Chapter 148: The Grand Secretaries Read "Ode to the Goddess of the Luo" |
The grading process only had four days in total.
To be precise, it was three and a half days.
The final selection had to be submitted to His Majesty for imperial approval to determine the specific candidates.
The jinshi examination was different from the juren examination—there were far more political considerations involved.
Because this examination was of a higher level and carried greater importance.
Anyone who could become zhuangyuan, even if they came from a humble background with a family that could provide basically no support—like Zhang Zhao—could ultimately reach at least the third rank as a Grand Secretary.
Moreover, each session only produced thirty jinshi graduates—the quality was exceptional.
For certain political considerations, the Emperor would arrange some predetermined positions for each session.
For instance, this time he had some candidates in mind.
As the highest-ranking eunuch, Chen Bao naturally understood the importance of assessing the situation.
For such an important level of examination, he had thoroughly investigated all the key figures participating in advance.
"Reporting to Your Majesty," Chen Bao explained clearly. "In the previous provincial examination, he obtained his juren degree entirely through his own ability. His lyrical composition was quite good, but his policy essay was weak. If he performs at his previous level, he shouldn't be able to pass the jinshi examination. Even if his policy essay level improves somewhat, there's an eighty percent chance he still won't pass."
There was no help for it—it wasn't that Song Ce wasn't capable, but becoming a jinshi at sixteen was truly absurd.
His father Song Jing had been praised as a child prodigy since childhood, yet he only became a jinshi at twenty.
"His lyrical composition is good—can he reach jia-grade?" the Emperor asked.
Out of three thousand total candidates, one had to rank in the top one hundred to achieve jia-grade.
Previously, he had indeed ranked in the top ten in the provincial examination.
However, the jinshi examination drew from six prefectures, not just Si Prefecture alone.
Most of these examinees were juren graduates from multiple sessions.
The value of being in the provincial examination's top ten certainly didn't equate to the metropolitan examination's top hundred.
He would need to perform even better than before, with higher quality work, to reach the top hundred standard.
"Song Jing sat in prison for Great Yu for over half a year—there ought to be some compensation," the Emperor said.
"Your Majesty, we can do it this way," Chen Bao had a solution and said, "Among jia-grade lyrical composition pieces, aside from the very best, the rest don't differ too much—there's not much difference between one hundredth place and two hundredth place. If he doesn't reach the top hundred standard, we'll place him at the bottom of jia-grade. Then we'll place Song Ce in the top few of yi-grade. Combined together, he should end up as a low-ranking jinshi."
Being in the top few of yi-grade wasn't much different from being at the bottom of jia-grade.
However, it wouldn't be conspicuous.
If both subjects were forcibly placed in jia-grade, it would reek too much of manipulation.
Moreover, yi-grade essays wouldn't be sold as model answer papers to examinees.
In other words, they wouldn't be made public.
"No, make him yi-grade first place," the Emperor said. "Otherwise, he'll really think he passed on his own merit."
Barely scraping into jinshi status was an imperial favor.
Yi-grade first place was basically openly saying that the Emperor remembered the suffering he endured for the court, so he arranged for his youngest son to become a jinshi.
The other party would feel better about it in his heart too.
Since you've already given my son jinshi status, what more is there to say? I'll just serve this prison sentence diligently and that's that.
"Also, what about the rest of the Song faction?"
The Emperor spoke this term quite bluntly.
"Among the batch of sub-yuan candidates at Minister Sun's banquet, a few had some favorable impressions of Song Shi'an and didn't fawn over the Minister..." At this point, Chen Bao also analyzed, "But this slave believes it's mainly due to their rebellious feelings about the Minister using them as chess pieces—it can't really be called supporting Song Shi'an's military farming policies."
"Let those people take the exam on their own merit," the Emperor said.
"As for true supporters of Song Shi'an, there is one person," Chen Bao said earnestly. "Wang Shuishan, a juren graduate from the same session as Song Shi'an. Previously, his policy essay was too radical, so he nearly failed, but the level of his policy essays is still quite good."
