Great Zhou Wensheng

Chapter 100 [The Classics and Meanings Leave the County]! The hall erupted in uproar!

Fuyuan.

Examination Room No. 1, Class A, with the bamboo curtain half-rolled up.

Jiang Xingzhou sat upright in front of the wooden table, with plain white Xuan paper spread out on it, gazing at the eight characters on the paper: “The caterpillar has offspring, and the wasp carries them.”

The ink stick is gently swirled three times in the inkstone, and only when the pine soot ink gradually deepens does the wrist suspend and the brush be lifted.

He pondered for a moment, and the wolf-hair brush left its first ink mark on the Xuan paper—answering the third test poem question according to the commentary of the great Confucian scholar Zheng Xuan on "transforming oneself."

III. Examination Poems
Topic: The Book of Songs, Minor Odes, Xiao Wan, says, "The caterpillar has offspring, the wasp carries them." Please compose a poem based on the meaning or allusion of this line.

【answer:

"Hua Ji Zi"

Nature holds profound truths, and even the smallest insect reveals its spirit.

Wasps carry caterpillars in their beaks, and their nests are transformed into their own offspring.

The body changes in seven days, and the bloodline is renewed in a single day.

The withered mulberry tree seems to mark the passing of sixty years, while the hollow wood harbors the spirit of bees.

Green and yellow are originally different colors, but dew and mud are actually the same shape.

Who says the ways of Heaven are far away? Even insects understand them!

With a final stroke, Jiang Xingzhou gently put down his brush, a hint of indifference flashing in his eyes.

Although this poem conforms to classical texts and subtly alludes to the story of the wasp turning into a seed, and its five-character, eight-rhyme structure is also quite standard, it is ultimately just a work for an examination and cannot be considered a masterpiece.

The truly difficult part is the [Four Classics and Five Policy Questions] –

To understand the meaning of the classics, one must thoroughly investigate the subtle and profound meanings of the words of the sages and worthies. One must adhere to the commentaries of the sages and worthies, while also expressing one's own unique perspective.

When seeking advice, one must not only understand the principles of governance and chaos throughout history, but also not only elucidate the original meaning of the classics, but also comprehend the profound principles of governing the country and ensuring its stability.

A single word can lead to a world of difference, and this is not something that can be easily dealt with by ordinary writing!

In the imperial examinations of the Great Zhou Dynasty, scholars who could write about romance and nature were numerous, but those who truly understood the classics and were knowledgeable in governance were extremely rare.

As the sun dips westward, the sandalwood incense grows cold.

Inside the eight hundred examination rooms of the prefectural academy, the students had barely managed to finish the three questions on calligraphy, ink interpretation, and poetry, but now all of them were frozen in place.

Is this metaphor meant to encourage people to take many wives and concubines in order to have many children?

Is this statement meant to encourage adopted children?

"."

They either bit their pens and pondered deeply.
Or he might sigh deeply,
Even more extreme, some people pressed their foreheads against the table, almost staring through the paper.

"An adopted child has offspring... Where should we begin to explore the meaning of this classic text? Agriculture? Education? Or perhaps..."

Gu Zhimian stared blankly at the paper, his fingertips unconsciously tugging at his temples. The ink on the brush tip, still wet, trembled slightly at the edge of the inkstone, spreading a faint bluish-black hue.

suddenly--

He seemed to hear the whispers of his childhood, when he accompanied his father on patrols of the fields; the voice was like smoke and mist, yet clearly discernible.

"The moth that bores into the mulberry tree is like a harsh government that erodes the people; the wasp that carries away insects is like a virtuous official who soothes the masses."

In an instant, a flash of inspiration struck!
"That's it! The breeding of wasps is not just a matter for insects—"

He suddenly sat up straight, his wolf-hair brush dipped in thick ink, the strokes sharp as swords, the opening line of the poem like a thunderclap breaking through the earth, crashing onto the paper:

"I have heard that sage kings followed the laws of heaven and earth, and established agriculture and sericulture as the foundation of education. The wasp carrying its young is like a virtuous man carrying the common people; it takes seven days for the wasp to give birth to its offspring, just as the kingly way nourishes all people..."

With a flourish of the brush, the meaning of the classics becomes clear!
Examination Room No. 6, Class A

Zhao Zilu sat alone at his desk, his fingertips lightly tapping the inkstone, his eyes flashing with a cold light.

