Dragon map of the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 1572 County Examination Proposition ([-]-word chapter)

The Central Plains is in turmoil, and Hebei has fallen into the eve of a war. All parties are planning and racking their brains, hoping to carve up the power in Hebei.

But at this time, the southwest ushered in the middle of March in the second year of Taiwu. This day was a special day for the scholars of the Ming Dynasty.

On March [-]th, the Ming Dynasty will hold the first county examination of the imperial examination. At that time, every county under the jurisdiction of the Ming Dynasty will hold a big examination.

A new dynasty requires a new attitude.

The imperial examination is a manifestation of new attitude.

The imperial examination is not only a system to abandon the old system of filial piety and integrity, but also a move to allow the Ming court to recruit talents from all over the world.

It doesn't matter whether the imperial court agrees or opposes it. When the imperial examination begins, it is an opportunity for every scholar.

The children of the famous families will think that this is an opportunity to compete with scholars all over the world. In their view, this is a chance to prove themselves, and for the poor family, this is an opportunity to stand out.

All scholars have great expectations for the imperial examination.

Literati is light.

As the saying goes, there is no first in literature, and no second in martial arts. The scholar, what he is most afraid of is fighting for the top. If he doesn't talk about getting ahead, at least being able to overwhelm others is honor.

Real scholars, in fact, mostly have a good name without profit. The more famous their reputation is, the more they think that they are promising.

The existence of the imperial examinations made them see the hope of making themselves famous all over the world. Anyone with a little confidence and strength would come to participate, and they were unwilling to miss such a good opportunity.

........................

However, it was also the first time for Ming Dynasty to hold an imperial examination, and without any experience, even Mujing could only give a general direction. As for what to do, the court could only cross the river by feeling the stones.

Compared with the imperial examination committee, the pressure is even greater.

It's already the eleventh day of March, but the imperial examination committee is still arguing endlessly about the proposition of the county examination.Never a result.

It has not been a few days since the imperial court sent out the questions, printed them, and entered the examination room, and the time is even more urgent in places farther away.

So the entire imperial examination committee even entered into a sleepless discussion meeting.

The official office of the Imperial Examination Committee is not in Daming Palace, but to the right of Daming Palace, in a small two-story courtyard under the name of the Ministry of Rites. It is a bit quiet here, with bamboo forests on the left and right, which can be considered elegant.

Above the hall, the voices of arguments are constantly echoing.

The chairman of the imperial examination committee is Cai Yong.

The vice chairmen are Sima Hui and Shi Xie.

There are dozens of members below.

There are hundreds of people in the entire imperial examination committee, and these hundreds of people have been lingering on the proposition of the county examination, and have debated many times, but there has been no result.

The main reason is the difference of opinion between Cai Yong and Shi Xie.

Shi Xie controls the Department of Education and has a greater understanding of the entire Ming Dynasty education, while Cai Yong has always been more inclined to Confucianism, so when making a proposition, there were some differences and debates.

Scholars sometimes talk about fame, but they are more stubborn. No one can deny that reading can be wise.

Shi Xie is not a very, very honest scholar, but he also studied under the great Confucian Liu Tao, so he has somewhat of the integrity of a scholar.

Even if Cai Yong is present, he thinks he is right, and he is unwilling to retreat.

As the chief examiner of the county examination, he has more power to propose questions. In this regard, he can argue with Cai Yong whether he is right or wrong, and if it is spread, he will not be accused of it.

"Since ancient times, the Four Books and Five Classics have been the foundation of a scholar. If you don't even read the Four Books and Five Classics well, how much you can learn is nothing but nonsense!"

Cai Yong was also very firm in his will. He still hoped to base the examination questions on the basis of the Four Books and Five Classics, but Shi Xie always maintained his own opinion.

