I

   Chapter 671 668 [No. 1 Scholar]

  In the imperial examinations and imperial examinations, except for the officials of the Ministry of Rites, everyone can participate in the evaluation of the examination papers.

   "Your Majesty, here are the first ten papers of this imperial examination." Pang Chunlai squinted, with a pair of glasses hanging on his chest, tremblingly handing the answer papers to the female officer.

  The female official forwarded it to Zhao Han and handed it over to the emperor for his own review.

  The palace examination papers belong to the ink volumes, that is, the original papers answered by candidates, and are not copied into ink volumes like the general examination. If the examinee's handwriting is recognized, and there are elders who are the masters of marking, they can easily cheat.

   Therefore, in the traditional palace examination, those with nepotism need to avoid suspicion.

  Yang Tinghe did not avoid suspicion back then, and participated in the evaluation as the chief assistant. As a result, his son Yang Shen won the first prize, and has been complained and questioned for hundreds of years.

   Zhao Han only scanned a few lines of the paper for the first place, and knew that it must be the old list scholar.

  Xinbang Scholars' articles are more straightforward in writing style, often with an irresistible vigor. However, the scholars in the old list have more complicated writing styles, focusing on righteousness and reason, more calm but less aggressive.

  The policy theory in front of me is full of quotations and classics, and it is mature and prudent. From ancient times to the present, it is estimated that I also read newspapers and discuss the situation of overseas countries. Its core point of view is the debate between Hua and Barbarians, saying that while opening up sea trade, it should not be influenced by foreign countries and barbarians, and European religions should be completely banned. In addition, in overseas Han Chinese settlements, local Han Chinese should be encouraged to open schools.

  He has literary talent, standpoint, and vision, and the reasoning is correct. No wonder he was rated as the number one by the cabinet ministers.

  The second-place paper is probably from the Xinbang scholars.

  First discuss the importance of finance, and say that it is because of the lack of money that Daming fell into an endless cycle of peasant uprisings that became more and more suppressed. It also talks about the past dynasties, and the collapse of the dynasty is often accompanied by financial collapse.

   Let’s talk about the European colonists again, saying that Spain, the Netherlands and other countries were driven by interests to colonize across the sea.

   Therefore, this examinee emphasized that it is absolutely impossible to close the door and lock the sea. For the benefits of trade across the seas, if the European barbarians increase by one point, Datong China will lose one point. The emperor has sent troops to control Ryukyu, Taiwan, Luzon and Guangnan, and then Batavia and Malacca must be captured.

   also said that while focusing on maritime trade, the Silk Road cannot be ignored. When the population in the north is sufficient, it should follow the example of the Han and Tang Dynasties and seize control of the Western Regions. Once the Western Regions are controlled, not only will they be able to obtain profits from land trade, but they will also be able to cut off the foreign trade routes of the Mongolian grasslands, which will be beneficial to the control of the Mongolians.

  This candidate also delineated the sphere of influence for China in the future, that is, the east of Malacca and the east of the Seven Rivers must be under the control of the Chinese court.

   "Okay, have vision!"

  Zhao Han was quite happy, and drew a circle on the answer sheet with a pen.

  The third answer sheet was written with majestic momentum, and the writing style can be called majestic. Unfortunately, it was all correct nonsense, so Zhao Han threw it aside.

  The meeting's first test paper was not in the top ten at all, and Zhao Han quickly browsed to the twenty-first paper before meeting it.

  All the ministers were a little apprehensive, because the emperor didn't give them face at all.

  According to the palace examination rules of the Ming Dynasty, the emperor generally would not change the rankings selected by the cabinet ministers. Even if it is changed, it is still from the top three, five, or top ten, and the one you like will be the champion.

  The emperor himself read dozens of answer sheets, expressing his distrust of the ministers.

  Two hundred papers are too many.

  Zhao Han basically browsed quickly, and only read carefully when he found something he liked. He personally read the first 80 or so copies.

