Chapter 101: A Hundred-Year Viscounty Change on an Island in the North Sea

The Great Zhou's clerk evaluation system, the Temple Examination is the final hurdle.

At the Mao hour on the second day of the second month, Zhao Xing left his home and hurried to the Agricultural Bureau.

At the third quarter of the Mao hour, all fifteen examinees had arrived. This included Zong Zong Shichang, Xiao Ze, Wen Nanxing, Ding Shan, and others.

Chen Shijie and the other assistant officials of the Agricultural Bureau had also been waiting here for some time.

Seeing that everyone had arrived, Chen Shijie spoke: "Whether you can become officials depends entirely on today."

"You all have hope of passing. Do not be nervous in a moment; keep your usual state of mind and perform normally."

"This official and the other my lords wish you all to have your wishes fulfilled."

"Many thanks, my lord." The clerks all cupped their hands in unison to express their thanks.

After the pleasantries were finished, Chen Shijie continued:

"In the washroom at the back, there is already a set of special clothing for the examination."

"Besides this set of clothes, no other external items may be brought in."

"There are still three quarters of an hour; go in and change your clothes first."

The clerks were all already familiar with the rules of the Temple Examination, so they immediately filed in and began changing.

Zhao Xing also went in and changed into a long robe.

He had brought no external items at all; even his sixth-tier soul armor had been removed and stored within the Great Dream Academy, entrusted to the mechanical beast Xie Zhi for safekeeping.

Originally, the Great Dream Academy did not provide this function; all other items were strictly allowed out but not in, but soul armor was special—allowed out and allowed in.

As for other items, such as the Evil-Avoiding Almanac and the Thousand-Mile Transmission Token, they had been borrowed in the first place and had already been returned to the Agricultural Bureau's internal treasury after the Xuantian Sect incident.

The Wind Crystal Earrings were left at home; one could say he now had nothing on him at all.

After changing, Zhao Xing came out with the other clerks to wait.

At this time, no one was whispering to each other; they simply waited in silence.

At the sixth quarter of the Mao hour, a Cloud Rain Tower Ship arrived from the south and descended upon the Gucheng Agricultural Bureau.

Four officials came down from it.

Among them were two Temple Ceremonial Officers, holding four statues of the Commandery Prince.

There were also two supervising examiners of the seventh rank.

After reading out the rules as customary.

At the exact Chen hour, they led the fifteen clerks of the Agricultural Bureau into the Gucheng Temple.

Under the guidance of the ceremonial officers.

The clerks first paid respects to the various halls of the Temple, such as the East Lake True Lord Hall, the Cao Xi True Lord Hall, and the Hall of Sages.

This procedure was to give thanks to the Yin Gods for transmitting the Dharma.

Zhao Xing mainly paid respects to Cao Xi and Zheng Lun.

Most of his spells had been transmitted by these two Yin Gods.

The procedure of paying respects to the gods concluded.

The fifteen clerks then arrived at the Tianxin Plaza at the very center of the Temple and stood in place.

At the third quarter of the Chen hour, the two ceremonial officers from Juncheng placed the Commandery Prince statues at the four corners of the plaza.

"Hum~"

As Jin Guang shone, a new palace suddenly appeared at the location of Tianxin Plaza.

The fifteen examinees, who had originally been standing in the center of the plaza, in the next instant suddenly appeared inside this new palace.

The Tianxin Hall enshrined the founding emperor of Great Zhou.

It was activated only once a year, for major festivals such as the Temple Examination and the Son of Heaven's Sacrifice.

"Bow!"

The ceremonial officers led the examinees in burning incense and paying respects to the statue of the founding emperor.

Giving thanks for his establishing the Temple to transmit the myriad Dharmas, and for setting up the clerk evaluation system to give low-ranking clerks a path of advancement.

At the fourth quarter of the Chen hour.

The ceremonial officers threw the yellow paper bearing the clerks' names into the Hongtong incense burner before the founding emperor's spirit platform.

"Hum~"

In the next instant, fifteen sets of desks and chairs rose up from the ground.

"Clerks, please take your seats according to your assigned numbers."

