Elegy of Tang Dynasty

Chapter 639: A New Ship Game You Have Never Seen
"Candidates enter!"

In front of the newly built "Gongyuan" gate, an official in a bright red official robe shouted.

Blah blah blah!

The crowd surged, and as the gate of the Imperial Examination Hall opened, the examinees filed in. If the soldiers on duty were not armed to the teeth, they would have rushed in directly. At that time, there would have been some tragic stampede.

After everyone went in, a soldier on duty, who was also Fang Zhongyong's personal soldier, asked Yan Zhuang, who was smiling beside him, "Minister Yan, why didn't you order me to search you?"

Yan Zhuang was in a very good mood at the moment, and he wanted to show off. He stroked his mustache and said, "We won't search them when they go in. We'll search them when they come out, hehe!"

Yan Zhuang said with a sneer on his face.

Damn, so insidious! Is this what a scholar is like?
The soldiers on duty around felt nervous.

If you are caught when you enter, you will not be allowed to take the exam. If you are caught when you leave, you will be convicted!

These soldiers all secretly sighed in their hearts that the world is dangerous and people’s hearts are no longer as they used to be.

Some people are really rotten to the core.

"All of you watch carefully. From now on, no one is allowed to enter, and no one is allowed to leave early."

Yan Zhuang said goodbye and left. He was going back to report to Fang Chongyong.

When the exam is over in the evening, Cui Qianyou will bring the tax police to the gate of the Imperial Examination Hall to catch cheaters.

Anyone who smuggles anything will be sent to Shanyuan Villa for one year of forced labor. This was what Fang Zhongyong had instructed personally.

In order to re-establish the majesty of the imperial court, Fang Zhongyong was determined to use even the trick of luring the snake out of its hole. Anyone who dared to cheat would be dealt with with an iron fist.

Yan Zhuang came to a large ship on the bank of the canal. After reporting, he was taken into the cabin and saw Fang Chongyong "marking the papers".

More than a dozen "background investigation" test papers were placed on the table, and an official couldn't help laughing from time to time.

"If these people were allowed to be the Tibetan king, the country would be destroyed and the race would be exterminated."

Seeing Yan Zhuang coming, Fang Zhongyong complained and quickly asked him to come and sit down.

"Why do officials say this?"

Yan Zhuang asked doubtfully.

"The idea of ​​these people is to take Tubo to drink from the Mayi River and not give up until they reach Luoyang.

Some people also said that they should mobilize every Tibetan household to conscript one man. They should attack the Tang Dynasty from three directions and seize the territories including Hexi, Guanzhong, and Shuofang.

Fang Zhongyong smiled helplessly.

The Tang Dynasty was still a time of flourishing military virtues, and the minds of these literati were also filled with militaristic fanaticism. Du Fu's view that "if we can stop the invasion, why should we kill so many people" was definitely a minority view.

What is the concept of one household, one man? Do these Confucian scholars know?

Fang Chongyong knew in his heart that the literati did not want to win the war, but most of them did not have the ability to do so.

On the contrary, it is the frontline soldiers who are truly "anti-war".

Why is this so? Because every time there is a war, it is these soldiers who are fighting and they are the ones who bear the casualties.

People who don’t personally take part in the battle naturally don’t care about the life and death of others, they just want to have fun!
"But, the other question has a lot of highlights."

Fang Zhongyong said this with a hint of meaning, referring to the question about solving the case.

Yan Zhuang picked up the test paper on the table and read it quickly.

Some people said that if he were the county magistrate, he would falsely claim that the stone was a sacred stone, and have an official hide behind the stone and clap his hands. He would have all the villagers kowtow to the stone. He would also spread the word that if no clapping sound was heard after the kowtow, it was the gods identifying the thief.

Anyone who hides in the village and dares not kowtow must have something to hide. If we catch him and interrogate him, we will definitely get something.

Some people also said that if he were the county magistrate, he would falsely claim that the stone was a demon stone, order people to carry it to the backyard of the county government for interrogation, and whip it with a whip. He would also allow the people to visit at will. If someone lingered at the door, not daring to go in to watch the excitement, but refusing to leave, he must be a thief.

