Idle courtiers

Chapter 478 Unforgettable
April 42st in the 21nd year of Jiajing is a day that the members of Chunwei Xinke will never forget.

Because everyone is going to enter the imperial city to take part in the imperial examination today.

Today's palace test is equivalent to ranking everyone, once the ranking is done.The top three in the first class naturally entered the Hanlin Academy without exception.In addition, after nine days, 66 Shujishi candidates have to be determined by the imperial examination.

There were only 69 people who entered the Hanlin Academy, and the other [-] people were also studying with the prince, just for a cutscene.Because the results of the general examination are the decisive factor, except for the top [-] people in the field, everyone else has an indifferent attitude.

Even if you fail the next two exams, you can still be regarded as a Jinshi.

It was still Maoshi, before dawn, more than 300 newcomers, led by officials from the Ministry of Rites, entered the Meridian Gate in a file led by Yuan Shenshixing, the head of the first case of the current department.

No, Shen Shixing, the chief assistant of the editorial cabinet of the Hanlin Academy in the future, is still called Xu Shixing now.

Here, history seems to have undergone a small change.According to Zhou Nan's knowledge, Shen Shixing did not have a Zhonghuiyuan in this year's Chunwei, but was selected by the emperor after the palace examination.As for who the real Huiyuan is, Zhou Nan has no way of knowing because there is no record in historical materials.

It's a good thing that Shen Shihang didn't get the first place in the township examination, otherwise, it would be another big three after the first assistant Shang Xianggong in Chenghua year, what an honor that is.

Today's palace examination is a good thing for the officials of the imperial court. This place has been occupied by monks, and naturally everyone doesn't have to come to the morning court. The weather is still cool, so it's nice to sleep in at home.

"It seems that this year's No. [-] candidate has been decided." Beside Zhou Nan, a candidate whispered.

Zhou Nan was curious: "Is it settled, who is it?"

"Who else could it be? Of course it's Xu Rumo who is walking in the front." The man looked at Shen Shixing with envy and jealousy in his eyes.

In fact, the order of admission in the palace examination does not mean that Huiyuan has to be at the forefront.Sometimes it is in the order of strokes of the surname, and sometimes it is in the order of newcomers from province to province.

Today, Shen Shixing was arranged to take the lead, obviously the imperial court has recognized him as the leader of the members.

Another person interrupted and said in a low voice: "Xu Rumo is an honest gentleman, and he won the first place again. Isn't it okay for the imperial court to choose him as the number one scholar?"

"That's right, Xu Shixing is a well-known scholar in Suzhou, and he has nothing to say when he wins the first prize. Who told us that our skills are inferior to others?" The man sighed: "Today is a happy day, but we walk in the middle and don't rely on each other. It's annoying."

"Yes!" Everyone around sighed.

Hearing what he said, Zhou Nan immediately understood.In fact, today this group of monks is generally divided into four grades.The highest level is naturally the elite among the elites represented by Shen Shixing and Wang Xijue who can compete for the top three.The second class is the top [-] people who are expected to be admitted to the Hanlin Academy as Shujishi.Don't underestimate Shujishi, who will be qualified to be ministers in the future, such as the famous Zhang Juzheng.

The worst one is to shoot someone in the bottom [-], like Xu Yangda, who has no hope in Hanlin. It is estimated that after these two exams, he will be sent to the Six Departments to observe politics for three years.After the internship period expires, go directly to the local area to become a seventh-rank county magistrate.As for how far he can go in his official career in the future, it all depends on luck.But because he doesn't have a Hanlin status, there is always a transparent ceiling above his head, a prefect from the end.If you are lucky, you may be able to serve as a provincial chief envoy with little power for one or two terms and then retire.

This group of people came today to open their eyes, without any desire or desire, as a trip.After all, based on their future achievements, it is estimated that there are not many opportunities to enter the imperial city to meet the emperor in the future.

The most embarrassing thing is that candidates like Zhou Nan and others who are caught in the middle may be able to pass the exam if they work hard.But it is more likely to slide to the bottom gear.

Several people discussed carefully, alarming the officials of the Ministry of Rites.

They looked back and wanted to scold, but they looked at Zhou Nan and closed their mouths.

The Ministry of Rites is Xu Jie's basic board, and most of them are Xu Shoufu's protégés and old officials.The current Minister of Rites, Yan Na, seems to have a close relationship with Zhou Nan, but Mr. Zhou is not easy to mess with.

Hey, Mr. Zhou, can't you keep your voice down, don't make things difficult for us!

Xu Shixing, who was walking in front, turned his head and cast a reproachful look at Tongnian who was talking.

A few Jinshi were unhappy, stared back fiercely, and muttered in their mouths: "What's the air, isn't this a champion yet?"

Shen Shixing was an honest man, he blushed immediately and turned his head away.

Seeing that he had nothing to do with everyone, everyone laughed softly and became more and more wanton.

While walking forward slowly, everyone discussed in a low voice the topic of the Imperial Palace Examination.

"By the way, do you know the exam questions for the palace exam?"

"How important is the national talent ceremony, how can we know in advance, Brother Li Nian, are you kidding?"

The man named Brother Li Nian rolled his eyes and thought, what are you pretending, is it interesting?

Probably feeling that the atmosphere was boring just now, a tribute said with a smile: "What else can it be? I heard that it is about financial management and taxation. All the court officials know about it, and there is nothing to hide."

