Xian Sun of the Ning Mansion of the Red Chamber

At that time, the eighth year of Jiade, the ninth day of August, autumn.

Shandong Gongyuan.

Headed by Liu Peijun, followed by Jia Ying, followed by the governors and officials of Shandong Province, first visited the Confucian Temple of Confucius and Mencius next to the Gongyuan early in the morning. The main examiner of the second township examination read out the decree in public and repeatedly emphasized the regulations of the scientific examination, and everyone settled down to their duties. With the sound of a gong, the gate of the Gongyuan slowly opened, and the scholars who had been waiting outside began to inspect the school and enter.

After noon, all the scholars entered the arena, and with the sound of a gong, this year's Shandong provincial examination officially began.

Upstairs in Mingyuan, for the first round, Jia Ying seemed to be doing nothing. It had already been decided that day. The first round of Four Books and Five Classics questions were all written by the chief examiner Liu Peijun. Walking around, I can only stay in Mingyuan Building safely, these three days are still very difficult.

While bored, Jia Ying casually picked up the papers on the table and examined the first exam questions given by Liu Peijun.

The meaning of the first four books are: "serve the king, respect his work, and then eat his food."

"Be kind to the people and be kind to the people, be kind to the people and love things."

"That's why a gentleman should first be cautious about virtue."

Four Books, a total of three questions, one on "The Analects of Confucius", one on "Mencius", and one on "University" or "The Doctrine of the Mean".Liu Peijun's three questions are from "The Analects", "Mencius" and "Great Learning". They seem to be quite satisfactory, but in fact there are quite a lot of talking heads.

The first topic talks about loyalty to the emperor, which is the foundation of being a scholar, the second topic talks about loving the people, which is the foundation of being an official, and the third topic talks about self-cultivation, which is the foundation of being a person.

Loyal to the emperor, love the people and cultivate one's morality, choose officials as officials and be human beings.

This can be regarded as representing the highest requirement for talents under the influence of Confucian culture. Scholars who are as good as they are, who can answer the three questions well, still have some lofty ambitions when they were studying, but how many can persevere , it is unknown.

The following are four classics and meanings. Jia Ying skimmed through them roughly. Among the five classics, Spring and Autumn are the only ones missing.

Jia Ying frowned, without Er Ye's age, it's not bad.

A fellow examiner at the side noticed Jia Ying's change of expression, and asked carefully, "Master Jia, what's wrong?"

Everyone in the room, including Liu Peijun who was sitting in the main seat, also looked over upon hearing the sound.

Jia Ying still frowned, and asked, "Have these seven exam questions been distributed?"

Someone replied: "The scroll-handler has announced the meaning of the Four Books, and the meaning of the Five Classics has just been sent to the outer curtain, but it should not be released yet."

Jia Ying laughed at himself and said: "I just read the exam questions, but it reminded me of all the things I did when I was studying. I'm afraid you don't know much about it. What I studied back then was "Spring and Autumn".

After finishing speaking, he let out a long sigh with regret on his face: "Unfortunately, this time the chief examiner of the rural examination has no chance to know the meaning of "Spring and Autumn" written by Shandong scholars."

When scholars choose to study the Five Classics, there are actually risks. For example, this time, only four questions are taken for the classics and meanings of the scientific examination, and the theory of the Spring and Autumn Classics is missing. Forget it, if there is or still accounts for a lot, then in the first level of the Five Classics, you can only choose one that you are not familiar with as a promise test.

In fact, this kind of phenomenon is also common in the major scientific examinations. Whether the scholars can encounter the classics and meanings they are good at depends on the number of days. Yue will use various channels to inquire about the chief and deputy examiners who preside over the provincial examination, and guess and infer the types of questions for this scientific examination based on the examiners' past studies.

Some are rich in academic studies, maybe they have dabbled in the Five Classics, but these are a minority after all, and people's energy is limited, so it is already great to be able to cure one.If one is unlucky and happens to specialize in a certain classic, and happens to meet an examiner who is not good at this classic, then this provincial examination can only be regarded as a sequential practice of writing.

