Chapter 625: How to Lead the World

Great Zhou Palace City, Huang Ji Hall.

With the sound of the bells and drums for the start of the Palace Examination, melodious and thick, it echoed and circled throughout the great hall.

All candidates taking the exam sat at their examination desks and began to answer the Palace Examination questions, some drafting with brushes, others thinking hard.

During the Metropolitan Examination in the examination hall, every candidate had an independent numbered cell; if their literary thought was smooth, they would write, and if their thinking was not smooth, they would lie or sit, with no taboos.

The examination hall examiners would never interfere or pay attention to whether the candidates were dignified in their cells, as long as the candidates handed in their papers on time.

But the Palace Examination was completely different; the candidates took the exam in the Huang Ji Hall, which was the palace of the imperial palace, the place where the Emperor ruled the world; the slightest profanity would lead to a great disaster.

Therefore, these candidates taking the exam, no matter what state they were in, all sat upright, not daring to lose their dignity; more than three hundred people sat at their desks, everyone was upright, and the atmosphere was quite serious and oppressive.

The strategy question for the Palace Examination was the Emperor's determined theme; Emperor Jia Zhao formulated a strategy question that was extremely close to actual government, and it was by no means to examine whether the candidates were overflowing with literary talent.

He was just targeting the hidden worries existing in the Great Zhou, and through such channels and methods, listening to some beneficial suggestions.

Because these three hundred successful candidates, whether in knowledge, temperament, or wisdom, were all outstanding among the thousands of scholars in the world.

Compared to the civil and military officials tamed by the rules of the officialdom, these candidates were mostly students of humble origin; their thoughts were more vibrant, and their analysis and suggestions on practical affairs were more bold and simple.

Therefore, they wrote articles according to the questions, offered advice and strategies, without the taboos and barriers of officials in the court, allowing the monarch high above to catch a glimpse of some new ideas.

For a pragmatic monarch like Emperor Jia Zhao, handling affairs was nothing more than grasping the big and letting go of the small; the top three of the Palace Examination had an appeal to scholars, and he would surely select them carefully.

Apart from this, other candidates who made the second or third tier, he would not care about or pay attention to.

The Palace Examination, which was high above in the hearts of scholars, in the vision of the Emperor ruling the rivers and mountains, was more just a good channel for listening to fresh suggestions.

The ten candidates sitting at the first row of examination desks were the top ten in the Metropolitan Examination, the most eye-catching in the entire examination hall.

The Palace Examination only examined the candidates' practical strategy essays, unlike the Metropolitan Examination, which examined comprehensively and meticulously; the reading time for the Palace Examination was also relatively tight, only two to three days.

This evaluation time was mainly used to judge whether the candidates' strategy essays hit the current ills and whether they were substantial; as for whether the literary style was pure and elegant, and whether the use of allusions was extensive, that was secondary.

Such a short evaluation time, generally speaking, lacked sufficient evaluation and comparison of the candidates' answers.

But because the Metropolitan Examination already had a meticulous assessment of the students, and the Metropolitan Examination reading time was as long as nearly a month, there had already been a very detailed screening and assessment of the candidates' knowledge and talent.

Therefore, the final ranking of the Palace Examination largely used the Metropolitan Examination ranking as an important reference.

The candidates who could enter the Palace Examination, although their talent still had differences, were very close to each other.

After the Palace Examination ended, the same eighteen reading officials would prioritize reading the papers of the top eighteen candidates of the Metropolitan Examination.

As long as their Palace Examination answers did not have obvious flaws, these eighteen papers would be prioritized for presentation to the Son of Heaven.

Unless during the evaluation process, someone outside the top eighteen had a Palace Examination strategy essay that was truly brilliant and was exceptionally included in the first batch for presentation.

Under normal circumstances, the top three of the Palace Examination were all produced from the top eighteen of the Metropolitan Examination.

And the ten people sitting at the first row of examination desks in the great hall also had the greatest possibility of making the first tier.

