Chapter 593 0588 [The Horse Gallops with Joy]
The Ming Dynasty ritual system was set last year.
The ceremony of the imperial edict was highly praised, second only to the enthronement of the emperor and the wedding, and was on the same level as the triumphal return of military generals.
Therefore, all officials must wear court robes, all crimson, without birds or beasts, to highlight unity, calmness and solemnity - only official uniforms have different colors, and only casual uniforms have birds and beasts embroidered.
All hats are Jinxian crowns, with seven, six and five beams.
The princes, three teachers, three dukes, prime ministers (including privy envoys, etc.), when wearing the seven-beam Jinxian crown, also have to wear the Diaochan crown (cage scarf).
The censors of the Supervisory Office add the horns of the Xiezhi on the Jinxian crown.
As the ranks of officials change, they also have to hang jade swords, jade pendants, brocade ribbons and the like with different patterns.
Before dawn, all officials were waiting.
Zhu Guoxiang was yawning in the Wende Hall at this moment. Usually, he would postpone the time for court, but he had to get up early for such a large ceremony.
"Your Majesty, it's time to go to the palace." The eunuch walked in and reminded.
"Ha~~~"
Zhu Guoxiang yawned again, stood up and stretched to relieve fatigue, then walked towards Jiying Hall.
"The emperor is going to the palace!"
"The emperor is going to the palace!"
"..."
The voices came one after another, and the band began to play music.
There were whips in front of Jiying Hall, and a few more shouts, and the officials lined up to enter Jiying Hall.
The new Jinshi, still wearing cloth clothes, stood outside the hall collectively waiting for the announcement.
The entire set of imperial examination procedures in the Ming Dynasty was set up last year with a new etiquette system. It combines the etiquette of the three dynasties of Song, Ming and Qing, but they are all different, all depending on the preferences of Zhu's father and son.
Fearing that the Jinshi would not understand, they also specially assigned the ritual officials of the Honglu Temple to guide them.
The chaotic Jinshi first class in the Northern Song Dynasty was also unified by the Ming Dynasty.
Five people in the first class.
Ninety-five people in the second class.
The rest are all in the third class.
The yellow list has been filled in, and Zhu Guoxiang personally wrote down the names of the top five.
After organizing the exam, the Minister of Rites Meng Zhao was not allowed to participate in the setting of questions, invigilation and marking of papers, but now he can arrange the announcement of the list.
He stepped out of the Jiying Hall and stood between the hall gate and the Danbi. Behind him followed the announcer and several guards who were responsible for holding the yellow list.
Meng Zhao opened the imperial edict and read it: "The Emperor of the Great Ming Dynasty decreed: On March 5, the second year of Hongwu, the tribute scholars of the world were tested. The first class was awarded the title of Jinshi, the second class was awarded the title of Jinshi, and the third class was awarded the title of Tong Jinshi..."
After the announcement, Meng Zhao stood by.
The announcer stepped forward and personally opened the yellow list of the first class: "The first place in the first class is Hu Quan, the first place in the first class is Hu Quan..."
He sang it three times in a row amid the music.
Hu Quan was so excited that he trembled all over and was led by the ceremonial officer to the top of the Danbi.
This was a treatment not available in the old Song Dynasty. The Ming Dynasty set up a ritual system, and the newly-appointed top scholar could "take the top spot".
Hundreds of Jinshi looked at Hu Quan's back, all with envious eyes.
This was the first top scholar who was allowed to stand at the top spot since the Tang and Song Dynasties!
The other four people in the first class stood behind the top scholar after hearing their names being called.
The names of the second and third classes were called one after another, but only the top ten of each class could stand alone, and the rest remained in their original positions.
"Kneel!"
Three hundred and fifty newly-appointed Jinshi knelt down in unison in the Jiying Hall.
Kneeling ceremony was rare in the Ming Dynasty, and only appeared on a few important occasions. Kneeling randomly at ordinary times would even result in salary deductions.
The father and son of the Zhu family discussed repeatedly and believed that kneeling was necessary at the ceremony of announcing the names of the candidates. First, because the level of the ceremony of announcing the names of the candidates was very high, and second, it was necessary to establish the relationship between the monarch and the ministers before the Jinshi became an official.
These newly-appointed Jinshi in front of them might only kneel down to the emperor once in their lives.
And it's not just kneeling to the emperor, it's kneeling to the entire Jiying Hall, or kneeling to the country!
Next, it's the ceremony of releasing the official robe.
