Chapter 51: Top Provincial Graduate

"The second place Second Provincial Graduate is..."

As the government runner sang the place of origin of the Second Provincial Graduate, Wu Song and the others' hearts all lifted to their throats.

"An..."

But as the first word of the yamen runner came out, Wu Song and the others' hearts died instantly.

Because Zhang Jie's place of origin was Yanggu County, which meant that the Second Provincial Graduate was still not Zhang Jie.

"Young Master..."

Pan Jinlian was a bit disheartened, she held Zhang Jie's hand back, afraid that Zhang Jie couldn't bear the blow.

Now, even Chen Wenyun, who had great confidence in Zhang Jie, frowned.

He was confident in Zhang Jie, but since there was no Zhang Jie's name from second to seventy-second,

then Zhang Jie's hope of making the list this time was very slim.

The probability of Top Provincial Graduate being Zhang Jie was not greater than him participating in the metropolitan examination next year and passing the imperial examination first,

and then being appointed by the emperor as one of the top three in the palace examination.

"Brother Renjie, it's not too late to wait another three years.

It just so happens that I am also preparing to study for a few more years before participating in the metropolitan examination,

you and I brothers participate in the provincial examination together, then participate in the metropolitan examination,

and finally participate in the palace examination together, wouldn't that be beautiful?"

Chen Wenyun comforted Zhang Jie.

"Young Master, let's come back in three years."

Pan Jinlian squeezed a smile on her face and held Zhang Jie's hand tightly.

"Young Master, I will escort you to Jinan in three years."

Wu Song, who was a martial artist and didn't know how to comfort people, patted his chest and promised.

Wang Laoban from the Good Guest Inn didn't care, it was just failing the list, he had seen too much.

He grew up in the Good Guest Inn established by his father, and had seen more than a dozen rounds of provincial examinations.

How many scholars who had stayed in his Good Guest Inn had made the list?

The answer is less than ten, including Chen Wenyun who just made the list.

Every provincial examination, among the dozens of scholars living in his Good Guest Inn, it was possible that none of them made the list.

And Top Provincial Graduate, since the establishment of the Great Song Dynasty for a hundred years, the century-old shops in Jinan couldn't even get one.

After all, there were more than fifty century-old shops in Jinan, and there were only thirty-odd Jieyuans.

Although he knew that it was unlikely for Zhang Jie to be Top Provincial Graduate, Boss Wang didn't say any sarcastic remarks.

He was

He is a businessman who values harmony as the key to wealth, so he cannot speak words that offend others at will.

"Rest assured."

Zhang Jie still wore a smile as he patted Pan Jinlian's hand with his right hand.

Infected by Zhang Jie's calm and composed attitude, the nervous Pan Jinlian and Wu Song also relaxed.

"Mm."

Regarding Zhang Jie's composure, both Chen Wen and Wang Laoban nodded.

It is not difficult to be calm and composed when at one's peak,

but only when one remains calm and composed while at the lowest point of life does one's true character as a man shine through.

Chen Wen could not help but think of himself when he first failed the exam—anxious, decadent, and afraid to face reality.

Compared to how he was then, Zhang Jie's temperament was exceptionally resilient, and he could not help but hold Zhang Jie in even higher regard.

"The first place in the provincial exam, the top provincial scholar is..."

As the yamen runners began to announce the name of the first-place winner,

the scene fell silent for a moment, and everyone pricked up their ears.

Although it is said that "there is no second place in martial arts, and no first place in literature," being favored by the chief examiner and the panel of assistant examiners,

and suppressing all other candidates, the top provincial scholar undoubtedly still carries a great deal of weight.

Of course, those who rely on cheating or nepotism do not count.

For example, a certain top scholar from the Tang Dynasty who allegedly couldn't even write his own name, Zhang Shi.

In the second year of the Tianbao era of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang (743 AD), Zhang Shi participated in the imperial examination.

The then-prime minister Li Linfu appointed Miao Jinqing and Song Yao to preside over the examination.

Because Zhang Yi was favored by Emperor Xuanzong, Miao Jinqing and Song Yao wanted to curry favor with him,

and despite Zhang Shi having no scholarship, the two still ranked him first among the successful candidates, which sparked public outrage.

An Lushan took this opportunity to report it to Emperor Xuanzong, who personally re-examined Zhang Shi at the Hua'e Pavilion.

As a result, Zhang Shi handed in a blank paper, known as "blank paper," and eventually, Zhang Yi was demoted to the prefect of Huaiyang Commandery.

One can only say that this blank-paper top scholar was too ignorant and lacked self-awareness.

……

"The top provincial scholar is Mr. Zhang Renjie from Yanggu County!"

After keeping the audience in suspense for a good while, the yamen runners finally announced the list.

"Young Master, you are the top provincial scholar?"

Upon hearing this, Pan Jinlian's heart was instantly struck by a huge surprise, and she was completely stunned.

She knew Zhang Jie was an "immortal descended to earth," but apart from the Literary Star and the Kui Star,

she had never heard of any immortal being so formidable at the imperial examinations!

"Young Master!"

Wu Song's face was filled with excitement.

On one hand, he was happy that Zhang Jie, who was like a brother to him, had won the top provincial scholar,

and on the other hand, he was also delighted that they, the Wu brothers, had found a great backer.

