He also met several other impoverished scholars who shared the same dream and were heading to Luoyang. They met by chance, but due to their common circumstances and destination, they quickly became acquainted, traveled together, and looked after each other.
Zhang Qian: He came from Yanmen in Bingzhou. His father was a lowly soldier stationed on the frontier, and the family fell into poverty after his father died in battle. He was tall and strong, with a forthright personality. He spoke with deep resentment towards the corruption in the border army and the officers' embezzlement of rations. He went to take the imperial examination hoping to change the army's deep-seated problems from within.
Wang Ke: A native of Yingchuan, Yuzhou, his family owned some land, but he was ostracized by the local powerful clans and repeatedly failed the imperial examinations. He was well-versed in learning, especially in the Book of Documents. He was somewhat reserved, but his eyes revealed a longing for fair opportunities.
"This imperial examination, open to all regardless of social status, is a once-in-a-century opportunity for us! We must give it our all!" His words expressed the sentiments of the group.
Sun Mao: His family were merchants, and they had some surplus wealth, which they used to support his studies. He was knowledgeable and well-informed, and often talked about his experiences in various places and anecdotes about Luoyang, but he also subtly revealed his envy of the scions of aristocratic families and his anxiety about the competition for the examinations.
Fellow travelers in the same boat, the group gathered around the campfire to discuss history and current events, exchanging knowledge and exchanging political views, which helped to dispel much of the loneliness of the journey and the gloom of reality.
Li Ru's insight and composure, as well as his profound analysis of the border troubles and official corruption in Liangzhou, often impressed his companions.
However, Li Ru also keenly sensed that beneath the seemingly harmonious atmosphere, the pressure of competition was like an invisible thread, quietly tightening.
Especially when mentioning those scions of prominent families who had already arrived in Luoyang and had family backgrounds to support them, the envy in Sun Mao's eyes and the solemnity between Wang Ke's brows indicated that the road ahead was by no means smooth.
After nearly a month of enduring wind and rain and traversing thousands of mountains and rivers, when the majestic Luoyang city wall finally appeared on the horizon, Li Ru and his companions couldn't help but stop and let out a long exclamation.
The majestic city wall, built of huge blue stone blocks, stretches for miles and seems to have no end.
The city gate towers and pavilions have flying eaves and brackets, which are magnificent. The wide moat is sparkling. The drawbridge is lowered, and the flow of carriages and people is like a river. The noise can be heard from afar.
This is the true heart of the empire! Compared to the desolation of Liangzhou and the ruins along the way, it's like two completely different worlds.
The moment Li Ru stepped through the gates of Luoyang, he felt a slight dizziness. The enormous gate seemed like a gaping maw that could devour everything, or a gateway to another world.
The sights within the city are even more breathtaking.
The straight and wide imperial road could accommodate more than a dozen carriages side by side, with shops lining both sides, their wine flags fluttering in the breeze. Silk, lacquerware, spices, rare treasures... a dazzling array of exotic items from all over the world.
Noblemen dressed in brocade robes paraded through the city in their luxurious carriages and horses, surrounded by a large retinue of servants.
In the bustling city, the cries of vendors, the performances of artists, and the noise of carriages and horses mingled together, creating a vibrant and lively atmosphere.
The air was filled with the aromas of various foods and spices, as well as a warm feeling unique to big cities, a warmth mixed with the vibrancy of people.
"This is Luoyang..."
Zhang Qian opened his mouth wide and muttered to himself, while Wang Ke nervously straightened his clothes, afraid of looking too rustic. Sun Mao's eyes lit up as he looked around, searching for familiar shop signs.
Li Ru took a deep breath, his heart surging with excitement, but even more so with a heavy sense of responsibility.
Such a prosperous capital city, yet its foundations are crumbling. He thought of the yellow sand of Liangzhou, the weeping of Heyang, the refugees along the way... How many wounds are hidden beneath this golden splendor?
While searching for inexpensive lodging near the Imperial Academy, the group brushed past a group of dashing young scholars.
Those people all wore official hats, fine Shu brocade robes, and jade pendants at their waists. They chatted and laughed as if no one else was around.
One of them glanced at Li Ru and his companions, who were travel-worn and poorly dressed, and a hint of undisguised contempt curled at the corner of his mouth:
"Ha, just another bunch of ignorant peasants, daring to dream of entering the emperor's court?"
Amidst laughter, the group swaggered away. Zhang Qian, his face flushed with anger, clenched his fists, but Li Ru and Wang Ke held him back tightly.
Even finding a place to settle down was fraught with difficulty.
The guesthouses near the Imperial Academy had long been occupied by wealthy young men or scholars who had made prior arrangements, and the prices were outrageously high.
After finally finding a simple, shared inn, the innkeeper was arrogant: "These are the conditions, take it or leave it! Want peace and quiet? Want a private room? Go to Zhuque Street! I'm afraid you can't afford it!" His snobbish words were chilling.
"Living in Luoyang is not easy."
Wang Ke shook his head with a wry smile. The pressure of reality was far more suffocating than the hardships of the journey.
The day of the assessment finally arrived.
The palace walls were high and the guards were strict.
Scholars from all corners of the land, regardless of their social status, had all changed into their neatest clothes.
Li Ru took a deep breath, stood in line, and calmly scanned his surroundings.
He saw countless young faces, filled with tension, anticipation, confidence, or trepidation.
There were fellow students from humble backgrounds like Zhang Qian and Wang Ke, with resolute eyes, as well as many more well-dressed, arrogant scions of wealthy families.
They chatted and laughed in small groups, appearing completely at ease. An invisible barrier had already been quietly drawn before they even entered the examination hall.
The examination was held in the spacious Minglun Hall of the Imperial Academy.
Each person has their own seat and desk, with clear separation between them.
The air was filled with the scent of ink and the sound of suppressed breathing. The chief examiner was Hu Guang, one of the Three Dukes of the court, and several deputy examiners, all with solemn faces and sharp eyes, surveyed the entire room.
Exam questions released:
This paper discusses the root causes of frequent border troubles and the exhaustion of officialdom, and proposes effective strategies for pacifying the borders and ensuring the well-being of the people.
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