Chapter 155: Tang Dynasty Imperial Examination Qualification Review

"The imperial examinations of the nobility truly are quite abstract."

Walking out of the palace city and arriving at Suzaku Avenue, Fang Chongyong looked at the bustling crowds on the street and could not help but sigh.

At this moment, the broad Suzaku Avenue was like this world itself.

The narrow "carriage lane" in the center was paved with gravel and sand; even on rainy days it would not splash up muddy water, and the people inside the carriages need not walk, nor endure wind and sun.

The "pedestrian paths" on either side, however, kicked up dust on sunny days and became mired in mud on rainy days, and furthermore, carriages, ox-carts, and bicycles were not permitted.

People of whatever status walked whatever road; the rules of this world were strict.

Moving from the carriage lane to the pedestrian path was naturally easy, but moving from the pedestrian path to the carriage lane was very difficult. First, you had to have a carriage, and you also had to have "road-eligibility."

Otherwise, you would either be seized and fined by the Jinwu Guards, or be run over to death in the middle of this great road!

"Lord Fang, it is good that you are unharmed!"

Just as Fang Chongyong was spacing out, an obsequious greeting suddenly reached his ears. He looked closely and saw that the ones who had just spoken were none other than Du Fu and Yuan Jie, both carrying bundles on their backs. They were in a hurry, their clothes somewhat disheveled, looking slightly bedraggled.

Fang Chongyong suddenly felt something stir within him, and said with a smile, "A chosen date is not as good as a chance encounter. The two of you previously did me a great favor and protected my beloved concubine. Why not come to my home now for a cup of wine? I live in Yongjia Ward, not far from here, so it is no trouble."

"No, no, we still need to go to the office set up by the Ministry of Rites up ahead, where they will review our qualifications to sit for the examination. This matter cannot be delayed; after today, there will be no way."

Yuan Jie hurriedly and tactfully declined Fang Chongyong's warm invitation.

"Yes, Lord Fang is a fourth-rank Inspector, so naturally you would not know of these wretched affairs. The Ministry of Rites uses all sorts of petty rules to eliminate candidates, doing everything possible to make things difficult for us scholars who have traveled from afar to take the exam. The qualification review is today only, and will not be made up after the deadline."

Du Fu, beside Yuan Jie, said indignantly.

There was also a qualification review? So many rules? Why had he never heard Li Linfu mention them?

Fang Chongyong was somewhat surprised. Not only had Li Linfu never spoken of these things, but he had never even heard of them before. Come to think of it, these tricks were deliberately devised to make things difficult for those who "ought not to appear here." The first to bear the brunt were precisely those who had passed the prefectural examination and been recommended to the capital to sit for the exam.

He, Fang Chongyong, was not among those subjected to review.

Du Fu came from a wealthy and noble background, but his family had recently suffered a misfortune and had already fallen into decline. Moreover, although his family was a branch of the Du clan, it was quite far removed from the illustrious Du clan of Jingzhao, and could no longer enjoy the special privileges and benefits of the bureaucratic class.

Lines like "I must ascend to the summit and see all the lesser mountains below" were indeed impressive, but so what? Could they be eaten as food or used to become an official?

This was an era of competing by one's father!

Of course, if you did not have a good father, competing by your godfather would also do; or competing by your uncle or grandfather—in any case, you had to have at least one of these connections.

"The two of us have an presumptuous request…"

Yuan Jie suddenly asked with some embarrassment, and Du Fu wore the same expression. The two hung their heads and fidgeted like unmarried young ladies, appearing very ashamed.

Fang Chongyong, with a strange look on his face, waved his hand and said, "I feel as though I have known the two of you for ages. Whatever request you have, as long as I can help, it is a trivial matter—no need to thank me."

He laughed heartily and boldly. Yuan Jie and Du Fu were overjoyed at this, and hurriedly took out from their respective bundles a stack of crumpled papers, specially strung together with hemp cord. Their appearance was quite wretched, clearly having been flipped through many times.

