Chapter 282: The Palace Examination

"Your subjects Tao Gu and Zhao Shangjiao pay respects to Your Majesty!" Zhao Shangjiao and Tao Gu entered the hall together and bowed respectfully.

"Rise, both of you. Be seated!"

After the routine formalities, Liu Chengyou could hardly wait to ask about the selection of talent.

Zhao Shangjiao had a dark complexion and handsome bearing, still appearing every bit the elegant gentleman. His face beamed with joy, suggesting that this recruitment had yielded no small harvest.

Yet even while sensing the Son of Heaven's eager mood, Zhao Shangjiao maintained his composure and said unhurriedly: "Reporting to Your Majesty, for this special examination, a total of one thousand two hundred and thirty-eight candidates entered the capital to sit for the exams. Among them, eight hundred and thirty-six took the Presented Scholar examination, two hundred and thirty-seven took the Classics examination, and the rest took the Law examination, Mathematics examination, and History examination..."

"That's not many people!" Liu Chengyou sighed, then quickly asked: "How many passed?"

"Your Majesty, after our ministry-level examination, we selected eighty-two for the Presented Scholar examination, thirty-six for the Classics examination, and twenty-three for the remaining subjects." Tao Gu also stepped forward eagerly and reported: "As the state lacks talent and seeks the worthy urgently, we slightly lowered the screening criteria for this special examination."

Upon hearing this report, Liu Chengyou pondered silently for a moment—by this ratio, the pass rate was indeed quite generous.

"For the policy essays on current affairs in the Presented Scholar examination, what topics were examined?" Liu Chengyou asked.

Liu Chengyou had not interfered too much with the content of the special examination, leaving it to Zhao Shangjiao and Tao Gu to exercise their judgment. He did not place great importance on miscellaneous prose or passage-copying tests, but only set a scope for the policy questions: the Qianyou New Policies.

"The purification of official governance; the shortage of grain in the capital; the neglect of criminal law; the stagnation of water transport; the weakness of oversight—we each drafted questions to examine these matters!" Zhao Shangjiao reported with clasped hands.

"The matters examined are indeed all closely tied to current affairs, but among the candidates who passed, were their answers all able to strike at the heart of the issues?" Liu Chengyou thought for a moment and asked.

Hearing this question, Tao Gu responded with great enthusiasm: "Scholars differ in quality, so naturally not everyone could answer fluently. After our examination, among the candidates, only two men had thorough insight into all the matters and spoke with orderly reasoning—they are of the first rank! However, as to which of the two should be deemed superior, we debated for a long time without reaching a conclusion. The ranking remains undecided, so we submit the matter to Your Majesty's wise judgment!"

"Who are the two?" Liu Chengyou's interest grew.

"Wang Pu of Yun Prefecture, and Wang Qiwu of Taiyuan!" Tao Gu said.

Liu Chengyou's brows rose, and an unmistakable look of surprise flashed across his face. Yet beyond the surprise was delight, and he quickly regained his composure. Having already met Zhao Kuangyin with equanimity, these mere "Two Wangs" could hardly stir great waves in his heart.

Still, hearing of worthy talent, joy was unavoidable. In the official histories, throughout the Later Zhou dynasty, both Wang Qiwu and Wang Pu were very famous ministers. Liu Chengyou had some familiarity with this period of history—though not in great detail, he had heard of them, and at least the names of the Two Wangs left a fairly deep impression. As for whether these were the same names but different men, Liu Chengyou did not think it would be such a "coincidence."

Wang Qiwu entered official service under the Later Han but was early on discovered by Guo Wei. Through the Guangshun era, he was promoted step by step to chancellor. Guo Wei left Guo Rong many worthy ministers and brave generals, and Wang Qiwu was among the most outstanding. In the process of Guo Rong's vigorous governance and awe-inspiring dominance, he played a highly significant role.

As for Wang Pu, he was a model of late blooming. Elevated by Guo Rong, with his outstanding political and military talents, he worked alongside Guo Rong to forge the Xiande dynasty, devoting himself utterly to the cause until his dying breath. Though his career was brief, it was glorious enough. A single "Essay on Pacifying the Frontiers" distilled the strategy of "first the south, then the north," and it has been passed down through the ages.

