Thank you to Nora7 for the ko-fi~ ♡⸜(˶˃ ᵕ ˂˶)⸝♡
In the late spring of the third month, with grass growing and birds flying, it was the perfect season for strolling in gardens and enjoying the outdoors. The various gardens on the outskirts of Luoyang City were filled with people. Besides the private properties of prestigious families, there were also official gardens like Xingchun Garden and Zhegui Garden, specifically opened for the common people’s children to explore, providing them with an opportunity for leisure. It could be considered a benevolent policy.
Today, Xingchun Garden was bustling with activity. Near a dense grove of peach and plum trees, several young scholars in green robes sat around.
“No matter what, the results will be announced in two days. Brother Zou, why trouble yourself now? Whether it succeeds or fails, it’s better to wait until the announcement before worrying,” suggested a young man with a white headband.
Facing him, his slightly older companion smiled wryly, “Young Master Sun, with your exceptional talents, there’s no need to worry. But for me, it’s different. Last year, His Majesty only introduced the Imperial Examination for the first time during the Crown Prince’s wedding. If I fail this time, who knows when I’ll get another chance…”
On the side, another man dressed in luxurious attire, with a robust physique, seemed indifferent, “Brother Zou, you’re overthinking it. Two years ago, after pacifying You County, there was the Enke examination. Last year, during the Crown Prince’s wedding, there was another Enke. When the imperial grandson is born, won’t there be another Enke? Not to mention the recovery of Yong County and the pacification of Jiangdong… I believe His Majesty is benevolent, and opportunities will always come!”
This remark was not without merit, and the man named Zou’s expression eased, “Indeed, I appreciate Brother Lu’s kind words…”
“Brother Lu’s words are not bad, but who says we have to wait for the next examination?” The young man at the end of the table, with a round face and a smiling demeanor, spoke, “Why not aim for the Apricot List here in Xingchun Garden?”
The spring examination, commonly known as the “Apricot List” in the spring season, had just concluded two days ago. Since the founding of Great Zhao, the method of talent selection has undergone significant changes. Every autumn, a regular examination was held, covering various subjects such as the Provincial Exam, Mingjing1civil law, Mingfa2criminal law, Mingshu3book of history, and Mingsuan4mathematics. This served as a major talent selection event for the nation, and those wishing to participate needed to be students from the Imperial Academy, the Grand Academy, or various county schools. Some talented individuals could also enter through the local-level examinations.
This regular examination granted official positions to those who succeeded, making it highly competitive. Being listed on the Guibang5Ginkgo List signified one as a student of the emperor. Among the various subjects, the Provincial Exam was the most prestigious. However, regardless of whether one was a student or a local candidate, a certain level of social status and talent was required. For most children of common families, such opportunities were desirable but elusive.
However, the wise emperor not only held the regular autumn examination but also introduced the spring special examination. This special examination, similar to the previous Provincial Examination in Bing County, aimed to discover talents from the common people and was also known as the “Enke” or “Grace Examination.” Generally held in spring, it covered a wide range of subjects, including not only classics and history but also medical and military sciences. Participants were not restricted by social status, and there was no limit on the number of candidates. As long as one had the talent, one could achieve a rapid ascent!
Zou Qian and his companions were precisely the common-born sons and daughters who rushed to participate in this Enke. Zou Qian and Sun Zhang, born into common families, were taking exams in general knowledge and literary classics. Lu Chun, born into a military family, aimed for the military sciences. Chen Yue came from a merchant family, and thanks to his contributions to road construction in Ji County, he was granted an unofficial honor that allowed him to take the administrative exam. Just think, in the previous dynasty, would they have had such opportunities for advancement? Even if it was just a low-ranking official position, it was still a significant stroke of luck!
Due to their similar backgrounds, the four of them shared common interests and formed a camaraderie. Having all completed their exams, they came to Xingchun Garden together to relax and alleviate the anxiety of waiting for the exam results.
After a few rounds of drinks, the conversation returned to the examinations. Zou Qian said, “Speaking of which, the addition of the special commendation in this examination is a major event. Perhaps in the future, even those with unofficial honors could make it onto the imperial list.”
For exam candidates, government policies were the most crucial. The special commendation was a groundbreaking initiative this year, specifically targeting those with official positions. As long as one had excellent evaluations for being diligent in official duties and capable of managing state affairs, they could participate in this special commendation examination. The subjects tested were no different from those in the Provincial Examination! For common-born individuals who couldn’t participate in the regular examinations, this was another pathway. First, enter through the Enke, then focus on official duties, achieve outstanding evaluations, and as long as one passed the special commendation examination, they could step into the high-ranking positions normally accessible to aristocratic families!
