Poor but talented scholar

Chapter 60 Strengthening the Body

Because of Lu Chuan's amazing performance at the literary gathering, the reading atmosphere of the entire Qingyang Private School was completely revitalized.

However, just when the students were eager to bury themselves in books day and night, Master Zhao made a perplexing decision.

That morning, as the students were preparing to enter the classroom for their morning reading, they saw that Master Zhao was not carrying a ruler or scriptures. Instead, he had changed into a neat set of short clothes and was standing in the center of the courtyard with several heavy stone locks at his feet.

"Today we will not study the Four Books or practice the imperial examinations." Master Zhao said solemnly, scanning the group of puzzled boys. "Everyone, come out of the classroom and run three laps around the path behind the school, then come back and carry the stone lock."

A series of soft, mournful sighs immediately rose from below the hall.

Zhang Ruo muttered under her breath with a bitter face, "Master, we're here to take the imperial examinations, not to join the army as soldiers. Why are we doing this kind of physical labor?"

Master Zhao snorted coldly, his gaze sharp as lightning: "Nonsense! What do you think the imperial examination tests? Just the little bit of knowledge in your belly?"

He waved, signaling the students to gather around.

Lu Chuan put down the book in his hand, but he had already vaguely guessed the master's intention.

In his previous life, he had learned about the imperial examination hall and had long heard of its cruelty.

He knew that the examination cells in the examination hall were as narrow as pigeon coops, where students had to huddle together for days, eating, drinking, and relieving themselves all within them. Without an iron body, one would probably be carried out before even finishing half of their essay.

Even worse, many talented individuals, unable to withstand the alternating heat and cold, and the chilling winds of the examination hall, suffered from chronic illnesses and died young, even if they passed the exam.

"Today I will tell you why the imperial examinations are so difficult."

Master Zhao stood with his hands behind his back, his voice deep and powerful: "Next year's preliminary examination for the young scholars will only be held in the county. But if you manage to pass by chance, the subsequent provincial and metropolitan examinations will be the real gates of hell. The examination hall in Daqian is called the Gongyuan, where each person has a small, cramped cell where they eat, drink, and relieve themselves. They stay in that wooden cage, which is less than three feet square, for nine days and seven nights."

The students gasped, their previously playful expressions gradually freezing.

"Those were the scorching sun of midsummer or the biting north wind of winter," Master Zhao continued. "The examination cells were filled with mosquitoes and a stench. Not only did you have to concentrate on writing brilliant essays, but you also had to protect yourself from getting sick or fainting. Every year, more than a hundred candidates were carried out of the examination hall, suffering from dehydration, exhaustion, or even sudden death. What was being tested was not just your literary talent, but also the resilience of your physical bodies."

He looked at Lu Chuan with expectation in his eyes: "Even the most basic preliminary examination for the imperial examinations requires sitting for a whole day for each of the three sessions. If you are suddenly dizzy and weak when your inspiration is flowing, even if you have extraordinary talent, how much of it can you actually put on paper?"

Lu Chuan stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Master's teachings are absolutely correct. The sage said, 'A gentleman is not a vessel.' This strong physique is the vessel to bear the way of the sages. If the vessel is not sturdy, where will the way reside?"

Master Zhao gave Lu Chuan an approving look, then shouted sternly at the crowd, "Look at you all, pale-faced and frail. Lu Chuan was able to win the literary competition in Qingyang County thanks to his hard work. But if you're to walk that long road to success, with your physiques, you probably won't even make it to the provincial capital before collapsing."

"From this day forward, every morning before class, run with your load and practice breathing exercises!" Master Zhao pointed to the mountain path. "Don't think this is a waste of time. In this examination hall, every bit of effort you put in increases your chances of success. A scholar who is weak in appearance but not in appearance is a true Confucian."

Zhang Ruo's face turned red with anger at the teacher's words. Although her legs were still cramping, she gritted her teeth and took the lead in running out.

Lu Chuan followed in the group, his steps steady.

Back in his dormitory, after washing away the light sweat, Lu Chuan changed into a clean blue robe with a cross-collar and sat down at the table.

That day, seeing Lu Chuan earnestly reviewing his essay, Master Zhao put down his teacup, gestured three circles on the large table, and solemnly began to explain the rules of the preliminary examination for students.

"Chuan'er, since you've decided to take the exam next year, you must remember the key points of this preliminary examination."

Master Zhao cleared his throat:

"The first hurdle is the county examination." He pointed to the first circle. "It takes place in our Qingyang County, and is personally presided over by the county magistrate. It usually takes place in mid-February. The county examination is the threshold; it tests your adherence to the rules. The content mainly involves memorizing classics and interpreting them in calligraphy, plus a basic eight-legged essay. The county magistrate looks at whether your handwriting is neat and whether your foundation is solid. As long as you can 'break through' the topic steadily and not deviate from the established rules, you can usually pass this hurdle."

Lu Chuan nodded. The county examination is to see if you are a person who can study.

"After passing the county examination, the second hurdle is the prefectural examination." Master Zhao's expression became more serious. "This requires a long journey from home, to Qingzhou Prefecture in April or May. It gathers the best students from all the counties in the prefecture, and the prefect himself will supervise the examination. In this hurdle, the weight of poetry and prose will increase dramatically. The prefect is mostly a graduate of the imperial examinations, tired of rigid Confucian classics, and prefers to see the talent and potential of students within the confines of the rules of poetry. Many people can recite the Four Books and Five Classics, yet they fail because of a single 'poem on an object.' This is to see if you have the talent to succeed."

"Only by passing the county and prefectural examinations can one become a student of the lowest rank."

At this point, Master Zhao paused, his tone becoming extremely solemn:

"Then comes the most difficult and crucial third hurdle—the provincial examination. It usually takes place during the sweltering heat of June to August. At this time, the 'Supervisor of Education' appointed by the imperial court will travel to Qingzhou Prefecture to preside over the examination. This hurdle tests your knowledge of the formal eight-legged essay, and from the introduction to the conclusion, the structure allows no room for carelessness. The questions are also tricky, and they may only take half a sentence from the classics and ask you to elaborate on it. Only by passing the provincial examination can you truly shed the skin of a mere student and become a scholar with official rank."

Master Zhao stood up, walked up to Lu Chuan, and earnestly summarized:

"The county examination tests whether you are a scholar, the prefectural examination tests whether you have the potential to succeed, and the provincial examination... tests whether you are qualified to enter officialdom. This is the real leap of the carp over the dragon gate. Once you pass the county examination, you are exempt from kneeling before officials and from corvée labor. This is the true dignity of a scholar. But if you fail one of these hurdles, you have to start all over again from the county examination next year or the year after. This is called 'collective elimination,' and many people take the exam their whole lives and are still just white-haired scholars."

Lu Chuan cupped his hands in greeting again, having already memorized the three challenges in his mind.

Back in his dormitory, Lu Chuan spread out the densely revised article.

He first followed his teacher's instructions and revised the "starting point" section of the eight-legged essay to make it more balanced and stable.

He knew that in the county examination, a test of rules, neat handwriting and clean paper were even more important than insightful opinions.

Then, he focused his gaze on poetry.

He pushed open the window and looked out at the hill behind the school, shrouded in twilight.

Mist swirled in the mountains, and a few birds flew back across the sky.