The room goes through the late Ming Dynasty, and the back door leads to North America at the beginni

Chapter 356 There can also be a fourth provincial examination

Qian Qianyi hesitated after hearing Liu Sheng's words, and was about to agree again when he heard Li Changwen say: "Your Majesty, although this second discussion is an expansion of the first test as Qian Shangshu said, it can be used by the imperial court. Speaking of it, it also played a role in expressing the thoughts of governing the country to the scholars through examination questions.

I believe that Your Majesty wants to implement reform strategies, and this second discussion can be used to select talents who agree with Your Majesty's thoughts on governing the country, so it is better to retain it. "

Although Liu Sheng felt that what Li Changwen said had some truth, he did not accept it immediately. Instead, he asked: "What is the third test of the Ming Dynasty Provincial Examination?"

Qian Qianyi immediately said: "Reporting to Your Majesty, the third test is about the Five Strategies related to classics, history, and current affairs. It mainly depends on whether the candidates have the talent to govern the country and secure it, or what their opinions are on governing the country."

Liu Sheng thought for a moment and said: "So, the status of the second of the three exams is not low?"

Qian Qianyi hesitated and said, "It should be said that the second discussion is the most important part of the provincial examination."

Liu Sheng sighed after hearing this, "It seems that it really shouldn't be removed directly. However, it was a bit inappropriate to continue to limit the scope of the topic to Xiao Jing and Confucian classics, so he changed it to Xiao Jing, Zhengshi, and the Four Books and Five Classics. What do the three of you think about the question?"

This is equivalent to adding official history to the scope of questions, but limiting the content of Confucian classics.

Liu Sheng only had a superficial understanding of Confucian knowledge and thought as well as imperial examinations, so he did not blindly make decisions in this regard, but would listen to the opinions of others.

Qian Qianyi was really unsure of Liu Sheng's temper and thoughts, so he didn't dare to talk nonsense at this time.

Li Changwen pondered for a moment, nodded and said: "Reading history can tell the story of rise and fall, and scholars should know more about it. However, today's world is dominated by poor scholars, and it is rare to see historical books on weekdays.

If His Majesty insists on adding official history to the scope of the treatise, this problem still needs to be solved. "

Liu Sheng smiled and said: "This is easy to handle - in the past, books were precious only because of the backwardness of papermaking and printing technology, and some academic elites and bibliophiles cherished them.

We have decreed that we will work hard to improve papermaking and printing techniques, so that the price of books will continue to drop, to the point where poor scholars and ordinary families can afford all kinds of books.

In addition, he also decreed the construction of Da'ei Library, allowing people from all over the world to donate books, leaving a name and contribution in the history of the library, thus enriching the library's collection of books.

Later, branch libraries were gradually established in provincial capitals, prefectures and even county towns, which could be borrowed by local scholars at extremely low prices, thus solving the problem of people having difficulty reading books. "

library?

Although this is a new term for Li Changwen and the others, in fact, there have been similar libraries in all dynasties.

However, the location of the imperial book collection was not open to the public before. Instead, only those with certain titles, or even relevant officials, were allowed to enter to consult the classics.

This was the first time that Liu Sheng wanted to build library branches all over the country and also prepared to lend books to the people at low prices.

Qian Qianyi once again seized the opportunity to flatter Liu Sheng and immediately said: "Your Majesty's use of the imperial court's collection of books for the world to read is really an unprecedented and magnificent act of charity. Poor scholars and ordinary people who are interested in reading will definitely pass on your Majesty's words." Grace!"

Wang Duo also said, "Library is indeed very beneficial to cultural governance."

Li Changwen said: "His Majesty's intention in setting up a library is naturally good, but when a branch library is established in the county in the future, will it become a major financial burden for the imperial court?"

Liu Sheng smiled slightly and said: "Local library branches can be operated according to the model of bookstores and bookstores, where people can buy books or rent books.

I believe that with better papermaking and printing technology, the Damei Library will not become a financial burden to the imperial court within a few decades, and may even become profitable. "

Li Changwen asked again: "What should we do if someone just stays in the library reading and neither buys books nor rents a lease?"

Liu Sheng understood that Li Changwen was not deliberately trying to play against him, but was checking for gaps.

After all, if a policy's deficiencies are identified before it is implemented, no losses will be caused and improvements can be made. But if it is implemented, even if it can be remedied, it will cause certain losses to the country and even create disasters.

