Chapter 206: Accompanying Candidates from Various Countries in the Central Plains...
The candidates from various Central Plains countries did not know that before the exam even started, someone had already observed a moment of silence for them.
They had only heard about the grand event of the imperial examination from people who had visited Shu. Who wouldn't envy anyone with some talent?
Now the Central Plains is also going to implement it, and the implementer is still the Qin State, which is very friendly to talents from all countries. Many people are ready to move.
Some of them wanted to seek official positions through the imperial examinations—as long as they could get good grades, they would be gilded with honors. Even if they didn't become officials in Qin, they would be treated as honored guests in the six states of Shandong.
Some people simply wanted to prove themselves through the imperial examinations, to prove that they were not incapable of being an official, but that they were intoxicated by the pleasures of life and disdained to compete for fame and fortune.
In any case, the first imperial examination held by the Qin State attracted more than 3,000 applicants.
Fortunately, Lu Buwei and Dai Xuan had made preparations in advance. Before the notice was issued, they recruited craftsmen and laborers to build simple residences that could accommodate 10,000 people.
Dai Xuan used the power of his own family and the Nanjun family to transport a batch of construction equipment from Shu, which not only accelerated the construction period but also reduced the number of corvée labor and casualties among craftsmen.
More importantly, the first three-story buildings appeared in Qin State, which introduced the construction techniques of Shu State. The foundation was dug very deep and the brick and stone structure was extremely stable, which not only prevented floods and waterlogging, but also earthquakes.
Because these houses occupied too much space to fit in Xianyang City, a secondary city was built southeast of the city. Dai Xuan took one look and immediately decided: Since the city was already built, why not build the imperial examination hall here as well? This would save candidates from having to travel back and forth.
After the secondary city was completed, Ying Zheng specially invited Fu Li and Nezha to visit and asked them to give it a name.
Fu Li took a look at the direction and said with a sense of mischief, "The Qin State recruited scholars through the imperial examination system in order to ensure long-term peace and stability. This new city should be called 'Chang'an'."
As for what the place thirty miles to the southeast will be called in the future?
Hehe, never mind. Changan is such a good name, of course whoever uses it first gets it.
Ying Zheng's eyes lit up, and he repeated it several times in his mouth: "Chang'an, Chang'an, long-term peace and stability? What a good name!"
Fu Li smiled tactically: "As long as Zheng'er likes it."
Ying Zheng was moved: I knew it, the teacher always wants to give me the best!
Nezha interrupted his emotion and said, "Since we select scholars based on their talents, it doesn't make sense that literary talents are considered talents, but martial talents are not. Since we've built a city specifically for the imperial examination, why not build a place for the martial arts examination as well?"
Ying Zheng nodded: "Teacher, what you said is very true."
So, originally just wanting to build some houses, it was built into a city, adding this and that, and by the time it was finally completed, Ying Zheng had already left the mourning period.
Zhao Ji and Li Yong officially got together. Fu Li led the farmers to cultivate a new generation of wheat seeds, increasing the yield per mu by two dan. Converted to today's weight, it is more than 120 kilograms.
It might not sound like much of an increase in yield, but don't underestimate this 100-plus kilograms. This means that the high-quality seeds in the Central Plains no longer need to rely on fate; humans can cultivate them themselves!
Moreover, this increase in production is not the same as the increase in production during the Qin Dynasty in history.
Although the Central Plains and Shu Kingdom were separated by mountains, they were neighbors after all. Over the years, the grain varieties cultivated by Shu Kingdom also gradually flowed into the Central Plains.
Although Fuli only started the grain cultivation in Shu Kingdom, he did not interfere with the independent research and development of the human race.
However, people in Shu worshipped the god of engineering, and those who devoted themselves to the research of machinery and grain were also respected, so many ambitious people would give up their official positions and devote themselves to scientific research.
A thousand years later, the grain yield per mu in Shu Kingdom has reached the peak achieved in the period without chemical fertilizers, that is, during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, with a yield of 400 to 600 kilograms per mu.
The best seeds were strictly guarded by the Shu Kingdom to prevent them from leaking out. Therefore, the best seeds that could be obtained in the Central Plains were only around 300 to 400 kilograms per mu.
If Qin took this step, it would be equivalent to catching up with the current level of Shu.
Those young men from farming families suddenly realized: the reason why Shu Kingdom was so rich in grain was not because of God’s blessing, but because of their own hard work!
But the Shu Kingdom paid too much attention to technological blockade. Their farmers' children had visited the country before, but they had never been exposed to core technology.
We have been communicating with each other for so many years, and you are really too distant!
Ying Zheng was very happy and asked them to plant well for another year. When the crops were ripe next year, he would lead his ministers to harvest them together.
"If the production is stable next year, I will grant you all a title!"
The Qin State had a farming and warfare system. Whether one had made meritorious contributions by killing enemies on the battlefield or had grown exceptionally good crops, the state would reward them with titles.
Therefore, this statement, spoken by the King of Qin, has more credibility than that spoken by the kings of the other six countries.
Of course, in the inter-state relations, Qin was also famous for its deceitful behavior. This country was full of contradictions.
As for Nezha, the Qin army was already powerful and ranked among the top professional legions during the Warring States Period. There was nothing he could improve.
But his three years were not without results. The eunuch Zhang Han was now his apprentice. After three years of learning martial arts and military tactics from Nezha, Zhang Han's talent was fully stimulated and he was reborn.