The sunlight slanted through the window, casting a dim shadow on half of his face, and a sense of unease stirred within him.

Suddenly—

He picked up his brush, dipped it in ink, and the wolf-hair brush traced sharp arcs on the rice paper, the ink marks as sharp and distinct as if carved by a knife:
“The adopted son is a scholar from a poor family;”
"The wasp is a product of aristocratic families and powerful clans!"

As he wrote with flowing strokes, a cold smile played on his lips, and the force in his wrist grew increasingly ruthless.

"The wasp feeds the caterpillar, just as a powerful family supports a poor scholar."

This is not a gesture of kindness, but rather the raising of a tiger that will bring disaster!

Ink splattered, each character sharp as a blade.

His performance in the first round of the prefectural examination was terrible, placing him at the bottom among all the candidates. He had no hope of becoming the top scholar.

That being the case——

Why not tear off this mask of gentleness, kindness, humility, and frugality, and unleash your wit to mock them, just to feel good!
The paper seemed to tear as the pen stroked across it.

If such arrogant words were seen by the examiners, he would surely be given the worst grade.

But he no longer cared—he was now a scholar who had passed the imperial examinations with discretion!
Jiang Xingzhou was deep in thought, and the inkstone rippled slightly.

The brush tip hovers three inches above the paper, a drop of thick ink about to fall.

The so-called interpretation of scriptures examines the original meaning of the sacred texts and the understanding of the commentaries by great Confucian scholars.

He took a deep breath and wrote with pen strokes that penetrated the paper:
IV. Interpretation of the Scriptures.

Title: The Book of Songs, Minor Odes, Xiao Wan, says, "The caterpillar has offspring, the wasp carries them on its back." What is the profound meaning behind this seemingly simple statement?

【answer:

The Book of Songs, Minor Odes, Xiao Wan, says: "The wasp has offspring, which it carries on its back." The words of the sages are profound yet subtle.

Although this sentence speaks of insects, it actually alludes to the distinction between humans and saints, demons and barbarians, which should not be overlooked.

The Zuo Zhuan (Commentary of Zuo) states in the fourth year of Duke Cheng: "Those who are not of our kind will surely have different hearts."

The Zizhi Tongjian also states: "Barbarian demons are beasts; they fear power but do not cherish virtue."

Jiang Xingzhou paused, and the ink deepened.

[By reading these two scriptures, one can know that one should not easily believe in strange things.]

The Spring and Autumn Annals states, "The Rong and Di tribes are like jackals and wolves; they cannot be eradicated." Although demons may transform into human form, their inherent nature is difficult to change, and they will ultimately bring disaster. The Book of Documents, in the section on Yao, says, "The barbarians are treacherous towards the Xia; bandits and thieves are cunning and treacherous." The ancient sage kings had long ago clearly distinguished between the Chinese and the barbarians.

Suddenly the brushstrokes shifted, becoming as sharp as if cleaved by a knife or axe:
The demon race now lurks among humans, some posing as rebellious scholars, others offering petty favors, but in reality harboring treacherous intentions to disrupt the order of the Holy Dynasty. This is not mere speculation, but a historical lesson.

The *Guoyu* records: "The barbarians are without kinship and greedy."

The final stroke, powerful enough to penetrate the paper:
The phrase "a wasp carrying a caterpillar" carries profound meaning in a seemingly simple statement!

Therefore, "Xiao Wan" is truly the essence of how a human being should conduct themselves. A virtuous person should carefully uphold the way of the sages, clearly distinguish right from wrong, so that demons have nowhere to hide.

Only by maintaining vigilance can we protect the orthodoxy of our human race and safeguard the foundation of our Holy Dynasty for ten thousand years.

Jiang Xingzhou put down his pen, having finished answering the questions in Section IV, "Interpretation of the Classics," his writing filled with a somber and desolate atmosphere.

This kind of response reveals its sharp edge.

But Jiang Xingzhou knew that in this Great Zhou Dynasty, there were some things that had to be said and some positions that had to be made clear.

There is no room for ambiguity when it comes to the great principles.

The last question is a policy question.

V. Policy Questions.

The question is: "The caterpillar has offspring, which are carried by a wasp." Please discuss your insights from the perspectives of agriculture, sericulture, governance, and education.

