Early Tang Dynasty: forge ahead

Chapter 190 Preparation and prevention in advance
Chen Qingsi's position in Li Zhi's heart became increasingly important.

Now, almost as long as he reports something, he can see it immediately.

Occasionally, when he encountered Li Zhi dealing with matters with the prime ministers, he would be invited to the side hall by the chamberlain, where he would be waiting with tea and snacks, as if he was treated like a trusted minister.

Unfortunately, Li Zhi was discussing matters with the prime ministers on this day.

Chen Qingsi tasted the pastries in the palace in the side hall and thought about the imperial examination. After waiting for about half an hour, she was summoned by Li Zhi.

Li Zhi had obviously just finished handling other matters, and his face looked a little tired.

But facing Chen Qingsi, he still managed to keep his spirits up and asked him to take his seat with a smile.

Chen Qingsi returned the favor and sat down on the mat beside him.

Chen Qingsi knew Li Zhi's pragmatic style, so he didn't say anything else and reported the number of people counted truthfully.

A trace of joy flashed in Li Zhi's eyes, and he asked in surprise: "Is there really such a number?"

2 candidates!

In the eyes of future generations, [-] may not be much, but the number of people taking the college entrance examination each year is hundreds of times that of [-].

However, in this era, the numbers are astronomical.

You must know that it is only 40 years since the end of the great turmoil in the late Sui Dynasty, and the entire population of the Tang Dynasty is only 400 million households.

The imperial examination was still in its infancy. Even in the Song Dynasty, when the imperial examination was booming, the early candidates were not as good as now.

Li Zhi was a little excited. With such a number, wouldn't it mean that he could get rid of the Kanto noble clan quickly?
But after the excitement, I felt that the numbers were too unreal.

Twenty thousand is too much.

Li Zhi pondered for a moment and said, "Is there a problem? Are the records inaccurate?"

Chen Qingsi shook his head and said: "Your Majesty attaches great importance to this matter, and has personally issued many decrees. Local officials do not dare to mess around, and the records will not be false. It is just that the system is lacking. This is the minister's neglect."

There is no doubt that the imperial examination system was born in the Sui Dynasty.

But the reason why many people in later generations have said that the origin of the imperial examination system is the Tang Dynasty is because the imperial examination in the Sui Dynasty set the history back.

The imperial examination did not appear out of thin air. In the Qi Dynasty of the Southern Dynasty, there was a saying of the imperial examination for talents. "Five questions are scored as top, four and three are average, two are low, and one is not consistent and the score is ranked." The examination results are divided into There are four grades: upper, middle, lower and failed. Those who fail are "unqualified" and will not be awarded an official.

During the Liang Dynasty in the Southern Dynasty, Emperor Wu of Liang established the Five Classics Museum in Jiankang, and those who passed the examination were given to officials. Scholars from poor families from all over the country came to study in the library one after another, forming a trend of taking examinations to obtain scholars. It even made it clear that the children of common people from poor families would be allowed to study at any time regardless of their origins. Admission requirements.

During the Sui Dynasty, Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty Yang Jian integrated the experience system of the previous dynasty and created the imperial examination.Then Emperor Yang Guang of the Sui Dynasty divided the scholars into subjects and created the Jinshi Department.

Therefore, the imperial examination system was born in the Sui Dynasty and has a factual basis.

However, the imperial examination in the Sui Dynasty discarded the most essential core of "recruiting talents in an eclectic way" and became a system to please the bureaucracy. Only those who were recommended by senior officials of a certain level could participate in the examination, and it was not an examination within a set time.It was on a whim that the emperor said, "It's sunny and sunny today, so it's a good time to hold the imperial examination." Then, temple officials, you recommend a few people, and I will recommend a few people, and they will be chosen together, and a time will be chosen for the examination, and the best ones will be selected. People enter officialdom.

This is just like the Nine-Rank Zhongzheng System, which is just a game to please high-ranking officials. It is worse than the scholar-recruitment during the Southern and Northern Dynasties, and has lost the essential meaning of the imperial examination.

