The sky and earth are dark and yellow, the universe is vast and desolate...
The rows of simple huts in the Imperial Examination Hall were the examination halls for the candidates, and they were also arranged according to the first few words of the Thousand Character Classic.
Lu Xiangsheng took the exam card and found his own room, "Di Zi 67". After a quick look, he went inside to pack his things and prepare for the most important exam of his life.
The cell was five feet long, four feet wide, and eight feet high, a very narrow space. In the innermost part was a thing that looked like a kang (a kind of fire bed) where one could sit or lie down. It served as a chair when answering papers and as a bed when resting.
Lu Xiangsheng placed a long wooden board horizontally near the door, which became a desk. He arranged his writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, then sat upright, waiting for the papers to be handed out to him.
According to convention, the first round of the imperial examination consisted of a total of seven questions, including three on the Four Books and four on the Five Classics. This was the most important examination in the eight-legged essay selection process.
But after the test papers were handed out and Lu Xiangsheng looked at them carefully, he found that this year was very different from previous years.
"What practical knowledge do you have? Can you apply it to the world? What official position do you want to hold? How can you serve the country and relieve my worries?"
After Lu Xiangsheng looked at the first test paper, his eyes widened and his face was full of disbelief.
Just from the four words "share my worries", you can tell that this is a test question written by the emperor himself.
Throughout the dynasties, only the imperial examinations or the emperor set the questions, and this is only the first round of the imperial examination? What exactly is the emperor's intention?
It took Lu Xiangsheng a long time to calm down his shock, carefully examine the entire question, and frowned slightly.
The practical learning that originated in the Song Dynasty is an ideological trend and doctrine with the purpose of "applying practical knowledge to practical use" and the main content of "applying knowledge to the world".
However, the concept of "real learning" has different meanings in different historical periods in China. Even within the same historical period, it is often interpreted differently due to different schools of thought.
Scholars in the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties generally interpreted the term "practical learning" in the sense of "learning that can be applied to practical situations".
Simply put, the Song and Ming Dynasty realists believed that one must shift from "entity" to "practice", transforming the entity of "inner sage" into the practicality of "outer king" in order to become a true sage.
The so-called "Dayong" has two meanings:
The first is "the study of state affairs", which is the "practical study of state affairs" used to govern the country and benefit the people;
The second is "the science of actual measurement" (also called "the science of qualitative measurement" or "the science of investigating things"), which is the natural science used to explore the mysteries of nature.
Of course, this was the understanding of "practical learning" in that era, and it did not entirely conform to Zhu Youxiao's thoughts.
But for Zhu Youxiao, this question was very simple. It was just the resume commonly used when applying for jobs in later generations!
Which university did you graduate from? What major did you study? What are your specialties? What position are you applying for? If you are successful, what do you plan to do?
Due to the different times, the expression on the test paper is not very complete, but this is the general meaning.
No matter whether you are good at farming, mathematics, military affairs, water conservancy, building houses, or understanding the study of things... as long as it is not poetry, songs, or eight-legged essays, it is considered to be practical knowledge that can be applied to the world.
In Zhu Youxiao's view, the history of the development of practical learning in China is actually a history of reform of "promoting benefits and eliminating disadvantages."
Whenever a country faces "internal and external troubles," that is when the Practical Learning trend flourishes. And the historical mission of each Practical Learning trend is always to "promote benefits and eliminate disadvantages" in order to achieve the goal of resolving social and political crises.
Therefore, it is definitely not possible to abolish the eight-legged essay system all at once. Instead, we should gradually change it and focus on recruiting practical talents.
However, Zhu Youxiao had tried his best to make the questions he posed conform to the standards of the ancients, but there were still many candidates who had wild imaginations and used random associations.
"Practical learning" was advocated by the Donglin School, which advocated "knowledge as the auxiliary and action as the main", emphasizing starting from reality, focusing on practical learning, doing practical things, being practical, and seeking practical benefits.
The emperor personally asked this question to praise Donglin. The wise men of Donglin will be of great use!
If Zhu Youxiao in the palace knew that someone had wild thoughts, extending to the scope that he, the questioner, had never considered, he could only smile bitterly and helplessly, "That's not what I meant, you are overthinking it!"
Fortunately, there weren't many candidates who "overthink" and even fewer who wrote off-topic. Most of them were honest, writing about their "practical application of knowledge" and how they wanted to perform in the position they were pursuing.
Lu Xiangsheng pondered for a long time before finally picking up his pen. He had loved riding and shooting since childhood, had read several military books, and possessed exceptional strength, so military affairs and martial arts must be his forte.
But the trend of respecting literature and suppressing martial arts is very prevalent, so Lu Xiangsheng's writing is risky. Moreover, this is a civil examination, and everyone is a humble gentleman, and you say you are a good fighter...
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With flags waving and armor shining, the Later Jin army marched in a mighty force, passing through the city and heading southwest.
"Sir, are the enemy going to attack Youwei Tun?" Prefect Gao Bangzuo ran to the top of the city wall and watched the enemy leave with mixed emotions. "How should we react?"
The pressure on Guangning City has been reduced, which is a good thing; but as for Youtunwei, I'm afraid it will be in great danger.
Xiong Tingbi smiled faintly and said, "When the Later Jin army attacked Liaoyang, I used this trick to lure the defenders out of the city to intercept and pursue them. How ridiculous! You're using the same trick again. Do you think I can be fooled?"
Gao Bangzuo nodded repeatedly, agreeing, "Your Excellency, this is a brilliant idea. The Later Jin army is formidable in field battles, and our army is indeed formidable. But are we going to allow the Right Tunwei to be besieged by the enemy?"
Xiong Tingbi narrowed his eyes and said, "The Right Garrison has already made arrangements. Whether they can hold their ground and repel the enemy is no longer something Guangning City can control."
Gao Bangzuo thought about it for a moment, then nodded with a helpless smile.
When you are in danger yourself and can only rely on defending the city, how can you care about others?
Xiong Tingbi glanced at Gao Bangzuo and offered a soothing reassurance: "While Youtunwei may not be as high-walled and wide-moated as Guangning, it's still not something the Jiannu can easily capture. In a defensive battle, a small city has its advantages. You don't have to make judgment calls and move troops around."
After a pause, Xiong Tingbi looked a little strange, and said, "Besides, there is the craftsmanship of His Majesty - well, it was His Majesty's design. We should, perhaps, have some confidence in holding on to Youweitun."
"The city defense weapons designed by the emperor?" Gao Bangzuo had an ominous feeling. He thought of Emperor Zhengde Zhu Houzhao.
Although the Zhengde Emperor was a playful, drunkard, and scoundrel, he also had a heart for martial arts and military achievements. He admired the military prowess of Taizu and Chengzu, and hoped to achieve the same military feats as them.
Therefore, Wuzong stayed in Xuanfu for a long time, and when the Mongolian prince Bayan attacked, he led the troops to fight in the name of "General Zhu Shou" and finally defeated the Tatar army.
Later, Zhu Chenhao, the Prince of Ning in Jiangxi, led his people in a rebellion. Wuzong was so excited that he once again led the army in person.
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