After a short break, Zhu Pingan continued to look at the second policy essay question. In fact, compared with the provincial examination, the number of questions in this examination was reduced by about four-fifths, which can be seen from the second policy essay question. In the provincial examination, there are usually four policy essay questions, but there are also three or five, but this examination only has one policy essay question.
This essay question is also relatively short, not as long as the one in the palace examination. The question is as follows:
"Intimidate them with the law, and when the law is enforced, they will know kindness. Limit them with titles, and when titles are added, they will know honor."
This policy paper comes from Zhuge Liang's "Reply to Fa Zheng" in the Three Kingdoms period. It means that laws are used to create deterrence, and when the laws are implemented, people will feel favored. Titles are used to show status, and when they are promoted, people will feel honored.
This is about clear rewards and punishments, which has been analyzed thoroughly in later generations. Zhu Pingan can write several versions of the question almost as soon as he sees it. However, because there are too many answers in his mind, it is not easy to choose which one to use. After integrating and eliminating multiple answers in his mind, Zhu Pingan picked up his pen and began to write neatly and carefully on the draft paper:
"Rewards and punishments are the great powers of the ruler. Only when rewards and punishments are clear can the good and the evil be distinguished and disciplined. The way of governing a country is similar to that of a ruler who does not give small favors and the people do not have expectations. If you want to make the government and the people clear and serious when facing a declining and weak situation, you should set strict rules for rewards and punishments. Good. Wu Hou said to Fa Zheng, "Intimidate people with laws, and if the laws are enforced, they will know kindness. Limit them with titles and increase titles, and they will know honor."
... "
The text is completed in one go without any embellishments.
After finishing the article, Zhu Pingan was more and more satisfied with it. There was almost no flaw in it, and he raised the corners of his lips slightly. If nothing unexpected happened, this scientific expedition should be successful.
The ink on the table was almost used up. Zhu Ping'an placed the brush on the stand beside the table and took the inkstone on the side. He began to grind the ink. Regarding grinding ink, the ancients had a saying: Grind the ink lightly and lick the brush heavily. Grinding the ink lightly means not to be impatient and not to press the ink stick with gravity. The ancients said that it was most appropriate to ask girls in the boudoir to grind the ink. After Zhu Ping'an took the inkstone, he placed his index finger on the top of the ink and his thumb and middle finger on both sides of the ink stick. He began to grind it, pressing it a little harder and turning it gently and evenly.
The ancient ink is lightly ground and filled with fragrance. The inkstone pool is newly bathed and shines brightly.
The ink Zhu Pingan brought was specially bought from Huizhou. It was the best ink, and he was reluctant to use it. Good ink was smooth and silent when it was ground, while poor ink made a rough sound when it was ground. Zhu Pingan did not make any sound until he finished grinding the ink, but it emitted a faint scent of ink.
After grinding the ink, Zhu Pingan put the inkstone aside and rested for a while. He adjusted his state to the best. Then he took out the brush and copied the draft on the answer sheet, without any distractions. He was fully focused.
With one stroke, it looks like a horse running free from its reins, leaping into the sky and leaving in a cloud of dust; it also looks like a dragon flying in the sky, moving and tumbling, coming from nothingness and returning to nothingness. This almost insane impulse of primitive vitality contains the aura of heaven and earth.
One eight-part essay and one policy paper. All in one go.
Zhu Pingan finished copying the test paper and checked it twice. He couldn't be more satisfied. There was not a single mistake in the whole paper. His handwriting was also almost at its best.
At this time, some people had handed in their papers. Zhu Ping'an heard Zhao Wenhua, the academic supervisor on the high platform in the north, asking some questions, but he did not dare to look up. The examination was the same as the annual examination. The examination rules were very strict. If you looked around, stretched, yawned, or did something indecent, it would be recorded by the academic supervisor or instructor on the high platform, and no matter how well you wrote your essay, you would be demoted.
