Outside the county government office.
Facing many scrutinizing gazes, Cui Xian remained calm.
He could easily understand the subtleties in these people's eyes, but unfortunately, the imperial examination was not about testing "eye acting".
There's no use staring, bro.
Let’s put the truth into words.
Cui Xian's arrival only distracted the candidates for a moment, and then the atmosphere became solemn again.
Because this was the nationwide unified imperial examination of the Daliang Dynasty - the county examination!
Only by passing this exam can one officially take the first step on the long road to the imperial examination.
The admission rate of the county exam...
Cui Xian raised his head and looked at the densely packed candidates around him, guessing that there were at least nearly a thousand people.
The number of people who were able to successfully "go ashore" and obtain the title of Tongsheng ranged from as many as 100 to as few as 50.
This shows how cruel the ancient imperial examination was.
The Mao hour has arrived.
Under the nervous gaze of the candidates.
The gate of the county government was opened, and the officers walked out in a group with serious expressions and began to call out names and verify identities.
Cui Xian opened the bookcase and took out his insurance policy, mutual settlement form, household registration certificate, and self-declaration of his clean background in advance.
It’s speechless to say, he didn’t participate in any of these processes.
Pei Jian took care of it all.
I have to admit that my eldest brother is indeed a talented person in some aspects.
Because there were so many candidates, Cui Xian stood among them and waited in line for a long time before it was his turn.
The officer in charge of checking looked at Cui Xian for a moment and said loudly, "Cui Xian, nine years old, short and sturdy, with a white face and no beard, handsome and thin. Everything matches, passed."
Everything else is fine, but what the hell is "short and sharp"?
Bro, who taught you to use adjectives like that?
Although the atmosphere was serious.
But the officer's words still caused some uncontrollable laughter.
Cui Xian was speechless and choked.
Anyway, the identity verification has been passed.
But this is just the beginning.
After their identities were verified, the candidates were led by government officials to gather outside the county school.
County Magistrate Ye Huaifeng, dressed in an official robe, with a serious expression and the aura of a "parent official", was already waiting outside the county school.
Before the county examination began, according to the law, the county magistrate had to give a speech to the candidates.
In the past, when Ye Huaifeng was a candidate, he would be scolded every time he took the exam.
Now, in a blink of an eye, it is his turn to scold the candidates!
Come to think of it, the mood is a bit subtle.
"The imperial court holds an imperial examination to select candidates, and it is important to select the right people. You should strictly abide by the examination rules, do not bring private books, and do not be deceitful. If you dare to cheat..."
County Magistrate Ye had a pair of murderous eyes as he gave a lecture and inspected the candidates.
He tried to use this lecture as a deterrent to stop any examinee from thinking of cheating.
However.
When he walked among the candidates and met Cui Xian's eyes, Ye Huaifeng was stunned.
His eyes widened in disbelief, almost thinking he was hallucinating.
No... Why are you here, brother? !
For this county examination, the county government's etiquette office received thousands of application documents. It was naturally impossible for County Magistrate Ye to review every single document.
So when he saw Cui Xian here, he was somewhat caught off guard.
Cui Xian looked at him innocently.
After a moment.
Ye Huaifeng shifted his gaze and continued, "If you dare to cheat, you will be put in shackles and put on display, and your reputation will be revoked!"
Except for the lecture.
The county lord had to prepare a thick "speech" and read it in public. Most of it was nonsense, and the core content was just two sentences:
Praise the two great men Confucius and Mencius, and praise our Emperor!
Wait until the leader has finished talking nonsense.
The yamen runners gathered again and began to search the entrance.
The inspection of the county examination is naturally not as perverted as that of the provincial examination, but it should not be underestimated.
The first thing is to take off clothes, leaving only a single piece of clothing and pants, and shoes and socks will be carefully checked.
Although the temperature has warmed up in March, it was still chilly in the morning. I was shivering as soon as I took off my clothes.
But it was still acceptable. At least it wouldn’t be like the provincial examination, where one’s butt crack would be spread open in public.
As the saying goes, all weird rules have their reasons. I don't know what the first guy who hid the cheat sheet in his butt was thinking.
Besides checking the clothes.
All the pens, inkstones, and dry food in the book box must be checked one by one.
Dry food biscuits and steamed buns will be broken into pieces.
The brush holder should also be unscrewed to check if there is any hidden note.
There are more than a thousand candidates, and it would take at least an hour or two to complete such a tedious inspection.
But the candidates can only wait patiently.
This is really mentally taxing, and some candidates started to tremble while waiting.
Fortunately, Cui Xian didn’t have to wait long this time.
After calling a few people symbolically, he called his name.
After a careful search according to the rules, the officer gave him an answer sheet and a draft paper.
Then he lowered his head and said in a very weak voice: "Young Master Cui, the county lord asked me to tell you to choose the eighth row and ninth column for the seats."
"Thank you very much."
Cui Xian also replied in a very low voice, and then walked into the examination room with the answer sheet and draft paper.
In the examination room.
The county magistrate was already sitting inside. The two looked at each other, and then tacitly looked away.
Nanyang County is not considered wealthy, but it is a provincial capital after all.
Although it is not as luxurious as those in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, there are separate county examination halls for candidates to use.
But this 'temporary examination tent' was built to look pretty realistic.
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