I served as an admonisher in the Song Dynasty

Chapter 566: Where the New Scholars Go! Fighting for the Great Song Dynasty
March 1st, near noon.

Su Liang, who had been in the Imperial Examination Hall for more than forty days, sat at his desk and let out a long sigh.

After the joint efforts of many examiners, a list of scholars who passed the provincial examination was finally drawn up.

A total of 412 people were admitted in the entire Jinshi examination.

There are more than a hundred more people than last time.

Afterwards, the "locking rule" of the Imperial Examination Hall was lifted.

Su Liang took the provincial examination admission list and test papers to the Chuigong Hall. The next palace examination will be presided over by Zhao Zhen.

……

Inside the Chui Gong Hall.

Zhao Zhen flipped through the list of admitted candidates and said with a smile, "Su Qing's selection of talents is clearly based on the current national conditions of our dynasty. I am very pleased. Next, we will proceed according to the method we discussed."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Su Liang bowed heavily.

……

March 2nd, early morning.

The provincial examination results are announced.

The provincial examination admission lists were posted in front of the Imperial Examination Hall, the Imperial College, and Kaifeng Prefecture.

Also.

Su Liang also dispatched officials from the Imperial Examination Hall to distribute the certificates for participating in the palace examination to the 412 people who passed the provincial examination.

At present, the imperial examination system implemented is that there is no system of dismissal in the palace examination.

Those who pass the provincial examination are considered to have achieved fame and honor.

For a moment, the entire city of Bianjing was like a boiling pot of hot water.

Good news comes frequently.

Those who made the list were very happy and began to celebrate, while those who failed either packed their bags and went home, or went to the restaurant to get drunk.

Many innkeepers waived room rates for guests on the list, gave them free food and wine, and some even asked for calligraphy.

After the gold list is announced.

If the guests staying here are among the top two, or the top three, their room rates will at least double in the next three years.

There are also some wealthy families with unmarried daughters who have begun looking for unmarried men and are preparing to find a son-in-law in advance.

The prime ministers of the Song Dynasty were basically all candidates who passed the Jinshi examination. If they were lucky enough, the whole family might be able to make a breakthrough.

Nineteen-year-old Su Zhe and twenty-one-year-old Su Shi are also on the list.

Both of them were very excited. Among all the candidates taking the exam, they were the youngest.

Because there are only two days left until the palace examination.

Most of those who made the list celebrated for half a day and then began to study and prepare for the exam in their houses.

……

March 5th, early morning.

In the Chongzheng Hall, the palace examination officially began.

The palace examination lasted only one day, and there were only three policy essays, all of which were set by Zhao Zhen.

The questions in the palace examination are more flexible, and candidates have greater freedom to express themselves.

In the past, officials were the invigilators.

But this time, Zhao Zhen personally sat in the hall, making many candidates feel very honored.

Near dusk.

After the palace examination, more than 400 candidates walked out of the palace.

The city of Bianjing was as lively as the night of the Lantern Festival.

After the huge pressure is relieved, many people will naturally choose to get drunk and release themselves.

And this moment.

Su Zimu had already booked a private room in Fanlou and was ready to invite Su Shi and Su Zhe to have a big meal.

Su Liang knew about this, but did not interfere.

The friendships of the younger generation should be managed by the younger generation.

The candidates were free, but Su Liang was still very busy.

He had to work with Zhao Zhen to determine the rankings for more than 400 candidates, and also work with the other ministers in the Secretariat to determine their official positions.

……

March 12, dawn.

The sky is slightly bright.

All 412 candidates gathered at Donghua Gate in the east of the city, and a large number of people gathered around.

Today is the day when the names of the candidates will be called and the results will be announced.

According to convention, the names are called out first and then the results are announced.

The roll call was presided over by Ouyang Xiu, the Vice-Chancellor. Zhao Zhen first read out the top three candidates in the Jinshi degree, and then the chief examiner Su Liang read out the subsequent names.

Lean slightly.

Zhao Zhen's carriage appeared in front of Donghua Gate, followed closely by Ouyang Xiu and Su Liang.

The candidates all bowed and shouted: Long live the government!
Ouyang Xiu strode out, looked forward, and opened the book in his hand.

"In the second year of Jiayou, there were 412 successful candidates in the Jinshi examination. Among them, 10 candidates were awarded the title of Jinshi in the first class, 36 candidates were awarded the title of Jinshi in the second class, 72 candidates were awarded the title of Jinshi in the third class, 109 candidates were awarded the title of Jinshi in the fourth class, and 185 candidates were awarded the title of Jinshi in the fifth class..."

"Now, the government will announce the top three in the first division."

At this moment, it was very quiet inside and outside Donghua Gate.

It was so quiet that you could hear a needle falling to the ground, and you could hear the heartbeats of many people.

All the candidates pricked up their ears and were extremely nervous.

The top three candidates in the first class can be appointed as the Chief of Works or the Judge of the Dali Temple, or they can be directly assigned as the Tongpan of a state.

It is clearly two different levels from the rankings below, even a world of difference.

