gnovel Chapter 10 Project-based Approach to the Imperial Examination
Chapter 10 Project-based Approach to the Imperial Examination
The lingering heat of late summer still lingers, and the air is thick with a muggy, humid atmosphere.
Lu Yan stood in the square in front of the examination hall, looking at the majestic Dragon Gate Archway, yet felt no nervousness. Behind him stood thousands of scholars from various prefectures of Shandong. Some were silently reciting scriptures, some were calculating the time, and many more had faces filled with anxiety and anticipation.
But Lu Yan's mindset was completely different from theirs.
Over the past six months, he has done three things in Jinan.
First, he rented a quiet courtyard to settle Zhao Changying, Fan Fu, and Zhao Tie. Second, using the silver he brought from the Fan family, he rented a small shop in the south of the city, hung up the sign "Lu's Grocery Store," and had Fan Fu manage it as a source of daily income. Third, he secluded himself to study diligently, re-examining the Four Books and Five Classics and the eight-legged essay formulas in the original owner's mind.
He didn't expect to excel in the eight-legged essay style, but at least he had to avoid making mistakes.
"Brother Hanzhang, you're quite composed."
A young man in a worn blue shirt approached him; it was Zhou Jingzhi, a fellow townsman and scholar he had met in Jinan over the past few months.
"What's there to be nervous about?" Lu Yan smiled faintly. "Everything that needs to be prepared has been prepared; the rest is up to fate."
Zhou Jingzhi shook his head with a wry smile: "You make it sound so easy. I've heard that this year's chief examiner is Qian Shisheng, a Hanlin Academy Reader-in-Waiting. He values literary talent and style above all else. We scholars from the north are likely to suffer."
Lu Yan did not respond.
He knew, of course, that in terms of his skill in the eight-legged essay, he was at best average among the thousands of candidates. But the imperial examination was not just about the eight-legged essay.
The provincial examinations during the Wanli era were divided into three sessions: the first session tested three questions on the Four Books and four questions on the Classics, which was the main battleground for the eight-legged essay; the second session tested one essay, five judgments, and one imperial edict and memorial, which tested official document writing and legal knowledge; the third session tested five questions on classics, history, and current affairs, which tested insights into current politics.
According to the deliberations of the Ministry in the 40th year of the Wanli reign, "If the entourage is truly learned and outstanding, even if the front row is not yet pure, they should still be selected."
This is Lu Yan's breakthrough point.
"Thump—thump—thump—"
Three cannon shots rang out, and the gates of the examination hall slowly opened.
"Search begins!"
The searches were extremely rigorous. Candidates had to remove their outer garments and enter wearing only a single layer of clothing; their hair had to be loosened for inspection to prevent the concealment of cheat sheets; even the soles of their shoes, inkstones, and pen holders were checked one by one.
Lu Yan calmly accepted the search, passed through the Dragon Gate, and found his cell – “Xuanzi Thirty-Seven”.
Pushing open the mottled wooden door, a musty smell hit me. The cell was only four feet square, with two wooden planks, one serving as a table and the other as a bed. In the corner was a chamber pot, emitting a faint stench.
"It's even worse than the construction site dormitory." Lu Yan muttered to himself, but without a hint of complaint.
He took out his writing brush, inkstone, and inkstone from the examination basket, arranged them neatly, then sat down cross-legged and closed his eyes to rest.
……
The first event will be held on the ninth day of the eighth lunar month.
After getting his hair curled, Lu Yan glanced at the questions.
The Four Books and Three Principles: "To subdue oneself and return to propriety is benevolence," "The superior man understands righteousness," and "The people can be made to follow it." These are all classic passages from the Analects, and have been the subject of countless essays by examinees throughout history.
Lu Yan did not pursue flowery language, but rather strived for stability and to avoid making mistakes.
"To subdue oneself and return to propriety is the way of benevolence. Confucius told Yan Hui this, hoping that he would cultivate his inner self through external means and achieve peace through diligent effort..."
He finished writing one, glanced at it, and shook his head. It was mediocre, lacking any highlights. But that was enough.
Of the four interpretations of the classics, he chose the Spring and Autumn Annals. Relying on the original owner's memories, he managed to write four relatively coherent interpretations.
After the first match ended, Lu Yan breathed a sigh of relief. He had held on.
……
August 12th, the second session.
The topic was "Cultivating Virtue to Attract Foreign Assistance." Lu Yan did not discuss the "Way of the Sage King" at length, but instead approached the issue from the perspective of border defense and land reclamation:
"Cultivating virtue is not merely about educating and indoctrinating people; it must also bring tangible benefits. Now, the border troubles in Liaodong are becoming increasingly urgent. If we wish to expand our influence further, we must first strengthen our foundations. The way to strengthen our foundations lies in establishing military farms and securing the borders..."
The exam consisted of five questions, all testing case analysis based on the "Great Ming Code." This was practically a free pass for Lu Yan—he had dealt with countless legal disputes in his previous life, and his logical analysis skills far surpassed those of scholars of this era.