  He put the best ones together and compared them repeatedly. Finally, Yubi circled the top three, and said happily: "Let's open the title list here."

   This is an errand for the Imperial Household.

  In addition to being familiar with politics, the officials of the Zhifangfang must also have excellent calligraphy and excellent writing skills. After all, they are usually the ones who write imperial edicts.

  Now, the chief official of the Chifang is Yuan Jixian, a native of Yichun, Jiangxi. He served as an envoy to promote education in Shanxi at the highest level in the Ming Dynasty. Fu Qingzhu was his student, and he also helped Wang Tiaoding **** Chongzhen's children to the south.

  Yuan Jixian tore apart the blurred names on the answer sheet, and announced to the ministers at the same time—

   Champion: Li Kaiji, from Luling, Jiangxi.

  Second place: Zhang Shouyue, from Nanhai, Guangdong.

  Tanhua: Shen Wei, from Yiyang, Hunan.

  All are southern scholars who received traditional education and received new education. The average age is only 21 years old. Two graduated from Jinling University, and one graduated from Guangzhou University.

  The imperial examination is not a test of knowledge, but a test of vision and thinking, and a test of their compatibility with the emperor or ministers.

  The cabinet ministers were speechless, but at the same time they were psychologically prepared for this.

   Immediately afterwards, Yuan Jixian picked up the ink brush and wrote the names of the three people on the mounted yellow list.

   After writing the Huangbang, Yuan Jixian started to write the Chuanlu post again.

  Ms. Shang Bao brought the emperor's seal and asked Zhao Han to stamp the yellow list. Song Yingxing took the yellow list to Fengtian Hall and handed it to Chen Maosheng who had been waiting there. Yuan Jixian handed over the Chuanlu stickers to Zhang Dai, Minister of Honglu Temple.

  In the morning, post the imperial list.

  First announced the list of the three Jinshi, Choi Wenxiu, a North Korean student, stood under the list and kept silently saying: "Don't have me, don't have me!"

  Scholars who have been admitted by the general examination will not be eliminated by the palace examination, and of course they don't want to appear in the third list.

  Hebei scholar Li Jixiu also had this idea, but unfortunately he was disappointed after all. He only got the seventh place in the three rankings.

  This achievement is mostly thrown directly to the local government, and becomes a sesame official from the ninth rank, and then slowly rises based on political achievements and qualifications. Fortunately, the promotion paths of the new dynasty are different. As long as they are Jinshi, ninth-rank officials can always climb up, unlike in the Ming Dynasty where they could only be promoted to seventh-rank at most.

   Then post the second list.

  Wang Zunxun and Sun Chengen were the two champions of the Shunzhi Dynasty in history. Today, one ranked No. 1 on the second list, and the other ranked nineteenth on the second list.

  Among them, Wang Zunxun's paper was judged to be the first by the Minister of the Cabinet, but it was passed down by Zhao Han.

   "First place!"

  The central civil servant shouted, took out the yellow list and posted it.

   "Tanhua, Shen Gongwei, from Yiyang, Hunan, graduated from Jinling University!"

  Shen Wei stood in the crowd, with a simple and honest smile on his face.

  He was just an ordinary farmer. Before the Datong Army took back Hunan, his family belonged to self-cultivating farmers.

  Following up the division of households and sub-fields, Shen Wei also attended a new-style elementary school, and went all the way to Jinling University at public expense.

   Moreover, when Shen Wei was in college, he went to the imperial court through his teacher and changed some of Hunan's administrative policies.

   "Congratulations, brother Shen, congratulations, brother Shen!"

   "Congratulations, Congratulations!"

  Suddenly, a wealthy businessman rushed over, grabbed Shen Wei's sleeve and asked, "Has Mr. Shen ever married?"

  Shen Wei said: "There is already a marriage contract."

  The wealthy businessman was immediately disappointed, and those who were eager to try, also sighed and left.