It was not until the Tang Dynasty that the imperial examination ushered in a new life, allowing scholars to self-recommend themselves and sign up to take the exam without having to be recommended by officials first.Examinations are also held regularly to select candidates for the country.Of course, there were also drawbacks to the imperial examinations in the Tang Dynasty. Because the test papers were not anonymous, the examiner's attitude towards the candidates was very important. Gaining the examiner's love and appreciation in advance, and even using bribery and other means, could advance one's ranking, and even lead to the top three by default.It is not easy for a poor family of common people to pass the Jinshi exam, but no matter what, it is still possible to pass the exam.

Chen Qingsi corrected this shortcoming this time, but it also created new loopholes.

There is no threshold for self-recommendation. As long as they claim to be scholars and are willing to pay for travel, cats and dogs can take the exam. This has led to the current situation of a large number of candidates and uneven levels of candidates.

It is not difficult to deal with this situation. Examination rooms are set up in various prefectures and even towns and counties. After two rounds of screening, the problem of uneven examination numbers and uneven levels can be effectively controlled.

However, Chen Qingsi was temporarily pushed to the position of Wailang, an examiner by Li Zhi, and was ordered to take charge of the imperial examination next year.

There is no time to select students step by step...

What's more, officials are still responsible for opening examination centers in various states around the world. Whether it is construction costs or personnel salaries, it is a huge expense. It cannot be done on the spur of the moment. It must be done step by step and slowly.

But obviously such loopholes have been targeted by interested people.

They don't even need to take action. As long as they send people to encourage the scholars and stir up the trend, there will naturally be a group of idiots who have no self-awareness and think that they are talented and will definitely be able to reach high school in one fell swoop. They travel thousands of miles to Beijing to take the exam.

Li Zhi knew that this was not Chen Qingsi's fault. When the new system came out, there would definitely be unknown risks and problems. Nothing in this world was perfect. Just solve the problems.

What he really cares about is whether there is something fishy behind it.

"My dear, is there something fishy in this? Are those people secretly up to something?"

Li Zhi already regarded Chen Qingsi as a confidant, and he did not hide some of his words. He paid so much attention to the imperial examinations in order to break the monopoly of the Guandong gentry on the grassroots officials of the imperial court.

"Nine times out of ten!" Chen Qingsi said: "I can even boldly guess that they not only added fuel to the flames, but even arranged for people to deliberately cause trouble in an attempt to sabotage the imperial examination and make the reform of the imperial examination a joke."

Li Zhi's eyes flashed with a hint of sternness, and he said, "Do they really have such courage?"

Chen Qingsi said in a deep voice: "I have never doubted what dirty tricks they would use to protect their own interests. What's more, the matter is not difficult, such as irritating someone, making a scene in the examination room, disrupting the order. Or deliberately creating trouble. , inciting candidates and inflaming their emotions. 2 people, too many unstable factors."

Li Zhi tapped his fingers on the royal table a few times and said, "Is there a solution?"

Chen Qingsi said: "Yes, but we need His Majesty's support."

Li Zhi smiled and said, "It's okay to just say it!"

Chen Qingsi said: "You cannot gather [-] candidates together. Too many people will cause chaos and are difficult to control. You can set up four examination rooms in the southeast, northwest and northwest to separate the candidates. In addition, strict discipline in the examination room will be issued and official documents will be issued directly. Those who commit fraud in the examination room will be punished. He will not be able to participate in the imperial examination for life, or even be an official. Those who cause trouble in the examination room will be imprisoned, depending on the severity. Within three generations, they will not be allowed to participate in the imperial examination. Those who are deceived by others will be punished by one level. In addition, more manpower is needed. Respond to emergencies and maintain the continuity of the examination room.”

"Graduators and transcribers need to be added..."

"and also……"

He talked one by one, making preparations and precautions for everything that might happen.

Li Zhi looked at the eloquent Chen Qingsi with growing admiration and expectation in his eyes.

(End of this chapter)