Chapter 769: Clerk Examination Opens

In the middle of the intercalary eleventh month of the fifteenth year of Chongzhen, although the weather was cold and flurries of snow drifted down from time to time, the atmosphere throughout the garrison city was intensely heated, because the Protectorate’s recruitment of clerks and the date of the examination were fast approaching.

Local scholars, not to mention the Licentiates and Licentiate, signed up eagerly. Thanks to the massive publicity in the Xuanfu Times, scholars from Shanxi, Shaanxi, and Hebei, and even many from as far away as Shandong, rushed over to take the examination.

Finding a livelihood was not easy in these times, and securing a government livelihood was even more precious. Within books there are houses of gold; within books there are faces of jade. The ideology of official rank as the standard was still deeply ingrained in the hearts of every subject of the Great Ming.

In the past, the reputation of a clerk might not have been good. After all, even if one toiled a whole lifetime and reached the rank of Head Clerk, one was still outside the official ranks. Before orthodox Provincial Graduates and Metropolitan Graduates, one was a full head shorter.

But the situation in Xuanfu Garrison was different, because here one entered officialdom through the clerkship. Even the high officials at the ministerial level here still outwardly called themselves clerks. University graduates of Xuanzhen likewise started as clerks, so everyone’s minds were set at ease.

Moreover, elsewhere in the Great Ming, after reaching Head Clerk, there was basically no chance for further promotion. Yet here in Xuanfu Garrison…

Many people who specially studied this place made a delighted discovery: here, a clerk’s promotion had no ceiling. If the former Head Clerk was only equivalent to the section level here and then stopped dead, here one could continue rising.

Section member, deputy section level, full section level, deputy division level, full division level, deputy department level, full department level, deputy ministry level, full ministry level — step by step one climbed upward. A clear promotion path unfolded before one’s eyes, and one might even climb to the high seat of the ministry level.

In many people’s view, what difference was there between the ministry level here and the Minister of Revenue of the Great Ming?

For now, this place still did not emphasize academic degrees or seniority, and it had no disasters of war or banditry. It was the most stable government clerkship in the Great Ming, which made it even more precious. So as the news spread wider and wider, more and more people rushed to take the examination. By the intercalary eleventh month, several thousand scholars from various regions had already gathered in Xuanfu Garrison.

That so many scholars came to take the examination shook every part of the Great Ming. Some cried out in alarm that all the talent was being gathered up by the Marquis of Yongning.

Others sourly called this “clerk governance,” a minor path outside the orthodox ranks. But no matter what they said, the scholars eagerly signed up and rushed to the examination — that was the fact.

The Shogunate attached great importance to the scholars who came to take the examination. The Civil Affairs Ministry specially allocated funds to book many inns inside and outside the garrison city, and also arranged many restaurants and eateries to provide free board and lodging for the examination candidates. Three meals a day, one meat dish and two vegetable dishes. Those who failed would also be given travel expenses.

Such treatment truly went without saying. The Marquis of Yongning showed the scholars too much respect, making many candidates’ hearts feel warm.

Through inquiries and reading the newspapers, they learned that the Protectorate’s first batch of recruited clerks would be five hundred.

This number was astonishing. After all, in successive dynasties, the number of Metropolitan Graduates admitted at one time was no more than two or three hundred, and they were further divided into three ranks. Although admitting clerks could not compare to admitting Metropolitan Graduates, the scale was indeed startling.

However, the competition was also fierce. Several thousand people vying for a few hundred slots — could one actually pass?

At the very end there was also a political review, which would also weed out a batch. Many could not help but worry.

Moreover, after arriving in Xuanfu Garrison, many scholars discovered that this place was indeed a rare land of peach-blossom paradise within the Great Ming, a place their hearts yearned for. With so many people taking the examination, it was inevitable that many would fail. If that truly happened, they might as well not go back, but just stay in Xuanfu Garrison.

There were still plenty of opportunities here. Not to mention common trades like bookkeeping, even entering a primary school to teach — many believed that teaching primary school national literature and arithmetic was still within their ability.

