In the Song Dynasty, there was no law or order.

Zhao Zhen and the others obviously didn't know that Zhao Jun, as Ling Ling, later began to rectify the officialdom of the Song Dynasty a thousand years ago.

They just felt that these words were speechless and had no way to refute.

Everyone was stunned by Zhao Jun's words. They wanted to say something, but they couldn't.

Because they don't understand at all.

At the end, Fan Zhongyan could only say: "No matter what, we still have to pass the test of Jingyi. Otherwise, how can we stop the mouth of Youyou in the world?"

Zhao Jun thought for a while and said: "From my personal point of view, of course I hope that special things will be done and I won't have to take the exam directly, so that I can become a first or second grade Jinshi. But I think you will definitely not agree, so I There is a compromise, it depends on whether you are willing to accept it.”

"any solution?"

"This year you have increased the content of the exam to focus on policy theory and poetry, eliminated Mo Yi, and added an arithmetic exam. What do you think?"

"this"

Everyone looked at each other and saw the surprise in each other's eyes.

Because the imperial examinations in the Song Dynasty actually paid more attention to policy theory and poetry. "Gangjian Yi Zhilu" records: "During the Jingyou period, the imperial examinations used both policy theory and poetry to select scholars."

At that time, the requirements for the meaning of the scriptures were not very high. Even when taking the examination, there was no need to study the meaning of the scriptures. Those who studied the meaning of the scriptures only needed to be familiar with one scripture.

In other words, as long as you write poems and policies well, the classics and meanings are a little bit poor, and you can barely pass the test, you can basically pass the Jinshi examination.

This situation lasted until Fan Zhongyan's reform and Wang Anshi's reform. During Fan Zhongyan's reform, the status of poetry and poetry in the imperial examination was lowered, and the status of classics and meanings was raised, so that classics and meanings were juxtaposed with policy theory.

Later, in Wang Anshi's reform, he directly abolished poems, poems, classics, and Moyi, and selected scholars exclusively based on classics, strategies, and theories.

Therefore, at present, strategies and poems are indeed important criteria for selecting scholars.

What is Zhao Jun good at?

Isn’t it just strategy and poetry?

Based on his level of policy making, it is estimated that no one can match him.

As for poetry.

He can copy those future poems.

Therefore, as long as his classics and meaning can barely meet the standard, and including a new arithmetic subject, the total score will indeed be enough to pass the Jinshi examination.

Moreover, the palace examination is still focused on strategy and theory. As long as he can pass the imperial examination in a fair and honest manner, he will have the highest probability of winning the top prize in the palace examination rankings.

That is to say.

As long as these scholar-bureaucrats suppress their moral obsession and recognize that Zhao Jun's plagiarism of future poems and strategies is not cheating, and if these poems and strategies can pass the test, then Zhao Jun can really take the exam to become a Jinshi.

But no matter what, the basic requirements of classics and meanings still need to be met. How could Zhao Jun pass the exam if he is not even proficient in a single classic?

Fan Zhongyan said: "But you have never read a single classic. Can you pass the test of its meaning?"

"I really don't know much about the scriptures. Is there anything you can do?"

Zhao Jun asked.

"There's no trickery in things like scripture and meaning. It's just what it should be. Is there any way to do it?"

Lu Yijian shook his head and said: "Unless you can calm down and study the scriptures seriously for ten years, if you are talented, like my uncle did when he was a child, you may be able to master it in three to five years."

"Is there no other way?"

Zhao Jun scratched his head: "For example, if you lower the score of Jingyi a little bit, or make the questions simpler, and ask me to memorize that content before the exam, this is not considered direct cheating."

"That's fair to you, but it's not fair to millions of students from the Song Dynasty."

Yan Shu said in a deep voice: "Many people have studied hard for many years, studying the classics and meanings, just to show off what they have learned in the imperial examination. But now you have lowered the score of the classics and meanings, made the questions simpler, and even revealed to you the general direction of the exam. , what will happen to those candidates who have been taking the exam for many years?”

"That's not right."

Zhao Jun wondered: "If the question is made simple, wouldn't they be happier?"