"I've heard that Xiaosheng has been preparing for it for a while."

"How did you prepare?"

"How else can I prepare, write a composition well, and revise it repeatedly."

"Ha ha."

"Brother Zhao Nian, what are you talking about?"

Brother Zhao Nian: "You are building a car behind closed doors. Let me ask you, although the article is the most important thing? You must have something to say, and you must propose a practical strategy to enrich the country and strengthen the military. What's the point of writing a bunch of poems? Only then, in order to prepare this article, I carefully studied the archives that my father had borrowed from the yamen for five years."

"An article is an article after all, and what you pay attention to is righteousness and rhetoric. You are not the prime minister, so what does it matter to you how to treat the past? The key to choosing a scholar is that your article should be beautifully written."

Unconvinced, the two started arguing quietly.

Zhou Nan was slightly taken aback. The imperial examination hadn't even started yet, and almost all candidates already knew what to test. This...was too much!
That's right, the palace test is really not that important.

After walking for a while, the team that was making a noise suddenly quieted down.

It turned out that everyone had already walked to the square in front of the Palace of Preservation and Harmony without realizing it.I saw countless square bricks under my feet, and all kinds of scary stone carvings of dragons, lions, and dragons around me. The majesty of the royal family and the court rushed over, making everyone tremble.

Twenty rows of low tables had been set up in the square, and brocade piers were placed behind the tables.There are more than a dozen tables in each row, which just happens to fill up the candidates.

There is a small incense burner on the table, burning a candle of tribute incense.On the left of the table is a meat basket, and on the right is a basket of the four treasures of the study.

No need to ask, this is the examination room for the imperial examination, or it is open-air.

The ancients used brushes for composition, and the writing speed was slow.A policy on current affairs should be at least [-] words, and if you want to explain the truth thoroughly, you will need about [-] words.Therefore, the palace examination usually takes two or three hours, and lunch is settled on the spot.

Zhou Nan looked up at the sky, there was no sun, the sky was overcast, and the wind was a bit cold.

Just wait until it rains.

In real history, there are also cases where it rains in the palace exam.In the Qing Dynasty, the examination room was usually moved to the east and west verandas of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, and later directly located in the Hall of Preserving Harmony.

However, the system of the Ming Dynasty was even stricter, and the palace examination was fixed in the square, regardless of wind or rain.

Besides, it's spring now, even if the rain falls, it's just a hazy drizzle, and it won't go anywhere.At that time, the big deal is to give everyone umbrellas.

Suddenly, drums and music were played outside the Baohe Hall, and the supervisors of the Imperial Examination for Zhengke Palace came in two lines.These officials are all university scholars with a second rank and above, ministers of various ministries, and ministers, and they wear black Jinde crowns.The leader is Li Chunfang, a cabinet bachelor, followed by Yan Na, all old acquaintances!

Three clean whips sounded, and a vermilion wind was seen blowing in front of the Palace of Preserving Harmony, walking towards the emperor's support.Emperor Jiajing sat on the top of the chariot, waving to the examinees who shouted long live.

After the imperial chariot entered the Hall of Preserving Harmony, two rows of ministers slowly passed through the steps on both sides of the hall and gathered in front of the main hall. There was another sound of "Long live". Jiajing sat on the Longdun and looked at the candidates with a smile.

Amidst the sound of drum music, the examinees were all trembling with excitement, and even Shen Shixing, who had always been calm, had tears in his eyes and clenched his fists tightly.

The group of musicians who play the music are also old acquaintances, and they are full of optimism.

Zhou Nan couldn't help sighing in his heart, he knew this mud horse, and the most important exam in my life had no surprises at all!
music collection.

Chen Hong, the eunuch who supervised the examination, shouted: "The minister who reads the paper will play the questions!"

The Chief Exam Reader, Minister of the Ministry of Officials, Tianguan presented the palace examination questions that had already been drawn up for the palace examination.

The questions of the imperial examination are usually given by various ministers, cabinet ministers, and Hanlin scholars. After they are completed, the emperor circles one again when the exam is about to take place.

Zhou Nan was curious and looked up.I saw the emperor lifted the ink pen and circled it.

Chen Hong took it and handed it over to the Minister of the Ministry of Officials.

"Minister reading papers, thank you for your grace!"

I saw eight reading ministers come out, stand in front of the emperor, and then kowtow three times and bow nine times.

"The minister who reads the paper takes an oath!"

The examiners sang and read the rhymes in unison, but they couldn't understand what they sang, and they could bluff people anyway.

There was another cannon fire, and the examiner shouted: "The test is awarded!"

I saw a piece of yellow silk held in the hand of a minister, and the yellow silk covered his face, only the black gauze hat was exposed: "One policy for current affairs, the orthodox policy for the two taxes in summer and autumn!"

Sure enough, it was this question, not only Zhou Nan, but also other candidates smiled.

"The questions of the Imperial Palace Examination are simply an open secret. I don't know if it has always been the case or Jiajing deliberately created political hot spots, or most of them?" Zhou Nan thought.

The research I went to Shandong just happened to be used, and the article is naturally well-founded and full of data.

"It's hard to say, there are good scholars." Zhou Nan suddenly had an unspeakable excitement in his heart: "Who said that you can't order Hanlin if you can't rank in the test? If you all rank like this, there will be palace examinations and later imperial examinations." very?"

(End of this chapter)