Chapter 170: Grading the Papers

Chapter 170: Grading the Papers

Ouyang Zhi and the other four returned to the Fang Family and paid respects to their Mentor. Along the way, all five remained silent, each lost in their own thoughts.

The results of the Palace Examination had not yet been announced, and this made them uneasy.

After meeting their Mentor, they found that Fang Jifan had been anxiously waiting for them. He could not tell from their expressions whether they had done well or poorly, so he asked, “How did it go?”

Ouyang Zhi stepped forward first and said, “Mentor, today’s topic was about pacifying Mi Lu.”

“Pacifying Mi Lu?” Fang Jifan glanced at the group and then asked, “How did you answer?”

Ouyang Zhi replied, “Mentor, you had previously taught us about Mi Lu’s rebellion, so I answered based on your usual teachings.”

Fang Jifan nodded in acknowledgment.

Tang Yin and the others also said, “We also used that approach to address the topic.”

Fang Jifan gave a quiet “Oh.”

Then he noticed Xu Jing hanging his head, looking guilty as if he had done something wrong.

Fang Jifan saw right through him and stared intently. “Xiao Xu, how did you answer?”

Xu Jing knelt down and said, “Student felt that your teachings at the time were too focused on tactics. I feared that if I answered that way, His Majesty might not approve. So… I expanded my discussion into a broader argument…”

As soon as Fang Jifan heard “broader argument,” he understood what had happened.

Scholars loved to draw grand conclusions from small details. For example, if it rained and you were asked to comment on the rain, it should be a simple matter. But scholars thought that would be uninteresting, so they would escalate it, taking a high-level perspective. They would start from the time of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, then discuss the rain’s impact on agriculture, cite ancient texts and quotes from wise rulers and ministers, and finally wrap it all up.

Even though you were only asked to write about a rain shower, you would cram in everything from the past five hundred years to the next five hundred years.

As for pacifying Mi Lu, Xu Jing probably began by discussing rebellions throughout history. Then he would ponder why rebellions happened? He would argue that it was because Moral Education had not reached the native people. So, he would not talk about how to suppress the rebellion at all—that was just tactics, too simplistic. Instead, he would focus on culture and education, aiming for a fundamental solution.

It was like treating an illness. If someone caught a Wind-Cold Disorder, instead of prescribing medicine to dispel the cold, you would say the root cause was their weak constitution. Why were they weak? Because they did not exercise regularly. Why didn’t they exercise? Because they were lazy. So, you would set aside the cold and first treat their laziness.

Fang Jifan’s face involuntarily fell.

Xu Jing remained kneeling, bowing his head. “Mentor, student… student…”

Although Fang Jifan knew that the Emperor might actually favor such “lofty discussions,” still… all his other disciples had obediently followed his instructions in their answers. What did Xu Jing mean by this? Was he rebelling?

Seeing his Mentor’s displeasure, Xu Jing immediately burst into tears.

He wailed, “Mentor, I dare not forget a single word of your teachings. But I was also afraid of performing poorly and being punished by you. My performance in the Metropolitan Examination was disgraceful compared to my seniors, and I brought shame upon you. I only thought that, no matter what, I must redeem your honor in the Palace Examination. I believed that while your insights are vast and beyond comparison to ordinary people, this was just an exam, not a real situation. So… so…”

Xu Jing was the type to play clever tricks.

This trait… Fang Jifan felt it did not suit his otherwise honest and dutiful nature. Fang Jifan glanced at Ouyang Zhi and the others. Ouyang Zhi also knelt and said, “Indeed, Mentor, Junior Brother Xu only wanted to restore your honor. He meant no harm.”

“Mentor…” Tang Yin and the others knelt down one by one.

Fang Jifan had to admit that since this guy had entered his tutelage, he seemed to have won over all his senior brothers.

As for this person’s character… Fang Jifan snorted coldly and bared his teeth. “Kneel here. Kneel for three days and three nights before we talk further.”

In truth, Fang Jifan was uncertain about the final Palace Examination results. But he disliked Xu Jing’s clever tricks. Although Fang Jifan appeared careless and nonchalant, deep down he held strong principles. Of course, this might also be one of Xu Jing’s strengths, but so what? I am your father—no, I am your Mentor. If I tell you to kneel, then you kneel.

Xu Jing did not dare argue. Grievously, he kowtowed to Fang Jifan. “Student… will respectfully obey your command.”

Tang Yin and the others were too terrified to speak and did not dare plead for leniency again.

…

Tong Pass was the eastern gate of Guanzhong, a place of strategic importance throughout history.

However, now that the Great Ming was unified, apart from some repairs in the early Ming period, after a hundred years, the pass and its buildings had become worn and faded. But since merchants frequently passed through, the streets remained fairly lively.

At this moment, the pass gate was unusually opened.

Normally, the gate only opened for one hour, and anyone wishing to enter or exit had to wait in advance at the pass.

Unless… there was a special situation.

Today, as soon as the gate opened, a fast horse instantly entered the pass without stopping. It galloped straight along the central path, directly crossing through the pass city.

At the same time, the rider on the horse shouted, “Great victory, great victory! A great victory in Guizhou… Government forces killed over five thousand bandits and captured countless strongholds…”

This was an urgent dispatch from the Southwest Express Delivery Station.