"What's his background?" the Emperor asked.
"His father previously served as a military aide to an army chief clerk, then later became aide to a deputy general. Once during battle his leg was injured, so based on his service record he became an eighth-rank county magistrate—quite clean," Chen Bao said.
The Emperor liked exactly this kind of commoner background.
Commoners with ability would work even harder in official circles and attribute their advancement to 'imperial grace.'
Aristocratic family sons were different—even if they were promoted, they'd feel it was due to their own strong abilities and the support their families provided, without any sense of gratitude for being recognized.
"His policy essays are good, right?" the Emperor asked.
"Yes, Your Majesty," Chen Bao answered.
"Good. As long as his policy essay reaches jia-grade, give him jinshi status," the Emperor said.
"Should we make it that obvious?" Chen Bao asked.
"This one doesn't need to be," the Emperor said. "Great Yu selects officials for the Emperor, not for Song Shi'an."
Making Song Ce a jinshi was giving Song Shi'an face.
Making Wang Shuishan a jinshi was to give Song Shi'an someone he could use, but it wasn't for his sake.
This logic seemed convoluted but was actually quite understandable.
If Wang Shuishan's policy essay reached jia-grade or even better, he would already have a chance at passing, but if his lyrical composition was somewhat lacking, he'd be screened out.
Because the positions toward the bottom of the jinshi rankings were very precarious.
Anyone with even a bit of background could push someone out.
The Emperor making Wang Shuishan a jinshi meant he himself wanted to use someone with genuine talent and learning, a clean background, who could accomplish great things.
At this time, he couldn't sell this favor to Song Shi'an.
"Your Majesty, the two additional jinshi slots this year are both from Si Prefecture, so the number of Si Prefecture jinshi candidates might be a bit too high—probably twelve to thirteen people."
Out of the six prefectures in the realm, Si Prefecture would account for forty percent.
"Deduct from Yangzhou."
These four words from His Majesty directly smoothed people's furrowed brows, stretching them out as if strolling through a Norwegian forest.
Why was he the Emperor, after all?
"Your Majesty is wise," Chen Bao said.
"Chen Bao, is it difficult for Song Shi'an to become zhuangyuan?" the Emperor suddenly asked.
"Your Majesty, although you've already cautioned the Grand Secretaries, unless you directly decree Song Shi'an as zhuangyuan, most of the Grand Secretaries will probably still push for Sun Qian," Chen Bao answered truthfully. "If Song Shi'an doesn't clearly surpass Sun Qian... it's still difficult."
"Difficult—then let it be difficult," the Emperor said without much concern, casually adding, "Song Shi'an should know that reform is more difficult than the civil examinations."
………
After a full day, the examining scholars finally selected six hundred essays and, after transcribing them all, submitted them to the seven Grand Secretaries.
Each person would read nearly a hundred essays on average.
Gu Yixin was getting on in years, so he'd read fewer.
The rest would be evenly distributed among the other Grand Secretaries.
Zhang Zhao had suggested being considerate of Old Master Gu, so he'd read more himself.
Each Grand Secretary had the authority to grade essays as jia-grade, and could directly assign grades for yi-grade.
Yi-grade included: upper, upper-middle, middle, lower-middle, and lower.
As for jia-grade, any that were upper-middle required everyone to reach consensus together.
So upper-middle grades were given very cautiously—at most only twenty-some.
Upper grades were limited to within ten.
Zhang Zhao had consecutively assigned yi-grade to seven essays.
Finally, he saw a truly excellent piece.
A smile appeared on his face.
"Everyone, this one can be considered a magnificent essay," Zhang Zhao said somewhat excitedly.
Everyone's attention was drawn to him.
Especially Sun Kang.
A magnificent essay could appear in the civil examinations?
Could it be that "Ode to the Goddess of the Luo"?
But calling it 'magnificent' seemed inappropriate.
Because it was a bit... feminine.
"Read it," Gu Yixin commanded.
Soon, a reading scholar began reciting for everyone.