【answer:

The metaphor in the Book of Songs, "The wasp and the cricket, the wasp carries it," superficially speaks of the principle of mutual restraint between insects, but in reality contains the great principles of governing a country and ensuring its peace.

Agriculture and sericulture are the foundation of a nation, while education is essential for national stability. The two complement each other and neither should be neglected.

Firstly, the "Strategies for Governing the Country through Agriculture and Sericulture"

(I) Follow the natural order and use insects to control insects!

The *Qimin Yaoshu* states: "The art of eliminating pests should follow the natural rhythms of the four seasons. The locust is a monstrous insect that harms mulberry trees! The wasp is also a monstrous insect that harms bees! The locust harms mulberry trees, and the wasp kills them; this is the cycle of nature. Governing a country should follow the laws of nature, clearly understanding the principles of mutual generation and restraint among all things. For example, in the south, to control the locust plague, one should raise frogs and toads; in the north, to eliminate the rat plague, one should protect and nurture owls."

(II) Use demons to control demons, divide and rule them.

The Han Feizi (Inner Chapters) states: "Use your own spear to attack your own shield." All the myriad races, both demonic and barbarian, have their own nature.

By clearly understanding their advantages and disadvantages and inciting them to fight each other, I can reap the benefits.

In the past, the Han dynasty used the Ma Man (horse-riding barbarians) to control the Lang Man (wolf-riding barbarians), and the Tang dynasty used barbarian tribes to quell the chaos of Shi Yao. These are all examples of the same approach.

(III) To develop water conservancy projects and strengthen the foundation of the nation.

The *Guanzi* (a classic Chinese text) states in its chapter "On Land Surveying": "Those who govern well must first eliminate the five pests." This means extensively constructing ditches and canals to eradicate insect infestations and improving agricultural tools to increase yields. For example, promoting the curved-shaft plow allows for deeper plowing and easier weeding; widely planting insect-resistant mulberry trees eliminates the habitat of locusts. These are fundamental solutions and should not be overlooked.

Secondly, "The Strategy of Governing the Country through Education"

The metaphor in the Book of Songs, "The wasp and the cricket, the wasp carries them," is truly a sage's teaching on the essential art of subduing evil. In this peaceful age, it is especially important to clearly distinguish between humans and demons and to skillfully employ strategies to ensure lasting peace and stability.

(I) Getting to the root of the problem and strictly distinguishing between Chinese and barbarians
The Spring and Autumn Annals strictly distinguished between the civilized and barbarian, while the Book of Rites clarified the difference between humans and animals. Zheng Xuan's "transforming one's own children" and Zhu Xi's "teaching other children" are two different approaches that lead to the same goal.

Mencius said, "I have heard of those who used the Xia people to transform the barbarians, but I have never heard of those who were transformed by the barbarians." A "Record of Distinguishing Demons" should be established to record the characteristics of demons in detail, so that the people know how to guard against them.

(ii) Clearly distinguish categories and teach according to local customs
The mother was captured by a demon, and the child she gave birth to was called a "barbarian," similar to the "people beyond the reach of civilization" mentioned in the Rites of Zhou.

The demon mother was captured by humans, and her children were "civilized barbarians," comparable to the "assimilated masses" mentioned in the "Royal System."

Both of these should be handled as described in Guanzi: "According to local customs, simplify the rituals."

Zheng Xuan's "transforming one's own children" and Zhu Xi's "teaching other children" are two techniques for dealing with both the unfamiliar and the strange!
We should employ Zheng Xuan's methods against the barbarians: kill and plunder!
For dealing with the common people, it is advisable to use Zhu Xi's methods of education and appeasement!
Supporting the familiar barbarians and suppressing the unfamiliar barbarians is the current national policy of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

Although the strategies differ, they all serve the purpose of debating between humans, saints, barbarians, and demons!
(iii) Use barbarians to control barbarians, divide and rule them

The Book of Han records Zhang Qian's strategy of "using barbarians to attack barbarians," while the Tang Mirror records Emperor Taizong's method of "using demons to control demons."

We should follow this example and support the skilled barbarians to control the unskilled barbarians.

For example, they could allow the wolf clan to expand their territory and have the tamed feathered clan to serve as messengers.

As for the myriad demons and barbarians, we should, as the Book of Lord Shang says, "make them fight each other," and then I can reap the benefits.

In summary,

The strategy of "using caterpillars and wasps" is indeed an essential technique for a sage king to govern the world.

