Chapter 95: Matters of the Literati

“It’s good that nothing happened. That Fang Jifan…” Xu Jing looked around and lowered his voice. “He is truly hateful. This time, do you have confidence? You absolutely cannot fall behind Fang Jifan’s three disciples, otherwise…”

A flash of anger appeared in Tang Yin’s eyes. “Your foolish younger brother does have some confidence.”

When friends reunite, there is always much to talk about.

Xu Jing then started to express regret for Tang Yin. “If you hadn’t encountered that mishap, that night, you could have gone with me to visit Lord Cheng. Lord Cheng is also one of the examiners for this session. You don’t know, but this Lord Cheng greatly admires Bohu. He was very regretful when he learned Bohu didn’t come. We are from the same hometown. He was extremely warm towards your foolish elder brother. He sent invitations several times, asking me to go to the Cheng residence to play chess. This time, if we can pass the examination with high honors, and have the support of this Right Vice Minister of Rites, the path to an official career wouldn’t be so perilous.”

From Xu Jing’s tone, it was clear that Cheng Minzheng held considerable appreciation for him. Even Tang Yin began to feel regret. Yes, if not for the mishap, he probably would have already become a guest of honor at the Cheng residence. What a glorious and satisfying situation that would have been.

Xu Jing smiled again, blinked, and whispered, “On the ninth day of the new year, I went to the Cheng residence. I used three hundred taels of gold to request a literary piece from Lord Cheng. Lord Cheng’s running script style is quite unique. I still keep that precious calligraphy piece. Next time, I will show it to you for appreciation.”

Hearing this, Tang Yin couldn’t help but admire Xu Jing’s social deftness.

The so-called “requesting a literary piece” was actually just an unspoken rule of social exchange among the literati.

When Scholars visited certain high officials, it was naturally inconvenient to bring gifts directly, as the friendship between noble persons should be pure and detached. However, going empty-handed every time seemed rather inconsiderate.

One needed to give a gift, yet maintain an air of elegance. Thus, the practice of “requesting a literary piece” emerged. It essentially meant saying, “Sir, your calligraphy is excellent. I have been longing day and night to request a piece to hang in my home.” Then the official would write a piece. This piece was, naturally, given freely. Accepting money? Are you insulting me? Furthermore, you are a junior. Matters of the literati, how can they involve talking about money?

But the one requesting the piece insisted on offering a payment. One couldn’t let someone work for nothing. Moreover, culture itself naturally cannot be measured by money. If you offered one or two taels of silver, that would be an insult to the official. Is his excellent calligraphy only worth that little money? Therefore, the higher the price, the more it highlighted the value of the culture.

The Xu Family was originally a wealthy and powerful clan in the Southern Metropolitan Region. For Xu Jing to offer three hundred taels of gold at once was indeed lavish. It showed that Xu Jing felt he had great hope of passing with high honors this time, and that he would need Cheng Minzheng’s patronage for many matters in the future.

Xu Jing said regretfully, “Ah, if only you had been there…” As he spoke, he shook his head.

Hearing this, Tang Yin also felt extremely regretful. Cheng Minzheng was a high-ranking official. In the future, even if he couldn’t become a Grand Secretary, he would still likely become the head of a ministry, standing at the peak of the court hierarchy.

Missing the chance to meet such a person, and then visiting only after the results were posted and one had passed the exam, would appear calculating and opportunistic.

After all, a lower official visiting a senior official is called flattery. But if one hadn’t yet become an official, a Scholar paying respects to a senior from the same hometown didn’t give a sense of abruptness.

Now, as one of the examiners, Cheng Minzheng would obviously be exceptionally busy in the coming days. By the time he finished his duties, it would probably be time for the results to be posted.

Enough…

Although Tang Yin felt some annoyance, he soon shook his head. He was, after all, a free-spirited person. When his father was alive, he was always very proud. In recent years, he had lowered his stance a little and had begun to learn some tact. But now that the opportunity was lost, what use was regret? He said to Xu Jing, “Since the exam is over, and we brothers have reunited, we should have a few drinks.”

Xu Jing raised his eyebrows. “How could I refuse?”

…

When Ouyang Zhi, Liu Wenshan, and Jiang Chen came out of the Examination Hall, the outside seemed much quieter.

The three exchanged glances, each knowing in their hearts. They had been practicing past exam questions for several months prior, and this time, the questions in the Metropolitan Examination matched them. It was truly a miracle.

They were honest men and didn’t think too deeply about it. They obediently returned to their residence.

The Capital was abuzz.

Especially Tang Bohu’s simple comment “not bad” had set the entire Capital buzzing.

If Provincial First Place Scholar Tang said “not bad,” then it certainly must be not bad.

