lcionline Chapter 612 The Children's Examination Begins (Part 2)
Chapter 612 The Children's Examination Begins (Part 2)
Wang Yueniang picked up her brush, dipped it in ink, and began to write:
"The people are the foundation of the nation. Without the people, there is no nation; without a nation, there is no ruler. Therefore, when a sage king governs the world, he always puts the people first..."
She wrote very carefully, her handwriting neat and her arguments clear. When she got excited, her pen moved with vigor, the ink flowing freely. An hour passed quickly, and when the bell rang again, she had just finished writing the last word.
After collecting the papers and taking a short break, the second session began—the Law.
The exam question is a case analysis: A borrowed 10 strings of cash from B, agreeing to repay it in three months. A failed to repay the loan by the due date, and B sued the authorities. Question: According to Qin law, what should the judgment be?
This question tests the loan clauses in the "Golden Cloth Law." Wang Yueniang had learned about it in literacy class and remembered it clearly: For defaulting on a loan, the penalty was double the amount, and repayment was mandatory. If the defaulter was unable to repay, the debt would be settled through forced labor.
She wrote them down one by one, in a clear and organized manner.
The third exercise was mathematics, consisting of ten questions, including calculations of land area, conversion of grain, and commercial profits. This was actually the easiest for Wang Yueniang—she had helped her father with accounting since she was a child, and was quick and accurate in mental arithmetic.
It was already afternoon when all the exams were finished.
When Wang Yueniang walked out of the examination hall, her legs were weak. The sunlight was dazzling, and she squinted as she saw her father looking around in the distance.
"Moon Lady!" Her father rushed over, asking anxiously, "How did the exam go?"
"It's alright," Wang Yueniang said softly, "I've finished answering all the questions."
The father breathed a sigh of relief and took out a paper package from his pocket: "Are you hungry? I just bought some pancakes, they're still warm."
Wang Yueniang took the cake, took a bite, and tears suddenly streamed down her face.
"What's wrong? Did you not do well on the test?" the father panicked.
“No…” Wang Yueniang shook her head, choking back tears, “Father, thank you.”
Thank you for not minding that I am a girl, thank you for asking the teacher at the literacy class to teach me, thank you for selling your furs to buy me writing materials. Thank you for giving me a chance to change my destiny.
Her father understood, and his eyes reddened. He patted her head and said, "Silly child, you're my only daughter. Who else would I love more than you? Come on, let's go home. Your mother has made chicken soup."
The father and daughter walked away hand in hand. The setting sun cast their shadows long, very long.
The same scene is playing out across the country.
In the Yingchuan examination hall, Li Yuan answered the questions calmly. Her essays on classical texts were rich in allusions, her legal analysis was thorough and clear, and her mathematical answers were all correct. As she walked out of the examination hall, she saw Li Shiqi standing in the distance, nodding slightly to her.
In the examination hall in Handan, Zhao Tuo wrote furiously. His essay, on the topic of classical texts, was titled "On the General Trend of the World." In it, he analyzed the reasons for the decline of the six states and also envisioned the future after the unification of the world. The invigilator glanced at him several times as he collected the papers.
In the examination hall of Daliang, Wei Shu calmly answered the questions. Her handwriting was delicate yet sharp, especially on the law question, where she not only answered how to judge but also analyzed the legislative spirit behind the law. Even the proctor secretly admired her.
In the examination hall of Ji City, Yan Wan wrote diligently. She was a member of the royal family of Yan. Although Yan had not been completely destroyed, Ji City was now Qin territory. She came to take the exam not only to secure a future for herself, but also to see what the Qin system was really like.
In the examination hall of Yingdu, the Jing family members were engrossed in their studies. They were nobles of the Chu state, still grieving the loss of their kingdom, but reality was pressing. Passing the exam meant a future for their family; failing meant even their current livelihood might be lost.
After the examination papers from various regions were collected, they were sent by fast horse to the prefectural capital for initial evaluation by the prefectural academy's doctors. The outstanding papers were then sent to Xianyang for final evaluation by the Ministry of Personnel and Merit.