Speaking of which, he had some luck when he took part in the provincial examination.Jia Ying originally ruled the Spring and Autumn Period, but as a person of two generations, he also has his own preparations for this situation. He has also read the other four classics, but he is not specialized. Before taking the exam, prepare a few sets of templates for the classics. Even if you can't write any beautiful chapters, you can still pass the provincial examination. After all, Yunnan is not as serious as Shandong.

Therefore, although Liu Peijun missed the age alone, there is nothing wrong with it, but Jia Ying, as the deputy chief examiner of the township examination, is also dedicated to the age, although he has never paid attention to it, there are probably many scholars It was for him, the deputy chief examiner, if he didn't argue about this matter, it would seem a little unreasonable.

It is said that if one is added to the Spring and Autumn Period, the other subjects will be dismissed, which is not fair to other scholars.

Heh, he is a doctor of spring and autumn, so it would be strange to worry about other classics.

What's more, he is the deputy chief examiner, he is willing to give Liu Peijun face, but the other party seems to be a little careless.

Hearing this, Liu Peijun's expression turned down for a moment, but then he returned to normal, the two had already agreed that he would play the first round of seven, and Jia Ying suddenly brought up this matter at this moment, it was clear that he was falling for him Liu's face.

But since Jia Ying pointed out this matter in front of everyone, it is not as simple as the so-called "unfortunate" in the words, it is clearly alluding to re-drafting the exam questions.

Although Liu Peijun was unhappy, he still didn't dare to reject Jia Ying. The other party returned to Beijing this time, and his official prestige became more and more serious. He could only say with a smile on his face: "This official was negligent, but I forgot about this, Jia Ying. Your Excellency, as the deputy chief examiner of this township examination, also specializes in age, if there is no age question in the examination questions, it would be unreasonable."

"How about this, send someone to notify the examiner, if the exam questions haven't been released yet, it's better to take it back and re-draft the paper before it's too late."

The first round of the township examination lasted for three days, and there was plenty of time. Generally, the examiners only released the Five Classics after presuming that the candidates had answered the Four Books well enough to answer the questions. Therefore, it is not illegal to temporarily recall and change .

"It's not that good." Jia Ying showed hesitation.

Liu Peijun cursed secretly in his heart, but said with a smile on his face: "It's okay, you and I are both the examiners. This draft question should be decided by both of you and me. It's just a matter of recalling it and drafting it again."

In the aisle of the number room cluster.

The officer in charge of the papers had already posted the five classics questions that had been drawn up on the list for publicity. After the sound of the gong, the soldiers passed the test questions in front of each hall, so that the candidates could see the questions clearly.There are candidates whose numbers are close to each other, who have already seen the four questions of the Five Classics, some who are secretly happy, and some who are sad. Among them, the candidate with the number [-] looked over the test questions, and his face suddenly collapsed , and at the same time showed a puzzled look.

Could it be that the deputy chief examiner has changed?

Originally, it was not easy to find out who the official who was in charge of the examination was. This kind of news can only be spread among the children of officials. Of course, it is extremely difficult for poor students to prepare in advance.

Candidates with No. [-] Zanzi are of course not from a poor family. His family has generations of scholars, and a family of three generations of Jinshi. Since his great-grandfather, he has been in charge of the National History Museum of the Imperial Academy, and he has been appointed as the president. His grandfather also inherited his father's will until he In my father's generation, he had just selected a good scholar, and because his grandfather recorded the abolition of the crown prince and righteous loyalty in the history of the emperor, he offended Emperor Xuanlong, ordered him to be dismissed from office and imprisoned, and his father also implicated.When the new emperor ascended the throne, there was no recovery momentum.

It wasn't until his grandfather died of old age in prison that his father was released and returned to his hometown, but he died in depression within two years, and the Xia family fell into a slump and became a fallen noble family.

