Chapter 628: Seizing the Top is Glorious

Great Zhou Palace City, Gan Yang Palace.

Before Emperor Jia Zhao reviewed the Palace Examination ink scrolls, the sealing official removed the Palace Examination ink scroll sealing strip and had shown it to the three chief examiners.

At that time, when Chen Mo received the evaluated ink scrolls, even though the papers were still under the name-sealing, whether it was him or Wang Shilun, they recognized Jia Cong's scroll from the calligraphy and handwriting.

It was just that Chen Mo was old and sophisticated, alert and oily, and Wang Shilun was even more deep and unfathomable, dripping without leaking.

They both knew that the imperial examination was a matter of selecting talent for the country, and countless people's official careers were hidden with dangers, so they naturally wouldn't leave any handle in front of Xu Liangxiong.

Chen Mo was the Zhuang Yuan of the spring Metropolitan Examination in the second year of Yong An; if Jia Cong, whose paper he evaluated, was pointed as the Zhuang Yuan of the fifteenth year of Jia Zhao, it would undoubtedly become a good story praised by scholars.

But Emperor Jia Zhao didn't express his attitude directly to his memorial, but consulted Wang Shilun's advice.

Chen Mo was an old glutton who had rolled in the officialdom for half his life; how could he not taste that the Emperor had other thoughts, and his heart was slightly pondering, but he was not in a hurry.

Wang Shilun thought for a moment and replied, "Reporting to the Sage Monarch, Jia Cong's literary talent is outstanding, he has been the top of the examination hall several times, and now he is a double-titled person; he indeed has the talent to seize the world.

But the imperial examination is the only way for the poor to advance, and it is the focus of the scholars of the world, and the students of the four seas will surely produce a spirit of progress.

The imperial examination is not only to select talent for the country, but also to win the hearts of the scholars of the world, to show the Sage Monarch's grace of ruling the four seas.

In my humble opinion, the latter is more important than the former.

The Sage Monarch governs the country and rules the rivers and mountains; under the imperial order, there are no small matters; compared to the feelings of a moment, it is better to look at the long-term trend.

Jia Cong was still in a humble position, the Sage Monarch had a sharp eye for talent, sent him to the ancestral temple, entrusted him with the grace of mercy, posthumously ennobled his mother, and let him have the foundation of a noble family.

He fought in Liaodong, pacified the Jurchens, and made great contributions; the Sage Monarch did not spare rewards, ennobling him as an Earl with hereditary succession; such special grace, in the Jia Zhao reign, has never happened before.

Jia Cong can have today's achievements, honestly because of his extraordinary talent, but more because of the Sage Monarch's selection and cultivation, so that his noble family's humble branch does not fall into the realm of a bright pearl covered in dust.

Now he holds two titles and is a Grade 5 official; taking the spring examination, the noble and the humble are in the same rank, and he unexpectedly obtained fame; the way of the classics and the matter of learning are nothing to be criticized.

He seized the glory of the Hui Yuan in the name-sealing evaluation, all because of his extraordinary talent and his open-minded and brilliant articles; others are envious, but they can't say any idle words.

Now the Palace Examination is unsealed and evaluated; the Sage Monarch uses only talent, and pointing him as the Zhuang Yuan is also a clear and strict act.

However, the scholars of the world are immersed in fame and have difficulty having the Sage Monarch's broad heart; they will mostly make wild speculations, thinking that the Sage Monarch favors young ministers and adds all the glory of the world to one person.

They will even slander Jia Cong, a noble official, with extreme wealth and glory, and still compete with the poor students for the opportunity to advance, and also violate the virtue of forgiveness of the sages..."

Wang Shilun talked eloquently; he was a person of high talent and strategy as a cabinet minister and concurrently the head of the six ministries; these words, although spoken tactfully, were well-reasoned and difficult to refute.

Emperor Jia Zhao, who was behind the throne, listened intently, his face without joy or anger, making people unable to see through his thoughts.

