A small soldier of the frontier army in the late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 779

In the middle of leap November in the 15th year of Chongzhen, although the weather was cold and snowflakes would fall from the sky from time to time, the atmosphere in the whole town was very lively, because the time for the official examination was approaching due to the recruitment of officials by the Duhufu.

Needless to say, the local scholars, young scholars, eagerly signed up, because of the large-scale publicity of the Xuanfu Times, that is, scholars from Shanxi, Shaanxi, Hebei, and even scholars from as far away as Shandong, many of them came to take the exam.

It is not easy to find a job these days, and it is even more difficult to find a big official job. The book has its own golden house, and the book has its own Yan Ruyu.

In the past, the reputation of officials may not be good. After all, even if they have been in the office for a lifetime, they are still not popular. In front of the orthodox Juren and Jinshi, they are quite short.

However, the situation here in Xuanfu Town is different, because the officials here are officials, that is, high-ranking officials at the ministerial level here, who claim to be officials. University graduates in Xuanzhen also started as officials. Now everyone is psychologically balanced.

Moreover, in other places in the Ming Dynasty, after arriving as a magistrate, there is basically no chance of promotion, so they are placed in Xuanfu Town...

Many people who specialize in this area are pleasantly surprised to find that there is no peak for the promotion of officials here. If the officials in the past were only equivalent to the department level here, and then stopped, they can continue to rise here.

Staff members, deputy department level, principal department level, deputy department level, department department level, deputy department level, department department level, deputy ministerial level, and senior officials climb up step by step. A clear upgrade route is presented in front of you, and it is possible to climb to the ministerial level high position.

In the eyes of many people, what is the difference between the ministerial level of this place and the Minister of the Ministry of household and the minister of the Ministry of war in Ming Dynasty?
At present, there is no education and seniority here, and there are no disasters caused by soldiers and robbers. It is even more rare to belong to the most stable government officials in Ming Dynasty. At the time of the month, thousands of scholars from all over the world had already gathered in Xuanfu Town.

So many scholars rushed to take the exam, shocking everywhere in Ming Dynasty, some people exclaimed that all the talents were recruited by Yongninghou.

Some people also called it sourly that it is a place for officials and officials, a place of low-level ways, but no matter what, it is a fact that scholars eagerly signed up for the exam.

The shogunate attaches great importance to the scholars who come to take the exam. The Ministry of Civil Affairs has specially allocated funds to charter a number of inns inside and outside the town, and arrange many restaurants to provide free accommodation and three meals a day for the scholars who are rushing to take the exam. One meat and two vegetables, and those who fail the exam will also be given travel expenses.

It goes without saying that the Marquis of Yongning respected the scholars too much, which warmed the hearts of many candidates.

After inquiring and reading the newspapers, I found out that the first batch of recruits for the Duhu Mansion was [-] officials.

This number is astonishing. After all, the admission of Jinshi in the past dynasties is only two or three hundred at a time, and they are divided into top three. Although the admission of officials cannot be compared with Jinshi, the scale is indeed amazing.

However, the competition is also very fierce. Thousands of people compete for hundreds of places. Will I be able to win by then?
Finally, there will be a political review, and the next batch will be removed, and many people can't help worrying.

Moreover, after arriving in Xuanfu Town, many scholars found that this place is indeed a rare place of Taoyuan in the Ming Dynasty, a place they yearn for in their hearts. There are so many people taking the exam, and it is inevitable that many people will fail the exam. If that is the case, they still do not want to go back Alright, let's stay in Xuanfu Town.

There are still a lot of opportunities here, not to mention doing common jobs such as bookkeeping, but entering elementary school teaching. Many people believe that it is no problem to teach elementary school Chinese and arithmetic by themselves.

After hiding his feet in Xuanfu Town, he will bring his family back when the time comes.

Thinking the same as them, how could these scholars, Wang Dou, let them go?Recently, he is planning to establish a normal middle school and a university in Xuanfu Town, which will be specially used to train school teachers. After these scholars are trained, they are basically qualified. After all, the content of elementary school is still not deep.

……

The civil servant examination is scheduled to take place on November 22nd, and as the time approaches, the atmosphere becomes more heated, and many people arrive at the last minute after traveling thousands of miles.

On the morning of the [-]th, the weather turned warmer suddenly, but the remnant snow from yesterday was still frozen into solid ice. A family of three came in at the entrance of Yingfu Inn, the largest inn in Xunyu City.

