"Scholar Song, please make rubbings of these exam questions. As for whether you can select capable candidates, I am confident in my ability."
Hearing Qin Yu say this, Song Zhenglian, though still finding the exam question absurd, could only nod and retreat with the exam questions in his pocket.
After he left, Qin Yu let out a long sigh of relief and leaned back in his chair in relaxation.
"Let's see if this imperial examination can select a few talented individuals with some basic knowledge of mathematics, physics, and chemistry for me!"
...
With the imperial examination approaching, a hot topic gradually emerged in the capital.
"Have you heard? His Majesty declared to all the officials that this year's exam questions will be the best ever!"
"I've heard that all the officials were amazed by these exam questions."
"I never imagined His Majesty possessed such talent, able to devise a test question that astonished all the officials!"
"Oh my god, is this year's exam going to be really difficult? I finally passed the provincial exam, am I going to fail the palace exam as well?!"
"..."
Nowadays, people in all the taverns and brothels in the capital are discussing this topic, and almost everyone is curious about what kind of test Qin Yu came up with.
While a group of candidates racked their brains trying to figure out what questions Qin Yu had asked, laughter filled the Prime Minister's residence.
"Hahaha, Qin Yu really thought that with Zhang Tang's test questions, he could prevent Ben Xiang's people from passing the exam. Little did he know that Ben Xiang now understands Zhang Tang's test-setting style better than Zhang Tang does."
Sima Lie listened to the discussions in the capital reported by his servants, his face full of sneers.
In recent days, he not only had all the exam questions Zhang Tang had set collected, but he also collected all the books Zhang Tang had read and the articles he had commented on.
His students memorized these materials day and night, so now, no matter what angle Zhang Tang asked questions from, they would be absolutely no match for his students.
"Hahaha, congratulations, Prime Minister. Once this batch of new scholars enters the court, there will be no more voices opposing you."
Ma Shangtao and others offered their congratulations with clasped hands.
Upon hearing this, Sima Lie's lips curled up slightly, his eyes filled with undisguised smugness.
Once this new group of scholars enters the court, he will indeed be able to rule with absolute authority.
All that's left is to wait for Xiong Ba to send good news, then he won't need to keep Qin Yu, that good-for-nothing.
At that time, he will be the ruler of this Great Xia.
"What's the situation in Youzhou?"
Sima Lie looked at Qiu Beiming.
"Now Princess Duoshuang and the Xiongnu regent have joined forces, and their army has pressed on to the walls of Youzhou. Half of the territory of Youzhou has fallen into the hands of the Xiongnu."
Qiu Beiming immediately reported.
Upon hearing that half of Youzhou's territory had fallen into the hands of the Xiongnu, in the past, Sima Lie would have been so frightened that he would have sought peace long ago.
But he remained calm at that moment.
"What about Zhao Hu? What was his reaction?"
"Now the entire Longxi army has been deployed, centered on the Hexi Corridor, which has not only blocked the Xiongnu's retreat but also surrounded Youzhou. If I am not mistaken, Zhao Hu is waiting for the Youzhou army to launch a decisive battle with the Xiongnu. In this way, when the snipe and the clam fight, he can reap the benefits."
As soon as Qiu Beiming finished speaking, Sima Lie let out a cold laugh.
"Zhao Hu certainly has a big appetite. He wants to eat two lions, doesn't he even consider whether his stomach can hold them all!"
Upon hearing Sima Lie's words, everyone present couldn't help but sneer.
Zhao Hu thought he would be the ultimate winner of this war, but little did he know that there was only one loser in this war, and that was Zhao Hu himself.
"Send a message to Xiong Ba: Everything is ready; we can begin the war!"
After mocking Zhao Hu for overestimating his abilities, Sima Lie gave the order.
The reason it took so long was because they were waiting for the entire Longxi army to come out.
Now that Zhao Hu has taken the bait, there's no need to wait any longer.
"yes!"
Qiu Beiming immediately retreated.
No one knew that just because of this one sentence, countless people would die on the upcoming battlefield in Youzhou, and the entire Great Xia would be shaken to its core.
...
Two days later, on September 15th.
Knock knock knock!
As the Jingtian Drum resounded atop the imperial city, the entire capital city came alive with excitement.
Countless people gathered outside the imperial city, watching the candidates who had passed the provincial examination enter the city, their eyes filled with envy.
These students, if they pass the palace examination, will become Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations), or at the very least, rise to the rank of a seventh-grade official.
Even if one fails the palace examination, one can still be granted the title of Jinshi, a status vastly different from that of ordinary people.
"Brother Zhang, Brother Zhou, what are your thoughts on this palace examination? Do you think the questions will really be the same ones set by the Duke of Zhuguo?"
At this moment, on the walkway of the imperial city, Ma Qi found Zhang Tingyu and Zhou Peishen and asked them with a worried expression.
Although the three were happy to be selected by Qin Yu as the top three in the imperial examination, they were also under great pressure.
After all, they didn't know what kind of test Qin Yu would give.
However, ever since they feigned allegiance to Sima Lie, Sima Lie has made them memorize the test questions that Duke Zhang Tang had once set out for them every day.
It seems that Sima Lie was very certain that Qin Yu would set this type of test question.
The other two frowned and fell into deep thought.
"I don't think His Majesty would use the same questions that the Duke of Zhuguo set."
At this moment, Zhang Tingyu spoke first.
Upon hearing this, Ma Qi and Zhou Peishen both looked at him curiously.
"The three of us have met His Majesty, so we should know that His Majesty's character is such that he would never be bound by existing test questions."
Upon hearing Zhang Tingyu's words, the other two nodded in agreement.
"What kind of questions will His Majesty ask?"
March pressed on with more questions.
A smile appeared on Zhang Tingyu's face. "I think we might be able to think about how to write a flattering article!"
Upon hearing this, the other two people's expressions changed.
"Are you saying that His Majesty will still, as before, have us write sycophantic articles to deceive the treacherous minister?"
After they finished speaking, they realized it was impossible and quickly shook their heads.
This is the imperial examination; His Majesty would never do such a thing again.
"No, do you remember what His Majesty said? Even writing a flattering article can convey what you want to say to His Majesty. If I'm not mistaken, this time the topic is one that seems to require writing a flattering article, but actually contains a deeper meaning."
After listening to Zhang Tingyu's analysis, Ma Qi and Zhou Peishen both felt enlightened.
However, they had already arrived in front of the Golden Palace, so the three of them stopped talking and looked up at the magnificent golden palace.
The thought that they might one day stand in this golden palace made their hearts pound uncontrollably.
"The time has come; candidates, please enter the examination hall!"
At this moment, the Imperial Astronomical Bureau official standing outside the door looked at the sky and then called out to the group of students in front of the hall.
The candidates all looked on with anticipation and stepped into the hall.
Meanwhile, inside the hall, a group of scholars, led by Song Zhenglian, had been waiting for quite some time.
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