Chapter 86 Come to the Master and Apprentice Bureau!
Wei Zheng heard the irony in Li Mu's words. It was saying that he judged people by their appearance and was jealous of talents. In normal times, Wei Zheng would have had to reply a few words, but now that two forces were competing, Wei Zheng didn't bother to argue. Li Mu had left anyway.
The Ministry of Industry is a good thing for the Shandong gentry, and other things are not very important.
Wei Zheng was not worried at all that Li Mu would get the top prize. He had heard about Li Mu's literary talent and his poems such as "Wine to Ask the Moon" were indeed good. However, taking the top prize was not just poetry, but a comprehensive exam.
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The number one scholar examination in the Tang Dynasty was very different from that in the Ming and Qing Dynasties.
During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the imperial examination had been popular for thousands of years, and the system was very clear. However, during the Tang Dynasty, the imperial examination had just begun, and many systems were still unclear. It was a stage of crossing the river by feeling for the stones.
Next year's imperial examination will be the first time since Li Shimin ascended the throne that regular subjects and system subjects will be tested simultaneously.
According to the previous constitution, the regular subjects include subjects such as Xiucai, Mingjing, Jinshi, Junshi, Mingfa, Mingzi, and Mingsuan. Among these subjects, Mingfa, Mingsuan, and Mingzi refer to being literate, understanding the law, and being able to count.
People of this age are not valued by the people of the time. Usually, after reaching the rank, they are not officials, but officials. The most outstanding ones are also ninth-rank officials.
Being selected as a scholar or a handsome scholar is equivalent to being the best among the candidates. They all want to go further and will not choose to be an official. At this time, the scholar, like the Jinshi, belongs to the department of elevating scholars. Those who promote scholars,
Recommending scholars means being outstanding. The meaning of scholar in the Tang Dynasty refers to a person who is full of economics.
Only old scholars who are dozens of years old can become officials, either as county magistrates or county magistrates.
Those who are truly respected by the world are Jinshi and Mingjing.
The Ming Jing is divided into five classics, three classics, two classics, one classic for learning, three rites, three biography, etc. "Book of Rites", "Chun Qiu Zuo Zhuan" are called Dajing, "Book of Songs", "Zhou Rites" and "Rites" are called
Zhong Jing, "Book of Changes", "Shang Shu", "Spring and Autumn Gongyang Zhuan", "Spring and Autumn Guliang Zhuan" are called Xiao Jing. "Xiao Jing" and "The Analects of Confucius" are required subjects, and sometimes "Laozi" and "Laozi" are also added.
Erya".
The Ming Jing examination is divided into two parts: Tie Jing and Mo Yi. The so-called Tie Jing means to uncover a page of the scripture, cover the left and right sides, leave only one line in the middle, and then use paper stickers to cover three characters for the test taker to fill in.
Mo Yi is to explain the words and sentences of the scriptures. It seems simple, but it is not that easy. There are so many words of saints, and the test may be very uncommon words and sentences. Therefore, if you want to pass the test, you must first "know the scriptures" and memorize them backwards.
Basically. Those who understand the two classics, one of the Great Sutra and one of the Small Sutra, or two parts of the Middle Sutra; those who understand the Three Classics, one section each of the Major, Middle, and Small Sutras; those who understand the Five Classics, one of the Major and the Small Sutras
All must be passed. If you pass the second classic, you can hope to pass. If you want to get a good ranking, you must at least pass the third classic.
The Jinshi subject is more difficult, testing poetry and policy theory. The first poetry test tests literary talent. Each candidate composes one poem and one poem. These poems are not composed casually. It is stipulated that poems must be composed in a fixed rhyme.
Composition based on a fixed idea. In the second policy session, a question is asked about current affairs and the candidates are asked to answer their own opinions. The purpose is to see if the candidates have their own ideas about the strategy of governing the country and to select talents for the country to govern the country and bring peace to the world.
