I started with the Shinsengumi in Bakumatsu

Chapter 139 National Examination, 43 states, five municipalities

The samurai unrest in various places was quelled, more than 5000 samurai were arrested, and more than 2000 were killed. These people will be sent to Hokkaido and Alaska in batches.

In Hokkaido, Toshizo Hijikata has formed a pioneering regiment of nearly 2 people. The pioneering army in Alaska also has a division of troops. These people were escorted to the north in batches and could not make trouble.

At the same time, the books of each vassal state were returned. Such changes made it clear to the remaining warriors that the imperial court would not compromise, and those who resisted would only die.

They no longer resisted and went to the registration office to register and take the national examination.

Yagyu attaches great importance to the national examination, which will affect the implementation of the abolition of feudal lords and the establishment of counties.

In order to ensure the fairness of this national examination, Yagyu invited several ministers to set the test papers for the national examination.

The seven people who came to participate in the design of this examination paper were Katsu Kaishu, Sakuma Shoyama, Sakamoto Ryoma, Tokugawa Keiki, Kido Takayun, Okubo Toshimichi, and Shibusawa Eiichi.

Yagyu explained his intention to the seven people.

"The seven of you are invited here because of the national examination. I plan to design the examination papers together with the seven of you. After that, the eight of us will not be able to have contact with other people. This is to keep it confidential and ensure that the national examination is fair and just. If you have any objections, , you can opt out.”

Sakamoto Ryoma said happily: "Didn't you expect that I can also participate in such a big event?"

"Although you like to talk big words, your naval literacy and understanding of trade are better than many people, and that is enough."

Katsu Kaishu explained with a smile.

Sakamoto Ryoma made a joke, and the atmosphere became less serious.

Okubo Toshimichi nodded and said: "I am willing to stay and participate in this matter."

"I am willing too." Sakuma Shoyama replied immediately.

Then several other people agreed to the matter.

Yagyu didn't talk nonsense, and he and the eight people began to discuss how to set the questions for the national examination paper.

After several days of discussion among eight people, the test paper for each subject was composed of ten questions, with a full score of [-] points and a passing score of [-] points for admission.

For example, in the mathematics paper, the difficulty increases step by step from simple linear equations of one variable to the final arithmetic sequence problem.These problems were part of daily life for some samurai.

After all, the Tokugawa shogunate had been at peace for at least 200 years. The job of many samurai was no longer to fight, but to govern the vassal state. Some of the samurai were responsible for tax collection, accounting of financial revenues and expenditures, and other calculation-related tasks. .

As for the arithmetic sequence, someone had systematically summarized it as early as the Song Dynasty, the golden age of Chinese mathematics, and explained the operation process in detail.

These books were introduced to Japan with the trade and cultural exchanges between Song and Japan. Although Japanese mathematics is not as good as that of China, it is sufficient for daily use.

In addition, Japan and the Netherlands have established diplomatic relations for nearly 300 years, and Orchidism is also a major culture in Japan. Compared with the closed Manchu Qing Dynasty, Japan is much more civilized.

Of course, in addition to the literary test, there is also the martial arts test, which tests physical strength, equestrian skills and actual combat.

In actual combat, the two sides arrange for warriors to fight according to physical examination data, height and weight, etc. The higher the ranking, the more bonus points. These warriors who pass the martial arts examination will enter the army to serve.

Five days later, the test papers for the national examination were confirmed. Yagyu asked Kondo Isamu to personally lead a team to the printing factory to print enough test papers. Under the escort of the army, the test papers were sent to each ordering country. The domestic samurai gathered in Fucheng. take an exam.

Samurai who pass this exam will go to Beijing to take a more rigorous exam and then be assigned official positions.

Before these samurai went to the capital, Yagyu arranged for people to build an examination venue outside Kyoto. The First Guards Division was stationed in Kyoto, so Yagyu was not worried about these samurai gathering to cause trouble.

Fortunately, for the samurai in the farthest major Mutsu region, each domain and the shogunate had handed over all the steam warships in their hands to the court.

The imperial court originally owned fifteen warships and 26 merchant ships. After the Battle of Kyoto, each domain and the shogunate handed over troops and ships, and more than forty warships were added, and the remaining ships were more than 140.

However, [-]% of the ships are steam sailing ships, and of the more than [-] warships, less than ten can be used as naval warships. The remaining warships are small in tonnage and have weak protection, so they can only be converted into transport ships.

With more than 200 ships on hand, the cabinet can quickly arrange for samurai from all over the country to come to Kyoto by ship.

The local exam ends quickly, with results available within three days.

Millions of samurai throughout Japan took the exam, but only more than [-] passed. Many warriors were bought with money. Some samurai have long since lost their martial arts skills and have no knowledge or skills. In just one preliminary exam, more than nine Those who succeed are eliminated.

As for those samurai who passed the assessment, they had to rush to a nearby port to take a boat to Kyoto to participate in the final assessment.

In Edo Castle, an elegant samurai ran back to his home regardless of his image. His name was Fukuzawa Yukichi. He was originally an interpreter at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the shogunate. But now that the shogunate is gone, his future is gone. Fortunately, here When the national exam came up, he decided to give it a try.

Fukuzawa Yukichi ran home with a face of joy and said to his wife Ajin: "Madam, my opportunity has come. I am going to Kyoto to take the national examination!"

Ah Jin was also overjoyed and said happily: "Congratulations, husband! I know that your husband's talents will be reused!"

