It is not easy to hand in this paper in advance.

The first exam can only be handed in after 4 p.m., and the handed-in papers are not immediately released from the examination hall. The first batch can only be released after 50 people are gathered, and the Baizhi County will personally come to open the big lock of the lock courtyard. people go out.

The examination room is locked, so you can't just hand in the papers and the county magistrate will open the door, right? Isn't that the same as becoming a janitor?

When Su Ze arrived at the entrance of the examination institute, several guardsmen were stomping their feet to keep warm.

Only then did Su Ze see that the weather in Fujian this year was also abnormal, and there was a snowfall during the Chinese New Year.

In previous years, there was no snow in this place of Yanping Mansion.

Although it is said that the auspicious snow heralds a good year, but seeing snow during the Chinese New Year, Uncle Lin Qishu, a planting expert in the guard, frowned.

The saying that auspicious snow heralds a good year works well in the north, but not necessarily in the south. Such a cold climate will affect the spring plowing in the next year.

Sure enough, Uncle Lin Qi's guess was right. It's already the tenth day of February, forty days have passed, and the weather still hasn't turned warm.

In previous years, the common people had to prepare for spring plowing, but this year they can only sit idle at home.

Changning Guard, which already had food in stock, was fine, but the people who didn't have food in stock were panicked.

The guards in front of me were soldiers from other counties, and they should be soldiers from the guards around the county.

They wore thin clothes, and naturally there was no fire in the examination hall, so they had to stamp their feet to expel the cold.

I don't know what the weather is like in the north. If it is colder than usual, many people will freeze to death.

Su Ze didn't know if it was the Little Ice Age, but I heard from the old man in the guard that the winters have been getting colder and colder these years, and the weather is also abnormal.

Half an hour later, more and more people handed in the papers. Many candidates for the county exam came to experience the atmosphere of the exam.

When more people gathered, a assistant from the ceremony room walked to the center of the examination institute and told Baizhi County that the lock could be unlocked.

Baizhi County is currently inspecting the examination room.

This question is his favorite work, but after browsing around, he found that most of the candidates didn't know what they were answering.

The culture and education in this county have fallen so badly!

Hearing that the candidates who had been discharged from the hospital gathered so quickly, Bai Zhixian's face became even uglier.

If the scholars who passed the county examination do not get enough quota, then there is something wrong with the county's culture and education. It seems that when correcting, we need to release water and lower the standard.

For example, Chen Chaoyuan from the editorial department of "Surprise" just now, although his answer did not meet his requirements, he can still be included in the sub-list.

Holding the key, Bai Zhixian saw at a glance that Su Ze, an acquaintance, was in the first place.

Couldn't he answer it too?

Baizhi County didn't think that it was Su Ze who answered the questions before handing in the papers ahead of time. He knew the difficulty of the questions this time. The rural exams in Yunnan, Guizhou and Liaodong, which were behind the imperial examinations, were not as difficult. A stereotype of the Four Books, how can it be as easy as Su Ze.

It must be that Su Ze is busy with other things and cannot concentrate on the imperial examination!

Thinking of this, Bai Zhi County's complexion became even worse. After unlocking the door, he said to Su Ze:

"Imperial examinations are the right path. Don't disappoint the magistrate's favor and the teachings of Haijiao. Don't focus on other things."

Su Ze also received a training for no reason, but Bai Zhixian's tone was sincere, and what he said was also the teacher's persuasion.

Su Ze bowed to Baizhi County and said, "Thank you for your teaching, Mr. County Lord."

Bai Zhixian nodded slightly, but didn't say anything, and let the first batch of candidates go out.

Su Ze, who was the first to hand in the paper, was reprimanded, and the rest of the candidates left the examination hall with their heads bowed in trembling.

It was almost dark at this time, but lanterns were hung on the upper floor opposite the examination institute, and several academy students were already standing at the door, waiting for the examinees to come out.

Seeing Su Ze, these Yanping Academy students were taken aback, bypassing him to find other acquainted scholars and asking them about the exam questions.

The people behind were whispering, but Su Ze didn't care at all. He carried the test basket and walked to the editorial office of "Surprise". After a day of exams, he was tired and hungry, so he wanted to have a good meal.

"gentlemen!"

Su Ze heard a familiar boy's voice, it was Peng An, the leader of the newsboy, standing in the corner with a basket.

Although Peng An still didn't live in the Nursing Home, he never missed Su Ze's lectures, and he always treated Su Ze as a disciple.

"This is the food box Mr. Fang asked me to send."

Peng An handed an exquisite food box to Su Ze. The food box was still warm to the touch. This "Master Fang" was really caring.

"How long have you been waiting? Let's go back and eat together."

The county exam can be taken until nine o'clock in the evening at the latest. Chen Chaoyuan and Lin Qingcai attach great importance to this county exam and will definitely not hand in the papers in advance. Su Ze simply invited Peng An to go back to eat together.

Peng An shook his head and said, "The students have to go back to divide the bills, thank you sir."