They were also the most ambitious among the three hundred candidates, and also the most careful and cautious when facing the Palace Examination.

Because, for other candidates who ranked lower on the first list, or ranked on the second or tail list, the Palace Examination was just a process, and the glory of the first tier was basically irrelevant to them.

Jia Cong, sitting at the first seat on the left of the first row of examination desks, seemed to be more at ease than many candidates when facing the Palace Examination questions.

Because very few candidates present could surpass him in accurately grasping the theme of the Palace Examination strategy questions.

The various government affairs vaguely mentioned in the strategy questions were all phenomena that could not be ignored in the Great Zhou in recent years, and many were even personally experienced by Jia Cong.

But he would not naively think that Emperor Jia Zhao formulated such strategy questions to make it easy for him to answer; if his speculation was accurate, the Emperor did not hope for him to rank at the top.

The reason why Emperor Jia Zhao formulated such strategy questions was because in recent years, the Great Zhou court had been surging with wind and clouds, the haze was difficult to clear, making this suspicious monarch feel an unusually heavy vigilance...

The question Jia Cong needed to consider was what kind of response strategy to propose that would conform to the Emperor's inclination and heart.

He just thought for a moment, then listed the outline on the draft paper, preparing for the formal answer.

As the Hui Yuan of this year's examination, he was destined to be the object of attention; many candidates were still thinking hard, but he had already begun to write, a move that attracted many gazes.

Among the candidates taking the exam in the first row, several people's peripheral vision had already swept toward his side; some were surprised, some were admiring, and some were jealous and worried...

In fact, Jia Cong also knew a little about the ten candidates in the first row of examination desks.

Ever since the Metropolitan Examination list was released, Jia Cong had paid respects to the chief examiners and assistant examiners with Cai Xiaoyu and Liu Xiaoping.

During this period, he met many candidates of the same year, and they had some verbal greetings and conversations; he knew that among the top ten on the Metropolitan Examination list, besides himself, there were two other Jie Yuans of the township examination.

One of them was the Yongzhou Jieyuan of Qingzhou, and the other Yongzhou Jieyuan of Hangzhou Prefecture ranked third on the Metropolitan Examination list; Jia Cong even remembered that this person's name was Lin Zhaohe.

Because this person had come to the mansion to pay respects and had even handed him a name card, but Jia Cong, citing his mourning, closed the door to guests, and the two did not meet.

At this moment, a rumbling drum sound rang out outside the Huang Ji Hall; this was the time-keeping drum set for the Palace Examination, and the time had reached the Si hour.

Compared to the Metropolitan Examination, which lasted for nine days, the time for the Palace Examination was very short, ending from the Chen hour until sunset.

To remind the candidates taking the exam to master the time, the drum outside the Huang Ji Hall would be struck once every hour.

At this moment, not much time had passed since the Palace Examination officially began; most candidates were still fathoming the intent of the questions, many were at a loss, and only a few had begun to draft.

The dull and urgent drum sound, containing unspeakable oppression, circled around the Huang Ji Hall and did not dissipate, making the heartstrings of many Palace Examination candidates instantly tighten...

For Jia Cong, facing the Palace Examination was even much easier than the Metropolitan Examination, because his next spring examination was only to obtain the status of Jin Shi.

Being able to become the Hui Yuan of the Metropolitan Examination was already a great unexpected joy, and the goal of becoming a Jin Shi had also been achieved; at this moment, his mind was somewhat without desire or demand.

Compared to the top ten Jin Shi sitting in the first row, everyone in whose hearts burned with the ambition to seize the world, Jia Cong's state of mind for the exam was unusually relaxed.

Perhaps it was precisely this open-minded state of mind that made his literary thought more sharp and smooth; he only spent a little time listing the outline, clearing his thoughts, and then began to write his answer.

The minister answers: Hearing of the monarch's rule over the world, the benevolence and virtue of the government benefiting the four seas, there must be a foundation for his governance, and there must be essentials for his implementation of government.

