villain

Chapter 485 Imperial Examination
"Zixiu, what is the imperial examination? What kind of trick is that scumbag in Chang'an trying to play?"

Cao Cao sat in the big tent of the Chinese army, looking at his eldest son Cao Ang who was chasing him all the way from Xuchang, and couldn't help asking in doubt.

Cao Ang was 27 years old, with a dignified appearance and a calm demeanor.

"Father, this imperial examination...is not clear in one sentence. Ten days ago, Dong Yu promulgated the imperial examination decree in Chang'an. The detailed work was sent to Xuchang immediately. Six days ago, the second brother and Xun Shihou Ba Geng sent the relevant imperial examination The detailed decree. After the Xun Shaofu read it, he passed out on the spot... After waking up, he hurriedly ordered the child to chase his father for eight hundred miles. This is the detailed content of the imperial examination."

Xun Yu, actually passed out?

What a calm person he is, no matter what happens, he always looks calm and never shows his anger or anger on his face.

Not only Cao Cao, but the counselors including Lu Su Xun You and others looked at each other in blank dismay.

Could it be that this imperial examination decree is some kind of conspiracy?
Here, it is necessary to briefly explain the method of selecting talents since the Eastern Han Dynasty.Before the Qin Dynasty, Zhou ruled the world by feuding the country, and the selection of scholars also relied on the hereditary system.After Zhou Li, the social class is very clear.The country has the emperor, princes, ministers, and scholars in charge.As for the various classes, according to ethics and blood relationship, each position will be hereditary until the Spring and Autumn Period.

In the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, scholars such as guests, patrons, diners, etc. who were separated from the accidents of the system appeared as the main contributors.Therefore, there is a saying that there are three thousand diners under Mr. Mengchang.Some of these people are run-down aristocrats, but most of them are poor sons of poor families living at the bottom.

The first emperor swept across the six countries and implemented centralized power.

For the emperor, in order to select talents from the people, a procuratorial system was established.People with both political integrity and ability are recommended by various places.Scholars recommended by the state level are called 'Xiu Cai' (different from the nature of later scholars); those recommended by the county level are called Xiaolian.

Since the Eastern Han Dynasty, in order to ensure the talents of the inspectors, the system of consecutive sittings has been implemented.

That is to say, if you are recommended without real talents, once it is found out, the referee will also be implicated.

This kind of system, on the one hand, guarantees the talents of the people who are recommended, but on the other hand, it also makes the aristocratic family stronger and stronger.Officials in the imperial court have an inseparable relationship with the family, and it can even be described as 'one prospers all, one loses all'.

Just think, if you have nothing to do with me, why would I bother to recommend you?

Your success has nothing to do with me, but I will follow you if you are unlucky.Therefore, by the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, there was a saying that all officials came from aristocratic families.It is difficult for a humble scholar who is capable but has no background to have a bright future.As for those aristocratic families, because of this method of sitting together, their strength became stronger and stronger.In the end, a situation that even the emperor could not restrain was formed.

By the time of Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty, the power of the clan was already extremely strong.

After the death of Emperor Ling of Han, without the support of the aristocratic family, the princes of all parties could not even gain a firm foothold.For example, Han Fu, the former Jizhou Mu, was a serious official appointed by the imperial court.But Yuan Shao was able to overthrow Han Fu easily, relying on the strength of Han Fu's family.

Another example is the father and son of Dong Zhuo and Dong Pi...

Dong Zhuo sits in Luoyang and has the name of righteousness.However, the elites of the gentry headed by Yuan Shao are unwilling to recognize him, so he will face the embarrassing situation that no one can use him; and this is especially true for Dong Pi. When he first arrived in the Western Regions, he had only a few advisers under him?
The death of Dong Zhuo and the first Chang'an Rebellion were all a kind of counterattack by the family.

