Chapter 37: The Harmful Fan Zhongyan

  Yun Zhen put down the book in his hand and looked at the note that Lin County Magistrate had asked him to read, and couldn't help but let out a long sigh. It's really hard to read books and retire, just this one item of imperial examination is enough to take one's life, and I thought the exams in the Song Dynasty were similar to those in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, as long as you study hard for the exam, who knew that the water here would be so deep.

  Participating in the Imperial Examination is actually obtaining a qualification to participate in the county school, and even without taking an exam, as long as the county magistrate nods in agreement. After reading Lin County Magistrate's notes, Yun Zong finally understood that in the Song Dynasty, every scholar was required to become a saint, not only having a flawless identity but also having a record of attending classes at school. Although the number of candidates for the imperial examination also needs to go to Chengdu Prefecture to take the exam, how can one enter the prefectural school from the county school?

  Fan Zhongyan's Qingli Reform failed, and last year he wrote the famous "Yueyang Tower Record" to comfort his unlucky friend Ouyang Xiu.

  This is a highly respected reformer and a pure sage, but the new academic policy he promulgated two years ago is still in effect, and the county school must have at least 200 people to be approved for operation. Just this one clause makes Yun Zhen feel like the sky is falling.

  The population of Dou Sha County was originally small, and most of them were ethnic minorities. Looking around, only sixteen people were eligible to attend the county school. Among these sixteen people, eight worked in the county government, one became stupid from reading books and could only farm at home, which was Guangling Village's that one. The remaining few were doing business, and only two were studying at the state academy, just like Xiao Wu Gen. No wonder this guy looked at himself with a strange gaze, he had long known that he didn't have the ability to enter the state academy, and finally participated in the imperial examination.

  The imperial examination and the provincial examination are paths that must be taken to enter public schools, but Dou Sha County does not even have the qualifications for county studies. What qualifications do they have to participate in the imperial examination and the provincial examination? He also thought that fifteen years old was an age limit, but after reading Lin County's notes, he realized that there was no so-called age limit at all. Xiao Zhubu told him that he could only take part in the imperial examination at the age of fifteen, and the provincial examination was just a kind lie. He thought that when he grew up two years older, he would know the hardships of the world and understand the bitterness of his lies.

  Yun Zheng suddenly sat up, gazing at the green mountains outside with narrowed eyes. As soon as he thought of Old Master's pitiful gaze when saying those words, his anger erupted like a volcano.

  Laozi knows that the way of heaven is difficult, so he never refuses any good intentions. However, in a world where everything is for the benefit of others, he absolutely does not accept any pity. Farming and hunting are not shameful, and he only regards the imperial examination as a stepping stone to join the army of scholars and officials, just wanting to add a little more security to his life with Yun Erzi.

  The poor old tribal chief thought that participating in the imperial examination would make him a celebrated scholar, but little did he know, Yun Zheng can already call himself a celebrated scholar, there are no great scholars in Shu, this is a sad thing for Shu, since Yang Xiong's family was killed, basically only silk merchants have become famous throughout the land.

  Su Shi was seven years old this year, and Su Laospring is still working hard on the imperial examination, and he will soon welcome his third failure in the imperial examination. Yun Zheng knew all these things, but what's the use?

  "First, fulfill your duties and then pursue your art; first, plan and discuss, and then compose poetry", Yun Zheng muttered to himself, reciting the requirements that Fan Zhongyan had for scholars, his face filled with an even more intense bitter expression.

  "Travel and study! Where can I go to travel and study? Bring the whole family to travel and study? Reading ten thousand volumes is not as good as traveling a thousand miles, seeking truth, seeking reality. Mr. Fan, you've killed me!"

  Yun Zheng threw away the book, lay on the floor with his face up to the sky, groaning in pain. Yun Er crawled over to feel Yun Da's breath and shook his head at the worried-looking Lao Rou, meaning that Big Brother was already gone.

  However! It seems that there is another kind of examination, which is the lock hall test! The prerequisite is that you must be an official and must be a flowing internal official. As long as you can mix to the position of Xiao Zhubu, you can participate in the lock hall test. The old man has the qualification to recommend himself to take the county school examination, which means that this old man has the right to participate in the imperial examination. As long as he puts down his official position for a period of time, he can go to take the exam.

  This seemed easier, but when Yun Zheng saw his own smaller palm, he felt depressed and wanted to vomit blood.

  He was indeed younger, and since his own survival was no longer a problem, thinking too much didn't have many benefits. Yun Zhen had never been broad-minded, but he knew how to let go.

  Can't figure it out, then don't think about it for now. First, do a good job of being a person in the Song Dynasty and talk about it later. Yun Zheng doesn't think he's much smarter than Su Laoquan. Since the imperial court stopped testing poetry and started testing policy discussions, his cheating methods are no longer useful.

  As soon as I came out of the bamboo building, my mood improved. In front of me stood three rooms of a green-tiled house, with Cang Er laying tiles on the roof, one facing up and one facing down, neatly arranged like fish scales.

  It's been a few days since I went out to see my new house, and unexpectedly, it was already time to put on the tiles. Looking at the crippled man standing below, hugging a stack of tiles and tossing them up with one hand, the laborer on the roof seemed to grab them without even looking, and firmly grasped the stack of green tiles in his hand, with every movement exuding a sense of beauty.

  Yun Zheng came with enthusiasm, and also carried a few tiles to throw onto the roof. As a result, either they were thrown too high or still too low, not much work was done, but several pieces of tiles were smashed.

  This was driven out by others, walking out of the gate of the village, Yun Zheng followed the small river upstream, wanting to take a look at where he appeared, and see if there would be any other surprises.

  As they walked up to the mountain pass, they heard the cured meat vendor shouting from behind: "Young master, don't go! There are wolves in the valley!"

  Yun Zheng turned around to look at the dried meat on his back, then looked at the mountain pass, sighed and returned to Yun Er's side, took him in his arms and came to the mulberry forest. The mulberry forest had already grown a lot of new leaves in spring, most of which were tender yellow, while the deep green ones had been picked by the silkworm girls to feed the silkworms. It was through such dull labor that high-end Shu brocade was produced.

  Upon seeing Young Master return, diligent cured meat went to the mulberry forest to pick mulberry leaves to feed silkworms, leaving only Cloud and his brother sitting on a rock in a daze.

  "Yun Dai, are you unhappy? Why?" Yun Er leaned over and asked, looking at Yun Dai's face.

  "The exam is not that simple, Great Song is a world of human feelings, we have nothing and want to stand high in this world, it doesn't seem so easy."

  "In the third year of Qingli, the court reformed the academic administration. All those who want to take part in the imperial examination must go through the county and prefectural schools' systematic education. Alas! I am now worried about which school to attend."

  "Do we have to follow the rules too?" Yun Er asked Yun Da with a puffed out chest.

  "Yes, we must obey; once we enter the territory of Great Song, we will definitely have to pay homage to the living Buddha, the Emperor of Great Song."