Great Zhou Wensheng

Chapter 69 The warship arrives, the Prefect of Jiangzhou! (Seeking monthly votes)

The night fog had not yet dissipated when the Jiangyin warship docked at the Jiangzhou ferry. Three hundred students bowed and bid farewell at the ferry. Footsteps echoed on the bluestone slabs as figures gradually disappeared from sight.

Jiang Xingzhou stood on the bluestone slab at the ferry crossing, carrying his luggage; the night fog dampened the hem of his clothes.

The carriages of the Cao family had already lit their glass lanterns, casting a warm yellow glow in the mist, waiting for a long time.

Cao An, the heir of the Cao family, stepped off the damp deck in his brocade boots. A steward in silk robes bowed and took the book box, saying, "Young master, a shad stew has been prepared for you in room number one of the 'Heaven' section at the Drunken Immortal Pavilion next to the examination hall to welcome you and wash away the dust of your journey!"

"Brother Jiang, would you like to come along?"

Cao An boarded the carriage and turned back to ask.

"No, I still need to go to the Xue residence to pay my respects to Uncle Xue."

Jiang Xingzhou bowed and declined, shaking his head.

Upon arriving in Jiangzhou Prefecture, one must first pay respects to the Prefect, the Lord of Jiangzhou Prefecture, to avoid being impolite.

"Ok!"

Cao An didn't say much, nodded, and got into the Cao family's carriage.

He, along with Han Yugui, Lu Ming, Li Yunxiao, and other scions of prominent families from Jiangyin, headed towards Zuixianlou.

Gu Zhimian carried a coarse cloth bundle and walked with Zhang Youyi toward the row of dusty examination sheds and dormitories in the west of the city.

The examination halls and dormitories were simple, but the prices were affordable, costing only two copper coins per night for lodging.

An experienced scholar hurried to a cheap inn in the city, laid out a string of copper coins, and bargained with the innkeeper: "Same as always. Two months' rent on credit. If I pass the exam and become a scholar after the results are announced, I'll pay you back double!"

"Brother Wang!"

Suddenly, a young man in fine clothes caught up with his classmate. "My father has bought a villa on Wenyuan Street. Why don't we live together and talk late into the night?" His words trailed off.

"No, no! I'll go to the Taoist temple to stay the night!"

The scholar in hemp clothing hurriedly followed two or three companions into the Taoist temple behind the City God Temple, their figures disappearing into the crowd of worshippers.

Inside the Taoist temple, poor young men seeking lodging sat on moldy prayer mats, watching the leaky roof outside while reading the Analects of Confucius.

A half-sheet of faded red paper was stuck to a spider web in the corner of the wall, and one could vaguely see the poem that a failed scholar had written in anger during last year's autumn imperial examination.

The students disembarked from the ship and arrived at Jiangzhou Prefecture, where they each found their lodgings.

Students traveling to the prefectural city to participate in the prefectural examinations did not have designated accommodations and had to make their own arrangements. They could stay at the prefectural academy, houses near the examination hall, or post stations.

If you have money at home, you can stay in a guesthouse or hotel near the examination venue, where the food is good and you don't have to travel far and hard.

If you don't have money, you can stay at a Taoist temple, a private house, or the home of a relative or friend for two months.

The most destitute were crammed into the attics of a few abandoned fish market buildings at the dock, with the salty, fishy river wind carrying scales blowing into the windowpanes.

Of course, if a family is slightly better off but wants to save money, there are good options for students.

Old scholar Zhou Guangjin, along with three or five of his old fellow students, arrived at Zhuangyuanfang in the east of the city with ease.

The inn in Zhuangyuanfang, east of the city, has already put up a gold-plated lantern. The "Kui Xing Pointing at the Dipper" design painted in gold on the lantern shade is auspicious and festive, turning the bluestone pavement gold.

The waiter carried an ornately carved food box through the corridor, the steam rising from the crystal pork jelly shimmering with a subtle glow, clearly infused with the invigorating aroma of musk, as he served this group of regular customers.

"Come on, everyone, eat and drink your fill, recharge your energy, and go back to your rooms to study and prepare for the exam. We must pass this time, and see you on the list of successful candidates!"

Zhou Guangjin, full of high spirits, raised his cup.

"Okay, see you on the list!"

The old students responded enthusiastically.

At the hour of Xu (7-9 PM), the gong sounded, and the city of Jiangzhou gradually lit up with lights.

A young scholar pushed open the carved window of the restaurant, idly listened to the rain pattering on the banana leaves, and composed poems.

A young scholar huddled in a broken pile of straw in a Taoist temple, counting the cracks on the roof tiles, studying diligently by candlelight at night.

They were all silently looking forward to the midsummer imperial examination two months later.

That will determine which of them will be able to wear the scholar's cap and blue robe, and which will become mere cobwebs and dust in the Confucian temple, forced to go back and suffer for another three years.

A low-key yet luxurious blue-curtained carriage slowly drove away from the ferry, the emblem of the Duke of Xue's mansion faintly visible in the twilight.

Xue Fu, Xue Gui, and Jiang Xingzhou sat upright in the carriage as it rolled over the bluestone road of Jiangzhou Prefecture, heading towards the majestic Xue Guogong Mansion in Jiangzhou Prefecture.

"Brother-in-law, don't worry. My father doesn't know yet that you and my sister have secretly pledged your lives to each other. If he did, he would be overjoyed!"

Xue Gui laughed.

"Snapped!"

Xue Fu slapped him across the back of the head, yelling, "You're so talkative!"

As the night deepened and the dew grew heavy, all was silent.

The clapper sound had just ended at the hour of Chou (1-3 AM). Xue Chonghu then closed the last page of the case file, "The Case of the Attack on a Young Scholar in Jiangyin."

