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According to the usual rules of the county exam, there were typically two invigilators: one from the upper echelons of the prefectural government, such as the prefectural magistrate or prefectural commander, and the other a retired great scholar.
However, this time, a third invigilator had been added, and his identity was particularly special—a great scholar currently serving in the Hanlin Academy.
This level of invigilation was, frankly, overkill. Even if
Su Qi'an
had composed a divine masterpiece at the Moon Viewing Pavilion, it shouldn’t have warranted the attention of a court-appointed great scholar.
For a moment,
Fang Jingzhi’s
expression grew serious.
To avoid any appearance of bias, as the local magistrate overseeing the exam site,
Fang Jingzhi
typically did not attend the invigilation.
Even after the exam ended, he would not participate in the grading process, remaining uninvolved throughout.
However, this didn’t mean
Fang Jingzhi
was idle behind the scenes. He was well-acquainted with the retired great scholar,
Lin Yuanzhi
, who was known for his deep appreciation of talent and his refusal to bend to underhanded deals or unspoken rules.
When
Fang Jingzhi
presented
Lin Yuanzhi
with
Su Qi'an’s
"Four Lines of the Moon," the usually stoic scholar couldn’t help but laugh heartily.
He simply said, "As long as this
Su Qi'an
performs normally, he will undoubtedly secure a place among the successful candidates this time."
With this assurance,
Fang Jingzhi
felt a weight lift from his shoulders.
With such a prestigious scholar by his side,
Wei Zhentang
surely wouldn’t dare to act too recklessly.
But who could have predicted the arrival of a third invigilator, a serving great scholar?
Fang Jingzhi
wasn’t familiar with
Zheng Yanming
. After all, as a county magistrate, his interactions were limited to retired great scholars. Someone like
Zheng Yanming
was far beyond his reach.
Not knowing the man’s temperament made things complicated.
It was said that
Zheng Yanming
had been on an official mission in Chuandu Prefecture half a month ago and, coincidentally, stayed long enough to attend the annual county exam. Thus, he had invited himself to join the invigilation.
Even if the prefectural magistrate had reservations, given
Zheng Yanming’s
status, there wasn’t much he could say. And so,
Zheng Yanming
became the third invigilator.
As
Fang Jingzhi’s
long-time confidant,
Liu Shiyi
could sense his master’s unease. After a moment of silence, he spoke up.
"Your Honor, there’s no need to worry too much.
Zheng Yanming’s
uninvited presence isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Even if he was invited by someone, he wouldn’t dare cause trouble during such an important exam. Moreover, the grading process is sealed. Any attempt to interfere would carry significant risks, even for someone of his stature."
"Even if things take a turn for the worst and he insists on meddling, Your Honor can always file a complaint against him. A great scholar or not, malicious interference in the imperial examination is a serious offense. Filing a complaint would make things difficult for him."
Fang Jingzhi
nodded. "You’re right,
Liu Shiyi
. I may have been overthinking this. Indeed, a great scholar is not above the law. If he oversteps, I will not hesitate to report him."
Fang Jingzhi’s
determination to protect
Su Qi'an
wasn’t just about currying favor with
Marquis Xie
. More importantly, he was genuinely impressed by
Su Qi'an’s
talent.
With his own exceptional abilities and the favor of
Marquis Xie
, it was clear that
Su Qi'an
had a bright future in the imperial bureaucracy.
As the saying goes, offering help in times of need is far more valuable than offering congratulations after success.
Moreover, from what
Fang Jingzhi
knew of
Su Qi'an
, he was a man of deep loyalty.
Fang Jingzhi’s
unwavering support would surely be repaid in kind.
Thus,
Fang Jingzhi
was determined to ensure
Su Qi'an’s
success in this county exam.
Meanwhile, back at the exam site, the county exam had been underway for two hours. The sun was now high in the sky, casting a warm glow over the area.
It was lunchtime, and the candidates were not left to go hungry. Chefs had prepared meals, which were inspected by soldiers before being delivered to each candidate’s desk.
Whether the candidates ate or not was up to them.
After two hours of answering questions, many candidates had entered a state of deep concentration, oblivious to the outside world.
At this moment, the three invigilators on the high platform turned their attention away from the candidates.
Wei Zhentang
, seated in the middle, broke the silence.
"It’s truly an honor to have two great scholars overseeing this Seven-County Exam. The event is all the more illustrious for your presence."
Lin Yuanzhi
and
Zheng Yanming
nodded slightly in acknowledgment but remained silent.
The atmosphere was somewhat awkward, but
Wei Zhentang
felt a secret delight.
To outsiders, having two great scholars as invigilators might seem like a great honor. However, few knew that these two scholars had a long-standing feud.
Before
Lin Yuanzhi
retired, he and
Zheng Yanming
had worked together for many years. While they got along well enough in public, it was said that over a decade ago, a disagreement had driven a wedge between them. Even after
Lin Yuanzhi’s
retirement, their relationship had not improved.
Whenever the two met, it was like fire against ice. And this was exactly what
Wei Zhentang
wanted to see.
