It turns out that there is such a past between Chen Maoli and Zhang Yinian.
It's a long-standing tradition among scholars to look down on one another. Zhang Yinian had studied at Jishan Academy for many years, so he naturally considered himself superior to the other Ningbo students. But Chen Maoli had slapped him in the face, and how could he bear it?
However, Zhang Yinian's mind is really narrow. If you want to compete for the first place, just fight for it in the exam. At the very least, you can write a poem that surpasses Chen Maoli.
"Brother Yishi, let's just forget about this. The exam is about to start, so don't create unnecessary complications."
Xu Yan could understand Chen Maoli's attitude, so he nodded slightly.
The inspection for the prefectural examination was much stricter than that for the county examination. Not only did the examination basket need to be checked, but the body was also searched. Even the hair was torn to prevent any smuggling.
Candidates walked in one after another, and finally it was Xu Yan and Chen Maoli's turn.
Chen Maoli passed the examination first. When it was Xu Yan's turn to be examined, a clerk whispered in his ear, "You are Mr. Xu Yan from Dinghai County, right? The Lord of the Prefecture has instructed that you proceed directly to Minglun Hall to wait for the examination."
Xu Yan nodded. It turned out that there were so many candidates for the prefectural examination that it would be impossible to fit them all in Minglun Hall. Magistrate Ma ordered his men to set up a temporary examination hall as usual.
Although the examination hall can shelter from wind and rain, the conditions are still simple. Magistrate Ma's care is naturally because he hopes that Xu Yan can be unaffected by the outside world and perform to the best of his ability.
Xu Yan took the exam basket and slowly moved forward with the crowd.
Because there were so many candidates for the provincial examination, the movement was as slow as a snail.
After finally arriving in front of Minglun Hall, Xu Yan took a deep breath and strode into the hall.
There were already clerks checking the examination cards and everyone took their seats according to the pre-arranged seats.
Xu Yan was actually placed in the first row, right under the nose of Magistrate Ma.
Xu Yan glanced around and noticed that Chen Maoli and Zhang Yinian were also inside Minglun Hall. It seemed that those taking the exam here were all top students from various counties.
Xu Yan smiled bitterly in his heart. Since he was already here, he might as well make the best of it. No matter how he performed in the exam, that was it.
Taking an exam with a bunch of top students is naturally stressful. The breathless silence is almost suffocating.
Fortunately, this scene did not last long. After all the candidates had taken their seats, the prefect Ma Shanyuan walked over leisurely and took the invigilator's seat.
The fact that the prefect was personally invigilating the exam showed how seriously he took it. All the examinees stood up and saluted Prefect Ma, who stroked his beard and told them to sit down and wait for the exam.
At this time, Xu Yan had already taken out the pen, ink and inkstone and made all the preparations.
But with a bang, the exam officially began.
The test paper was placed on the desk in advance, and the clerk announced the content of the exam.
One question on the Four Books, one question on the Five Classics, and one question on policy essays.
Overall, it was both unexpected and reasonable.
The mandatory content of the Ming Dynasty imperial examinations was questions from the Four Books and the Five Classics. However, examinations at the county, prefectural, and academy levels had greater freedom. Examiners could choose topics not normally tested, such as test poems and policy essays. The specific choice was entirely determined by the examiner's personal preferences.
Soon the clerk wrote the title of the Four Books on the examination board: Serve the king with all your heart.
The moment Xu Yan saw this question, his breathing stopped for a few seconds. He really guessed it right.
He quickly calmed down and copied the questions onto a piece of scratch paper.
Next announced were the questions from the Five Classics.
There are five questions in total on the Five Classics. Candidates can choose one of them to answer based on their own knowledge of the classics.
When the title of the Book of Songs was announced, Xu Yan held his breath and concentrated.
There were a few big words written on the exam board: Looking at the crows, where do they stop? Whose house are they in?
As expected!
Fortunately, Xu Yan thought about it more at night after returning to the inn, otherwise he would have missed a great opportunity.
After the Five Classics questions were announced, the clerk wrote the essay topic on the examination board: How to quell the sea disaster?
Magistrate Ma certainly hadn't hinted this essay topic to Xu Yan. However, Xu Yan had previously presented a paper on strengthening coastal defense to Governor Zhu Wan, and only Zhu Wan had read it.
Xu Yan would have had no problem using it in the prefectural examination. Unexpectedly, even the policy essay was rejected.
Xu Yan felt a little complicated at this moment. It would be great if he could have such good luck in the provincial examination or the metropolitan examination. It was a pity to only have a prefectural examination.
In any case, this result couldn't be more perfect for Xu Yan.
He had already prepared drafts for the three articles and just needed to write them one by one.
The first thing he wrote was the Four Books.
He picked up the pen and dipped it in ink, and began by stating the meaning: A minister should serve his ruler with his own body; this is the way of a true minister.
After a brief pause, Xu Yan continued, "A minister should have no self. He devotes himself to serving his sovereign, and the ministerial virtue is pure. Isn't this a part of good family relations?"
The introduction and continuation of the theme are perfect, pointing out that loyalty to the emperor is the way of a pure and unwavering minister. The two words "pure minister" are a classic, coming from Zuo Zhuan.
The expanded part is hundreds of words long and can be said to be written in one go.
At the end, Xu Yan pointed out: "This is what is meant by not putting oneself first and then the ruler; this is why the way of a minister is pure. If one is wholeheartedly devoted to the ruler and wholeheartedly protecting oneself, then even if one strives to serve one's parents, one will be disloyal to the ruler and cannot be called a filial son." Should scholars be so fearful and discouraged?
Overall, Xu Yan was satisfied with the article, but it was definitely not comparable to the one written by the top scholar.
There is no way to avoid the fact that talent is predetermined. Even if Xu Yan figures out the test questions a day or two in advance, he can only guarantee to perform at his best.
After finishing the Four Books, Xu Yan read them over a few more times, partly to rest his hands and partly to slow down his pace. After all, he had already written much faster than the other students.
Feeling that the time was about up, Xu Yan began to write questions on the Five Classics.
Although he had prepared a draft for this question, it was obviously not as easy to write as the questions from the Four Books. After all, flattering speeches like loyalty to the emperor and patriotism were too easy to write.
However, the topic of the Five Classics is not decisive, as long as the writing is acceptable, it is fine.
Xu Yan concentrated for a moment, then picked up his pen and began to write.
The article he wrote was average, with no obvious mistakes to be found, but it certainly wouldn't earn him any extra points.
After finishing writing, Xu Yan reviewed it and put down the test paper, preparing to take a break as usual.
Xu Yan knew the last policy essay topic by heart. He had once presented it to Governor Zhu and received a favorable evaluation.
This Magistrate Ma’s ability to appreciate policy proposals couldn’t be worse than that of the Governor, right?
Honestly, writing so many words in one go is quite tiring. If Xu Yan hadn't practiced calligraphy every day while studying at Gushan Academy in Hangzhou, his handwriting would have been so distorted that it would be unreadable.
But after special training, his handwriting is now quite neat, even if it is not beautiful.
That's enough.
Although all three articles had been written, Xu Yan was hesitant to hand them in right away.
After all, the prefect was sitting at the top, so he still had to consider the old man's face.
Handing in the paper early is clearly implying that the questions he asked were of low standard and too easy.
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