Many gambling houses in the Capital had started taking bets. The vast majority favored the Provincial First Place Scholar from Yingtian Prefecture. After all, being the Provincial First Place Scholar from Yingtian Prefecture was a symbol of strength, and it represented an almost overwhelming advantage over the Provincial Graduates from Shuntian Prefecture.

Grand Secretary of the Grand Secretariat and Minister of Revenue Li Dongyang ordered the exam papers sealed. He then instructed people to transcribe the answers. Afterwards, together with the other examiners, they graded the papers right there in the Examination Hall. The Examination Hall remained heavily guarded, layer upon layer, not even allowing a fly to enter or leave.

As the chief examiner for this session, Li Dongyang had considerable expectations for the popular candidates in this Metropolitan Examination.

Especially that Tang Yin, who, because of a bet, had become known throughout the world. He had read some of Tang Yin’s essays. This person was indeed very talented. If he could pass this session, in the future… entering the Hanlin Academy, he could indeed be cultivated.

Cheng Minzheng was also responsible for reviewing the exam questions. He was in a good mood. Serving as an examiner this time added another line to his record of experience. Moreover, before the exam, he had met several fellow townsmen. These fellows were all talented Scholars. If they passed with high honors, recruiting them as his disciples would also be a good thing. New Metropolitan Graduates needed to find a patron. And for the senior officials in the court, who wouldn’t want their disciples and former subordinates spread across the world? Even the highest official needs people to carry his Sedan Chair, right?

…

As soon as the exam ended here, meanwhile, someone rushed into the palace to deliver a memorial.

Emperor Hongzhi counted on his fingers and knew it was about that time. Next, they would wait for Li Dongyang and the others to finish grading and post the results. Then… the outcome would be clear.

At that moment, he was discussing matters with Liu Jian, Wang Ao, and others. Upon hearing the eunuch’s report, Emperor Hongzhi said with a smile, “This waiting for the posting of results is really hard to bear. I imagine Tutor Wang must be feeling it quite keenly.”

Wang Ao was left speechless. He was indeed finding it hard to bear. After all, his nephew had finished the exam. These days waiting for the results were truly agonizing. For the Wang Family to prosper, they needed to produce some outstanding talents. This way, they could inherit the family’s legacy. He had several sons. One had passed the provincial exam, but after failing the metropolitan exam several times in a row, there wasn’t much hope left. As he was older and couldn’t pass, he was recommended to the Ministry of Personnel based on his status as a Provincial Graduate and was finally given a position as a Chief Registrar in a county, letting him gain experience slowly. Another son was still only a Xiucai, and it seemed there was even less hope for him.

Instead, this nephew was the one with the best chance of passing with high honors. In the future, the one to bring glory to the family might be this nephew.

Wang Ao replied honestly, “Your old minister is ashamed.”

He didn’t outright deny it.

Emperor Hongzhi said with a smile, “I am actually quite curious about this session’s Metropolitan Examination. Oh, that Tang…”

“It’s Tang Yin,” Wang Ao supplemented.

Xie Qian was also quite interested in Tang Yin. He was from Zhejiang, not far from the Wu region. “I’ve heard that in the months before the exam, even though he was bedridden, he still studied fervently, closing his door and refusing visitors. This time, he is like a fierce tiger descending the mountain, with the heart to strive for the top. He should not be underestimated.”

Emperor Hongzhi looked down, pondered for a moment, and said, “Then, what about those three, Ouyang Zhi and the others? In my view, Ouyang Zhi and his two companions should not be underestimated either, after all, they were taught by Fang Jifan…”

When Ouyang Zhi was mentioned, both Wang Ao and Xie Qian couldn’t help but laugh.

Liu Jian, maintaining his calm and wise demeanor, couldn’t help but smile wryly.

It was a case of what you fear most is what comes.

Liu Jian was a northerner. To be honest, literary culture in the north was indeed not as flourishing; this he could not deny. But the current trend was clearly heading towards a competition between northern and southern Scholars, which worried him considerably. After all… he was a northerner, and no one enjoys the feeling of being soundly beaten.

As for why Wang Ao and Xie Qian laughed, it was simply because… Scholars like Ouyang Zhi and the other two from Northern Zhili were, in their eyes, truly not worth mentioning. Comparing them to a Provincial First Place Scholar like Tang Yin from the Southern Metropolitan Region was really…

When it came to examinations, southerners like Xie Qian and Wang Ao were still very proud. Since the founding of the Great Ming, it had been proven countless times that among northern Scholars, not a single one could put up a fight. And this was with the existence of separate northern and southern lists. If there were no separate lists, it would almost be like being hung up and beaten, or being freely and thoroughly dominated.