C157. Imperial Examinations (II).

C157. Imperial Examinations (II).

It was challenging to become a vassal of Yuan Li.

Yuan Li rarely accepted recommendations and preferred personally appointing officials. Numerous noble families sought to align with Yuan Li but lacked the means to do so. They gradually realized a crucial detail - Yuan Li valued officials from humble origins, with fewer individuals from prestigious backgrounds in his service.

Some astute individuals began to glean that Yuan Li seemed to favor those from humble beginnings over the nobility, perhaps due to his own modest background. Consequently, sending offspring to serve under Yuan Li and gain recognition became even more challenging for the prestigious families.

The opportunity to openly send offspring to serve under Yuanli was now seen as crucial by the gentry.

In Jingzhou, Xiangyang.

The Wang family.

Wang Qianzhi and several siblings were summoned to the inner hall by the clan head, who informed them about the upcoming Imperial Examinations held by Yuan Li and asked if they were interested in trying their luck.

The siblings exchanged enthusiastic glances and quickly agreed without much thought. The clan head turned to Wang Qianzhi, who had been silent, and asked, "Qianzhi, what about you?"

As one of the brightest among the younger generation of the Wang family, Wang Qianzhi had always been highly regarded by the clan head. Since completing his studies, Wang Qianzhi had been staying at home, immersing himself in scholarly pursuits, chess, and gardening, without achieving any remarkable feats.

"Clan head, I also wish to give it a try," said Wang Qianzhi, a composed young man in his early twenties without the usual impetuosity of youth. He continued, "I am not getting any younger, and my wife is also pregnant. Witnessing someone just slightly older than me like Duke of Wen already becoming the lord of Jizhou and Bingzhou, renowned throughout the land, while I remain an unknown, makes me feel ashamed. It's time for me to leave the comfort of our home and strive for achievements."

After a moment of contemplation, the clan head responded, "You gained fame at a young age and studied under great scholars. If you aspire for an official position, your elder brothers can secure one for you under Prince Chen. They have toiled for years and paved the way beside Prince Chen, making your journey to officialdom much smoother. Qianzhi, are you sure about joining Duke of Wen's side? I must make it clear to you all, Duke Wen is not like Prince Chen. The scholars in his service are scarce, and those whom he values the most are from humble origins. If you go to serve under Duke Wen, there's no guarantee that he will favor you."

Wang Qianzhi smiled faintly, "The current situation in the world is clear-cut. Duke Wen and the Grand General have formed their own alliance. Although Prince Chen holds the imperial throne, it's uncertain whether he can ensure peace throughout the realm. With several elder brothers already by Prince Chen's side, I believe it's in the best interest of our family's long-term stability for me to join Duke Wen instead. As for whether Duke Wen will appreciate our presence, there's no need for the clan head to worry. Duke Wen's unique approach to organizing a competition based solely on knowledge shows his broad-mindedness and fairness towards scholars. He is eager for talent, so as long as we have our abilities, there is no reason to fear being overlooked."

The siblings listened quietly and nodded in agreement. "We have never heard of such a selection method before, which is quite innovative. Bringing scholars from all corners together solely based on their knowledge levels appears intriguing to us."

Some even felt a sense of excitement, eager to see how they would fare among a crowd of scholars.

The clan head sighed softly, "In that case, we shall prepare your belongings for the journey, and you should depart as soon as possible. Before you leave, I have a few words of advice for you."

The group listened attentively.

"This examination is a fair competition based on knowledge and true friendship through learning. I can already anticipate the number of scholars traveling to Jizhou for the examination - it may range from a thousand to tens of thousands, with a majority likely being northern scholars. While both commoners and scholars can participate, you need not worry too much. Most who pass the examination will undoubtedly be scholars," the clan head reassured them. "If any scholars from Jingzhou succeed, you must make an effort to connect with them. Away from home, it is vital for scholars from the same region to support each other. The more scholars from Jingzhou, the more influence we can wield beside Duke Wen."

The clan head was not concerned that commoners might outshine scholars in the examination.

Scholars received elite education, benefiting from vastly different resources compared to commoners. Among those who entered Duke Wen's service through the examination process, the majority would undoubtedly be scholars.

