Chapter 55: Highly Competitive Prefect School

Afterwards, the old man brought two more plates of tea snacks: one was bean cakes coated in sesame seeds, the other preserved plums cut into plum-petal shapes.

"Do try them; these bean cakes pair wonderfully with tea, and the preserved plums are even better with perilla drink."

After serving their drinks and snacks, the old man, having no fear they would skip out without paying, simply said, "If you wish to order more, just call out; settle the bill when you leave after finishing."

Then the old man leaned directly against the wall panel and dozed off in his chair.

While the three still found their tea too scalding to drink, Ji Yun eagerly lifted his cool clay bowl, water droplets seeping from the bowl's walls wetting his fingers; as he lowered his head to sip, the bangs on his forehead nearly dipped into the perilla drink.

"Delicious!"

The boy, eyes sparkling, licked the plum juice from the corner of his lips and reached for the bean cakes.

Just as his fingertips touched one, he seemed to remember something, withdrew his hand, pulled a plain handkerchief from his sleeve to place underneath, then picked up a piece and offered it to Lu Beigu: "Here, have a taste."

Quite polite and hygienic.

Afterwards, Ji Yun grabbed another bean cake, bit off half, and sesame seeds rained down into the cracks of the elmwood table.

Lu Beigu watched the two sitting opposite him, neither eating nor drinking, felt no discomfort, and instead leisurely took a sip of tea and ate a bean cake, finding the combination truly delicious.

"By the way, does the Prefect School let out so early?" he asked Ji Yun.

"Of course," Ji Yun mumbled through a mouthful, "Uh, not entirely; only the Lower Hall and Middle Hall are on break; the Upper Hall students, who have a chance at the Prefect Exam, still have coursework."

"Lower Hall? Middle Hall? Upper Hall?"

The County School did not divide classes; over two hundred people studied together, and whether the Prefect School divided classes, Lu Beigu was unsure.

Moreover, these terms sounded so familiar; could this be the "Three Halls System" from the Xining Reforms?

Lu Beigu pondered and felt something was off; Wang Anshi's system was implemented in the Imperial Academy and called "Outer Hall, Inner Hall, Upper Hall"!

"Brother Lu may not know," Han Ziyu began to explain, "the Luzhou Prefect School, with hundreds of students, is divided into halls."

Indeed, the Prefect School divided classes.

Although the names differed, the principle was much like the "Three Halls System," serving as a prototype for the "Three Halls System."

Or, to put it another way, Wang Anshi could not have created a system out of thin air; all systems have precedents and evolution.

In fact, many Prefect Schools in Sichuan now, and Prefect Schools elsewhere in Great Song, forced to balance limited imperial examination resources among numerous students of varying quality, had been compelled to divide classes.

Letting the best teachers teach the best students.

The goal was certainly not the Prefect Exam itself; the number of people who could secure a recommendation quota after passing the Prefect Exam was fixed; if it were only for the Prefect Exam, it truly did not matter to the Prefect School who secured the quota.

The true purpose was to ensure that examinees who obtained recommendation quotas would pass the Ministry of Rites Provincial Exam as often as possible.

Why?

—Of course, because the more examinees from this prefecture who obtained recommendation quotas and passed the Ministry of Rites Provincial Exam, the better the performance evaluation for the Prefect School and even the officials of that prefecture!

This directly affected the officials' promotions, so naturally, no amount of effort to select the best among the Prefect School students was excessive.

At this moment, Lu Beigu asked Ji Yun, "Then are you in the Lower Hall or the Middle Hall?"

"I am, of course, in the Lower Hall!"

Ji Yun spoke with righteous indignation, pointing at himself: "How old am I?"

Lu Beigu couldn't help but chuckle; Ji Yun did indeed look young, but in another two years, his height would likely shoot up, and his face would no longer be so childish.

"Brother Han is far more accomplished than I; currently, he is in the Middle Hall."

Ji Yun pointed at Han Ziyu as he spoke, and Han San Niang, hearing this, also seemed quite pleased.

"What about Zhou Mingyuan?" Lu Beigu asked again.

Han Ziyu said with a smile, "He is in the Upper Hall, but whether he remains so next time is uncertain."

"What do you mean by that?"

Lu Beigu felt curious; he had just heard about the class divisions, but how did demotions work?

Ji Yun interjected to explain: "Exams are required; the Prefect School posts a large ranking list; the exam questions and grading standards are identical; then the top third of the ranking list enters the Upper Hall, the middle third enters the Middle Hall, and the bottom third enters the Lower Hall. Otherwise, how do you think the Upper, Middle, and Lower Halls originated?"

Hearing this, Lu Beigu understood; it was using rankings to divide into regular classes, key classes, and experimental classes!

Presumably, newly enrolled students must start in the Lower Hall; after all, plenty of people spend over a decade in the Prefect School without passing the Jinshi exam; if one lacks talent, one simply endures slowly.

Conversely, if one achieves rapid academic progress and shines brilliantly even under "less favorable educational resources," one would certainly be promoted to advanced studies and even receive key cultivation.

Therefore, the Prefect School system was far more competitive than the County School, emphasizing survival of the fittest.

"So Zhou Mingyuan currently belongs to the bottom of the Upper Hall?"

"Yes." Ji Yun bared his teeth in disdain, "Three years ago, he just got incredibly lucky; he passed the exam and became a Juren purely by luck; in reality, he lacks the ability."

Lu Beigu asked a question he cared about: "Then I heard people in Gulin say Brother Zhou failed to go to the capital to take the Ministry of Rites Provincial Exam due to his place of origin."

"Do you believe that too?"

Ji Yun rolled his eyes: "The recommendation quota definitely cannot be absolutely fair, but it is not as unfair as you imagine; overall, it ranks from top to bottom. For example, if seven people pass, but the court grants only five quotas this year, the bottom two must be cut; or if three pass and only two quotas are granted, one is cut. Place of origin issues certainly exist, but even with normal ranking, Zhou Mingyuan wouldn't make the cut; he is just polishing his own image to make excuses."

Lu Beigu nodded and said nothing more.

Ji Yun was clearly at odds with Zhou Mingyuan, but Zhou Mingyuan had also helped him, so Lu Beigu found it improper to badmouth people behind their backs; asking his concerned question and getting an answer was enough.

"Of course, the recommendation quota is ultimately determined by people."

Ji Yun thought for a moment and admitted, "Anyway, the Department Magistrate, the Assistant Prefect, and the Judge all have decision-making power. The Prefect Exam is held once every three years; this list involves not only the futures of the Juren but also theirs. If a prefecture produces someone with an exceptionally high rank, their performance evaluations will directly benefit. So generally, the best among the best are selected, but if everyone's level is similar, then who receives the quota naturally goes to whoever they favor more, not solely based on ranking; there is no way around this."

"Understood."

Listening to the two converse, Han Ziyu asked at this moment.

"Is the Hejiang County School about to hold the County Exam? Does Young Master Lu have confidence in entering the Prefect School?"

"I do have confidence," Lu Beigu replied seriously, "There is still a little over a month until the County Exam; as long as I solidify my poetry and fu composition and diligently study ink meanings, I should pass the County Exam."

Ji Yun nodded and said, "As expected; once Brother Lu passes the County Exam, we shall be classmates."

In his view, given Lu Beigu's talent, he would certainly enter the Prefect School and could not remain in the County School forever.

"However, Brother Lu must be mentally prepared; passing the County Exam is nothing; the Prefect School and the County School are completely different matters!"

(End of Chapter)