The man was about 30 years old, with a thin body, high cheekbones, and deeply sunken cheeks. He was wearing a white-washed blue shirt and was carrying a worn-out bag. With red bloodshot eyes, he just murmured: "My forehead is going to be an official, my forehead is going to be an official, my forehead is going to be an official."

His wife, and his seven or eight-year-old daughter, were as thin as he was, timidly holding onto one corner of his clothes.

There was a clerk waiting at the door of the store. When he saw the family of three coming in, a clerk came up to meet him with a smile and said to the man, "Is this scholar here for the exam? Please show me your accommodation number plate." "

The man hastily took out his number plate from his sleeve and gave it to the man. The man looked carefully. There were people at every gate of the town to welcome scholars. , There are special number plates to arrange their family together.

The clerk looked at it and said, "Zhao Zhongju, a native of Shilou, Pingyang Prefecture, Chief Secretary of Shanxi Province, has a reputation as a student..."

He smiled and said, "Please register with me."

……

"Liu Dongyang, 28 years old, a student, a native of Huai'an Prefecture?"

Another guy received a family, and saw that the man in front of him was actually from the Huai'an Mansion, and had come to Xuanfu Town.

He looks like an ordinary person, but his ears are very round. This guy's grandfather is a fortune teller, which influenced him to know a little about physiognomy. According to the book, this kind of person is an image of being humble first and then noble. This Liu Dongyang said It may not be possible to pass the official examination.

Looking at him again, there is really a big family, parents, a wife, a son and a daughter, as well as his younger sister, who are obediently standing beside his elder brother.

Liu Dongyang looks ordinary, but his sister is beautiful.

With such a large family, one room cannot be arranged. He smiled and said, "Mr. Liu, please come and register."

……

"Huang Bowen, 33 years old, born in Dong'an, Nanzhili, Tongsheng..."

……

"Li Tanran, 38 years old, from the Baishui family of Xi'an Prefecture, Chief Secretary of Shaanxi Province, was he born as a magistrate?"

The clerk looked at the number plate and said in surprise, "This scholar used to be a magistrate?"

In front of Li Tanran, his calm face showed determination, he gave a salute and said, "Exactly."

His mother's exhortation when he left the house echoed in his mind: "My son, our family has been officials for generations, but it will be the end if we continue to be a pawn. Your father will be a pawn until he dies. You are the most promising. When it comes to order officials, but still not in the mainstream. Wei Niang also heard that Mr. Shu sang newspapers, and officials in Xuanfu Town can also be promoted, from the department level, department level, department level, and finally to the ministerial level. Not to mention the department level, The ministerial level, that is, the departmental level, or the local magistrate, I hope you will bring back a departmental level for your mother, so that you can honor your ancestors, so even if you are a mother, you can go to see your father with peace of mind."

Thinking of his mother's entrustment and his old face, Li Tanran felt firm in his heart. Getting the official examination was only the first step, and he wanted to break through their fate that the Li family could not cross the department level.

……

As the scholars arrived one by one, all the rooms in the quite large Yingfu Inn were full, and the scholars who were rushing for the exam included accommodation and meals. Their dining place was the Juxian Pavilion Restaurant across the street. Eat with the number plate.

Zhao Zhongju and the others were lucky, and not long after they settled in the room, it was time for lunch.

In the beginning, the inn staff had to lead them to the restaurant, but now there are mostly old people in the inn, and many of them have lived in the town for a while, so they are familiar with the surrounding area, so Zhao Zhongju just waited and followed.

When we arrived at the Juxian Pavilion Restaurant, we saw several floors, darkly packed with scholars who were eating, it was extremely spectacular, and the smell of the food wafted from our nostrils, making Zhao Zhongju and others' Adam's apples keep rolling.

When they saw that there were vacant seats, they quickly sat down, and then the waiters came over with meals and arranged them one by one. Some people dragged their families along and shared a meal.

Everyone ate alone, on a wooden plate, with three dishes of one meat, two vegetables, and oily looking attractive, and a big bowl of rice, even Zhao Zhongju's daughter, with a big plate of food in front of her.

There are buckets of egg drop soup next to each table, so they can eat and drink as they please.

Poor Zhao Zhongju and others are not called "poor and sour" for nothing. They don't eat meat all the year round. How can they bear the sight of this fragrant food?Surprised, the old man was okay, but the newcomer was devouring, and he heard the sound of chewing and swallowing, and his manner was lost.

Zhao Zhongju's wife ate big mouthfuls. Although she was skinny, she had a big appetite. She said vaguely: "Mr. Xiang, even if you didn't pass the official examination, you can eat and drink for free, so I came to the Xuanfu." I would also like to take a trip to the town."