Now we should follow the legacy of the Zhou Rites and refer to the old chapters of the Tang Code to establish a national policy of "using demons to control demons".

Agriculture and sericulture strengthen the foundation, education corrects the source, and division weakens the power; then the prosperous age described in the Book of Songs, "Within the whole land, all are subjects of the king," can be expected.

Jiang Xingzhou dipped his brush in ink and lightly wrote "[V. Policy Questions]". The jade brush tip reflected the sky and spread a cold light on the Xuan paper.

The "Records of Barbarian Tribes" in the Great Zhou Dynasty contains detailed accounts of barbarians and demons.

The barbarian tribes are a different kind of people from outside the territory of the Great Zhou Dynasty. They are diverse in kind and have different forms, all of them having the appearance of being half human and half beast, which is truly a wonder of the creation of heaven and earth.

Ma Man – resembling the centaur from the Classic of Mountains and Seas, with a human upper body capable of wielding a bow and arrow, and a steed lower body whose hooves move with the wind.

This tribe occupies the northern border, and their horsemanship and archery skills are unparalleled among the barbarians. Every autumn when their horses are fat and strong, they often ride south with the force of thunder.

Wolf Barbarians—with wolf heads and human bodies, fangs bared, and two swords at their waists. They are bloodthirsty, hunting in packs on the night of the full moon, leaving a trail of bones in their wake. The people of the northern borderlands, hearing their howls, would shut their doors and hold their breath.

The Ape-Man—resembling a human but hairy, skilled in wielding a heavy hammer. They inhabit the malarial lands of Lingnan, building their nests on sheer cliffs thousands of feet high. They are cunning and often set traps to hunt, making it difficult even for a fierce tiger to escape.

There are also tigers that roar and gather in the mountains and forests, snakes that lurk in the swamps, and eagles that soar to the highest peaks—and so on, too numerous to mention.

Origin Study
According to the Records of Strange Tales, the origin of the barbarian tribes was that an ancient demon king abducted human women and gave birth to hybrid races.

This barbarian tribe possessed both human intelligence and animalistic strength, and multiplied as rapidly as wildfire, eventually forming numerous barbarian kingdoms.

The barbarians are different from the demons.

The demon race is formed from pure demonic beasts and spirits. Although they can cultivate human form, their beastly nature is difficult to tame. They have established their own demon court, acting as solitary rulers, and are sworn enemies of the human race.

These savage demons are further divided into raw savage demons and tamed savage demons. Tamed savage demons are those that have been enlightened and tamed by humans, shedding their wild nature. They may become spirit pets of cultivators or servants of powerful clans, serving the human race and recognizing humans as their masters.

For example, human cultivators raise demonic insects or domesticated spirits.

Wild demons—referring to the untamed and savage creatures within and around the Great Zhou Dynasty, still harboring hostility towards humanity. They retain their untamed nature and roam the desolate wilderness. Whenever the Blood Moon appears, they gather to invade the borders, posing a serious threat to the nation.

The Grand Historian Sima Qian wrote in the Records of the Grand Historian: "The trouble caused by barbarian tribes is like a festering sore. The best course of action for our Holy Dynasty is to cultivate virtue to pacify distant peoples and prepare military strategies to subdue those who are disobedient."

After answering the questions on the classics, Jiang Xingzhou put his pen down on the inkstone, checked the case file, and found no errors.

The ink on the exam paper was still wet when thunder roared outside the curtain!
"boom--!"

Above the examination hall, dark clouds surged like a raging tide, instantly obscuring the sky and the sun.

The candidates looked up in astonishment, only to see a hazy ray of light break through the sky and pierce the clouds from the No. 1 examination room!
The rosy glow resembled smoke and mist, ethereal as gauze, and faintly, one could hear the chirping of insects and the warbling of birds, as if in harmony with heaven and earth, and strange phenomena suddenly arose.

A wondrous sight appeared amidst the rosy glow—

It seemed as if moths were flapping their wings and fluttering about; and wasps were seen circling and shrieking mournfully.
Suddenly, a sliver of light appeared in the dark clouds—

A beam of sunlight fell, illuminating the answer sheet on Jiang Xingzhou's desk. The still-wet ink seemed to glow with a faint golden light!
Everyone inside and outside the examination hall was astonished.

The examiner dropped the ruler in his hand, his expression changing: "Wen Hua soars to the heavens! This is the sign of 'profound understanding of the classics'!"