He paused again and said: "I also just arrived, and I almost missed the sir's exam. Mr. Fang asked me to come here now, and wait for half an hour at the entrance of the examination institute. If the master doesn't come out, I will take the food box back."

Su Ze smiled, this Fang Ruolan is also interesting, so if I don't hand in the test in advance, I won't be able to eat the food box?

Or is she so confident in herself?

Su Ze took the food box and asked Peng An to be careful when walking at night, and returned to his residence with the food box.

In the restaurant opposite the examination institute, Huang Shixing and the others gasped when they saw Si Shuyi's examination questions.

In fact, the difficulty of this topic is beyond the outline.

The difficulty of each stage of the imperial examination is different.

There are three boy exams, also known as the junior exams, the county exam, the government exam, and the Dao exam. The most difficult one is naturally the Dao exam hosted by the Xuezheng Yamen.

The boy's examination, the rural examination and the general examination are called the junior examinations, and the most difficult is actually the rural examination.

And the difficulty of this question can already be used in the township examination!

Huang Shixing has also been preparing for the exam recently, and when he saw this question, he began to think about it.

The interception questions in the Ming Dynasty were not as blatant as in the Qing Dynasty. After all, intercepting the scriptures of the sages is also somewhat contrary to the hadith.

It was not until the Qing Dynasty that the Ministry of Rites clearly stipulated that questions could be given in the imperial examination.

So the good news is that now there will be no interception questions in the imperial examination.

The bad news is that almost all the questions in the township examination are cut-and-answer questions, and those who can't do cut-and-answer questions have been eliminated in the township examination.

Those who are capable of challenging this question are all outstanding scholars. Huang Shixing picked up the pen and began to write on the white paper.

It was already dark at this time, and candles had already begun to be given out in the examination hall. Three candles were given to each person, and they would burn until nine o'clock at the latest.

Chen Chaoyuan had finished answering the draft, and he checked it again before he started to copy the exam paper.

Baizhi County has already started marking the examination papers.

However, the time for marking the county examination papers was tight and the tasks were heavy, and Baizhi County could not finish reading so many examination papers in one night alone.

So basically those who read the papers are the masters of Baizhi County and the cronies of the county officials.

Although this is not in line with the imperial court system, all counties in the world are doing this now, and the law does not blame the public.

Baizhi County will write two scriptures with ideas to solve the problem, and then write a standard model essay and distribute it.

The examiner grades the examination paper based on the answers he gives.

However, Baizhi County didn't fully trust the group of people under him. He divided into two groups and cross-checked the papers. If both groups were crossed, they would be dismissed and sent to him.

As long as there is a group of judges, it will be sent to Baizhi County for final arbitration.

Examination papers were sent to Baizhi County one after another, but they were basically papers with a circle and a fork, which meant that they could not be accepted by both groups of grading papers.

After reading the papers, Baizhi County also felt that they were all unsatisfactory, so he temporarily withheld these papers, and if the number of admitted people is not enough, he can admit from these papers.

When the clapper sounded at nine o'clock, it was finally time to hand in the papers. Chen Chaoyuan checked the papers before the candles went out, and called the guards to hand in the papers.

Lin Qingcai, on the other hand, had a blank mind. He was stunned after reading the first Four Books, and it was already dark when he finished it by force. The following Five Classics and test poems were written in a hurry, and finally the papers were forcibly taken away.

Lin Qingcai was on the verge of crying when he left the examination institute, and some old children were even worse than him, so they burst into tears.

The crying came upstairs, Huang Shixing put down the pen in his hand and said, "It's done!"

Everyone gathered around.

Huang Shixing's thinking is similar to Su Ze's, but the use of allusions is much worse, there are too many arguments in the air, and there are few arguments to support them.

However, it is not easy to solve the problem and complete the stereotyped creation in a short period of time. As expected, Huang Shixing is the first person under the Juren of Yanping Mansion.

Huang Shixing said: "This question is too difficult. I'm afraid not one in ten children in this county can answer this question correctly."

Everyone nodded one after another, asking themselves if they were asked to take this question, let alone these children.

Thinking of Su Ze, Huang Shixing smiled.

In the final analysis, it still depends on the imperial examination! When I win the Juren, I will deal with Su Ze, a guy who is not even a scholar!

At the same time, Baizhi County finally got a test paper with two circles drawn on it.

If you see a broken question on the paper:

"Speaking of deep learning can determine the existence of friends."

Bai Zhixian nodded again and again! This is the way he wants to solve the problem!

The paper was copied by officials, and Baizhi County couldn't tell whose paper it was. He read it carefully, and felt that the paper was answered well.

The relationship between learning and practice, and the attitude of pursuing "Tao" can be said to be no problem in Su Ze's article.

In fact, the title of Baizhi County's article also implied his political inclination-that is, "a gentleman has friends."

Baizhi County also has political ideals!

Throughout the ages, the term crony has been used in a derogatory sense, which means forming a party for personal gain.

