The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

Chapter 214 Palace Exam
March fifteen.

Examination day.

Before dawn in the morning, the three hundred candidates for the palace examination had to carry their test baskets and go to the Meridian Gate together, waiting in line to enter the palace from the left gate, and go to the wide square in front of Fengtian Hall to take the palace examination.

Zhang Zhou, as the leader of the test, was listed at the head of the leftmost team among the three teams.

Before the palace test, no one would go to make friends, and everything had to wait until the palace test was over, so it was very quiet in front of the palace that day, and everyone was eager to try.

It was not until dawn that the officials of the Ministry of Rituals checked the names, hometowns and other information of the candidates present, and after making sure that everyone had arrived, the candidates began to enter the venue.

The test examiner of Tiantian Temple will not come to the examination room. Candidates pass through the palace gates. When they arrive at Fengtian Temple, there are already [-] desks on the ground. As long as there is no wind or rain that day, candidates will sit here Compared with taking the exam in a place surrounded by walls in the Gongyuan, although the air here is good, the big problem is that you can’t eat or drink that day, and you can’t even go to the toilet.

Even if you urinate in your crotch, the palace test cannot leave your position.

The desk was very low. Originally, candidates were supposed to kneel on the ground to take part in the palace examination, but during the reign of Hongzhi, all palace examinations provided candidates with cushions, so they didn’t have to sit on their knees during the exam, even if they sat cross-legged.

……

……

Just when the examinees were about to get the palace examination questions, Zhu Youtang and other monarchs and ministers had arrived at the Meridian Gate to complete the court meeting of the day.

Because the emperor will personally come up with questions in the Fengtian Palace, and the court meeting of the day will also be simplified. If there are major events, they will be played, and if there is nothing, it will basically end with a few words.

There is only one content in the court meeting of the day.

Huoshai and the little Tartar prince each sent envoys to the capital, and they were about to arrive at Juyongguan, but there were still signs of Tatar activities in Yansui and other places... At first, the Tatars were afraid that the Ming Dynasty would take advantage of the victory and pursue them, so they took Wang Weining to lead them. The soldiers rushed out of the grassland, but as time passed, even the Tatars found that Wang Weining was guarding the side gate and would not leave.

And their living environment on the grassland is relatively harsh. Even if they don't plunder the Daming Chengguan at this time, things like bullying the small by the big in the grassland will continue to happen.

There is Wang Weining at Biantouguan, they dare not approach, but there is no such evil spirit in other places, what should be harassed should be harassed.

"Can't the northwest stop for two days?"

Zhu Youtang was very angry.

On the one hand, Wang Yue achieved a great victory, deterring the prairie wolves, and on the other hand, the prairie wolves continued to come to eat.

Now not only the ministers would not agree to let Wang Yue take the initiative to attack, even he, the emperor, would not dare, but the hungry wolves in the grassland seemed to see that the frontier army of the Ming Dynasty was guarding an acre of land in the border area, and the last The result is... the first battle of Pianguan is over, and everything goes back to business as usual.

The emperor also wanted to use this battle to establish the situation in the northwest, but now it seems that he is thinking too much.

"The Ministry of War will formulate a military strategy for the Northwest. If the Tatar envoys are gone, they will disappear! Let them go back to the Xuanfu and give them back!"

There is no need for Zhu Youtang to coax the hungry wolves in the grassland now.

It’s not that you send envoys to see me, I’m rare, you’re not here to submit, but to make false promises to the Ming court, since I don’t plan to reopen the border market, I don’t care about your little tribute, either. If you don't plan to give you anything in return, then you should leave early!

Wang Zongyi, the servant of the Ministry of War, said: "Your Majesty, there is a list on the fire screen, and it is proposed to return his adopted son with tribute horses and so on."

From the point of view of the courtiers, Dayan Khan's appeal can be ignored, but Huoshai still pays more attention to it.

We want to "conquer people with virtue", and if we win them, we should send Huozhai's godson back. This is also a way to sow dissension on the grassland, let Huozhai appreciate Daming's kindness, and go to talk to Dayan Khan after being educated Internal strife.

"Why do you want to return it? Let's use it as a hostage. If Huozhai comes again to commit an offense, behead him! Then he returned to the envoy sent by Huozhai. Today is a matter for the court, if there is nothing else, go back to the court!"

Zhu Youtang's tough statement made the minister feel that this emperor who once ruled the country with benevolence and filial piety is very different from the past.

……

……

The meeting ended.

Zhu Youtang is going to take the Luanyu to Fengtian Hall to preside over the palace examination.

He looked forward to today more than any previous palace exam.

The main reason is that today is also the day of Zhang Zhou's imperial examination. He doesn't even intend to just hide in Fengtian Hall. He plans to set the throne in front of Fengtian Hall, and even meets the candidates present before the exam.

"It's all here, Your Majesty." Xiao Jing was in charge of Jin Yiwei's maintenance of order, and hadn't been there before.

Halfway through Emperor Luan's drive, Xiao Jing came over to explain to the Emperor.

Zhu Youtang smiled and said, "Is Bingkuan at the front?"

"Yes, Your Majesty, Mr. Zhang is Huiyuan, so he should be in the front. The servant also ordered his desk to be moved a little bit forward, so that he can be in front of all the candidates."

In order to cater to the emperor, Xiao Jing also had a skill.

If Zhang Zhou was in the front row, he would only be side by side with others. In order to highlight that Zhang Zhou was different from others, his desk had to be further forward.