In the Song Dynasty, it was set after entering the hall to pay homage, and in the Ming Dynasty, it was set after offering sacrifices to the Confucius Temple. The father and son set it after the announcement of the list of successors.
One is to shorten the process and make the etiquette not so complicated.
The second is to give respect to the Jinshi, so that they can wear official clothes instead of cloth clothes when they first formally meet the emperor.
The Ming and Qing dynasties were the most stingy. They had to borrow official clothes from the Confucius Temple and had to return them after participating in various ceremonies. Those official clothes may be older than the grandfather of the new Jinshi. Not to mention whether they fit or not, I don't know how many years they haven't been washed. Many official clothes are moldy and sweaty.
Students who have rented bachelor's clothes to attend graduation ceremonies should have a good understanding of this.
Compared with the etiquette of the Song, Ming and Qing dynasties, the father and son also made other changes-
The ceremony of releasing vegetables was cancelled. Who said that officials must eat meat?
The ceremony of worshipping Confucius for the newly-appointed Jinshi was not held, as it was something that only became popular in the Southern Song Dynasty.
The crowd was led to the nearby Shengping Tower, where they received court robes and changed clothes, which was much higher than the changing clothes in the side hall in the old Song Dynasty.
The court robes were divided into several batches according to height, including five feet, six feet, seven feet, and eight feet. Among them, the six- and seven-foot heights were the most numerous, and the newly-appointed Jinshi could choose freely.
Boots and hats were similar, and they were divided into several sizes.
There was also a blank tablet, a Jinshi silk card, and a Jinshi hairpin flower.
"Congratulations, brother Bangheng!"
"Congratulations, congratulations!"
"..."
The newly-appointed Jinshi changed their clothes and put on the hairpin flowers, holding the tablets to congratulate each other, and the number one scholar Hu Quan was greeted the most.
The second place Yang Ji sighed: "Compared with the old Song Dynasty, the Ming Dynasty court is more gracious to us scholars. Brother Bangheng can stand at the top of the list as the number one scholar, and we are also arranged to stay in Shengping Tower after being released from office. These are things that did not happen before."
"Yes, the emperor's grace is great, and we should devote ourselves to His Majesty and the court!" Everyone expressed their opinions.
They said this now, it should be from the heart, each of them was still excited and grateful.
Everyone chatted lively in Shengping Tower until the etiquette officer came in to remind them, and then they went downstairs to line up to see the emperor in Jiying Hall.
In this process, the kneeling ceremony was cancelled.
The new scholars bowed and paid homage, and the dance was retained because Zhu Ming thought it was fun for everyone to dance square dance together.
Li Hanzhang, the Minister of Personnel, personally announced the appointment of the new Jinshi:
"Hu Quan, the first in this year's exam, was awarded Chengwu Lang (a ninth-rank official in Beijing), and stayed in the cabinet to observe politics."
"Yang Ji, the second in this year's exam, was awarded Chengzhi Lang (a person selected from the eighth rank), and stayed in the cabinet to observe politics."
"Li Dong, the third in this year's exam, was awarded Chengzhi Lang, and stayed in the cabinet to observe politics."
"Li Gongmao, the fourth in this year's exam, was awarded Rulin Lang (a person selected from the eighth rank), and stayed in the Tongzhengyuan to observe politics."
"..."
Last year, the new dynasty ritual system was formulated, and the civil and military official system of the Ming Dynasty was finally established.
The court officials, Beijing officials, and selection system of the old Song Dynasty were retained, and the salary was determined based on this, which was equivalent to the official title.
As for the prefects and county magistrates, they were official positions and were not linked to salaries.
Military generals were similar. Military ranks were equivalent to official titles, and treatment was determined based on this; military positions were positions, and real power was determined based on this.
The officials and Jinshi present had no reaction to the granting of Ji Lu officials, because the new Jinshi of the old Song Dynasty was also the same. The top scholar must be the lowest-ranking official in the capital, while the second and third-ranking candidates are the highest-ranking candidates.
But what is the situation with all the "observation of government"?
Li Hanzhang explained on the spot: "From now on, the new Jinshi must observe government for three months before they are given corresponding assignments..."
In other words, if you pass the Jinshi exam, you will be given a title and can receive a salary, but you will be assigned a position after internship.
The first class has five people, who intern in the cabinet and Tongzhengyuan.
The second class has ninety-five people, who intern in the middle and high-level departments of the central government.
The third-rank Jinshi interns in the low-level departments of the central government and Kaifeng Prefecture.
