Thank you to Nora7 for the ko-fi~ ♡⸜(˶˃ ᵕ ˂˶)⸝♡
This year’s imperial examination consisted of twelve subjects, with over a thousand people taking the test and only one hundred and thirty-eight individuals being selected. The admission rate was indeed not low. As the Left Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, Wen Qiao had long known the list of successful candidates. Among them, the three individuals who excelled in the special commendation category were particularly outstanding.
Among these three individuals, two hold the position of county magistrate, and one serves as the county chief historian; all of them entered the officialdom through the imperial examination in the former state of Bing County. However, unlike in the past where low-ranking positions were usually assigned to those from humble backgrounds, as long as one excels in the special commendation exam, even high-ranking positions like those in the central government can be considered. Moreover, individuals with official ranks below the fourth level and scholars from various local schools can also be recommended for admission to study. In the future, there will undoubtedly be more scholars from humble backgrounds entering the officialdom through the regular examination. If a few more scholars from humble origins with the rank of Jinshi can emerge, how much influence can the noble families in the central government retain? Especially with the implementation of the new policy of “not serving in provincial offices, not considering central government positions.”
These gradual changes have alerted the noble families in the northern regions. At the beginning of the founding of the dynasty, the restoration of the Nine-Rank System seemed more like a temporary measure. Even if there are many scions from noble families who start their careers from the rural ranks, if they cannot enter the Three Departments, what use is there?
These changes are particularly sensitive for Wen Qiao, who currently holds a position in the Ministry of Personnel. After the ascension of the emperor, officials from the Six Bureaus in the former Bing County surpassed the Bureau of Revenue to become the heads of the Six Departments. The appointment and review of officials ranked below the sixth level are all under the responsibility of the Ministry of Personnel. This authority is enough to attract ambitious individuals. Moreover, the Minister of Personnel is none other than Cui Ji, who holds significant contributions as a dragon-slayer and plays a role in the education of the Crown Prince. The Cui family from Shangdang has no significant connections with the Qinghe lineage; they are considered a humble family. Even if other noble families want to establish connections, the other party may not respond.
Therefore, the position of Wen Qiao, a high-ranking official in the Ministry of Personnel, holds great significance. Originating from the Wen family in Taiyuan, he was one of the first aristocrats in Bing County who pledged allegiance to the emperor. Having served in various positions at the provincial and county levels, he gained the emperor’s trust. Now, before reaching his thirties, he has climbed to the rank of the fourth level, truly having an unlimited future.
For those noble families who consider marriages and old acquaintances, Wen Qiao’s residence is like a bustling marketplace. Many people are urging him to open a convenient door for the noble families. It’s almost like putting him on fire.
However, despite the persuasion, Wen Qiao has never wavered. He understands that the remaining aristocrats in the northern regions are not of one mind.
Coming from the same background of bureaucratic officials, Wen Qiao knows too well the characteristics of these high-ranking families. While there are noble families that are enthusiastic about fame and glory, boasting about their noble status, most have migrated southwards with the previous dynasty, living in seclusion in Jiangdong. Those who remain in the north are either from prestigious families with vast estates, unafraid of the northern tribes, or those with cunning minds, seeking opportunism.
These people may engage in philosophical discussions about profound matters but will not place their wealth and interests in the hands of others. If there is a chance, they might find pleasure in stepping on others’ backs. If they can trample on someone else to their advantage, it would be more satisfying!
And the emperor should be well aware of their nature. Whether it is the Nine-Rank System or the regular imperial examination, opportunities have been provided for the noble families. The boundaries have been clearly defined, and as long as they do not cross the line, each can rely on their abilities, and the one who excels will gain the most. Even if noble families participate in the examinations, will they perform worse than scholars from humble backgrounds?
It’s like boiling frogs in a warm pot, where everyone is cooked together. Either they swim against the current, or they sink to the bottom of the pot. If there is any rebellion, how did the Chen family in Yu County end up last year? It is a lesson from the past.
Establishing oneself as a king and even the possibility of establishing hegemony in one region seems increasingly distant. Escaping to the southern lands now would be too late. Staying in Da Zhao, regardless of one’s background, as long as there is talent, what is there to fear?
When his youngest son reaches the age of six, he will be sent to the Chongwen Institute. The eldest son can inherit titles through imperial favor, but other offspring must rely on their own abilities. In the past, his father’s six uncles were known as the “Six Dragons”; how could his own descendants be any less?
