Zhang Da was somewhat puzzled. "Your Majesty, what are these Civil Service Examinations?"
Zi Shou collected himself and began his spiel.
He said solemnly, "Questions are set on paper for standardized assessment, and candidates are selected by subject."
Zi Shou gave Zhang Da a rough outline of what he knew about the Civil Service Examinations.
Understanding dawned on Zhang Da. "I see. This matter is of great importance. Please allow your servant some time to draw up a set of regulations, Your Majesty."
Having talked Zhang Da around in a few deft strokes, Zi Shou let out a long breath.
Done.
The Civil Service Examinations had advantages; that was beyond doubt. Open examinations could bring large numbers of poor scholars into government, helping expand and consolidate the foundations of rule, while also providing an objective measure of cultural knowledge for selecting officials.
But did anything in this world have only advantages and no disadvantages?
The Civil Service Examinations had plenty of drawbacks, too.
With officials selected through examinations, celebrated tales like King Wen seeking a worthy man by the Wei River or Liu Bei making three visits to the thatched cottage would never happen to him. That reduced his chances of getting stabbed.
Moreover, the examination system blocked the upward path of junior officials.
Quite a few of the new officials who had begun studying on their own had been assigned as junior officials. They had never taken the examinations, and once the examinations appeared, they would undoubtedly be relegated another rung lower. Their path upward would be sealed off. Unable to gain promotion, junior officials would have no choice but to rake in money.
The Yamen Clerk position Song Jiang had originally held in Yuncheng County was precisely such a junior post. Why had he rebelled? Because he could