Anyway, these people have various methods, but they all take advantage of the criminals' fear of crime. These old-timers who used to be officials understand the mentality of the people under their rule. This simple case-solving technique is not difficult for them at all.

“It’s easy to find a talent of a hundred miles, but it’s hard to find a talent who can govern a country and maintain peace.”

Fang Chongyong said with a sigh.

If we use the "qualified" standard, almost all of these papers are qualified. However, there are almost no people who are proficient in military strategy.

"A state or a county also needs people to govern it. The government should not look down on them."

Yan Zhuang gave a "kind" suggestion.

"There was no body search in the Imperial Examination Hall, right?"

Fang Chongyong suddenly remembered the reason why Yan Zhuang came here, and asked nonchalantly.

This is a major event to establish authority, but it is also only a minor event to consolidate the regime. Improving the imperial examination system and broadening the channels for advancement are as important as developing production. Both must be taken into account.

"No, I'm just waiting for the government to arrest him in a few hours!"

There was a gleam of cruelty in Yan Zhuang's eyes.

When entering the house, they searched the person and if they found any smuggled items, they would be beaten and kicked out. But if they found any smuggled items when leaving the house, it would be a serious matter.

This trick is to lure out the snakes, so that those with bad intentions can relax their vigilance. When they are exhausted after the exam, they can be caught in one fell swoop!
The dignity and prestige of the country were established step by step in this way.

"Has the test questions been changed?"

Fang Chongyong continued to ask.

"It has been changed. I personally changed it this morning. Woodblock printing is great. We just need to prepare a set of woodblocks in advance and print it out last night."

Yan Zhuang had a smug smile on his face.

He liked to see some people getting angry and frustrated but unable to do anything about it.

"Well done, this time the test questions will be useless even if all the books used for the imperial examinations in the Tang Dynasty were moved into the examination room.

This time, I want to select people with real talent."

Fang Zhongyong nodded slightly, very satisfied with Yan Zhuang's attitude in executing the plan.

……

In the Imperial Examination Hall, each examinee was in a fixed cubicle. They were not allowed to eat or go to the toilet. The questions were all long, and they had to hand in their answers after finishing each question before they could get the next one.

Someone will definitely ask, what if you need to go to the toilet?
The answer is that you can go to the toilet after you hand in your answer sheet. If you really don't have time, then... you can only blame yourself for your bad luck.

Among the candidates answering questions in the Imperial Examination Hall, there was a man named Yang Wan, who was nervously waiting for his papers to be distributed.

The first question is to write a poem on Mount Tai.

For him, this is as simple as eating and drinking.

Because Yang Wan was the one who was preparing to take the imperial examination when Ji Ge was still alive, and he was very confident that he could pass the Jinshi examination.

But just as he was preparing for the exam, Huangfu Weiming launched an uprising in Hebei and the imperial examination was cancelled that year.

Yang Wan was born in the Yuanwu branch of the Hongnong Yang family, and his family had a long history of learning. His grandfather and father were both officials, and they had a very deep network of people in the court. He himself was also quite talented in literature, and if he had followed the rules of the imperial examinations in the Tang Dynasty.

He can hit it with his eyes closed.

Unfortunately, things are different now. His original official network is no longer useful. He can't circulate the scrolls, and PY transactions are impossible.

In other words, you have to rely on your own real abilities.

But it’s also good this way. Yang Wan is a confident person and feels that such fair rules are just the right way to show his abilities!
He finished the first question in less than an incense stick of time. How could writing a poem be difficult for him?

The second question was immediately issued, and it also had only one sentence:

There are at least three ways to raise wealth for the country without increasing agricultural taxes.

What the hell is going on?
When Yang Wan saw this question, she was a little confused.

He just gritted his teeth and wrote it down without even knowing what he was saying.

After I finished writing it, I read it again and felt that it was full of nonsense, such as: because the price is very high, it is not cheap in the market and so on.

A lot of words, but nothing to say.

He sighed and handed in the second question. However, Yang Wan remembered the notice of the imperial examination, which said "select candidates based on their strengths".