"'Ode to the Mountains and Rivers of Great Yu'"
"The Great River originates from the mystical gardens of Kunlun, pouring down the jade springs of the constellations..."
"Once it shattered the steeds of Ji Wang, its waves sank the swords of Qi..."
As he recited in this manner, all the Grand Secretaries showed expressions of approval.
As the chief examiner for lyrical composition, Sun Kang stroked his beard and couldn't help but praise, "Brilliant literary talent, magnificent momentum, powerful brushwork. This student seems to possess the grand bearing of one who embraces rivers and mountains in his heart."
"Clearly not forcing vocabulary or piling up idioms—the sense of depth is particularly strong throughout."
"Yes, especially that line 'shattered the steeds of Ji Wang'—it truly inspires our nation's people today."
"I quite like it," Zhang Zhao also added. "This kind of essay is what Great Yu needs."
"Jia-grade upper—any objections?" Gu Yixin asked.
Everyone collectively nodded in agreement without any issues.
"We've now reviewed more than half the essays, and it feels like we can already lock in first place for lyrical composition," Zhang Zhao assessed incisively. "The literary talent is extremely high, the theme magnificent. Those that can match its grandeur lack some literary talent. Those with comparable literary talent fall short in grandeur."
"Yes, only when both aspects combine does one deserve first place in lyrical composition."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Moreover, each person knew in their hearts.
This had to be Sun Qian's work.
Why?
Writing style could be similar, sentence structure could be similar, and habits in choosing words and constructing sentences were rarely similar—though not entirely impossible.
When all three matched together, they could definitively determine it had to be him.
Since they were going to make Sun Qian the predetermined champion.
They had naturally studied all of Sun Qian's lyrical compositions and essays.
Don't underestimate the professional competence of these old foxes...
However, Sun Kang felt somewhat uneasy.
The papers were almost entirely graded—why hadn't "Ode to the Goddess of the Luo" appeared yet?
Could it have been screened out?
Please don't let it be connected to him!
Finally, among the last few essays, someone encountered it.
"Does the Luo River have any legends about a goddess?"
One person asked in bewilderment.
Everyone was puzzled, but Gu Yixin answered him: "No."
"Then let's all listen to this essay together."
The exam paper was handed to the reading scholar.
All the Grand Secretaries began to listen.
"Her form—graceful as a startled swan, sinuous as a wandering dragon. Radiant as autumn chrysanthemums in bloom, flourishing as spring pines. Dimly glimpsed as light clouds veiling the moon, drifting ethereally as snow swirling in the wind..."
"Without a matchmaker to facilitate our joy, I entrust my words to the gentle waves. Hoping my sincerity reaches her first, I untie my jade pendant as an offering..."
"I grasp the reins to urge my horses onward, yet linger hesitantly, unable to depart."
The Ode to the Goddess of the Luo, after localization and partial meaning modifications, had emerged into this world.
All seven Grand Secretaries were completely immersed, with some traces of bewilderment.
Even someone as arrogantly proud as Xie Lingyun had said he was only one-eighth of Cao Zhi.
So even the consistently composed Gu Yixin was thoroughly moved.
When he first heard "An Exhortation to Learning," his reaction hadn't been this extreme.
"An Exhortation to Learning" could naturally rival the writings of sages, but that was something a person could write—it required profound insight.
But this—this was not something a person could write.
Only when someone's talent was extremely, exceptionally powerful could they casually compose something so magnificent during a civil examination, effortlessly displaying their skill.
"Beautiful, too beautiful."
One Grand Secretary said emotionally, "The wind god Pingyi gathered the evening breeze, the water god Chuanhou stilled the waves, Feng Yi struck the divine drum, and as the goddess vanished, I too felt lost and melancholy."
It described a miraculous encounter.
Meeting a perfect and sacred goddess.
Having a meeting, a romantic encounter with her.
And then, returning from the divine realm to the mortal world...
Everyone was at a loss for words.
Only Gu Yixin set the tone, sighing, "We may well be immortalized alongside this 'Ode to the Goddess of the Luo.'"