Li Hanzhang continued: "The second and third-rank Jinshi must prepare for the exam during the observation period, and will be assigned to an assignment after passing the selection..."
That is, the second and third-rank Jinshi will take an exam after the internship, and will be assigned to an actual official position after passing the specific government exam results and combining their Jinshi first place.
Of course, if it is said that they have to observe government for three months, it will definitely be shortened as appropriate.
For example, Guangdong has replaced a large number of officials, and sixty new Jinshi will be thrown over next month.
And just like the old Song Dynasty, new Jinshi were basically not allowed to be county magistrates directly. They all started from the position of county chief clerk, or the administrative officer of the prefecture, the supervisory office, and other government offices.
Zhu Guoxiang said: "During the observation period, new Jinshi can live in Baolu Palace."
The Shangqing Baolu Palace built by Song Huizong for Lin Lingsu was expanded on the original basis of Baolu Palace, and it was also built to be connected to Yanfu Palace.
Now some buildings have been demolished and blocked from Yanfu Palace, and used as dormitories for new Jinshi - this broken place can accommodate 2,000 Taoists!
There are also some buildings in Dongjing City that have been temporarily turned into official dormitories.
For example, Qishengyuan, which is next to the imperial city, was originally an official residence during the Five Dynasties. Because Zhao Guangyi was born here, it was later converted into Qishengyuan, where various imperial items of Zhao Guangyi were enshrined, as well as Zhao Guangyi's portraits, spirit tablets, etc.
Its area is larger than the Kaifeng government office, and it is now converted into a residence for Beijing officials.
After announcing these, the newly-appointed Jinshi thanked the emperor and left.
Zhao Ding, who had been promoted to the prefectural governor of Kaifeng, personally led them out of Donghua Gate, and at the same time, officials posted yellow notices outside Donghua Gate.
Hundreds of fine horses were brought from the Tiansijian and had been waiting outside Donghua Gate for a long time.
Zhao Ding smiled and said, "Please get on the horse, No. 1 scholar."
Amid the crowd of people, Hu Quan stepped on the stirrup and sat on the horse. He found that the prefectural governor of Kaifeng was actually leading the horse for him, and hurriedly said, "No, absolutely not!"
Zhao Ding laughed and said, "This is the order of His Majesty. From now on, the prefectural governor of Kaifeng will lead the horse for the newly-appointed No. 1 scholar in the parade."
Hearing this, Hu Quan was so moved that his eyes were wet, and he wished to repay the emperor's kindness with his death.
Other newly-appointed Jinshi were also led by officials from Kaifeng Prefecture and Wucheng Bingmasi.
Zhao Ding introduced as he walked: "The spring breeze is blowing and the horses are galloping. You can see all the flowers in Chang'an in one day. In the future, the new Jinshi will go south from Donghua Gate and cross Zhouqiao along the Imperial Street. The team will be divided into three, the top scholar will lead the team to the east, the second scholar will lead the team to the west, and the third scholar will lead the team to the south, and finally return to Baolu Palace to meet up."
"Dang!"
The commander of the Wucheng Bingma Division personally beat the gong to clear the way, and shouted along the street: "The new Jinshi, ride on horses to parade!"
The long team went to the Imperial Street, and the place where it passed was boiling and noisy. The people of Tokyo brought their old and children to watch the excitement.
There was no such process in the old Song Dynasty, and it could only appear in opera.
Now, opera has been brought into reality. Every Jinshi is excited and rides a horse in Tokyo to welcome the highlight of his life.
Decades later, some people may be successful, while others may be frustrated, but today is definitely hidden in their memories.
(I just found out today that there were two institutions in the Song Dynasty, the Academy of Scholars and the Hanlin Academy. The Academy of Scholars was equivalent to the Hanlin Academy in the Ming Dynasty, and the official positions were Hanlin Scholars, Hanlin Imperial Secretary, etc. The Hanlin Academy in the Song Dynasty employed a group of officials in literature, painting, astronomy, medicine, and craftsmanship, and their official positions were certain positions in the Hanlin Academy. It's a bit embarrassing, so I just think that the Zhu father and son merged the Academy of Scholars and the Hanlin Academy, and took away the power to write imperial edicts, etc.)
(In addition, the Guangdong official who died in the Dali Temple prison in the previous chapter was actually a businessman who flattered the eunuchs to buy an official position and get promoted, so he was killed and his property was taken away. The history books did not record in detail what happened. This is an unsolved case during the transition between the two Song dynasties.)