After gaining a firm foothold in Xuanfu Garrison, they could then bring their families over.

Sharing the same thoughts as them, how could Wang Dou let these scholars slip away? Recently he had been brewing plans to establish a Xuanfu Garrison normal secondary school and university, specifically to train schoolteachers. After training, these scholars would basically be qualified, since the content of primary school was, after all, not deep.

…

The clerk examination was set for the twenty-second day of the intercalary eleventh month. As the date drew near, the atmosphere grew ever more heated, and many people rushed to arrive at the very last moment after traveling a thousand li.

On the morning of the twentieth, the weather suddenly turned mild, though yesterday’s lingering snow had frozen into solid ice. At the entrance of the largest inn in the southeast corner of the city, the Yingfu Inn, a family of three entered.

The man was in his thirties, lean and gaunt, with high, protruding cheekbones and deeply sunken cheeks. He wore a washed-out blue robe and carried a worn bundle on his back. His gaze was fixed and vacant, his eyes full of bloodshot red from exhaustion, and he merely muttered, “I want to be an official, I want to be an official, I want to be an official.”

His wife, and his seven- or eight-year-old daughter, were as lean and gaunt as he was. Timidly, one on his left and one on his right, each clutched a corner of his robe.

A waiter had long been waiting at the inn entrance. Seeing this family of three enter, a waiter immediately came up with a smile and said to the man, “This scholar has come to take the examination, I presume? Please show me your lodging number plate.”

The man hurriedly took the number plate from his sleeve and gave it to the waiter. The waiter examined it carefully. At every city gate of the garrison city, there were personnel specially assigned to welcome the scholars. Cases like this man, who brought his whole family along, were not few. For such people, there were specially different number plates, arranging for their whole family to stay together.

The waiter looked and said, “Zhao Zhongju, a native of Shilou in Pingyang Prefecture, Shanxi Provincial Administration Commission, holder of the Licentiate degree…”

He smiled and said, “Please follow me to register.”

…

“Liu Dongyang, twenty-eight years old, Licentiate, a native of Huai’an Prefecture?”

Another waiter received a family. He looked at the man before him — actually someone from Huai’an Prefecture, who had traveled all the way to Xuanfu Garrison.

He saw that the man had an ordinary appearance, but his ears were very round and full. This waiter’s grandfather had been a fortune-teller, which had influenced him to have a slight understanding of physiognomy. According to the physiognomy manuals, such a person had the aspect of one first lowly and later noble. This Liu Dongyang might well pass the clerk examination.

He then looked beside him — truly a large family. Both parents, a wife, a son, a daughter, and also his younger sister, who was also standing obediently beside her elder brother.

Liu Dongyang had an ordinary appearance, but his younger sister was quite beautiful.

Such a large family could not be arranged in a single room. He smiled and said, “Mr. Liu, please come over to register.”

…

“Huang Bowen, thirty-three years old, a native of Dong’an in Nanzhili, Tong Sheng…”

…

“Li Tanran, thirty-eight years old, a native of Baishui in Xi’an Prefecture, Shaanxi Provincial Administration Commission, formerly a Head Clerk?”

The waiter looked at the number plate and said in surprise, “This scholar was once a Head Clerk?”

Li Tanran’s face was calm yet revealed firmness. He bowed and said, “Indeed.”

In his mind echoed his mother’s exhortation when he left home: “My son, our clan has been clerks for generations, but we always stopped at the rank of Assistant Archivist. Your father died as an Assistant Archivist. You were the most promising and reached Head Clerk, but you are still outside the official ranks. Your mother has also heard the storytellers proclaim that in Xuanfu Garrison, clerks can also rise. From section level, to division level, to department level, and finally to ministry level. Not to speak of department level or ministry level, even division level is like the local County Magistrate. Your mother hopes you will bring back a division level, to bring glory to our ancestors. Then, even if your mother passes away, she can meet your father in peace.”