Everyone in the hall could hear that Wang Shilun's words were not in favor of pointing Jia Cong as the Zhuang Yuan.

Chen Mo, the Minister of Rites, who was the person who proposed pointing Jia Cong as the

Minister of Rites Chen Mo, who stood to the side, was the one who proposed selecting Jia Cong as the top scholar.

Upon hearing Wang Shilun's words, he merely listened with his eyes half-closed, appearing somewhat dull and aged, and his face showed no sign of displeasure at Wang Shilun's rebuttal.

Xu Liangxiong, however, felt a surge of secret joy upon hearing Wang Shilun's words; because Jia Cong could not be selected as the top scholar, the six tribute students whose papers he had graded gained a greater chance of placing in the first tier.

Wang Shilun continued: "Jia Cong's status is now noble. I believe he took the imperial examination because he has been determined to study since childhood and has received the teachings of the literary master, Master Jingan, which is why he strove for a career in the examinations.

Now that he has achieved the honor of being the top candidate in the metropolitan examination and fulfilled his lifelong ambition of study, it is enough to repay the grace of Master Jingan's teachings. His reputation for achieving two top rankings is already no less than that of a top scholar.

I believe that whether or not he is made the top scholar of this session, Jia Cong will likely not be overly attached to it.

Even if His Majesty fulfills his heart's desire for modesty and courtesy, it would not be a bad story."

……

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao said: "Minister Wang's words are considerate of the overall situation and quite reasonable. What does Minister Chen think?"

Chen Mo bowed and said: "I recommended Jia Cong as the top scholar solely because of his talent, with no other intentions. Your Majesty's considerations are profound, and as long as there is a sacred decision, I have no objections."

Seeing Chen Mo so agreeable, Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao's mouth twitched slightly, though he was not surprised.

Chen Mo had experienced the drastic changes of two reigns and still stood firm; it was precisely because he was meticulous, had his own opinions, and was smooth enough to avoid trouble...

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao glanced at Xu Liangxiong, saw him standing to the side with a vaguely hurried expression, and asked: "Does Minister Xu have anything to say?"

Xu Liangxiong's expression brightened slightly, and he said: "Minister Wang's words are quite pertinent; I deeply agree with his mature strategy.

Minister Chen says Jia Cong is the top candidate of this session and has the talent to lead the world, which is not without reason.

I believe Jia Cong can enter the first tier, but as Minister Wang said, he should not be selected as the top scholar.

Jia Cong is not only outstanding in talent, but as everyone knows, his demeanor is peerless and his appearance rivals Pan An. In my humble opinion, he could be selected as the third-place winner, which would complement each other and make for a good story."

As soon as Xu Liangxiong finished speaking, Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao's expression shifted slightly. Chen Mo, who had been listening with his eyes closed, suddenly opened his old eyes, and a sharp glint seemed to flash within his gaze.

He said: "Minister Xu's words are inappropriate. Jia Cong is the top candidate of this session, his talent surpasses his peers, and he has outstanding military strategy and has performed the service of weakening the vassal states for the country.

For such a young and capable minister, the focus should be on talent, not appearance. He has the stature to win the top spot, yet to select him as the third-place winner solely because of his looks violates the solemnity of the imperial examination ceremony!"

……

Upon hearing Chen Mo's words, Xu Liangxiong's face turned awkward, and he felt a bit of secret anger.

At the same time, he also found it strange; this old man Chen Mo had always been smooth, so why had his words suddenly become so sharp...

Xu Liangxiong had his own agenda in advising that Jia Cong be selected as the third-place winner.

He knew that as the top candidate of the metropolitan examination, Jia Cong's palace examination essay was also outstanding, and even the current Emperor had given his approval, so he would definitely be in the first tier regardless.

However, there were only three spots in the first tier, which is why he advised selecting him as the third-place winner based on his good looks; this way, even if Jia Cong entered the first tier, he would occupy the lowest rank.

