Chapter 178: Outsider? No, I

In the study of Qinzhengwubenlou, Li Longji wore a sullen expression as he looked at the right prime minister Li Linfu, the left prime minister Zhang Shougui, the Censor-in-Chief Zhang Yi, and the Ministry of Personnel Vice Minister Miao Jinqing, holding in his hand the exam paper of Zhang Shi, who had been placed in the "first class."

"So these are the top three I selected? How many others are like this?"

Ji Ge angrily threw the exam paper onto the floor, restraining the urge to step on it.

"Your Majesty, it is because I, your humble servant, have failed to teach my son properly. Please let the court adjudicate impartially; I have no objection."

Zhang Yi placed his official hat on the ground, then knelt and kowtowed once to Li Longji.

Regardless of whether his son's affair is related to him, whether it was orchestrated by Zhang Yi through Miao Jinqing, or whether the examiner Miao Jinqing handled it out of flattery and "immaturity," he cannot avoid being stripped of his office.

In fact, Ji Ge is not very clear about the specific tricks in the imperial examinations; he has never paid much attention to such details. However, whether there are set patterns in the exams, and how deep those patterns go, this Tang Emperor knows all too well.

The lid must not be lifted; once opened, it's all rotten sores!

"Enough, get up. This matter isn't over yet. How to deal with it can wait until it's resolved."

Li Longji, exhausted, massaged his temples; this examination was originally meant to celebrate his birthday, yet so many problems arose. Not only has the court's reputation been tarnished, his face also lacks any luster.

Zhang Shi's paper contained nonsensical five‑character verses, yet it was still marked as a first‑class Jinshi!

What a colossal farce!

After seeing Zhang Shi's paper, Li Longji even thought the examinee was deliberately mocking him.

"Your Majesty, the current issue isn't how to punish Zhang Shi, but how to quell the uproar.

Although the examinations have flaws, abolishing them outright would be improper."

Li Linfu spread his arms and saluted, saying:

"Brother slave is correct."

Li Longji gave a slight nod in agreement and continued:

"Then, post a notice outside the imperial city; three days later, all the Jinshi who were selected shall come to the Daming Palace Zichen Hall.

Whatever happened before, I will not hold it against them; we will judge based on this examination's results."

Ji Ge proposed a "rotten idea": to trust what is heard as false and what is seen as true!

Isn't Zhang Shi just writing nonsense?

Fine, it doesn't matter; three days later we'll see. If he passes the assessment, there's no problem. The court won't pursue the matter, and it will also calm external rumors.

However, if three days later the exam goes poorly and the candidate is clearly incompetent, then sorry, whether like Zhang Shi who was already exposed or those not yet discovered, anyone caught

each will be stripped of Jinshi status, all will lose their Jinshi qualification!

I must say, Ji Ge's plan, except for "who sets the questions," does not solve that problem.

In other respects, it can be called the most fair and just since the Kaiyuan era

Li Linfu and the others all saluted Li Longji with clasped hands and said. Since things have come to this point, there's nothing more to say; just follow the rules.

"I will faithfully follow Your Majesty's command!"

Li Linfu and the others all together spread their arms and saluted Li Longji, saying: At this point there's nothing more to discuss; we'll just follow the rules.

"For this palace exam, whatever the question is, I will inform the candidates in person on the day of the test. All of you, dear ministers, may withdraw."

Ji Ge impatiently waved his hand and said:

After Li Linfu and the others left, Li Longji finally asked the Gao Lishi behind him, "What should be done with examiners like Miao Jinqing?"

The announcement of guilt may be delayed, but the sentencing time was set from the start.

"Your Majesty, whoever occupies this position will encounter some issues.

In the past it was only that they were not discovered; that does not prove there was no problem. I think a small punishment suffices."

Gao Lishi spread his arms and saluted, speaking modestly.

As Li Longji entered old age, his thinking and reactions had become much more sluggish than before.

Now many of the court's petty affairs that must be handled are basically all handed over to Gao Lishi.