This was a massive undertaking. Tens of thousands of exam papers had to be graded within half a month, while ensuring fairness. The entire staff of the Bureau of Personnel and Merit was mobilized, and the Bureau of Rites and Literature also sent people to assist. Even the doctoral students and students of the Great Qin Academy were recruited to help.
Inside the marking room, candlelight shone brightly. The examiners were divided into groups: one group focused on Confucian classics, another on law, and yet another on mathematics. Each exam paper was reviewed by three examiners, and the average score was taken. If the score difference was too large, the paper would be submitted to the chief examiner for review.
Women's exam papers were graded separately by female examiners. This was a special request from Ying Wuyou—to avoid gender bias.
Lü Zhi was in charge of coordinating the women's exam papers. She had barely slept for three days, her eyes were bloodshot, but she was in high spirits. Each exam paper represented a woman's dream, and she dared not be negligent.
"Lu Dianji, this exam paper is quite good." A female examiner handed over a paper. "The classics, laws, and mathematics are all excellent. In particular, the essay on classics, 'On the People's Importance over the Ruler,' is very insightful."
Empress Lü took the essay and read it. The examinee's name was Wang Yueniang, a native of Xianyang. The essay was indeed well-written, not only expounding on Mencius's ideas but also connecting them to reality, discussing how Qin's agricultural policies and tax reduction measures embodied the concept of "the people's well-being." Between the lines, one could see that she was a thoughtful and ambitious woman.
"I'll make a note of that and recommend it highly," Lü Zhi said.
"This one too." Another examiner handed over a copy. "Li Yuan, from Yingchuan. Her writing is mature, unlike what a fifteen-year-old girl could write."
Empress Lü reviewed Li Yuan's exam paper and found it indeed impressive. The legal analysis questions, in particular, were remarkable; she not only answered the legal provisions but also discussed legal principles and even offered suggestions for amendments—though somewhat naive, her courage was commendable.
“Li Yuan…is Li Huan’s niece?” Lü Zhi recalled the name.
"Exactly. When the Li family got into trouble, she took the initiative to ask for a referral, hoping to exchange the family's forgiveness."
Lü Zhi nodded. This woman is no ordinary person. Despite being in adversity, she was able to seize opportunities and turn the tide. If properly nurtured, she will surely achieve great things in the future.
"This one, Wei Shu, is from Daliang, a member of the royal family of Wei..."
"This document belongs to Zhao Tuo, a native of Handan and a member of the royal family of the Zhao state..."
"This one belongs to Yan Wan, a native of Jicheng, a member of the royal family of the Yan Kingdom..."
One by one, the excellent exam papers were selected. The more Lü Zhi looked at them, the more alarmed she became, and the more gratified she felt. These women, these former subjects of the six kingdoms, had not been defeated by the pain of national subjugation. Instead, they had risen up in adversity, trying to find their place in the new dynasty.
This, perhaps, is the true meaning of unification—not destruction, but integration; not conquest, but rebirth.
It was late at night, but the marking room was still brightly lit. Lü Zhi rubbed her aching shoulders and looked out the window. The night sky was deep and the stars were dazzling.
She recalled that three years ago, when she first arrived in Xianyang, she was a woman from Chu, uncertain about her future. Now, she held the title of Duke and was in charge of such important examination affairs.
All of this is thanks to Princess Jiayang.
"Princess, I will not let you down," Lü Zhi murmured to herself, then buried her head in her work again.
Linzi, the General's Mansion.
Tian Chong was practicing his sword in the backyard. He was about forty years old, with a robust build and fierce swordsmanship, each strike carrying a murderous aura. As a general of the State of Qi, he came from a family of generals for generations. His grandfather, Tian Dan, had once used the fire ox formation to defeat the Yan army and recover more than seventy cities of Qi. The Tian family had a blood feud with the State of Yan, and their relationship with the State of Qin was not much better.
"General, Qin envoy Wang Ben has come to visit," a personal guard reported.
Tian Chong sheathed his sword and sneered, "They've finally arrived. Let him in."