Zhu Youxiao took a look around and found that the interior of the room was well decorated, without any pretense of elegance. There was a goose feather knife hanging on the wall not far away, which was obviously Fang Zhenghua's own.
Sitting down on the chair, Zhu Youxiao looked at Fang Zhenghua and said gently, "How are the preparations going?"
Fang Zhenghua didn't dare to delay and said quickly, "Your Majesty, everything is ready."
Zhu Youxiao nodded and asked, "Has Chen Hong already explained everything that needs to be explained to you?"
"Your Majesty, Eunuch Chen has already given instructions to me." Fang Zhenghua said respectfully.
Zhu Youxiao nodded gently and said, "Then let's continue."
The examination was held in a large square in the Imperial Household Department and was divided into three rounds.
The first round is similar to the imperial examination, which tests the Four Books and Five Classics, but the difficulty is much lower, basically just dictation and fill-in-the-blanks. This is not difficult at all for the candidates. If you can't even pass this test, you don't need to come.
The main purpose of this item is to test whether everyone is literate. It has no other use at all.
The second round of the exam was arithmetic, which was more difficult. In addition to simple calculations and fill-in-the-blank questions, there were also word problems.
The third round of examinations was about policy essays. This was also a subject examination, but in Zhu Youxiao's opinion, it was actually useless. What was the point of the Imperial Household Department testing this?
However, Fang Zhenghua also explained to Zhu Youxiao that this policy essay exam was mainly to judge the character and behavior style of the examinee.
After the three rounds of examinations, there will be another round of interviews. Only after passing the interviews can one officially enter the Imperial Household Department.
Therefore, the candidates were very cautious and everyone was waiting for the exam to begin.
Zhu Youxiao stood in the invigilation building right in front of the examination room, looking through the window at the sea of examinees below.
There were actually quite a few candidates. Seeing them preparing for the exam, Zhu Youxiao couldn't help but sigh.
He suddenly thought of something. He should set up a school in the Imperial Household Department to teach these people or at least give them some training.
As for who to teach, Zhu Youxiao thought that the old eunuchs in the palace would be enough.
Why let the old eunuch teach?
The reason is very simple. The old eunuchs have worked in the palace for many years. Those who can endure to the end naturally have some ideas and thoughts. In addition, they have learned enough from many people in their lifelong learning on how to behave.
As for knowledge, these people are naturally not bad. You know, the eunuchs of the Ming Dynasty all studied in the inner study hall, so they can be said to be influenced by what they saw and heard. Otherwise, if they can't write, they won't be able to do anything and won't get far in the palace.
Another point is that the Imperial Household Department and the eunuchs in the palace all belong to the emperor's private institutions. They are also the same kind of people and are easier to get along with.
Zhu Youxiao didn't want to train all the people in the Imperial Household Department to become ministers in the court.
Another point is that this place can be used as a place for retired eunuchs to retire. Teaching students here and providing them with food and accommodation can be considered a very good place to return to.
This is also of great benefit to them, and is conducive to the stability and harmony of the eunuchs in the palace. It is a very good way.
While Zhu Youxiao was thinking about this matter, one of the students below was concentrating on answering questions.
This person is not young at all, he looks to be around 37 or 38 years old, his face is a little pale and he looks a bit sick, as if he has just recovered from a serious illness.
His expression was extremely focused and serious, which soon attracted Zhu Youxiao's attention.
It wasn't because he was handsome or anything like that, but because he was wearing a scholar's robe. From his attire, it was clear that he was a scholar.
Although there were many scholars who had registered before, not many came to take the exam.
After the imperial court issued a notice to recruit clerks, many scholars felt insulted. They were very principled and how could they associate with clerks?
So they didn't come. Most of the scholars who came to the scene had no academic titles, and most of them were commoners.
But looking at their appearance, you can tell that they are relatively poor. After all, even scholars are called poor scholars, let alone them, who are common people?
Seeing a scholar now naturally attracted Zhu Youxiao's attention.
However, Zhu Youxiao also knew that this was just the beginning. These scholars would soon turn to the Royal Academy.
If the Imperial Household Department wasn't suitable for them, then the Imperial Academy was naturally a more suitable place for them. Many scholars thought so, and those with the title of scholar thought so even more.
Seeing a scholar here made Zhu Youxiao a little surprised. He turned to Chen Hong beside him and said, "Go and check to see who the scholar is, where he is from, and what he does for a living."
"Yes, Your Majesty. I'll go right away." Chen Hong quickly agreed, then turned and walked downstairs.
Soon the information Zhu Youxiao wanted was found.
After looking through it, Zhu Youxiao found it quite interesting. This person was called Xu Feng, and he was indeed a scholar from Shuntian Prefecture, and he passed the imperial examination at the age of 21.
He is already 38 years old this year. He has taken the imperial examination five times in a row, but failed every time.
For him, it was three years and three years, three years and three years, and then three years and three years, and he still failed to pass.
In order to support his studies, his family had become impoverished and their situation had deteriorated. Recently, he had fallen seriously ill, which had consumed all the family's money.
To save his life, his family sold their few acres of land. If he didn't find a way to pass the exam, the whole family would be sold into slavery.
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