Early in the morning, before dawn, the three hundred candidates taking the palace examination had to carry their examination baskets and go to the Meridian Gate. They lined up to wait in line to enter the palace from Zuoye Gate and go to the broad square in front of Fengtian Palace to take the palace examination.
Zhang Zhou, as the Huiyuan of the examination, was listed at the head of the leftmost team among the three teams.
Before the palace examination, no one will get to know each other well, and everything will have to wait until the palace examination is over, so it is very quiet in front of the palace gate, and everyone is eager to try.
It was not until dawn that the officials from the Ministry of Rites checked the names, place of origin and other information of the candidates present and confirmed that everyone was present before the candidates began to enter.
The examiners of Tiandian Hall will not come to the examination room. Candidates pass through the palace gates and arrive in front of Fengtian Hall. There are already 300 desks on the ground. As long as it is not windy or raining that day, the candidates will have to sit in this empty space.
Compared to taking the exam in a place surrounded by walls in Gongyuan, although the air here is better, the big problem is that you can't eat, drink, or even use the toilet that day.
Even if he pees in his crotch, the palace examiner cannot leave his position.
The desk is very low. Originally, candidates were supposed to kneel on the ground to take the palace examination. However, during the Hongzhi period, all palace examinations provided candidates with soft cushions. There was no need to kneel down during the examination, even sitting cross-legged.
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Just when the candidates were about to get the palace examination questions, Zhu Youtang and other monarchs and ministers had arrived at the Meridian Gate to complete the day's court meeting.
Because the emperor would personally come up with the topic in the Fengtian Palace, the court meeting on the day would also be concise. If there were important events, they would be discussed, and if there were no important events, they would basically end with a few words.
There was only one content in the court meeting that day.
Huoshi and the little Tatar prince each sent envoys to the capital, and they were about to arrive at Juyongguan, but there were still signs of Tatar activities in Yansui and other places... The Tatars were initially afraid that the Ming Dynasty would pursue the victory and pursue it, so they were led by Wang Weining.
The soldiers fought their way out of the grassland, but as time passed, even the Tatars discovered that Wang Weining was stationed at Piantou Pass and would not leave.
And their living environment on the grassland is relatively harsh. Even if they don't plunder the Daming City Gate at this time, things like big bullying of small ones in the grassland are still happening.
There was Wang Weining in Piantou Pass, and they didn't dare to get close. But there were no such evil spirits in other places, so they had to harass him when they should.
"Can't Northwest just stop for two days?"
Zhu Youtang was very angry.
On the one hand, Wang Yue achieved a great victory and frightened the wolves in the prairie, but on the other hand, the wolves in the prairie continued to come for food.
Now not only did the ministers not agree to let Wang Yue take the initiative, but even he, the emperor, did not dare to do so. The group of hungry wolves on the grassland seemed to realize that the border troops of the Ming Dynasty were guarding one-third of an acre of land on the border.
The result is...the battle at Pianguan is over, and everything is business as usual.
The emperor also wanted to use this battle to establish the situation in the northwest, but now it seems that he has thought too much.
"The Ministry of War is formulating a strategy for the use of troops in the northwest. The Tatar envoys have disappeared without a trace! Let them return to the Xuan Mansion and give them back!"
There is no need for Zhu Youtang to coax the hungry wolves in the grassland now.
It's not that you sent envoys to see me, which is rare for me. You are not here to surrender, but to make excuses with the Ming court. Since I don't plan to reopen the border market, I don't care about your tribute.
If I’m not going to give you anything in return, then get out of here!
Wang Zongyi, the minister of the Ministry of War, said: "Your Majesty, the fire sieve has the above table, and it is proposed to pay tribute to horses, etc. in exchange for the return of his adopted son."
In the eyes of the courtiers, Dayan Khan's appeal can be ignored, but the Fire Sieve still pays more attention to it.
We want to "conquer people with virtue". After defeating them, we should send Huoshii's godson back. This can be regarded as sowing discord in the grassland, allowing Huoshi to appreciate the kindness of the Ming Dynasty, and then go to follow Dayan Khan. Internal strife.
"Why do you want to return the order? Just use it as a pledge. If Huoshai attacks again, kill him! So he returned the envoy sent by Huoshai. Today is a matter for the court. If you have nothing else to do, retreat from the court!"
Zhu Youtang's tough statement made the minister feel that this emperor who once governed the country with benevolence and filial piety was very different from before.
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The meeting ended.
Zhu Youtang was going to take the Luan Yu to Fengtian Palace to preside over the palace examination.
He was looking forward to today more than any previous palace examination.
Mainly because today is also the day for Zhang Zhou's palace examination. He doesn't even plan to just hide in Fengtian Palace. He plans to set up his throne in front of Fengtian Palace, and even wants to meet the candidates present before the exam.
"Everyone is here, Your Majesty." Xiao Jing was responsible for maintaining order for the Jinyi Guards and had not gone to court before.
When the emperor was driving halfway, Xiao Jing came over to explain to the emperor.
Zhu Youtang smiled and said: "Is Bingkuan at the front?"
"Yes, Your Majesty, Mr. Zhang is the Hui Yuan, so he should be in front. I even asked someone to move his desk a little further, so that he can be in front of all the candidates."
Xiao Jing was also very clever in order to cater to the emperor.
If Zhang Zhou is in the front row, he is just juxtaposed with others. In order to highlight that Zhang Zhou is different from others, his desk must be further forward.
This is called treatment.
"Yes." Zhu Youtang smiled and nodded, "I've had this in my heart for a long time! Move over."
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In front of Fengtian Hall.
The emperor came in person and set up his throne.
After each of the three hundred tributes laid out their own pens, inks, paperweights, etc., they stood up and prepared to salute the emperor.
