My life skills in Daming Liver

Gu Xiancheng was the same age as Tang Xianzu. They were both geniuses who passed the brutal imperial examination at the age of sixteen.

In the historical timeline before Su Ze traveled through time, Gu Xiancheng was an unavoidable figure in the field of Ming history research.

Although Gu Xiancheng eventually became the person in charge of the examination of meritorious service in the Ministry of Personnel, from being a tired official to being a member of the Ministry of Personnel, it was not a particularly big position.

But after he was dismissed, he returned to his hometown and founded Donglin Academy, which is very famous.

Gu Xiancheng lectured and discussed politics in this academy, cultivating the Donglin Party, an important force that influenced the situation in the late Ming Dynasty.

However, at this time, Gu Xiancheng was just a young scholar who studied Southeast New Studies and regarded Su Ze as his idol.

Seeing Linjiang Tang Xianzu, the second place winner in this imperial examination, Su Ze looked strange again.

When Su Ze became famous in Fujian, he copied Tang Xianzu's famous work "The Peony Pavilion".

At that time, Su Ze was still thinking about meeting Tang Xianzu in the future and accepting him as his disciple.

Now, in a sense, he has accepted Tang Xianzu as his disciple. After all, the Southeast is opening up subjects to recruit scholars, and these Jinshi can nominally be regarded as his students as the governor.

Su Ze couldn't help but sigh, those who can leave their names in history are not ordinary people.

And the one who can occupy an important position in the history books is the dragon among men.

People like Gu Xiancheng and Tang Xianzu will stand out wherever they go.

After understanding this, Su Ze calmed down a bit. Since they were talented people and were willing to participate in the imperial examination held by Southeast, then they were willing to serve Southeast.

Su Ze suddenly had a strong resonance with Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, and he had a proud feeling that "all the talents in the world are under my control".

After reading the top 100 names ranked by the cabinet, Su Ze confirmed that these papers indeed contained real talents and knowledge, and approved the final list of this imperial examination.

After Tang Xianzu came out of the imperial examination room, he was dragged to banquets in Nanjing by candidates from his hometown.

Although the number of Jinshi candidates for the first imperial examination in Southeast China this time has far exceeded previous years, with more than 10,000 candidates gathered in Nanjing this year, the probability of winning the Jinshi is still too low.

Many people know that their skills are not good enough, but they still come to Nanjing to take the exam. On the one hand, they want to see the papers of the first imperial examination in Southeast China and feel the atmosphere of the imperial examination.

On the other hand, it is to make connections and exchange knowledge.

Tang Xianzu was young and talented, but he was very low-key and did not like to attend such banquets.

In contrast, Gu Xiancheng is much more high-profile.

Not only was he keen on attending various banquets, but he also often discussed political affairs at banquets and talked freely about the world situation. He soon became famous in Nanjing.

Gu Xiancheng imitated the "Ten Friends of Vietnam and China" formed by Xu Wei and others, and also created the "Eight Friends of Wuzhong", which also made a name for itself in South Zhili.

When the list was released, Tang Xianzu did not go with his fellow villagers, but went to Gongyuan alone to see the list.

Gu Xiancheng, surrounded by his friends, squeezed into the center of Gongyuan Square.

"Winning! Congratulations to Brother Gu for being the top undergraduate student in high school!"

The first name on the list was Gu Xiancheng. Even he, who had always been proud of his talent, rubbed his eyes. After confirming that he had read it correctly, he was surrounded by great joy.

Despite the reform of the Southeastern Imperial Examination, there is no difference between the top 100 first-class Jinshi.

But the title of Number One Scholar is also a very eye-catching qualification when entering officialdom in the future.

When everyone heard that Gu Xiancheng won the first prize, they congratulated him one after another, and the center of the square became even more lively.

Tang Xianzu, who was squeezed in the corner, also saw his name below Gu Xiancheng.

When he saw Gu Xiancheng surrounded by people, he quickly suppressed his inner joy and carefully left Gongyuan Square.

Gu Xiancheng was the top scholar in high school at the age of 16, and his reputation was unparalleled. While he sent people to announce the good news to his family, he declined all the banquets and thanked guests behind closed doors.

The news that Tang Xianzu was ranked second in high school also spread among his fellow villagers in Jiangxi. Tang Xianzu also kept a low profile and declined the banquets from his fellow villagers.

The next day, officials from the Ministry of Rites came to the door and summoned 400 new scholars to report to the Examination Yuan.

Next, Su Ze held a banquet at the Crystal Palace where the Constitutional Convention was held. All important cabinet ministers attended the banquet and gave an encouraging speech to the new scholars.