Zhao Zhen paused, picked up a golden booklet, and began to announce.

"In the second year of Jiayou, the first place in the first class of Jinshi, Zhang Heng, Zhang Ziping, a native of Pucheng County, Jianzhou, was awarded the title of Jinshi."

"In the second year of Jiayou, the second place in the first class of Jinshi, Dou Bian, Dou Yanfa, from Yuanju County, Caozhou, was awarded the title of Jinshi."

"In the second year of Jiayou, the third place in the first class of Jinshi, Luo Kai, Luo Yousheng, a native of Nanchang County, Hongzhou, was awarded the title of Jinshi."

After Zhao Zhen finished speaking, Zhang Heng, Dou Bian and Luo Kai immediately stepped forward to express their gratitude.

The candidates were a little surprised when they heard these three unfamiliar names.

The hottest candidates and celebrities in their minds.

For example: Zeng Gong, Lu Huiqing, Wang Shao, Zhang Zai, Zeng Bu, Cheng Yi, Cheng Hao, Su Shi, etc., none of them made it into the top three.

This also shows that some people may seem unknown, but they are superior to others in the field of policy essays.

They are more suitable to serve as officials in the current Song Dynasty.

Next, Su Liang walked out and started calling out the names.

"In the second year of Jiayou, the fourth person in the first class of Jinshi, Ding Yu, Ding Gongmo, a native of Jinling County, Changzhou, was awarded the title of Jinshi."

……

In the second year of Jiayou period, the eighth person in the first class of Jinshi, Wang Shao and Wang Zichun, were from De'an County, Jiangzhou. They were awarded the title of Jinshi.

……

"In the second year of Jiayou, the third place in the second class of Jinshi, Lü Huiqing, Lü Jifu, from Jinjiang County, Quanzhou, was awarded the title of Jinshi."

……

"In the second year of Jiayou, the 24th person in the second class of Jinshi, Su Shi, Su Zizhan, a native of Mei County, Meizhou, was awarded the title of Jinshi."

… "In the second year of Jiayou, the eighth person in the third class of Jinshi was Zhang Zai, also known as Zhang Zihou, from Mei County, Fengxiang Prefecture, and was granted the status of Jinshi."

……

"In the second year of Jiayou, the 45th person in the third class of Jinshi was Su Zhe, Su Ziyu, a native of Mei County, Meizhou, and was granted the status of Jinshi."

……

Su Liang read for more than half an hour before he announced the remaining successful candidates, and then all the new scholars bowed their heads to express their gratitude.

When Su Liang was calling out the names, the golden list had already been posted on the wall of the Imperial Examination Hall, attracting countless people to watch.

Later, these new scholars will go to the gold list again to check their ranking.

Su Liang slowed down and looked at everyone.

"Everyone, you can go to the Imperial Examination Hall later to receive the new Jinshi's uniforms. Tomorrow at noon, you will go to the palace to attend the Qionglin Banquet."

"Yes, sir!"

All the newly-appointed scholars bowed in unison.

After a while, the new scholars excitedly ran towards the golden list in front of the Imperial Examination Hall.

And this moment.

In a carriage not far from the golden list, Su Zimu sat inside and looked out the window.

He was looking for Su Shi and Su Zhe.

Although the two were already married, the people who were selecting sons-in-law would definitely arrest them first and question them later when they saw that they were young and handsome. Therefore, Su Shi asked Su Zimu to take them away in advance.

After a while, a large number of new scholars walked to the front of the gold list.

Many servants from wealthy families were standing guard nearby.

If there was anyone who was good-looking and still young, and if he showed an expression that suggested he had passed the imperial examination or said something like that, they would first arrest him and then interrogate him.

Catching a son-in-law from under the list is a custom in the Song Dynasty. It is not considered kidnapping, but it also requires mutual consent on both sides.

The reason why they kidnapped him first was because they were worried that someone else would snatch him away.

After Su Shi and Su Zhe saw their respective names on the gold list, they turned around and ran towards Su Zimu's carriage.

At this time, someone shouted: Those are the brothers Su Shi and Su Zhe who are on the gold list!
Immediately, a group of people ran towards the two of them.

Su Shi and Su Zhe no longer cared about their manners and shouted as they ran, "I'm married! I'm married!"

Soon, the two ran into the carriage.

The people were also very obedient, and running into the carriage was a clear sign of refusal.

They had to change their target.

Some newly-minted Jinshi were devoted to studying and had not yet married. They also intended to find a husband from a wealthy family, so they would directly tell him that they had passed the imperial examination and then they would start talking about marriage.

There are quite a few successful ones.

……

The next day, it was nearly noon.

To the west of the city, there is Qionglin Garden.

The newly-appointed scholars filed in and took their seats.

The Qionglin Banquet is a tradition after the imperial examination and is the highest honor for successful candidates.

After all the Jinshi had taken their seats, they suddenly saw Zhao Zhen coming with the ministers from the two ministries and three departments in Beijing, the chief examiner Su Liang, and many other examiners. They could not help but stand up quickly, greatly surprised.

This is quite a big deal.