"What are the two of you doing…"

This scene left Fang Chongyong looking puzzled.

"Without submitting examination portfolios, there is no imperial examination. Although we know that doing so is to curry favor with the powerful, we seek office to bring benefit to the common people, and cannot concern ourselves with such minor scruples."

"Please, Lord Fang, take a look at our humble works. If there is an opportunity, it would be enough to put in a good word for us before the examiners."

"Du Zimei and I are now nearly penniless. When we have money in the future, we will certainly reimburse the expenses for the examination portfolios."

Yuan Jie bowed deeply to Fang Chongyong, performing a grand courtesy! Beside him, Du Fu, though he did not speak, had the same expression and movement.

Submitting examination portfolios for the imperial exam was common knowledge, but that portfolios required a "fee"—this was the first time Fang Chongyong had heard of it.

But come to think of it, it was normal. The nobility used their personal connections to petition examiners, and those "seeking shelter" were not all friends and family; it was perfectly normal for people to take money to get things done! If one thought that writing good poetry and prose meant one could "freeload" off a noble's network of connections, that would be true naivety.

Taking the two men's "collected works," Fang Chongyong flipped through them casually and immediately came upon Du Fu's poem "Gazing at the Mountain."

"I must ascend to the summit and see all the lesser mountains below. Truly a fine poem, a fine poem! This poem will be remembered through the ages!"

Fang Chongyong could not help but exclaim in admiration.

Not easy, to see the original manuscript. He carefully put away the two men's collected works, and then had no intention of returning them.

The tense faces of Yuan Jie and Du Fu finally relaxed, knowing that their examination portfolio submission was now virtually a sure thing.

"Where is the place for the qualification review? I will go with you!"

Fang Chongyong enthusiastically "invited."

Yuan Jie and Du Fu were overjoyed. They had originally been worried that they might be "inexplicably" eliminated during the qualification review, for every year there were such unlucky souls. For example, someone whose family had been in trade for three generations, who had passed the prefectural examination by spending money to bribe the local prefectural examiners.

Once they arrived in Chang'an, would the Ministry of Rites, which organized the examinations, not conduct a "qualification review" of these candidates?

By both reason and sentiment, this was only proper. It could weed out those who assumed false identities, those who cheated on their candidacy qualifications, and so ensure the relative fairness of the imperial examination.

But such was the way of the Great Tang: policies were often well-intentioned when formulated, but by the time they were implemented at the lower levels, they became completely distorted.

The Ministry of Rites' "qualification review" now not only failed to serve the purpose of "preventing candidacy fraud," but instead would, from time to time, exclude candidates who were fully qualified to sit for the exam, becoming an accomplice to the nobility's cheating and scheming!

Those who had connections to cheat naturally could complete the process, and the Ministry of Rites' review would not make things difficult for them. But for those without power or influence who were nonetheless qualified to take the exam, it was hard to say.

Yuan Jie and Du Fu had both been studying for years and had experience traveling abroad; they were not ignorant children, and naturally understood these inner workings very clearly.

Of course, knowing these inner workings did not mean having a perfect way to deal with them.

This was the same principle as those in Fang Chongyong's previous life who knew they had cancer but could not cure it.

"Although the officials of the Ministry of Rites are often unlawful, with Lord Fang present, surely they would not dare to play tricks!"

Whenever he thought of certain vexing matters, Du Fu would complain indignantly from the side.

"Brother Zimei, say a few words less. Lord Fang is the Inspector of Shazhou, a fourth-rank official. I refuse to believe that those dog officials of the Ministry of Rites would dare behave presumptuously before Lord Fang!"

Yuan Jie was more tactful than Du Fu, and unobtrusively flattered Fang Chongyong.

Fang Chongyong had originally thought the Ministry of Rites' processing station was far from here, but to his surprise, it was right by the wall of the imperial city—just a framework propped up with bamboo poles, covered with hemp cloth to form a crude shelter, with two desks placed underneath, nothing more.