Songzhou is one of the Tang's "Ten Prosperous Prefectures", with a population of nearly one million, very affluent.

to the position of Song Prefecture Prefect. As for the other

Because Zhang Yi, relying on his own influence, could also push his son upward; being a zhuangyuan graduate does not guarantee a smooth official career in the future.

In the Tang aristocracy, there are many ways to enter a clique, but once inside, one must still follow its internal rules.

appoint them as Prefects of Zhong Prefecture."

Li Longji gently waved his hand and said:

Song Prefecture is one of the Tang Dynasty's "Ten‑Wang Prefectures," with a population close to one million and great wealth.

Demoting him to Song Prefecture Prefect also means a penalty of three cups of wine; in other words, Ji Ge does not think Miao Jinqing's marking of Zhang Shi as a first‑class Jinshi is a serious issue.

Because Zhang Yi, leveraging his power, can also push his own son up; being a top scholar does not guarantee a smooth official career.

Among the Tang elite, there are many ways to enter the inner circle, but once inside, one must still follow its internal rules.

Zhang Shi being marked as a first‑class Jinshi is not the main issue; the problem is that it was "blown up," affecting "political correctness."

"For this palace exam, what topic do you think would be best to test?"

Li Longji asked in puzzlement; having been negligent for a long time, he feels unfamiliar with the examination issues.

"Your Majesty, perhaps test current affairs. After all, Jinshi selected by the exams are meant to become officials."

Gao Lishi did not answer directly what question to set, but he indicated a general direction.

Early that morning, Wang Yunxiu got up and busied herself, preparing the new clothes for Fang Chongyong's palace examination and making breakfast, keeping her and A Na Ye busy nonstop.

Li Longji clapped his hands and laughed heartily, already having an idea, though he did not tell Gao Lishi.

Seeing his nonchalant appearance, Wang Yunxiu asked doubtfully, "Are you really ready, my love? This time it's a real exam!"

Time passed quickly; in a flash it was three days later.

The Sage decided to personally preside over the palace exam, assessing the true ability of the Jinshi candidates. The news quickly spread through various channels within Chang'an.

Most people praised the emperor's wisdom, while a tiny minority, like Zhang Shi, who lacked talent yet passed

【61】 privileged scions who rose through influence, were anxious day after day, fearing a blunder on exam day.

【62】 That morning, Wang Yunxiu got up early to arrange things, preparing new clothes for Fang

【63】 Chongyong's palace‑exam attire, also preparing breakfast, and she and A Na Ye were busy nonstop.

【64】 On the contrary, Fang Chongyong himself was not at all hurried; he rose at his usual time, after physical training ate porridge, flatbread

【65】 and meat, as usual.

【66】 Seeing his indifferent demeanor, Wang Yunxiu asked in doubt, "A Lang, are you really

【67】 prepared? This time it's a real exam

【68】 indeed!"

【69】 "Don't worry."

【70】 Fang Chongyong gave a brief two‑word reply!

【71】 How could Wang Yunxiu possibly

【72】 be at ease; she simply

【73】 couldn't

【74】 do anything

【75】 anyway!

"The more you say 'don't worry', the less I feel at ease; if there's truly nothing worth writing, just scribble a couple of lines on the paper, but please don't hand in a blank sheet!"

She instructed him closely, treating Fang Chongyong like a child, wishing she could take the exam for him.

"Don't worry."

Fang Chongyong repeated it.

"Sigh, it's truly a debt from a past life."

Wang Yunxiu covered the forehead, silently worrying: they had been passionately intimate all night, playing until the early hours before sleeping—won't that affect this guy's performance today?

The more she looked at Fang Chongyong, the more she felt he had a pure, robust physique, completely unlike the image of refined scholars.

She had no doubt such a person could win battles, but taking exams was not their strong suit!

"I'm heading to Daming Palace."

Fang Chongyong stood up and walked toward the courtyard gate.