To deliver the message quickly, they traveled along the postal routes from Yunnan-Guizhou into Sichuan, then out through Hanzhong, into Guanzhong, racing day and night toward the Capital without rest.

Usually, ordinary victory reports were not announced so publicly—unless there were prior instructions.

Provincial Governor Wang Shi, far away in Guizhou, had given orders that along the way, to boost military and civilian morale, they should proclaim the victory when passing through towns.

“A great victory…”

Many people heard the news and began discussing quietly among themselves.

The events in Guizhou were very far from Tong Pass, but the news of the victory still managed to create a small stir here.

Soon, the fast horse had already galloped away and disappeared from sight.

…

Early the next morning.

Emperor Hongzhi woke up before 5 a.m. He put on his Court Attire and rode to the Warm Pavilion. After taking his seat, Liu Jian and the other two arrived.

The three paid their respects to Emperor Hongzhi and sat down.

Emperor Hongzhi gathered his spirits and said, “There are over three hundred Tribute Scholars. Their Policy Essays and answer papers are all here. Let us review them together, gentlemen.”

Liu Jian nodded. “Did Your Majesty have a deeper meaning in setting this question?”

Emperor Hongzhi shook his head with a bitter smile. “Originally, I wanted to use this opportunity to inquire about the drought. But I was worried that the Tribute Scholars might easily guess the exam topic. After much thought, however, it also seemed inappropriate to set a random topic. The rebellion in Guizhou has been going on for so long now, it has become unwieldy. I am truly uneasy about it. If this drags on, not only will the imperial court waste countless funds and food supplies, but allowing Yunnan-Guizhou to fall into disarray will likely lead to even bigger troubles…”

Emperor Hongzhi’s concerns were not unfounded. The rebellion in Yunnan-Guizhou, while troublesome for the imperial court, was not fatal in itself.

The fatal part was that while suppressing the rebellion in Guizhou, the long winter, combined with floods in various places and crop reductions due to drought, all erupted at once, ultimately straining the imperial court’s finances.

Emperor Hongzhi turned the topic back to the main matter. “Let’s focus on grading the papers. I want to see if there are truly any individuals among these Tribute Scholars with talent for statecraft.”

Liu Jian and the others also perked up. They, too, had great interest in the younger generation.

Moreover, His Majesty’s mention of the rebellion in Yunnan-Guizhou weighed heavily on their hearts.

When the ruler worries, his ministers feel ashamed.

The Warm Pavilion fell quiet. One by one, the Policy Essays were reviewed alternately by the ruler and his ministers.

However… most of these papers were unremarkable.

This was hardly surprising. Although it was said that a Xiucai need not leave his home to know all the affairs of The World, in reality, the vast majority of outstanding Scholars spent half their lives focused on the Eight-Legged Essay. After all, only by mastering the Eight-Legged Essay could one advance through the exams step by step. The Policy Essay was for the Palace Examination, which seemed too distant for them.

Compared to the Eight-Legged Essay in the Metropolitan Examination, many of the answers in the Policy Essay were painfully poor. These Tribute Scholars were all excellent Scholars without exception, but due to limited perspectives and usually paying no attention to matters outside their studies, while solely reading the Classics of the Sages, apart from showing off their literary flair, the Policy Essays were mostly filled with empty, grandiose statements.

Thus, after each of them had read over a dozen Policy Essays, they began to lose interest.

In fact, Policy Essays throughout history had mostly been like this. Emperor Hongzhi had also been dissatisfied with this situation before, but he knew that the imperial court’s use of the Eight-Legged Essay Imperial Examination naturally led to such outcomes. So, although he felt it was problematic, he had not delved deeper into it.

Not to mention that these were the Ancestral Laws, but the Eight-Legged Essay Imperial Examination did have its purpose.

It was just that these essays were truly dull to read. Most people talked loftily and commented on state affairs, yet they did not even understand the actual conditions in Guizhou—where the land has no three feet of level ground and the sky has no three days of clear weather—let alone military strategy.

Some even took a high-level approach, starting from pacifying the rebellion and then discussing why rebellions occurred, blaming it on issues with the imperial court’s administration. Then they would elaborate extensively on administration.

Emperor Hongzhi was truly baffled when he read this. This… was going too far.

Just then, from Liu Jian’s side, a slightly surprised sound was heard. “Huh…”

In the dull atmosphere of the Warm Pavilion, a sound of astonishment was enough to make everyone perk up a bit.

They all turned to look at Liu Jian in unison.

Liu Jian smiled and said, “There is one essay here that is quite interesting. This person seems to have a very clear understanding of Horse Administration.”

Emperor Hongzhi raised his eyes and could not help asking, “Who is it?”

There was no need to conceal the names on the Palace Examination papers.

Liu Jian had been so focused on reading the essay that he had not noticed the candidate’s name. Hearing Emperor Hongzhi’s question, he directly handed the paper to a nearby Eunuch. “Your Majesty, please take a look.”

The Eunuch carefully passed the essay to Emperor Hongzhi. Emperor Hongzhi first looked at the name. Prominently, at the beginning of the paper, was written the name Wang Shouren, a Tribute Scholar from Zhejiang, Shaoxing Prefecture.

Wang Shouren…

“Wang Shouren… Is he the son of Minister Wang?”