The only thing that made Gu Xiancheng regretful was that the ceremony of the Three-Tripod Armor Parading on Horses was cancelled. As the number one scholar, he only had a few words with Su Ze. Su Ze kindly told Gu Xiancheng to continue studying and pass the selection examination after Guanzheng.

But Tang Xianzu was very happy that he no longer had to ride a horse on the street. Su Ze was also very enthusiastic about Tang Xianzu, asking him many things about his life, and encouraged him to try writing plays in his spare time.

Tang Xianzu was a little confused. He had a very strict upbringing and had always been immersed in reading. Although he had come into contact with Su Ze's plays, he only imitated Su Ze's plays in private and wrote some writing exercises. He had never published them to the outside world. How did the governor know?

When Su Ze encouraged Tang Xianzu, he was seen by fellow villagers in Linjiang. They thought that Tang Xianzu had some good works that Su Ze had read, and they all asked Tang Xianzu to take out the plays he had written to appreciate them.

Tang Xianzu reluctantly agreed, and many fellow villagers let him go.

After the banquet was over, many new scholars were led to the staff department the next day, and it was time for everyone to go their separate ways.

At yesterday's banquet, everyone was a proud man and a new scholar, and they were all immersed in the joy of passing the imperial examination.

Today, among everyone, only the first 100 first-class Jinshi can stay in Nanjing, while the last 300 second-class Jinshi will leave Nanjing and go to various places to observe politics.

Although Gu Xiancheng is young, he is the number one scholar in his new subject and has a high emotional intelligence. He quickly became involved with his fellow subjects.

The official in charge of the Ministry of Rites is named Kong. It is said that he is the direct grandson of the Kong family in Nanzhou, Quzhou. He is now the Minister of Rites in charge of etiquette.

Kong Fenglang led everyone into the gate of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, and the new scholars who had been chattering along the way became solemn.

The Ministry of Personnel is responsible for the appointment, dismissal, promotion and transfer of officials, and is naturally the head of the seven departments. The future of many new scholars may be in the hands of a small official in the Ministry of Personnel, so everyone is naturally nervous.

Kong Fenglang smiled slightly and led everyone through the first door and arrived at the lobby of the Staff Division.

"This is the Zhongfang Division. It is responsible for the files of local officials. It should be "all". The files of the second-class Jinshi have been sent over. The B-class Jinshis all stay here. The officials from the Zhongfang Division will guide you next. How to fill in the application form for Guanzheng Yamen."

Gu Xiancheng, who was standing in the first row, quietly said to Tang Xianzu, who was also young next to him:

"Second place candidate, I heard that this time the election of officials uses a combination of self-reporting and adjustments."

After all, it was related to his own future, so Tang Xianzu also became interested. He asked:

"Please give me some advice from Duke Zhuangyuan."

Gu Xiancheng has a wide range of friends. Yesterday he closed the door and thanked guests, just to inquire about the rules for selecting officials for new Jinshi.

He had already inquired in advance about the method of selecting officials for the new scholarship, and he was willing to sell the benefits of this equally young second place, so he said:

"The so-called self-reporting of volunteers means that the Ministry of Civil Affairs lists all positions where people can observe politics, and everyone can fill in the position they want to go to according to their own intentions."

Tang Xianzu asked doubtfully: "Of course everyone is willing to go to a good place, and no one is willing to go to a bad place. It's impossible for everyone to stay in a wealthy place and become an official, right?"

Gu Xiancheng said: "Of course, the number of people required for each position is limited. If there are too many people, they will be selected according to the admission ranking, and the ones ranked lower will lose."

Tang Xianzu secretly thought it was cruel. Sure enough, the imperial examination still depends on ranking. Those with high rankings in the imperial examination will be given priority. Wouldn't it be true that those with lower rankings in the imperial examination can only go to remote areas to serve as officials?

Gu Xiancheng said: "But everyone can fill in three choices. If you study carefully, you may not be able to choose the position you like."

Tang Xianzu asked: "Then I would like to ask the number one scholar, what should I do if all three choices are unsuccessful?"

Gu Xiancheng said: "That's an adjustment. If you fail in all three applications, you will have to accept the arrangements of the Ministry of Personnel."

Gu Xiancheng said to Tang Xianzu: "But this has nothing to do with us. You and I can both choose the positions we like."

Tang Xianzu also nodded. He was the second-ranked Jinshi candidate, which meant that among the Xinke Jinshi candidates selected today, only Gu Xiancheng had a higher priority than him.

Kong Fenglang took the first-class Jinshi and continued walking deep into the Ministry of Officials, and soon came to a courtyard.

"This is the Literary and Selection Department. The files of all officials in Beijing are stored here. Your files have also been sent here."

"Next, officials from the Literature and Selection Department will tell you how to fill in your application."

After saying this, Kong Fenlang said goodbye to everyone, and a young official from the Ministry of Personnel came out.

