Chương 541: Liu Ce Inspects the Examination Hall

At the examiner's command, the trial curls were done.

Humanities exam room.

Guan Ning picked up the test paper and began to examine it carefully.

The exam papers were printed on high-quality Xuan paper, with a pleasant aroma of ink and neat handwriting.

The first part consists of Confucian classics.

The questions were not difficult; they were all basic knowledge tests, focusing on fundamental skills, such as memorization and understanding of the Four Books and Five Classics.

Guan Ning picked up his brush and wrote in one stroke, his brush moving like dragons and snakes, flowing like clouds and water.

The second part is about current affairs.

The question is: "How to control the Yellow River floods?"

Guan Ning pondered for a moment.

The Yellow River floods have been a major problem that has plagued dynasties throughout history.

From the time of Yu the Great's flood control efforts to the present day, thousands of years have passed, yet the Yellow River still floods every year, causing deaths every year.

He combined his knowledge with what he had seen and heard along the way and wrote down his insights.

He proposed establishing a dedicated river management office to oversee the Yellow River's management and maintenance, to prevent multiple departments from shirking their responsibilities...

We must organize the people to reinforce the dikes, dredge the waterways, and conduct regular annual inspections...

We need to plant trees and create forests upstream to conserve water and soil and prevent siltation...

We also need to establish an early warning mechanism to prevent floods from occurring in advance, so that the people are not caught off guard.

Each point was written in great detail, in a structured and methodical manner.

The third part is the law.

The questions consist of case analyses, requiring candidates to make judgments based on the "Great Han Law," testing their familiarity with and ability to apply the law.

Guan Ning carefully read the case and then made fair judgments based on the legal provisions, which were reasonable, well-founded, and impartial.

After writing the last word, Guan Ning put down his pen and let out a long sigh of relief.

He looked up at the window; the sun was already setting.

He didn't even have time to drink a drop of water all day.

...

Science exam room.

Several young students were looking at the exam paper, frowning and scratching their heads.

The questions on the exam paper were completely new to them.

"How long would it take for an iron ball to fall freely from a height of ten zhang (approximately 33 meters)?" This is related to mathematics, but it is not just mathematics; one also needs to understand physics.

"If one pound of salt dissolves in ten pounds of water, what is the weight of the salt water?" This seems simple, but you need to think carefully about whether the weight of the salt increases after it dissolves.

"Why does ice form in winter and melt in summer?" This involves changes in the state of matter, a question they had never considered before.

These are questions they never considered.

In the past, when we studied, we only read the classics and never thought about the time it would take for an iron ball to fall from a height.

Who ever thought about the weight after the salt water dissolves?

Many people scratch their heads, unable to put pen to paper, and are sweating profusely with anxiety.

Some were biting their pens in a daze, some were staring blankly at the ceiling, and some were drawing on the paper but couldn't write down the answer.

Only a few students, who usually enjoy studying these subjects, were diligently calculating and writing.

A young man was writing and laughing, muttering to himself, "I know this! I figured this out when I was a kid!"

...

Engineering exam room.

As Ma Ping looked at the exam paper, his eyes grew brighter and brighter, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up in a smile.

The questions on the exam paper were all things he usually enjoyed studying.

"Please draw a structural diagram of the overturned vehicle and explain its working principle."

How can waterwheels be improved to increase irrigation efficiency?

"Design a bridge that can withstand a thousand kilograms of weight."

Ma Ping picked up his pen and started drawing quickly.

His hands were very steady, and his movements were very smooth, like magic.

Before long, beautiful drawings appeared on the exam paper.

He not only drew the structural diagram, but also explained in detail the working principle and the improvement methods, writing out each step clearly.

As he wrote, he became completely immersed in his own world.

I forgot the time, forgot everything around me, forgot that this was an exam hall, and even forgot to eat my dry rations.

His eyes were only on the blueprints, only on the lines and numbers.

...

Agricultural Science Examination Center.

Li Erniu looked at the test paper and a simple, honest smile appeared on his face.

These questions were too easy for him.

He grew up working in the fields, and that knowledge is ingrained in his bones.

How to increase wheat yield?

How to prevent and control locust plagues?

How to construct a small-scale water conservancy project?

These are things he does every day, things he's done since he was a child, for over ten years.

He picked up his pen and began to write, stroke by stroke.

His handwriting was ugly, crooked and messy, like the tracks left by earthworms.

However, every word is imbued with his years of experience and hard work; it is something he earned with his sweat.

He wrote down his improved planting methods—deep plowing, crop rotation and fallow, application of farmyard manure...

He wrote down some traditional methods for controlling locusts—raising chickens and ducks to eat the locusts, using torches to fumigate them, digging trenches and burying them...

The steps for building the irrigation canal were written down: first, survey the terrain; then, dig the canal; then, lay the stones; then, release the water...

He wrote very carefully and meticulously.

After finishing writing, I checked it again, afraid that I had made a mistake.

...

Medical examination room.

Hua Ling is answering the questions diligently.

She sat in the examination room, calm and unhurried, as if she were seeing a doctor at home.

The exam included basic theories of Traditional Chinese Medicine, identification and processing of Chinese medicinal herbs, and clinical case analysis...

Hua Ling learned medicine from her father from a young age, so these skills were all easy for her.

She answered the previous questions quickly and smoothly.

The last question was a case of a difficult and complicated disease.

Candidates are required to write down the diagnosis and treatment plan.

The case description is very detailed, listing the symptoms, medical history, pulse, and tongue coating.

Hua Ling carefully read the medical record and pondered for a moment. Then, she picked up her pen and wrote down her diagnosis and treatment plan.

Her handwriting was beautiful and clear, her prescriptions were precise, and she even wrote down the dosage clearly.

After she finished writing, she carefully checked it again to make sure there were no mistakes before putting down her pen.

She leaned back in her chair, gazing at the sky outside the window, a slight smile playing on her lips.

...

The exam was on its second day.

Liu Ce, accompanied by Xun Yu, Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, Lu Bing, and several personal guards, quietly arrived at the examination hall.

He did not ride in the imperial carriage or wear the imperial robes; instead, he wore ordinary clothes and mingled in the crowd, looking like an ordinary official on an inspection tour.

He didn't disturb anyone; he simply walked slowly between the examination rooms, observing the candidates' condition.

He observed that some candidates were writing furiously, their thoughts flowing freely, their words eloquent and captivating...

Some candidates scratched their heads, looked worried, and stared blankly at the exam paper...

Some candidates had already finished the exam and were resting with their eyes closed, a smile playing on their lips...

Some candidates were so nervous that they turned pale, trembled all over, and their foreheads were covered in sweat...

Liu Ce walked to the liberal arts exam hall and saw Guan Ning.

Guan Ning was sitting in the examination room, carefully checking his exam paper.

His expression was focused, his brows slightly furrowed, meticulous, completely unaware that someone was watching him from outside.

Liu Ce nodded and said to the others, "This person is not bad. Look at his exam paper; his handwriting is neat, his thinking is clear, and his answers are insightful. He is a person with real talent and learning."

Lu Bing said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, his name is Guan Ning, a native of Zhuxu in Beihai... He is rigorous in his scholarship and of noble character."