After checking and confirming that everything was correct, Zhu Ping'an stretched out his hand to ask for permission to hand in the paper.
After a while, a clerk came to inspect and check Zhu Ping'an's test paper. After checking and verifying his personal information, he stamped a seal on it, then folded the paper and motioned Zhu Ping'an to go to the North Platform with him to hand in the paper.
Because Zhu Ping'an handed in his paper early, only three or five people had handed in their papers at this time, and all the candidates looked at him sideways. At this time, there was a candidate handing in his paper on the stage, and the clerk leading Zhu Ping'an led him to the side below the stage and waited for the previous candidate to hand in his paper.
It was at this time that Zhu Ping'an could clearly see the educational official on the high platform, Mr. Zhao Wenhua, a well-known traitor in history. From his appearance, there was no trace of a traitor at all. He was a middle-aged official with a square face and a standard beard, about fifty years old. He looked gentle and serious, and had a fair and responsible look.
However, Zhu Ping'an was not deceived by his appearance. This Lord Zhao was just good at concealing his true colors.
Since not many people had handed in their papers at this time, Zhao Wenhua was marking the papers on the spot. The man in front of Zhu Pingan came to hand in his paper with full confidence, but he left the stage with a pale face. Because Zhao Wenhua pointed out the flaws in his paper on the spot, he gave him a second-class grade. Although the second-class grade was also a very good result, it also meant that he would not be able to participate in the provincial examination. There were only so many places for the provincial examination, and only the first-class grade would have a chance.
After this gentleman stepped down from the stage, he was led to the door and waited together with the people who had handed in their papers in front of him until enough people had handed in their papers before he was let out together.
After the man handed in his paper, Zhu Ping'an followed the clerk up to the stage to hand in his paper. He leaned over to the desk where Lord Zhao was sitting and knelt to receive instruction.
This evil feudal society, kneel down to your sister! Or kneel down to a treacherous minister!
Zhu Ping'an knelt in front of the desk, looking respectful on the surface, but he had already complained in his heart.
Hey, this student is so young? !
When Lord Zhao Wenhua saw Zhu Ping'an, he was a little surprised. He was so young, but he still looked down on him. He must be a student donated by his family. His real talent and knowledge might not match his. It would be fine to give him a third or second place.
However, after receiving the test paper from the clerk, Zhao Wenhua was even more surprised, because it was marked on the test paper that Zhu Ping'an was the first in this year's college examination! This young man did not donate money to study in the academy, but actually passed the exam on his own, and he was the first in the exam!
When Zhao Wenhua opened the answer sheet and saw Zhu Ping'an's answer sheet, his breathing became a little rapid.
As soon as I opened the book, I felt a surge of sharp energy.
The characters seem to be alive, with the strokes of the pen moving like dragons and snakes, the ink flowing through the iron inkstone.
Just looking at the font, it's not an exaggeration to give it a first rate.
After reading the content, Lord Zhao Wenhua couldn't help but pick up the tea next to him and drank two sips in a row. After reading Zhu Ping'an's eight-part essay and policy essay, the clerk next to him added tea to Lord Zhao twice.
Zhao Wenhua read Zhu Ping'an's test paper twice, stroked his beard and carefully read Zhu Ping'an who was kneeling on the stage, put down the test paper in his hand and asked:
"How old are you?"
Zhu Ping'an, who was kneeling below and complaining in his heart, heard Zhao Wenhua's question and replied respectfully:
"Your Excellency, I am thirteen years old this year."
Zhao Wenhua nodded, looked at Zhu Ping'an and suddenly asked, "What is this impolite etiquette?"
Hearing this, the other examiners and instructors on the stage were also a little surprised. In the past, they just asked some questions about the meaning of the scriptures and asked the students to recite a few words. It was just a formality. Now, how come the questions suddenly became so difficult? The people around him couldn't help but look at Zhu Pingan with some sympathy. (To be continued)