However, the lintel is down, the airs are still there, and Xia's family is well-known in Shandong. Xia Shouyan's knowledge and contacts from a scholarly family since childhood are naturally not comparable to ordinary poor families. He basically knows all the officials with names and surnames in the Shandong area.

On the bank of Daming Lake that day, he happened to meet a young man who was not a few years older than him, and ordered a painting from him for ten taels of silver. When I saw a few familiar figures on the small island in the lake, I realized that I was wrong.Although it is difficult to find out who the chief examiner is, it is not difficult to know the same examiners and field officials.

After some inquiries in the same year, I found out that the young man who was not a few years older than him was Uncle Jingning of the dynasty, Tan Hualang of Jiade Jihai Enke, and it was rumored that he was the deputy examiner of the Shandong Provincial Examination. .

When the Liaodong mutiny came from the north, and the news that Jingningbo Jiaying was ordered to lead the Japanese soldiers to the north to suppress the rebellion, the scholars in Shandong also knew the identity of this person thoroughly.

With careful attention, someone picked up all kinds of information about this past scientific examination. Since it was the first time to preside over a rural examination, it was hard to say what style it was. Scholars were most concerned about the age of this Five Classics Ruler.

Xia Shouyan is also one of them. His family is a family of official historians, and there is no one who writes history who does not read the Spring and Autumn Period.

Xia Shouyan, who was burdened with the burden of revitalizing his family, was still secretly happy because of this, but when the exam questions came out, he was completely dumbfounded.

"Oh, I'm afraid I'll come back in three years."

Except for Spring and Autumn, he is not good at other scriptures.

Just as he was sighing, he saw the official who was about to strike the gong and hammer suddenly stopped, and then saw an official rushing over with a stack of test papers, and then the examiner began to order the replacement of the test questions , covering the newly drafted scripture questions on the first test questions.

Candidates from a nearby dormitory changed their complexion after seeing the newly prepared test questions, and shouted: "My lord, it has been announced, why did you suddenly change the questions? It's not fair."

Hearing the sound, the inspector arrived and shouted: "Stop making a noise, and the offender will be kicked out of the Gongyuan."

Only then did the examiner say: "The gong and hammer haven't been struck yet, so how can I announce it? Are you questioning the two chief examiners?"

"Students don't dare." The student hurriedly said, even if he had ten guts, he wouldn't dare to question the examiner and offend the teacher, unless he didn't want to be in an official career.

The examiner paid no attention to the other party, rang the gong himself, and said loudly: "Let's leave the question."

"The guild of Marquis Jin, Duke Song, Marquis Wei, Cao Bo, Juzi, Zhuzi, Qi Shizi Guang, Tengzi, Xue Bo, Qi Bo, and Xiaoluzi attacked Zheng and guarded Zheng Hulao [Ten Years of Duke Xiang]. Guild Jin Hou, Song Gong, Wei Hou, Cao Bo, Qi Shizi Guang, Zhu Zi, Teng Zi, Xue Bo, Qi Bo, and Xiao Zhu Zi attacked Zheng, and they met at Xiao Yu [the 11th year of Duke Xiang].

"Chu Quwan came to form an alliance with the teacher, and the alliance in Zhaoling [the fourth year of Duke Xi]. The Marquis of Qi made the Guozuo Ru the teacher. And the Guozuo alliance with Yuan Yao [the second year of Chenggong]."

"."

After Xia Shouyan saw Chunqiuyi's four selected questions, he was gradually relieved when the officer in charge of the scroll handed it to Room No. [-], and looked at the dimly lit Mingyuan Building from the distance. Although Xia Shouyan didn't know What happened in the Mingyuan building, but it can be guessed that it is definitely related to the deputy examiner Jia Ying.

Time flies, and the first three days are over in the blink of an eye. As the most critical round of the stereotyped examination, after the first round of the exam, I already have a general idea of ​​whether I can be a sergeant.

The second examination, edict, imperial edict, table, and judgment, are relatively simpler, but they are just a fixed writing format.