"Cai Xiang, the way of enlightenment in Ming Dynasty has changed. You used to be in charge of Hongdu school. Under the system of Hongdu school, the Four Books and Five Classics are only the foundation. Relatively speaking, mathematics and science, miscellaneous subjects, we We must also make achievements!" Shi Xie said in a low voice: "Cai Xiang should know that in the selection of talents in the imperial examination, one must learn the Four Books and Five Classics well to be a talent. , the imperial court needs, the Ministry of Industry needs talents who are proficient in Mohism skills, the Ministry of Households needs talents who are proficient in actuarial mathematics, and the Ministry of War needs to be proficient in the study of military strategists. Not necessarily!"

"What nonsense!"

Cai Yong squinted his eyes and stared at Shi Xie. He had no objection to Shi Xie, but he felt that this idea was digging the roots of Confucianism. After all, Cai Yong has read Confucian classics for decades, and he is a scholar of Confucian beliefs. Change, it is impossible for him to let people dig out the foundation of their Confucianism.

Once the imperial examination is successful, the trend of the imperial examination questions will have a great chance to affect the direction of future scholars' study. Once many scholars think that reading the Four Books and Five Classics is not enough for them to become officials, they will abandon Confucianism without hesitation.

"Cai Xiang, if you only take the Four Books and Five Classics as the basis of the proposition, it will be very unfair to many students of Hongdu School!"

"If it's fair for them, don't we want to be unfair to the world? The previous dynasty has only respected Confucianism for so long. How could it be reversed in a short period of time for scholars to specialize in Confucianism!"

Cai Yong spoke loudly, and said coldly: "We are not selecting talents for Hongdumen, but for Ming Dynasty. Shi Weiyan, you have to understand this principle!"

"It makes sense!"

Shi Xie squinted his eyes and looked at Cai Yong, but there was no certainty in his eyes. He quickly responded: "But Cai Xiang knows, these years, every school in the county has used those textbooks. , the study of mathematics and science is broad and profound, and it has long been listed as one of the main subjects. The world is not only from major academies, but more students from county schools, is this fair to them?"

Just as they were arguing, footsteps were heard outside.

There is martial law here. In order to ensure the fairness and fairness of the imperial examination, no one is allowed to contact the people of the imperial examination committee at this time, except the current Hu Xiang and the emperor.

The one who can come in at this time is either Hu Zhao, or only one person, who is today.

It was Mujing who came.

Mu Jing strided in like a tiger, striding in like a star, with a fierce look on his face, he didn't wait for the ministers to greet him, and scolded directly: "What are you doing? Go to the county!"

He also only heard the news today that the imperial examination committee has not yet sent the propositions for the county examination. This is not the future. Every place can be reached by plane in a few hours. Hurry up, hurry up, basically you won't be able to arrive for several days.

If this drags on, the imperial examination will have to be postponed.

This was the first imperial examination since the establishment of the Ming Dynasty. If something happened, Mu Jing would have the heart to eat all of them up.

"Your Majesty, calm down!"

All the ministers pleaded guilty one after another.

"Don't tell me these things, I'm full of anger now, just be direct, why hasn't the proposition come out yet!" Solved, the imperial examination is about to have an accident.

"Your Majesty!" It was Sima Hui who stood up, and he cupped his hands and said, "Cai Xiang and the head of the scholar have had a dispute over the direction of the proposition. It has been several days, and so far they have not been able to convince both parties. All committee members have voted and cannot reach a consensus. That's why it's time to procrastinate!"

"different opinions?"

Mu Jing glanced at old man Cai, and was looking at Shi Xie, but he didn't expect Shi Xie to be so tough, and he would fight hard with old man Cai.

He sat down, looked at the two of them with a big horse, and asked: "Tell me, where there is a disagreement, I can decide what I can decide. If it doesn't suit your wishes, then the committee will be broken up and rebuilt. You can't do it." For things, don’t blame me for being cruel and merciless, it’s hard to find three-legged toads in Ming Dynasty, and you can catch a lot of people with two legs!”

This time, he was really angry. After all, he had great expectations for the imperial examination, and hoped that this would be a good opportunity to tear up the New Deal.

If something goes wrong, not only the imperial examination system will not be able to replace the system of promoting filial piety and honesty, but history will go backwards, and the New Deal of Ming Dynasty will be hindered.

