Chapter 239 Five years of imperial examination, three years of simulation
On February 2, the dragon raises its head; on March 3, Xuanyuan is born.
March 3 is also known as Shangji Festival. Every day on this day, people come to the waterside to hold sacrifices and wash away dirt.
From the pre-Qin Dynasty to the Tang Dynasty, the Shangji Festival has been very prosperous. In the Wei and Jin Dynasties, it evolved into a day for literati and refined scholars to feast by the water, and developed an elegant custom that has been passed down through the ages: the Qushui River Drinking Wine Drinking Bowl.
However, since the Tang Dynasty, Shangji Festival has gradually disappeared from public view. The three festivals of Hanshi, Qingming and Shangji have tended to be merged and confused. In the end, the world only knows Qingming but not Shangji.
However, such an unpopular festival that has gradually become less known is particularly eye-catching in Yuzhou this year.
Just because on the Shangji Festival, Wei Chen, the magistrate of Yuzhou, came to the Prefecture Middle School Palace in person and even gave lectures on stage!
As soon as the news came out, all the scholars in Yuzhou were excited.
Who is Wei Chen?
Wenquxing reincarnated!
The undefeated legend in the scientific examination field!
The first person in a thousand years to win six yuan in a row!
The mascot of the Imperial Examination of the Great Zhou Dynasty!
As autumn approaches, what a blessing it is to be able to hear such a legendary figure give a lecture in person!
Even if you can't listen to the teachings in person, you can still increase your luck in exams by just getting closer and soaking up the spiritual energy!
So early in the morning on Shangji Festival, thousands of Yuzhou scholars came from all directions, vying to have a look at Wei Liuyuan's style.
For a time, Yuzhou Prefectural School was surrounded by enthusiastic scholars on three floors, inside and outside, and the water was so tight that the threshold was almost broken!
Looking at the bustling crowd outside Zhouxue, Gu Tingye smiled and said to Wei Chen: "Xingyun, I thought of a good way to make money!"
Wei Chen was not interested when he heard this, but he still asked: "What can I do?"
Gu Tingye's eyebrows were dancing and he said: "I just need to put you on the street, put a piece of eucalyptus next to it, put a sign on it, and write: burn incense and make a wish, twenty taels of silver, dip it in immortal energy and get fifty taels of silver. I'm sure your business will be prosperous!"
"It's better to put yourself on the street!"
Wei Chen rolled his eyes speechlessly, and then asked with some confusion: "What is the immortal energy?"
"I just want to touch your head..." Gu Tingye stretched out his hand with a playful smile, pretending to touch Wei Chen's forehead.
Wei Chen looked disgusted and raised his hand to knock off his dirty hands angrily: "Seriously, what happened to the thing I asked you to do before?"
"Don't you trust me when I do things?"
Gu Tingye corrected his color and said: "I asked the printing shop in the city to work overtime and print three hundred sets. Yesterday, I sent them all to the volunteer school below. I also left a set here for my own use. Can you take a look?"<
/p>
With that said, Gu Tingye took a set of thick tomes from Shitou's hand.
The bright red writing paper occupies nearly half of the middle of the book cover, with the three words "Tan Wen Lu" printed in large letters.
The name of the main author of this article is sealed inside: Tianyou Sixth Year Jinshi, Youyang Weichen.
That's right.
This set of "Tan Wen Lu" is the result of more than two months after Wei Chen's first year, ignoring trivial matters and immersed himself in seclusion.
The so-called "Tan Wen Lu" is just a name that conforms to the times. In Wei Chen's mind, the real name of this set of books should be "Notes of the Number One Scholar" and "Five Years of Imperial Examination, Three Years of Simulation"!
The whole set of books is mainly divided into four parts.
The first part is Wei Chen writing down his interpretation and understanding of the "Four Books and Five Classics" in the most straightforward language.
The second part is Wei Chen’s introduction to various techniques of craft making and his own experience.
The third part is that Wei Chen selects the real questions and high-scoring test papers from the provincial examinations and general examinations in previous years, and explains and comments on them.
The imperial examination has been carried out with great vigor for so many years, and naturally there are many imperial examination teaching supplementary books on the market in Dazhou.
However, the writers of these books do more low-level work such as collecting real test questions and model essays. It is rare that a master of craftsmanship recognized by the world like Wei Chen personally selects and comments on the essays.
Therefore, the extremely high level of the first three parts of this set of "Tan Wen Lu" can drive imperial examination candidates all over the world crazy.
Wei Chen has a photographic memory, and writing the first three parts was a piece of cake for him, taking less than half a month.
The fourth part of "Talking about Wenlu" is where Wei Chen spent the most effort, and it is also the real essence of this set of books.
The fourth part is Wei Chen's 120 simulated test questions based on the trend of scientific test questions and the thoughts of the examiner, and each question is accompanied by corresponding reference answers.
