Chapter 37: The Top Candidate

The Ming Dynasty selected officials through the "eight-legged essay," a format defined by a rigorous structure—from the opening, development, and introduction of the theme to the formal arguments. Examiners, upon reading, would often stop if the opening failed to meet standards, effectively consigning the paper to the "cold palace" without further consideration. This served to expedite the grading process, as a line-by-line reading of every submission would be impossible.

Through this mechanism, the Ming Dynasty compelled scholars to study the Confucian classics with singular focus, subtly achieving a form of brainwashing. Of course, the eight-legged essay was not without merit; to write one well and brilliantly, one required exceptional logical faculties to guide the reader toward the central thesis in a way that left them no choice but to be convinced. It was akin to modern debate, requiring one to cite authorities and articulate a position to persuade others.

"Since the wealth of a ruler is stored within the people, if the people are already wealthy, how could the ruler possibly be poor alone?" Li Jie used this as his development of the theme. The gist aligned with the modern concept of "storing wealth among the people"—if the commoners are prosperous, the state is naturally prosperous. By doing so, he echoed the logic of the disciple You Ruo, who explained the unity of ruler and people to Duke Ai of Lu.

...

"Alas! The establishment of the tax system was meant for the people, and the sufficiency of state revenue stems from this; why must one increase taxes to seek prosperity?" With this concluding remark, he tied the beginning and the end together, arguing that a sound tax system exists for the benefit of the citizenry, and since national sufficiency flows from their prosperity, there is no need to burden them with heavier taxes.

Drawing on the commentaries of Zhu Xi and the teachings of the sages, the essay infused the principle that the ruler's sufficiency depends on the people's. By championing the Confucian ideal of the "unity of ruler and people," he struck a chord with contemporary scholars. This essay was certain to draw praise from the examiners. As long as his subsequent answers remained competent, passing was a certainty, and he might even secure the top rank of *anshou*.

Though Fuzhou was in the south, the February morning air held a chill. As a breeze stirred, many thinly-clad candidates shivered, but Li Jie, having achieved the initial stages of internal martial arts, felt little of the cold.

After completing the Four Books section, Li Jie transcribed his draft onto the exam paper and began the recitation of the Five Classics. His memory had always been excellent, making such tasks effortless. His calligraphy, bolstered by his artistic training from his previous life and years of dedicated practice, was further enhanced by the wrist strength gained from long-term martial arts training. His style now possessed a distinct character, earning high praise from Master Zhou, who remarked that he would soon develop a unique school of his own.

With the Five Classics section finished, only the final poetry requirement remained—a five-character, eight-rhyme poem. As poetry had reached its zenith during the Tang and Song dynasties, it was difficult to strike a new chord, and the Ming Dynasty, preoccupied with the eight-legged essay, did not place great weight on it. Li Jie wrote a conventional piece following the required rhymes.

Fortunately, the poetry section carried little weight; examiners focused primarily on the Four Books. If the primary essay was well-written, a pass was all but guaranteed. Success in the imperial examinations required excelling in the first task, followed by the second, with poetry being the least critical. Even a masterful poem could not save a candidate if the first essay failed.

By the time Li Jie finished, it was only midday. Feeling hungry, he retrieved the meal his mother, Lady Wang, had carefully prepared—exquisite pastries, meat-filled flatbreads, and dried fruits. He ate sparingly while drinking water from a bamboo tube. After finishing, he lit the small stove in his cubicle to warm the flatbread, and soon, the fragrance wafted through the area.

Nearby candidates, catching the scent, cursed under their breath, annoyed that he would be so indulgent. Eventually, seeing the time, they too began to prepare their own lunches, losing their focus on the exam.

After eating, Li Jie noticed there was still plenty of time before the deadline, so he leaned back in his cubicle and took a nap. The candidate opposite him shook his head, thinking, "This youth must be devoid of talent; he has clearly given up in despair."

Upon waking, Li Jie carefully checked for errors or taboos. Finding none, he transcribed the Five Classics and poetry sections, reviewed the entire paper a few times, and waited quietly for the end of the examination.

***

*Dong! Dong! Dong!*

Three drumbeats echoed, and the bailiffs paced the corridors, shouting, "The examination is over! All candidates must stop writing and submit their papers in an orderly fashion!"

After submitting his paper, Li Jie carried his basket and joined the crowd leaving the exam hall. The first session of the County Examination was the primary one; a strong performance meant he would not need to attend subsequent exams and could proceed directly to the Prefecture Examination in April.

As Li Jie emerged, he saw Lin Zhennan waiting anxiously with a servant. Li Jie smiled and wove through the crowd toward them. Seeing the smile on Li Jie's face, Lin Zhennan let out a long sigh of relief and asked, "Pingzhi, how did it go?"

"Very well. Passing should not be a problem," Li Jie said confidently.

"Boastful! To claim success the moment you leave the hall—what capability could a mere child possibly have?" a middle-aged scholar standing nearby sneered.

"You foul-mouthed pedant, are you looking for a beating?" Lin Zhennan glared. Having spent years in the martial world and seen his share of bloodshed, his imposing, well-built frame carried significant threat for a man who clearly possessed no physical strength.

The scholar was intimidated by Lin's glare and could not get a word out. His face flushed, he huffed, flicked his sleeves, and turned to leave, muttering bitterly, "Crude martial brute! Not worth debating!"

Lin Zhennan moved to confront him, but Li Jie quickly held him back, telling him that a man of stature should not lower himself to argue with a petty person. After soothing him, they boarded their carriage and headed home.

In the following days, Li Jie returned to his routine of martial arts and study, living a peaceful life.

Meanwhile, in the grading room, the county instructor held a paper, reading it with growing excitement. "Without a belly full of talent, one could not produce such a masterpiece!"

"This paper will surely take the top rank!" he exclaimed, rushing to share the brilliant work with Magistrate Wang.

The revelation of rankings was known as "releasing the list." Those who took first place in the County, Prefecture, or Academy examinations were called *anshou*.

"Magistrate, look at this! This paper deserves the top rank. The opening is brilliantly executed, the entire piece flows like a single breath, and the spirit is infused throughout, perfectly capturing the essence of the theme. It is truly brimming with talent!"

"Oh?" Magistrate Wang asked, intrigued. The instructor, usually stern and formal, rarely showed such lack of composure. He took the paper and began to read. The opening and development were indeed exquisite. After the introduction, the essay began to articulate the relationship between the "sufficiency of the people" and the "sufficiency of the ruler." The middle sections balanced the two concepts perfectly, creating a clear, layered structure.

"Layered and illuminating, moving from the simple to the profound. The theme is fully realized, and the structure is complete. A fine piece! A fine piece indeed! This youth shall take the top rank!"

He checked the name on the paper: Lin Pingzhi of Min County (the seat of Fuzhou Prefecture).

...

On the day the results were posted, the area outside the county office was packed with crowds—candidates and servants alike—all waiting for the announcement. As the bailiffs arrived with the list, a stir went through the crowd.

Once the list was posted, the crowd surged forward. The Lin family servant looked up and saw Lin Pingzhi’s name at the very top.

"He passed! The young master passed! The young master is the *anshou*!"

Shouting in excitement, he ran all the way back to the Lin estate to deliver the good news.