Not just Wen Qiao, this reform in the imperial examination system has stirred waves of emotions in many hearts. However, those who dared to speak out were few. Just recently, news arrived that there was another uprising in Jiangdong, with over ten counties falling into chaos. Not to mention the territories occupied by the Xiongnu; the number of refugees fleeing from Yong and Qin alone reached tens of thousands. Life was extremely difficult.
Although the world is vast, there are not many places to find refuge. Family and life take precedence.
No one opposed, and all that remained was singing praises. Scholars who excelled in the special commendation examination also entered the palace for an audience with the emperor.
Standing outside the East Side Gate, Sun Zhang felt sweat on his back. Since learning that he had topped the examination list and ranked among the top three in the “National Science and Classics Exam,” he had been excited, unable to sleep day and night. This was an exceptional achievement in the special commendation exam! Even if it couldn’t compare to the regular examination, it still guaranteed entry into the imperial government. If sent to a local position, he would at least start as a county magistrate. A few years ago, he probably wouldn’t have dared to dream of such a scenario!
What’s even more wonderful is that the other three individuals he had a close relationship with also excelled in the exam. Apart from Zou Qian, whose ranking was slightly lower, Lu Chun and Zhu Yue performed admirably! In the future, the four of them would be officially of the “same year” in the bureaucratic world, able to support each other.
With such joy upon joy, how could one not be excited and restless? Therefore, standing at the gate, not to mention heavy sweating, Sun Zhang’s legs were somewhat weak. The special commendation exam is different from the regular examination; there is no talk of Three Ding armor, and one cannot enter the palace to present oneself. However, being able to stand outside the Taiji Palace, witnessing the magnificence of the imperial city, is an extremely rare opportunity!
“The emperor has issued an edict to summon the new Xiucais for an audience in the palace!” The voice of the proclamation came from afar, echoing continuously.
Those who succeed in the regular examination are called “Jinshi,” while those who excel in the special commendation exam are called “Xiucai.” The talent is outstanding, representing the strong foundation of the country. This is the emperor’s commendation and grace. Upon hearing the term “Xiucai” from the official announcer, tears welled up in Sun Zhang’s eyes.
Exerting all his strength, he and the others expressed gratitude for the emperor’s grace, following the guide to step into the palace.
The palace wall just now appeared majestic and profound, invoking awe. However, only when Sun Zhang truly entered the palace did he realize his own ignorance. The Feathered Forest Guards, armed with sharp weapons, stood in rows, and the blades glimmered with golden light, exuding a chilling atmosphere. The palace bricks were like mirrors, and the halls resembled forests. In the distance, the city towers soared, making the sky seem lower by a few degrees.
Passing through the Zhi Che Gate, then the Xiang Feng Tower, entering the Duanmen, leaving the splendid Zongzhang Hall behind, the central court of the “Three Dynasties and Five Gates” unfolded before their eyes.
As the Five Elements rotate, the Zhao Dynasty succeeds the Jin, representing the Fire Element and appearing red. The grand hall in front, with green tiles and red pillars, stood towering and solemn, like a giant beast crouching atop a jade platform. The ascending palace steps extended endlessly, all in shades of red, each step seemingly boundless and merging into the hall. In front of the Taiji Palace, incense wafted from the censers, and the Feathered Forest Guards stood in strict formation. There was also a beautiful brocade tower adorned with a sundial, embellishing the surroundings.
Against the backdrop of this immense palace, the hundred-plus new scholars seemed as tiny as ants.
As everyone followed the instructions of the ceremonial official and stood in formation, the palace musicians began playing Shao music. Sun Zhang’s heart raced even faster, and he dared not even take a breath. Shouldn’t the emperor be ascending to the throne now? Is the sovereign, the ruler of the Nine Five, right within the grand hall in front of him? However, no matter how excited he was, he didn’t dare to sneak a peek at the emperor’s solemn countenance. Following what he had learned before, along with the hundreds of officials inside the hall, he bowed deeply and shouted ‘Long live.’
Amidst the chants of “Long Live”, Sun Zhang’s hands and feet trembled as he straightened his body. Sweat had already trickled down to his jaw, yet he didn’t dare to wipe it away. After waiting for a moment, an elderly man holding the imperial edict walked out of the Taiji Palace and stood on the vermilion steps, unfolding the imperial decree.
This man was none other than the Minister of Rites, Fan Long. Although aged, Fan Long’s voice remained strong and full of vigor.
