Chapter 112 112 Entrance Examination
Wei Guangde returned home, and the next day he went to Master Sun's private school. After all, he was his tutor. Although he was a disciple, he was also his teacher.
Master Sun seemed very happy about Wei Guangde's arrival, not only because he had taught a scholar, Xianggong, but now Wei Guangde's status was the same as his.
After presenting the gifts he had brought and the two of them sat down, Master Sun asked with interest, "When will the examination for this department be held?"
What Master Sun is talking about is actually the entrance examination for new students. According to the imperial system, top students must go to the government school to study, while those with lower grades will go to the county school where they are located.
For Wei Guangde, these new entrants are all attached students. After passing the exam, they can be promoted to Zengguang or Linshan students.
"First, we will test the merits of the students in the sixth class, which is called the annual test. Those who are in the forefront of the first class will be supplemented in order if there are any deficiencies in Linshan students, and then they will be supplemented by Guangzhou students."
This is what the Ming Dynasty required of scholars. Once you have achieved fame, you cannot wait for nothing and wait for death. There are many exams every year.
However, for those who are truly interested in fame, who would consider being a scholar for the rest of their lives, they will actively participate in the provincial examination and strive to win the title of Juren or even Jinshi.
"In half a month, students will leave for Jiujiang Prefecture to take the exam."
Wei Guangde replied respectfully.
Then Master Sun gave Wei Guangde a detailed introduction to his experience in taking the exam for the first time and what he thought was more important.
Some things can be found out from seniors and peers, and some things cannot be revealed easily. Even if you ask with licking your face, there is a high chance that people won’t tell you and you will just let them go.
After that, Wei Guangde rested at home for a few days, and then went to Pengze County counting the time.
Nowadays, there are rumors everywhere in Madang Town and Pengze County that Wei Guangde had a vision from the sky when he was born. Well, there are many versions. He has no shame in staying at home for a long time.
Last time I went to Nanchang Mansion to take the college examination, I still had more than 20 taels left from the expenses I brought with me, totaling 30 taels of silver. My cousin probably paid most of it.
This time when I went to Jiujiang Mansion, my elder brother didn't ask for the remaining silver from last time, and gave Wei Guangde thirty taels of silver.
Although he didn't know what he was doing with so much money in Jiujiang Mansion, since his eldest brother gave it to him, he felt at ease with his subordinates.
I rested one night at my cousin's house, and the next day I went to Jiujiang Prefecture to study with Zeng Yuanshu and others of the same year.
For this examination of the government school, the county school's teacher had already gone to the city with an instruction. Although it was said that top students could enter the government school, it also depended on the students' wishes. It did not mean that they had to stay.
Therefore, the teachings and instructions of county schools were actually to prevent high-quality students from being deceived into going to government schools. For people like them, students' grades are really important, if they are interested in a career.
At this time, they must pay attention to those students with excellent grades who originally did not plan to go to a private school, but were deceived by professors from a private school.
There was no words to say all the way, and the group of people took the Weisuo boat to Jiujiang Mansion.
Originally, Wei Guangde planned to live outside this time and take the exam with his classmates, but when the boat arrived at the Jiujiang Pier, he saw Zhang Hongfu standing on the dock waiting for him from a distance.
Seeing this scene, he knew he couldn't refuse.
Sure enough, after getting off the boat, Zhang Hongfu greeted him warmly.
"Haha, I calculated the time and guessed that Guangde will take a boat to Jiujiang today. Brother, I have prepared a reception banquet. These are your classmates, let's go together."
After speaking, he smiled at Zeng Yuanshu and said: "Yuanshu, congratulations, I am also very happy to see your name among the candidates for this college examination."
Zhang Hongfu enthusiastically took the students from Pengze County to a restaurant near the government school. After everyone settled down, they were taken to eat and drink for a while.
After having enough food and wine, Wei Guangde had no choice but to say goodbye to his contemporaries and moved into the Zhang family courtyard with Zhang Hongfu.
On the jingling carriage, Zhang Hongfu said to him with a smile: "By the way, the news from Nanjing is confirmed. Your father's position as Wei Zhenfu has not been lost. He can take up his post after the guard brigade returns."
The last time we talked about this matter, the tone was still a bit ambiguous. This time it was a direct affirmation. Obviously, Beijing had already approved it.
"That's really a lot of work for my second uncle to do."
Wei Guangde immediately smiled and said.
"Hi, my family."
Zhang Hongfu smiled grandly, but then added: "My father thinks that Uncle Wei will definitely move to Fucheng by then, so he has asked my second uncle to sort out several yards. I will take you to see which one is suitable later.
In fact, Uncle Wei is the same. If Wen Cai continues to stay at Bengshan Castle, even if he comes to Jiujiang, the position of Wei Zhenfu will not be taken by him in the future. "
Wei Zhenfu is only a fifth-rank official, and it is indeed easier to operate, especially for commanders with backgrounds. The commander sometimes has to give him three points.
"Whether it is Bengshan Fort or Youjun Qianhu Station, it has been passed down from our ancestors and cannot be thrown away."
Wei Guangde smiled and replied, "If my brother has the opportunity to make meritorious deeds in the future, he will not be willing to go even if he is promoted."
"Who said that? You are just afraid of being crowded out."
Zhang Hongfu shook his head with disdain, "Let's just talk about the position you took. Even if he is transferred from Bengshan Fort, we will give him a position without a hereditary position as a Hundred Households, or someone you trust will be promoted to a Hundred Households. When will you get it? When you come back, it’s just a matter of opening your mouth.”
The hereditary military positions in the Ming Dynasty are actually quite different, the most important ones being actual positions and idle positions.
A sinecure naturally has an official title but no real power. Apart from receiving a little lumi from the guard station on a regular basis, there is nothing else. Compared with a full-time military general, the treatment is naturally not the same.
The only way for military generals in the Ming Dynasty to successfully succeed in their duties was to succeed the father after his father died. Although the Ming Dynasty had a system of preferential treatment for young candidates, for most people with no connections or background, Once the official position is lost, it is even more difficult to get it back.
In fact, even those who were later regarded as the "gods of war" of the Ming Dynasty, such as Qi Jiguang and Li Chengliang, were once faced with difficulties due to the issue of succession.
But for the Wei family's hereditary hundred households, to be honest, there are really not many people who are interested. Those who have the ability may target the positions of those few thousand household officials.
Wei Guangde knew that Zhang Hongfu was right, but Wei Guangde also speculated on the reason why his father was unwilling to give up the Bengshan Baihu House.
Although he was forced to buy nearly 200 acres of land before, there might be some assets of his own around it. So although he always wanted to be promoted, he couldn't let go of Bengshan Fort's family property.
Of course, he couldn't tell Zhang Hongfu about his guess. Even his eldest brother Wei Wencai didn't ask.
When he arrived at Zhang's house, he met with brothers Zhang Shigui, Zhang Fugui and the old lady. Wei Guangde moved into the small courtyard to prepare for the examination of Fu Xue.