“This special commendation is even more challenging than the Provincial Examination,” Chen Yue saw through it. Although this was a pathway, every step required effort beyond the ordinary. Being a good official was already not easy, and not neglecting one’s studies made it even more demanding. If one failed the special commendation examination, their official position would be lost, making it a case of a loss outweighing the gain!
“It’s still better than wasting a lifetime, attaching oneself to aristocratic families,” Sun Zhang, the most talented among them, spoke. Regarding this examination, he also had some thoughts. In the past, commoners entering aristocratic circles were called guest officials but were essentially treated as servants. Now, with the emperor’s grace in introducing the special commendation, it was a rare opportunity that occurred once in a century.
Lu Chun laughed heartily, “Exactly! From a rural officer in the morning to the imperial court in the evening. Without the Enke, when would we have the chance to stand out?”
Becoming a rural officer in the morning and entering the imperial court in the evening became popular sayings circulating in Luoyang City. Although the wording was plain, the rhythm was catchy, and the meaning was excellent, making people unable to resist singing along. Whether it was the regular or special examination, there was hope compared to the nine-rank official system. For men in the world, what mattered most was their talent, courage, and ability!
“I have also heard that some in the court talk about ‘not going through the local offices, not considering the central ministries.’ If this is true, ten years from now, the distinction between the clear and the muddy will probably no longer be the same as in the previous dynasty,” Zhu Yue’s information seemed to come from nowhere, but these words energized everyone.
Since the Wei Dynasty, officials were classified into “clear” and “muddy.” Only officials in the “clear” category, with positions such as “clear assistants,” “clear leisure,” and “clear prominent,” were favored by the influential families. The nine-rank selection system made “smooth advancement” and “initial service on a clear path” exclusive to those with high status. In the past, Eastern Palace officials were all selected through clear channels; even the lowly scattered positions required all members of the family to be beautiful; the position of Chief Secretary was kept clear and elegant. Only those who were close to the emperor, handled official documents, and held leisurely and elegant positions were the best choices.
These “clean officials” were entirely ranked based on their family backgrounds, leaving no room for those from humble origins. As a result, the high-ranking positions were predominantly occupied by the aristocracy.
However, the Great Zhao Dynasty was drastically different from its predecessor. The emergence of the Three Departments and Six Ministries made “practical governance” the primary duty of officials. Now, with rules like “not going through local offices, not considering central ministries,” even if the high-born occupied positions such as Secretariat Clerk or Literary Official, supplemented by scattered honorary titles, what use did it have? Without entering the Six Ministries or ascending to the central government, they were merely pawns in the emperor’s hands!
As for going through local offices, one had to go down to become a county magistrate or provincial governor, directly governing the people and being evaluated for their performance. Spending all day immersed in practical matters, how many refined scholars could endure such responsibilities? Therefore, with this rule in effect, the nine-rank selection system would become virtually obsolete. Even if they attained the middle rank or received an official title bestowed by the emperor, it would merely be a decorative framework. If they wanted to maintain power, the distinction between “clean” and “muddy” official ranks might undergo a significant transformation.
“If it happens, even better! As long as we govern diligently and care for the people, we will not be inferior to generations of noble ministers!” Sun Zhang raised his cup high and exclaimed, “For the longevity of the benevolent emperor!”
His voice came from the heart, clear as a phoenix’s song. Immediately, everyone raised their wine cups, cheering for the benevolent ruler and savoring the exquisite wine.
Countless Enke candidates echoed their gratitude to the enlightened monarch. Meanwhile, the emperor of the Great Zhao Dynasty stood before a peculiar tower.
“This clock is truly… quite innovative.” Staring at the towering structure nearly twenty feet high, Liang Feng took a moment to squeeze out a sentence.
Not long after ascending the throne, he had ordered the Ministry of Works to construct a clock tower outside the Taiji Hall. Although the palace already had sundials and water clocks, they were somewhat outdated in design. If they could replace them with a modern-style clock tower, the difference would undoubtedly be significant. He remembered a hydraulic timekeeping device from the Song Dynasty that also served as an astronomical observatory. Even though the technology was separated by some time, if they excluded the astrolabe and focused solely on timekeeping, it might be an achievable challenge.
