On the eighth day of April in the eleventh year of Xining, the government examination began, and Yuan Rui was ready and entered the examination room.

The current government examination is slightly different from the previous imperial examination, which is conducted in the form of three days and three courses, which is actually a little similar to the college entrance examination in later generations.

On the first day of the scriptures, simply put, it is to extract passages from the Four Books and Five Classics, fill in the blanks, write silently, and finally simply write poems, which are made according to the rules.

The difficulty of the test paper is not large, but the volume is very sufficient, if it is not done well, there will be knowledge forgetting or memory deviation, once there are more mistakes, there is no hope for this government examination, it can be said that the first day is the foundation.

On the second day, the theory is tested, thinking according to a certain paragraph of the Four Books and Five Classics, and understanding and expounding according to the requirements, which is generally an article, and each article is required to be more than 1,000 words.

This exposition should not only be analyzed from the situation at that time, but also have its own independent thinking and point of view, relatively speaking, it needs to have a certain depth, and of course, it must be in line with the thinking of the main examiner.

On the third day, a policy essay will be examined all day, which is generally directly issued by the prefect, which can be aimed at people's livelihood, or for the actual cases of the prefecture or the state, mainly to explain the response ideas and solutions to the problem, which is like a future document basket.

Yuan Rui almost didn't go over the scriptures, from the morning to noon, he finished the meeting first, only to find that half of it was not completed, which would be over in two hours like the later generations.

Fortunately, there was enough time, a lot of brains, a little bit of memories and Shunmeng, it was good, that is, the little scholar did spend effort at that time, and many memories were still there, and he finally finished writing before the final handing in.

After handing in the papers, he was like a deflated balloon, he was paralyzed all of a sudden, and he simply made do with two mouthfuls, and just lay down and fell asleep.

The next day, the test was okay, it was a passage in the Analects, this was not difficult for him, according to the idea, first analyze the background at that time, and then briefly explain the meaning of the sage.

Combined with some of the current major social conditions, a comprehensive discussion was made, and two major articles were sprinkled, and finally it was finished satisfactorily, and the paper was handed in at least an hour ahead of schedule, which was regarded as having sufficient rest time.

On the morning of the third day, Yuan Rui was full of rest, and this time he took a test of strategy, which was simple and very simple, on the relationship between farmers and businesses in Yangzhou, how to better promote the development of these two aspects.

This Yuan Rui thinks really comprehensively, after all, he has already conducted experiments to prove that a win-win situation can be achieved between farmers and businessmen.

Yuan Rui is not in a hurry, there is enough time, how to say it to be clear, and what he says is relatively simple is what he thinks about the most.

The relevant outline was listed in the draft, a few examples were written, and then the argument was determined, and an article was formulated.

Yuan Rui still slept for a long time when he came back, he couldn't sleep well in the examination hall at all, the current examination system was not good, wouldn't it be good to get a hotel to live in, what is the meaning of the circle in the examination institute.

The second son has come a few times, and he can't bear to wake him up. For the government test, the second son still believes in him, after all, Yuan Rui should have won two years ago, and now it's not easier.

When Yuan Rui woke up, it was immediately bad, and the second son was blocking him.

What my sister meant, Yuan Rui didn't have to go back at all, let the second son also put down the things in his hand, and followed Yuan Rui directly to Yangzhou to participate in the hospital examination that was about to start in June, in her eyes, the government test was not a problem.

No matter what the second son said about his own affairs, there was no need to discuss, but he was aggrieved to death, and there was nothing to be done.

After hearing this, Yuan Rui couldn't wait to lie back on the bed and not get up, where is this sister, this is the ancestor!!

On April 12, the results of the government examination were announced, and Yuan Rui ranked tenth in the first class.

Yuan Rui still has one more thing to do this time, he wants to go to see Dr. Sun, after all, the last time he was rescued, he still owes a friendship. The second son also wants to follow, but he doesn't know much about the past.

According to the address given by the inn, Yuan Rui arrived only to find that the building had already been empty, and even the follow-up residents did not know where Dr. Sun was. Yuan Rui didn't hide it, and told the events of that year as they were along the way, only saying that it was strange why he encountered this kind of thing at that time, and he was studying at home, and he really didn't have the opportunity to offend people.

The two went home disappointed, but there was an accident at night.

That night, Yuan Rui chatted with the second son and said a little about his next business plan. In fact, in the area of business, Yuan Rui is a layman, mainly because the second son is saying that Yuan Rui is using the experience of later generations to make a little supplement.

Seeing that it was getting late, the second son went back to the room to rest, and Yuan Rui also yawned a lot and went to bed.

In the middle of the night, the second son suddenly opened his eyes in the house, thinking in his heart that the Lu family had not encountered a night thief for many years. He didn't say anything, got up quietly, slowly widened the gap that left for ventilation through the back window, and jumped up to the roof.

Two dark shadows were snooping in front of Yuan Rui's door, as if to determine if it was the person they were looking for.

The second son looked around again to see if there were any other people watching nearby, and after not finding it, he stood on the room and said softly, "Are the two heroes looking for me?" ”

The two people standing in front of the door were startled, and looked up to see the second son, dressed lightly, standing motionless on the eaves.

