Chapter 350 Weird Palace Examination Questions
"Where is my credit?"
The Supreme Emperor laughed at himself and said: "Before Fu'er moved out of the palace, I once saw a calligraphy in his room, which read: prosperity, the people suffer, death, the people suffer!"
"At that time, I was both pleased and a little funny."
"Fu'er cares about the people, why does Your Majesty find it funny?" Queen Mother Cao asked doubtfully.
"After I came to power, I selected talented people, reduced corvee service, reduced taxes, disliked extravagance, and advocated frugality. The ministers in the DPRK praised Yongxi all over the world, the eight wastelands were peaceful, and the scholars and peasants were happy with their work."
"Although I didn't say it, I am actually very proud of myself. I feel that even if I am not as good as those wise kings in the history books, I am not far behind."
"Fu'er said that when people are prosperous, they also suffer. Isn't it a joke?" the official said.
"How old was Fu'er at that time? How come your Majesty has remembered it for so many years?" Empress Dowager Cao said with a smile.
"I'm not just remembering it, but what I saw and heard after arriving in Luoyang, I feel that what Fu'er said is right. Luoyang is not far from Bianjing, and the people near Luoyang are having such a difficult life. What about other places?"
The Supreme Emperor looked at Empress Dowager Cao and said: "You said that the thorough investigation of the fields is my credit, but in fact these are all Fu'er's credit. I just saw that he did this in Kaifeng Mansion and found a large number of fields, which can increase the income of the court. The court is short of money. I am doing this just to increase some income for the court, not for the sake of the people.”
"With my temperament, I actually want to seek stability. When the court officials objected before, I was actually a little shaken. I thought that if Fu'er ascended the throne in the future, given his temperament, he would still investigate, so I didn't stop."
"Now it seems that Fu'er was right."
"Your Majesty has decided to move the capital?" Queen Mother Cao asked in surprise.
After being married for so many years, the Emperor said this, but she still didn't understand what the Emperor meant.
The Supreme Emperor nodded first, then shook his head and said: "Although Luoyang has recovered well, if the capital is to be moved, it needs to be renovated and planned. The palace also needs to be rebuilt. The imperial court does not have that much money at all."
"If Fu'er can find a way to get enough money to complete the construction of the palace and Luoyang without affecting the operation of the court and without imposing any additional taxes, then it won't hurt if I agree to him."
After hearing this, Empress Dowager Cao thought carefully and understood what the Supreme Emperor meant.
The Supreme Emperor has tended to move the capital, and the money to build the palace and Luoyang City is a test for Zhao Xing.
If Zhao Xing could complete it, he would agree to move the capital, otherwise he would have to give up the move.
However, she was the Queen Mother and had no intention of intervening in government affairs, so she didn't say anything.
"It seems that the Emperor has decided to return to Bianjing in the near future?" Empress Dowager Cao said with a smile.
The Supreme Emperor looked in the direction of Bianjing and said, "It's time to go back after being out for so long."
…………
Seven days after the results of the general examination are released, the palace examination officially begins.
Early in the morning, the scholars who passed the examination gathered in the palace and were led by the chamberlain to Chongzheng Hall.
There are densely packed desks in the main hall, with pens, inks, paper and inkstones on them.
The scholars entered the hall under the guidance of the eunuchs and stood behind the tables in an orderly manner.
The whole process was very quiet, and there was almost no sound of footsteps.
After the scholar stood still, after about a cup of tea, the eunuch of the Si Dian shouted: "Your Majesty is here!"
The stone buns quickly stood up and bowed.
After a while, Zhao Xing, surrounded by Han Zhang and others, walked into the hall.
The imperial examination lasted for one day, so Zhao Xing naturally could not be there for the whole process.
As long as he shows his face and asks a question, he will leave, and Han Zhang and the others will supervise him.
Zhao Xing came to sit on the imperial platform, and the eunuch of the Si Dian Hall sang and shouted: "Bye!"
"I pay homage to your Majesty!" The scholars in the hall bowed and shouted.
As mentioned earlier, there used to be an elimination system in the palace examination. Later, because officials who were eliminated in the palace examination defected to Xixia, the elimination in the palace examination was cancelled.
Therefore, passing the general examination is equivalent to becoming a Jinshi, and the palace examination is just a formality to determine the final ranking.
Therefore, these people can already call themselves ministers.
"Pingsheng!" Zhao Xing waved his hand and said in a deep voice: "I have checked the test questions of the previous palace examinations, either poems or strategies. Today I decided to come up with some different test questions. You will sit down first. When I dictate the test questions, You can write it down.”
"Yes!"
Everyone shouted in unison and sat down, holding a pen in one hand and holding a sleeve in the other hand. After dipping their hands in ink, they waited for Zhao Xing to dictate the test questions.
"1: A's father was angry to death by his stepmother. A was so angry that he avenged his father. Is he guilty?"
"Two: The county magistrate took B's money and beat A into submission. A couldn't bear the rumors and committed suicide. What crime should the county magistrate commit?"
"Three: The prisoner on death row has no one to serve his parents at home. Please ask for permission to serve as his attendant. If there is a general amnesty, can he be spared from death?"
"Four..."
Zhao Xing spoke eloquently for ten questions before stopping.
There was a common problem in ancient times that laws and cases were basically not considered in the imperial examinations.
Even if you take a few exams, you won’t focus on these. The main thing is to look at policy theory and classic meanings.
The questions asked by Zhao Xing are all relatively difficult cases.
This question may seem simple, but in fact there is no fixed answer.
Not only their case-solving abilities are tested, but their character as a person can also be seen.
Just like the first question, A is definitely guilty, but the severity of the crime is difficult to assess.
In terms of ancient filial piety, a stepmother is also a mother. Even if she avenges her father, it is unfilial and should be punished with death.
But A is avenging his father, and in this respect he is filial.
Anyone who chooses the former is a fool and filial piety.
In Zhao Xing's opinion, such a person is of no use.
In ancient times, foolishness and filial piety were actually respected, because this would lead to foolishness and loyalty, and those in power naturally wanted their ministers to be such people.
But in Zhao Xing's view, foolish filial piety does not mean foolish loyalty.
On the contrary, this kind of person has been poisoned too deeply and is the kind of person who is stubborn.
The other questions also have their own purposes, and they all leave pitfalls.
When these people answer questions, they will definitely combine what Zhao Xing did after he ascended the throne to cater to Zhao Xing's wishes.
If you are not careful, you will fall into the pit.
After Zhao Xing finished the question, he said: "This palace examination is different from the past. You only need to answer how to judge, what are the reasons and basis. The quality of literary talent is not important."
The scholars in the palace were a little stunned when they heard this. Since the founding of the Song Dynasty, the most important thing in the imperial examination was literary talent.
Even if Zhao Xing came up with such a weird topic, the main focus is not on literary talent.
Those with poor literary talents naturally feel happy, but those with good literary talents feel that they have suffered a disadvantage.
Regardless of what they thought, Zhao Xing told Han Zhang and others to proctor the exam and left the hall.
As soon as Zhao Xing left, the originally quiet hall became a little noisy.
"Quiet!"
Han Zhang said in a deep voice: "Since your Majesty has already set the question, you just need to answer the question. If you dare to make any noise again, you will be disqualified."
In fact, he also felt that Zhao Xing's question was a bit childish.
However, the emperor's golden words had raised the question in front of so many scholars, and there was no room for change.
At this time, he naturally wanted to maintain Zhao Xing's dignity.
(End of chapter)