"it is good--!"

Chief examiner Xue Chonghu slammed his fist on the table and stood up, his official robes fluttering in the wind, his eyes fixed on the rosy dawn, his voice booming like a bell.

In the Jiangzhou government compound, the five chief and deputy examiners stood up in shock!
"Literary talent soars to the heavens, resonating with the celestial phenomena!"

The deputy examiner, Lei Wanting, trembled, his fingers shaking slightly in his sleeve, and muttered, "Such an unusual phenomenon has appeared in the prefectural examination for candidates who are studying the classics? In the past hundred years, the prefectural examination has never seen anything like this!"

Prefect Cui Chengye's long beard fluttered, and his eyes gleamed: "The bell of the Jiangzhou Confucian Temple has not yet rung, but the rosy clouds have already appeared. This is an omen of 'the overflowing literary spirit, manifesting celestial phenomena'!"
Perhaps... it's a passage from the "Leaving the County Classics"?

【Leaving the County and Understanding the Classics】!
The moment those four words were uttered, the entire room was astonished!

Questions on classical texts and policy are far more difficult than those on poetry!
Poetry and prose can be honed through talent to the point of being recognized at the county level or above. However, the examination of classics and policy questions requires genuine talent and learning.
For an ordinary student, it is already difficult to write a work that demonstrates "qualified interpretation of the classics," and to be able to "understand the interpretation of the classics in one's village" is to be one in a hundred!

The phrase "leaving the county" implies that the meaning of this text has transcended the scope of a student's study and can even be compared to the works of a scholar who has passed the county-level imperial examinations!
Xue Chonghu sighed deeply, "This boy is a student who has not yet obtained the rank of Xiucai, yet he can write about the meaning of the classics in the section on leaving the county. He has already grasped three-tenths of the true meaning of the sages!"

You must know, this is a preliminary examination for candidates to become officials!
The candidates were merely students who had passed the preliminary examinations, not scholars or those who had passed the provincial examinations; they had not yet obtained the title of scholar!
For a student to write a policy essay on the classics at the county level is as difficult as ascending to heaven!

Chief Cui Chengye stared intently in the direction of the Class A examination room.

"Of the scholars in the world, eight or nine out of ten spend their entire lives merely reciting the classics of sages and copying them. How many of them can truly hold a pen to annotate the classics and converse with the sages?"

"Without a thorough understanding of the classics, one's life will be limited to the level of a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examination)!"

"Only those who dare to annotate the classics can be at least Hanlin Academicians!"

"Now, a mere student can actually evoke the radiant glow of literary talent... This child's future prospects are far beyond those of ordinary scholars who have passed the imperial examinations!"

Lei Wanting took a deep breath and said in a low voice, "The path to officialdom is limited to becoming a Juren or Jinshi, which is the limit for ordinary people. As for Hanlin Academician... only those who have mastered the classics can enter this path!"

"Not bad!"

Cui Chengye nodded slowly, his gaze deep.

He suddenly understood why Master Zhou was so insistent on testing the students' knowledge of classical texts and policy questions in the second question of the prefectural examination.

This young man may one day become a member of the Hanlin Academy, or even... go further and become a Grand Secretary!
The students in the courtyard were writing furiously at their desks when suddenly a beam of light shot into the sky from the examination hall of the prefecture, and they all looked up in astonishment.

In an instant,
The ink and brush in the courtyard seemed to freeze in place.

Only that soaring literary energy, like a celestial river pouring down, reflected on the faces of all living beings.

On the faces of the eight hundred students, there were various expressions—some were shocked, some were bewildered, and some could not hide their shame.

"Whose teachings are these that have brought forth such a sky full of rosy clouds?"

One of the students' throats bobbed and his fingertips trembled.

Looking down at the essay in front of him, he found it fragmented and incoherent, a far cry from the profound meaning that had inspired such extraordinary phenomena in the heavens and earth. It was like the scum of a dog or pig, utterly unbearable to look at!

"We both studied hard for ten years..."

"When others write scriptures, their pens illuminate the sky with radiant light, but I..."

"What is this I wrote?"

Bitterness filled the eyes of the students. A sigh echoed in the examination hall. The nib of the pen trembled and hung in mid-air, the ink dripping and spreading a stain on the paper.

Many of the students had red eyes and were on the verge of tears.