After a moment of silence,
Zheng Yanming
spoke up. "So, that’s the so-called prodigy from Lingbei County,
Su Qi'an
? The one who composed that divine verse at the Moon Viewing Pavilion? He doesn’t look particularly impressive."
"Since when does talent require a handsome face?
Zheng Yanming
, you’re spouting nonsense. As a great scholar of the Hanlin Academy, when did you start judging people by their appearance?"
Lin Yuanzhi
immediately countered, not mincing his words.
Zheng Yanming
wasn’t angered. He simply replied indifferently, "I have no issue with the young man’s appearance. It’s just that the depth of the 'Four Lines of the Moon' doesn’t seem like the work of someone so young."
Zheng Yanming’s
implication was clear: the essence of the "Four Lines of the Moon" required a wealth of experience and a broad worldview, qualities typically found in seasoned scholars. How could a young man like
Su Qi'an
possibly possess such depth?
"What does youth have to do with it? In the 300 years since our dynasty was founded, how many young talents like
Su Qi'an
have emerged? Even child prodigies have left their mark, their achievements and verses passed down through the ages."
"To dismiss someone based on their age and appearance shows how narrow-minded you’ve become,
Zheng Yanming
. No wonder you’ve been stuck as a mere compiler in the Hanlin Academy for so many years, unable to advance. What a pity."
If
Lin Yuanzhi’s
earlier remarks had left
Zheng Yanming
unfazed, this last comment struck a nerve.
Zheng Yanming’s
face darkened, but he held back his anger. He shot
Lin Yuanzhi
a cold glance and said, "Hmph, no matter how long I’ve been in the Hanlin Academy, it’s still better than being retired for years. The academy today is nothing like the stagnant place it was when you were there.
Lin Yuanzhi
, at your age, you should focus on enjoying your retirement. Don’t overexert yourself, or you might not live to see another day."
"My health is none of your concern. Focus on your duties as an invigilator, and don’t overstep. Otherwise, the consequences might tarnish your reputation in your twilight years."
"Is that so? Well, thank you for the advice,
Lin Yuanzhi
. Since you hold this prodigy in such high regard, let’s wait and see how he performs."
With that,
Zheng Yanming
closed his eyes and began to meditate.
Lin Yuanzhi
did the same.
Wei Zhentang
, seated between them, had remained silent throughout, a smile playing on his lips. He turned his gaze downward, focusing on
Su Qi'an
, who was deeply engrossed in his exam.
His eyes gleamed with unspoken thoughts.
Below,
Su Qi'an
continued to write diligently, his expression calm as he read and answered each question.
After more than two hours of answering, he had completed about half of the exam. The remaining questions, while challenging, were manageable.
The county exam tested not only the accuracy of the answers but also the candidates’ ability to reflect and provide insightful responses.
In simpler terms, candidates were presented with a problem and asked to provide their own solutions based on their understanding.
These types of questions had no fixed answers and tested the candidates’ breadth of thinking and vision.
Each year, the questions varied, but they generally revolved around recent government policies, border conflicts, and the livelihood of the people.
These were grand topics, requiring candidates to imagine themselves as local administrators and propose governance strategies.
As a result, these questions demanded careful consideration and often required answers spanning tens of thousands of words, making them both time-consuming and mentally taxing.
However, a well-crafted answer that resonated with the examiners could significantly boost a candidate’s chances of success, even if their earlier answers were mediocre.
This had happened in past exams, though such an approach carried considerable risk.
Only those with exceptional talent and confidence would attempt it. Most candidates played it safe, doing their best within their limits.
While
Su Qi'an
had some talent, he didn’t consider himself arrogant or overly confident. He approached each question methodically.
Another hour passed, and the sun began to set, the warm rays replaced by a cool breeze.
After relentless effort,
Su Qi'an
finally reached the last few sections of the exam.
As he read the next question, his brush paused mid-air. His calm eyes showed a flicker of surprise.
The question before him was: "The Great Liang Dynasty has stood for 300 years. Internally, bandits run rampant, and disasters plague the land. Externally, foreign tribes invade. As a brilliant strategist, what policies would you propose to govern the nation?"
This type of question wasn’t unheard of, but it was unusual for a county-level exam.
After all, these scholar candidates were, at best, aspiring county magistrates. Questions of such grand scale were typically reserved for higher-level exams.
Though puzzled,
Su Qi'an
didn’t shy away. After some thought, he began to write.
Internal Banditry
: Establish militia units in each village, with villages cooperating to defend themselves and assist the government in eradicating bandits.
Natural Disasters
: The government should recruit new soldiers and allocate land for farming. These soldiers would be self-sufficient during peacetime and ready to fight during wartime.
Foreign Invasions
: Reduce taxes and abolish corvée labor in border counties, granting local governments greater autonomy.
...
As he wrote,
Su Qi'an
seemed to immerse himself in the role of a high-ranking official, his brush moving swiftly across the paper.
Two hours later, he had filled pages with his ideas, totaling tens of thousands of words.
With a final stroke,
Su Qi'an
exhaled deeply, as if he had poured all his aspirations onto the paper.
A sense of relief washed over him. He reviewed his work, pondered for a moment, and then wrote six words at the top of the page:
"Ten Strategies for Governing the Nation."
[--------------------------------------------]
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