Chapter 237: Official Examination

"Three days left."

In Dong Shi of Yancheng, Liu Fu returned to the Government Office and posted the notice for the Official Examination in Dong Shi, and a large crowd of scholars was immediately drawn over.

After the news of the Official Examination spread throughout Yanzhou, the scholars of Yanzhou were all invigorated and inspired.

To them, this was an opportunity to change their destiny.

Previously, they could only throw themselves under the patronage of a Rich Clan and serve as retainers first.

Only by fawning and flattering, and being appreciated by the Rich Clan, could they possibly obtain a chance for recommendation to serve in the Government Office.

Yet even so, not just anyone could become a retainer.

One even had to pay Silver to buy the qualification of a retainer.

But now, Yan Wang had given them a fair chance.

They no longer needed to be servile, and they no longer needed to flatter anyone.

They could enter the officialdom of Yanzhou based solely on their own abilities.

"Waited so long, I thought this was just a farce; I didn't expect Yan Wang to be serious." In front of the notice, a young scholar was high-spirited.

"Yan Wang has always kept his word. Brother Li, I hope this time we can serve as officials under His Highness Yan Wang." A slightly shorter scholar beside him had a flushed face; this was from excitement.

"I must say, we are truly lucky. Yan Wang can certainly be called a wise prince of the Great Song. If we can serve under Yan Wang's command, we shall surely be diligent and conscientious, and serve until our dying breath." Another scholar sighed with emotion.

Just as the scholars were discussing excitedly, someone sneered: "Hmph, daydreaming. Just based on you two paupers, you want to pass the exam? How many books are there in your homes?"

This scholar was dressed in brocade, while the two just now were in coarse cloth robes washed until they were white, appearing very down-and-out.

Standing beside the brocade-clad scholar were several scholars dressed in no small style.

At this, they burst into laughter.

In their view, these poor scholars had hardly read a few books and could not compete with them at all.

Naturally, they felt extreme contempt in their hearts.

Most of the scholars gathered in front of the notice were dressed simply.

Upon hearing this, they all glared angrily at these brocade-clad scholars.

Among them, someone recognized the brocade-clad young master and mocked: "Shen Xi, what do you have to be proud of? Wasn't your father a pauper before, too? He just acted as a dog for a Rich Clan for a few years, and now you're acting arrogant?"

"That's right. Do you still think Yanzhou is under the control of the Yuan Family? His Highness Yan Wang won't let you enter the Government Office just because he sees you wearing brocade."

"That's for sure. He guarded the gate of the Yan Prince Mansion for over ten days, and the people of the Yan Prince Mansion didn't even pay him any mind."

"..."

As everyone spoke one after another, the brocade-clad young master immediately lost face.

He rolled up his sleeves and shouted at the first scholar who mocked him, "You're looking for a beating!"

Having said that, he raised his fist and charged over.

If it were before, these scholars from humble backgrounds would have had to walk around these brocade-clad scholars upon seeing them.

But now, under Yan Wang's rule, there was no one left to protect them.

The humble scholars were immediately unwilling to take it, and they rushed over in a swarm to help fight; the area in front of the notice fell into chaos...

Three days later.

In front of a courtyard less than three hundred meters from the Yan Prince Mansion.

Scholars from Yanzhou lined up in a long queue.

According to the content on the notice, they had prepared brush and ink.

At the gate of the courtyard, a team of Wangfu Army stood guard on both sides.

The atmosphere of the Official Examination thus appeared solemn.

After all the scholars participating in the exam entered the courtyard, Zhao Xu and Liu Fu rode over on horseback.

"Gongyuan."

Zhao Xu read the plaque in front of the courtyard gate.

These two characters were ones he had asked Liu Fu to hang up.

In the contemporary ancient era, the two characters for Gongyuan specifically referred to the place for imperial examinations, so he simply used them directly.

"Have the people brought by Imperial Father-in-law Mi also entered the examination hall?" Upon entering the Gongyuan, Zhao Xu asked.

"They have all entered. According to Your Highness's wishes, no special treatment was given to them; they are taking the exam mixed in with the other scholars," Liu Fu said.

Zhao Xu nodded. He had come to the Gongyuan in person this time to demonstrate the importance he placed on this Official Examination.

Because this broke the outdated system of selecting officials in the dynasties of the Central Plains in this world.

Henceforth, the children of humble families in Yanzhou would be able to change their own destinies through examinations and achieve social mobility.

Instead of being like a stagnant pool as before.

This was just like the contemporary college entrance examination; this exam gave ordinary people a chance to leap over the dragon gate.

Otherwise, how could the children of ordinary families compete with the children of Rich Clans, the children of powerful families, and the children of wealthy merchants?

"Hmm, after this Official Examination, the officials lacking in Yanzhou should be able to be filled," Zhao Xu said.

According to what Liu Fu said, there were about eight thousand scholars participating in this Official Examination.

And the number of officials lacking in Yanzhou was over two thousand.

The two spoke all the way until they reached the examination area.

The courtyard Liu Fu had chosen was the former residence of the Zhang Family.

The residence was large, with numerous rooms of all kinds.

Now, the scholars were either in the rooms or in the open space of the courtyard, required to sit one meter apart in order, while the officials responsible for invigilation patrolled back and forth.

Seeing this scene, Zhao Xu suddenly had the feeling of returning to his student days.

However, he had now become the person organizing the examination.

Watching the Viscounts, each holding a brush, furrowing their brows in deep thought, and hesitating to put pen to paper, he suddenly felt the guilty pleasure of a teacher setting an exam.

His arrival with Liu Fu attracted the attention of some Viscounts.

In particular, several Viscounts in fine clothing smiled quite obsequiously.

Zhao Xu frowned and ignored them.

He had heard from Liu Fu that on the day the notice was posted, the Viscounts had gotten into a brawl at Dong Shi.

In the end, the Viscounts from humble backgrounds beat the several silk-clad Viscounts until they fled in disarray.

Regarding this matter, he felt these Viscounts from humble backgrounds had done well.

Scholars should also be able to carry a three-foot sword; they cannot just study books and lose the hot blood in their hearts.

The officials he wanted were officials full of vitality and striving for progress.

Not like the officialdom of Great Song, which was lifeless and filled with people who only knew how to protect their own interests.

After walking around the examination hall, Zhao Xu came to the room where the examiners rested.

This examination was to last the entire day, and the Viscounts were required to bring their own dry rations to fill their stomachs if they got hungry at noon.

However, before it was even noon, some Viscounts had already handed in their papers and left.

"What kind of exam paper is this? It doesn't test anything from the Classics, Histories, Philosophers, or Literary Collections; isn't this just messing around?" several Viscounts complained after leaving the examination hall.

"Exactly, it doesn't even test poetry or prose, just a bunch of questions that leave one completely baffled."

"Forget it, forget it. It seems Yan Wang has no intention of selecting officials; he is just playing with us."

"..."

Complaining, the three Viscounts shook their heads and sighed as they left.

After noon, even more Viscounts left, and most of the Viscounts were frowning, seemingly quite dissatisfied with this examination.

Evening fell, and with three rings of the bell, the Official Examination officially ended.

The examiners brought the test papers one after another to the room where Zhao Xu was staying.

At this time, Zhao Xu took the answer key for the exam papers from his bosom and said to the officials, "Stay in this room for these few days and do not go out. Food and drink will be served; grade all these papers."

The Northern Di have not yet been destroyed, and the powerful clans are eyeing things covetously.

Only by establishing the administrative system now will it be convenient for the next step of construction in the fief.