Using people cannot be without caution, administration cannot be without clarity, and laws cannot be without majesty; if these three are achieved, then governing the world can become a great auspiciousness.

What is the foundation of so-called governance? It is the heart of the monarch. What is the essential of so-called implementation of government? It is the monarch's heart practicing benevolence.

What is benevolence? It is the spirit of tracing the truth, the feeling of loyalty and uprightness, the action of strict caution, the courage to abandon fame and desire, the heart to support the world, not to be the kindness of a woman, not to be the tolerance of a mediocre person.

Therefore, benevolence is used to promote the virtuous, and cherishing talent, then the effect of using people is achieved. Benevolence is used to select officials, and clarifying the administration, then a clean style is formed.

Benevolence is used to judge the law, soothe the people, and deter evil, then a scene of abundance is achieved, and the wish of the country's peace is reached.

The prosperity of the three generations of Yao, Shun, and Yu, so that all government affairs were cultivated, the people's livelihood was fulfilled, and the virtue of the sage monarch was reached, this is the way achieved.

Therefore, those who are good at governing the world do not rely on having the art of manipulating the world, but rely on having the way of governing one's own heart. They do not just have the virtue of diligence and government, but value having the heart of forgetting oneself for the benefit of the world.

From this, the great achievements of the three generations of Yao, Shun, and Yu are not difficult to see in the years of Your Majesty's governance...

Jia Cong picked up his brush to answer on the draft paper; at first, he was still deliberating on the words while writing, his speed calm and slow.

After writing a few paragraphs, his thoughts gradually became smooth, his hesitation in writing faded, and his writing became more decisive and rapid, often having the feeling of being done in one go.

By the time the drum sound of the Wu hour outside the hall rang out, many candidates taking the exam couldn't help but be more nervous and anxious; many of them had just listed the draft outline and hadn't yet begun to formally write the answer. Jia Cong heard the bell, temporarily put down his brush and ink, took out the dry rations prepared by Wu Er from his examination box, chewed and swallowed a few mouthfuls, and filled his stomach a little.

Although Jia Cong was just eating normally, it still attracted the attention of the candidates around him; some were envious and sighing, some had disdain, but their hearts were also panicked...

The Palace Examination was held in the most noble place in the world, but the imperial family would not prepare food for the candidates.

Because the Palace Examination only lasted for one day, hundreds of candidates taking the exam were still cooking in the palace, which seemed a bit undignified...

Therefore, candidates entering the palace for the Palace Examination were allowed to bring a small amount of dry rations and water; although the Jin Wuwei would inspect them when entering the palace, the focus of the inspection was whether the people entering the palace had dangerous items.

General dry rations and water were just looked at by the Jin Wuwei, and they would not be like the Metropolitan Examination, where the inspection officials would prevent candidates from hiding cheating items in their food.

Candidates who could make the list in the Metropolitan Examination were all people of profound learning; to say that candidates would cheat in the Palace Examination was nonsense.

Although candidates entering the palace for the Palace Examination carried dry rations and water, it was a minority who would take them out to enjoy them like Jia Cong.

One reason was that the Palace Examination lasted for a short time, and the candidates' time for taking the exam was limited; they wished they could use all their time to fathom the questions and write the answers, and the time for eating was saved if possible.

The second was that the Palace Examination in the palace had somewhat inhumane regulations: candidates taking the exam were not allowed to go to the toilet.

The Palace Examination time was short, and hundreds of candidates still had to eat and defecate in the palace, which really damaged the imperial dignity.

!

Fortunately, the Palace Examination time was not long; candidates only needed to control their diet, and they would pass after a few hours of enduring.

Even if someone was truly hungry and thirsty, they were mostly like Jia Cong, drinking water to moisten their mouths, eating a few mouthfuls of dry rations, and then finishing in a hurry.

Otherwise, if they ate too much, causing the desire of the five internal organs to sacrifice, that would not only be a disgrace, but would also ruin the candidates' lifelong major events...