The official seated at one desk was responsible for review, and the official at the other desk was responsible for record-keeping, and that was all.

In less than the time it takes for half an incense stick to burn, the three of them had already reached the back of the queuing crowd.

It was hard not to be noticed here, because the queue was extremely long, all composed of people dressed as Confucian scholars. Fang Chongyong, with his broad back and burly frame, tall stature, and dark-red skin, instead became the odd one out.

Well, in a certain sense, he was indeed a "monster" among them.

Unlike the trepidation of the imperial examination road, this time Yuan Jie and Du Fu felt they had succeeded in "latching onto a powerful backer." At this moment they were brimming with confidence, wishing the queue would move faster so they could finish their business early and go to Fang Chongyong's home to drink, and at the same time use every ounce of their energy to curry favor!

For Fang Chongyong's beautiful concubine, namely A Naye who wrote the "Beautiful Lady Poem", Du Fu has already been developing it!

Hmph! If a Ministry of Rites official dares to play tricks in front of a fourth-rank Regional Governor with real authority, they'd need considerable courage! This trip is just a crushing victory!

Du Fu and Yuan Jie both secretly felt pleased in their hearts, feeling very refreshed!

Often, people's views of those who do as they please, the powerful, are very complex.

When one is not a powerful person, they wish all the powerful in the world would die, watching them wail and struggle in the flood.

But when one becomes a powerful person, or becomes someone who works for the powerful, and has many opportunities to climb up, their thinking will undergo a 180-degree turn, becoming a staunch defender of the powerful system, thus completely forgetting their former attitude toward it.

Simply put, this is the so-called "seat determines mindset": a person's status determines their thoughts.

Actually, it's not strange at all.

The number of people waiting in line for inspection shrank quickly, but what was faintly heard from ahead was not all good news.

Many people lowered their heads and fled in disarray, obviously having been eliminated. Some even argued with the inspecting Ministry of Rites officials, then were beaten with clubs by the Golden Warrior Guard maintaining order, fleeing with heads covered.

Yuan Jie and Du Fu looked tense, but seeing Fang Chongyong calm and composed, as if he had everything under control, they immediately relaxed.

Hehe, in front of a fourth-rank Regional Governor of Shazhou, these petty officials still want to play tricks?

Don't even think about it! Touch this red line in the bureaucracy and you die!

After Zheng Shuqing told Du Fu and Yuan Jie Fang Chongyong's true identity, they knew this act of "seeing justice and acting courageously" would surely bring good reward to the good!

Having powerful patrons escorting us all the way feels truly great!

Both felt waves of sighs in their hearts, realizing where the beauty of power lies.

Indeed, those who scold the powerful do so only because they themselves lack power.

However, when it was their turn in line, Yuan Jie and Du Fu watched as Fang Chongyong, standing ahead of them, unexpectedly stepped forward to face the inspecting officials for examination; their hearts leapt to their throats.

"Name?"

"Fang Chongyong."

"Native place?"

"Ancestral home is Dunhuang County, later moved to Chang'an, thus considered a Chang'an resident, residing in Yongja Fang."

"Ancestral home is a remote prefecture..."

The green-robed Ministry of Rites official before them pondered a moment, feeling that Fang Chongyong's status, among scholars, counted as the "short-clothes faction of long-robed wearers", seemingly both able (since he owns property in Chang'an) and yet belonging to the discriminated group (due to his remote prefecture origin).

He felt a bit unsure.

So he continued asking: "What is your father's name?"

If the native place is unclear, then try probing the father. Usually, once this step begins, examinees will prepend a combination of region and official title to their father's name, forming a 'father-combined entry' together with the name.

For example: "My father is the XXX magistrate of Heyin County, my uncle is the XXX magistrate of Chang'an County".

If there is no title, that indicates… this person is among the lowest tier of scholars, and what treatment they'll receive is obvious.

"My father is Fang Youde."

Fang Chongyong said calmly.