The five judgment questions flowed smoothly and were clearly organized.
After the second match, Lu Yan was even more confident.
But the real showdown will be in the third match.
……
August 15th, the third event. Mid-Autumn Festival.
Lu Yan unfolded the exam paper, his gaze falling on the third policy question, and his pupils suddenly contracted.
"...Recently, these petty barbarians from the East have dared to act so brazenly, causing the fall of Fushun and the flames of war to spread to Ganquan. Now the court is selecting and training generals, who are poised for great achievements. However, some argue that too many soldiers will deplete the nation, while too few will be insufficient for victory; too swift a battle risks rash advances, while too prolonged a defense risks exhausting the army. Students, you should pay close attention to economics and surely have a sound plan. Present your strategies for defending against the enemy, methods of defense, the appropriateness of land reclamation and supply transport, and the selection of generals and soldiers. The aim is to thoroughly understand current affairs and provide practical benefits. Avoid being vague or obscure."
Lu Yan's hands trembled slightly.
This is the 46th year of the Wanli reign. Four months ago, Nurhaci launched his rebellion with the "Seven Grievances" and captured Fushun. The imperial court is currently mobilizing troops and generals, preparing for a major campaign against him next year.
Lu Yan knew the outcome of that campaign.
Sarhu. Of the four armies, three were completely annihilated.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. This question was the opportunity he had been waiting for.
I pick up my pen and begin to write.
"The way to defend against an enemy is to first understand their situation. Since Jianzhou annexed the various tribes, its people have been united and its commands are strict, unlike the former Haixi and barbarian tribes. Its chieftain Nurhaci is a brilliant strategist, and his men are all veterans of countless battles. This cannot be regarded as an ordinary barbarian."
Instead of praising the "victory of the royal army," he directly pointed out the terror of the enemy.
"Those who advocate for a campaign nowadays all suggest a four-pronged attack to strike at the enemy's stronghold. I humbly believe this is dangerous. A four-pronged attack would cut off all support; if the enemy were to concentrate its forces on one of the routes, the entire situation would be thrown into disarray. Furthermore, the troops on each route are drawn from different provinces, speaking different languages and with different customs, and have not been properly trained in the rush. To send them to face a formidable enemy is something I do not see as feasible."
This is a critique of the "divide and conquer" strategy—a strategy that was precisely the fatal cause of defeat in the Battle of Sarhu the following year.
"The best course of action now is to first strengthen our foundations. We should establish extensive military farms in Liaodong to reduce transportation costs; train border troops in strategic locations to build up their morale; and forge alliances with the vassal states to weaken their power. Once we have sufficient supplies and well-trained troops, and they are arrogant while we are vigorous, then we can decisively defeat them, ensuring complete victory."
Finally, he wrote about firearms:
"I have heard that firearms are powerful and effective against strong and vulnerable targets. However, they require elite troops for protection, supported by wagons and cavalry, and coordinated with infantry and cavalry to be fully effective. If we rely solely on firearms and advance rashly, leaving them in a helpless situation, then these powerful weapons will become the enemy's weaponry."
Sign off.
Lu Yan looked at the nearly two thousand-word policy essay and let out a long sigh. Success or failure hinged on this.
……
The results were announced on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month.
The area outside the Jinan Imperial Examination Hall was packed with people, and the sound of gongs and drums filled the air.
Zhao Changying used her intact right hand to protect Lu Yan, managing to carve out a space in the crowded throng. Fan Fu, on the other hand, darted to the front of the list of names like a monkey, tiptoeing as he searched for each one.
"No... still no..." Fan Fu broke out in a cold sweat. He had looked through the top dozens of names, but Lu Yan's name was nowhere to be found.
Lu Yan stood on the outer edge, his expression calm. He knew how unconventional his writing was; it would either fail the exam, or…
"I got it!!!"
Fan Fu suddenly let out a pig-like scream, drawing the attention of everyone around him.
"He passed! Lu Yan from Ziyang ranked thirty-sixth in the Shandong provincial examination! He passed!!"
Zhao Changying suddenly turned around and hugged Lu Yan tightly: "Brother! We passed! We're now scholars!"
A successful candidate in the imperial examinations.
In the Ming Dynasty, this meant completely bridging the class divide. It meant tax exemption, the right not to kneel before officials, and the right to sit down and negotiate with the powerful and wealthy.
Lu Yan was struggling to breathe due to Zhao Changying's choking, but he still patted his cousin's back and a smile appeared on his lips.
"Stop howling, you'll make a fool of yourself."
He looked up at the large red list, but his gaze didn't linger for long.
This is just an admission ticket.
"Let's go." Lu Yan turned around, his gaze falling on the most luxurious building in the city—the Shanxi Merchants' Guild Hall.
"With this new identity, we can finally leverage our limited funds to unlock bigger deals."