  Shen Wei also lamented that the female classmate he fell in love with was the only daughter of a wealthy businessman, and her parents agreed to the marriage only after recruiting a relative.

   "No. 2, Zhang Gongshou, from Nanhai, Guangdong, graduated from Guangzhou University!"

  The scholars in Guangdong burst into applause, cheering and celebrating around Zhang Shouyue.

   A group of businessmen rushed to Zhang Shouyue again, hurriedly asking about the marriage, Zhang Shouyue smiled and said: "To be honest, the dog is already one and a half years old."

   Well, this one has a son.

   "The number one scholar, Li Gongji, a native of Luling, Jiangxi, graduated from Jinling University."

  Suddenly, a scholar yelled like a prank: "The number one scholar is not married yet, and he has no engagement. Hurry up and **** the son-in-law who is under the list!"

  Li Kaiji was so frightened that he ran away, running all the way back to the inn before giving up.

  Standing in the guest room, Li Kaiji straightened his clothes, raised three fingers and said, "I swear today that I will devote myself to your Majesty, Yao and Shun!"

  The second place in the list, Shen Wei, used to be a self-cultivating farmer. Tanhua Zhang keeps the contract, and his family has always been a wealthy businessman.

  The number one scholar Li Kaiji, his parents were military households in the suburbs of Luling County. To put it bluntly, they were serfs for military officials. As long as he can remember, he has never had a full day, and his eldest brother and third sister starved to death.

  It wasn't until Zhao Han came with the Datong army, occupied Luling County, and distributed the land to the military households, that Li Kaiji finally turned around.

  Father and eldest brother are dead, and the second brother has become the pillar of the family. Although it is still very hard, farming the family's field is indescribably enjoyable every day.

  The eldest brother-in-law is also a military household, joined the army to fight with His Majesty, and is now the commander of the 7th Division of the Datong Army. If it weren't for his poor cultural background and he couldn't write a few words, he might have already become a brigade commander. After all, his qualifications in the army are there.

  Days at home get better every day.

  There has been no major disaster in Luling County, and the food grown is simply inexhaustible. The old mother occasionally cooks some food and asks the second sister-in-law to sell it in the city, and the second sister-in-law can also make money by spinning herself. There are also chickens and ducks at home, and the second brother is a good farmer, and the extra money is used to buy pens, ink, paper and inkstones for Li Kaiji.

  His Majesty the emperor is still alive, and the family dare not set up a **** for the emperor. On the first day of every month, the old mother would go to the mountains in the outskirts of the county to offer incense to the martyrs at the Temple of Heroes, and at the same time thank His Majesty the Emperor for his kindness in rebuilding.

  The old mother often said: "Third son, how can our family afford your majesty's kindness? You should study well, and then become a good official and do a good job for your majesty."

   Just as Li Kaiji recalled the past, a classmate shouted from downstairs: "Lao Li, Lao Li, come down to pick up the guests!"

   "Bang bang bang bang!"

   Then there was the sound of crackling firecrackers.

The inn clerk held up firecrackers and set off firecrackers, while the shopkeeper shouted with a smile on his face: "Today's room rate and food will be discounted by 20%! Xinke Zhuangyuan will live in our store! Whoever comes to stay in the inn in the future will be rewarded with Wenquxing." The children live in the inn, all of them are smart. The scholars live in the inn, and all the high school emperors! I will give the owner a suggestion to change the name of the inn to Zhuangyuan Building! Spend money!"

"it is good!"

  The store clerk threw copper coins all over the floor, and passers-by scrambled for them.

   It's not for grabbing money, after all, no matter how quick your hands and feet are, you can still grab an extra three or five pennies, it's purely for the extravagance of Wenquxing.

   Form matters.

  The significance of restoring the imperial examination is not only to regulate the selection of officials, but also another symbol in the hearts of ordinary people.

  (end of this chapter)