Chapter 776 Palace Examination (3)

Chapter 776 Palace Examination (3)

The several-meter-high gate slowly opened, and the Minister of Rites continued to lead the candidates through the "Huangji Gate" and stood in front of the square of the "Huangji Hall".

For some reason, the candidates in front of him bowed down and worshipped, and Sun Shan immediately followed suit.

How could Sun know who he was paying homage to?

There was a crowd of people in front of him. Apart from the examinee and the soldiers next to him, everyone else was so far away that he couldn't tell who was who.

Anyway, he just followed the crowd. Whatever they did, Sun Shan would do the same. Even if they were wrong, they would be dragged out and beheaded together, so that they could accompany each other on the road to the underworld.

After the worship, the candidates stood upright in the square, looking straight ahead in silence.

Minister He said that entering the square of the "Huangji Hall" means waiting for the emperor's arrival.

At this time, you just need to wait quietly and don't be "hyperactive" so as not to lose your manners in front of the palace.

Sun Shan kept Minister He's instructions in mind and stared at the back of the candidate in front of him, standing straight and motionless, not daring to make a sound or move his eyes.

I was really nervous. At this moment, my palms and backs of my hands were sweaty.

It was a very cold morning and he was sweating. Sun Shan breathed in and out quietly to calm himself down.

After waiting for a while, the candidates in front began to move. Sun Shan took the opportunity to relax his hands and feet and followed the crowd forward.

A group of candidates walked into the hall.

Seeing the candidate in front of him kneeling on the ground, Sun Shan immediately knelt down as well.

Although I don't want to kneel, my life is at stake, so I have to kneel.

Then bow five times and kowtow three times.

Fortunately, all academies with slightly formal etiquette on how to kneel down teach this.

Sun Shan first studied at Zhangzhou Prefecture School and then transferred to Yuelu Academy, so he knew how to salute very well.

Then someone read the imperial edict. Sun Shan could only lower his head to look at the corner of the candidate's clothes in front of him, and did not dare to look up or around.

Sun Shan listened carefully. At the beginning, some words of the emperor's great grace were read, then some rules were talked about, and finally some words of encouragement were heard.

After the reading was completed, there was a burst of firecrackers, followed by the rustling sound of people walking around.

Afterwards, the air in the hall felt much fresher. The emperor left the hall first, followed by the civil and military officials.

After waiting for a while, Sun Shan followed the crowd out of the hall and quickly walked to the candidate's seat according to the staff's instructions.

In fact, Sun Shan can find the location accurately without the staff's instructions.

When entering the palace, one has to stand according to the ranking of their results in the joint examination, and when taking the palace examination, one has to sit according to the ranking of their results in the joint examination.

Those who can sit in the front row have the most opportunities to show their faces, because the emperor is standing in the front, watching the candidates taking the exam.

As for Sun Shan, who was the last one in line, he could only sit in the last row.

Not to mention seeing the emperor clearly, even the emperor's shadow was blurry.

Especially for this exam, there were unprecedentedly many candidates, and Sun Shan's position was at the back of the last, so he had no idea what had happened before him.

The palace examination was held in front of the square of the "Huangji Hall", which was an open-air examination hall.

Of course, this is not fixed. If there is strong wind or rain, the examination will be held in the east and west wings of the Huangji Hall (Fengtian Hall).

Or the emperor may specify that the examination be held in the palace.

There are so many candidates this time that only the square can accommodate all of them.

The grandson sat in the last row, alone.

After seeing this position, I was completely confused.

Do you have to stand out so much?

Front, back, left, right, there were only candidates in front. I couldn't see my neighbors even if I wanted to take a look. I could only see their backs.

After Sun Shan sat down for a while, someone distributed essay questions and answer sheets.

As for the pen, ink, paper and inkstone, they have already been prepared and placed on the table. You just need to answer the questions.

The palace examination only tests one policy question, and the time for answering is from morning to afternoon.

You can hand in the paper after noon, and at the latest in the afternoon. If you don’t hand it in, your paper will be forcibly taken away.

When answering policy questions, you need to explain the problem and discuss relevant solutions to state governance from ancient times to the present.

Finally, put forward your own answer to the question and give your opinions and insights.

There is no limit to the format, but the requirement is more than one thousand words.

Although the palace examination requires "speaking frankly about things", the candidates who can enter the palace examination are definitely not fools. For the sake of their own future, they will definitely not speak frankly.

In the responses over the years, most would sing praises and blow the rainbow bubbles into various colors before offering some suggestions.

Moreover, these suggestions are generally gentle and smooth, and sharp and harsh suggestions are avoided.

Even if there really is a young man who wants to stand out, wants to find a new way to attract the emperor's attention, and wants to become an "Internet celebrity", the probability of this happening is very small.

Because he would fail before the examiner and would not even have the chance to be heard by the emperor.

The emperor was the honorary examiner, but in reality a temporary "Palace Examination" organization was responsible for grading the papers.

The emperor only reviewed the papers of the top five or at most the top ten candidates.

Of course, if Du Huiyuan of this session was dismissed by the examiner because his answer was "treasonous", he would not be able to make it into the top ten.

There is a good chance that the emperor will ask the reason.

If there is a problem with the paper of a candidate for the top prize like this, it is very likely to attract the emperor's attention.

Therefore, no matter whether the candidates are taking the provincial examination, the metropolitan examination or the palace examination, if they want to stand out, the first step is to make a name for themselves and let the examiner know who you are.

This way, even if your paper is dismissed, it is very likely to be turned out and presented to the examiner.

Thinking of this, Sun Shan suddenly realized that his reputation might have spread.

Perhaps the examiner or even the emperor knew who he was.

I don’t know if it was a psychological effect or the fact that I walked from outside the palace to inside the palace just now.

Sun Shan felt that many people looked at him.

Especially when they heard someone shouting "Sun Shan", everyone looked over.

Tsk tsk~~

Sun Shan wondered if his paper would “reach the Heaven Gate”.

Of course, this is just a thought. Even if his paper is ranked first, he will be demoted due to his lack of ability.

Sun Shan is self-aware and knows his own strength among so many "survivors".

To be honest, the articles he wrote are not outstanding at all.

Perhaps it can only be described as "ordinary".

Sun Shan opened the test paper, read it carefully, and then secretly sighed, "As expected, this is the test paper!"

The content of the test question roughly says: Since the late emperor launched the new policy, the policy has been implemented very slowly.

Many local officials refused to cooperate. The implementation of the "tax rate based on land area" seemed like a death sentence for the local government, and the resistance was very great.

So the emperor asked the candidates, do you agree with the new tax policy?

If you agree, please write the reason why you agree. If you disagree, please write the reason why you disagree.

Candidates are asked to evaluate the pros and cons of the new policies promulgated by the court.

If we insist on implementing the new policy, how can we implement it quickly?

Write down the pros and cons of implementing the new policy, as well as your suggestions for the new policy.

The word count is required to be more than 1,000 words.