“In the fourth year of the Kai Ming era, the emperor, in his benevolence, established the special commendation examination to gather talents from all over the world. Today, one hundred and thirty-eight individuals are selected. In the special commendation examination, three individuals are selected and granted the status of Jinshi. In the Bo Xue Wen Da examination, twelve individuals are selected; in the Wen Bang Jing Guo examination, five individuals are selected… In the Medical Science examination, ten individuals are selected. All are granted the ninth rank and bestowed the status of Xiucai!”
The Special Examination Department unexpectedly bestowed the same title as Jinshi! Moreover, there was no official appointment. Is this based on the original official position for determining rank? However, these thoughts flashed through Sun Zhang’s mind and dissipated. This was because, on the elevated platform, the Minister of Rites had already begun announcing the names of the individuals!
“…Wen Bangjingguo Science, third place, Sun Zhang.”
When that name echoed outside the grand hall and was chanted in unison by the palace attendants, Sun Zhang truly shed tears. He took a step forward and bowed down, saying, “Minister Sun Zhang expresses gratitude for Your Majesty’s grace!”
His voice blended into the chorus of gratitude from others, barely audible. However, no one cared. Sun Zhang only felt that his lifelong wish had been fulfilled.
Yet, after the one hundred and thirty-eight individuals had been announced one by one, a decree was proclaimed inside the hall by a high-pitched voice of a yellow-clad messenger: “By the decree of His Majesty, the candidates of the special imperial examination, along with Jinshi, are summoned to the Taiji Hall for an audience.”
Sun Zhang’s mouth almost failed to close. Facing the emperor in the hall! Was it such an honor to be granted the special imperial examination? This surpassed the recognition of a genuine Jinshi, only comparable to the top three scholars!
However, no matter how one thought about it, those three individuals had already stepped forward, led by the ceremonial official, onto the red terrace and into the hall. Inside his chest, a difficult-to-describe sensation suddenly ignited, and Sun Zhang bit down on his teeth. He still had hope. As long as he served as an official diligently and excelled in his studies, there would come a day when he could receive such an honor!
The emperor had never underestimated them. The master of the Taiji Palace was worth dedicating their lives to, even to the point of sacrificing themselves before the emperor!
Suddenly, a crisp sound echoed. Amid his turbulent emotions, Sun Zhang couldn’t help but look up. Two small doors opened on the brocade building outside the hall. Two wooden figures, each over three feet tall, simultaneously stepped out. One person knocked on a bell, and the other raised a sign. The gaze flickered past them, unable to see the words on the sign clearly, but the purple robe on the wooden figure was visible.
His mind shook tremendously, and Sun Zhang quickly lowered his gaze. What was this? Was it a good omen from heaven, indicating that he too could wear a purple robe?
In fact, Sun Zhang didn’t notice that most of the scholars below couldn’t help but take a glance. They all saw the wooden figure in the purple robe. The ceremonial official standing on the side had a slight twitch at the corner of his mouth, pretending not to have seen anything, without reprimanding their improper behavior.
After all, there weren’t many emperors who would personally repair the bell tower in front of the Taiji Hall. Compared to that, what Wei Mingdi did, spending a huge sum to build bronze dragons and phoenixes in front of the Shiqian Hall, seemed more normal.
However, the emperor always had surprises in store. Just by observing the awe in people’s eyes, one could tell that the bell tower was not constructed in vain. Sneaking a glance at the sundial on the top of the tower to check the time, the ceremonial official lowered his gaze again, patiently waiting for the court ceremony to conclude.
※
“On the day of passing the imperial examination, return to the hometown in splendid attire… That’s what they say. However, if one truly becomes an official, it might not be so easy to return to the hometown.” Leaning on the royal case, Liang Feng smiled.
Currently, policies are being implemented in the court for officials to serve in different regions. If one truly became an official, they would have to avoid their hometown. Those four lines of the poem about passing the imperial examination were purely pulled from Liang Feng’s memory and might not be accurate.
But they were effective. If not for the fear of causing backlash due to the smell of officialdom, he would have wanted to use the line “In books, there is a beauty as fair as jade” as well. The imperial examination system was a strategy for centralizing power and controlling local authorities. After all, which emperor wanted to see the faces of local magnates?
“With more scholars selected this year, does Lord really want to target Yong County?” Beside him, Yiyan hooked a cherry pit with a silver spoon and took it out. Several well-prepared cherries were stacked in a small jade dish on the opposite side, almost a mouthful in weight.