Zhao Xing found the long desk bearing his name and sat down.

"Clatter~"

The moment he sat down, brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones appeared.

Looking up, he saw the figures of the other examinees and officials fade away.

The theoretical section of the Temple Examination officially began.

It lasted a total of thirty-six hours.

Leaving the seating area counted as submitting the paper early.

Once the time was up, no more answers could be given.

"It's finally here."

Zhao Xing slowly let out a breath, then picked up the examination paper on the desk and began to review it from beginning to end.

The examination paper consisted of forty sheets in total.

Of these, thirty were questions and ten were blank.

Just like the White Solar Term examination back then, the questions were set by Chen Shijie in accordance with the imperial court's standards.

The first ten sheets were basic questions — the kind you could score on by rote memorization. Compared to the Bai Lu examination, these basic questions were reduced by a third.

The temple examination involves formal appointment to office, so the freebie questions would be fewer.

Zhao Xing skimmed through roughly, then began answering the basic questions.

【In which dynasty, year, and month was the "Hundred Explanations of Celestial Timing" compiled, and by whom? What rank does it hold in this dynasty's Hall of Sages?】

Zhao Xing quickly wrote down the answer: 【Qian Dynasty, July of the 149th year of Zhiyuan, compiled by Grand Minister of Agriculture Chen Yi, ranked twenty-seventh in this dynasty's Hall of Sages.】

On the day of Major Heat, rotting grass transforms into fireflies. ________ another five days, great rains descend in due season.

Answer: Another five days, the earth is moist and the heat is sweltering.

If rotting grass does not transform into fireflies, and the grain's ripened fruit rarely falls. ________

Answer: If the earth is moist but not swelteringly hot, things will not receive their due punishment. If great rains do not descend in due season, the state will lack kindly grace.

Zhao Xing answered fluently, and the basic freebie questions were quickly finished.

He arrived at the situational advanced questions that screened candidates.

"In the land of Nanzheng, to take its earth, loosening the earth lacks force and instead aids fire in generating earth; using metal to drain its essence, the parched earth makes the metal brittle and hard to work with — what is the solution?"

Seeing this question, Zhao Xing frowned slightly.

He hadn't expected the very first situational question on the eleventh sheet to already ramp up the difficulty.

"This question tests the method of taking and using earth, but why would there appear a situation where metal drains essence and parched earth makes metal brittle?"

Taking earth has its subtleties, so this question should be answered according to the spring-earth, summer-earth, autumn-earth, winter-earth methods of taking and using from the "Monthly Methods for Taking and Using Earth."

Loosening the earth lacks force and instead aids fire in generating earth — this proves the earth being taken is 'summer earth.'

Using the metal-element force within the ley lines to drain essence — by all accounts this is the method mentioned in the "Monthly Methods for Taking and Using Earth," so how could there arise a situation where the ley line force 'parches the earth and makes metal brittle,' making it hard to take?

Zhao Xing's gaze swept back and forth across the question, landing on the two characters 'Nanzheng.' Two seconds later, enlightenment struck.

Then he took up his brush and answered: "The land of Nanzheng is the ancestral land of this dynasty; it has only summer and autumn."

"Without the yin-cold moderation of spring and winter, the summer fire runs excessive. To take summer earth, one must take the water at its source — the ley line force is weak but unceasing. Use the water-element ley lines to moisten the earth and restrain fire, supplemented by the metal-element ley lines draining essence, and the work of the hex of After Completion can be achieved."

After finishing writing, Zhao Xing finally relaxed his brow.

The monthly taking and using of earth belongs to the content of the "Benefits of the Five Elements in Ley Lines."

But the question had more than one difficulty — it also tested the agricultural clerk's familiarity with the geography of the realm.

What kind of place is the land of Nanzheng? That is the Founding Emperor's hometown!

If you don't even know that this famous place has only summer and autumn, you still want to be an official?

Go back home and feed the pigs!

If a clerk was unfamiliar with the situation of Nanzheng, he would certainly be at a loss.

But if one knows the situation of the land of Nanzheng, this question becomes much easier to answer — remember the proper application of the five-element ley lines, and you can answer it.

