"Liu Ziheng from Liyang Prefecture, Zhang Ruoming from Kaifeng Prefecture..."
Although Song Lian was old, he didn't do anything pretentious. After a brief speech, he started reading out the list of names.
Every candidate whose name was read, without exception, was excited.
Some looked up to the sky and shouted, some cried with joy, and some danced...
The title on the gold list, the gold content of this gold list, is more real than gold.
No one dislikes their behavior, everyone is very understanding.
After so many years of studying hard and going through so many wars, I finally have a chance to get ahead.
If you win, that is naturally something to be happy about.
Song Lian read the list of dozens of people not too slowly, but for the anxiously waiting candidates, it was extremely long.
In about two sticks of incense, Song Lian finished reading the entire list, looked up at the crowd and said, "The above is the list of all candidates who have made the list."
Sure enough, there is no Xie Chunfang.
Su Jing hardly knew any of the candidates, so she only heard if Xie Chunfang's name was there.
Nothing unexpected happened.
As for whether there was any fraud, Su Jing did not participate in the invigilation of the on-site exam at that time.
However, this was the first imperial examination in the Ming Dynasty. It is expected that there should be no open-minded people who dare to cheat.
At least this test question is absolutely impossible for Song Lian to leak.
Not to mention, these Jinshi who are on the list have to pass the imperial examination by Zhu Yuanzhang himself.
Once discovered, it would undoubtedly be a capital offense.
"Master Song, is that all?"
One candidate couldn't help but ask after not hearing his name.
Song Lian nodded slightly and said, "That's all."
Upon hearing this answer, the examinee immediately stumbled back. That is to say, there were many people behind him, so he did not fall down.
Hearing this, the other candidates also had a look of sadness on their faces.
After all, there are only a few who are happy, and most of them are candidates who failed.
The huge crowd suddenly fell into an atmosphere of sadness and silence.
Faced with such a situation, Song Lian had nothing to console him for, after all, he was unable to pass the exam because of his lack of strength.
Su Jing on the side noticed something strange from the list that Song Lian just reported.
Most of the candidates on the list are from the Jiangnan area.
This couldn't help but remind Su Jing of the famous Nanbei Bang Case in the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty. Of course, the Nanbei Bang Case occurred in the last years of Hongwu.
There is definitely no such thing now, but now the admission list has begun to take shape.
Fundamentally speaking, the south is already rich, with more scholars and higher education levels, so its strength is naturally stronger than that of the north.
Also, the marking teachers this time are all bachelors from the Hanlin Academy, and most of them are bachelors from Jiangnan.
This does not mean that people who are both from Jiangnan deliberately cheated in admission, but each place has its own answering style. In this regard, southern scholars will naturally be more favored by the marking team, and will naturally be more likely to be on the list.
"Everyone, Su Jing, please listen to me first."
Thinking of this moment, Su Jing took a step forward and spoke loudly to the candidates.
Su Jing's name is still very loud in the capital.
Being able to be specially conferred the title of Ren Yuanbo by Zhu Yuanzhang in his twenties, such a character is naturally passed down by word of mouth, let alone in a place like the capital.
The moment Su Jing opened her mouth, she directly attracted the attention of many candidates.
Su Jing looked as normal and said: "I know that many of you have been living in poverty for ten years, or even twenty or thirty years. You have paid unbearable hardships and continued to study hard, so that you can participate in this competition." Imperial Examination of the Ming Dynasty."
"You are good! Although only a part of them were admitted this time, I believe that those who were not admitted are not because you are not good enough. This is the first imperial examination in Ming Dynasty. This will not be the only imperial examination in Ming Dynasty. You There will be many opportunities.”
"Of course, I also know that many of you, in order to rush to the capital to take the exam, also raised travel expenses all the way, and finally got here with great difficulty."
"But I ask you to believe that His Majesty is very clear about these things, and His Majesty's eyes just missed you. This failure is not a lifelong failure, and your life does not end here."
"Just like His Majesty's uprising, which started at a very young age, he has encountered enemies many times stronger than himself, but His Majesty never gave up, so he was able to conquer the world and establish the Ming Dynasty."
"Just now I think you also noticed that in this list of gold medals, there are more scholars from the south. The academic atmosphere in the south is better than that in the north. This is recognized by everyone, but this does not mean that scholars from the north will always lag behind. To the southern scholars. Next time, I hope to see more northern scholars’ names on the gold list.”