Jia Cong finished eating his dry rations and prepared to continue answering; even though he was already confident, he didn't dare to delay too much, as the Palace Examination time was truly tight.

After writing the draft, he still had to transcribe the official paper, not allowing a single wrong word, and the time was not abundant at all.

He thought for a moment and continued to write:

The minister answers: I read the strategy question and it says: The imperial court selects the virtuous, to share in the governance, how should I use their talent, how should I call them to their duties.

The "Book of Songs" says: Sing of the lush mugwort, in that bend. It speaks of the way to nurture talent.

Select the virtuous, transfer to old offices, observe their talent and tools, measure their virtue and conduct, and weigh their diligence.

Those who are virtuous and have few private desires should be promoted; those who have no unfinished cases should be promoted. Those who have merit in old offices should be honorably transferred; those who have no merit in their original appointments should remain in office...

The minister answers: I read the strategy question and it says: Corrupt officials, greed does not cease, demanding from lower officials to serve upper officials, rot arises, causing unworthy officials to harm the people's livelihood; what method can reform this evil?

The suffering of today's people is the suffering of exploitation by officials. The suffering of today's small officials is the suffering of the demands of great officials.

In the minister's calculation, the method of absolutely forbidding evil and punishing greed cannot be anything but strict; punishing the small officials is not as good as punishing the great officials.

The evil of great officials, the more noble their position, the greater their harm; the greater their harm, the more people dare not speak, or avoid them and run away, or are coerced by private desires, which is the beginning of the corruption of the administration.

Only by appointing ministers who do not fear the strong, establishing refined and specialized departments, exerting effort to exclude them, and implementing the Han dynasty's method of punishing greed and the Song people's system of banning corrupt officials, what else can they do?

Removing the worms of the officials and removing the harm of the people, killing one or two people, and the world will live; this is the greatest benevolence of the world.

The minister therefore says: Benevolence is used to select officials, then clarifying the administration, a clean style can be born, this is it...

The minister is young and shallow, a new scholar from the grass roots, not knowing taboos, only having a heart of sincere advice, daring to offend the imperial dignity, feeling extremely fearful, the minister respectfully answers.

In the magnificent and rich Huang Ji Hall, three hundred candidates were all racking their brains, exhausting their strength, trying to make the strategy essay under their brushes as perfect as possible.

However, those who were handy were only a part of them, and most people still felt powerless, their words and strategies remaining mediocre.

This strategy essay question, although themed on the administration, vaguely pointed to the political wind and clouds of the imperial court and the hidden worries of the Emperor's heart; ordinary candidates taking the exam could not fully know its mysteries.

By the time Jia Cong finished writing the draft, the drum outside the hall rang out rumblingly again, truly somewhat destroying people's will.

He carefully read the draft several times, made necessary polish and modifications, and began to spread out the official paper, calming his mind for a moment, and began to transcribe with his brush.

At this moment, many candidates' drafts were not even half finished; hearing the drum outside the hall continue to roar, they couldn't help but sweat on their foreheads; under heavy pressure, they searched their intestines and scraped their stomachs, writing furiously.

However, in such a state, it would be difficult to write a brilliant article.

However, there were also candidates who were about to complete their drafts; estimating the end time of the Palace Examination, they still had some spare time, and naturally, their minds were determined, and their writing became more and more calm...

The dull and solemn drum sound outside the hall added pressure to many candidates taking the exam, giving rise to quite a bit of irritability and annoyance.

However, the urgent and non-stop drum sound did not feel harsh in Jia Cong's ears.

Instead, it made him feel that the drum sound was magnificent and clangorous, the rhyme solemn and orderly, urging people to forge ahead, like the war drums on the battlefield, encouraging them to whip their horses and charge.

His calligraphy was already outstanding, and outsiders all said he had already formed a master's school; at this moment, he was concentrating on transcribing the draft, his brush power seeming to be infected by the drum sound, the iron strokes and silver hooks secretly matching the rhythm, becoming more and more old-fashioned and round.