He rubbed his aching temples, put on his python-patterned robe, and walked under the moonlight back to the Xue State Duke's mansion, which was not far from the government office.

Inside the study, a solitary lamp cast its dim light, illuminating a page of still-wet ink on a sheet of paper in his hand—"Grass," the very work of the "Da Mansion" that triggered the ringing of the bell at the Confucian Temple.

Xue Chonghu's fingers gently traced the surface of the paper, a complex light flashing in his eyes.

"What a wonderful saying, 'Wildfire cannot burn it all, the spring breeze brings it back to life!'"

After a long pause, he sighed, "What a pity! What a pity!"

I felt relieved, but also a little regretful.

"Such a brilliant essay, if presented during the prefectural examination, would undoubtedly make him the top scholar in Jiangzhou Prefecture. How could it possibly fall into the wrong hands?"

He stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the deep night outside the study window.

Even if one does not take the prefectural examination
It would be excellent to showcase it at the poetry gathering in Jiangzhou Prefecture.

That would be enough to impress everyone present and greatly enhance one's literary reputation!

"Oh, a poetry recital? What does that mean?"

Suddenly, Madam Xue gracefully entered carrying ginseng soup. The fragrant aroma of the soup, mixed with the scent of ginseng, filled the study. She smiled and asked...

Xue Chonghu took the soup bowl, took a sip of the ginseng soup, and felt the warmth spread from his palms. He couldn't help but smile and say, "Madam, you may not know this, but there are many intricacies to the way to gain fame through literary gatherings."

"If a poem receives the praise of 'leaving the county' when it is published, it is only the first sign of its talent. The three chimes of the Confucian Temple will only determine the lower limit of an article, not its upper limit."

If this were presented at a prefectural-level literary gathering, it would have attracted a full house of scholars to recite it, creating a 'resonance of talent'!

In the midst of such a surge of literary inspiration, it is possible for a work that has just left the county to instantly rise to the status of a prefecture-level city.

That's why literary luminaries are so eager to hold poetry and prose gatherings to promote their works!

If you're lucky, a single essay can get you promoted from a county-level official to a prefectural-level official – that would be a huge windfall!

Otherwise, relying solely on the sedimentation of time, an article might take decades or even a century to advance further and rise to the next level.

"What if we want the article 'Mingzhou'?"

Madam Xue adjusted the candle wick, and the room immediately became a little brighter.

"Either the Confucian Temple directly decides on 'Mingzhou'!"
Either it must be a 'Dafu' article that makes a name for itself at the state-level literary gathering, or something else entirely!
The literary talent of a prefecture-level official is ultimately limited; reaching the prefecture level is the limit, just like this candlelight, no matter how bright, it cannot illuminate the entire Jiangnan region.

Only when talented scholars from all the prefectures of Jiangnan gather together, their literary talents flowing like rivers into the sea, can the magnificent atmosphere of "Mingzhou" be achieved.

As Xue Chonghu spoke, he pointed to the candlelight on the table and the manuscript on the desk, "It's a pity that this poem, 'Grass,' is ultimately a pearl covered in dust in Jiangzhou Prefecture."

For this essay on grass, which is of the highest caliber, to become famous throughout the prefecture, it must be presented at a literary gathering in Jiangnan Province, where local scholars would eagerly circulate and read it.

Madam Xue laughed and said, "No wonder my husband waited until the Double Ninth Festival in Jiangnan to bring out that poem he had been brewing for months!"

"This poem, 'Grass,' is a timeless masterpiece among poems about grass! It's such a waste that it was neither passed in the prefectural examination nor presented at the literary gathering!"
Xingzhou, that boy, is still too young. He doesn't understand the intricacies of passing the prefectural examination and gaining fame at the literary gathering, and has thus missed a golden opportunity!

During the prefectural examination, only the essays tested in the prefectural examination were used to determine the grades of A, B, and C.

You won't get extra points for writing a poem or essay on a regular basis.

Madam Xue couldn't help but smile and said, "When the prefectural examination comes, let him compose another poem for the prefectural government!"

"Easier said than done!"

Xue Chonghu shook his head, "Even if one is a Juren or Jieyuan, or a Jinshi, it is already a great fortune to be able to produce a single excellent essay in one's entire life."

In this life, he will gain nothing more.

I reckon this poem, "Grass," must have been a flash of inspiration that struck the boy on the boat when he was attacked by a demon on the ship and his life hung in the balance!
When people are pushed to their limits, their potential is unleashed!
If it weren't for such a perilous situation,
He spent his years studying diligently in Langya Pavilion and had little life experience. How could he possibly comprehend such a profound truth about life and death as "wildfire cannot burn it out, the spring breeze blows and it grows again"?
This is probably the most incredible stroke of luck he'll ever have in his life!

"By the way, where is he? Is he staying at the manor?"

Xue Chonghu suddenly remembered something.

He's still waiting in the side hall!
It's almost 7 PM, I've been waiting for you for three hours! He said he came to Jiangzhou Prefecture, but before paying his respects to his uncle, he dared not rest first.

Mrs. Xue said.

Xue Chonghu was taken aback upon hearing this, and put down the ginseng soup, saying, "What? He's still waiting in the side hall?"

This kid has a very high opinion of himself!

He probably doesn't think I'm deliberately ignoring him!

“Our family is wealthy, and our two fine sons have come to Jiangzhou, yet you haven’t asked them a single question! You’re only worried about Xingzhou, that boy, being too proud!”

Madam Xue complained.

Xue Chonghu then remembered that his two sons should have arrived by now, and immediately felt embarrassed: "I was so busy investigating the case that I forgot about these two rascals!"
-
Asking for a monthly ticket!
(End of this chapter)