"After the exam, buy me some mandrake flowers, get them from the Great Qin Temple in Yiningfang, not the West Market—those shops are outrageously pricey."

The vendors inside the Great Qin Temple are all acquaintances from Shazhou; if A Lang goes to buy, he could probably get the goods just by his looks.

Behind him, Anaye shouted.

Fang Chongyong turned his head with a puzzled expression and asked, "Why do you want that thing?"

"Isn't this for treating patients?"

Wei Sanniang, a close friend of Madam Wang, has been coughing lately, probably from eating too many cold dishes at the saint's longevity banquet, and asked me to prepare some medicine.

Mandrake flowers treat coughs and asthma; if you don't understand medical matters, don't meddle with them.

Anaye complained impatiently.

She has finished all the medical books at home; she wants to go to the Imperial Medical Office to read new texts, even attend classes, but has never had the chance, so her mood has been poor lately.

To solve this, Fang Chongyong used Li Linfu's method; the other party said Anaye could accompany his own daughter to attend classes at the Imperial Medical Office. There, the attendees are daughters of officials, and the instructors are palace female physicians—no men present.

But this must wait until after the exam; after the matters on Ji Ge are settled, they'll discuss it.

"Got it, got it. After I finish the exam, I'll just go to the Great Qin Temple in Yiningfang."

Fang Chongyong waved his hand and left the courtyard, heading toward Daming Palace.

Daming Palace is not far from Yongjia Fang; after exiting, one can reach it by heading north. As Fang Chongyong passed through the Danfeng Gate of Daming Palace, he saw the Jinwu Guard on duty, led by the Right Jinwu Guard Colonel Pei Min.

He himself had been a colleague of the same department and rank last month.

After Pei Min verified Fang Chongyong's identity, he said with a half‑smile,

"General Fang, you are indeed very ambitious, hmm, not only ambitious but also quite capable. A Jinwu Guard Colonel can hold the position, and even a top scholar can hold it."

Truly a blend of civil and martial talent; the future is boundless.

When someone directly alluded to his unspeakable little scheme, Fang Chongyong chuckled, "It's all for the saint; if the saint says it's permissible, then it is; if not, it's also permissible. General Pei, do you think that's the right logic?"

"Hahaha, General Fang, you said it right—hurry to Zichen Hall."

Pei Min burst out laughing, skipping even the body search, waved his hand and signaled Fang Chongyong to hurry to Zichen Hall in Daming Palace for the exam.

Zichen Hall is the third largest hall in Daming Palace, originally an inner‑court hall where ministers met the emperor—called "entering the cabinet"—ranking below the southern Outer Court Hangyuan Hall and the regular Court Xuan Zheng Hall.

However, since the Kaiyuan era, Chang'an's political center shifted to Xingqing Palace. Only when a grand court session is convened does Ji Ge come to Zichen Hall to gather ministers for major discussions.

Even so, Hangyuan Hall and Xuan Zheng Hall are practically abandoned, used only about once a year during the Shangyuan Festival rites when central officials are summoned.

After the Tianbao era, the Tang administration no longer even used Zichen Hall. Major affairs were discussed in the Qinzhengwubenlou of Xingqing Palace, while minor matters were handled in the Imperial Council Hall by the prime minister; unless it was for a palace examination, Zichen Hall would likely remain empty.

Inside Zichen Hall are many desks, but there are no chairs or stools in front of them!

Each examinee must stand, bend, and bow to write the test paper!

Du Fu, seated in a wheelchair, can write while sitting.

On the dragon throne sat an elderly man in a dragon robe—undoubtedly Ji Ge. Beside him, besides Gao Lishi, were several officials in red robes, none of whom Fang Chongyong recognized.

He guessed these were the examiners for this imperial examination.

Soon, every desk had someone standing in front of it, meaning all candidates for the palace exam had arrived.

"This palace exam's questions are set personally by the saint right now."

Gao Lishi shouted.

Everyone in Zichen Hall pricked up their ears.