Fukuzawa Yu replied: "Madam, please pack my clothes. Tomorrow, I will go to the dock and take a boat to Kyoto. If it is quick, the results will be available within a month."

Jin immediately turned around and went to pack things for Fukuzawa Yukichi.

In just ten days since the preliminary examination of the national examination ended, more than [-] samurai had settled in a temporary city outside Kyoto to take the national examination.Although there seemed to be a large number of people, most of them were lower-level samurai wearing patched clothes. Their sabers had been sold long ago, and they just used wooden swords to replenish their numbers.

As for other samurai with some wealth, they also put on some gorgeous wooden swords as decorations, pinned to their waists.

These more than [-] warriors who passed the national examination were actually officials, but the next examination was to determine their official status.

Before the final examination began, Yagyu discussed with ministers the division of prefectures and counties.

Now, all the vassals have submitted their registrations, and the Ministry of Interior has calculated the population and land. Counting Hokkaido and Alaska, the entire country of Japan has a population of more than 100 million and a territory of about [-] million square kilometers.

What needs to be divided now is the prefecture, which is equivalent to the prefecture in modern Japan. Basically, the division is to merge the imperial state.

There are also independent municipalities, which are directly responsible to the cabinet.

For example, there are five cities: Nagasaki, Edo, Kobe, Osaka, and Sado.

Basically, the prefectures divided into Yagyu are similar to modern Japanese prefectures, but the names are slightly different.

For example, Kagoshima Prefecture was renamed Sashu, Echigo was renamed Yueshu, and Wushu included Kanagawa, Saitama and the western area of ​​Tokyo.

In total, there are 43 states. As for the division of cities, there are no big changes.

Although the cabinet has divided states and counties, officials in each region have not yet been in place, and basic local governance institutions have not been established. Basically, there is anarchy.

These more than 40 prefectures and counties, plus municipalities directly under the Central Government, have arranged more than 20 officials to barely set up governments at all levels. According to cabinet estimates, they need about 3000 officials to govern [-] million people.

……

The test paper for this final exam was also designed by eight people including Yagyu. It was several levels more difficult than the first exam. Many samurai were left scratching their heads and at a loss.

But there are also people like Fukuzawa Yukichi who have real talent and learning who write like a god.

The final exam also had ten questions, taking nine and ten minutes. The papers submitted weighed sixteen or seventeen tons and required a warehouse to stack them.

Marking so many test papers is also a very arduous task, but some test papers have standard answers and can be corrected quickly, and some test papers have a lot of blank space and can be corrected in one glance.

After seven days of grading, the results of these more than [-] test papers were finally released.

According to the standards previously discussed by the cabinet, those with a score of [-] or above can become officials, those with a score of [-] or below can be appointed as officials, and those between [-] and [-] can serve as deputy positions for experience.

As for those who are above [-]%, they can be the chief officials of the state, and those who are around [-]% are the chief officials of the county.

Those who are above [-]% are outstanding talents and can work directly in the cabinet.

However, in terms of official position arrangements, no one can be an official locally, even officials. At least they have to work in the next county.

Yagyu arranged this to solve hidden dangers.

Although a new government has been established, the officials below are all vassals from various places. These people may not have the concept of Japan in their consciousness, and they must be biased towards the vassal in doing things. This kind of thinking is not conducive to the development of the country.

Therefore, Yagyu wants to break this idea and arrange people elsewhere to avoid becoming the Meiji gentry era in history.

Half a month after the final exam, the feudal lords who came for reference were finally notified. An official came to Fukuzawa Yukichi and said: "Mr. Fukuzawa, your results are excellent. Now you can go to the cabinet minister of education." Report.”

The surrounding feudal lords looked at him with suspicion, because some of them went to become governors of certain states, or county magistrates, or even worse, became small officials.

Originally, those who were going to be governors and county magistrates were very happy, but when they heard that someone had entered the cabinet as an official, they instantly lost their good mood.

Fukuzawa Yukichi also didn't expect that he could enter the cabinet as an official. He said in disbelief: "I...I can enter the cabinet?"

The official nodded and said: "Yes, your score is as high as 95. Those who exceed [-] can be selected by the cabinet and become cabinet officials."

Fukuzawa Yukichi couldn't help but laugh loudly. Now he could flex his muscles in education!
The minister in charge of the Ministry of Education was Sakuma Shoyama. When he saw Fukuzawa Yukichi, he took his message and said: "Fukuzawa Yukichi, you are very good. He was engaged in education when he was in Edo.

Today, Japan is in urgent need of educational talents. If it wants to catch up with Western countries, it must vigorously develop education.

Now the cabinet is already planning to implement national education and set up national schools in every state and county to encourage people's children to enroll.Fukuzawa, you have experience in this area and can make some suggestions. "

Fukuzawa Yukichi asked: "Does the cabinet plan to allow girls to participate in learning?"

Sakuma Shoyama nodded and said: "Yes, you should know that Western countries insist on equality for everyone, so naturally men and women are equal, so the Prime Minister decided to open a girls' school so that women can also study and participate in all walks of life in Japan. ."

Fukuzawa Yukichi was very excited. He had been to the United States and seen the civilized world. He was very excited about the education plan proposed by Sakuma Shoyama.

"Don't worry, Lord Sakuma, I am duty-bound to contribute to the cause of education!"

　The next chapter will be about the heroine, but she’s still young right now.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)