"Master Lu, I have admired the name for a long time, if you want to know the details, please come with us," the two of them saw the second son, there was nothing to be afraid of at all, and they calmly saluted according to the etiquette of the rivers and lakes.

The second son was really not afraid of anything in Shuyang, and he didn't say much, and the three of them crossed the wall.

The next morning, Yuan Rui, who was surprised, looked at the sword in his hand, and then looked at the second son's expression, I really don't know if this guy ran away to rob one night.

"Didn't you tell me last time that you wanted a sword and it looked good with it, and yesterday I saw someone selling this sword, and when I saw it, this sword was really good, so I bought it for you."

There is a sword that Yuan Rui has been longing for a long time in his heart, all lethal weapons in later generations have been controlled to death, boy, which is not a wooden sword since he was a child, and the plastic sword has been played until it is big, but when he really grew up, he found that these things have nothing to play.

"Okay, this is good, I like it," Yuan Rui pulled out his sword, looked at the blade, and slashed left and right twice.

The second son couldn't help it, and helped his forehead, "Hero, this is a sword, not a knife, you chop wood!" ”

Yuan Rui smiled awkwardly, "I'm just making a show and decorating casually." ”

"That's it, I just want to accompany you during this time, I can teach you some basic routines in terms of time, and if you really encounter a ruffian, it's no problem to scare you." The second son thought about it for a while, but he still needed to guide him a little and not hurt himself.

Yuan Rui was overjoyed when he heard it, he was really bored now, there was no entertainment, and it was good to learn swords.

On April 15, the Shuyang Wang Governor's Mansion held a banquet to congratulate all the first- and second-class candidates in the provincial examination. Not only did I invite the 28 candidates this time, but I also invited the inspectors in the government and several professors with outstanding knowledge.

After everyone finished the salute, sat down according to the position, and the superintendent of the house made an opening speech, which was nothing more than wishing all the students to make persistent efforts to strive for the title of the gold list, and at the same time hoping that the students could do more things for their hometown in the future, and be grateful to their hometown, etc.

Of course, the prefect also said a large paragraph, and commented on some of the poems and strategies that performed well among the students.

Yuan Rui knows that on this occasion, he must be low-key, those poems and songs, he is not at the level of half a bottle of water, once he is tested, he can only play. Therefore, he did a good job according to his seat in a proper manner, fortunately, a little in the middle and back of the front row.

As the banquet progressed, everyone slowly became familiar with each other, and many students from the neighborhood also introduced each other and chatted.

Sitting next to Yuan Rui is the ninth in the first class this time, from another county in Shuyang, Taihai, surnamed Lu, Lu Tianyun. The two chatted softly, chatting, and came over to toast and introduce some of their students.

The two had just chatted for a while, when a servant came over and told Yuan Rui that the prefect had something to inquire about.

Yuan Rui not only neglected, but also made a faux pas, and followed the servant to the master's seat.

Wang Zhifu called him really not on a whim, he didn't understand too much about some of the details of Yuan Ruice's response, and wanted to understand it in more detail to see if he could provide some good ideas for Shuyang's next measures.

Yuan Rui does not hide his selfishness, only stating his basic understanding of the current agricultural business, he really does not dare to say too much, and he may commit taboos if he is not sure which ones.

In any case, it is still feasible for him to combine some views of later generations, and the prefect and several subordinate officials who said it kept nodding in approval.

After a few days of leisure, Yuan Rui couldn't stay in the courtyard, and it just so happened that a few classmates from this school examination came to him and invited him to go out, April is the best time.

A few people went directly to the small lonely mountain near Shuyang Fucheng, talking about poetry and looking at the scenery while walking, which was indeed very pleasant.

Xiaogushan was originally a lonely hill, because it was different from another lonely mountain in Yangzhou, so it got its name.

Just after the Qingming Festival, it is the season of recovery of all things, the early wildflowers bloomed a lot, and the grass got rid of the dry yellow color, and the green oil came out.

Xiaogushan is not high, but standing on the mountain you can see the whole picture of the city, and several people are walking while comparing the position in the city, and their mood is becoming more and more open.

Several people were about to find a place to rest first, when near the top of the mountain, there was a large piece of flat land, and a Taoist temple appeared in front of everyone.

The Taoist temple is not big, the front is a mountain gate, a few big characters mottled on the lintel, the unicorn view.

There is a small courtyard, which is not big, and it looks like it is only a few rooms wide. A few people entered the temple, and a little Taoist boy who was cleaning the yard saw everyone and stepped forward directly and made a Taoist gesture.

"A few pilgrims are polite, the master said, Xiaoguan is not open, if a few guests want to drink water and rest, there is a stone platform at the door, wait a while, Xiaodao will be taken."

Zhang Xianggong, who was the leader, was also curious, "Daotong, let me ask you, why is the Taoist temple not open to the public!" ”

"The master said that there have been too many miscellaneous things in the meditation recently, and I am worried about the disturbance of mundane affairs, so I have already enshrined the saint and closed my meditation and practice."

Yuan Rui somewhat understands that this is a routine, and it is estimated that there will be heavyweights coming in the near future, and the Taoist temple is doing internal renovations, so it will not be open to ordinary pilgrims.

Hurriedly, he tugged Zhang Xianggong's arm and interjected.

"There is Lao Xiaoxian, let's just take a rest, if there is water, please bring a little, we just want to do our best to add gold to the saints."