Placing such a semi-hydraulic and semi-mechanical clock tower outside the Taiji Hall not only displayed grandeur but also contributed to scientific development. Leaving aside whether they could discover the deviation between solar time and the clock, further speculating on the Earth’s orbit, it would undoubtedly stimulate the officials and be advantageous for scientific progress.
It’s worth knowing that ancient Chinese scientists were mostly members of the bureaucratic elite. Throughout history, there were many polymaths proficient in medicine, astronomy, hydrology, and various inventions and creations. Stimulating the curiosity of these potential enthusiasts was highly beneficial for technological development. Even those officials who didn’t care about clock mechanisms probably had some thoughts like “having a preference from above, I must be diligent below.” If the superior liked it, they would go all out, thus creating a bureaucratic system with distinctive Chinese characteristics.
Therefore, constructing a clock tower, although costly, held long-term advantages.
The result exceeded expectations. In just three years, the clock tower was completed ahead of schedule, but its style deviated significantly from Liang Feng’s envisioning. Instead of the slender appearance typical of future towers, this clock tower was indeed a “tower.” The top floor, as he suggested, had a vertical sundial with hands and twelve-hour markings. However, the lower part was upright and divided into five layers. Each layer had densely packed small doors, and it was said that when the hour struck, wooden figures would strike gongs and drums.
Hearing the emperor’s “praise,” the Minister of Works, Zu Taizhi, stepped forward, “Reporting to Your Majesty, this five-layered tower aligns with celestial phenomena. The first layer is the main hall, equipped with three doors. At the beginning of each hour, bells will ring, and in the middle, a gong will sound. Every quarter hour, wooden figures at the central door will beat drums. The second layer reports the start of the hour, and at each hour, wooden figures will emerge holding a sign. The third layer reports the specific time, the fourth strikes the fifth watch, and the last one reports the night hours. They alternate in cycles, without rest day or night.”
So, it was divided into two methods of time reporting, using both text and sound. This was much more sophisticated than the occasional bird chirp of a cuckoo clock.
Liang Feng nodded involuntarily, glancing at the dial, “But is it noon yet?”
When inviting the emperor to inspect the new clock tower, it was only natural to choose a time close to the hour. As expected, just as Liang Feng finished speaking, the pointer landed on the 12 o’clock position. With a “ding ding” sound, a wooden puppet in a purple robe struck the bronze bell from the right side of the first floor’s wooden door. Simultaneously, the purple-robed puppet on the second floor also emerged, holding a sign that read “noon.” Both actions were synchronized, with an adorable and amiable appearance that endeared them to the onlookers.
“Excellent!” Liang Feng praised, “With this, all ministers should be able to maintain a regular schedule.”
In truth, even without this large clock, officials in the imperial palace dared not be late for work. However, when the emperor issued a command, there was always some profound meaning. Wasn’t this clock designed to supervise the diligence and punctuality of the officials?
Suddenly, everyone around praised the wise emperor. Zu Taizhi promptly said, “May Your Majesty please bestow a name.”
Liang Feng pondered for a moment, “Let’s call it the ‘Enlightenment Tower.’ The symbol of enlightenment lies in diligence and practicality.”
The name might be a bit cliché, but with such eloquent words, who dares not to praise? Ignoring the overwhelming flattery, Liang Feng turned to Liu Jian beside him and said, “We can also establish an observatory at the Qintian Observatory and reset the armillary sphere.”
With the invention of the telescope, the next step was the astronomical telescope. Although it was unclear how many years it would take to overcome the difficulties, a solid foundation needed to be established first.
Liu Jian immediately bowed, “Thank you for Your Majesty’s grace. Recently, the Qintian Observatory has made significant changes to the calendar, and the solar terms for the coming year can be determined two months in advance!”
“Oh?” Liang Feng raised an eyebrow, “That’s excellent. This calendar will be printed and distributed throughout the nation. Let the people know about the four seasons and their changes!”
Since there was woodblock printing and a team of calculators, selling the imperial calendar would undoubtedly be profitable. However, making money was a small matter; this was also a way to announce the legitimacy of the dynasty. Just imagine, if Yong County and Jiangdong also adopted the calendar of Great Zhao, who would dare to say that he was not destined by heaven?
Shifting his gaze back to the clock tower, Liang Feng nodded in satisfaction. The results of the imperial examination would be posted soon, and this marvel should impress the newly appointed scholars who came to the palace for an audience, shouldn’t it?
Author’s note:
The instruments mentioned by Liang Feng are based on the Song Dynasty’s Su Song’s design of the water-driven astronomical clock, and the depiction of the clock tower is also inspired by the prototype.