The glory and status of the top two spots in the first tier were incomparable to the third-place winner. Only by creating such a situation could the six people whose papers he had graded have the greatest possibility of achieving success.

He had not expected Chen Mo, who looked old and listless, to suddenly speak such sonorous words, catching Xu Liangxiong off guard.

Wang Shilun, standing to the side, remained calm. Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao frowned slightly upon hearing the two argue, his gaze thoughtful, and he was in no hurry to express his stance.

He said: "I have just browsed the papers. In this palace examination, besides Jia Cong, there are several others whose essays are brilliant and all have the qualifications for the first tier. I wonder if the three ministers have any candidates in mind?"

Wang Shilun said: "Among the papers I graded, the tribute student from Qingzhou, Zhang Wenxu, ranked fourth in the metropolitan examination, and his palace examination essay is in the top tier.

The tribute student from Yuezhou, Chen Qirui, ranked seventh in the metropolitan examination, and his palace examination essay is in the top tier. These two can be considered for the first tier."

Chen Mo said: "Among the six papers I graded, the tribute student from Hangzhou Prefecture, Lin Zhaorong, has talent second only to Jia Cong and ranked third in the metropolitan examination; he can be considered for the first tier."

Xu Liangxiong hurriedly said: "Among the papers I graded, the tribute student from Shanxi, Dai Yuanjie, ranked thirteenth in the metropolitan examination, and his palace examination essay shows unique insight; he can be considered for the first tier."

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao said: "The names in the first tier of the spring examination are watched by all the scholars and people of the world. This matter is of great importance, and weighing and consideration are always necessary.

By sunset tomorrow, when all the palace examination papers have been graded, you ministers shall enter the Qianyang Hall again to discuss and finalize the names for the first tier and the top fifteen of the second tier."

……

Watching the three chief examiners walk out of the hall, Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao said to Guo Lin, who was standing by his side: "The student records of the Ministry of Rites are all superficial and difficult to investigate thoroughly.

You are to gather men and investigate the backgrounds of the four tribute students: Zhang Wenxu, Chen Qirui, Lin Zhaorong, and Dai Yuanjie. I want to know clearly before noon tomorrow.

The names in the first tier are like national treasures and must be handled with caution..."

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao asked again: "Has there been any progress in the construction of the breech-loading guns at the firearms workshop?"

Guo Lin replied: "Reporting to Your Majesty, Qian Huai sent news yesterday that Jia Cong has now finished his mourning period. As long as there are no external matters, he is at the workshop every day presiding over the research and development of the firearms.

Because Jia Cong is leading the matter, the construction progress has improved significantly. The firing pins for the breech-loading guns, which lacked sufficient strength, have now been modified several times and will be perfected within the month."

Hearing Guo Lin's words, Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao paced the hall with his hands behind his back. When he reached the entrance of the hall, it was exactly noon. At this time, the sun was in the middle of the sky, its brilliance scorching and dazzling, pouring down upon the vast palace complex, appearing extraordinarily magnificent and beautiful, which filled his heart with a sense of hesitation.

……

The 15th year of Emperor Jia Zhao, May 12th, Earl's Mansion, Jia Cong's courtyard.

Just past the hour of the sheep, in the deep courtyards of the noble mansion, it was the quietest time of the day.

The entire courtyard was quiet inside and out, with no one seen walking about; only in Jia Cong's study was there a beautiful figure moving back and forth.

At this time, the person who would appear in Jia Cong's study would generally only be Ying Lian.

Ying Lian managed Jia Cong's study. Originally, when Jia Cong was busy with the imperial examinations, it was also the busiest time for Ying Lian.

Not only did she study with Jia Cong every day, but when Jia Cong went back and forth to the Liu residence on Mount Luocang to attend lectures, he only took her with him.

Although she was often not at leisure at that time, following Jia Cong in and out every day made Ying Lian's life more interesting.