Therefore, Liu Sheng smiled lightly when he heard this and said: "Even private bookstores also have this problem, right? They can handle this kind of problem, can't we, the officials of Dayei Library, handle it?"

Liu Sheng once heard someone say that in the 1980s, people who bought books at Xinhua Bookstore were not allowed to enter the store to view them. Instead, they had to think about the books they wanted to buy in advance, tell the bookstore salesperson, and have the salesperson take them out directly.

As for how to sell new books?

Outside the bookstore, there is a small blackboard similar to the new products on the shelves and the arrival of new books. A very brief introduction is given to let customers know that the book is available.

In short, as long as you want to accomplish something, there are always more ways than difficulties. Li Changwen was thoughtful and said no more.

"Let's talk about the return examination." Liu Sheng said, "Since the Confucian classics and historical records have been tested in the first two games, the strategy for this third test does not need to be limited to the examination of classics and history. Can it only be tested on current affairs?"

Qian Qianyi tried hard to understand Liu Sheng's thoughts and said: "The strategy for this third game is actually to examine current affairs based on Confucian classics and historical records.

Does Your Majesty mean that in the third round of policy discussions, candidates can speak freely on current affairs issues without having to replace them with words from classics and history? "

That's what Liu Sheng thought, and he nodded immediately, "Not bad."

Wang Duo hesitated for a moment and reminded: "Your Majesty, the reason why the third policy discussion requires questions based on classics and history, and candidates also use classics and history to solve and answer questions, is to prevent candidates from talking about current affairs.

If we make decisions based on current affairs and allow them to speak freely, will it damage the prestige of the court?

For example, if a certain policy is being implemented by the court and the provincial examination uses it as a topic, most of the candidates will criticize the policy, which may not be conducive to the implementation of the policy. "

Hearing Wang Duo's opinion, Liu Sheng had to admit that he had underestimated him.

In fact, similar problems occurred in later generations.

The so-called freedom of speech is not unlimited freedom. It must have principles and certain restrictions.

Because sometimes speech can be turned into a murderous knife, causing humiliation and harm to the country.

However, Liu Sheng believes that this does not affect the rural examination's use of current affairs questions to allow candidates to speak freely.

He said: "The imperial court does not allow candidates to speak freely about current affairs in the rural examination policy review, so they will not discuss it in private? They want to discuss it, and even if they discuss it well, if what they say is not in line with the imperial policy, the imperial court will not admit them.

I believe those who are interested in becoming an official will understand how to choose when they are introduced. What does the General Counsel think? "

At the end, Liu Sheng specifically asked Li Changwen for his opinion.

Li Changwen knew that this matter involved Liu Sheng's philosophy of governing the country.

After thinking for a while, he said: "Fangmin is more important than Fangchuan. Candidates can discuss current affairs, but the imperial court will also recruit talents according to needs. It is their own choice, and there is nothing wrong with it."

Liu Sheng smiled, "That's exactly what I meant."

Then he added: "In addition to the reform of the township examination content that we have just discussed, I am also planning to add a fourth test, which will focus on arithmetic and some general affairs issues in various bureaus and departments of prefecture and county yamen.

Results will be announced separately for this session, and students and students from all provinces can register to participate. Those with excellent arithmetic scores may be recommended to enter the Academy of Sciences to study mathematics, and the treatment will be the same as that of ordinary people.

The remaining ones who have a certain ranking will not be given the treatment of being elected, but they will become reserve officials in various provinces in China and can be elected as official officials in local yamen.

Therefore, after taking the first three exams, candidates for the provincial examinations in each province must voluntarily decide whether to take the fourth exam. Since the results of this fourth exam will be determined separately, it will not affect their ranking in the provincial examination. "

Li Changwen and the three of them thought about it and felt that the fourth examination set by Liu Sheng did not affect the interests of the original rural examination candidates, but instead gave them an additional opportunity to enter the Academy of Sciences or serve as an official.

In Da'ei, formal officials can also be promoted.

I believe that candidates will only cheer for joy upon hearing this news and will not object.

The three of them were worried that Liu Sheng would be unhappy if too few people took part in the fourth exam.

After thinking about this, Qian Qianyi said: "Your Majesty, should this fourth exam have a name? And when should the exam be set?"

　First more.

　　

　

(End of this chapter)