No official position? Why does this name keep sounding familiar…

The green-robed Ministry of Rites official muttered to himself.

At that moment, the green-robed official taking notes nearby turned ashen, hurriedly tugged at his sleeve, then walked over and respectfully clasped his hands in greeting to Fang Chongyong.

"Greetings, Assistant Minister Fang! Your superior returning from Shazhou has worked hard all the way. Allow me to take you to a nearby tavern for a cup of watered wine and a seat, as a modest token of respect."

"Assistant Minister Fang?"

Yuan Jie and Du Fu were instantly shocked!

The title "Assistant Minister" that could make a Ministry of Rites official instantly go from arrogant to deferential can only be an Assistant Minister of the Six Ministries; considering the circumstances, it must be the Assistant Minister of Rites!

These two officials' direct superior!

Who would have thought Fang Chongyong holds several actual posts! And he even happens to have one that can choke the necks of the Ministry of Rites clerks!

Actually, holding both central and local posts simultaneously may seem unbelievable, but in fact it's not strange at all.

In the Tang Dynasty, this often happened, with many examples. This is not the Tang court indulging in empty fantasies, but rather an extreme display of pragmatism.

Such officials often wield great power, far stronger than ordinary local officials of the same rank! Moreover, they enjoy a '1+1 greater than 2' bureaucratic buff, putting them on the fast track for promotion.

For example, a certain prefecture in Sichuan wants to carve the Leshan Giant Buddha! Such a huge project, with a duration of over five years, could a single prefecture's strength possibly accomplish it?

Obviously, it cannot.

Therefore, for such large projects, usually a central-government-level official is assigned to oversee them.

To avoid the situation where bureaucrats of different affiliations pass the buck and wrangle, the court would make such an appointment, namely:

Let this central official retain his post, then go to the locality to oversee and advance the project, while also serving as the Regional Governor.

Meanwhile, the prefecture's actual administration would be handled by the deputy chief, either the Deputy Governor or Chief Secretary, while the Regional Governor does not handle specific affairs; after completing a major task with results, the Deputy Governor or Chief Secretary simply reports to the Regional Governor.

The reason this central official who also serves as Regional Governor acts as the prefecture's top leader is merely to facilitate coordination of the project's progress, so that when mobilizing the prefecture's manpower and resources, he doesn't need to spend half a day consulting the prefecture's top leader.

It is obvious that Fang Chongyong was originally a mid-level official in the court's Ministry of Rites, then dispatched to Shazhou to carve the Buddhist grottoes, hence he concurrently serves as Shazhou's Regional Governor!

Yuan Jie and Du Fu both came from official families, familiar with bureaucratic operations; they instantly filled in Fang Chongyong's official career in their minds, feeling the logic was seamless and complete.

They instantly felt reverence for Fang Chongyong, like the endless flowing of a great river!

Look at how someone so young holds office!

He has a central post and local experience; after finishing his duties locally, he first reports then selects an office—couldn't he snag a Vice Minister of Rites?

That's what we call professionalism!

"Assistant Minister Fang, we're both Ministry of Rites officials; don't toy with your subordinates. Please wait a moment here; after we finish these miscellaneous tasks, we two will welcome you with wine and wash away the dust!"

"One stick of incense's worth of time, and we'll be done!"

The Ministry of Rites official who had just been 'examining' Fang Chongyong hurriedly nodded and bowed, saying, "His earlier arrogance has collapsed; this is a classic case of going from arrogant to deferential."

A Shazhou Regional Governor might not be able to do anything to them.

But the Ministry of Rites' Assistant Officer, that's a direct superior!

Fang Chongyong used his authority to ruin the two of them without any hassle—it was a matter of a single sentence. The Ministry of Rites indeed has an Assistant Officer who is never seen in person, rumored to be constantly on official business in Shazhou, serving as the Governor of Shazhou.

Who would have thought it was the tall, broad‑shouldered young man before us, who carries a rather aristocratic aura!

He is not only a county magistrate, but also currently in charge!