Before the palace examination, candidates must worship the emperor to show that they are disciples of the emperor.
Then the eunuch on the steps read out the emperor's decree, first showing courtesy to the candidates, and then the second part, which was the day's test questions.
"Let them all go back to their respective positions and let's get started."
Zhu Youtang did not stick to the situation.
After he gave instructions to Xiao Jing, the palace examination officially began.
Curls.
Starting from the provincial examination in the Ming Dynasty, all examination papers were printed and checked by someone in advance, so candidates did not need to hear clearly what the person reading the imperial edict was saying.
Zhang Zhou sat in front and could see the emperor when he raised his head.
At this time, Zhu Youtang was also looking at him with a smile. It was the first time that the monarch and his ministers were so clearly distinguished, but there was also a certain affinity.
In name, the king is above and the ministers are below, but in fact they are friends. I am here to witness that among my friends, I am a Jinshi.
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"Zhi said: I have only ruled since ancient times when holy emperors and Ming kings were governed. Their methods were not limited to one end. Confucius answered Yan Yuan's question. When the country was in the Xia Dynasty, he rode the chariot of the Yin Dynasty and served the crown of the Zhou Dynasty. He danced with the Shao Shao dance for music and said it. Or, if we say that the four generations of rituals and music were the same, then the emperor would be able to govern. Is the two of rituals and music enough?
"Ouyang, a Confucian scholar of the Song Dynasty, said that after three dynasties, the upper government came from one, and rituals and music spread throughout the world; after the three dynasties, the lower government came from two, and rituals and music were just empty names. At that time, the great Taoist scholars called it a theory that has never been changed in ancient and modern times. Today, it is After examining his words, it can be said that there are traces of governance over thousands of years."
"Three generations have passed, and there is no room for discussion. Emperor Gao of the Han Dynasty ordered his uncle and grandson to establish rituals and music, but he did not come to Lu for two lifetimes. He said that rituals and music would accumulate virtues for a hundred years and then flourish. Later, the three kingdoms were divided. Among his ministers were Zhuge Liang and Confucianism.
Either the rituals and music are popular, or the common people are allowed to enjoy the rituals and music, Gaitong and Liang are certainly not without their advantages and disadvantages as a person. It is still debatable whether the rituals and music can be prosperous or not."
"Our country has been founded by Emperor Taizu Gao with divine martial arts, and has been passed down from saint to sage for more than a hundred years. The production of rituals and music has been prepared according to the times and people. However, the prosperity of the governance has not been fully restored, so the rise and fall of the world cannot be without it.
Strangely enough, there is still something that has not yet been achieved by suppressing the reality of unity.”
"I only inherited Pi Xu. I wanted to promote the transformation of rituals and music all night long, but I did not know the way of Yilong. I relied on the classics and history, consulted the ancient and modern, and presented it. I will personally see it."
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Zhang Zhou found that the questions in the palace examination were the same as those in history.
He "leaked" the question of the general examination in advance, which resulted in all the questions being changed. However, the question of the palace examination had obviously been finalized long ago and had not been changed because of his appearance. As for who the question came from, Zhang Zhou did not need to know.
This policy question.
It is a classic historical policy, and it talks about "education with rituals and music", or it can be called "ruling the country with rituals and music".
The question is divided into five parts.
The first part is about Confucius' use of "Answers to Yan Yuan's Questions" to introduce the model of governing the country with rituals and music. The so-called rituals and music refer to governing the country with rules, what kind of clothes should people of different status wear, what kind of music should they wear, and the differences between different people.
When making contact, use the courtesy that suits your status.
The second part is Ouyang Xiu’s discussion of ancient ritual and music governance.
The three generations up are not talking about the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties, but the three dynasties of Yao, Shun, and Yu. It talks about the ancient sages who governed the country, all relying on rituals and music. After the third generation, it means "the collapse of rituals and the collapse of music", and rules are used.
If punishments are fixed, the country governed by rituals and music becomes a false name.
The third part discusses the gains and losses in governing the country with rituals and music for "more than thousands of years" from Emperor Gao of the Han Dynasty to the Ming Dynasty. It mentions two key figures and their deeds, one is "Shu Sun Tong Ding Rites and Music"; the other is "
"Zhuge Liang's etiquette and music flourished." Since ancient times, Zhuge Liang's assistance to Adou has been considered a model of etiquette and music education, so he is used as an example.
This test question also did not make a conclusion on the affairs of Shusun Tong and Zhuge Liang. It mentioned "there are still discussions", which means that only these two people were mentioned, and you candidates still have to discuss whether it is feasible to rejuvenate the country with rituals and music.
When Shusun Tong established rituals and music, there was still Lu Ersheng who didn't know how to change the times. Don't you candidates think that there is nothing debatable in this?
The fourth part is the key. Starting from Taizu of the Ming Dynasty, it discusses the gains and losses of the rule of ritual and music in this dynasty...or it can be said that there are only gains and no losses.
To be polite, call it a gain or loss, but candidates must be aware of the situation.
The rule of the Ming Dynasty came from God's will, how could it be done wrong? Even if there may be some points that are criticized, it must be a villain who does not know its meaning and maliciously slanders... He is also a rebellious official and traitor!
The fifth part is that I came up with this topic because I have been thinking about the governance of rituals and music, and I have always wanted to understand the mysteries of it, and I have occasionally gained some insights. I came up with this topic today just to discuss it with you all.
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You should "draw on the classics and history and consider the past and present" and write an article to discuss it. You should clearly discuss the five parts covered above and make sure there are no mistakes or omissions.
Saying that I will see it in person is actually an excuse. Whether the emperor can see it or not is another matter.
In theory, the emperor will read the imperial examination questions, but how many copies you read is not what you candidates need to care about.