When Dong Bi had no choice, he could only use killing to suppress it.Fortunately, he has the foundation of Sanxue, otherwise he would be really troublesome.In the same situation, Liu Bei and Sun Ce also had to rely on the massacre and suppression of the aristocratic clan to barely gain a foothold.Then Liu Biao had to rely on the aristocratic clan to make Jingzhou calm... The aristocratic clan's control over the situation in the world is enough to see some clues.

At the end of August in the fourth year of Taiping, Dong Bi planned the imperial examination for ten years, and finally lifted the veil of mystery to the world.

All the sons of the three schools can freely take the imperial examination regardless of their age, background, or recommendation after they graduate from the county school.

In addition, scholars from all over the country, regardless of whether their prefecture or county is in Guanzhong, can take the exam in the nearest prefecture or county under Guanzhong.

The students who graduated from the three schools were called the sons of the country; the scholars who did not belong to the three schools were called students and were allowed to take the imperial examination.

There is a division of the Chengming Hall, called the Ministry of Rites, which is in charge of the imperial examinations and appointments and dismissals.

Examination subjects are divided into regular subjects and systematic subjects. The regular subjects are held in installments every year;Its meaning is that this is the grace bestowed by the emperor to the scholars of the world, and the admission can be the disciple of the emperor.

There are more than [-] kinds of Changke.

In addition to the subjects that scholars are more concerned about, such as Xiucai, Mingjing, and Jinshi, there are also subjects such as Mingfa, Mingshu, and Mingzi.

Among them, the scholars who are selected by the first division of Jinshi can enter Chengming Palace to serve.

The imperial examination is divided into spring and autumn examinations, which are held twice a year.The so-called spring boudoir, as the name suggests, is a scientific examination held in spring.Take the county as a unit, and take the test in the examination room under the jurisdiction of each county.The top three candidates are collectively referred to as juren, and they can enter Chang'an for the big exam when the autumn exam is held.

Therefore, the Chang'an Autumn Trial can also be called the Tianzi Trial.

The first name is called the No. [-] scholar, the second is called the second place, and the third is called Tanhua.There are [-] scholars in the first department, who should be famous on the imperial list and enter Chengming Hall.As for the failed scholars, they also have two choices.One is to start from the basics in various ministries or local yamen; the second is to take a course in the next year and start over.Those who fail the rankings in the first year can receive subsidies from the imperial court to assist the poor in their studies.

The list sent by Chang'an's secret work only reveals vague concepts.

However, among the materials sent by Cao Pi and others later, it was the detailed imperial examination system and the method of selecting scholars.There are so many, more than ten pages in total, and 130 seven rules and regulations. It can be said that the specific implementation methods of the imperial examination are described in exceptional detail and thoroughness.

Cao Cao gritted his teeth and was speechless for a long time!

"Prime Minister, what is going on?"

Lu Su and others came forward to inquire, but Cao Cao didn't answer, but just threw the note in his hand to Lu Su.Lu Su took it and read it aloud.At the beginning, Lu Su read very loudly, but gradually, gradually, his voice became smaller and smaller.

In the big tent of the Chinese army, no matter whether they were civil servants or generals, they all gasped at the same time.

After Lu Su finished reading, Xun You couldn't help but said, "No wonder Wen Ruo passed out after reading this list."

Is this an ordinary test?

It's clearly a life-threatening post from a powerful family!As soon as this action is taken, the foundation for the survival of the aristocratic family will be wiped out.

Lu Su, Xun You and others were quite magnanimous, and at this time, they couldn't help but look at each other in blank dismay.

What's more, the eyeballs of some people in the big tent are rolling around, not knowing what's going on in their hearts?
After a long time, Cao Cao got up.

He lost interest, and walked out of the big tent with his sleeves shaken.

The autumn is crisp and the weather is good...a round of scorching sun hangs high in the sky, Cao Cao's complexion is uncertain, and he stares blankly at the blue sky.

"Prime Minister?"