Zhao Zhongju scolded: "Shut up, you can't eat, don't you know?"

Seeing the eyes of the people at the next table, his face was hot, and he scolded his wife secretly: "It's a disgrace, hurry up and go back to the inn after eating."

He let out a groan, and after that, he didn't speak, and only concentrated on eating.

Accidentally dropped a few grains of rice on the ground, quickly picked it up and put it in his mouth, and wiped the mouth of the daughter next to him, then drank a bowl of egg drop soup and quickly filled another bowl, and helped the husband and daughter fill the soup, Very busy.

Liu Dongyang, Huang Bowen and others next to him smiled understandingly when they heard Zhao Zhongju's wife's words.Indeed, what his wife said spoke out everyone's aspirations, "poor" for a long time, it is normal to lose your temper in the face of delicious food.

"Qi'er, eat slowly...Daughter's family should pay attention to decency..."

Seeing that his daughter buried her head in the bowl just like her mother, Zhao Zhongju scolded again, and then felt a little guilty.

I am ashamed of her mother and wife. I have not been able to pass the exam for many years, and I only got some training in private schools. But with a meager income, how can I support my family?It all depends on the lady grinding tofu at home, and she is ridiculed by outsiders as a bean curd beauty. I have no difficulty. I hope I can pass the official examination this time.

He also inquired, this party's official is an official, and an official is an official, it does not count as insulting the ancestors' family.

He also knew his own family affairs from his family. There was no hope in his life to pass the exam. He might still be a scholar by the end of the exam. Fortunately, he opened up another way in Xuanfu Town and gave him a chance.

The scholars had enough to eat and drink, and their family members left. The restaurant staff brought a few barrels of coarse tea for them to digest after meals. The dark scholars, carrying tea bowls, gathered upstairs and downstairs in small groups, only caring about The topic of this official examination.

Of course, Zhao Zhongju and the others were also very concerned, so they moved to the side of the crowd and listened attentively.

A middle-aged scholar looked out the window downstairs, the street was bustling with people, and the rare prosperous and peaceful atmosphere, he really wanted to stay in this place, he sighed, and said loudly: "I don't know what's wrong with Xuanfu Town this time, Mr. Zhao I want to review my homework, but I don’t know where to start.”

His words resonated a lot, and many people sighed: "Yes, the students brought all the scriptures, but they always feel that they have no bottom in their hearts, and they don't know how to review them. It will be useful or useless at that time."

The official examination in Xuanfu Town was unprecedented. As the first batch of seniors who started the examination, they started everything from a blank. Perhaps, they were just providing experience points for future generations.

In particular, some people want to cheat, but they don't know where to start.

Since ancient times, the sons and daughters of the Chinese nation have a lot of ambitions, not to mention all kinds of cheating in the examination room of the later generations, and now it is not too much.

Carrying a cheat sheet is just a casual method. Wearing a sackcloth cheating vest, writing tens of thousands of words, containing dozens of stereotyped essays, written with mouse whiskers, is just a normal way of cheating, not a peak method.

"This place in Xuanfu Town is talking about general and practical materials, and the sour Confucians who don't need them. What's more, the officials, the important thing is to be able to write and count..."

A scholar with a Datong accent spoke slowly, slowly, and immediately attracted the attention of a large group of people.

"... I heard that the elementary schools and middle schools in the town also teach Mingfa, Mingzi, and Mingshu. The Imperial Examinations of the Kingdom Dynasty, the Mingfa subjects test laws and regulations, and the Mingsu subjects test "Nine Chapters", "Xiahouyang", "Zhou "Hi" and so on, the Mingshu subjects test "Shuowen", "Zi Lin" and other characters, Jinshi subjects..."

He shook his head: "The Marquis of Yongning is often ingenious in dealing with things. I am afraid that there will be no stereotyped content in the official examination. Those who study Mingjing and Jinshi two subjects hard, I am afraid..."

As soon as he said this, the hall wailed: "It's over, it's over, the students of Daming Law have already forgotten all about it."

"It's terrible, Yu De has to go back quickly and take out "Nine Chapters of Arithmetic" and look through it..."

"No, brother, Jiuzhang arithmetic is mostly a basic algorithm, can you forget this?"

Liu Dongyang clenched his fists, if the official test is mainly based on arithmetic, why should he be afraid of it?
Huang Bowen's breathing also became heavy. Although he has studied for many years and failed the scholar exam, he is not afraid of arithmetic, it's just the law...