Remembering his mother’s exhortation and her aged face, a firm resolve rose in Li Tanran’s heart. Passing the clerk examination was only the first step. He wanted to break through the fate of his Li clan, which could never cross the section level.

…

As the scholars arrived one after another, every room in the rather large Yingfu Inn was filled to bursting. The examination candidates were provided both lodging and meals. Their dining place was the Juxian Pavilion Grand Restaurant, separated by one street, where they ate by presenting their number plates.

Zhao Zhongju and the others were fortunate. Not long after they had settled into their rooms, it was already noon, time for the meal.

At first, the inn waiters had to lead them to the restaurant, but now the inn was mostly full of old hands, many of whom had already lived in the garrison city for a while and naturally knew the neighborhood like the back of their hand. Zhao Zhongju and the others just had to follow them.

When they arrived at the Juxian Pavilion Grand Restaurant, they saw that on its several floors, it was a dense, dark mass of scholars eating — an extremely spectacular sight. The aroma of the food assailed their nostrils, making Zhao Zhongju and the others’ Adam’s apples bob up and down incessantly.

Seeing empty seats, they hurriedly sat down. Then waiters brought over the food and set it out one by one. Quite a few people had brought their families along, and each received a share of the meal.

Everyone had an individual meal, carried on a wooden tray. On it were three dishes — one meat and two vegetable — glistening with oil and temptingly appetizing, plus a large bowl of rice. Even Zhao Zhongju’s daughter was the same, with a large tray of food before her.

Beside each table there were also buckets of egg-drop soup, for them to eat and drink as they pleased.

Alas, the label “poor and sour” was not given to Zhao Zhongju and the others for nothing. Having gone without meat and rich food all year round, how could they hold back at the sight of this fragrant, appetizing meal? Amid their astonishment, the old hands were fine, but the newcomers wolfed down their food. All that could be heard was a chorus of chewing and swallowing, all decorum utterly lost.

Zhao Zhongju’s wife ate in large mouthfuls. Though lean and gaunt, her appetite was not small. She said indistinctly, “Husband, even if you don’t pass the clerk examination, just for this free board and lodging, this good food and drink, I’d still be willing to make this trip to Xuanfu Garrison.”

Zhao Zhongju scolded, “Shut up. Do you not know that one does not speak while eating?”

Seeing glances cast over from the neighboring table, his face burned. He cursed his wife under his breath, “Making a disgraceful spectacle. Finish eating and get back to the inn at once.”

His wife gave an “Oh,” and thereafter said nothing, only concentrating on eating.

A few grains of rice accidentally fell to the ground. She hastily picked them up and put them in her mouth. She then helped wipe her daughter’s mouth beside her, drank a bowl of egg-drop soup, hurriedly went to fill another bowl, and also filled bowls of soup for her husband and daughter — extremely busy.

Liu Dongyang, Huang Bowen, and the others nearby heard Zhao Zhongju’s all-family remark and smiled understandingly. Indeed, his wife’s words had spoken what everyone felt — after being “poor and shabby” for so long, losing composure before fine food was only normal.

“Zan’er, eat slower… a daughter must mind her decorum…”

Watching his daughter, just like her mother, bury her head in the bowl, Zhao Zhongju scolded her again, then felt a pang of guilt in his heart.

He had let the two of them down. For years he had failed to pass the Provincial Graduate exam, earning only a little tuition income at a private school — but how could such a meager income support a family? It all depended on his wife making tofu at home, mocked by outsiders as the Tofu Beauty. He had it hard. He hoped this time he could pass the clerk examination.

He had also inquired: here, clerk was official and official was clerk — it would not disgrace his ancestors or family.

He also knew his own limitations. In this life, passing the Provincial Graduate exam was hopeless; he might study until death and still remain a Licentiate. Fortunately, Xuanfu Garrison had opened another path, giving him a chance.

The scholars ate and drank their fill, their families dispersed, and the tavern waiters carried in several buckets of coarse tea to help them digest after the meal. The dense crowd of scholars held tea bowls, gathering in clusters of three or five upstairs and downstairs, concerned only with the topics of this clerk examination.