If you want to be the top scholar, you must have outstanding results in both subjects. If you fail in one subject, your dream of being the top scholar will be shattered immediately.
Although Li Mu's poems are good, he may not be able to compose poems with fixed rhymes, let alone policy making. Although he is talented in eloquence, national affairs cannot be solved by rhetoric. He must have real ability.
.Tie Jing and Mo Yi are also difficult. Winter is about to enter, and next spring is only half a year away. No matter how good Li Mu is, he may not be able to pass the second classic, and it will be difficult to pass the exam. How can he be outstanding? If he is really like this
If you pass the test easily, wouldn't all the students who have studied hard for more than ten years die?
Therefore, Wei Zheng did not believe that Li Mu could pass the first prize. He did not think that Li Mu had the ability. Moreover, Li Shimin could not help with this matter. During the Wude period, the imperial examination was presided over by Wai Lang, an examiner from the Ministry of Civil Affairs. After Li Shimin ascended the throne, in order to show his opposition
The importance of the imperial examination has been transferred to the Ministry of Rites, which is presided over by the Minister of Rites, known as the "Quanzhi Gongju". The Ministry of Rites has always been controlled by the gentry. Although Yu Shinan, the Minister of Rites, is not a member of the Shandong gentry, the Shandong gentry is in the Ministry of Rites.
He also has a certain amount of power. Although he cannot influence the imperial examination, it can guarantee that if someone influences the imperial examination, the Shandong nobles will definitely know about it, so they cannot fake it.
What really worries Wei Zheng is the system subjects. The system subjects are also called big subjects and special subjects. They are temporary examination subjects, just like the 'Enke' in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The only thing is that the things tested are different from those of later generations, and the purpose is to select special talents.
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There is no fixed time for the examination, and there are no restrictions on the qualifications of candidates. Current officials and ordinary scholars can take the examination. Ministers can recommend it, and civilians can self-recommend, but they must be reviewed by local officials.
Because it is to select special talents, the subjects of the examination are not fixed. It depends on what talent the emperor feels is lacking, and he will decide which subjects to take. There is also a top candidate. Generally, regular subjects and system subjects will not be taken together, but since Li Shimin ascended the throne
In the past two years, we have been at war, and the imperial examination has been delayed. Next year's imperial examination will be the first time in the Zhenguan period. In order to make up for it, we have added a system subject, and there is a matter of taking two subjects this year.
Wei Zheng was worried that Li Shimin would create a system tailor-made for Li Mu and give him the top prize. If there was a test on prostitution skills, who could pass Li Mu?
Therefore, Wei Zheng thought for a while and said: "If Zhu Luhou can get the first place in the regular subjects, I will naturally admire it, but if it is a system subject..." Wei Zheng did not go on, his attitude is self-evident, if you cheat
, does it also count?
Li Shimin frowned and said, "Wei Zheng, do you mean that I will help Li Mu cheat?"
"I don't dare." Although Wei Zheng said this, his expression didn't mean "dare" at all. Li Shimin was about to get angry when Li Mu took over the words and said: "Since Zheng Guogong thinks that Chang Ke is the one who counts, then it should be Chang Ke."
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Seeing that the method of provoking generals worked, Wei Zheng said: "Since Zhuluhou said so, why don't I make a bet with Zhuluhou? You don't have to win the first prize or pass the Jinshi exam, I will worship you as my teacher. If you can't pass the exam, you
At once……"
"Stop!" Li Mu interrupted Wei Zheng and said, "Even if I lose, I can't accept you as my teacher. We have different ways and we don't want to conspire with each other. It's absolutely impossible for you to insult me. The ancients have the saying 'a thousand pieces of gold and a promise'
', since we are making a bet, I will also bet a thousand gold pieces. If I lose, I will lose a thousand gold pieces to you!"
One thousand taels of gold!
Li Shimin gritted his teeth and cursed in his heart, "You prodigal son, you dare to bet a thousand taels of gold on this obviously losing bet?"
