Chapter 132 Passing Five Levels and Killing Six Generals
After the papers were delivered to the inner curtain, the examiner Wang Wenqing first summoned a group of marking officers to give a lecture.
"When you are reviewing the papers today, don't forget the hard work you endured when you were in the residence. Compare yourself to others and select candidates fairly. Otherwise, even if you say you are an official, you won't be able to pass even the examination by the Ministry of Rites!"
All the marking officials said yes at the same time, and then drew lots to receive the papers. The Shangshu Jing room received the Shangshu volume, the Rites room received the Rites volume, and so on. After receiving the papers, they went back to their rooms to start marking the papers.
Dong Xuezhou, a professor in Taicang County, Suzhou Prefecture, was a grading official in the Shangshu Jingfang.
Dong Xuezhou is in his fifties, with white beard and hair. He won the imperial examination thirty years ago and later became an academic officer. During the last provincial examination, he was also selected as the marking officer.
Looking at the paper in front of him, Dong Xuezhou shook his head: "The beginning of this article is acceptable, but there is a clerical error at the end. Such a low-level mistake, even a seven-year-old Meng would not make it!"
With that said, Dong Xuezhou threw the paper into the pile, took out the next paper and started reading.
Dong Xuezhou is older and has seniority. Although he is only the lowest grader, he dares to argue with the superior Fangguan, so he is confident and extremely strict when grading.
After a while, Dong Xuezhou turned to Wei Chen's paper. When he saw the first article, Dong Xuezhou's slightly narrowed eyes suddenly widened, and his whole body shook slightly in his chair.
Bi Jiaoyu from Wujin County, Changzhou Prefecture, who was also grading papers, saw him and thought Dong Xuezhou had suffered a stroke. He quickly stepped forward to help him: "Mr. Dong, hold on, I'll call a medical officer for you right now!"
Dong Xuezhou's eyes widened angrily: "I'm fine, what do you call a medical officer?"
"Mr. Dong, are you really okay?"
"Of course it's okay!"
Dong Xuezhou also regained his composure at this time, and said calmly: "I just saw a magnificent article, so I just lost my temper."
When Bi Jiaoyu heard this, he glanced at the papers on Dong Xuezhou's desk and was secretly surprised.
This old man Dong has a very high vision. The article caught his eye and made him so excited. This candidate's talent and learning must be extraordinary.
However, after all, this was the paper that Dong Xuezhou was responsible for reviewing. Although Bi Jiaoyu was a little itchy, he couldn't force it. Seeing that Dong Xuezhou was fine, he sat back in his seat and continued to review the paper.
Dong Xuezhou picked up the paper in front of him and shook it. He was so happy that his beard stood up, but he still comforted himself and said: "If you're not busy, I'll tell you if one article is good or not. I'll tell you after reading the next five scriptures."
After spending a cup of tea and reading the seven articles on the paper in one breath, Dong Xuezhou felt a sense of relief from head to toe, which was more effective than taking a panacea.
Now I picked up my pen, first drew a red circle at the beginning of the volume, and then wrote the word "Highly Recommended" at the end of the volume.
Then he stood up from his seat with the paper in hand, went to the Fang Guan of the Shangshu Sutra Room, slapped the paper on Fang Guan's head, and said in a deep voice: "The law is strictly worded and every word is precious. If these articles are not taken, it will be intolerable to God!"
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The room official was startled and was about to scold the visitor when he looked up and saw the gray-haired Dong Xuezhou. He suppressed his anger and rolled his eyes depressedly.
"It turns out it's Mr. Dong. It's rare to see you recommending papers... Oh, it's highly recommended!"
While Fang Guan was talking, he caught a glimpse of Dong Xuezhou's annotations on the paper and was surprised.
A comment of "high recommendation" means that Dong Xuezhou believes that this candidate should not only be selected, but also be among the best. This evaluation is not given casually.
The room official did not dare to neglect, put away his joking expression, picked up the paper and read it carefully.