Zhao Zhongju and the others were of course equally concerned, squeezing close to the crowd, listening intently.

A middle-aged scholar looked down from the upper floor at the bustling street below — a rare scene of prosperity and peace. How he wished he could stay in this place. He sighed and said loudly, “I wonder what topics Xuanfu Garrison will set this time. This Zhao wishes to review his lessons, but does not even know where to begin.”

His words stirred a wave of agreement. Many sighed, “Indeed. We students have brought all the classics with us, yet we always feel unsure at heart, not knowing whether what we review will be of any use.”

The clerk examination of Xuanfu Garrison was unprecedented. As the first batch of seniors to take it, everything began from a blank slate. Perhaps they were merely providing experience points for those who came after.

Especially for some who had intended to cheat — they did not even know where to begin cheating.

Since ancient times, the sons and daughters of China have been full of ingenuity. Not to mention the various examination cheating methods of later ages, this era was no less inventive.

Smuggling crib notes was merely a common trick. Wearing a hemp cheating vest, inscribed with tens of thousands of characters, containing dozens of eight-legged essays, written with a rat-whisker brush — that too was just one normal method of cheating, not the pinnacle technique.

“This place, Xuanfu Garrison, values practical and generally useful talent. It has no need for pedantic scholars spouting ‘zhi-hu-zhe-ye.’ Moreover, for clerks, what matters is the ability to write and calculate…”

A scholar with a Datong accent spoke slowly and deliberately, immediately drawing the attention of a large crowd.

“…I have heard that the primary schools, secondary schools, and the like within the garrison mostly teach the three subjects of Law, Philology, and Mathematics. In the imperial examinations of our dynasty, the Law subject tests legal statutes; the Mathematics subject tests… and so on; as for the Metropolitan Graduate subject…”

He shook his head: “The Marquis of Yongning always does things in an unconventional way. In this clerk examination, I fear there will be no eight-legged essay content. Those who have toiled at the Classics and Metropolitan Graduate subjects, I am afraid…”

As soon as he said this, wails filled the hall: “It’s over, it’s over. This student has long since forgotten the Great Ming Code completely.”

“This is terrible. I must hurry back and dig out… to flip through it…”

“You cannot be serious, brother. The Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art mostly covers basic algorithms — can you have forgotten even that?”

Liu Dongyang clenched his fist. If the clerk examination focused on mathematics, what did he have to fear?

Huang Bowen’s breathing also grew heavy. Although he had studied for many years without even passing the Licentiate exam, when it came to mathematics, he was not afraid — only the laws and statutes…

Zhao Zhongju’s brow furrowed. He fidgeted restlessly, extremely uncomfortable. No, once he got back, he would flip through those mathematics books. But this time he had brought only the classics, not a single mathematics book. What was he to do?

That scholar said, “All you brothers have also read the newspapers. This clerk examination permits candidates to bring abacuses and counting rods. Naturally, mathematics will account for a large proportion of this clerk examination, and some of the problems may even be quite difficult…”

This made many people even more determined to go back and review mathematics.

Li Tanran sat smiling. He had once served as a Clerk, assisting his superior in tallying the taxes and grain of an entire county. Mere calculation problems, mere laws and statutes — he supposed he could handle most of them with ease.

That Datong scholar then dropped an even heavier bombshell: “I have heard that this time the Marquis of Yongning himself has set several questions. It is especially said that whoever can solve a mathematics problem he has meticulously designed will be honored as a Grand Master who founds a school in the world of mathematics! They will immediately enjoy the treatment of a Researcher, and even when meeting the Marquis of Yongning himself, they need only bow with clasped hands, not kneel!”

In an instant, the entire hall was in an uproar. What kind of problem was it, that solving it would earn one the title of Grand Master?

They debated animatedly, racking their brains, wondering from which mathematics book the problem was taken, that solving it would grant the status and position of a Grand Master?

