Novel East
Chapter 159.1
Thus, the various great noble families began to engage in their little schemes.
Scholars were still enthusiastically signing up, but various unfounded rumors had already begun to spread.
Do you know? The imperial examination questions have been leaked!
How is that possible?
How is it not possible? Among the upper-class scholars, many have gotten hold of the exam questions! If it werent for someone who got drunk and couldnt help but show off, I wouldnt have believed it!
Really? Didnt His Majesty forbid noble families from participating in the imperial examinations? Who could the questions have been leaked to?
The noble family indeed cannot participate, but there are many corrupt officials in Great Xia, and they will definitely look after their own if given the chance! They have banded together, deceiving the Emperors ears!
Among them, the Minister of Rites, Li Linfu, got his position by flattering and fawning, hes fully capable of such deeds!
These people control the court, and even if the emperor knows about it, he can only turn a blind eye!
Therefore, this is simply not a viable path for us scholars from the lower classes. Its best to pack up and return home early!
The rumors were spoken with conviction, detail, and convincing, causing the scholars who had come to take the imperial examination to feel anxious in their hearts.
The reason they had traveled thousands of miles to participate in the imperial examination was that they had heard that the Emperor of this place detested the noble families and did not allow the offspring of noble families to take the imperial examination or enter the court as officials, presenting them with an opportunity.
Nowadays, the noble families indeed have no way to participate, but the high officials and dignitaries of Great Xia have gotten involved.
They have also heard about the nature of these high officials and dignitaries of Great Xia.
They are adept at flattering and fawning, ingratiating themselves with superiors while oppressing those below, and they spare no effort in currying favor with His Majesty to win his pleasure.
Isnt it very normal for such a group of officials, who lack integrity and backbone, to do such things?
Then, is there still a way out for these scholars?
Many scholars have felt despair!
Alas, all crows under the sun are equally black!
The great noble families watched everything unfold with cold sneers from behind.
The greatest feature of the imperial examination is its fairness and justice. It treats everyone equally, giving every scholar the opportunity to advance, to enter the court as an official, and to apply what they have learned.
Now that its fairness is being questioned, it becomes very difficult to continue holding the imperial examination.
How will you explain this?
No matter what you say, this time its as good as crap!
Many scholars, unable to calm their indignation, spontaneously gathered in front of the imperial palace to protest.
Corrupt officials at court have engaged in private collusion and fraud, leaking examination questions, an outrage to both humans and gods! π»π¨ππ²π₯π²πππ.ππ¨πΊ
We have traveled from afar, hoping to utilize our lifelong learning to serve Great Xia! But with the examination being unfair, whats the point of us being a scholar?
We demand fairness! We demand justice!
Please, Your Majesty, stand up for the scholars of the realm!
At this moment, Li Linfu hurried over, scolding, What are you doing? Why are you causing a commotion at the imperial palace? Disperse at once! If you disturb His Majesty, can you bear the consequences?
Disturb His Majesty?
A scholar roared with righteous indignation, I think youre just trying to save your own official hat!
Other scholars also began to clamor.
Thats right! I think youre just trying to protect your official hat!
You corrupt officials and treacherous courtiers are best at deceiving the emperors ears!
We wont leave! We wont leave until we see His Majesty!
Li Linfu was extremely troubled.
It was currently the registration period for the imperial examination, and any disturbance would be magnified and cause a sensation throughout the city.
As the chief examiner in charge of the imperial examination, he certainly bears an inescapable joint responsibility.
If His Majesty finds out
Hes afraid His Majesty already knows and is watching his performance.
He must not drop the ball now!
Fellow examinees, I am Minister Li Linfu, in charge of this imperial examination! If you have any questions, speak to me first. If we cannot resolve it, we will then ask His Majesty to uphold justice, how about that?
The scholars looked at each other, and one of them spoke out loudly: Alright! Lets talk to you first! Theres a rumor that the questions for this imperial examination have already been leaked. Is there any truth to this?
Li Linfu was very composed: Its completely unfounded, not credible at all!
Unfounded?
Not credible?
Everyone looked over with skepticism.
Li Linfu spread his hands: Because how can there be a leak when the exam questions dont even exist yet?
What? The exam questions dont exist yet? The scholars were all dumbfounded.