After Baizhi County was admitted as a Jinshi, he and several other Jinshi of the same year agreed to help each other and support each other.

This is of course not in line with the saying of "a gentleman is not a party" in the official circles of the Ming Dynasty, but Yan Song has a treacherous party, Qingliu has a Qingliu party, and Baizhi County, these new jinshi's imperial examinations are too low, and the officials are too small, both sides look down on them. In order to survive in the dangerous officialdom, they can only join the party to protect each other and exchange what they have.

And Su Zewen's theory that he seeks the truth and practice the avenue to figure it out, so the gentlemen will naturally gather together, is just talking about the heart of Baizhi County.

Baizhi County looked at the transcribed examination papers, and the examination papers were also ambiguous, with "A Six" glued into the binding line of the papers. Baizhi County wrote down this article, and waited until the list was published to see that it was the hero in the county.

The grading work continued until the next afternoon, and finally all the test papers were finished. Including Su Ze's paper, there were only ten double-circle test papers in total.

There were 50 exam papers with a circle and a cross, and Baizhi County selected 40 of them with better literary talents from the 50 and included them in the list. This is the list of students who passed the first exam.

The remaining ten papers are the secondary list of this exam.

Candidates on the secondary list can still take the second round of exams. If unlucky candidates are dismissed in the next two exams, those who are at the top of the secondary list can fill in.

However, the most important thing in the Imperial Examinations of the Ming Dynasty is the classics and righteousness. As long as you don’t hand in blank papers in the next two rounds, or accidentally write words that need to be avoided, you will basically not be dismissed.

The sub-list is roughly equal to the interview waiting list of the modern public examination. Only in a few cases when the previous candidates give up will they have the opportunity to make up.

After all these things are done, it is already the third day.

Before dawn, the officials in the ceremony room began to get busy, and they took out a large red paper.

There is a big "中" character on the big paper, and the area covered by the Chinese character is called "Tuanan".

The officials in the ceremonial room took apart the pasted names, and wrote the number plate on the pattern in order from the inside to the outside, according to the ranking.

For example, Su Ze is ranked first, and his "A6" is written in the center of the word "Zhong" in the middle of the list.

The top 20 are all in the inner circle of the group case, that is, the part covered by Chinese characters. The top 20 will basically not be dismissed, and they will basically be sent to the government for examination.

On the outside of the group case are the number plates from 21st to 50th, which is also on the top list.

If the number plate falls outside the group case, it is on the sub-list.

The entire red list was finally sent to Baizhi County for checking. After checking all the number plates and papers, Baizhi County stamped the official seal of the county government and ordered the Dianshi of the Lifang to release the list outside the examination institute.

At this time, many people had already gathered at the gate of the examination institute. Even those who knew that they would not pass the examination would come to see the list with a fluke mentality. What if they got in?

Su Ze, Chen Chaoyuan, and Lin Qingcai also came to the square early. It would be a lie to say that they were not nervous. Looking at the crowd of candidates, Su Ze also felt a little nervous.

Chen Chaoyuan said to Su Ze: "Brother Su, if you see your own badge, don't look strange, and don't shout that you've won the list, just follow the crowd and exit."

Su Ze asked suspiciously, "Why?"

Chen Chaoyuan sighed and said, "It's still because our Fujian imperial examination competition is too fierce. When we didn't use number plates before, some people would report fraud in the imperial examination after the first round of the exam. There was also a rumor that the candidates who failed the exam jointly went to the Xuezheng Yamen to file a complaint."

Su Ze understood now that Wen Wu was the first, and those who failed the rankings were naturally unconvinced. After all, even if they entered the top rankings in the first exam, they still had the possibility of being dismissed.

There may not be evidence for the troublemakers, but the disgusting people have a hand, so the number plate system is also to protect those candidates who are on the list, so as not to affect their subsequent exams.

Only the red list whose names are transcribed after the third round is the list that has actually passed the county test.

Sure enough, the experienced candidates were like Chen Chaoyuan, who silently read the list and then left.

Su Ze walked to the front of the list, and when he saw "A6", he silently retreated, ready to prepare for the next exam.

County examinations and government examinations are qualifying examinations. In fact, there are only a few people who are really competing.

Among the entire imperial examinations, the rural examination is the most difficult.

A total of 2,300 people participated in the provincial examination for the last subject in Fujian, but what is the admission quota in Fujian? There are only 90 people in the province.

And what is the admission rate for the Jinshi examination?

In the last palace examination, which was held in the 32nd year of Jiajing, there were a total of 403 Jinshi candidates, and the champion was Chen Jin from Min County, Fuzhou Prefecture, Fujian Province.

As for the total number of Juren who participated in the national examination, there were only more than 3,000 people in the Jiajing period.

In such a comparison, the admission rate of the Fujian Provincial Examination is 3.9%, while the admission rate of Jinshi is 13.4%.

In 2020, the national admission rate of Tsinghua University is 3.7%.

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