Chapter 23 Fame in Yingtian Prefecture
The imperial examination system in the Ming Dynasty not only required fame, but also had high requirements for ranking.
For example, the final palace examination results can be divided into first, second, and third place. Although they are all Jinshi, their future prospects are worlds apart.
The first-class Jinshi can enter the Hanlin Academy and be granted positions such as Hanlin Compiler and Editor. The Hanlin Academy has always been known as the place of "reserve prime ministers", and these people will be strong contenders for the future cabinet members of the Ming Dynasty!
Young and excellent students in the second and third grades also have the opportunity to enter the Hanlin Academy as a scholar, which is called "selecting a hall". However, compared with the first grade, the chance of promotion is much worse, and the hope of entering the cabinet is even slimmer.
As for the mediocre ones in the second and third classes, they were basically sent to serve as officials abroad. Not to mention entering the Ming Cabinet, it was very likely that they would never even be able to enter the central government in their lifetime.
If the first, second and third grades are regarded as the differences between the modern first, second and third grades, then Yinjian's academic qualifications are almost equivalent to a junior college to undergraduate degree.
There was a general consensus in the Ming and Qing dynasties that "Yinjian" and "Donjian" were directly identified as "miscellaneous". Even if they could pass the imperial examination, their status was relatively low.
The reason is very simple. Anyone who has some ability will not choose to go the Yinjian route. Even if you have excellent grades, the "first degree" determines your fate. The examiner will look down on the Yinjian and it will be difficult for you to be selected as the first class, let alone enter the power center of the Ming Dynasty.
Unless Zhu Yong could achieve the power of Zhang Juzheng later and directly change his fate to become the top scholar, the chief examiner of the civil service group would not be fooled by the sons of nobles and relatives.
"So where does your ambition end?"
Looking into Shen Yichen's eyes, Zhu Yong seemed to see a ball of burning flame. He had not seen such undisguised arrogance and ambition for many years since the Fengtian Jingnan Campaign.
I didn't expect to see it again on the son I abandoned. It was really ironic.
"Who has written history in the past ten thousand years? I want to be a marquis three thousand miles away!"
Shen Yichen used a line of poetry from later generations' Li Hongzhang to express his ambitions.
This poem was written by Li Hongzhang when he was 21 years old and entered the Imperial College in Beijing as an excellent student. Although both the Yinjian and Gongjian were students, one relied on the influence of ancestors while the other relied on real ability, which are incomparable.
Without mentioning his character and political achievements, just from a literary perspective this poem is full of vigor and ambition, as if to imply that who else but me can be the duke of the world, and I am the only one who will be written in the long history books.
Shen Yichen wanted to tell Zhu Yong that he didn't want his future life to be limited to piling up the "bricks and tiles" that built the Duke's Mansion.
Being granted a title of nobility, appointed as prime minister, and leaving your name in history is what a real man aspires for!
"good!"
"Then let me see if we can become like Xu Da, the Duke of Wei, who has two dukes and marquises in one family!"
For the first time, Zhu Yong did not look down on Shen Yichen with the attitude of a superior, but put him in a position where he could have a conversation with him.
And Zhu Yong didn't care about Shen Yichen's ambition. On the contrary, as the son of Duke Cheng, he must have ambition and ability in order to survive in officialdom and keep his family standing.
"I will do it."
Shen Yichen responded silently, not to Duke Chengguo Zhu Yong, but to himself.
Having said this, the two had nothing else to say to each other. Shen Yichen bowed and asked for his leave. After being accepted, he turned around and left the Chengguo Mansion.
Walking on the way home, thinking back on everything that happened today, to be honest, Shen Yichen felt as if he was in a dream.
It can even be said that I never dreamed that one day I would be able to shine in front of ancient nobles and ministers, and have such a conversation with the Duke of Ming Dynasty.
Returning to his own courtyard in a daze, Shen Yichen did not tell his mother what happened in Duke Chengguo's Mansion today.
Because of the conversation a few days ago, he vaguely knew that there was a story behind her leaving Chengguo Mansion. Before he figured it out, he didn't want his mother's relatively peaceful life to be disrupted by him.
After washing his face with well water to clear away the random thoughts in his mind, Shen Yichen sat down at the desk and began to review his lessons.
After all, lofty ambitions are just like bragging. When you brag, it makes a lot of noise and you feel good. But how to realize it after you brag is a very painful thing, especially when you brag in front of the Duke.
Fortunately, although Shen Yichen does not have many advantages, one of them is that he can concentrate on studying.
The night passed quickly under the light and candlelight accompanied by the rustling sound of turning pages.
The next day, Shen Yichen went to school at Duke Chengguo's Mansion as usual, but at the corner gate he saw Zhao Hongjie looking around from afar. When he saw him appear, he hurried over.
"Yi Chen, I heard that you beat up those guys in the inner courtyard at the family dinner yesterday. Is it true?"
Zhao Hongjie's face was full of excitement, just like those little girls in later generations who saw gossip news.
"You are quite well-informed."
Shen Yichen did not answer directly, but joked that Zhao Hongjie knew what happened yesterday early this morning, which was indeed very efficient.
Seeing that Shen Yichen did not deny it, Zhao Hongjie became even more excited and continued speaking quickly.
"Then it seems the news is correct!"
"By the way, is the poem 'Linjiangxian' written by you? Some writers at a gathering last night were talking about it like crazy, calling it a masterpiece!"
"So fast?"
Even Shen Yichen was greatly surprised. The family dinner just ended in the afternoon, but the news went viral in the evening?
Even if "Linjiangxian" is indeed a masterpiece in the declining Ming Dynasty poetry, the speed is too fast. It seems that Zhao Hongjie is not the only one who likes gossip, but all the literati in Jiangnan are like this.
"Did you really do this?"
"I guess so. Any problem?"
After hearing this, Zhao Hongjie stood there in a daze. He heard from others last night that this poem was written by the son of the maid of Duke Chengguo. To be honest, he still didn't dare to believe it.
Now that Shen Yichen had confirmed it himself, the shock was truly tremendous. These two brothers, who used to be at the bottom of the private school, had unexpectedly become great writers of the time overnight!
"What’s wrong with you?"
Seeing Zhao Hongjie suddenly become numb, Shen Yichen felt a little puzzled.
Unexpectedly, as soon as Shen Yichen finished speaking, Zhao Hongjie immediately said excitedly: "You don't know the influence of this poem. It is said that even the new lecturer of Zhaowen Academy, the champion Lin Zhen, said that he was going to invite you to participate in this year's winter solstice poetry meeting after hearing it!"
Zhaowen Academy? No. 1 Scholar? Winter Solstice Poetry Festival?
Compared to Zhao Hongjie's excitement, Shen Yichen was almost calm. It's not that he was so generous and could keep his emotions under control.
But Shen Yichen had no idea what Zhao Hongjie was talking about, it was almost like playing the lute to a cow.
The only familiar person here might be the top scholar Lin Zhen. Shen Yichen knew that he was the top scholar in the Gengxu year of the Xuande period. He could be considered in the same class as his private tutor Li Tingxiu, but the latter failed the exam and did not pass the Jinshi examination.
Looking at Shen Yichen's confused expression, Zhao Hongjie felt an anxious feeling of being disappointed in his friend.
"Let me explain it to you this way. Your poem 'Linjiangxian' is now at most famous in Yingtian Prefecture. If you can become famous at the Winter Solstice Poetry Conference, then the entire Ming Dynasty literary world will know about it!"