Unexpectedly, Yiyan could see through it. Liang Feng raised an eyebrow, tossed that pile of sweet and sour cherries into his mouth, and then said, “After the hammering in Yu County these past two years, it’s relatively submissive. The front line has been pushed to the north bank of the Huai River. With no worries behind, it’s time to make a move on Yong County. Moreover, the Qintian Observatory just reported that there will likely be several solar eclipses in the coming two years. Now that the Di and Qiang in Yong and Qin are rebelling, coupled with solar eclipses, will those Xiongnu people still be interested in defending the city?”
This statement revitalized Yiyan’s spirit. “If there’s truly a solar eclipse, your servant is confident of capturing Chang’an in one battle!”
“One decisive victory is good, but the losses would be too great. Take it slowly, pressure the Xiongnu to retreat, and let them exhaust their forces. There are still too many Qiang and Hu in Yong and Qin, which is not a good thing in the end.” Liang Feng could see through it. The Di and Qiang who had rebelled with the Xiongnu, were enough to create instability.
These people couldn’t be easily surrendered. Today they surrendered, and tomorrow they might rebel again. The only option was to first force the Han to consume themselves and eliminate their combat-ready troops as much as possible. After pacification, disperse the people and assimilate them into the Han people. Perhaps it would take fifty or even a hundred years to completely eliminate the hidden dangers.
However, what he wanted was true unification. It wasn’t the grand spectacle of the four barbarians paying tribute; it was assimilation and annihilation, complete absorption and stability. For this goal, spending some time was worth it.
Although Yiyan was also a Jie, he didn’t care about the distinction between Jin and Jie. As long as the country could be stable, and the people could live happily, that was the greatest fortune. Since Bing County could be successful, it was believed that Yong County could be treated in the same way.
“If that’s the case, I’m afraid it will take about two years,” Yiyan thought for a moment and said, “We need to stockpile food, prepare for war, and train the navy along the Huai River.”
After dealing with the Xiongnu, the next step would be to send troops to the south. This couldn’t be resolved with just infantry and cavalry. Even the mighty Wei Wu, skilled in warfare as he was, suffered defeat at Chibi. Without a powerful navy, conquering Jiangdong would be nothing but wishful thinking.
Liang Feng smiled, “Naturally. I still have a hidden treasure that hasn’t been revealed…”
Before finishing his sentence, there was a sudden visit from an eunuch from the Eastern Palace. When the emperor summoned the general of the chariots and cavalry to discuss state affairs, no one dared to disturb. However, the Eastern Palace was not an ordinary subordinate, and Liang Feng slightly straightened his body, inviting him in.
Soon, the messenger rushed in, knelt on the ground, and announced, “Your Majesty, great joy! The Crown Princess is pregnant!”
“What!” Liang Feng couldn’t help but lean forward, “Has the Imperial Hospital confirmed it?”
“The Imperial Hospital’s chief physician personally diagnosed the pulse! It is absolutely true!” The excited yellow-clad messenger answered loudly.
“Good! Reward!” Liang Feng tightly grasped the hand of the person beside him. The Crown Princess being pregnant was a tremendous joy! Once an imperial grandson was born, the three generations’ legacy would be secured. Just this alone would make all fence-sitters lean toward Great Zhao!
“I humbly congratulate Your Majesty!” The other hand was placed on Liang Feng’s back.
Turning his head, a pair of gray-blue eyes radiated joy. Yes, he also hoped that Rong’er would give birth to an imperial grandson sooner. He hoped to somehow repay the sin of foolish love he committed. His heart was squeezed harshly. Suddenly, Liang Feng said, “Coincidentally, Lord Yiyan is also in the palace. Would you be willing to accompany me to the Eastern Palace?”
Yiyan hesitated for a moment, then a smile slowly appeared on his face, “This is the joy of your servant.”
Liang Feng also smiled. Holding Yiyan’s hand, he stood up tall and arranged to go to the Eastern Palace.
Author’s Note:
The term “Xiucai”, which means “talented person” or “scholar,” dates back to the Han Dynasty. Officials and governors were allowed to recommend one outstanding individual as a “Xiucai” each year, signifying exceptional talent. Later, during the reign of Emperor Guangwu, it was changed to “Maocai” (màocái). However, in the Three Kingdoms period, it reverted back to “Xiucai.” In the context of Liang Feng’s story, using “Xiucai” as a title for the examination reflects a high regard for these individuals. However, the tradition of considering Jinshi higher in rank than Xiucai likely persisted.