At the same time, many were dejected. Some among them had spent a lifetime studying eight-legged essays, the Four Books and Five Classics, regarding mathematics and law as petty arts. They could speak eloquently on breaking open the topic, receiving the topic, beginning the exposition, entering the topic, and so on — but as for mathematics…

That Datong scholar, seeing these dejected people, also consoled them: “Dear brothers, you need not be overly anxious. As I observe Xuanfu Garrison, there is still a National Literature course. Compared to our bitter study of the Four Books and Five Classics, its curriculum is still rather shallow. Their graduation exams also have… policy essays, with no restriction on format. Our eight-legged essay writing is so rigorous…”

“For all of you, accustomed to answering eight-legged essays, answering that kind of policy essay — which disregards form and allows free expression — may actually be simpler…”

His words drew a chorus of agreement: “Yes, yes. How difficult the eight-legged essay is. First you must break open the topic; only when the topic-breaking passes do you proceed to receive the topic. When the topic-receiving passes, then you compose the opening exposition. Finally, when the opening exposition is approved, you write the full piece — from simple to complex, elucidating subtle words and great principles. Is that easy?”

“Indeed. A policy essay may run to ten thousand words yet stray a thousand li from the topic; it pays too little heed to format. We who come from such rigor — solving these loose policy essays will be a mere trifle.”

Many people spoke all at once. But to be honest, the content and format of the eight-legged essay were too rigidly restricted. When those present took examinations, they merely padded out compositions according to the literal meaning of the topic.

Each person’s creativity and imagination had long been strangled to death. They were also accustomed to the hollow, rigid content and style of the eight-legged essay. Suddenly switching to policy essays — whether they had the ability to solve the topics, their hearts were drumming with uncertainty.

Of course, at a moment like this, they had to cheer themselves on.

At the same time, some had doubts: it was only a clerk examination — would they really test policy essays? This was merely recruiting clerks, not examining Metropolitan Graduates. Everywhere in the Great Ming, clerkship was either passed down through generations, or one only needed to be able to write and calculate and have a clean family background to be recruited.

In the past, clerks faced great difficulty in promotion, remaining unranked their entire lives, so they were unwilling to take the exam. Would Xuanfu Garrison make the clerk examination as elaborate as the Metropolitan Graduate exam?

Hearing everyone’s doubts, that Datong scholar mused, “Judging from the situation everywhere in the Great Ming, and from the circumstances in Xuanfu Garrison, the basic requirements for a clerk are the ability to write and calculate. This student guesses that at that time there may be some content from the Classics subject — dictation and silent writing, examining handwriting. Will there also be classics interpretation and policy essays from the Metropolitan Graduate subject? This student dares not be certain…”

Here in Xuanfu Garrison, they always did things unexpectedly. Primary school graduation, secondary school graduation — the National Literature course all had policy essay content, and also dictation content, equivalent to a combination of the Classics subject and the Metropolitan Graduate subject.

Yet in the Great Ming, the Classics subject was considered a minor path, with low admission scores, large enrollment scale, and poor student quality — somewhat like correspondence courses of later ages. Ambitious scholars all took the Metropolitan Graduate as their lifelong goal and were unwilling to take the shortcut of the Classics examination.

But here in Xuanfu Garrison, it always felt… strange… a mix… And moreover, their Classics content was not necessarily an examination of the Confucian classics, with ten articles on the great meaning of the classics. It was truly baffling.

He finally said, “After you all return, do flip through policy essays from past dynasties. To be safe — you might just hit the mark.”

…

Not to mention how Zhao Zhongju and the others, upon returning, could not wait and each displayed their resourcefulness, borrowing or buying books on law and mathematics. Many shrewd merchants even came to their doors selling various mathematics texts, and abacuses also sold very well.

Zhao Zhongju even tied his hair to a beam and pricked his thigh, meticulously studying the mathematics books and the like that he had once disdained.

On the twenty-second day of the intercalary eleventh month of the fifteenth year of the Chongzhen reign, the much-anticipated Xuanfu Garrison clerk examination began.