Only Cao Pengshang followed him closely, seeing that he was out of his mind, Cao Peng couldn't help but let out a low voice.

Cao Cao trembled and stopped.He turned his head to look at Cao Peng, and smiled bitterly after a long while, "I always thought that it was his luck that Dong Bi was able to get to where he is today. I may not lose to him in the art of war; in terms of strategy, I'm afraid I'm a Dong Bi I am the opponent. But today...that imperial examination...that imperial examination...is amazing! I am not as good as him, and for the first time I feel that I am not as good as him."

Cao Peng didn't know how to persuade Cao Cao.

And Cao Cao seemed to be talking to himself, "First, he started the Kanto War, and he profited from it. Now the imperial examinations are promulgated, so that the common people will return. I have been thinking for a long time, and I want to find a way out for the common people. I can't think about it, but I can't think about it. He came up with such a coup, I am really not as good as him."

When did Cao Peng see Cao Cao so depressed?Such a gaffe?
Can't help but said: "Prime Minister, since we have seen Dong Bi's trick, we can have a way to deal with it."

"Response? How to deal with it?" Cao Cao said with a wry smile: "Dong Bi is making an upright move. Is it possible that I can prevent the scholars under my rule from taking the exam? I can block one or two, ten or one hundred ...But there are so many scholars in the world. Dong Xiping first sold books at a low price, and he has already won the hearts of the scholars; now, he has given them hope, how can we stop them?"

"This..." Cao Peng was speechless.

Cao Cao said: "Let's see, the next year's big exam may not be too sensational. But as long as one common man enters the damn emperor's list, in the coming year, all scholars in the world will return their hearts. It doesn't take ten years. All the virtuous talents will enter the hub of that wretch.

unless……"

"Unless what?"

"I can kill Dong Chu within three years!"

Cao Peng is a straightforward person, but being straightforward does not mean he is stupid.On the contrary, Cao Peng also saw clearly at some times.Three years to kill Dong Chu?With Dong Bi now occupying the land of Xichuan in the northern part of Guanzhong, plus his territory in Mobei Wangbei County in the Western Regions, it is more than the sum of the territories of all the princes.Guanzhong is fertile, rich in money and food, and has a larger population than the combined population of the princes of all parties.

As long as Dong Bi is still there, don't say three years, I'm afraid it will be difficult to do it in 30 years.

Cao Cao suddenly laughed, "However, even if Dong Xiping succeeds in the imperial examination, I may not lose to him. Hehe, I am powerless to attack him, and I am afraid he will also be powerless to pass the test."

"Oh?"

"Don't forget, under my husband's command, there are also aristocratic families. If he wants to take this imperial examination, it will be very difficult in a short while."

Cao Cao seemed to have figured it out and became excited.

He led Cao Peng back to the tent of the Chinese army, and then calmed down the hearts of the civil servants and generals, and the army continued to march towards Yan County.

However, Cao Cao found Cao Ang and ordered him to rush back to Xuchang immediately.

At the same time, he also wrote a letter, saying that he asked Cao Ang to hand it over to Xia Houyuan.But while delivering the letter, he winked.

It was a wink that only Cao Ang could understand.

Cao Ang left Daying, beat his horse and swung his whip, and went straight to Xuchang.

That night, he stayed overnight in Suanzao.After sending away his personal guards, Cao Ang sat alone on the couch in the post house, lit the candle, and opened the so-called letter from Cao Cao to Xia Houyuan.There are two letters, one to Xia Houyuan and one to Cao Ang.

Taking a deep breath, Cao Ang unfolded the letter, glanced at it, but his face changed drastically.

"Zixiu, immediately order your confidants to go to Chang'an, and order Pi, Ba, and Shi to stay in Chang'an temporarily, waiting for the next year's spring and autumn exams!"

Cao Ang was stunned!

Father, what do you mean by this?

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This chapter is really hard to write...

(End of this chapter)