In other words, it doesn't matter if you answer a certain question badly, as long as you can answer one question well, you can proceed to the next stage of the interview.

Yang Wan finally regained some confidence.

He got the third question:
Now you are the Minister of Rites, and you have to recruit talents for the country. Please design the details of the imperial examination system and the examination process you want, the more detailed the better.

Don't try to be all-encompassing, just try to find something worthwhile.

I'm not sleepy anymore! Seeing this question, Yang Wan was overjoyed.

If other candidates saw this question, they would want to rush out of the Imperial Examination Hall and chop the examiner who set the question!
But for Yang Wan, this question was tailor-made for him.

As a "keyboard politics expert" in daily life, Yang Wan had long been dissatisfied with the imperial examination system in Ji Ge's era. He used to have many sinister thoughts in his heart and had fantasized about "If one day I were in a high position, I would do this and that."

Here comes the opportunity for “keyboard politics”!

Yang Wan wrote quickly and eloquently.

He believed that the "local tribute examination" during the Kaiyuan period had become a tool for local wealthy families and local officials to collude and make money, and had long lost its original purpose. Those who were selected from the local areas and came to Chang'an to participate in the Jinshi examination were all trash. There was no need to restore such a system today.

There are also things like the number of candidates admitted should be increased tenfold, the importance and weight of local imperial examinations should be reduced, and all miscellaneous imperial examination projects should be cut.

Yang Wan also plucked up the courage to talk nonsense, and he wrote down everything that could be written and what could not be written.

When he recovered from his "rage" state, he saw the answer he had written and was so scared that cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

Forget it, just die.

Yang Wan chose not to change a single word and handed in the paper directly.

Next question:
The emperor has appointed you as the chief censor of the Censorate. How will you rectify the conduct of officials? Please list several methods and describe in detail how they work.

Seeing this question, Yang Wan was very sure that the "court" of Bianzhou was really working hard to govern the country and select talents in order to become bigger and stronger. However, isn't a question like this too difficult for the candidates?
Most of the candidates have never been exposed to government affairs in their lives. Who can answer such a question?

Yang Wan secretly thought that the admission criteria for this imperial examination might be different from what the candidates expected.

Similar "test question bombardments" came one after another. For some questions, Yang Wan was very confident, but for some questions, he was simply exhausted.

The examination continued until the sun set over the horizon, when the bell outside the Imperial Examination Hall rang.

Yang Wan dragged his tired body out of the examination room, only to find that the outside was already full of people, and he was almost the last one to walk out.

However, those who came out early could only wait in the large courtyard of the Imperial Examination Hall and were not allowed to leave.

"Go out one by one, in groups of ten!"

Yan Zhuang shouted at the top of his voice.

Fang Zhongyong, dressed in coarse cloth, folded his arms, pretended to be his follower, and watched the fun from the side.

The first group passed.

The second group passed.

The third group...found someone smuggling!
The candidate who looked like a fat pig was pinned to the ground by the tax police soldiers and could not move at all.

Yan Zhuang nodded slightly to Cui Qianyou, indicating that he could arrest him.

"Take it down!"

Cui Qianyou roared, and the twisted sense of revenge in his heart was extremely relaxed. He was from the Qinghe Cui family, and he could have participated in the imperial examination. But because his family fell into poverty and he had no money, he could only join the army.

Now seeing that some candidates were caught for cheating and had to go to Shanyuan Villa for labor reform, Cui Qianyou was happier than if he had passed the imperial examination!

"I didn't look at the cheat sheet! There's no point looking at the cheat sheet for those questions, right? If I didn't look at it, I didn't cheat. Why are you arresting me?"

The candidate, who looked like a fat pig, lay on the ground and shouted.

"In the Imperial Examination, there is a question that is not given on the test paper, and that is called honesty!"

Yan Zhuang shouted to the crowd of candidates who were eager to take action.

"You bring cheat sheets with you, is that what you call honesty? You still need me to teach you the truth that a man cannot stand without integrity?"

He stabbed again.

The restless crowd immediately quieted down.