The group affirmed the clan head's instructions, and he added, "While it is true that Duke Wen's entourage consists mostly of individuals from humble origins, there are also scholars from Jingzhou in his service."

After reflecting for a moment, Wang Qianzhi inquired, "Are you referring to the branch of the Zhou family, particularly Zhou Gongdan the official courtesy name Zhou Wenning, whom Duke Wen highly regards?"

"Indeed," the clan head replied, stroking his beard. "I have had some interactions with the Zhou family. I will write a letter of introduction for you. Upon reaching Jizhou, you should present this letter to Zhou Gongdan with utmost respect, aiming to earn his admiration."

The group accepted the instructions, and as the clan head waved them off, Wang Qianzhi and his siblings gathered in his room to discuss the likely examination content at Duke Wen's assessment.

Before long, a servant arrived with news that Wang Qianzhi's friends had arrived.

Quickly, Wang Qianzhi instructed, "Bring them in."

Shortly after, three young men dressed in blue attire entered, smiling.

The trio were Wang Qianzhi's friends from the academy - tall Xu Kang and the lookalike brothers Xiang Feijin and Xiang Feizhang.

The three appeared excited, exchanging greetings before Xukang queried, "Brother Wang, are you planning to travel to Jizhou for Duke Wen's examination?"

Understanding the situation, Wang Qianzhi nodded with a smile. "Will you all be joining as well?"

Xukang joyfully replied, "Absolutely. We are all originally from the north. You know I am from Jizhou, while the Xiang brothers are from Bingzhou. We settled in Jingzhou to escape the conflict, and now that the opportunity has arisen, it's time for us to make our way back."

The Xiang brothers also nodded in agreement.

Though they were of noble descent, many prestigious families and scholars from the north had fled to regions like Jingzhou, Jiaozhou, Yizhou, and Jiangdong to avoid the chaos following the Baimi Rebels. Their own families were no exception.

Once they left their original familial lands, connections and resources crumbled, making it difficult for them, as outsiders, to integrate into the upper echelons of Jingzhou society. Without a plan, they risked gradual decline, potentially ending up in poverty.

The imperial examination in Yuan Li presented an opportunity for them to return to the north. It required a level of determination that surpassed ordinary expectations.

Their estates and fields accumulated in the north had been seized by others, so returning meant starting over from scratch. After much contemplation, Xu Kang and the Xiang brothers decided not to pass up this rare opportunity.

They came to gauge Wang Qianzhi's intentions, ready to accompany him to Jizhou and look out for each other.

Impressed by their resolve, Wang Qianzhi praised, "You've thought this through. Duke Wen recently secured Jizhou, and there must be a need for capable individuals by his side. This is a time of great opportunity, and with the right strategy, success can come swiftly. Duke Wen is one of the top nobles in the north, achieving significant feats before reaching thirty. His future accomplishments are beyond our imagination. I've heard that he treats his subordinates well, transforming ordinary individuals into exceptional figures renowned far and wide. If you become part of Duke Wen's officials, your future will be secure. Though he may only recruit Wen officials and not North Zhou courtiers, you must not underestimate this opportunity."

Xu Kang chuckled and casually patted Wang's shoulder, "Brother Wang, how could we fail to see this? Rest assured, if we are fortunate enough to serve under Duke Wen, the status of a Wen official may even surpass that of a North Zhou courtier."

Xiang Feijin raised a cautionary finger, "Shh," he whispered, sweating nervously. "Xu Kang, you shouldn't say such things!"

Realizing his misstep, Xu Kang regretted it and apologized to everyone in the room.

Ignoring the slip-up, the group finalized their departure plans, and soon after, Xu Kang and the Xiang brothers bid farewell and set off.

Five days later, they embarked on their journey to Jizhou in a horse-drawn carriage.

The young people had never traveled far before and were naturally excited. They spent the day laughing and enjoying the scenery. They didn't think there was anything wrong until they noticed that the other students they encountered on the road were all reading books during breaks.

Initially unfazed, Wang Qianzhi and his friends began to feel restless after seeing this. In the following days, they stopped playing around and each buried their noses in a book while in the bumpy carriage.

After a few days, they began to experience back pain and dizziness from the constant movement of the carriage.