"What's the use of being more happy? After the scores are lowered, even if they get full marks, because the scores of policy theory and poetry are raised, they still can't pass the exam. Isn't this fair?"

Wang Zeng said: "The imperial examination must be fair and just, just like your college entrance examination. Isn't it fair and just?"

"The college entrance examination must be fair and just."

Zhao Jun frowned and said: "The problem is that the difficulty of the questions in the college entrance examination is different every year. Just because the difficulty of a certain subject has been lowered this year and the difficulty of certain two subjects has been increased this year, it cannot be said to be unfair. Could it be that you have never raised or lowered the difficulty of the imperial examination content? "

"Of course there is, but raising or lowering the difficulty specifically for you is different."

Lu Yijian answered: "This is opening the door for you alone. If the whole world knows about it, do you know how much this will damage the prestige of the imperial examination? It will shake the foundation of the country!"

"But this doesn't count as cheating."

Zhao Jun was speechless.

No cheating, just adjusting the difficulty as usual in previous years?

"If it doesn't work, it won't work. The system cannot be changed!"

Yan Shu emphasized.

The relationship between him and Zhao Jun is actually very good.

After all, during these three months, the two got along day and night, and their relationship naturally increased.

In fact, Zhao Jun also has a very good sense of Yan Shu. He has always treated him as a respectable elder and respected him very much.

But having a good relationship is one thing, but helping him directly change the difficulty of the exam is another.

This is a matter of principle.

Again, the Northern Song Dynasty scholar-bureaucrats sometimes had problems with their minds. For example, Sima Guang was so stupid that he sent back the conquered land to Xixia. But in terms of personal ethics, there is really nothing to say.

Therefore, in the face of Zhao Jun's unreasonable request, Yan Shu disliked it from the bottom of his heart, because it seriously violated the standards of conduct of Yan Shu and others.

But Zhao Jun also had a reason.

The imperial examination itself is the same as the college entrance examination. The difficulty and content of the examination are changing every year.

It may be easier this year, but it’s normal for next year to be a little more difficult.

However, the current proportion of policy theory and poetry in the imperial examination is already heavy. If the proportion of policy theory and poetry is calculated as 50%, then the three subjects of Jingyi, Jingjing, and Moyi combined will only account for 50%.

Now it’s not a big deal to drop it a little bit more or to increase the proportion of policy theory and poetry a little bit. It’s within the normal fluctuation range, so why not?

Could it be that just because he took the initiative to ask for a reduction, they couldn't do it?

That's a bit outrageous.

However, there were obviously serious differences in perspective between the two parties. Zhao Jun felt that special measures should be taken, but three sworn enemies, including Lu Yijian and Fan Zhongyan Wang Zeng, refused to let go.

In the final analysis, you still have your reasons, and they have their bottom line. The two sides have different perspectives and naturally look at different issues.

Lu Yijian King Zeng Fan Zhongyan Yan Shu and others believed that increasing and decreasing the proportion were indeed fluctuations in the imperial examination every year, but they were within the scope of normal passive fluctuations.

And if it is done specifically for Zhao Jun, it means taking the initiative to change and give him special treatment, which will be unfair to those who specialize in Jingyi, Jingjing, and Moyi, and hope to get high scores in these fields.

This creates a deadlock.

"No, absolutely not."

Wang Zeng repeatedly objected: "The Song Dynasty has always been extremely strict against cheating in imperial examinations. Although your behavior is not cheating, it is almost cheating for you. What is the difference? We cannot lose everyone's opportunities just for you."

"I'm really convinced by you, why are you so stubborn?"

Zhao Jun said with a helpless look: "In our college entrance examination, sometimes someone is very strong in a certain subject and is singled out. A slightly weaker Jingyi does not mean that he cannot govern the country. In many things, as long as you prove your ability, for Why can’t we do something special? I really don’t understand you.”

"The national conditions of our Song Dynasty are naturally different from those of later generations. Do you know how much of a blow it will have to the court's prestige once this case is broken? How many talents will the court lose if thousands of people are disappointed?"

Lu Yijian shook his head.

"Zhao Jun."

