Chapter 173: 115 Perfect Answers! (Two in One Update)_5
Lin Chengye set out from the Lin Family early in the morning, intending to accompany Xiao Liulang and Fen Lin for a part of their journey, but in vain.
He sighed. He wondered if there was a chance for him to see them again in this lifetime?
The county examination came to an end, and the officials behind the screen began to review the papers.
There were twelve officials behind the screen, divided into three groups of four. Each exam paper was evaluated by four officials. Any paper that scored relatively close marks by all four would be considered for a total mark. Any paper that caused a high level of disagreement would be presented to the Chief Examiner and his deputy for a re-evaluation.
The first text examined the classics and pentameter rhyme poetry, focusing on accuracy and handwriting. In the past, there were either papers with high accuracy but poor handwriting, or papers with excellent handwriting but lower accuracy rates than other students.
This year, however, an unusual situation occurred. One of the examinees submitted a perfect answer sheet!
Not only were all the answers correct, but the handwriting was also enviably perfect.
Without a doubt, this was the first place in the first round.
“The ‘Classic of Filial Piety’ has stumped quite a few students this year.” one of the officials behind the screen commented with a laugh. “Apart from that person we just mentioned, I haven’t come across a second one who has written the ‘Classic of Filial Piety’ correctly. Wait a minute.”
Just as he finished speaking, he discovered another excellent answer sheet. While it didn’t have zero mistakes, it was far superior to those previously corrected, particularly on the “Classic of Filial Piety”. He had answered it all correctly!
The official facing him said, “What a coincidence, I also have one here who has written the ‘Classic of Filial Piety’ entirely right.”
The two smiled at each other.
This year’s examinees…what a lovely surprise!
However, as they began marking the papers from the second round, the atmosphere became tense.
The vassal princes have always been a significant problem for the court. Some were powerful lords who had controlled regions and were then recruited and given the title of vassal prince by the court. Others were princes granted land due to their royal bloodline.
The former had military power, the latter had bloodline, both were significant threats.
As the saying goes, how can one sleep on a bed while a threat snores beside it? Yet the court currently did not have enough strength to get rid of these vassal princes, so most officials in the court did not advocate for their reduction.
The Marquis Residence of Xuanping has always been at odds with the grand imperial tutor, yet their opinions on the issue of reducing the number of vassal princes surprisingly concurred.
No one realized that this year’s examination question had been set by the emperor himself.
The emperor wanted to gauge the public opinion, to see the vision and character of the students under his reign in Zhan Country. The result, however, was a pile of flattery and sycophancy!
Among the flattering scripts, however, there was an essay of exceptional quality. Although the author didn’t advocate for reduction of vassal princes, he wasn’t simply going along with the court’s view. He analyzed the potential consequences of reducing vassal princes in the short term, and how a policy of appeasement could create a win-win situation on the economic and agriculture front.
This was an essay that astonished all the officials behind the screen.
Unsurprisingly, it would be the first place in the second round!
However, soon after, an examiner discovered another essay advocating for the reduction of vassal princes. It was so sharply worded that the officials behind the screen turned pale after reading it.
Why didn’t the author just go to Jinluan Hall and berate the emperor and the civil and military officials directly?
The scolding was harsh, but his analysis was irrefutable.
Initially, they thought cooperation and mutual win could be a new way out. After reading this essay advocating for the reduction of vassal princes, however, they immediately felt like they were bargaining with a tiger for its skin!
If they don’t reduce the number of vassal princes, Zhan Country will be doomed!
“Good heavens…..” the deputy Chief Examiner broke out in a cold sweat, feeling that Zhan Country was suddenly in great danger!
Was Zhan Country really in imminent danger at present?
But it might not be the case several decades later. This examinee had encapsulated the crises of several decades from now in a single academic essay, making everyone acutely aware of the consequences and fear that come with not reducing the number of vassal princes.
The talent of this student was clear to see!
Looking at the overall literary cultivation and writing skills, this candidate had won. But the question was, would they dare to rate such a sensational and potentially treasonous article number one?
If it were to be reported to the emperor and he became angry, who could withstand that?
The emperor merely wanted to gauge the mindsets of the exam candidates, he was not really asking for their criticism.
The officials behind the screen hesitated.
“Let’s, let’s set it aside for now,” the Chief Examiner suggested.
And so it was set aside for quite a while, even when the third round eight-legged essays were all corrected, they were still unable to decide who should be the first in the two essays.