Chapter 63: Chapter 57: Wang Anshi

The person has quite a reputation in literature, capable of eloquence, and has been known as a “prodigy” since childhood.

Their examination paper, with the theme “Stabilizing the People,” explains, line by line, what constitutes the people, why they exist, the need to earn a living, to act with self-discipline, and not to be overly ambitious.

In short, the entire essay, consisting of more than three thousand characters, can be summarized in four: “Restrain oneself and return to propriety!”

According to Cui Xiazhao, if farmers are content to farm, soldiers to guard homes, and officials to manage citizens, the effect of “stabilizing the people” can be achieved.

The language is ornate and implicitly flatters Zheng Yi.

Zheng Yi smiled indifferently and set the person’s paper aside.

As expected from someone of noble family origin, writing an examination paper is balanced, ornate, but unfortunately, all of it is empty and lacking in substance.

After flipping through a few pages, he quickly found the paper he wanted.

Wang Anshi.

This person hails from the Taiyuan Wang Clan, but is almost a distant branch, barely recognized.

According to the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s investigation, by the time this person was born, the family’s land had already been sold off, and it was his mother who raised him by doing laundry, weaving, and other tasks.

He learned to read by eavesdropping outside a private school, and it was only later that the schoolmaster took him as a disciple, allowing him to study openly.

This grace period was already his fourth time taking the imperial examination.

“Wang Anshi…”

Zheng Yi muttered the name and reviewed the person’s exam paper.

The content of the paper was shocking.

While not extensive, between the lines Zheng Yi discerned a few characters.

Land annexation, the scourge of noble families.

He took a deep breath; could this person have already decided to sacrifice himself for the greater good?

After looking at a few more papers, Zheng Yi immediately said, “Summon Cui Xiazhao, Li Ziyang, and Wang Anshi for an audience!”

Soon, the three scholars were led by the eunuch to the great hall.

“Student Cui Xiazhao/Li Ziyang/Wang Anshi greets Your Majesty!”

Both Cui Xiazhao and Li Ziyang were sons of noble families, naturally composed.

As for Wang Anshi, indeed from a humble background, even his clothes were somewhat worn, but very clean.

“The examination papers of you three have pleased me most; I have three questions for you.”

“First question, do you three know the price of a pound of wheat in your locality?”

Faced with such a simple question, Cui Xiazhao and Li Ziyang were dumbfounded.

The price of wheat per pound?

How would they know!

Not only them, even the surrounding ministers exchanged confused glances.

How could the palace examination ask such a simple question?

Even they didn’t know the price of wheat per pound!

Cui Xiazhao hesitated briefly and said, “Approximately… one tael of silver per pound?”

Li Ziyang thought for a moment and said, “Your Majesty, I am only knowledgeable in reading, and do not know such mercantile matters.”

Of the three, only Wang Anshi calmly replied, “Your Majesty, the market price of wheat is between five to seven cents.”

“However, it may change due to different environments and regions.”

“In cheaper places, it is five cents per pound. In expensive places, even selling children or wives can only buy a dozen pounds.”

“How is that possible!”

Beside them, Cui Xiazhao instinctively asked, “If wheat is so cheap, why do people have to sell children to buy only a dozen pounds?”

“Natural disasters, man-made calamities, land annexation, and on top of that, unscrupulous merchants hoarding goods and manipulating the market.”

“The price, isn’t it up to them?”

“This…”

Cui Xiazhao hesitated, as he had never encountered such situations, and could only remain silent.

Zheng Yi continued, “Second question, have any of you three ever tilled the land?”

Cui Xiazhao and Li Ziyang bitterly smiled and shook their heads, saying, “Your Majesty, I have never tilled the land.”

But Wang Anshi calmly said, “Your Majesty, I have indeed tilled the land, but most of it was done by my mother and Lian Niang.”

“Who is Lian Niang?”

“My wife.”

“Third question, how did you three come to the Capital City to participate in the grace period, and how many days did it take?”

The three exchanged glances, and Cui Xiazhao said, “Your Majesty, I live in the Suburbs of Beijing, and came to the Capital City for the examinations by carriage, taking two days.”

Li Ziyang said, “Your Majesty, though my family is in Longxi, I grew up in the Capital City.”

“Also took a carriage to the Imperial Examination Hall, taking one day.”

When it was Wang Anshi’s turn, he wore an unusual expression.

“Your Majesty, my family is far in Fuzhou. I experienced boat, carriage, mule cart, walking, and so on. It took me twenty-one days to reach the Capital City.”

Zheng Yi nodded, “The questioning is over, you three may retire.”

“Yes!”

The three were bewildered, but still respectfully withdrew.

“My lords!”

Zheng Yi rose and said, “The grace period has ended, and I have stipulated the names of the first class.”

Numerous ministers quickly steadied themselves; the palace examination was over? So soon?

The top three in the first class must be the three just questioned by His Majesty.

Based on those three peculiar questions, the top scholar can only be Wang Anshi!

Zheng Yi calmly said, “The first class of the grace period, Third Place Scholar, Wang Anshi!”

As the words fell, the ministers present were all stunned.

“Wang Anshi is the Third Place Scholar?”

“What is His Majesty up to? Of the three questions, Wang Anshi answered the most perfectly!”

“If Wang Anshi is the Third Place Scholar, then who are the top scholar and runner-up…”

A group of ministers whispered, while Lu Xiangqing, Cui Jinghao, and others at the forefront remained silent, their expressions steady.

Could His Majesty be doing this… to protect Wang Anshi?

“Runner-up Scholar Li Ziyang, Top Scholar Cui Xiazhao.”

“Announce the results!”

“Yes!”

The eunuch went to deliver the decree, and soon a burst of commotion and excited shouts echoed from outside the hall.

The top three of the first class had been decided, conferred the title of Advanced Scholar.

The second class conferred the title of Advanced Scholar’s Pedigree, with the first name commonly called Chuanlu.

The third class conferred the title of the same origin as Advanced Scholar, each with arrangements.

Top Scholar Cui Xiazhao, appointed as Hanlin Academy Editor.

Runner-up Scholar Li Ziyang, Third Place Scholar Wang Anshi, appointed as Hanlin Academy Editor.

Other individuals, each with arrangements.

After the literary examination, comes the military examination.

Just then, Liu Cheng’en unexpectedly reported that an unexpected visitor requested an audience.

“Zhao Suling?”

Zheng Yi was surprised, months ago he had ordered Zhao Suling to return to Taiyii Dao to find the old ancestor; he hadn’t expected to hear news only now.

“Quickly summon Zhao Suling!”

Soon, the travel-worn Zhao Suling strode into Qiankun Hall, bowed and said, “Your Majesty! The old ancestor has ended seclusion and is delighted to hear you wish to see him.”

“He specially set up a modest banquet at Taiyii Dao’s Jinghuang Mountain, inviting Your Majesty for a meeting.”

“Go to Jinghuang Mountain?”

Zheng Yi instinctively replied, “Can’t he come to the Imperial Palace?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep