Less than two days after giving three lectures, it was time for the imperial examination in the ninth year of Kaiyuan.
The Jinshi subject is the most expensive, and the exam questions are discussed by the prime ministers of the Political Hall, but basically it is the examiner's suggestion, and the prime ministers agree that as long as there are no major mistakes, there is nothing to review.
As the examiner, Bai Gui pretended to be a public official for personal gain and mixed in private goods.
He didn't obviously tamper with the test questions.
This is too obvious!
But if you want to answer the content of the previous examination question, you will inevitably have to involve the content of his three lectures on the Confucian classics.
This indirectly affects the right to interpret scripture!
However, the annotations on the Confucian classics in the Tang Dynasty were more complex, unlike in the Ming and Qing Dynasties when there was only Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism. Therefore, although his approach of "fishing for side branches" may make people a little dissatisfied, the examiner has his own preferences, which is quite normal.
No one can comment on it.
The Jinshi subject examination can be completed in one day.
"Well, Li Taibai..."
"This is a deep understanding of the truth, and the rhetoric is so gorgeous. However, the article's rhetoric is gorgeous, but it lacks a sense of stability."
"Look at other people's papers first. If others are not as good as you, the top pick will be yours."
Li Bai ranked first in the list of famous scholars, so the first thing Bai Gui read was Li Bai's test paper.
Li Bai had been working with him for many years and had some understanding of his character and writing style. Therefore, during the exam, he tried to figure out the examiner's thoughts and most of the articles he wrote were in line with him.
Therefore, the article lacks a natural flavor. Although it looks pleasing to the eye, the grade is a bit lower than usual.
"Meng Haoran is older and has a sophisticated writing style..."
Bai Gui read Meng Haoran's article again and nodded. He was worthy of being a famous poet in later generations. At least he was top-notch in terms of poetry and poetry.
"Wang Changling can also..."
"Cui Zhen can also..."
Bai Gui read them all one by one.
Scholar candidates who can be ranked on the celebrity list all write good articles. But apart from the rhetoric, we start to talk about the depth of content. In this regard, older people have certain advantages.
"Li Bai is my staff member. No matter how he is selected as the number one scholar, he will inevitably be criticized. Besides, his articles are not enough to surpass others. However, he has a good face and can be a potential beauty prospect..."
Bai Gui graded the test papers and wrote the names one by one on the plain paper.
"I recommend Meng Haoran as the number one scholar. What do you think?"
He looked at the examiners present.
Although the list of Jinshi in the ninth year of Kaiyuan is historically different from this, it is different. The examiner is different, and his preference for the test papers is also different. After he came, he has affected many aspects of the Tang Dynasty, and history cannot be changed again.
Develop according to the original trajectory.
And in history, Meng Haoran failed in many trials... The reason why Bai Gui selected Meng Haoran as the number one scholar was partly because of his talent, but also because of Meng Haoran's age, which was in his thirties. It was more appropriate for him to be the number one scholar at this age.
If you are older and are an old Jinshi, your ranking will have to be moved to the back. If you are younger, unless you really dominate the audience, you will have to move to the back to show the stability and dignity of the examination room.
After listening to this, the examiners present looked at the rankings, looked at each other, and then they all said with their hands in hand: "Bai Xiang is fair, this list is feasible!"
…
The spring of the ninth year of Kaiyuan has come to an end.
However, even after the Spring Festival, Bai Gui still insisted on going to Taixue to teach Confucian classics every ten days.
The number of scholars who came was much smaller than that before the Spring Festival. There were less than 500 people, a decrease of nearly 60%.
But this does not mean that people are leaving for tea.
Some people didn't come because they failed in the imperial examination, so they embarked on the journey back home. Others didn't come because they thought that Bai Gui might not be the examiner of the next imperial examination, and they were slacking off. There were other things.
The reasons are different.
The reason why these people in front of me stayed was largely because Bai Gui was the ruler of the dynasty and held a high position. Of course, some people came to listen to Bai Gui's lectures on Confucian classics.
“When the waves wash away the sand, real gold is found.”
Bai Gui glanced at the scholars sitting on the futon in front. Quite a few of them were Jinshi, and some were candidates from various imperial examinations.
He wrote them all down one by one.
Although these people may come because of their power, to him, it is better than those scholars who don't come.
Today’s lecture is coming to an end.
