Chapter 324: The Real

"The scholars from various regions have all arrived in the capital recently, and the metropolitan examination will begin in a few days. How is the Ministry of Rites preparing?" At the morning court session, the Chongzhen Emperor asked Minister of Rites Li Wenxuan.

Upon hearing this, Li Wenxuan immediately stepped forward and reported: "Your Majesty, the Ministry of Rites has deliberated extensively on this matter recently. It has been decided that the metropolitan examination will still be held at the Examination Hall, with nineteen Hanlin scholars appointed as associate examiners. The examination will be conducted in three sessions, one session every three days."

"The first session of the metropolitan examination is set for the ninth day of the third month, the second on the twelfth, and the third on the fifteenth. Candidates enter one day prior and exit one day after each session. The subjects tested in the three sessions — essays on the Four Books, five-character eight-rhyme poetry, essays on the Five Classics, and policy questions — are the same as those in the provincial examination."

The Chongzhen Emperor uttered an "Mm," then asked: "Do you have candidates for chief examiners?"

"In response to Your Majesty, after deliberation by the Ministry of Rites, it is proposed to appoint four chief examiners, subject to Your Majesty's decision." As Li Wenxuan said this, he hastily handed the memorial he had been holding since court began to Wang Dehua, who then presented it before the throne.

"Minister of Revenue Ni Yuanlu, Hanlin Bachelor Fang Fengnian, Grand Secretary of the Eastern Pavilion Cao Rong, and Grand Secretary of the Jianji Pavilion Zhang Ritu."

The Chongzhen Emperor read out these names one by one, yet fixed his gaze on Li Wenxuan. Li Wenxuan seemed somewhat nervous, his courage failing him as he dared not meet the Emperor's eyes, only lowering his head and waiting.

The other three were unobjectionable — all members of the Emperor's faction. But this Cao Rong had some tricks to him. Not only was this man historically a turncoat who surrendered to the Qing, he also lacked any real ability. No doubt some remnant Donglin elements had arranged his placement.

At this thought, the Chongzhen Emperor gave a cold snort, set the list selected by the Ministry of Rites aside directly, and said: "This Cao Rong — I say he won't do. Let's replace him with Feng Quan. Do my ministers have any objections?"

Having spoken, the Chongzhen Emperor swept his gaze across the assembled ministers below. Those whose eyes he met were all stricken with terror — who would dare voice any disagreement? Nearly all merely mumbled assent, murmuring that His Majesty was sagacious and so forth.

By convention, the lists of chief and associate examiners for each examination were drawn up by the Ministry of Rites, and instances of rejection were virtually unheard of — let alone the Chongzhen Emperor directly declaring someone unsuitable and demanding a replacement. It was simply far too willful.

Feng Quan had an extremely thick skin. Seeing that no one objected, he immediately stepped forward, knelt, and proclaimed: "Your servant is grateful for Your Majesty's trust. I shall diligently fulfill my duties, devote myself wholly to the public good, and seek out worthy talent for the dynasty!"

"I do trust Minister Feng." The Chongzhen Emperor smiled, then deliberately glanced at Minister of Rites Li Wenxuan before continuing on his own: "Aside from the civil examination matters, I also wish to discuss the military examination with you all."

"The military examination?"

"The military examination is to be held this year as well?"

"Never heard of it. If you ask me, the military examination should have been abolished long ago!"

In truth, the Great Ming had established the military examination since its founding, but from the Hongwu era onward it had been held sporadically and abolished intermittently. Not only had it failed to serve its proper purpose, it had become a laughingstock across the realm, with no complete institutional framework ever passed down.

It was only in the Chenghua era, when the eunuch Wang Zhi proposed modeling it after the civil examinations, that the current military examination — hollow as it was — came into being.

Hearing this, the assembled ministers erupted in an uproar. Some said they had no idea the dynasty even had such a thing as a military examination; others said the military examination was utterly useless, that those military men were all born with rebellious bones, and that the so-called military examination should have been abolished long ago.

The more the Chongzhen Emperor listened, the tighter his brow furrowed, cold laughter churning within him. If this phantom of a military examination were truly abolished outright, you people would likely be laughing in your sleep from joy.

Matters that made them uncomfortable were precisely the ones the Chongzhen Emperor pursued with greater vigor. He waved his hand to signal them to quiet down, then said: "I know that some of you may not think highly of the military examination, but I tell you — the Great Ming cannot do without military selection, and the military examination must be put on the agenda!"

"Wang Dehua, read it!"

Under the shocked gazes of the assembled ministers, Wang Dehua smugly cleared his throat, stepped forward a few paces, drew the imperial edict he had prepared in his sleeve, spread it open in midair, and proclaimed in a loud voice:

"By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:

Since the founding of the dynasty by the Grand Ancestor to this day, the military examination has been held sporadically and abolished intermittently, with no unified statutes and no consistent legal framework — a deeply entrenched defect!