"And I will leave it to you to realize this expectation of mine. Of course, the southern scholars will not sit still and wait for death. This is a competition for knowledge and common progress."
"Everyone, the future of Ming Dynasty is in your hands, and if you want to change your future, you need to make more efforts. Don't be discouraged by this momentary failure, cheer up, work hard, and prepare for the next imperial examination. Be prepared, this is what I, a scholar of the Ming Dynasty, should look like. Do you think so?"
Su Jing's impassioned speech directly aroused the atmosphere of all the scholars.
The originally lifeless atmosphere turned into excitement.
Some candidates even asked: "Uncle Ren Yuan, will your Majesty really not forget us?"
As a failed candidate, he didn't feel that he could still be cared about by the emperor even if he didn't make the exam.
But it was Su Jing who said this, and he didn't completely disbelieve it.
Su Jing smiled and said: "Some of the things I said are useless, but if you are not in a hurry, you might as well stay in the capital for a few more days. Then you will naturally know whether His Majesty has forgotten you."
Su Jing still knew something about the status of scholars in the Ming Dynasty.
Lao Zhu treated scholars very favorably, including generous policies in all aspects.
However, this is the first imperial examination of the Ming Dynasty, and many things have not yet been put on the agenda.
"Okay, since Uncle Ren Yuan said it, I'll take a look."
The candidate nodded, seemingly inspired.
The other candidates who failed the exam also calmed down a lot, or rather became agitated.
For many candidates, the blow of failure this time is really too big.
Whether it is spiritually or materially.
Su Jing's encouragement, on the one hand, encouraged them spiritually, and on the other hand, it told them that the emperor had not forgotten them, and the material compensation would not be bad.
Of course, Su Jing will not say anything openly about things that have not happened yet.
Falsely preaching imperial edicts is a grave sin.
The candidates recovered their emotions and slowly left the court hall. However, there were so many people that it took nearly an hour for everyone to leave safely.
If it is not done well, it can easily cause a stampede accident.
When the candidates were gone, Song Lian looked at Su Jing with a sad face and said: "Uncle Renyuan, you shouldn't be so hasty about this matter! Your Majesty has never mentioned how to deal with these failed candidates, how can you openly deal with it?" What are they saying?"
Su Jing looked at Song Lian, slightly disappointed.
He didn't expect that his impassioned words just now would actually have an effect on an old scholar like Song Lian.
"Sir Song, what I just said was for you, sir!"
Su Jing sighed.
Song Lian looked stunned and asked with some confusion: "Uncle Renyuan, what do you mean by this? Please clarify."
Su Jing explained helplessly: "Master Song, you are the examiner this time, right?"
"Well, I am the man appointed by Your Majesty, and I am honored by His Majesty's trust."
Song Lian nodded, quite proudly.
Being the chief examiner of the imperial examination is a great honor for scholars all over the world.
Song Lian was very proud to be the examiner of the first imperial examination after the founding of the Ming Dynasty.
Su Jing said calmly: "Your Majesty trusts you. These lists were naturally drawn up by Mr. Song together with many Hanlin bachelors from the Hanlin Academy."
"Yes, Uncle Ren Yuan is right. There are a total of 3,242 examination papers. I and many colleagues from the Hanlin Academy worked hard day and night for ten days to come up with this list. It is absolutely fair and just, and it is Don’t be afraid of any inspection.”
Song Lian said quite confidently.
He personally reviewed and approved all these examination papers, and he asked himself that what he had done was very fair.
The most important thing in the imperial examination is fairness and impartiality.
After all, this is related to the fate of scholars all over the world. If the imperial examination loses its credibility, then Ming Dynasty will definitely suffer a huge impact.
After listening to Song Lian's words, Su Jing finally understood why the North-South Ranking Case occurred in the last years of Hongwu.
Although Song Lian was no longer the examiner at that time, this trend had been passed down.
"Master Song, you should have heard clearly what I just said to those candidates. Are you aware of the problem with the number of scholars admitted from the north and the south?"
Su Jing asked calmly.
After hearing this, Song Lian immediately took another look at the gold list. After checking it, he nodded and said: "It is true that there are many scholars from the south, but I have a clear conscience. Even if I have to take out all the papers and check them one by one with Your Majesty, I have no fear!"