Zhao Zhongju frowned, fidgeting and feeling extremely uncomfortable, no, I'll look through those arithmetic books when I go back later, but this time I only brought scriptures, and I didn't bring a single arithmetic book, what should I do?
The scholar said: "Brothers, you have also read the newspapers. In the examination of officials, candidates are allowed to carry abacus and count. Of course, arithmetic occupies a large proportion in the examination of officials, and some questions may be difficult... "

Many people even made up their minds to read arithmetic books and law books when they returned home.

Li Tanran was sitting with a smile on his face. He used to be a magistrate and assisted the Shangguan in counting the money and grain of a county.

The scholar of Datong even dropped another blockbuster: "I heard that the Marquis of Yongning personally set up a number of problems, especially if he can solve an arithmetic problem carefully designed by him, he will become a great master in the world of mathematics! Immediately enjoy the treatment of a researcher, even if you meet the Marquis of Yongning, you will only bow and not kneel!"

At this moment, there was a sensation in the hall. What kind of problem can be honored as a great master after solving it?
They talked a lot, searched their brains, wondered which arithmetic book to write the problem, and after solving it, can they enjoy the status of a grand master?
At the same time, many people are frustrated. Some of them have been studying stereotyped essays, four books and five classics all their lives, and regard arithmetic and laws as small ways.

Seeing these depressed people, the Datong scholar also comforted him: "Don't worry too much, my dear friends. There are still Chinese classes in Yuguanxuanfu Town. Compared with the rest of the class who studied the Four Books and Five Classics hard, the courses are still shallow. Their graduation exams There are also... policies and theories, not to mention the format, Wuwu stereotyped writing is so rigorous..."

"Everyone is used to answering stereotyped essays. Maybe it's simple to answer the kind of policy theory that doesn't talk about form and can be freely played..."

His words aroused everyone's agreement: "Yes, yes, stereotyped essays are so difficult. You have to solve the topic first, and then you have to pass the topic. After passing the topic, you can start the lecture, and finally pass the lecture, and then you can write the whole essay." Articles, from simple to complex, to explain the trivial, is it easy?"

"That's right, there are tens of thousands of characters in writing, and thousands of miles away from the topic. I don't pay attention to the format. We come from rigor, and it's a piece of cake to explain this loose policy theory."

Many people talked about it in a hurry, but to be honest, the content and format of stereotyped essays are too restrictive, and when the people present are waiting for the exam, they will only write perfunctory essays according to the meaning of the questions.

Everyone's creativity and imagination have been stifled long ago, and they are also accustomed to the empty and rigid content style of stereotyped essays. When they suddenly change to policy theory, their own ability to solve problems is also a drum in their hearts.

Of course, at this time, you must cheer for yourself.

At the same time, some people have doubts, it's just an official examiner, will he be able to examine policy theory?This is just to recruit officials, and it is to take the examination of Jinshi.Throughout the Ming Dynasty, officials were not heirs from generation to generation, so they could be recruited as long as they could write and count, and their family business was clean.

In the past, it was difficult for officials to be promoted, and they were just not in the top all their lives. They were still unwilling to take the exam. In Xuanfu Town, the exam for officials would be like an exam for a Jinshi?
Hearing everyone's questions, the scholar of Datong murmured: "According to the situation in various parts of Daming and Xuanfu Town, the basic requirement for officials is to be able to write and count. The content, the post text is written silently, and the handwriting is exquisite. Will there be any classics, righteousness and policy theory of Jinshi? This student is not sure..."

Here in Xuanfu Town, things are always unexpected. After graduating from primary school and middle school, the Chinese class has policy content and post content, which is quite a collection of Mingjing and Jinshi.

On the other hand, the Mingjing department is considered a small way, with low admission scores, large enrollment scale, and poor quality of students. If there are correspondence courses for later generations, ambitious scholars all set Jinshi as their lifelong goal, and are unwilling to take shortcuts to take the Mingjing examination. division.

But here in Xuanfu Town, I always feel...strange...mixed...and the content of their Mingjing is not necessarily an examination of Confucian classics.

He finally said: "When you go back, you should look through the articles on policies of previous dynasties, just to be on the safe side, maybe you will win."

……

It doesn't mean that Zhao Zhongju and others couldn't wait to go back, and showed their skills, borrowed, and bought books on various aspects of law and calculation. Even if there are many smart businessmen who come to sell various kinds of arithmetic books, law books, and abacus are also very popular. good.

Zhao Zhongju was even more impulsive, carefully studying the arithmetic and other books that he had dismissed in the past.

On the 15nd of November, the 22th year of Chongzhen, the much-anticipated assessment of officials in Xuanfu Town began.

(End of this chapter)