The soaring rays of light pierced the sky like a sharp sword, causing excruciating pain in everyone's hearts—

Both have studied diligently for ten years, yet some have produced brilliant and captivating works of art, while others have produced only dull and lifeless ink.

I can't even catch up with a ray of their literary talent!
In a corner of the examination room, someone let out a suppressed sob, which was quickly swallowed back down through gritted teeth.

As the rosy glow intensified, it turned the faces of all the students in the Jiangzhou courtyard deathly pale.

Zhang Youyi stared blankly in the direction of the Class A examination room, then suddenly smiled bitterly: "The literary atmosphere inside the Class A examination room is soaring. I'm afraid it's Brother Jiang's work."

His voice trembled, a mixture of admiration and respect.

"A mere student copying scriptures can actually get him accepted outside the county?"

Du Qingyin, the top scholar in Kunshan, sighed softly, suddenly felt her eyes burning, and a tear fell onto the exam paper. She quickly lowered her head to hide it.

He was intelligent from a young age, and his poetry was unparalleled in his hometown, but only today did he realize that some young people are born to be admired by others.

At this moment, the ray of light seemed like an insurmountable barrier, causing his courage to even give up completely.

"Brother Jiang's talent truly surpasses all others in Jiangzhou Prefecture and its five counties. No one can rival him!"

A student in the next examination room muttered dejectedly, "The questions on classics and policy are such a challenge, yet for him, it's like strolling in a garden. He can just casually write a passage and leave the county!"

The examination room was deathly silent.

"That's all..."

"Questions on classic texts and policy issues... are simply not something I can handle."

"Compared to Brother Jiang's classic texts, I am but a clown!"

Many more students dejectedly put down their pens and gave up on answering the questions—they couldn't answer them anyway, and were just doodling on the exam paper.

Before the eight hundred examination papers, some people bowed their heads and wept softly, some clenched their fists, and many more stared blankly at the worm-like handwriting on their own papers, so ashamed that they almost buried their heads in the papers.

The examination hall in Jiangzhou Prefecture was deathly silent, with only the howling wind breaking through the valley, scattering the youthful spirit. Where was the youthful vigor now?
Only confusion and despair!

Eight hundred students from one prefecture and five counties were utterly crushed by one man!
On the high platform of the prefectural court, Prefect Xue Chonghu stood with his hands behind his back. He saw faint sobs coming from the hundreds of examination rooms and couldn't help but sigh softly.
He remembered twenty years ago.

After Jiang Yan achieved the top score in the imperial examination, he rose through the ranks in the Jiangzhou government office, ultimately surpassing all other candidates.
Jiang Xingzhou's strength far surpasses that of Jiang Yan back then! Even before the prefectural examination, he had already overwhelmed all the other candidates.

After today, Jiang Xingzhou's entry into the Jiangzhou government compound will likely bring about a complete change!

The scholars in the mansion would probably turn pale at the sight of him and would avoid him if they saw him!
As dusk deepened, the sound of the gong resounded—

"clang--!"

"Second round of the prefectural examination, papers are collected!"

The constables hurried through the examination rooms, collecting all eight hundred exam papers, still wet with ink, into the examination bags.

Only one scroll remains, its radiant glow undiminished!

The examination bag was as thin as gauze, letting out a hazy, clear light that made the yamen runner's hands feel as if they were bathed in morning dew.

Inside the main hall of the government office, the five chief and deputy examiners were already eagerly awaiting their arrival.

"Quickly! Bring it here!"

The chief examiner, Professor Zhou Shan, could no longer contain himself. Before the papers were even sealed and unsealed, he pulled out the one that shone with radiant light from among all the papers.

Upon opening it, I found the page filled with exquisite and elegant prose, every word a gem. The flowing, graceful strokes and rigorous, meticulous arguments clearly showcased Jiang Xingzhou's unique writing style!

"it is good!

This is a question about the meaning of the classics!

He quoted extensively from classical texts, as if reciting a familiar story.

Their skills are truly solid. It's terrifying!

The article not only conforms to the teachings of sages and worthies, but also addresses current political issues in a way that is relevant to the times!
The writing is elegant and the arguments are rigorous, making it a valuable guide to governing a country.

He has managed to balance the edification and appeasement with the deterrence and suppression of the demons and barbarians… This child has truly received the teachings of sages!