In the past, the emperor and the ministers did not appear at the Qionglin Banquet, and it was usually the chief examiner who was present.

Such an honor made the new scholars all bow their heads in gratitude.

"Please sit down!" Zhao Zhen said with a smile.

Immediately afterwards, the emperor, his ministers, and the scholars took their seats one after another.

Zhao Zhen looked around and said loudly: "This imperial examination is different from previous ones. Today is not only the Qionglin Banquet, but also the day when the court will confer official titles on you all and see you off."

Appoint an official to see him off?

When the newly-appointed scholars heard these four people, they were all stunned.

According to convention, it would take at least one month after the Qionglin Banquet before a new scholar would be awarded an official position, and it would take at least three months for him to take office.

But today he was going to be appointed as an official and sent off, which surprised everyone.

Then, Zhao Zhen looked at Su Liang.

Su Liang strode out, holding out a thick stack of documents.

"My fellow newly minted scholars, what I hold in my hand right now is the title of the official post bestowed upon you by the imperial court. The Secretariat will reissue the official certificate later."

"Now, on behalf of the government, I will tell you why you are so hasty to appoint someone to an official position?"

"The year before last, we pacified the northwest and conquered Xixia; last year, we recovered Yanyun and destroyed Liao, Dongying, and Goryeo."

"The territory of our Song Dynasty is comparable to that of the Han and Tang dynasties, but our national prestige, commerce, culture, order, and the happiness of the people are still far from being a prosperous era."

"At present, Liao territory, Northwest China, Dongying Prefecture, and Goryeo Island are all short of grassroots officials who can hold up the sky. After consultation between the emperor and the ministers, the court decided to send all the new Jinshi this year to these places."

After hearing this, the faces of some of the new scholars gradually became serious.

In these places, government offices have not yet been established and order is in chaos. It is more difficult than being sent to be an official in Guangxi or Lingnan, and you may even lose your life if you are not careful.

Su Liang then asked: "Why did you choose me?"

"Although you have no experience, you are energetic and have fighting spirit, and you know what kind of Song Dynasty we want to be and what kind of people we want to be. Without this talent, you would not be standing here today."

"You may be the most unique batch of Jinshi, or even the most miserable batch, because the conditions there are very difficult, and you may even be beaten or assassinated. But the current court needs you, needs you to spread order, etiquette, teach and educate people, and turn the backward people in those places into Song people who are exactly like us!"

“This is also a war, one that is likely to last a very long time and will require great effort and sacrifice to win.”

"The court's arrangement is to order you to undergo a one-year trial. Those who fail will be eliminated, and those who pass will serve for three to six years, and then they can return to the court and be promoted as special cases. As long as you do well enough, your promotion speed will be much higher than other officials.

"You are a generation that grew up during the reform of the Song Dynasty. The court believes in your excellence. The court does not want there to be only one Sima Guang in Xixia, only one Wang Anshi in Liao, and only one Cao Hu on the island among the young people..."

"Of course, this is not mandatory. If anyone does not want to take the position, they can report it to the Secretariat within five days, and the Secretariat will cancel their title and replace them with someone else. The person being replaced can still participate in the imperial examination normally in the next term."

……

Su Liang's words were both gentle and firm.

The good news is that if you can persevere in these difficult situations and make achievements, you can be promoted as an exception and have a bright future.

The good thing is, if you choose to escape, your honor for this term will be revoked and replaced by someone else.

What the imperial court hopes is that the best young people in the Song Dynasty should shine in the most appropriate places.

Su Liang paused and said, "You are all smart people, so I will not elaborate on this. You don't need to express your opinions immediately. Finally, I will say one more thing: Going to a poor and dangerous place to serve as an official is to fight for the prosperity of the Song Dynasty!"

"Next, I will announce your official positions and destinations."

"The first place winner, Zhang Heng, went to Kaizhou in Liao territory to serve as the magistrate, the second place winner, Dou Bian, went to Kaesong in Goryeo to serve as the magistrate, and the third place winner, Luo Kai, went to Dongying Island to serve as the supervisor of the National Academy in Kyoto Prefecture..."

"Wang Shao, the eighth person in the first class, went to Xixia to serve as the prefectural governor of Guazhou and the military recorder."

"The third person in the second class, Lu Huiqing, went to the Jurchen tribe in Liao territory to serve as the supervisor of the prefectural school."

Su Shi, the 24th person in the second class, went to Xuanhua Prefecture in the Western Xia territory to serve as a judicial officer and military officer as well as a financial officer for various schools.

……

These official positions were established by the ministers and Su Liang based on each person's specialties.

Some are good at being a state official, some are good at academic research, and some are good at military patrol and punishment.

Although it was hard work, most people's official positions were not demoted.

After Su Liang finished reading, he said loudly: "At this moment, there is no need for you to express your opinions. After you finish this Qionglin Banquet, think about it carefully. If you are not sincere, it is better not to go. Otherwise, I am afraid that many of you will give up halfway."

……

Then, the Qionglin Banquet began.

The celebration banquet turned into a farewell banquet for fighting for the Song Dynasty.

(End of this chapter)