This is called treatment.

"Hmm." Zhu Youtang nodded with a smile, "I've been expecting this for a long time! Move over."

……

……

In front of Fengtian Temple.

The emperor came in person and set up a throne.

After the three hundred tributes arranged their own pens and inks and paperweights, they got up and prepared to salute the emperor.

Before the palace examination, the examinees had to worship the emperor to show that they were disciples of the emperor.

Then the eunuch on the steps read the emperor's will, first showing the courtesy to the examinees, and then the second, which was the day's exam questions.

"Let them all go back to their respective positions, let's get started."

Zhu Youtang didn't stick to the situation.

After he gave Xiao Jing instructions, the palace examination officially began.

Curls.

Starting from the rural examination in the Ming Dynasty, all examination papers were printed and checked by someone in advance, so candidates did not need to hear clearly what the person who read the edict was saying.

Zhang Zhou sat in front and could see the emperor when he looked up.

At this time, Zhu Youtang was also looking at him with a smile. It was the first time that the monarch and his ministers were so clear-cut, but also with a bit of affinity.

In name, the king is above and the minister is below, but in fact they are friends, and I am here to witness the Jinshi among friends.

……

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"Zhi said: I have been governed by the sage Emperor Ming since ancient times, and the law is not limited to one end. Confucius answered Yan Yuan's question, but for the state, it is said that it is a state when it travels to Xia, takes advantage of the Yin, and serves the crown of Zhou. It is said that the rituals and music of the four generations are the law of the emperor's rule. Is the two of rituals and music enough?

"Ouyang, a Confucian in the Song Dynasty, said that the upper government came from one in three generations, and the rites and music spread to the world. His words can be tested, and it has been more than thousands of years, and the traces of the cure can be discussed."

"Three generations of husbands have gone up, there is no room for discussion. Emperor Hangao ordered his uncles and grandsons to make rituals and music, and he was not responsible for the two lives of Lu. He said that rituals and music accumulated virtue for a hundred years and then prospered. Later, when the Three Kingdoms split, Zhuge Liang was among his ministers, and Confucianism was Whether it is based on rites and music, or it is promised by a few rites and music, Gai Tong and Liang are not without merits and demerits, but when it comes to rites and music, whether they can be prosperous or not is still debatable."

"Since Emperor Gao, the great ancestor of our country, started his business with martial arts, and the sages have been inherited for more than a hundred years. The production of rites and music has been prepared according to the times and people. Differences, the reality of restraint and unity, there is still something to come."

"I only inherited Pi Xu, and I wanted to promote the transformation of ritual and music all night long. Yilong's martyrs did not know his way. The sons and daughters relied on the classics and history, and considered the ancient and modern. I will see it personally."

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The palace examination questions, Zhang Zhou found, were the same as those in history.

He "leaked" the questions of the general examination ahead of time, which led to a complete change of the questions, but the questions of the imperial examination had obviously been finalized a long time ago, and there was no change because of his appearance. As for who the question came from, Zhang Zhou didn't need to know.

This policy asked.

It is based on history and policy, and it talks about "education with ritual and music", or it can be called "governing the country with ritual and music".

The topic is divided into five parts.

The first part is about Confucius’s use of "Answer to Yan Yuan's Questions" to lead to the model of governing the country with ritual and music. To contact, use a gift that suits your identity.

The second part is about the situation of governing the country by ritual and music in ancient times discussed by Ouyang Xiu.

Going up three generations is not talking about Xia, Shang and Zhou, but the three generations of Yao, Shun and Yu, talking about the ancient sages governing the country, all relying on rituals and music. If penalties are fixed, ruling the country with ritual and music will become a false name.

The third part is to discuss the gains and losses in governing the country with ritual and music for "thousands of years" from Emperor Han Gao to the Ming Dynasty. It mentions two key figures and their deeds. Zhuge Liang’s rites and music are prosperous.” Since ancient times, Zhuge Liang’s assistance to Adou has been regarded as a model of rites and music, so he is used as an example.

This examination question also did not make a conclusion on the matter of Shusun Tong and Zhuge Liang, and put forward "there are still people who can be discussed", which means that only these two people are mentioned, and you candidates still have to discuss whether it is feasible to rejuvenate the country through rituals and music.

When Shusun mastered rituals and music, there was Lu Ersheng who didn't know how to change with time. You candidates don't think that there is nothing to discuss in it?
The fourth part is the key point. Starting from Ming Taizu, discuss the gains and losses of the rule of ritual and music in this dynasty...or in other words, there are only gains and no losses.

Be polite and say it is a gain or loss, but candidates must be ignorant.

The rule of the Ming Dynasty was passed down from God's will, how could there be something wrong?Even if there may be some points of criticism, it must be a villain who does not know his meaning and maliciously slanders... he is a traitor and a traitor!
The fifth part is that I came up with this topic because I have been thinking about the rule of ritual and music, and I have always wanted to understand the mysteries of it, and occasionally I have some gains. Today, I came up with this topic to discuss it with you. .

You should "refer to the classics and history, and consider the past and the present", and write an article to discuss it. You must explain all the five parts covered above clearly, without any mistakes or omissions.

Saying that I will read it personally is actually an excuse, whether the emperor will read it or not is another matter.

Theoretically, the emperor would read the imperial examination questions, but reading a few copies is not what you candidates need to care about.

Answer the questions, everyone.

(End of this chapter)