[Question: The reasons for the fall of the Gansu Three Prefectures.]
Song Jing looked at the policy question and sighed. "His Majesty... why put himself through this?" After murmuring to himself, he opened the examination paper.
Meanwhile, the other examiners began complaining as well.
"His Majesty chose this policy question, but we're the ones who suffer."
"Exactly." Zhou Shen heard them from nearby and sighed too.
"These candidates either skirt the important issues, side with Grand Secretary Shen, or side with Lord Feng..."
"You can hardly blame the scholars." Zhao Heng came over as well and said quietly, "Who would dare write honestly about this question?
Write about Prince Ning, and you offend the imperial clan and the grand secretary. Write about Li Yuanzhen, and you offend the Feng Faction."
Sun Mao nodded in agreement.
Song Jing did not join their conversation. Instead, he continued to the next paper.
One after another after another.
By the end, three deep furrows had formed between his brows.
It was not that the candidates wrote poorly, but that none of them dared write honestly.
Everyone circled around the issue, dodged it, deflected it like a tai chi master.
A policy essay called for policy and argument, but what were these candidates writing?
Safe, perfectly balanced official prose that tasted like wax: bland and flavorless.
Song Jing set down his brush, rubbed his brow, and leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes for a moment.
"Lord Song." Zhou Shen cautiously approached him. "Perhaps... you should take a break?"
"No need." Song Jing opened his eyes, straightened up again, and drew another paper from the unread stack.
He opened it and glanced at the number on the sealed identification section: [Series A, No. 14].
Song Jing's gaze paused briefly.
He remembered that