Chapter 180: The Top Scholar Was Actually Him
The results announcement day has arrived.
As soon as it was light, Zhao Yunjing got up. Shuisheng asked him which outfit he wanted to wear: "Young master, today may be a big day for you. The young lady sent over a new season's clothes a few days ago. Would you like to pick one you like to wear to the palace?"
"No, thank you." Zhao Yunjing's eyes were fixed on the dossier, a hint of weariness on his handsome face. "I'll still wear the Canglan Academy uniform."
The forty candidates from Canglan Academy were all dressed in matching light pink robes. Amidst the surrounding candidates who were mostly gray, navy blue, or dark blue, this light pink stood out as the most eye-catching color. It was especially striking when the forty of them stood together, forming a small patch, making it impossible for anyone to ignore them.
On the day the results were filled in, also known as the day the papers were read, eight examiners read the papers on the spot, using specific symbols to represent five levels: excellent, good, average, and poor. The ten papers with the most excellent grades were handed to the emperor on the spot. After the emperor filled in the top three grades, the rest of the candidates would also be ranked according to their scores in this exam.
In general, the palace examinations didn't eliminate anyone; it just meant that those who ranked lower weren't granted official positions. Even so, they still held considerable status back in their hometowns. Those who passed the provincial examinations could become officials, and as tribute students, they naturally could too. However, having already witnessed the prosperity of the capital, who would want to return to their impoverished hometown?
Those few who wanted to return to their hometowns and make a name for themselves would probably give up the metropolitan examination after passing the provincial examination and go directly to become county magistrates. After all, anyone in the capital could easily become a second-rank official. Even if one became the top scholar, one could only start as a minor compiler in the Hanlin Academy. If one wanted to be given an important position, it would take at least ten years, and even then, there was no guarantee of advancement.
Ten years of experience in a small town is enough time to do many practical things for the people of one's hometown.
Soon, the ten excellent scrolls were delivered to the emperor.
The emperor was so familiar with Zhao Yunjing that he could recognize his handwriting at a glance, so he simply took Zhao Yunjing's scroll.
The question he set this time had nothing to do with agriculture, commerce, or education; it was related to warfare. He asked how the Great Liang should respond when the enemy invaded. He gave two directions: one was to make peace, and the other was to launch a counterattack.
Zhao Yunjing was calm and composed, always confident in his actions, and had the people in his heart. The emperor assumed he would advocate for peace, but unexpectedly, Zhao Yunjing advocated for a counterattack.
Although he advocated a counterattack, he listed ninety-nine drawbacks that a counterattack by the Great Liang would bring. If he were the kind of foolish ruler who could only listen to good words and not to honest advice, he would have only read the third drawback of Zhao Yunjing's paper and then thrown it aside, and he would not have seen his last sentence.
"...A single punch can prevent a hundred more; only by being able to fight can we stop war! As long as our borders are secure, even with a thousand or ten thousand drawbacks, we have plenty of time to turn them into benefits. Conversely, the current illusion of temporary peace is a breeding ground for us to breed slaves of a conquered nation. When the country ceases to be a country, what will become of our homes?!"
The emperor slammed the examination paper heavily onto the table, startling the two examiners who had brought it in.
No, this exam paper is really excellent, why doesn't the emperor like it? Could it be that he advocates for peace talks?
"What a brilliant move! A single punch can prevent a hundred more! Every man of Liang should have the courage and boldness of this man! If every man of Liang were like him, who would dare to covet our Liang? This scroll is the best and most outstanding article I have ever read in my life!"
I picked it up and read it several more times before moving on to the next article, hoping to find one even more amazing than Zhao Yunjing's.
However, with Zhao Yunjing's masterpiece preceding it, the following works, while excellent, lacked a certain thrill.
The emperor carefully used his vermilion brush to circle Zhao Yunjing's paper and wrote: First place!
The second and third place winners were also selected in the same way. As for the remaining seven places, the chief examiner took them out and ranked them together with the remaining hundreds of candidates. The list was posted in the afternoon, and the top three in the first rank, namely the champion, the second-place candidate, and the third-place candidate, were announced on the spot.
When the examiner came out with three papers, everyone held their breath.
"The top three in this year's first-class examination have been announced. His Majesty has also personally selected the top three scholars: Zhuangyuan, Bangyan, and Tanhua. Now, I will tear open the name cards and announce them to the public. The first place winner is Zhao Yunjing! Congratulations to Zhao Yunjing for becoming this year's Zhuangyuan!"
Second place in the first division: Mei Xijie! Congratulations to Mei Xijie for achieving the honor of second place! And who is our third-place winner? Chen Liangjin! Our third-place winner is Chen Liangjin, congratulations!
Mei Xijie was a candidate from Lingnan. He had traveled a long way to take the exam. When he learned that he had won second place, he was so happy that he forgot how to speak the Mandarin he had finally learned.
Countless people congratulated Zhao Yunjing, while a few flocked to Young Master Chen. Congratulations and flattery were heard incessantly. It was unclear whether they had moved first, but soon the people from Canglan Academy had surrounded the two of them, leaving Mei Xijie alone outside to socialize.
Mei Xijie squeezed and squeezed, shouting, "Everyone, everyone, please help me! Please help me!"
So, amidst the pink and light blue, a splash of pale blue was suddenly added, clinging tightly to the pink. His shrieks could be heard from afar: "Brother Zhao! Brother Zhao, don't do this! Now that I'm in, we're all brothers! Brother Chen! Brother Chen! It's not that I want to separate you all, it's just that the people outside are making things difficult! Ah, Brother Fang, Brother Fang, you're here too! Brother Li, Brother Li, Brother Liang, Brother Liang! Come quickly! Don't go outside, it's safe here at Canglan Academy..."
"Your Majesty, I didn't expect this year's second-place scholar to be such a chatterbox. It's just that his accent is a bit strange." Chief Minister Su stroked his beard, looking at the pink 'clouds' below that were spreading wider and wider, and sighed, "Our Great Liang will rely on this group of people from now on!"
"Indeed." Seeing Zhao Yunjing being driven crazy by Mei Xijie's nagging, the Emperor simply threw him out to socialize, and chuckled. "This year's students are all quite good, but there aren't many vacancies in the court. Does the Grand Secretary have any feasible suggestions?"
"Only those who can fight can stop war. There are no vacancies in the court. Your Majesty can send them to the army to learn skills. If war really breaks out in the Great Liang Kingdom one day, we civil officials will not only be kneeling in the court and begging Your Majesty to reconsider. War is a devastating war!"
The Emperor smiled and said, "What you proposed is a good direction, but I think it's not as good as Yun Jing's plan."
"So Yun Jing already had a plan? Your Majesty, please tell me! This old minister is extremely curious!"
The Emperor, however, kept the Grand Secretary in suspense, leaving him almost speechless, before he finally burst into laughter: "Lord Su, you seem to be full of energy, so let's not talk about retirement for now!"
"Ah? This old minister promised his grandson that he would accompany him to travel all over the land of Daliang!"
"Traveling through the lands of Daliang isn't safe enough right now. Be careful not to get yourself killed." The Emperor said, his smile fading. "In Yun Jing's plan, you are the most important and indispensable link!"
Premier Su was stunned. Was there something else going on with him?
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