Song Lian asked herself that she was fair enough and was not worried at all.
Su Jing shook her head. This old man really only regarded herself as the examiner.
"Sir Song, have you ever thought about what the northern scholars would think if the majority of the imperial examinations held every year from now on are from the south?"
Su Jing said calmly: "If the northern scholars come together to criticize you, Mr. Song, the examiner will be unfair. Do you think His Majesty believes in you or those northern scholars?"
"Or maybe Mr. Song thinks that because northern scholars are not good at studying, they should not join the court as officials and pass the imperial examinations?"
Su Jing's three consecutive questions confused Song Lian.
Although Song Lian is an old scholar, he is a little slow when it comes to matters in the court.
But Su Jing had made it so clear. No matter how stupid Song Lian was, he should have understood.
He immediately realized that there was something wrong with the way he selected scholars.
The Ming Dynasty was not only in the south, but also in the north.
The examination paper needs to be fair and just, but it also needs to be fair and just to the northern scholars. After all, the conditions in the north are harsh and the academic style is not strong, so it is not comparable to the south.
If this really arouses a siege from the northern scholars, no one will be able to protect themselves.
fine!
fine!
This is only the first imperial examination in the Ming Dynasty. These problems are not big yet.
"Thank you, Uncle Ren Yuan, for reminding me. I'm so stupid that I didn't understand Uncle Ren Yuan's profound meaning!"
Song Lian immediately bowed to Su Jing, feeling quite frightened.
Su Jing's words just now directly clarified the situation of the admission of scholars from the north and the south. This was really explaining to herself that the current situation was just because of the early Ming Dynasty, when the north was slightly deficient and gave the opportunity to the northern scholars. An acceptable reason.
"Okay, Mr. Song, I have done what I can do. I think what happened today will soon reach His Majesty's ears. You can think of how to explain it to His Majesty."
After Su Jing finished speaking, she turned around and left.
It is certainly impossible for Lao Zhu not to send people to keep an eye on such a major event.
…
Forbidden City, inside Fengxian Hall.
"Su Jing really said this?"
Zhu Yuanzhang frowned and asked the pro-army captain kneeling in front of him.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, these words were spoken by Ren Yuanbo to all the candidates in a loud voice, and everyone present heard them."
The pro-military captain replied respectfully.
Zhu Yuanzhang asked again: "Did you hear what Su Jing and Song Lian said after that?"
The pro-military captain shook his head and said: "Uncle Ren Yuan and Mr. Song were talking face to face. I can't show up in the court again. I didn't hear it."
Zhu Yuanzhang was slightly disappointed and waved his hand: "Okay, you can go down."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
As the pro-military captain left, Zhu Yuanzhang raised his lips slightly and said: "You Su Jing, you dare to falsely tell us what you said, you are so brave!"
Lao Zhu originally thought of summoning Su Jing over and giving him a good questioning.
But thinking carefully about Su Jing's remarks just relayed by the pro-military captain, it seems that he did not really say what he, the emperor, was going to do.
It's just that the emperor will not forget those candidates who failed. If Su Jing is questioned, doesn't it mean that he has forgotten those candidates who failed.
Zhu Yuanzhang reacted and immediately gave up the idea.
After thinking for a moment, Zhu Yuanzhang shouted: "Call Song Lian, we have something to ask him."
If it’s not easy to ask Su Jing, you can naturally ask Song Lian.
Zhu Yuanzhang also had his own considerations in mind when Su Jing was asked to participate in the imperial examination.
Su Jing is young enough and will definitely assist Prince Zhu Biao in the future.
So now for these scholars who are participating in the imperial examination, it is best to let them have a simple meeting, at least get to know them.
As emperor and courtier, Zhu Yuanzhang paved the way for Zhu Biao early on.
At the same time, he also knew very well that there were many failed candidates in the imperial examination this time, but there would still be many failed candidates among the ministers in the future.
Zhu Yuanzhang still agreed with Su Jing's words.
He had already thought about it and would make good arrangements for these failed candidates.
Those who can come to participate in this autumn ceremony are all outstanding scholars who have passed examinations from various places. They are all potential stocks, so we cannot neglect them.
This was the reason why Zhu Yuanzhang raised the corners of his mouth just now. Su Jing and he thought about it together. (End of chapter)