Now that Jia Cong had finished the major event of the imperial examinations and was going to his office every day after the mourning period, the time he spent at home had decreased significantly.

!

The time she spent in the study was also far less abundant than before, which made Ying Lian feel quite lonely and bored.

At this moment, she felt somewhat listless, holding a feather duster and dusting back and forth in front of the bookshelves.

In fact, the bookshelves were black and shiny; where could there be any dust...

The afternoon sunlight shone in through the window lattice, casting shadows on the bookshelves, illuminating Ying Lian's slender and graceful body, refracting a harmonious glow, revealing a soul-stirring beauty.

Ying Lian was not dressed like a maid in a red jacket and green trousers; she wore a pink long garment with a right-lapping collar, embroidered with exquisite magnolia branches, and wore a red gold necklace around her neck, flashing with a lustrous yellow brilliance.

On her head, she wore a slightly slanted Lingxu bun, inserted with two pale pink silk flowers, and her temples were braided into small pigtails. Her pretty face was as delicate and moist as snow, and her temperament was childish, beautiful, and cute.

She gestured a few times with the feather duster, then threw it aside, found a casual book, and sat at Jia Cong's desk to read.

Just as she was bored to the point of drowsiness, she suddenly heard Juan'er's voice: "Third Master, you're off work so early today?"

……

Hearing this, Ying Lian felt a joy in her heart and quickly walked out of the study, seeing Jia Cong entering the courtyard with a smile on his face, seemingly in quite a good mood.

She asked: "Young Master, is there nothing to do at the workshop today? Why are you off work and back at the mansion so early?"

Jia Cong smiled: "Things have been going smoothly these past few days, and it will be perfected by the end of the month. I have already set the regulations, and the people below will handle it themselves, so I don't need to watch over it all the time.

I came back early today because I need to write a memorial, which might be needed in a few days."

Seeing the courtyard quiet, Jia Cong asked: "Why are you the only one at home? Where are Zhi Shao, Qingwen, and Ling Guan?"

Ying Lian said: "Sister Wu'er is naturally at the West Mansion. News came from the Muni Nunnery this morning saying that Sister Zhi Shao's master was feeling unwell, so she and Miss Xing went to the Muni Nunnery to visit her.

Qingwen was called away by Xiu Ju to embroider patterns, and Ling Guan was called away by Miss Lin to talk, and she even took Dou Guan with her."

Jia Cong smiled: "Why don't you go out for a stroll? Isn't it stifling staying alone?"

Ying Lian smiled and said: "I'm too lazy to go out. Besides, everyone else has gone out, so someone has to stay in the house to watch over it. I'm also quiet in the study."

The two entered the study, and just as Ying Lian was about to grind ink and spread paper, she suddenly saw a pitch-black patch on the web of Jia Cong's right hand.

She hurriedly grabbed Jia Cong's hand to take a closer look and said: "Young Master, why is your hand black? Is this a burn?"

Jia Cong smiled: "How could it be a burn? It's just that I got some gunpowder powder on it. I washed it with water, but it was a bit hurried, and I didn't get it clean for a moment."

……

Ever since the palace examination, Jia Cong had been going to the workshop every day as usual. These days, the improvement and smelting of the breech-loading gun firing pins had made great progress.

Following Jia Cong's suggestions, the blacksmith improved the smelting method, and the strength of the newly forged firing pins continued to increase.

At present, it could support twenty-six consecutive shots without the firing pin breaking, only one step away from Jia Cong's requirement of supporting thirty consecutive shots.

Today, during the test firing of the sample guns at the workshop, Jia Cong personally took part and fired more than ten shots in a row before stopping, which was quite satisfying.

Liu Shizhen, the deputy supervisor of the Firearms Division, and Qian Huai, the manager, who were on the scene, saw him using the newly developed breech-loading gun with such skillful operation.

It was as if he had used breech-loading guns for a long time, which truly startled them all. This new type of firearm had clearly just had its sample gun developed.