By the time Jia Cong finished transcribing the official paper, carefully checked it several times, and determined there were no problems, he not only let out a long sigh of relief but also placed the examination paper on the examination desk.

At this moment, the drum sound rang out urgently outside the Huang Ji Hall again; the Shen hour was about to end, and the fifteenth year of Jia Zhao's Palace Examination had only one hour left.

At this moment, even the candidates whose draft answers were not completed began the step of transcribing the official paper...

By the time the drum sound of the end of the You hour rang out, dozens of executive officials of the Palace Examination, with more than a dozen eunuchs from the Directorate of Ceremonial, began to patrol the hall and collect the strategy essay answers of all the candidates.

Three hundred Palace Examination candidates, whether they were proud of their exam or were stuck and unable to grasp the point, their examination path ended here.

The spring Metropolitan Examination, which began on the eighteenth day of the third month of the fifteenth year of Jia Zhao, lowered its curtain in the sunset glow of the Huang Ji Hall.

All Palace Examination candidates, under the guidance of the Ministry of Rites officials, rearranged themselves according to the Metropolitan Examination ranking, and under the escort of two hundred Great Han Generals, walked out of the Huang Ji Hall and followed the path they came to exit the palace.

At this moment, almost all candidates, regardless of whether the Palace Examination went smoothly or not, were excited, because their examination path had thus come to a perfect end.

The moment they walked out of the deep palace, they were already Jin Shi, becoming a member of the official class of this huge empire, and years of bitter study had finally been fulfilled.

At this moment, they could not hide their excitement; they had been warned by the Ministry of Rites when entering the palace: no noise was allowed in the imperial palace.

But in the long queue, many candidates could not help but whisper; the queue of hundreds of people, the suppressed sound waves, like undulating waves, went back and forth.

The two hundred Great Han Generals escorting them seemed to be unaware of such overstepping behavior; perhaps they had been hinted at beforehand, and they seemed to be used to such scenes.

The Ministry of Rites officials leading the team and the several executive officials of the Palace Examination accompanying them also turned a deaf ear to this, and many of them had knowing smiles on their faces.

They were also people who had made the list in the Palace Examination and could probably understand the feelings of the candidates at this moment.

As long as it wasn't too noisy and overstepping, it was just a trivial matter, and they all pretended not to see it.

At this moment, Jia Cong, who was walking at the head of the queue, suddenly heard a voice from behind, the tone gentle and calm, quite extraordinary.

"I am Lin Zhaohe from Hangzhou Prefecture; I have long heard of the name of the Earl of Lord Weiyuan, and I have been to the mansion to pay respects, but unfortunately, I did not get to see you."

"Today's Palace Examination questions are difficult; the Earl of Lord Weiyuan's talent as a Hui Yuan must surely have brilliant articles; when you have time, I should pay a visit to ask for advice."

Jia Cong looked back and saw that the person speaking was twenty years old, his appearance refined, his expression indifferent, and his smile warm.

It was precisely the third person standing behind him; according to this person's ranking, Jia Cong could guess who he was.

He had seen his name card, but hadn't recognized the person; it was the Yongzhou Jieyuan of Hangzhou Prefecture, Lin Zhaohe...

Jia Cong knew that there were more than ten Jie Yuans from various prefectures participating in the Metropolitan Examination, but among those who entered the top ten of the Metropolitan Examination, including himself, there were only a mere three people.

Lin Zhaohe placed third on the first list of the Metropolitan Examination; his talent was quite astonishing, and he was worthy of his name.

Jia Cong laughed, "I have already received your name card, Brother Lin, but I am in deep mourning and it is not appropriate to see guests; I hope you will forgive me.

The name of Hui Yuan is just a matter of luck; Brother Lin has also made the list this year, so I dare not accept the word 'advice' from you; when I have time, I will surely invite you to drink and talk about our friendship as candidates of the same year..." (End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 626 =====