It is hereby ordered: From the bingxu year of the nineteenth year of Chongzhen onward, the military examination shall be administered by the Ministry of War, held once every three years. It shall establish academy examinations, provincial examinations, metropolitan examinations, and palace examinations, along with the Jianzhou Prefecture Military Academy — all in parallel with the civil examinations.

For this military examination, there shall be nineteen associate examiners and four chief examiners, the same as for the civil examinations.

Additionally, the military examination's first stage shall test twelve subjects: horse archery, foot archery, level shooting, mounted lance, saber and sword, weight-bearing, wrestling, running, and boxing and kicking; the second stage shall test seven subjects: camp formation, land mines, firearms, war chariots, and defense; the final stage shall test eight subjects: the art of war, astronomy, geography, and troop training. The comprehensive results of the military examination candidates shall be taken into account.

It is ordered that the military examination establish three ranks: in the palace examination, the top three of the first rank shall be conferred 'Military Jinshi with Distinction,' the twelve of the second rank shall be conferred 'Military Jinshi of the Second Rank,' and all below the second rank shall belong to the third rank, conferred 'Military Jinshi of the Third Rank.'

All those within the three ranks of the palace examination may enroll in the Shuntian Military Academy, for no fewer than two years and no more than four.

Military students shall study the Military Classics, Sun Tzu's Art of War, the New Book of Effective Discipline, and other works, becoming thoroughly versed in the essentials of military strategy and the major and minor affairs of warfare across the realm. Upon graduation from the academy, they shall be awarded, according to their performance, the military honors of 'Martial Cavalry Commandant' of the sixth rank, 'Cloud Cavalry Commandant' of the sixth rank proper, or 'Flying Cavalry Commandant' of the fifth rank, each receiving command positions to serve the nation. By imperial order!"

"Your servants obey the edict! Long live the Emperor, ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years!"

This edict was naturally issued in the name of the Grand Secretariat, and given the Chongzhen Emperor's current authority and power, whether the assembled ministers were willing or not, all they could do was hurriedly kneel on the ground and shout long life as they accepted the edict.

The military examination was first created in the Wu Zhou dynasty and continued through the Song dynasty. The Ming dynasty valued civil affairs over military affairs, and thus it never received much attention.

Apart from the Chenghua-era regulations modeled on the civil examinations, during the Wanli era some court officials had proposed reforming the military examination. The Shenzong Emperor was inclined to do so and circulated the matter for discussion, but unfortunately it never passed deliberation by the assembled ministers and the Grand Secretariat.

Even the Chenghua-era regulations stipulated "strategy first, martial skill second," placing military strategy above military technique, with personal martial arts relegated to the lowest priority.

When the military examination was first held, there were still quite a few civilian martial artists from various regions who participated. The absurd part was that martial artists had to take a written examination before proceeding to the military examination — if they failed the policy-answer written test, they could not even participate in the martial trials.

These so-called "military policy" written tests appeared to assess knowledge of military strategy, but in reality they were deliberately making things difficult for the martial artists who had traveled to take the examination.

The written test had three questions — two policy questions — and even required testing on the Four Books and the Five Classics. One can imagine that many martial artists who arrived brimming with enthusiasm were utterly bewildered, and even those who passed the first written test were few and far between.

In contrast, those hereditary noble families' sons — who, like themselves, could not recognize a single character — could pass with excellent scores. Over time, virtually no one came to participate in the military examination anymore.

Before this, the military examination was nothing more than a perfunctory formality, with slots occupied by sons of hereditary noble families. There had never been any such thing as a "military top scholar" or "military three ranks." Martial men across the realm had no way to serve their country and no gate through which to demonstrate loyalty to their sovereign.

In fact, it was only in the nineteenth year of Chongzhen that the military examination was for the first time fully codified by imperial edict — and this time, the Chongzhen Emperor's edict made no mention whatsoever of any so-called written examination.

The reformed military examination was a genuine "military examination" in the truest sense. With its first, middle, and final stages of testing, all involving combat formations, troop command, and boxing and kicking contests, the one who truly prevailed was unquestionably the strongest.

In reality, the Chongzhen Emperor drew a clear distinction between battlefield combat and military strategy. After the military examination, it was in the academies that candidates would study the art of war and strategic planning.

The Chongzhen Emperor had first issued an edict of self-blame within the army, ensuring that every common soldier heard the Emperor's true words from his heart, expressing his resolve to value military affairs. He had also personally led two campaigns, established the Shrine of Loyal Martyrs, and made up arrears in military pay.

Now, with the reform of the military examination, the Chongzhen Emperor was using concrete action to make the realm understand that the court was gradually moving in the direction of valuing military affairs over civil ones.

After the edict was issued, it was rapidly disseminated to all regions by the Imperial Gazette and the Embroidered Uniform Guard and Eastern Depot. Moreover, the Chongzhen Emperor and the Grand Secretariat deliberated and quickly promulgated a complete set of examination regulations for the military examination.

"Martial skill first, strategy second."