Wei Chen dared to assert that as long as the candidates chewed up all the 120 mock questions, even if they just relied on rote memorization, there would be no less than a 50% chance of passing the exam this autumn and passing the exam! p>
In other words, Wei Chen used his experience and methods in his previous life, as well as his knowledge and wisdom in this life, to break the traditional learning model of the imperial examination, turning the examiners into pure manual labor.
As long as you are willing to put in the effort, exert your strength, and add a little bit of luck, you have a half chance of passing the exam!
Of course, such words must not be put on the table, otherwise it will be a stain on the sanctity of the imperial examination, and it is inevitable that someone will catch you in a pigtail.
Therefore, when the scholars of Yuzhou gathered in Zhouxue, and Wei Chen stood on the podium surrounded by everyone, he introduced his latest work to the world like this.
"I started studying sociology in the village when I was seven years old, and then studied social science for three years. I am unknown, and I am often criticized by my teachers for being stupid. Do you know why?"
The scholars from Yuzhou, who were concentrating on listening to Wei Liuyuan's eloquent talk in the audience, couldn't help laughing when they heard this.
What a strange news!
I have always only known that Wei Chen was a genius at the age of fifteen, with a grade of six yuan, but I didn’t expect that he was actually a poor student who was always scolded by the teacher!
Seeing that the audience in the audience were aroused with curiosity, Wei Chen explained with a smile: "Don't misunderstand me, Mr. Social Studies is a rare Confucian scholar, and I have always respected his character. However, Xiyin is from the countryside after all.
It is a pity that although Mr. Xi has the desire to learn, he has never been able to pass the county examination."
That’s it!
Everyone was suddenly enlightened when they heard this.
Famous teachers make great disciples.
This is an irrefutable truth.
How can a poor Confucian scholar who has never even passed the county examination discover a gem like Wei Chen?
No wonder Wei Chen has been unknown for so many years, and his love has been buried!
Some scholars who knew something about Wei Chen's past experiences were filled with sighs when they heard this paragraph.
Before Wei Chen was ten years old, he had never been known as a child prodigy. It was not until he entered the Sheng Family Free School by chance that he suddenly soared into the sky.
After that, he made rapid progress, achieved consecutive victories, passed five levels and killed six generals, becoming the first person in thousands of years to win six yuan in a row.
The transformation from before to after is so great that it is puzzling. This has always been an unsolved mystery in the hearts of scholars in the Zhou Dynasty.
Now I finally got a satisfactory answer from Wei Chen.
Needless to say, Wei Chen must have met a good teacher at Sheng’s Free School!
Got it!
Now it all makes sense!
At the same time as they suddenly realized this, everyone couldn't help but feel envious of Wei Chen's good luck.
After all, resources like good teachers are too scarce. Most scholars are just like Wei Chen before he was ten years old, finding it difficult to find a decent tutor.
In a room full of classmates, few can pass the exam to be a scholar, and in a county full of scholars, even few can pass the exam!
Why?
Isn’t it just because there is no good teacher to give guidance!
No matter how well the Four Books and Five Classics are printed, as long as the teacher's skills are not good enough, the students will still not be able to read them!
While all the scholars were discussing, a middle-aged scholar who was listening took a deep breath and suddenly recited a section of "The Doctrine of the Mean" loudly.
This scholar was so full of energy that he almost roared and recited it, and his voice suddenly covered the entire audience.
"How great is the way of the sage, which suddenly develops all things and is as high as the sky. I dare to ask Master Zhizhou, what is the explanation of this statement?"
Everyone present was stunned. What kind of fuss was going on?
Wei Chen didn't make a fuss and just answered the middle-aged scholar's question with a smile.
"The holy way is like the energy of yin and yang and the five elements, filling the space between heaven and earth without any gap. All things are made of it. This is the sincerity and benevolence of the saint who regards all things as one!"
"Haan Chuang has studied hard for ten years, and now I know the true meaning of the saint!"
After hearing Wei Chen's explanation, in full view of everyone, the middle-aged scholar who asked the question fell to his knees and burst into tears.
"When I was studying in the countryside, I couldn't understand this paragraph when I read it. My husband always told me that if I read the book a hundred times, the meaning will become apparent. But I read it hundreds of times and turned the book into pieces, but I still can't understand it.
Got it!"
This situation touched all the scholars around, and many of them covered their faces and cried.
How many scholars are there in the world like Wei Chen who explain the scriptures in detail?
Most scholars are like that middle-aged scholar, having an average teacher, and they spend the most precious youth of their academic career in confusion.
On the high platform, Wei Chen sighed softly and said loudly: "It is precisely because of the difficulty of studying that after I came to Yuzhou, I spared no financial resources to promote free learning and recruit students, just so that they would not make the same mistake as I did.
The same mistake!
But even so, I still feel it is insufficient.
Even if we build several voluntary schools in remote areas of small counties in the countryside, we will not be able to find enough masters. Those talented people will still be delayed, leaving them unknown and regretful that they will waste their lives."
