"It's laid out so clearly, point by point. Was the massive tax increase in Yong'an Prefecture real?"
Previously, when the Emperor issued the proclamation, these scholars refused to believe the claims about Yong'an's tax revenue. It seemed too unrealistic.
A prefecture's tax revenue couldn't possibly jump to 200,000 taels in just one year, no matter how much it grew!
So, back then, they insisted it must be a conspiracy by the Emperor to justify the exam reforms. Wouldn't it be easy for the Emperor to pick an unknown prefecture, fabricate astonishing tax figures, and quell the scholars' anger?
But after reading Xu Huaiqian's essay, their doubts vanished completely.
Xu Huaiqian's writing wasn't flowery; it lacked emotional embellishment. It was a straightforward report on Yong'an's tax revenue, allowing any educated reader to grasp the full picture. Such a factual account made it hard to doubt the events described.
Moreover, the Emperor's word is not a joke.
The Emperor's forceful actions—distributing printed copies of the top essays nationwide and previously posting proclamations about Yong'an's taxes—signaled that this couldn't possibly be false.
"If only the Jieyuan's essay was like this, one might doubt. But look at the papers from the other successful candidates from Changnan and Yong'an Prefecture. They also mention, to varying degrees, the changes in Changnan and Yong'an over the past two years."
Hearing this, the scholars shifted their focus from the Jieyuan's essay to the papers of the other Changnan candidates.
Their accounts touched upon points summarized in Jieyuan Xu's essay, though he was more comprehensive, while they each emphasized different aspects. This further confirmed the authenticity of Yong'an's tax revenue. One person could be covering up, but ten? Could the Emperor have found ten people to write fake essays? And make them so realistic?
The vivid, concrete, multi-faceted descriptions of Yong'an's situation and their proposed methods for increasing tax revenue made them want to visit Yong'an themselves. If it were fake, wouldn't the Emperor risk exposure if scholars actually went to investigate?
Therefore, it was all true!
The Emperor hadn't deceived them. Yong'an Prefecture truly increased its tax revenue to an impossible 200,000 taels within a year!
Jieyuan Xu and the other Changnan candidates, through their exam papers, provided a perfect explanation to the world: Current affairs are useful!
"An official should serve the people!"
"When the people are prosperous, the country is strong!"
"Current affairs are of great use!"
At this moment, the scholars seemed to awaken from their confusion. No longer obsessed with reverting the exams, they began seriously considering the benefits of the current affairs focus.
Why did they take the exams? To become officials. Why become officials? To serve the people. The Emperor had merely spurred their desire to serve the people earlier.
If all officials could, like Jieyuan Xu and the others, contribute to their hometowns, increase tax revenue, and improve the lives of their people, just as they did for their essays, wouldn't the empire's stability be assured?
"Besides, aren't current affairs essays much simpler than the old poetry and prose?"
It was just about posing questions and stating viewpoints. Right or wrong, if you dared to think, speak, and write, you had a chance of passing.
After finishing the printed collection, they realized: merely explaining a viewpoint was much easier than straining their brains to compose poetry. It was also simpler than drowning in books, hoping the exam questions would cover texts they had memorized.
"Hahahaha!"
"Current affairs are actually this straightforward!"
"During planting season this year, I suggested to my parents trying other crops to increase income. If I had written about that in the exam, maybe I would have passed too!"
And this wasn't just any passing; it was selection by the Emperor himself after reviewing the papers—different from other Juren!
"Yes! My family is in business. Before I left, my father talked about expanding our shops but wasn't sure about commercial taxes in other counties. If I had thought of that during the exam, I might have passed too!"
"So what were we even protesting about?!"
Coming to their senses, the scholars reflected on their immature protests, which nearly pushed the exams back to the difficult old format. They sighed with regret.
The Emperor had their best interests at heart. They had been foolish to suspect him. Surely, the Emperor also wanted more and better qualified scholars under his rule. They had measured the gentleman's heart with their own mean scale.
Fortunately, the Emperor wasn't intimidated by their opposition. Thankfully, Yong'an produced scholars like Jieyuan Xu, who summarized the tax situation so well. Otherwise, without convincing evidence, the Emperor might have reverted the exams, leading them further astray.
What a relief! What a relief!
The enlightened scholars felt deeply grateful to Xu Huaiqian and the others. Their essays had opened their eyes.
"My family farms. After I return, I will seriously study current affairs and strive to pass the next provincial exam."
"Count me in! I live in the city and don't know much about farming schedules. We can partner up."
"And me! And me!"
The awakened Xiucai eagerly planned to travel to the countryside or observe common people nearby, seeking perspectives for their own current affairs essays.
While they took action, Meng Fangxun and the others were also making their moves.
After the messengers announced the good news to Xu Huaiqian, they also went with music and fanfare to the homes of the others to deliver the joyous tidings.
Although they had felt their chances of passing were high, until it was confirmed, no one dared be certain.
