven people were already famous.
Wherever the seven went, not only the scholars from Jiangning followed the scenery, but also many scholars from Beppu also became their fans and asked them for advice.
After attending several literary meetings, it was not long before they left their hometown for the exam. The seven of them bought things for the exam and began to recharge their batteries at home.
There are three rural examinations, each lasting three days. During this period, you are not allowed to leave the dormitory. For each test, the candidates have to shed a layer of skin.
Many candidates who take the provincial examination for the first time often do not have a deep understanding of the intensity of the examination. After entering the examination room, they are unable to adapt, and even collapse physically and mentally. In the end, they regretfully fail. This situation has not been uncommon over the years.
Naturally, Wei Chen and others would not make such a low-level mistake. They must keep their spirits up before going to the examination room.
However, I am used to living a busy life, and when I suddenly have some free time, I am really at a loss as to what to do.
"Why don't we go to the bathhouse to take a bath together? It can not only relax the body and mind, but also enhance the relationship, how nice?"
The person who proposed this proposal was naturally Tao Dazhi, who ran a bathhouse at home, but as soon as he said it, he was ruthlessly rejected by everyone.
In the end, Wei Chen said: "We have been together for many days and have similar temperaments. It is better to form a literary club. On weekdays, we enjoy poems and drinks, and discuss current literature. When the time comes to be appointed officials, we can also support each other and advance and retreat together. Everyone how about?"
