The tables and chairs used for the palace exam were a bit uncomfortable to sit on, because the exam table at that time was made in the Tang Dynasty. The table was a small table with a height of two feet, and the people sitting on it were square stools. After sitting down, you had to bend your legs to sit down. , I can write just by lowering my head and holding the document, which is very uncomfortable.

Then each small table has the name of the examinee posted on it, and there are pens, inks, paper and inkstones given by the emperor. They are all good tributes. After the candidates finish the exam, these things can be taken away by themselves. They are regarded as rewards from the official family. As a souvenir of their respective lives. In addition, there is a knife used to correct typos, because the test paper is made of special rice paper folded in white, which is much thicker than ordinary rice paper. If you write a typo, you can use a knife to scrape it off before writing. Otherwise, it will be regarded as a "dirty test" and the admission will be downgraded.

After everyone was seated, an official from the Ministry of Etiquette announced the start of the palace examination. Then a eunuch came out holding a sign with the questions for this exam on it. The eunuchs were divided into several groups and walked three times from front to back holding the sign. Only after everyone can see it clearly can we end.

There are three questions in this palace examination, one poem, one poem and one policy theory, with the topics of "Luandao Poetry", "Minjian Fu" and "Chongxun Destiny Theory". Li Hao was very confident after seeing this topic, because These are the questions for this imperial examination in history, and they have not changed. You must know that this imperial examination has left a strong mark on history, so many articles that have been passed down to later generations have been carefully studied. Now that you are taking these exams, you But it has a huge advantage.

Because the palace examination lasted a whole day, even if lunch time was deducted, there was plenty of time. Li Hao was not in a hurry to start answering the questions. He calmed down and wrote down his name, age, appearance, place of origin and other personal resume information. Fill in the information as required, then close your eyes and rest your mind, and draft a rough outline.

In fact, there are no detailed records of "Luandao Poetry" in later generations, but poetry does not account for a high proportion in the palace examination. As long as it does not go off topic and does not violate taboos, it will be a bonus if it can meet the emperor's wishes. .

As for "Folks on the Civil Guards", its original intention is to promote people-oriented thinking: those who win the hearts of the people will win the world! You can refer to what Zhang Heng did for this. You must know that in history, Zhao Zhen read Zhang Heng's poems and commented: "This Although the fu is not relevant to the topic, it is of great scale and should be ranked number one." With this clear direction, combined with what I have learned and the reference of later generations, I will naturally be able to write this fu well. Just be careful not to be like Lin Xi. Tie, at the beginning came the sentence "The Heavenly Prison is not far away, the people's will can be known", insisting on warning the emperor, but Zhao Zhen was very unhappy, and let a "No. 1 person in the test" fall to Sijia.

As for the final argument, the full text of Su Shi's "On Deuteronomy of the Imperial Examination Chongxun" has been preserved and has been highly praised by later generations. It can also be used as a reference to answer the question.

Li Hao thought to himself that he had won all the questions in advance and had reference answers. It would be unreasonable for him not to get a good ranking.

By the time Li Hao had figured out how to answer, the candidates around him had basically been writing for a while.

Li Hao finished drafting the manuscript and picked up the pen again, and started answering the questions according to the outline he had drawn up in his mind. The writing was done in one go, coherent and orderly, and he felt as if the pen was falling like a storm, and the poem turned into a weeping poem.

Just when Li Hao was concentrating on writing, he didn't notice that Zhao Zhen, who was sitting at the top, came to his side. When Zhao Zhen looked at the essay that Li Hao was finishing and the poem he was writing, he felt that what he was writing was very interesting. The more you look at it, the happier it will be.

After staying for a while, he continued to walk to other candidates. After walking around for a while, Zhao Zhen left with his personal eunuch first. Then, in addition to the Liyuan officials and eunuchs in charge of invigilating the exam, other officials also followed.

Gone.

In the examination room, after writing for a long time, Li Hao felt that his wrists were sore from writing, so he stopped writing and took a rest. At this time, it was almost noon, and an official from the Liyuan informed the candidates that the examination lunch was about to be delivered.