This cannot be blamed on Wu Song and Wu Dalang being realistic, but in our Great Song,

if you don't have a backer in official circles, you can't even do business properly!

"Congratulations, virtuous brother Renjie."

Chen Wen also congratulated Zhang Jie with the same joy that Zhang Jie had just congratulated him with.

It was just that a trace of complexity still flashed across his face.

He had taken the provincial exam six or seven times before finally passing today with a middle-of-the-pack ranking.

Yet Zhang Jie had only become a budding talent in May, and after just three months, he had become a provincial graduate.

Does this mean Zhang Jie could pass the metropolitan exam in the spring exam next February?

What shocked him even more was that Zhang Jie had previously topped the county exam,

the prefecture exam, and the academy exam, winning three consecutive top spots, achieving the "Little Three Yuan."

Now that he had also won the provincial top provincial scholar, wouldn't that mean Zhang Jie has a chance

to win the top spot in the metropolitan exam and the palace exam, becoming the "Great Three Yuan"?

The last person in the Great Song to win three consecutive top spots was Feng Jing, the Feng Three-Time Champion.

He became a metropolitan graduate during the Renzong era, and from the provincial exam and the Ministry of Rites to the palace exam, he was first in all.

Later, he was appointed as a Han Lin academician, prefect of Kaifeng, and then went to pacify Shaanxi and serve as prefect of Taiyuan.

When Emperor Zhezong ascended the throne, he was appointed as the military governor of Baoning Army, prefect of Great Ming, and later transferred to govern Zhangde.

Later, he served as a lecturer to the emperor, was transferred to the position of Commissioner of the Xuanhui Southern Court, and retired as the Crown Prince's Junior Preceptor.

In the first year of the Shaosheng era (1094), Feng Jing passed away due to illness at the age of seventy-four.

Emperor Zhezong personally went to his home to pay respects, posthumously awarded him the title of Situ, gave him the posthumous name "Wenjian," and bestowed a spirit way stele with the inscription "Jide."

Feng Jing lived through the reigns of Renzong, Ying Sect, Shen Sect, and Zhezong of the Song Dynasty,

and was praised by the world as "maintaining his integrity throughout four generations."

Thinking that Zhang Jie also had a chance to win three consecutive top spots, Chen Wen could not help but be excited;

he felt as if he were witnessing history.

If the ultimate goal of a scholar is the four sentences of Hengqu: "To establish a heart for heaven and earth,

to establish a life for the people, to inherit the lost teachings of the sages of the past, and to open up peace for all generations,"

then winning three consecutive top spots is their ultimate goal in the imperial examinations.

Wang Laoban, who had been very cold just a moment ago, also congratulated Zhang Jie repeatedly.

"Brother Chen, Wang Laoban, you flatter me; I just had good luck."

Zhang Jie's expression was humble and not arrogant.

For him, with his golden finger, passing the exam was as easy as reaching into a bag to take something, not worth being surprised about.

The only thing that surprised him a little was that the chief examiner of this provincial exam had actually chosen him as the top provincial scholar.

It seems the article he wrote scratched the chief examiner's itch and was very much to his liking.

However, since Zhang Jie does not intend to be an official for the Great Song, but is preparing to strike out on his own,

then what great significance does the Great Song's top provincial scholar have for him?

Chen Wen identified with Zhang Jie even more: neither arrogant in victory nor discouraged in defeat—this is the demeanor of a great general or prime minister.

"The top provincial scholar is here, the top provincial scholar is here!"

Some commoners discovered Zhang Jie.

A crowd of commoners instantly surrounded Zhang Jie and the others.

"Top provincial scholar, give us some rewards so we can share in your good fortune!"

An old man with white hair and beard, leaning on a cane, who was clearly very prestigious in the vicinity, walked out of the crowd,

came before Zhang Jie, and bowed slightly with a chuckle.

"Old gentleman, you are too polite; this is only to be expected."

Zhang Jie helped the old man up and responded gently.

The old man's action was not an attempt to extort money from Zhang Jie, but a conventional custom:

People believed that Jieyuans and top scholars were the Literary Star from heaven descended to earth,

and that they possessed "literary Qi" on their bodies that could bring good luck and make children smarter.

Therefore, every time the provincial exam ended, commoners would scramble to share a bit of that literary vital energy from the top provincial scholar.

This is actually the same as Xiucais worshipping Confucius before the provincial exam, consecrating their pens, ink, paper, and inkstones,

or even rolling down the steps in front of the Confucius Temple—all to pray for good luck.

Zhang Jie took out his money pouch and scattered the dozens of copper coins and a few pieces of silver inside toward the crowd.

"Mine!"

"What do you mean yours? It's clearly mine!"

"Silver, I picked up a piece of silver!"

The crowd immediately scrambled for them with great enthusiasm.

"Top provincial scholar, it's too little, it's not enough!"

"More, give us more!"

After the scramble, someone in the crowd started to heckle.

"Uh, is it much? It is not much."

Holding the now empty money pouch, Zhang Jie instantly recalled the famous saying of the old Mr. Kong Yiji.

"Young Master."

The understanding Pan Jinlian handed over her money pouch embroidered with elegant lotus flowers.

Zhang Jie took the pouch, which still carried Pan Jinlian's scent, and threw all the copper coins inside out.

Finally, facing the enthusiastic crowd, even Wu Song and Chen Wen contributed their own money pouches.