The "fat pig candidate" lying on the ground was taken away.

The inspection continued, with ten people in a group being searched by ten sergeants at the same time.

"When the imperial examination notice was issued, it clearly stated that no cheating was allowed. Why didn't you listen?"

Fang Zhongyong complained to himself.

This question can also be regarded as a test of "integrity" and "cleverness".

Any examinee who is a little smart should know that this is the first imperial examination, and it is meaningless even if he or she cheats because there is no reference system at all.

This is not only a test of basic IQ, but also a test of basic character.

Anyone who cheats is a stupid and bad person. If such people are not sent to Shanyuan Mountain Villa for labor reform, it would be a shame to their parents who raised them.

There were fewer and fewer people in the Imperial Examination Hall, but more and more "cheaters" were caught. Among more than 5 examinees, more than of them brought in cheats, and more than % of them had the intention to cheat!

Fang Zhongyong couldn't help but sigh that the temptation of being an official was really hard to resist. Even if these candidates knew that they didn't have much real ability, it didn't stop them from taking risks.

……

The "Academy Examination" that had tortured and ravaged the imperial examination candidates has finally come to an end.

The candidates got "training" and gained more knowledge.

The country gained money (there was a registration fee to participate in the imperial examination) and was able to recruit talents.

Business of surrounding merchants also boomed.

It can be said to be a win-win outcome for all parties.

But for those candidates who have experienced the "baptism" of exams, the shock to their souls is still too severe.

In a small courtyard in Kaifeng City, several candidates who were taking the imperial examination and waiting for news gathered together to chat.

One of the candidates, who was short in stature, complained to the others, "How can there be such an imperial examination? Instead of testing our writing skills, they are asking us about our national policies and politics."

"Brother Chang, please stop talking. Haven't you seen the majesty of the court today?"

A candidate named Guan Bo persuaded Chang Gun who had just complained.

The imperial court dared to directly punish the examinees who brought cheating materials with them. Who knows if anyone eavesdropped on their conversations and arrested them for "disrespect".

This made sense, and several candidates who wanted to speak kept silent.

"Everyone, please keep your mouth shut. I think the court is positive and motivated. The one who will unify the world in the future will be the former Yong Wang."

A candidate named Xiao Fu interrupted.

"Brother Xiao, you are the son of the emperor's wife, so you are well-informed. What do you think the imperial court's question this time means?"

The youngest candidate in the yard asked. His name was Liu Congyi. He was only in his teens and still a young man.

"It means... it means nothing. This is not Chang'an. I am the same as you."

Xiao Fu sighed, feeling somewhat helpless.

These words left everyone present speechless.

Chang Gun's father was a county magistrate, Guan Bo was a descendant of Guan Yu, Xiao Fu's mother was Princess Xinchang, the daughter of Ji Ge, and Liu Congyi was the grandson of Liu Lingzhi, the former Minister of Rites, and the son of Liu Ruzhi, the Junior Yin of Jingzhao.

None of them came from an ordinary family.

This imperial examination held by the Bianzhou court directly severed the network of all of their relationships, and they were unable to submit their papers to expand their relationships.

Whether you can get in or not depends entirely on your personal ability.

In the eyes of these "second-generation officials", the Bianzhou court is truly majestic and inviolable, and it seems to be the mandate of heaven.

The future is limitless.

People are so mean, they will always be restless when they can't get what they want.

"It's not so bad. All the exams are based on real talent and knowledge. Those who cheat will be sent to labor camps. In the past, the imperial examinations were never so fair.

Do you want equality or privilege? Do you want to pass the exam based on your own ability or do you hope to pass it with just a simple test? "

Yang Wan, who had been silent all this time, spoke a fair word on behalf of the court.

The courtyard fell into a deathly silence. Yang Wan had directly torn off everyone's fig leaf.

That’s right, these second-generation officials don’t want equality, but rather their privileges.

Now that the imperial examinations of the imperial court have become "truly" fair, they feel uncomfortable.

It's like a businessman who thinks he has lost money if he fails to make a certain business deal.

(End of this chapter)