This round-faced official from the Ministry of Personnel, surnamed Lin, was wearing a fifth-grade official robe.

But to be able to serve in the Literary and Selection Department of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, one must not be an ordinary person. Everyone paid tribute to Lin Wenxuan.

Sure enough, just like what Gu Xiancheng said, the first-class Jinshi also decided the yamen where everyone would watch the government according to the official selection method that combined self-reporting of volunteers and adjustments and allocations.

Then an official from the Ministry of Civil Affairs took out a big list and posted it on the notice board.

Lin Wenxuan said: "This is the department where first-class Jinshi can choose to observe politics this time. The following number is the number of people who can observe politics. Each person can fill in three choices. If they are all unsuccessful, they can only follow the arrangements of the staff."

"Everyone has half a day to choose. I will come back here before lunch, and then, under the supervision of the Imperial Censor, I will announce your whereabouts on the spot."

After Lin Wenxuan left, the new scholars present looked at each other. At this time, everyone changed from being in the same department and the same year to being competitors in the official selection. The atmosphere at the scene changed subtly.

The only ones who are relaxed are naturally the Jinshi who rank high in the imperial examination. As long as they don't collide with those in front of them, they can basically choose their favorite positions.

Those who ranked lower in the imperial examination only regretted that they did not perform well during the examination. Now the selection of officials depends on the faces of others.

The most embarrassing thing is the Jinshis at the bottom of the first class. If they fall below one hundred, they can be selected first among the second class Jinshis. I don't know if it is better to stay in the capital and choose a marginal department.

Gu Xiancheng took the initiative to recruit colleagues in the same department to study the future of official selection. He was the number one scholar in his undergraduate program and had already decided on his future.

Now I am giving advice to fellow students in order to expand my influence and improve my reputation among my fellow students.

Gu Xiancheng had already chosen his destination, which was to stay in the Department of Literary and Selection of the Ministry of Personnel to watch politics.

The Literature and Selection Department of the Ministry of Personnel is an important department responsible for the evaluation and promotion of local officials. It can be said to be the most critical department of the Ministry of Personnel.

Because he wanted to work in the Ministry of Civil Affairs, Gu Xiancheng actively made friends with the same year.

Tang Xianzu looked at the long list of positions, but fell into a tangle.

Tang Xianzu was aloof by nature and did not want to interact with others. He did not want to go to the official department, which everyone flocked to.

He himself was not interested in finance and tax matters, so the Ministry of Revenue was naturally unwilling to choose him.

Tang Xianzu didn't want to join the army, so the Army Department and the Navy Department naturally wouldn't choose it.

He is also not interested in criminal justice, so the only ones left are the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Punishment.

Although there are five temples and two prisons in the capital yamen that Class A Jinshi can choose from, the seven departments are obviously higher than the five temples and two prisons, and everyone only regards them as the second or third choice positions.

At this time, Gu Xiancheng, who had already helped Gu Xiancheng, who had completed his staff duties in the same year, came to Tang Xianzu's side.

"Second-ranked man, which yamen do you want to go to?"

Looking at the densely packed posts, Tang Xianzu was a little dazzled. He touched his head and said:

"I'm not so sure either."

Gu Xiancheng said: "Then let me give you some advice?"

Tang Xianzu nodded, and Gu Xiancheng said:

"Of course the first choices are the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Revenue. Will the second-place candidate consider it?"

Tang Xianzu shook his head. Gu Xiancheng, who had a high emotional intelligence, did not persuade him anymore, but continued:

"The Governor also recognized the talent and learning of the second-place candidate, and going to the Ministry of Etiquette is also a good choice."

"The number one department in the Ministry of Rites is naturally the Examination Yuan. This is an important department responsible for our various examinations in the southeast. The Examination Yuan is also responsible for the setting and grading of our imperial examinations."

Tang Xianzu thought about it and felt that the Examination Yuan was not suitable for him, and shook his head again.

"What about the Press and Publication Administration? It is responsible for the approval of newspapers and periodicals throughout the southeast, as well as copyright protection."

Tang Xianzu shook his head again.

"What about the Academic Affairs Administration? It is responsible for the schools and academic officials in the entire southeast."

Tang Xianzu still shook his head.

Now Gu Xiancheng was scratching his head.

"What about the Ministry of Industry? Will the second-place pick consider it?"

Tang Xianzu was also confused. He nodded and said, "The Ministry of Industry can also consider it."

Gu Xiancheng said in a low voice: "Then I recommend that the second best candidate go to this newly established department. I heard that this department was established by the Governor himself."

Su Ze was Tang Xianzu's idol. Hearing this, Tang Xianzu also became interested: "Please also ask Zhuangyuan Gong for advice."

"Railway Department, Ministry of Industry."