Everyone else also took a breath of air. One thousand taels of gold was equivalent to ten thousand taels of silver and ten thousand guan of copper coins. Li Mu actually used it as a blockage. He was really brave. He was bound to lose! But no one felt that
He couldn't take it out, because Li Mu's ability to make money was obvious to all. Not to mention ten thousand guan, even one hundred thousand guan, he could take it out even if he gritted his teeth.
"If you agree, we will write a document in front of His Majesty, and all the princes will witness it. If you don't agree, forget it. My examination as the number one scholar has nothing to do with you."
Wei Zheng thought for a while. Although the 'stimulating method' was not successful this time, Li Mu had no chance at all in terms of regular subjects. One thousand taels of gold was not a small amount. Over the years, he had helped his relatives and had no money at home.
My wife, children, and children have always talked about my remaining wealth. If I win these one thousand taels of gold, I can give an explanation to my family.
You are bound to win, why not bet?
"Okay, then I will make a bet with Zhulu Hou and ask for your majesty's pen and ink."
Although Li Shimin felt that Li Mu was wasting his family, he had already reached this point and could not stop it. He immediately gave him pen and ink, and Wei Zheng made a bet with his own hands, in duplicate, and the two of them wrote down their names and took their fingerprints. Three
A prime minister acted as guarantee, and six ministers testified. This bet was unprecedented.
Li Mu dried his ink, folded it and put it in his sleeve, glanced at Wei Zheng, and said to Li Shimin: "Your Majesty, since I am no longer the minister of the Ministry of Industry, there is one thing I must make clear."
"What are you paying attention to again? Tell me."
"Your Majesty, when I was the Minister of the Ministry of Industry, I invented the Zhenguan plow and paid for the construction of the craftsman's workshop. These were all my duties. Therefore, I donated them free of charge and did not ask for a penny. However, I am no longer the Minister of the Ministry of Industry.
Well, I feel that due to both sentiment and reason, the imperial court should return the money I advanced to you, and I can no longer give the various secret techniques to the imperial court for free."
So I’m waiting here!
Li Shimin and all the important ministers were shocked. Li Mu was so bold that he dared to ask the court for money. But after thinking about it, he was not wrong. He had indeed advanced the money. It is said that he also had an account book. What about the secret method?
, and it is indeed his own, there is nothing wrong with not letting you use it.
Everyone glared at Wei Zheng and asked you to impeach him. Now the impeachment has resulted in debts, right? Li Mu said that he spent a total of 70,000 guan at the Ministry of Works. If the 70,000 guan were to be given by the court now, where would you ask the Ministry of Civil Affairs to go?
alley?
Wei Zheng also didn't expect that Li Mu would have such a skill, so he bit the bullet and said: "Zhuluhou, you can't say that. When you built Gongbufang, the court didn't let you build it. It was your own choice..."
Li Mu sneered and said: "Zheng Guogong, why are you so shameless again? Did my money come from the strong wind? The official didn't let me do it, but you still spent my money. How could you say such a thing?"
of?"
"This..." Even though Wei Zheng was eloquent, he was now speechless.
Li Shimin had no choice but to accept the words. As expected of an emperor, he acted like a rogue and said, "No money! Otherwise, you can continue to be your minister of the Ministry of Industry. It will also save you the chance to take the No. 1 Scholar exam."
"No, I want to take the No. 1 exam." Li Mu said decisively: "Since His Majesty said that he has no money, the money matter can be discussed later. It is just a matter of the secret method. Your Majesty has to let me make the decision."
It's a good thing not to be forced to ask for money. Li Shimin quickly agreed and said: "The secret method is your own, and of course you have to deal with it yourself."
Li Mu was waiting for this sentence and said: "Your Majesty, it is not easy to forge the plowshares of the Zhenguan plow, and it may be difficult to supply them to the whole country. I feel that next year, I am afraid that they will not be used in all parts of Shandong!"