You, with such an impressive horse‑riding status, could have spoken up earlier—does this game even make sense now?

The two Ministry of Rites clerks were nervous to the point of trembling legs, uneasy, fearing that Fang Chongyong would find any pretext to make their lives difficult!

This scene unfolded before his own eyes, and Fang Chongyong was momentarily stunned. The experience was so surreal it felt like living through the myriad facets of the mortal world!

Fang Chongyong pointed at Du Fu and Yuan Jie behind him and said, "They are candidates for this imperial examination; I think they are quite talented and should be qualified to take part, right?"

His words carried an obvious hint that even a fool could catch—almost as if he were saying, "These two are my friends; give me some face and skip the review, okay?"

Of course, no need for a review! If you review again, you'll lose your official hat! There's no such self‑destructive protocol anywhere in the bureaucracy!

One of the Ministry officials was blunt—without asking, he dragged Du Fu and Yuan Jie aside for registration, while the other served Fang Chongyong water so attentively that he was barely a step away from groveling.

The scholars from various regions waiting in line for verification stared in stunned silence, unable to believe the scene was real.

They are all the "vulnerable group" within the examination hierarchy. The qualification review for Guozijian graduates is confirmed by the Guozijian itself; the details are known only to those in the know.

Being able to queue here for "the drill" means they've long been marked by the Ministry of Rites as expendable.

They have never seen Ministry clerks grovel like this before.

After the two Ministry officials recorded Du Fu and Yuan Jie's information, Fang Chongyong saw the timing was right, cleared his throat lightly and said, "Hmm, you both handled things well. I have other matters now; I'll visit the Prime Minister's Office another day to discuss further. Farewell."

He can no longer pretend; having finished his report, his highest title now is "General of the Thousand Cattle Guard", so he can only placate the ordinary folk.

Fang Chongyong's aloof, distant demeanor made the two green‑robed Ministry clerks accustomed to it. Well, because their superior usually behaves that way!

After he led Yuan Jie and Du Fu away, the two renowned literary figures from a past life felt as if they were in another era, hurriedly bowing in astonished gratitude to Fang Chongyong for his great help.

"Let's go; the matter's settled, let's head to my house for a couple of drinks."

Fang Chongyong invited warmly.

"Would this… be too much of a disturbance?"

Yuan Jie, with a slightly higher emotional intelligence, pretended to be courteous and asked, essentially using retreat as a tactic, wanting—

In fact, even if Fang Chongyong hadn't invited, they would have found a way to get close, especially since he had already spoken first.

"Hey, what kind of talk is that? How could it be a disturbance? Not long after I arrived in Chang'an, only my virtuous wife was managing the household, and I was bored out of my mind. You can just come and drink; there are no outsiders, and we have only a few servants. Hahaha!"

Fang Chongyong laughed brightly.

Good deeds truly bring good rewards!

Du Fu and Yuan Jie couldn't help but feel that this trip to Chang'an was truly worthwhile.

Sure enough, having once risked offending the young men of Wuling to stand up for this high‑ranking court official, they now instantly received a reward far beyond expectation. The Xing family is also not to be trifled with; had they known the identities of those Wuling youths beforehand, they probably wouldn't have stepped forward.

This was also thanks to Du Fu's impulsive fury at the time!

On their way to Chang'an, they faced many obstacles; their indignation then led them to confront injustice, and they even had a reckless resolve to smash the pot. Yet they didn't expect the journey to take such twists and turns afterward!

Not a moment wasted!

But thinking about it, it's normal; a concubine of such breathtaking beauty could only be kept safe with Fang Chongyong's high‑ranking position—otherwise she would have long been taken by the powerful.

"We shall respectfully obey your command."

Du Fu and Yuan Jie crossed their arms in unison and bowed in thanks.

"Very well, very well, let's go then!"

Fang Chongyong laughed heartily, showing no hint of nervousness at all.

An ultra‑long chapter—please upvote; trust that the update quality is solid.

(End of chapter)