With a look of compassion on his face, Wei Chen took out the thick set of "Talk about Wen Lu" and said passionately: "I am not talented, and I still have some shallow knowledge of the way of saints. Although I cannot be a master, I can still
It will not mislead others.
Therefore, I have spent three years and painstakingly compiled this set of "Tan Wen Lu" to try to interpret the saint's meaning and make it simple and clear. Nowadays, every place with righteous learning in Yuzhou has several sets of this book. Scholars in Yuzhou
You can borrow it as much as you like. I hope that I can use the book to serve as a teacher and guide students so that the pearl will never be covered in dust again!"
When all the scholars in the audience heard Wei Chen's words, they couldn't help but be stunned, and immediately their eyes filled with tears.
The book compiled by the dignified Liu Yuanlang with great effort has spread out and countless people are rushing to buy it.
But Wei Chen did not use the book to make profit, but sent the book to various volunteer schools in Yuzhou for students to borrow for free.
What a noble and honorable person this is!
All the scholars in Yuzhou burst into tears of gratitude for Wei Chen's righteous deed, and they all bowed in tears.
"This move by Lord Zhizhou has made all the poor people in Yuzhou look happy, which is really the highest justice in the world!"
Then, Wei Chen introduced the "Tan Wen Lu" that scholars were most concerned about.
It includes the explanation of the scriptures in the first part, the craftsmanship skills in the second part, the explanation of the sample essays in the third part, and the simulated test questions in the fourth part.
Wei Chen gave a general introduction to them all.
That's it for the first three parts. The scholars were overjoyed when they heard that there was something about Wei Chen's title in "Tan Wen Lu".
Although Wei Chen has always said that these 120 questions are just simulation questions to imitate the imperial examination examination for adaptive training, everyone tacitly understands that these are the questions Wei Chen is answering!
There is no need for Wei Chen to emphasize it too much. All scholars who aspire to this autumn will instantly understand the value and significance of this part.
I secretly decided that as soon as the lecture was over, I would go to a nearby volunteer school to borrow a copy of "Tan Wen Lu" and have a sneak peek.
After the "New Book Promotion Meeting", this much-anticipated lecture finally got to the point: preparing for autumn, the main content is of course the writing of essays for exams.
Wei Chen had the experience of giving many lectures as early as the "Jiangning Seven Sons" period. The number of scholars he faced this time was not as many as that time. Naturally, he was familiar with the road, and the more he lectured, the smoother he became.
Gradually, Wei Chen entered a situation where no one else was around. Although he was not in a state of chaos, what he had learned in his mind was conveyed like flowing water without any hindrance.
The scholars in the audience listened attentively. The content of Wei Chen's lecture was full of useful information. If you miss a word, it will be a huge loss.
"Tanwenlu" can be borrowed at any time, but this opportunity for Wei Chen to give lectures in person is rare, so it must be cherished.
Throughout the lecture, Wei Chen first spoke alone, and then the scholars took turns asking questions. For half a day, Wei Chen stood on the stage, patiently and meticulously communicating with the scholars.
Wei Chen talked until his throat was filled with smoke and he was dizzy, but he was enjoying himself and had no intention of resting at all.
In the end, the scholars noticed Wei Chen's state and said spontaneously: "I can't ask any more questions. I'm too tired to tell the governor."
So all the scholars present bowed deeply to Wei Chen and said gratefully: "I have always cherished my career, and I have never explained it to us with all my heart and soul like Lord Zhizhou. Please accept our bows."
Wei Chen quickly told the scholars not to be too polite and said in a hoarse voice: "One lecture cannot solve all our problems. As long as we can make time, I will try my best to hold as many lectures as possible before the autumn. Scholars from Yuzhou, please come and listen."
This kind and selfless act made many scholars cry. They had never seen such polite and virtuous parents and officials.
Standing on the stage and looking at the scholars below who respected and loved him, Wei Chen couldn't help but sigh secretly.
In fact, Wei Chen has no intention of setting up any imperial examination training class. What benefit will it bring to the country and the people if he teaches a group of nerds who are indifferent to all kinds of grains?
In his opinion, these scholars in front of him should not join the imperial examination at all. They should all be armed with Mr. De and Mr. Sai to build the country.
But Wei Chen also understood that this was simply unrealistic. Without the imperial examination, everything was rootless.
It is easy to throw out some fragmentary knowledge and inventions, but it is more difficult than reaching the sky to get the world to accept this entire system.
The reason why Wei Chen devotes himself to lecturing is not just to win people's hearts, nor just to sustain the voluntary education.
His goal is to become a great scholar in the world with thousands of fans. Only by becoming an academic leader admired by everyone can he be qualified to subtly change people's thinking.
This road must be difficult.
Wang Anshi is an example.
After thirty years of raising hopes, the world will return to its heart, but once the reform is launched, everyone will rebel and abandon their relatives in an instant.
But Wei Chen believes that as long as he persists in doing it, he can always achieve something.