As Professor Zhou gazed at the paper, he saw that the literary talent was so brilliant that it illuminated the entire room in the twilight.

"He combined the two arts of Zheng Xuan and Zhu Xi, namely, the hegemonic way and the kingly way, and thus achieved the ultimate good."

Prefect Cui Chengye couldn't help but slap the table and exclaim in admiration, "Such insight and such literary talent are rare, not to mention among students, even among those who have passed the imperial examinations!"

"This volume."

He took a deep breath and exclaimed, "This must be the best essay on classical texts in the Jiangzhou Prefecture examinations in nearly a century!"

The examiners eagerly read through the document and couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.

"In this interpretation of the classics, he actually quoted from Zuo Zhuan (Duke Cheng, Year 4), Zizhi Tongjian (Comprehensive Mirror for Aid in Government), Spring and Autumn Annals, Book of Rites, Mencius, Rites of Zhou, Royal Regulations, Book of Documents (Canon of Yao), Discourses of the States, Essential Techniques for the Common People, Han Feizi (Inner Chapters), Guanzi (Measure the Land), Book of Han, Mirror of Tang, Book of Lord Shang, and Tang Code."
We will examine the meanings of sixteen sacred texts!

The logic is rigorous, the connections are seamless, and it's flawless!

The examiners looked at each other in astonishment!

To refute Jiang Xingzhou's answer on the interpretation of the classics, one must also refute the content of all sixteen classics he cited. How difficult that is!
After they carefully reviewed Jiang Xingzhou's near-perfect answer to the question about the classics,

Upon further reading of the remaining volumes,

—It's like looking at the difference between clouds and mud!
The students' papers were all different and varied in quality.

Cui Chengye was reviewing case files, having just taken a sip of tea, when he suddenly noticed a sentence at the beginning of the title of one of the files—

"[Insects eat caterpillars, bees act as mothers]"

"puff--!"

Tea squirted all over the table!

"This this……"

He shook the soaked exam paper, laughing in exasperation, "Questions on classical texts, and you're using colloquialisms to answer them?! Where have you been reading the classics?!"

The verdict, written swiftly in red ink, read: "[The premise is absurd, the annotations are entirely wrong, the writing is illogical, and the language borders on blasphemy]—Dismissed!"

The remaining volumes were even more unbearable to read—

One student annotated "The mulberry worm has offspring" as, "The mulberry worm demon and the bee worm demon are fighting over offspring because the bee worm is unable to conceive! This is a metaphor for the struggle over offspring and family property!"

Some students even used the phrase "a hen has offspring" to describe the practice of raising hens to hatch ducks, and wrote a lengthy essay of three hundred characters.

The most outrageous one had even drawn a turtle at the end of the paper, with the caption: "This question is beyond my comprehension, but I wish the examiners a long and prosperous life, like that of a turtle!"

Driving Chief Cui Chengye rubbed his temples and smiled wryly: "Only today do I realize what it means to be 'a crane standing among chickens'!"

Registrar Liu Mingchuan held the scroll, frowning, when suddenly his expression changed drastically—

"presumptuous!"

A vermilion brush hangs on the scroll, its ink dripping like blood.

The examinee actually used the interpretation of the classics to subtly mock, comparing a poor scholar to an adopted son. His words were full of prejudice based on social class, and he was arrogant and mean-spirited!

This is a major taboo for the imperial court!
Since the founding of the Great Zhou Dynasty, the hereditary nobility system has been abolished, the privilege of family connections has been severed, and the civil service examination system has been established to recruit scholars from all over the country, regardless of their social status.

This scroll, however, goes against the grain, subtly mocking those from humble backgrounds as "rootless insects," which is surely a blatant disregard for the new policies of the imperial court!
Liu Mingchuan's knuckles turned white, and his imperial edicts were as sharp as knives.

"This boy is making irresponsible remarks about national policies, sowing discord among families, and harboring ulterior motives—he is dismissed!!"

After the verdict was delivered, the entire hall fell silent.

Prefect Cui Chengye nodded and sneered: "So what if you come from a poor family? So what if you come from a wealthy family? Many of our dynasty's sages came from humble backgrounds, yet they still deserve to be enshrined in the Confucian Temple and receive incense offerings for ten thousand generations!"

Prefect Xue Chonghu said in a deep voice, "Such wicked people, even if they have talent, are not fit to be officials!"
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(End of this chapter)