Now, hearing they had indeed become Juren, they could finally relax.
Finding their friends' names on the list, and especially seeing Xu Huaiqian as the Jieyuan, sent them into a frenzy of delight.
"All passed! All passed! All passed!"
"Hahahahaha!"
"Xu Huaiqian is actually the Jieyuan!"
"As it should be!"
"This Jieyuan title rightfully belongs to him!"
After reading the list, Meng Fangxun felt no jealousy towards Xu Huaiqian for being Jieyuan. Instead, he thought it was exactly as it should be!
He had revitalized the entire Yong'an Prefecture. If he wasn't the Jieyuan, who should be?
After the initial surprise, he set aside household matters and rushed on horseback to Xu Huaiqian's home to congratulate him.
Duan Youyan was the same. He never imagined that a country doctor like him could one day become a Juren. When the Changnan messengers arrived at the magistrate's office with music and fanfare, not only was Magistrate Sheng stunned, but even the Duan family was dumbfounded!
Juren!
Their son had become a Juren!
The social hierarchy was scholars, farmers, artisans, merchants, with doctors classified as artisans. They thought their son marrying into the magistrate's family had already elevated him from the artisan class. They never dreamed their son would strive on his own, not only becoming a Xiucai but now passing the provincial exams as a Juren, completely leaving the artisan class behind to become a scholar!
"A-Jin, I passed!" Duan Youyan was so overjoyed he didn't know what to say, only able to repeat it while holding Sheng Yunjin's hand.
Sheng Yunjin was also stunned: "Yes, you passed!"
"Let's not stay home," Duan Youyan had sharp eyes. When the messenger showed the list, he immediately spotted Xu Huaiqian's name at the top. He pulled Sheng Yunjin and headed out. "I'm taking you to a feast!"
With Chen Liejiu being such a doting husband, upon learning Xu Huaiqian was the Jieyuan, wouldn't he host a grand, continuous banquet in Xinghua Village for three days and nights? They couldn't miss such an event.
Pei Wangshu went even further. Before the messengers arrived, he had already hired two physicians at home, fearing his mother's heart condition might act up if he really became a Juren.
However, after his mother learned he had passed, she showed no reaction because she was now hoping he would become a Jinshi!
But he wasn't disappointed. He had become a Juren, and Xu Huaiqian, unexpectedly, was the Jieyuan! His mother might not be excited, but he was so thrilled he ran back and forth through the streets of Yunmeng County several times before finally taking a carriage to Xu Huaiqian's home.
Among them, Zhang Bingwen, who had made no preparations, was the most flustered, causing his grandfather to faint repeatedly from joy.
The villagers of Xinghua Village were also on the move. After the Changnan messengers came to announce the good news to Xu Huaiqian, the villagers were ecstatic.
"Scholar Xu has become a Juren!"
"Our village has a Juren!"
"And he's the Jieyuan Juren!"
"Scholar Xu is truly remarkable!"
The villagers' excitement surpassed even Xu Huaiqian's own, as if they shared in the honor of his achievement.
And they truly did share in the honor. A Juren! A Juren from their village! And the Jieyuan Juren! Who wouldn't be excited about that?
After the messengers left, the entire village, including people from the surrounding Chen clan, crowded around Xu Huaiqian's home to congratulate him, packing the place solid. The village chief and Chen clan elders immediately announced: "We will host the Jieyuan banquet for Scholar Xu!"
No one in the village objected. Without Xu Huaiqian and Chen Liejiu, they wouldn't have their good lives today. Hosting a Jieyuan banquet for him was nothing. Even if Xu Huaiqian suddenly felt like smashing something of theirs for fun, they wouldn't mind!
Because this was a major event for the whole village. When Meng Fangxun and the others arrived and saw the magnificence of the banquet, they were once again astounded, their mouths agape.
"Don't get excited!" Xu Huaiqian felt particularly embarrassed seeing them like this. "I've faced enough excitement these past few days. If you get excited too, there will be no normal people left around me!"
"Not excited, I'm not excited." Reminded by Xu Huaiqian, Pei Wangshu quickly patted his chest, telling himself this was just a small scene at Xu Huaiqian's home. After calming down, he said to Xu Huaiqian, "Your villagers are so enthusiastic! But if I were the Jieyuan, I'd be even more enthusiastic than them! Hahahaha, although I'm not the Jieyuan, becoming a Juren in just two years isn't bad either!"
Mentioning this, Pei Wangshu laughed boastfully. After all, he became a Xiucai in the fourth year of Changsheng, while Xu Huaiqian and the others were in the third year!
He studied one year less than them and still became a Juren. Shouldn't he be proud?
He was so proud he could laugh in his sleep!
"This year's questions were too easy," Xu Huaiqian curled his lips, slightly teasing him. "You could pass with your eyes closed, right?"
Pei Wangshu, not falling for it, continued boasting: "Regardless, I passed this year, so I'm amazing!"