Li Longji whispered a few instructions into Gao Lishi's ear; the latter nodded, strained his voice, and shouted,

"Today's topic is an essay; format is unrestricted, content: How the Great Tang should strategize the Western Regions."

"This is the prompt; candidates may begin, and once finished you may submit at any time."

After speaking, Gao Lishi patrolled Zichen Hall, repeatedly passing each examinee.

"Strategize the Western Regions?"

Fang Chongyong thought he had misheard.

If the exam were on poetry composition, he'd be an outsider among outsiders; but discussing how to strategize the Western Regions, he, having served four years as the Shazhou Governor, is undeniably a specialist!

The kind without quotation marks!

In all of Tang, there are few people more expert than him in this field.

As a specialist, competing on the same stage with these lay examinees might be too…

In the four years as Shazhou Governor, Fang Chongyong not only participated in military actions protecting the Western Trade Routes, but also devised a series of new policies, such as promoting and commercializing Gaochang cotton; many of these policies have already been implemented locally.

If it were about this knowledge, Ji Ge as a student and he as the teacher setting the question would be fitting!

After thinking, Fang Chongyong took up his brush and wrote:

"If the Great Tang wishes to govern the Western Regions, it must first consolidate Hexi; to consolidate Hexi, it must curb Tubo; to curb Tubo, it must build a defensive line centered on Shibao City, stationing heavy troops ready at dawn.

Hexi is the sword's hilt, Anxi and Beiting's two Great Protectorates are the blade's edge, together they can sweep the unrest of the Western Regions. To ensure lasting peace there, the small states must be united to resist Tubo, lured with benefits, threatened with force, and governed with officials…"

Once he began writing, Fang Chongyong fell into his old rhythm, as if back in Shazhou's prefectural office, legs crossed, ordering Yan Zhuang to draft edicts, just like the old days.

In no time, he filled the large sheet on the desk with writing, even though he had only just begun.

Looking up, he saw Gao Lishi already standing in front of him, as if he had been there for a long while.

"Hehe, write well; if you can't finish, the sage can wait."

Gao Lishi smiled warmly, said, took away the paper that was filled with writing, placed a fresh sheet on the desk, and then handed the filled paper to the bored Ji Ge in the distance for inspection.

This kind of question is highly open‑ended and has no standard answer at all.

Those who understand can write tens of thousands of characters and still not be enough; those who don't understand scribble a few hundred characters and feel they have nothing to say. Fang Chongyong wrote intently, unconcerned with others. However, in the current situation, he stood out like a crane among chickens, and that cannot be hidden simply by trying.

Soon, the entire hall had only Fang Chongyong still writing; the other examinees had already submitted their papers and stared at him as if he were a monster.

After writing on eight large sheets, Fang Chongyong felt his bragging had reached this level and thought he could now finish.

So he set down his brush and stretched lazily.

Looking around, he saw dozens of examinees surrounding him alone, their faces showing every expression—shock, confusion, admiration, jealousy, and so on.

On their faces, Fang Chongyong seemed to see the myriad aspects of the world.

"Excellent! Excellent! The Zhuangyuan title of Fang Chongyong is truly well‑deserved! He is more than fit to become Governor of Shangzhou!"

"I now wish to confer an official post upon you!"

From afar, Ji Ge's excited cheers could be heard.

Hearing this, Fang Chongyong felt a sigh of relief in his heart and secretly felt fortunate.

Indeed, keyboard political spammers are a human instinct, and Ji Ge is no exception.

If he wrote about the actual enacted policies, Ji Ge might not appreciate it. Yet clear, lofty discourse is exactly what these keyboard political spammers love.

This move truly paid off.

"The sage is mistakenly praised."

Fang Chongyong crossed his arms and saluted toward the direction where Ji Ge stood, saying.

"But aside from Fang Chongyong, many here have greatly disappointed me!"

From afar, Ji Ge's cold rebuke echoed.

(End of Chapter)