After a long time, Fang Guan put down the paper with a solemn expression and made a comment: "Mr. Dong is worthy of being an old Confucian, and he really has a sharp eye for pearls."
After finishing speaking, Fang Guan drew a circle on the beginning of the volume and wrote at the end of the volume: "The scale is grand and solemn, the style is elegant, and it can be ranked among the best in the classics."
Jing Kui?
Seeing these two words, Dong Xuezhou's eyelids jumped suddenly. Unexpectedly, Fang Guan's evaluation was one level higher than his, and he went directly from high recommendation to top manager.
What is Jingkui?
The provincial examination is divided into five classics to select candidates, and the top five in each subject are ranked first among the five classics. This is the classics leader.
In other words, the room official believes that this candidate is the first in the Shangshu Jingfang, at least the top five in the provincial examination.
After writing the comments, the room official called a clerk: "Send this paper to the deputy examiner's office."
Papers recommended by each room must be sent to the deputy examiner first. After being read by the deputy examiner, they are then submitted to the examiner for a decision.
Although the chief examiner has the power to reject papers that are accepted by the deputy chief examiner, he generally will not refute the deputy chief examiner's reputation unless there is a fundamental dispute.
The deputy examiner has so much power that he is only subordinate to the chief examiner. Even when finalizing the seats for admitted candidates, the chief examiner must consult the deputy examiner for his opinion.
Of course, the deputy examiner also has a very heavy responsibility. He has to go through the papers sent by each room, so he is extremely busy.
Wei Chen's paper lay in the deputy examiner's room for two days before the deputy examiner picked up his article and started reading it.
Seeing the comments written by Dong Xuezhou and Fang Guan at the end of the paper, the first reaction of the deputy examiner was that they were exaggerating. He smiled and said: "I don't know if it has ever been said so well?
However, when he finished reading the seven articles in the paper, he immediately changed his mind and wrote at the end of the paper: "Every word is a classic, and it is the best in the world."
After writing the comments, the deputy examiner called the clerk: "Send this paper to the president quickly. Forget it, I will send it in person."
So, Wei Chen's paper passed five tests, defeated six generals, and after a lot of hardships, finally arrived in front of Wang Wenqing, the president of the provincial examination.
Come and try it soon.]
Every paper submitted to the examiner must go through three procedures for review, which saved Wang Wenqing a lot of time and energy and did not have to be as busy as other examiners.
Having a paper delivered personally by the deputy examiner was naturally extraordinary. Wang Wenqing also attached great importance to it and picked it up and read it immediately.
After getting the paper, Wang Wenqing did not read the article as usual, but read the beginning of the paper first.
But I saw three red circles drawn on my head, representing the unanimous approval of the marking officer, room officer, and deputy examiner.
Look at the comments at the end of the volume:
Highly recommended!
Can be ranked among the best!
One of the best rooms!
Wang Wenqing couldn't help laughing and said: "The three examiners all recommended this volume, and even thought it could be ranked among the best. What kind of good article is it that can make you three have such unanimous opinions?"
The deputy director Kao smiled and said nothing, raised his hand and said: "Brother Yuan Zheng, let's just watch."
Wang Wenqing also became interested, stroking his beard and nodding, picked up the paper and read the whole article.
After a while, Wang Wenqing breathed a long sigh of relief, put the paper back on the table, and fell into deep thought.
The deputy examiner asked curiously: "Brother Yuan Zheng, what do you think of this article?"
Wang Wenqing sighed for a long time and then said: "The momentum is majestic, like the sea and the tide. I almost thought Han Changli was resurrected!"
The deputy examiner was a little shocked when he heard that Wang Wenqing actually compared this article with Han Yu. However, after thinking about it carefully, he felt that Wang Wenqing's evaluation was appropriate, so he immediately asked: "How high does Brother Yuan Zheng think this article can be ranked?"<
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Wang Wenqing smiled slightly and said: "This is only the first game. Why be too impatient? Let's wait until the next two games are released together!"