Seeing that they were at a stalemate, Zhao Zhen hesitated and advised, "Why don't we just forget about it."

"Of course we can't forget it."

Zhao Jun was equally stubborn and said: "I also have my own position and ideas. The college entrance examination is fair and just, but there are still special recruitment, single recruitment, and recommendation. This is our difference. Employment should be eclectic and flexible. Being so rigid is a complete hindrance to national reform!”

"No matter what, we won't agree to it."

"Yes, even if you say a flower, it won't work. If it doesn't work, it won't work. The imperial examination is the bottom line."

"Others have studied hard for ten years, and only after high school can they become officials in the court. But you want us to open the door for you, which is too much."

The rest of the people disagreed with Zhao Jun's statement.

Essentially, this is where ancient and modern ideas collide.

Zhao Jun feels that modern university admissions are inherently flexible and there is nothing wrong with lowering the score as long as there is no cheating.

But they think it's not possible. You must meet the standards in all subjects. If you don't get full marks, you can't get in.

So the two sides were in a stalemate for a while, and no one could convince the other.

This is a battle of positions.

No one wants to relent on this matter.

This is very painful for Zhao Zhen.

Caught between two parties in a dilemma.

Seeing that they were all stubborn, Zhao Zhen became even more helpless.

But he didn't know why, but he seemed to feel blessed. After thinking for a moment, an idea suddenly came to his mind.

"Ahem."

Zhao Zhen coughed twice, and when everyone calmed down and looked at him, he said in a deep voice: "To be honest, I actually think what Zhao Jun said makes sense."

"Official family."

Yan Shu said anxiously: "The imperial examination is the foundation of a country and must not be shaken."

"I'm not shaken, but I think everyone is right, and what Zhao Jun said makes sense. If that's the case, why don't we think of a different way?"

"Other way?"

"Yes, I have decided to take the Provincial Examination next year to take the "Book of Filial Piety". The "Book of Filial Piety" has the least number of words and is also the easiest to recite. The difficulty of the provincial exam will be much lower. The overall difficulty does not need to be adjusted. How about just slightly lowering the proportion?"

Zhao Zhen muttered: "There are still more than twenty days before Autumn. As long as Zhao Jun reads the "Book of Filial Piety" carefully during this period, you all were great scholars at that time and would often come to the palace to teach him how to read. Wait for the explanation After it is over, there will be more than four months until February next year. If we review it more intensively, there should be hope.”

The classics in the Song Dynasty mainly examine the seven classics, namely the Analects of Confucius, Mencius, the Book of Songs, the Book of Songs, the Book of Changes, the Book of Filial Piety, the Book of Rites, and the Spring and Autumn Annals.

In fact, there are more than these, because these also have different versions and contents, and there is a lot to learn.

However, the "Book of Filial Piety" has the smallest number of words among them, with only two to three thousand words. No matter how outrageous the versions are, they generally cannot exceed this number of words. Therefore, the "Jing of Filial Piety" can be said to be the simplest meaning among the seven classics.

And at that time, you could choose a subject to take in the provincial examination, and the provincial examination was a random examination. This is why in the Song Dynasty, you only needed to study one classic to take the examination for the Juren.

Zhao Zhen set the "Book of Filial Piety" for the provincial examination next year. This year, Zhao Jun can also take the initiative to choose the "Book of Filial Piety" for the provincial examination. The content of the examination will be the questions in the "Book of Filial Piety". Zhao Jun only knows that he will take the "Book of Filial Piety" but does not know the questions. This is a compromise and a green light.

As long as he can barely pass the "Book of Filial Piety", basically relying on policy essays and poems, it will not be a problem to pass the Jinshi or even the top scholar.

The most important thing is that the seven classics themselves are to be tested. Although the Jinshi examination requires multiple studies, because there are often different contents, one of them will be specially determined as the main direction of the examination.

So Zhao Zhen decided that the main subject to be tested next year is the simplest "Book of Filial Piety", which is not really a violation.

"What do you think?"

Zhao Zhen looked around at everyone.

Now everyone had nothing to say.

Because this is within the scope of the rules.

So everyone bowed and saluted and said: "Your Majesty is wise!"