A provincial examination can be said to be like eating a mouthful of mung bean smoothie in the dog days of summer, and feeling extremely comfortable all over the body.
Yu Chenglong returned to the temple and waited for the news.
As the saying goes, "poor scholars and wealthy people", because most of the people taking the provincial examination are scholars, and even many are children, there is almost no such thing as eating, drinking and having fun after the examination.
While Lu Zhuo and Jin Wen were waiting, they often came to play and discuss preparations for next year's provincial examination.
That's right, next year is the provincial examination year.
For the scholars, except for the county magistrates, the rest of the officials in the provincial examination are not considered at all.
Among scholars, the status of a scholar and a scholar is very different.
"Brother Lu, Brother Jin, after all, today is different from the early years of the country. The people who are promoted can only teach, professors and other academic officials, the sixth house of the county, general magistrates, etc. are no less than their officials!"
Yu Chenglong is more pragmatic. He wants to be an official, but even a six-room clerk is better than an ordinary civil servant.
"Besides, in the civil affairs of the country, the north has always been weak and the south has been strong. Shanxi has been in chaos for too long. I'm afraid it will be difficult to deal with Zhili, Shaanxi..."
The people in Shanxi are poor and the land is barren, and their literary style is not even as good as that of Shaanxi. Everyone is interested in doing business, just like Huizhou merchants.
I think at the beginning, Shanxi was a place where "the people were frugal and devoted themselves to farming, and the scholars were honest and dedicated to learning." In the middle and later periods, the folk customs were "extravagant and extravagant... the homes of merchants also had carved dragons, embroidered arches, and jade saddles with golden saddles."
"The most handsome children are often involved in trade... Only when they are below the standard level can they study and take exams."
Thinking of this, the three of them fell silent.
It is better to make a lot of money than to win the exam. This is a wonder that can only be found in Shanxi in the Ming Dynasty. Moreover, those merchants cultivate scholars mostly to avoid taxes and exemptions.
"It is better to pass the provincial examination than to raise people, but it is difficult for us to pass the general examination. We don't know how many times we will come up with this provincial examination. If we give up now, we will regret it later and it will be too late."
Yu Chenglong's eyes were sincere and he persuaded.
"What you said makes sense!" Lu Zhuo was silent for a while, then raised his eyes and said, "If it's the general magistrate waiting for the assistant second officer, I'd better accept it first!"
On August 15th, the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the public notice wall in front of the government office was crowded with people and extremely lively.
Many people are rushing forward just to get the results of the provincial examination.
Different from the college examination, provincial examination, and even the palace examination, those are only to obtain the qualifications to be officials, and the real title of nobility has to be arranged by the Ministry of Personnel.
Nowadays, provincial examinations directly award officials, which can be said to be the first time for the people of the Ming Dynasty.
Therefore, on the Mid-Autumn Festival, not only the governor, but also the academic and political affairs were unsettled, and even the capital sent officials and officials to personally supervise fairness.
"Come to life——"
As soon as the yellow paper came out, there were many people waiting in the front row. They aimed at the front position and ran as fast as they could.
"Hurry, go to Chongshan Temple, don't let others get there first."
The skinny little man got out of the crowd, flew out, and blurted out to go to Chongshan Temple.
"Walk--"
A group of people left in such a hurry that they almost used the word "running".
Soon, three or five people arrived at Chongshan Temple. They asked the monk eagerly, came to a courtyard, beat gongs and drums, and the whole Chongshan Temple was noisy.
"Good news, in Yuci County, Taiyuan Prefecture, Lu Tao is an outstanding scholar and ranked seventh on the provincial examination yellow list. I pay my respects to the Honorable Linxian County——"
Lu Zhuo suddenly heard the commotion and frowned. Before he could curse, such a voice came from his ears:
"Master, you have won——" The book boy was overjoyed.
"Hahaha, I'm hit, I'm hit -"
He ran out in a panic, almost falling over the threshold, and the scarf fell off, and then he stumbled to the entrance of the courtyard.
"Congratulations to Lu Xiucai, starting from today, you will be appointed as the magistrate of Lin County. In the future, your official career will be prosperous, and your glory will be just around the corner..."
Several people bowed down together, making Lu Zhuo happy and unable to find Bei.
At this time, Jin Wen and Yu Chenglong also came out of the courtyard. When they saw a group of pleasant people, they hurriedly donated money generously and prepared to reward them.
Unexpectedly, when more than a dozen taels of silver were scattered, these few people were dissatisfied and disliked him less.
At this time, several monks came out, and the leader of the temple, the temple supervisor, was even wider and fatter, with a smile on his face: "Brother Gao, donor Lu, our temple also has the honor, how can we not give out this reward money?"
After saying that, a box of copper coins was brought out, and each person was rewarded with a few bunches before it was settled.
Unexpectedly, these people actually raised their hands and said, "I wonder if the talented scholar Jin Tao from Qingyuan County in Taiyuan Prefecture is here?"
"Me?" Jin Wen was stunned, with surprise on his face.
"You are the thirteenth in high school, and you are the magistrate of Ning County, and your official career is just around the corner——"
There was a sharp shout and another burst of gongs and drums.
When the supervisor heard that he was a county magistrate, he was also given more than a dozen strings of copper coins, which made him bleed with heartache.
After receiving the money, several people showed a strange smile and continued to play gongs and drums.
"Good news, Yongning Prefecture has established a reputation as a scholar, and Brother Gao has taken twenty provincial exams and was awarded the title of Magistrate of Yonghe County, Pingyang Prefecture——"
The prisoner's fat eyes stared hard at these people, making them look dumbfounded, and then he said: "This temple is really lucky to have three benefactors."
This time, I rewarded him with more than ten coins, and only after a few good news did I give up.
Yu Chenglong on the side was dumbfounded and fell into a state of stupidity.
From a scholar to a county magistrate, the leap is really huge and the difference is huge.
He originally thought that he was lucky enough to be granted the title of county magistrate and general magistrate. Now that he has become the county magistrate, how can it be such a surprise?
"Uncle Supervisor of the Temple, several waves of messengers have come, and they are all blocking the door, rushing to enter the temple!"
"Stop it, stop it all——"
Jian Si gritted his teeth and immediately said to the three of them: "Several donors, these people are really too much. Your money doesn't come from a flood."
"That's right, just listen to the monk in charge of the temple." Lu Zhuo agreed immediately: "It's just the people in the announcement room who have to be let in."
"That's natural."
Jian Si smiled uglier than crying and agreed.
In county and government offices, there are special good news announcement rooms. There is no staff, but they do the work of the staff. All they do in a year is the reward of the good news.
But those private individuals are greedy and often grab reports and receive a reward.
As a result, the bad habit of the imperial examination system was formed.
Once someone in the family wins the lottery, there will be waves of good news, ranging from three or four to as many as ten.
Some poor people even have to break their homes to reward them with money.
If the rewards are few, there will be rumors and slanderous reputation.
Of course, as long as you gain fame, especially if you are a successful person, money will come to you uninvited and you will never be able to drive it away, so you are not stingy about it.
Soon, the official announcer of the good news came to the announcement room, neatly dressed and prosperous, holding a sign, which was regarded as a notarization.
The three of them naturally agreed.
With tears in his eyes, the man in the temple carried out a whole box of copper coins, which were taken directly by this group of people.
"The three county magistrates, the governor's office, the academic administration and other senior provincial officials will set up a banquet to entertain the high school graduates of the provincial examination."
The leader walked up smoothly and said respectfully: "As for the county magistrates, you are going to the capital to have an audience with His Majesty and to visit the officials."