For the following situational questions, Zhao Xing carefully read the questions and answered, basically answering them all very fluently.

When he reached the final major question, his fluid train of thought finally encountered an obstacle.

【In the Northern Sea there is an island. On the day of Establishment of Winter, the water begins to freeze. Another five days, the sea begins to freeze. Another five days, a great whale breaks through the ice and emerges, transforming into a Mysterious Sparrow; a grey bird enters the water and becomes a Purple Serpent. Another five days, the earth's fire at the seabed erupts and gushes forth.】

【The island has a population of ten million, with only the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Heavenly Crafts. If you were the chief official of the Department of Agriculture, how would you resolve this natural disaster?】

Zhao Xing stared at this question and couldn't help but be stunned for a moment — he thought he had read it wrong.

As the final major question of the advanced situational questions, it was indeed difficult.

But Zhao Xing's stunned pause was not because the question was hard.

It was because he had done it when he was a player.

And the impression was extremely vivid.

Because back then he had gotten it wrong — he missed this question and failed to change his class as a result.

"The final island natural disaster question turned out to be a freebie." Zhao Xing was delighted.

This was a 'phenology question,' and the phenomena mentioned in it were the obscure centennial phenology.

A great whale breaks through the ice and emerges, transforming into a Mysterious Sparrow; a grey bird enters the water and becomes a Purple Serpent. Another five days, the earth's fire at the seabed erupts — these are all centennial phenological phenomena.

The natural disaster caused by centennial phenology asks: if you are the agricultural official on the island, how should you respond?

The question had three difficulties. First, recognizing this as centennial phenology and confirming the intensity of the natural disaster.

Second, using the given conditions to deduce the strength of one's own side in the question's scenario.

Third, providing a proper solution to the natural disaster.

The first point: although centennial phenology is obscure, a clerk of broad learning and strong memory would not find it hard to know. The Mysterious Sparrow and Purple Serpent are both sixth-rank exotic beasts. At the same time, centennial phenology only causes a change in a single specimen of a species — that is to say, there is only one Mysterious Sparrow and one Purple Serpent here.

The second point: using the conditions already given in the question, deduce the forces one can employ.

A scale of 'island population of ten million' means the Department of Agriculture's Bureau, the Heavenly Crafts workshop, and their internal treasuries must be no lower than fifth-rank in grade.

This tested the clerk's familiarity with the Great Zhou official system.

Other departments were not required, but the Heavenly Crafts workshop and the Department of Agriculture's Bureau were strongly related departments — one had to understand them.

Additionally, the question did not mention other agencies, so when answering one could not involve other departments of the imperial court.

Otherwise one could just answer "send out a hundred thousand troops, slaughter the Mysterious Sparrow and Purple Serpent and have a barbecue" and be done with it.

The second point also had a trap — the phrase 'in the Northern Sea there is an island' in the first sentence.

"The Northern Sea is a vital frontier region; its island population exceeds ten million, so the grade of the Department of Agriculture's Bureau and the Heavenly Crafts workshop's internal treasuries must be raised another level. Sixth-rank treasures may be used against the enemy — one may choose from large divine weapons such as the Dragon-Bone Tower Ship and the Mysterious Origin Great Crossbow, as well as personal-worn divine weapons like the 'Wind and Thunder Rain Cloak,' the 'Hundred Flowers Conical Hat,' and the 'Wind-Sha Pearl.'"

"However, these treasures cannot be used haphazardly — they must be deployed in a reasonable combination."

"Which brings in the third point: provide a proper solution."

Zhao Xing did not rush to put brush to paper, but sorted through his approach in his mind.

Once he was sure there were no problems, only then did he begin to write.

"A great whale breaks through the ice and emerges, transforming into a Mysterious Sparrow; a grey bird enters the water and becomes a Purple Serpent — this is a centennial phenological change in the Northern Sea."

"The Dark Sparrow and Grey Bird are both sixth-rank exotic beasts."

"A vital stronghold in the North Sea, with tens of millions of island inhabitants, must be equipped with a sixth-rank treasury."