Candidates, please put away your papers and make sure they are not dirty, so as not to affect your scores.

Li Hao didn't pay attention to the others, but when he heard that the imperial meal was about to be delivered at noon, he immediately became energetic. He thought that the emperor's banquet had not yet been eaten, and the food produced by the imperial chef must be high-quality, so he quickly put away the papers.

After waiting for a while, many palace attendants came over with food, one for each person. The palace attendants placed the food on Li Hao's table, including meat and vegetables, staple food and wine, but the quantity was not large.

Li Hao tasted it with full expectancy, but found that the taste was not as good as expected. In comparison, it was not as amazing as Fan Lou's food. But after all, it was an imperial meal, and it still felt different when eating it. Li Hao did not dare to eat it at noon.

I was so full that I stopped after eating until I was eighty percent full. Otherwise, it would be worse to answer the next question.

After everyone had basically finished eating, some palace attendants came out to collect the food together. Everyone began to answer questions in the afternoon. When it was almost Yin time, some candidates had already answered the questions and handed in their papers to the examiner for sealing. Li Hao was

After about two quarters of the year, I finished writing it all and submitted it to the examiner after checking it twice.

After handing in the answer sheets, the scholar sat down quietly and waited for the candidates to finish answering. The examiner could leave after collecting all the answer sheets.

But at this moment, Zhao Zhen suddenly returned to the Chongzheng Hall, with a group of officials behind him. At this time, the candidates below had no reaction, but the officials of the Ministry of Rites looked very strange, because in the past, the emperor was tested in the palace

Those who did not go and return would only wait for the next day of the palace examination to see the candidates' answer sheets. But this time not only did they come back, but also a number of officials from the Admonition Academy and the Bachelor's Academy followed.

After Zhao Zhen arrived, he first read through the collected answer sheets one by one. After reading them briefly, he handed them to the officials behind him to browse. Then he ordered the officials of the Liyuan to send all the collected answer sheets to him first.

Check it out and save it.

This move made all the officials present puzzled, but they only thought that the uproar in this imperial examination was the reason why Zhao Zhen paid so much attention, and they did not think that it might have other purposes.

But when all the test papers were completed and the Liyuan officials were about to ask Zhao Zhen for instructions to allow the candidates to leave the palace, Zhao Zhen stopped him and said: "Let the candidates wait for a while, and then leave the palace after reading all the answer papers."

"

As soon as these words came out, the officials present were completely confused. They didn't know what Zhao Zhen wanted to do specifically, but they could also guess that something big would happen later.

After the same matter was conveyed to the candidates present, it also caused a commotion among the candidates, because this had never happened before. Suddenly, there were whispers from the candidates below, and Li Hao was also asking Zeng Gong,

Have you ever heard of anything like this happening before?

"Quiet, don't make any noise, everyone should sit down." Hearing the noise below, an official from the Liyuan came out to scold everyone. After being scolded, the candidates sat upright again. Although they had doubts in their hearts, they did not dare to make any more noise. Suddenly, the audience was stunned

All was quiet.

After waiting for a long time, the sky gradually darkened, and some people in the palace began to light the lamps. The temperature in March was not high, and the candidates below did not expect to stay so late in the palace. Some candidates were already shivering from the cold.

.

At this time, Zhao Zhen finally took a rough look at all the examination papers, and then led all the officials to come to the candidates and said: "This time, Bachelor Ouyang presided over the examination to select candidates for the country, which is very controversial. I originally had some doubts.

But today I have read your articles and found that you all have real talents and knowledge, and there are many outstanding people. Therefore, I have decided that today I will not remove you from the imperial examination, but will only determine the ranking based on the quality of your articles."

After saying this, the whole place was silent. Of course, the candidates were surprised and were so happy that they were speechless for a moment. Because if it is confirmed that the candidates will not be dismissed, it means that from now on, all of them will be able to pass the exam.

Jinshi, entering the officialdom.

As for the officials present, they all had their own thoughts. However, no matter what everyone thought, one thing was certain, that is, the change of the imperial examination presided over by Ouyang Xiu had been finalized by the emperor, and he chose to go ahead firmly.
Chapter completed!