The reason why Nezha suggested holding the martial arts examination at the same time was to create an opportunity for his apprentice to come to the fore.
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Three months before the imperial examination, a large number of people began to pour into Xianyang.
There were only 3,000 people who signed up for the imperial examination, but the number of people who came to Xianyang was far more than 3,000, which made the warehouses in Xianyang crowded and made a lot of money.
Lu Buwei saw a business opportunity and quickly had the residences of the candidates that were not needed this year cleaned up and divided them into single and double rooms, which were rented out to people who accompanied the candidates or watched the fun.
Dai Xuan also urgently transferred grain from all over the country through the Shaofu, and sent merchants to the six states in Shandong to purchase grain, thus avoiding a food shortage in Xianyang due to the increase in population.
With the joint efforts of the two, the first imperial examination in Central Plains was successfully held.
The written examination consists of three parts: reciting one's own classics in the seven languages of the seven countries, writing a policy essay based on a given topic, and writing a judgment based on an old case of the Qin Dynasty.
The main purpose of copying the classics is to screen out those who are unqualified and whose papers are not clean. The policy essays are to give them the opportunity to express their political views; and the final judgment is to see their familiarity and recognition of Qin law.
—— If you come to Qin to take the exam but haven't even read Qin law, it means you are just here for fun and have no intention of passing the exam.
The martial arts test also consists of three parts: lifting iron chains, riding horses and using weapons, and sand table simulation of classic battle examples.
In order to satisfy those who are good at both civil and military examinations and want to take both, the civil and military examinations are staggered in time. The civil examination is taken first, and the military examination is held three days after the civil examination.
After each candidate moves into the temporary dormitory, they will receive a printed piece of paper with the examination guidelines on the front and the examination time on the back. Candidates can arrange their own schedules according to their own abilities.
As for printing, woodblock printing, which was introduced from Shu, was used.
As for movable type printing, it was not popular in the Central Plains, where literacy was low. It was only in places like Shu, where education was widespread, literacy was common, and the novel industry was thriving, that movable type printing found its place.
Printing technology was not new to these students taking the exam; what was new were the exam room regulations and the exam time arrangements.
The civil examination consisted of three sessions, one on each day. The military examination also consisted of three sessions, the first two on the same day, and the last on a separate day.
In other words, the third round accounts for the most important part of the martial arts test.
If you think about it carefully, it makes sense. No matter how strong you are or how good you are at riding and shooting, in this chaotic world where countries are fighting each other, neither is as important as knowing how to deploy troops.
None of this had anything to do with the peasant boy under Fu Li, but she came to see it all the same, mainly to keep Nezha company.
As for Nezha, he came to accompany Zhang Han to take the exam as his parent.
All the disciples of the three religions could not escape the same curse - they were all crazy about doting on their disciples, and even Nezha, who loved to tease children, was no exception.
Before entering the examination room, Nezha kept telling Zhang Han: "Don't be nervous. With your ability, even if you can't take first place, you will definitely be on the list."
Having said that, Nezha felt in his heart that as long as he didn't meet anyone who was particularly extraordinary, his disciple would definitely be the leader!
Zhang Han was somewhat touched, but more speechless: No, Master, who of us is nervous?
Fu Li sneered, gently squeezed Nezha's palm, and said angrily, "Alright, the child wasn't nervous to begin with, but you made him nervous after doing this."
"Oh, really?" He looked at Zhang Han inquiringly, with a hint of silent threat.
Zhang Han: “…………”
He shook his head repeatedly: "Master, don't worry, I'm not nervous and I will definitely not embarrass you."
"That's good, that's good." Nezha nodded repeatedly and was about to say something, but then he remembered Fu Li's words and simply shut up.
Fu Li gave him a funny look and said to Zhang Han, "Good boy, go in quickly and familiarize yourself with the examination room first."
Zhang Han felt as if he had been pardoned. He hurriedly bowed to the two men, turned around and followed the crowd into the examination room.
Fu Li stood at the entrance and observed that only a small number of people who had passed the literary test came to take the martial arts test.
Anyone who dares to take both exams must be extremely confident in himself.
These people are either overly praised or truly talented in both civil and military fields. I just don't know which type of person is the majority of those taking the exam?
"Let's go, don't just stand here." Fu Li pulled Nezha, who was looking at the examination room, and didn't walk far. They walked to a temporary tea stall outside the examination room, ordered two cups of tea, and sat down to wait.
The people in the teahouse were all there to accompany the two of them for the exam. No one had any appetite for drinks, so they just wanted to make or brew tea and reserve a seat.
Seeing that Nezha was rarely absent-minded, Fu Li did not disturb him, but just accompanied him silently.
Once students entered the examination hall, they could only leave after the exams were over. Therefore, they were provided with one meal at noon.
The owner of the tea stall knew that these people would not leave, so he had some simple meals prepared and sold them to them at a price three points higher than usual.
Everyone had been waiting for a long time. They didn't notice the aroma of food until they smelled it, but once they smelled it, they immediately became hungry and naturally didn't care about the high price.
Fuli ordered two bowls of rice with meat for herself and two bowls for Nezha. After the couple finished eating, they continued to wait.
The doors to the examination hall didn't open until the sun was setting. As the students streamed out, all the accompanying students stood up almost simultaneously.
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