"A natural disaster is imminent. Order the Heavenly Craft workshops across the islands to immediately activate the large-scale sixth-rank divine weapon, 'Boundary of Ink Defense,' to protect the people thoroughly."

"Afterward, set sail with the Dragon Bone tower ship, accompanied by the Dragon Head tower ship, and release the Cloud-Flying boats to rescue the people outside the islands."

"The chief official of the Agricultural Bureau should activate the sixth-rank 'Wind and Thunder Rain Cape' from the treasury to move at divine speed."

"The sixth-rank Hundred Flower Conical Hat will enhance his techniques."

"Invoke the scriptures 'Hou Tu' and 'Four Seas' to calm the earth's veins and return the four seas to the abyss."

"Cast the 'Solar Terms Decree' to reverse the three pentads of the Beginning of Winter, cycling endlessly, so that the Dark Sparrow transforms back into a whale, the Purple Snake transforms back into a Grey Bird…"

Knowing the answer, Zhao Xing wrote very smoothly, finishing the question in one breath.

To avoid losing points on this question, he also provided multiple sets of plans, including post-event pacification measures.

Of course, these were minor details; even without backup plans, it would have been sufficient. As for comforting the people, a passing mention was enough, because that was not the duty of an Agricultural official.

The question itself mainly tested the clerk's understanding of natural phenomena, the North Sea, the official system, and treasures.

It was a comprehensive assessment of a clerk's quality, to see whether one had truly prepared to be an official.

If you could answer the problems faced by sixth- and seventh-rank officials with some substance, then letting you serve as a ninth-rank official would basically be no problem at all.

This was the question-setter's thinking.

Time passed slowly. After the advanced situational question, Zhao Xing found the subsequent questions increasingly smooth.

He even encountered several questions he was quite familiar with.

Unknowingly, only one sheet of paper remained before his eyes.

There was only one question on it.

【Please match the Five Elements, Heavenly Stems, and Earthly Branches with the four seasons, and explain the matching philosophy.】

"The teacher guessed the exam question correctly."

Zhao Xing smiled slightly.

The original theoretical question for the Bai Lu assessment had been set by Xue Wenzhong.

The final major question was exactly the same as the one before him now.

"The old Agricultural official is truly a fine teacher. All fifteen people from Gucheng today will benefit from him."

He had taken the exam before, and afterward had even published his own standard answer for everyone to study.

This would give the clerks of Gucheng an advantage on the final major question.

Zhao Xing sighed inwardly, then began to answer.

This time he had no intention of making any changes; he would simply answer according to the standard from last time.

The answer from last time had made Chen Shijie, the Dili Sect examiner, meow like a cat; it was more than sufficient for this temple examination as well.

"The current mainstream view is the 'Earth Rules Late Summer' theory. If I answer with the 'Earth Rules All Four Seasons' theory, it would be too ahead of its time and might backfire."

Having made up his mind, Zhao Xing began to answer.

He wasn't afraid of the other clerks surpassing him, because the earlier questions had already been difficult enough. Moreover, his standard answer had only been seen by the people of Gucheng; the temple examination's selection and assignment were coordinated by the imperial court.

They were colleagues; letting others share a bit of the light was no big deal.

"Among the Five Elements, none is more precious than Earth. Earth's relation to the four seasons is such that it commands all, sharing no merit or fame with Fire."

"Wood, Fire, Metal, and Water each govern one season, while Earth resides in the center, holding the cord and ruling the four directions."

"The 'Earth Rules Late Summer' theory states…"

After finishing, Zhao Xing reviewed all his answers twice more.

Confirming nothing was missed, he rose and left his seat.

"Hum~"

The moment he stood up, he once again saw the other clerks and the supervising officials.

At this time, Yin Gods were patrolling outside; no one could cheat by external force.

"Clerk Zhao Xing, do you confirm you have finished answering?"

An official asked.

"Yes, my lord, I confirm." Zhao Xing cupped his hands.

"Whoosh~"

The moment his words fell, the exam paper automatically flew up and entered the incense burner of the Heavenly Heart Hall to be burned.