Stretching lazily, Xu Kang lamented, "I thought our knowledge would make the journey easier. Who knew we would have to read books all along the way?"

Wang Qianzhi, still engrossed in his book, didn't let the discomfort affect him. He stood up, rubbed his sore neck, and said with a wry smile, "I was confident too, but seeing all the students reading, I couldn't help feeling uneasy if I didn't read."

The group nodded in agreement and, after a short break, resumed their reading.

In September, students from neighboring provinces arrived in Ye County.

As Wang Qianzhi and his friends got off the carriage, they were amazed by the bustling city of Ye County. The streets were filled with students in long robes, while vendors called out their wares on both sides of the street.

The lively scene, clean streets, and the imposing city walls reminded them of their time in Luoyang years ago.

They looked up at the tall city walls behind them and felt the grandeur and power emanating from them. After marveling at the sights for a while, they couldn't help but admire the capital of Wen Fiefdom – it was truly impressive.

Xu Kang and the Xiang brothers went to find a place to stay. They asked Wang Qianzhi and others, "Brother Wang, do you want to come with us?"

When asked if they wanted to join them, Wang Qianzhi politely declined, "I won't go find a place to live with you. My brothers and I want to visit an elder first."

The Xiang brothers turned to Xu Kang, who offered a tentative smile. "Brother Wang," he inquired, "do you happen to know any esteemed elders in Ye County?"

Wang Qianzhi, seeing no reason to conceal the information, replied, "He hails from Jingzhou like us, and currently holds the prestigious position of Shangshu under Duke Wen."

Xu Kang and his companions gasped, their eyes gleaming with newfound respect. They fixated their gaze upon Wang Qianzhi, suddenly realizing the man before them was a close confidant of the esteemed Lord Wen!

Thrilled by this unexpected connection, the three brothers could barely contain their excitement. Approaching Wang Qianzhi with a touch of eagerness, they ventured, "Brother Wang, we hold Lord Wen in the highest regard. Perhaps you could introduce us?"

*

Yuan Li and Chu Hechao had just been escorted out of the mansion by Zhou Gongdan when they encountered a group of students who had come to visit Zhou Gongdan.

The students didn't know who Yuan Li and Chu Hechao were, but they could tell that anyone who could enter and leave Zhou Gongdan's mansion must be wealthy or of high status. They respectfully greeted Yuan Li and Chu Hechao, saying, "Greetings to the two gentlemen."

Not recognizing them, Yuan Li observed their unfamiliar faces and the dusty clothes and carriage behind them, deducing that they must be students from Jizhou. Intrigued by the unfamiliar faces, he stopped and inquired, "Who are you?"

Although Yuan Li was young, Xu Kang and the others felt a bit cautious. Wang Qianzhi took the initiative and explained, "We are students who have come from Jingzhou to take the imperial examinations. Due to a past connection between our family and Zhou Gongdan, we were advised to visit him."

Respecting his possible status as a young official on the rise, Wang Qianzhi struck the right balance in his attitude, not overly familiar or standoffish, maintaining the dignity of the Wang family from Jingzhou.

Ah, so these are visitors from Jingzhou paying respects to a senior from the same region.

Yuan Li nodded in understanding.

This was a common practice in ancient times. When scholars from a certain region traveled to the capital for examinations, they would visit high-ranking officials from their own region.

Curious, Zhou Gongdan asked, "Oh, we have a connection? May I ask who your father is?"

As soon as he spoke, everyone realized he was Zhou Gongdan. They quickly showed their respect again and explained, "We have met Zhou Gongdan. Our father, Wang Zixi, is from Xiangyang, Jingzhou."

Seeing that they had something to say, Yuan Li smiled, nodded to Zhou Gongdan, and leisurely left.

Chu Hechao tapped the hilt of his sword nonchalantly, glanced at the students, and walked alongside Yuan Li.

Watching them leave, Wang Qianzhi hesitated and whispered, "May I ask, who are those two?"

With a smile, Zhou Gongdan replied, "Just my two colleagues. Come, let's go inside and chat."

With Zhou Gongdan's reassurance, Wang Qianzhi didn't dwell on it. He quickly followed, ordering his servants to bring gifts and entering Zhou's mansion behind him.