They had never seen Jia Cong use it before, so how could he perform the shooting movements so skillfully and fluently?

Accustomed to Jia Cong's various wonders, the few of them could only explain it by saying that Jia Cong was a genius with innate knowledge.

Moreover, once the construction of the breech-loading guns met Jia Cong's requirements, such a sharp and powerful weapon of the state would surely stir up huge waves in the Great Zhou military.

At that time, this young official would be how dazzling? This little bit of strangeness before them would then be nothing...

……

Ying Lian left the study and soon brought back a basin of clear water and a piece of Xin Chun Hao scented soap.

Jia Cong scrubbed with the soap for a while, but the gunpowder powder had stained his skin and was quite stubborn, not easily washed away for a moment.

Ying Lian took out her own handkerchief, wetted it, and held Jia Cong's palm to wipe it continuously, resulting in her own slender fingers also becoming black.

She wrinkled her delicate nose, looked at her fingers, and her small face looked a bit distressed.

Jia Cong smiled, grabbed her small hand, applied the scented soap, and began to scrub it carefully as well.

The afternoon sunlight was harmonious, illuminating the rippling water in the copper basin, swaying unsteadily, making one's heart intoxicated.

Ying Lian's palms and ten fingers were slender, beautiful, soft, and warm. Jia Cong held them in his palm and scrubbed them gently, a warmth rising in his heart, somewhat reluctant to let go...

Jia Cong scrubbed carefully, while Ying Lian's pretty face turned pink, her heart trembling, feeling the itch in her palm, yet she was reluctant to pull it back, letting Jia Cong do as he pleased.

In the study, the sound of water trickling was heard, and Ying Lian finally couldn't resist the itch in her palm, letting out a silver bell-like laugh that drifted through the quiet courtyard.

……

May 12th, at sunset, Great Zhou Imperial City, East Pavilion of the Wen Hua Hall.

The eighteen co-examiners had been busy for half the night last night and got up at dawn to continue grading and ranking the palace examination papers.

After two days of such hard work, except for the three in the first tier and the top fifteen in the second tier, they finally finished grading and ranking the remaining palace examination papers at sunset on the 12th.

The three chief examiners received the list of rankings from the co-examiners, carefully asked a few questions about the sixteenth to fiftieth places in the second tier, browsed through the others, and then signed off on them.

This was because the top three in the first tier and the top fifty in the second tier all had the qualifications to enter the Hanlin Academy through the court examination.

For rankings beyond the fiftieth place, apart from reputation and face, there was no actual difference in status. Under normal circumstances, the chief examiners would take the rankings of the co-examiners as the basis or make minor adjustments.

Once the three chief examiners received the graded rankings, they rushed to the Qianyang Palace without stopping, first to report the list of graded papers to Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao, and second to finally discuss and finalize the positions of the top three in the first tier.

The eighteen co-examiners were also released from the palace ban and returned home to rest, many of whom had to attend the early morning court session tomorrow.

Sun Shouzhen followed the other co-examiners, dragging his tired body, and walked out of the Fengtian Gate.

When he reached the Meridian Gate, he looked back at the towering palace city behind him, feeling a sudden sense of relief in his heart, followed by a sense of uprightness.

He thought of the words of the old man at the Xiao family bookstore, thought of Wu Liang's proud words and deeds among the tribute students, and thought of the inscrutable smile on Xu Liangxiong's face...

He thought even more of how he and the seventeen other co-examiners had burned the midnight oil grading papers, racking their brains and exhausting their energy for the future careers of three hundred tribute students.

Thinking of these scenes, a surge of hot blood rose in his heart, which seemed to be able to ignite him. A flush rose on his face, and the fatigue of two days and one night of hard work seemed to be swept away.

The imperial examination is a major event for the country and the hope of the scholars of the world; how can it be allowed to be trampled upon and tarnished by treacherous and evil people!

(End of chapter)