This is absolutely unacceptable to Mu Jing.

For the sake of the Ming Dynasty's New Deal, he racked his brains and even prepared to pull down Liu Jin, who has been working hard all the time. Whoever dares to make trouble, he will really kill people.

"Your Majesty, my minister advocates that Confucianism, mathematics and science are propositions!"

Shi Xie cupped his hands and said.

"Your Majesty, I believe that in today's world, Confucianism is orthodox, and the Four Books and Five Classics are the foundation of scholars. When it comes to talent and learning, the Four Books and Five Classics are the foundation. Propositions based on the Four Books and Five Classics are the right way!"

Cai Yong said in a low voice.

When they said that, Mujing knew what the problem was. The collision between new ideas and old things was a good thing, but it happened at this time.

Mu Jing put Shi Xie in the Department of Education because it was easier for Shi Xie to accept his educational concepts, and he couldn't just cultivate a group of scholars who are as good as they are.

If he is an all-round talent.

Since the establishment of Hongdu Menxue, Mu Jing has already begun to inspire the mathematics of today's era. Over the years, he has personally compiled mathematics textbooks. Although they are all simple mathematics, in this era, it is the beginning of the development of mathematics. .

Hongdu Institute of Science and Technology can develop so fast, and can quickly present a group of scientific research talents, which has a lot to do with the rapid development of Ming's mathematics.

But in the past, scholars only refer to those who read Confucian classics, and others are heretics.

This is also the current environment.

At present, most of the scholars refer to Confucian scholars and scholars, 90.00% of them are disciples of Confucianism, and they read Confucian classics.

If you make a proposition in the imperial examination but miss the Confucian classics, it will be a huge blow to countless scholars, and it may even cause a disturbance in this selection of talents.

Therefore, whether it is Cai Yong or Shi Xie, their considerations are correct. Cai Yong is trying to stabilize the situation. The knife under the forest changes a sideways way of today's knowledge.

This is where new ideas meet old traditions.

In normal times, Mujing would add fuel to the fire, make the fire vigorous, make the public opinion to the extreme, let people all over the world participate, and lay a solid foundation for mathematics and science to become one of the main subjects in the future.

But now, the timing is wrong.

"Cai Xiang's idea is correct!" Mu Jing pondered for a while, then sighed softly: "The master's idea is also correct, you are all thinking about the stability and future of Daming!"

He praised both of them, and then glanced at Sima Hui. The two of them are fighting for life, and you old man is actually watching the show, isn't it?

He immediately pulled Sima Hui into the battle: "What do you think, Mr. Shui Jing?"

"Chen, I have no objection!"

Sima Hui smiled wryly. He just understood it, so he couldn't express his opinion. Whoever is biased in this matter is either right or wrong, and it mainly depends on his mind.

And he also has a reason not to participate: "And the matter of the proposition, as the examiner and supervisor, it is not easy to participate, otherwise there will be suspicion of cheating!"

"Old slippery head!" Mu Jing finally understands. Although Sima Hui has not been an official for many years, he is also the kind of person who can know the affairs of the world without going out, and can understand the tactics of the court. very.

Mu Jing thought about it, looked at Cai Yong, then at Shi Xie, and then glanced at the members of the imperial examination committee. There are those from the Ministry of Households, the Ministry of Officials, the Ministry of Industry, and the Ministry of Etiquette. Yes, they are all court officials.

Their thoughts are also very important.

"Do you have any ideas?" Mu Jing asked the officials in a low voice.

All the ministers shook their heads slightly when they heard the words. They couldn't understand it, and they were going to get mixed up in this matter. They might be drowned by the spitting star.

"In that case, let me make a decision!"

Mu Jing stood up and said: "Cai Xiang, Confucianism is the foundation, and I also recognize it. First learn to be a man, and then learn to be an official. If you can't even be a man, you don't want to be an official. The Confucian classics, the Four Books and the Five Classics are all It is a matter of course to make a proposition based on the great knowledge handed down from generation to generation, but..."