Based on the experience of imperial examinations in other countries, the exam questions are definitely prepared and sealed a month before the imperial examination. Only a limited number of people know about them; the rest do not.
But now, with only 20 days left until the imperial examination, there are still no questions?
How can this be?
There are no questions yet?
If there are no questions, how can we take the exam?
Li Linfu smiled and said, Fellow candidates, you should be aware of last years imperial examination incident, right?
Some people nodded, while others shook their heads.
Li Linfu continued, Last year, during the imperial examination, to prevent favoritism and cheating, His Majesty personally came to the examination hall and set the questions on the spot! It was later found that this method of setting questions was effective, so it was decided that it would be the same this year!
Up to now, only His Majesty knows what the examination questions are! Therefore, the rumors of leaked questions and favoritism are simply impossible!
So thats how it is! Many people breathed a sigh of relief.
His Majesty setting the questions on the spot indeed eliminates the problem of question leakage.
His Majesty holds the imperial examination to recruit talent for himself; he would not destroy his own efforts.
Its indeed impossible to show favoritism before the examination, but what about after it?
A scholar shouted loudly, You can easily switch the exam papers after the test or give high scores to your own people and low scores to others. We have no way to prevent it!
Yes, how can you ensure fairness afterward?
You officials cover for each other, colluding like thieves!
Its quite normal for such things to happen!
Li Linfu remained calm, That is simply not possible!
Why is it not possible?
Because, after the examination, your papers are immediately sealed and your names are covered up, then sent directly to the imperial palace by the people appointed by His Majesty!
After being sent to the imperial palace, His Majesty will also order someone to transcribe all the examination papers and change the name with numbers! No one knows who the transcribers are, as His Majesty arranges them on the spot!
Only after the papers have been transcribed are they handed over to the real examiners for grading!
At this point, since all the papers have been copied, the handwriting is generally the same and there are no distinctive marks, making it completely impossible for the examiners to show favoritism or commit fraud!
Furthermore, each candidates answers are graded by more than five examiners. The highest and lowest scores are discarded, and the average of the three middle scores is taken, thus eliminating the influence of an examiners personal likes and dislikes!
And finally, for the top 1000 ranked papers, His Majesty will personally review them and select the candidates he is most satisfied with!
Li Linfu spread his hands and asked, Is it possible for there to be favoritism and cheating under such a rigorous and perfect examination system?
The people erupted in shock!!!
To cheat under such a tight examination system was simply impossible!
His Majesty himself set the questions, so there was no way to leak them!
After the examination, the papers were immediately sealed and sent into the imperial palace, making it impossible to switch them out!
His Majesty had all the exam papers copied by someone whose identity was unknown. With this measure, it was impossible to leave any marks on the papers to signal the examiners!
Each exam paper had to pass through the eyes of at least five examiners. The highest and lowest scores were discarded, and the average was taken. This eliminated the personal preferences of the examiners, making unfairness impossible!
Finally, His Majesty himself will have to review the top 1000 examination papers.
Truly, truly
It completely eliminates all potential risks!
If someone could still manage to cheat under such a stringent examination system, they wouldnt just be talented, they would be divine!
The candidates all became excited.
Such a rigorous examination system! Its truly airtight, leaving no stone unturned!
If this isnt considered fair, I cant imagine a more equitable imperial examination system!
Minister Li, who could have come up with such a brilliant idea?
Li Linfu bowed towards the imperial palace and said, Of course, it was His Majesty! His Majesty is aware that it has not been easy for all of you to travel from afar. Your presence here to participate in the imperial examination of Great Xia is also a show of support for Great Xia and for His Majesty!
If you dont let His Majesty down, His Majesty will certainly not let you down! Therefore, His Majesty proposed such a rigorous examination system to give scholars from all over the world a chance!
Thank you, Your Majesty! All the scholars bowed respectfully towards the imperial palace.
But why should we believe you? Is this really what His Majesty said, or are you just fooling us? someone else questioned.
At this moment, an old eunuch emerged from the imperial palace, smiling as he said, I am His Majestys personal eunuch, sent by the Emperors command to inform all the candidates that what Minister Li Linfu has said is all true! Furthermore, we will soon announce the examination system through an imperial edict so that all scholars across the land will be aware! noπeπeast.πom
With the Emperors endorsement, everyone felt at ease.
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