The answer sheet could be seen tumbling in the golden flames, but it did not burn; after rolling a few times, it vanished.

"You are the first to submit your paper. You may choose to rest for half a shichen, or immediately proceed to the second half of the temple examination." The supervising official's face was expressionless.

"I choose to immediately proceed to the practical assessment."

The moment Zhao Xing finished speaking.

Hum~

The divine statue in the Heavenly Heart Hall emitted waves of Jin Guang.

Then Zhao Xing found that all the other clerks had disappeared. The sky was dark, and he had appeared in a golden Tian Ye.

Zhao Xing knew this was the internal assessment space built into the Heavenly Heart Hall.

It was refined from a fragment of a Cave Heaven minor world.

Although it was only a fragment of a minor world,

the place was still very large.

Zhao Xing used his Bright Eyes to look around, but could not see the end at all.

"Hum~"

While he was observing, a golden document drifted down from the sky and landed before Zhao Xing, opening itself automatically.

"Clerk Zhao Xing, the spatial range for this examination shall be set at the standard of a Lower County."

"The examination shall last twelve hours."

"You must observe the celestial conditions, the terrain, and the hour on your own."

"And complete the examination according to the following requirements."

Zhao Xing took the document and read the examination requirements:

"Spread clouds at the Chen hour, send thunder at the Si hour, make rain at the Wu hour, cease rain at the Wei hour, for a total of forty-eight drops of rain? And it must cover the entire examination space?"

Zhao Xing frowned and realized things were not simple.

"The sky is pitch-black. Without having cultivated the Bright Eyes common spell, one cannot even see, which greatly increases the difficulty of casting. This is the first difficulty."

"Spread clouds at the Chen hour, send thunder at the Si hour, make rain at the Wu hour, cease rain at the Wei hour, lasting a total of four hours, testing the clerk's endurance. This is the second difficulty."

"To cover the range of a Lower County, the realm among the Four Arts of Celestial Conditions cannot be too low. This is the third difficulty."

"Forty-eight drops of rain, precise to the exact count, testing spell control ability. This is the fourth difficulty."

"The clerk carries no almanac, and the environment here is pitch-black, making it very difficult to judge what hour it is through external means. If the hour is missed, major points will be deducted! This is the fifth difficulty."

Five difficulties in total, each one far from simple.

For a clerk to be promoted to a full official is truly like crossing a single-plank bridge amid a thousand troops and ten thousand horses.

Moreover, the field examination carries a heavy weight.

No matter how excellent one's theory, if the field examination score is truly too low, one absolutely cannot become a司農 official.

If one cannot even pass, then truly becoming a司農 official might cause the common people under one's jurisdiction to be displaced and suffer great disaster.

How could one放心 let such a person become an official? Wouldn't that be harming others and oneself?

"Even a Civil司農 finds it this hard, one can see how不易 a Military司農 is." Zhao Xing was somewhat moved. "But this cannot stump me."

With the Bright Eyes spell at max level, the dark night was no obstacle to Zhao Xing. He quickly leapt to a high place, surveyed the surroundings, and found that all around were flat Tian Ye, with no major differences.

Based on the humidity and temperature in the air, and observing the plant growth in the Tian Ye, one could deduce that this was early summer.

The rainwater in heaven and earth was at a relatively balanced level.

For a clerk, this was a neutral condition for casting.

The examiners had at least not made things difficult with the terrain and landforms; otherwise, if they had thrown in extreme terrain and extreme celestial conditions, the participating clerks would truly have been driven to despair.

Covering the range of a Lower County, four hours of endurance, and precise spell control were no difficult matters for Zhao Xing.

The only somewhat troublesome part was, on the contrary, accurately calculating the hour.

"No almanac, no sunrise, and the dark night is even deliberately set up, obstructing most of the clerk's methods for judging the hour."

"Moving clouds, spreading rain, and striking thunder must all begin and end on the exact hour; even the slightest error will lead to point deductions."

"Without knowing the hour, one cannot begin. One must first determine the current hour."

Zhao Xing thought for a moment, then immediately squatted down and touched the soil on the ground.