Mu Jing's deep voice was very powerful, covering the entire courtyard: "We Daming, we can't always look back, we have to look forward, the power of mathematics and science, Cai Xiang should also understand that in the future, Daming will need more mathematics and science. Talent, if there is no science in the imperial examination, who will learn mathematics and science, we can't be too partial!"

"Then what does His Majesty mean?" Cai Yong narrowed his eyes and stared at Mu Jing. If Mu Jing gave the order, he would really have no way to refute it. Confucianism might really fall apart.

"This time, Confucian classics dominate the questions. There are five counties in the county exam, so four-fifths of the questions are divided, and mathematics and science take up one-fifth!" Character is very important, knowledge is also very important, and this knowledge is not just Confucian knowledge!"

"Minister, take orders!" Cai Yong struggled a bit, watching Shi Xie sharpen his knife, he knew that there was no more time to fight, and he knew how much Mu Jing valued the imperial examination. If he is disgusted, even if he is the old man Mujing, he may not be able to bear it.

"That's it!"

Mu Jing took a deep breath, looked at Shi Xie again, and reminded: "Wei Yan, everything needs to be done step by step, and you can't do it too hastily. This is also a good start!"

He also wants to be fair, but the principle of fairness must be based on the stability of Ming Dynasty. As the emperor, he does not allow to be willful.

"Yes!"

Shi Xie was a little bit unwilling, but he already knew that this was the best result.

With a general direction, the action of the entire committee becomes rapid.

In less than two days, the propositions of the county examination were quickly completed, and then began to make plates and print them. They would be printed in Yudu and sealed, and then secretly passed on to the county examiners through the emissary of the questions.

Although movable type printing has been developed, it is still a very advanced technology. It will not be mature enough to reduce costs in ten or twenty years, so not every county has it.

There are quite a few in Chongqing, and there are no less than five large printing workshops controlled by the Education Department of the imperial court alone, which can easily complete such work.

And to prevent leaking questions, every emissary who passed the questions came out of the Shenwei Army. Three people formed a group and escorted the proposition papers to each county. Order, any mistakes, the envoy must be responsible.

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On the morning of March [-]th, when the sun rose, Daming held the first county examination for the imperial examination, and all prefectures and counties in Daming focused on every scholar who participated in the imperial examination.

The rules of the county examination had been promulgated one month before the examination.

There are five exams in total in three days.

Every county has established a tribute courtyard, which was ordered by the imperial court. The existence of the tribute courtyard is to make the imperial examination more rigorous.

From the day of the exam, there will be six gates around the Tribute Academy for closed guards. You must finish the exam every day before you can come out, otherwise you are not allowed to enter or leave.

Every candidate entering the Tribute Academy will also undergo a very strict body search.

This time the imperial examination was the first time for the Ming court. Although the court did not have much experience and the imperial examination committee was very unfamiliar, Mu Jing still had some ideas.

Not to mention that Mu Jing has learned so much from history, but he has gone through countless exams in the future, so he naturally has some means when it comes to strict exams.

And this time, Mu Jing has proposed that the examination papers will be graded using the Feng Mi transcription system, which is a system already used in the imperial examinations in the Northern Song Dynasty.

That is, after the exam, the test paper will be sealed, and in order to reduce handwriting manipulation and let people who are familiar with it correct the paper, so there will be a transcript, that is, let people copy the test paper.

In this way, the marking officer will not know who the test paper he corrected belongs to.

Cheating is largely prevented.

Of course, no matter how strict the system is, there will be loopholes, even in the future, there is no way to stop this behavior.

It's just that Mujing and the imperial court hope to do better, so they will gradually improve the system of imperial examinations.

Seventeen, eighteen, nineteen.

Three days passed in a flash.

The county examination for the first imperial examination in the Ming Dynasty was considered over when the bell rang in the afternoon of the [-]th, and countless students walked out of the Gongyuan from county to county.

Among these scholars, some are full of energy, some are downcast, some are sad and angrily scolding the court, and some are silent, all living beings and all kinds of appearances appear.

(End of this chapter)