"The reason why the Prime Minister lectures on scriptures in Taixue is, firstly, to establish his words. "Zuo Zhuan" says: 'The Supreme Master has established virtues, followed by meritorious service, and thirdly established words. Even if it lasts for a long time, this is called immortality.' I Tang
In the early years, Kong Yingda wrote in an annotation: "To establish virtue means to create a law and to give generosity to the people; to make meritorious service means to save people from disasters and to help the time; to establish words means to understand the key points of the words and to have sufficient principles to pass them on.'"
Bai Gui said slowly.
After he finished speaking, he paused for a while, looked at the scholars who were listening attentively, and asked: "Is it a meritorious service to destroy the foreign barbarians with the original two?"
A middle-aged scholar with a long beard stood up, bowed his head deeply and said: "Bai Xiang rebuilt the Tang Dynasty, eliminated Nanzhao, and conquered Tubo. There are few famous generals in ancient times who can compare with him. He can make contributions to the three immortals."
This person is none other than Meng Haoran.
Bai Gui selected him as the number one scholar and felt a sense of kindness, so when Bai Gui asked a question, he was the first to stand up and speak up.
And what he said is correct. In terms of military merit, no one in the entire Tang Dynasty can compare with Bai Gui.
After Meng Haoran stood up, more than a dozen scholars began to praise him and affirmed Bai Gui's achievements.
Bai Gui lowered his hands to signal silence, "It is precisely because I have already accomplished meritorious service, and now I only need to establish virtue and establish words, so I have spread the teaching of benevolence in Taixue and expounded Confucian scriptures to everyone. What I hope for is nothing but to establish words and establish virtue."
thing."
Although his frank words were slightly utilitarian, the scholars present did not find it strange. It is human nature! Otherwise, they would not have come to Chang'an to take part in the imperial examination. Wouldn't it be better to live in seclusion in the mountains and forests?
On the contrary, Bai Gui's frankness made it easier to win their favor, thinking that Bai Gui was open-minded and upright.
Likewise, this also allowed the scholars present to somewhat resolve their inner doubts.
It would be a bit strange for a prime minister to come to Taixue to lecture on scriptures all the time because he does not do anything else during the holidays. Now that he has a more utilitarian goal, it is much more normal.
"However... your talent is shallow, and after giving lectures for many days, you realize that you are encountering many obstacles, and I really need your help to resolve them."
When Bai Guitu saw it, he said: "We have established a lecture on Taixue and made an appointment. The first list is Confucius, Yan Yuan, Zeng Shen, Zisi, Mencius and other sages as the key points of the study, followed by Huang Lao's study, and finally
Shen Zhi said: 'Order the four important points, eliminate the two confusions, respect the nine benefits, and guard against the nine losses.'"
"The four essentials are to clarify the four principles of teaching: knowing one's nature, being determined, respecting the scriptures, and reviewing the teachings."
"To break the two confusions, that is to say, to get rid of the two tendencies. One is that the lectures are broad but not thorough, and it is too high and difficult to follow; the other is that they only focus on doing their best and despise the lectures."
"Chong Jiuyi means explaining the nine benefits of giving lectures..."
"To eliminate the nine defects, that is to eliminate the nine shortcomings that often occur in lectures..."
"In addition, there is a small meeting every ten days, and a general meeting is held three times a year."
He laid out the protocol for the lecture.
"If you want to make a statement, it is difficult for one person to sustain it. You need to maintain it together. The wisdom of everyone can be combined into one...to form three immortal words."
"I wonder if you can act together with the true form?"
Bai Gui's eyes were blazing and he said sincerely.
After hearing this, the nearly five hundred scholars present were also eager to move. This was just an ordinary lecture. Not only could they become famous and increase their knowledge, but if they excelled at the lecture, they might be able to make friends with the Prime Minister and even more.
It's a good thing for a big shot like an official.
For scholars like them, they participate in countless literary conferences every year. If such a high-quality lecture is given, what reason is there for not to attend?!
Everyone agreed and asked to join!
"Come one by one, don't get excited!"
Bai Gui's face looked slightly happy.
really!
This is really just an ordinary lecture.
But there is another name for meeting and meeting, called Donglin meeting and meeting.
He changed some parts, but the main thing is the same.
As long as a scholar joins him as a member of the Taixue Society, he will be deeply bound to him invisibly, and the mixed lectures are also a good opportunity to reshape his thoughts and establish party members.
－－－－－－Digression－－－－－
I'll finish what I have today, and I'll make up for what's missing tomorrow. It's a bit stuck.