Jia Ying's questions are also well-regulated. Of course, his well-regulated ideas seem to be quite different from what others understand.

Let’s look at the five questions in the second game:
On: Sea power theory.

Edict: Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty asked for a blunt and extremely admonishing scholar.

Patent: Tang Yan Zhenqing granted the Minister of Rites a patent.

Table: Zhang Jiuling of the Tang Dynasty worshiped the Zhongshu Ling to thank the table.

Judgment: ([-]) Concentrating on public affairs.

([-]) Corruption of corrupt officials.

([-]) The criminal resists arrest.

([-]) Fraudulently reporting to the customs.

([-]) Civilian ships are prohibited from going to sea.

Tracing back to the past and present, the kings of later generations who praised the prosperity and peace of the world are none other than the Han and Tang Dynasties.Therefore, whenever a question is asked, most of them use the two dynasties as examples, and do not follow other dynasties. Jia Ying is not an exception, and it can be said to be quite satisfactory.

But when the examinee saw the first question, the entire examination room of Gongyuan was stunned, not to mention them, even Liu Peijun and the other examiners in the Mingyuan Building secretly looked at each other, staring at the examination question, their heads went blank, and wanted to say something What, I was afraid of showing timidity, so I had no choice but to shut up and shake my head, as if I really had some unique insights.

Jia Ying thought it was funny, the boring Qiu Wei was finally able to see some fun, and the three days of the second match would probably be much better.

"The theory of sea power?"

"What the hell is this?"

Even Xia Shouyan, who had always been good-tempered and had a family tradition of etiquette, was stunned. He searched his brains and couldn't squeeze out any ink.

The celestial dynasty regards itself as the center, and scholars in ancient and modern times only see territory. What is the sea?

Just do the next question first, and stop making these outlandish arguments.

Xia Shouyan continued to look down, and the imperial edicts were all reasonable, and did not exceed their academic scope, thinking in his heart, "The examiner of this year is finally an individual."

It's just that when he saw the last two questions in the judgment, he was stunned again.

"What is a customs guide?"

"Oh, it was the General Administration of Customs Yamen established by the imperial court in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province last year. I remember that Ye Baichuan, a senior scholar of the dynasty, and Jia Ying, who was the governor of the Jiangnan Navy at that time, made a proposal." Xia Shouyan recalled in his mind.

"It's not difficult, it's nothing more than replacing road guides, salt and iron guides, and tea guides with customs guides."

"But what is the punishment for this civilian ship going to sea illegally? Isn't it punished as treason?"

Xia Shouyan thought about it, and felt that it would not be so simple. Since the fifth year of Guardianship, the imperial court gradually relaxed the sea ban. A large number of grain adjustments went northward, and the term sea transportation seemed to faintly compete with water transportation.

It's just that these things have only started to change in recent years. I'm afraid most scholars haven't paid attention to them. Xia Shouyan also relied on the shadow of his ancestors to know a little about the major events in the court. After all, his family is a historian. The major events that happen in the world that can affect future generations are more sensitive than most people.

Reminiscent of the sea power theory in the first question, Xia Shouyan guessed that it was also related to the deputy examiner Jia Ying.

"This one is not ordinary obsessed with the sea."

Sneaked into the night wind, moisten things silently.

Above the imperial court, Jia Ying had worked hard, and it was difficult to change some things from the top, so he could only use the opportunity of serving as the deputy chief examiner of Shandong to bring some private goods.

I don't want to change anything all at once, just sow a seed casually, one day he will get rid of those who oppose him, and things must be put on the agenda, I only hope that by then, the world's scholars will not be useless man of.

It is conceivable that the strange phenomenon of the Shandong scientific examination this time will probably be spread throughout Dagan, the two capitals and the thirteen provinces after the provincial examination. Perhaps the imperial court will also intervene. After all, the second round is not over, and there will be a third round. .

Based on his status at this time, even if the court asked about this matter, it would hardly have any influence on him.