"These are the rhapsodies and policy essays the two composed during the examination!" Seeing that Liu Chengyou was indeed interested, he produced two booklets from his sleeve and presented them.

Liu Chengyou took them and began to read. He had no interest in the rhapsodies, nor was his appreciation of them up to par, so he skimmed through them briefly and focused on the policy essays. As Zhao and Tao had said, they diagnosed the ills of the times and spoke with substance. Wang Pu, perhaps owing to his considerably greater age, showed deep insight into worldly affairs with words that concealed no sharp edges. Wang Qiwu, by contrast, appeared young and spirited, cutting straight to the heart of current matters, fully displaying his knowledge and ability.

Setting down the booklets, Liu Chengyou's demeanor grew even more composed.

Having heard Zhao and Tao's reports, Liu Chengyou now had a general understanding of this special examination. After a brief moment of thought, he put on a warm expression toward the two and said: "I thank you both for your hard work in managing this special examination. I am very satisfied!"

They exchanged a glance—even though they found each other disagreeable—yet Zhao Shangjiao and Tao Gu still replied in perfect unison: "Selecting talent for the state, we dare not speak of hardship!"

Liu Chengyou nodded, his gaze drifting, and gave his orders: "Issue the decree: all candidates of the various subjects who passed the ministry-level examination shall enter the palace tomorrow at the hour of Chen, and at Guangzheng Hall, without distinction of subject, I shall personally set the questions for assessment, determine the top scholar, and re-establish the rankings. All chancellors and the assembled talents of the Three Institutes shall attend as witnesses."

The two men could not help but look at each other, both feeling surprised. The "palace examination" had precedent as early as Emperor Gaozong of the Tang, but to add another round of palace examination after the rankings had already been determined by the ministry-level examination was rare—and all for a single "top scholar"?

Though doubts lingered in their minds, their responses were still crisp and prompt.

Liu Chengyou had suddenly conceived this idea, thinking of the three-tier examination system for selecting talent that had been practiced since the Song and Yuan dynasties. Having been implemented for so long, it must have its merits and could be emulated. But this time, he was completely discarding the results of the "ministry examination," determining superiority and ranking in a single round.

Moreover, in making this consideration, what mattered more was that Liu Chengyou wanted to demonstrate his regard for scholars and worthy men. On the other hand, after the palace examination, he could also vigorously promote the selling point of "disciples of the Son of Heaven."

Zhao and Tao hurriedly took their leave to carry out the orders. They had to quickly prepare for the palace examination—the examination procedures, posting the public notice, and notifying the hundred-plus scholars who had passed. Liu Chengyou had given them only one day, which was rather tight.

In fact, most of the scholars who had sat for this special examination were still obediently staying at their registered lodgings, waiting for the court's subsequent arrangements. Essentially, they were waiting for the Emperor's disposition.

Soon, news of the palace examination spread, and the reaction was considerable. Among the hundred-plus scholars who had passed the ministry examination, quite a few voiced objections. Although the number of candidates this time was small and the number admitted was large, what Tao Gu had said about lowering the standards was only relative to previous examinations. The actual questions were still very difficult, especially the five items on current affairs.

Having barely passed, they were now told there would be another round of testing with rankings re-established. But for most people, this was a cause for joy and excitement. A palace examination—the Emperor personally setting the questions, all ministers proctoring, and the imperial selection of the top scholar...

It seemed that spring had come for the scholars.

Apart from a few unlucky ones who were not in the Eastern Capital and thus missed the grand occasion, everyone else obediently sat for the examination.

At the southern gate of the imperial city, early in the morning, over a hundred people gathered, waiting quietly and orderly. When dawn broke, they entered the palace using the identity credentials issued by the Ministry of Rites the previous day, and were guided to Guangzheng Hall.

The preparations were hasty, and Liu Chengyou disliked excessive formality. After simplifying the procedures, the hundred-plus people took their seats and waited for the examination questions.

At the hour of Chen, Zhao Shangjiao personally carried the examination questions written by Liu Chengyou into the great hall and read them aloud in a loud voice.

Just three characters: "Pacify the Frontiers Essay."