Chapter 146 Imperial Examination and Shipyard
Fu Shanxiang's aunt started to make amends.
"As for the matter of the young master from the Zhou family, I was blind. I will help you find another good family later..."
She was eager to marry off her niece.
Then he could use her betrothal gift to marry his son.
Upon hearing this, Fu Shanxiang shook her head firmly.
"No need, Auntie. I want to take the imperial examination."
"If I fail once, I'll try twice. If I fail twice, I'll try three times. I'm sure I'll pass."
Upon hearing this, Fu Shanxiang's aunt opened her mouth and spoke.
"My family doesn't have much money, I'm afraid we can't afford to support you..."
But at this moment, a deep middle-aged man's voice sounded outside.
"I can afford it. I've found a new job, uncle. I've found a teaching assistant position at the newly opened Guangzhou University. I'm responsible for translating for the foreign professors invited from the West. I'm paid ten silver dollars a month."
"If Shanxiang wants to take the exam, then take it. I won't let you go without a bite of food."
Fu Shanxiang's uncle is also a talented person.
When he was a child, a Western missionary came to his hometown to preach, and he learned a foreign language with the missionary for a period of time.
He had an outstanding talent for foreign languages and learned French in just a few months.
Even after I started a family and a career, I never let go.
During the Qing Dynasty, his foreign language was of course useless, as the officials of our Qing Dynasty did not value it.
But isn’t Guangzhou a completely different place now?
The Tang Dynasty attaches great importance to foreign exchanges, so translators like him who are proficient in foreign languages naturally become valuable.
I can’t say how much more, but it will definitely be enough to support my family.
Upon hearing this, Fu Shanxiang stared at her aunt and spoke stubbornly but firmly.
"Haven't many textile factories opened in Guangzhou recently, all recruiting female workers? If that doesn't work out, I can still work and support myself."
Being bullied by her husband and the "ungrateful boy", Fu Shanxiang's aunt looked unhappy.
He snorted angrily and turned away.
Fu Shanxiang's uncle stood outside the door and said.
"Take the test well and don't put so much pressure on yourself."
"As long as I, your uncle, give you food, you won't go hungry."
Fu Shanxiang responded softly with a "hmm".
"Thank you uncle!"
……
Soon, the time came to the next day.
Fu Shanxiang got up early to eat, then packed her exam supplies and took her brushes, inkstone and other stationery.
After packing all these, she went out under the morning light and the stars and the moon above her head, heading towards the Guangzhou Examination Institute.
Along the way, scholars wearing Confucian robes and carrying examination boxes can be seen everywhere, walking in groups of three or two.
These scholars gathered towards a place in Guangzhou city like rivers flowing into the sea.
For this imperial examination in Guangzhou, Li Yi set the examination venue in the parade ground outside the city of Guangzhou.
The reason why we choose the parade ground instead of the Imperial Examination Hall is because
The main reason was that there were too many people taking the imperial examination this time and the Imperial Examination Hall could not accommodate them all.
Therefore, Li Yi chose a more spacious training ground.
Standing outside the parade ground, Fu Shanxiang felt a little uneasy.
Because there were almost no women in the crowd.
To be precise, apart from her, there was not a single female candidate.
This made her doubt whether her decision to take part in the imperial examination was right or wrong.
However, she quickly adjusted her mindset.
Since the imperial court has opened a women's department, it means that they must marry women.
In this case, the fewer women who come, the better.
It’s better if it’s just her!
In this way, no matter how she performs in the exam, as long as she doesn't point at King Tang's nose and curse him on the exam paper, she will be admitted in the end.
Soon, the time came and the scholars began to line up to be searched and then enter the examination room.
Of course, a woman’s body must be searched by a woman.
There is actually no shortage of female officials in the Tang Dynasty today.
When Li Yi first started his army, he adopted a system of separating men and women into separate camps for a period of time.
In order to facilitate the management of the women's camp, Li Yi specially selected a group of female officials to manage it.
The effect is pretty good!
Women from Guangxi are no worse than men and are very efficient in their work.
This is also one of the reasons that prompted Li Yi to decide to open a gynecology department.
After a body search, Fu Shanxiang entered the examination room and then stood in line inside the examination room.
In front of them was a platform for selecting generals.
Standing under the reviewing stand in the parade ground, Fu Shanxiang suddenly felt as if she had become a soldier.
However, the atmosphere was diluted by the fact that most of the examinees were standing loosely around.
After everyone arrived, accompanied by a burst of cannon fire, Li Yi, dressed in military uniform, led his men on horseback into the examination room, and then climbed onto the high platform in front of the candidates.
Wearing a neat military uniform, he looked very handsome and imposing.
Li Yi looked around and then spoke.
"Since the establishment of the imperial examination system, it has assumed the important task of selecting talents and officials for the country."
"Now that our Tang Dynasty has just been established, there are evil spirits ruling the country at home and foreign barbarians posing a threat abroad. It can be said that there is a lot of work to be done."
"As Mr. Ding'an said in his Ji Hai Miscellaneous Poems, 'The vitality of the nine provinces depends on wind and thunder, and it is a pity that all the horses are silent. I urge the God of Heaven to shake himself up and send down talents in all kinds of ways.'"
"I hope that everyone present here can become a pillar of the country who can drive out the Tartars and contribute to the glorious future of China's revival..."
Li Yi stood on the podium and gave an impassioned speech.
He talked at length about the importance of the imperial examination, his own emphasis on it, and how right it was for these candidates to come to take part in the imperial examination of the Tang Dynasty.
He also said that you are indispensable to the great cause of expelling the Tartars and restoring China. You are the trendsetters of the times and the pioneers of the world today.
Then, he began to skillfully paint a rosy picture for everyone, letting them enjoy the glorious future of the Tang Dynasty "expelling the Tartars and restoring China."
The speech made everyone excited.
Speaking of public speaking skills, even if Li Yi is not as good as the man with a mustache, he is not much worse than Churchill and Roosevelt.
Anyway, it’s definitely better than a certain principal!
Fu Shanxiang stood in the crowd, looking at the radiant man on the stage, unable to take her eyes away.
Of course, it wasn't just her, everyone present was focusing their attention on Li Yi.
Li Yi is now full of personal charm, and people can't help but feel convinced when he speaks.
After the speech, Li Yi left the examination room and immediately prepared to leave the city to inspect the Guangzhou Shipyard outside the city.
Inside the examination room, the imperial examination continued.
The candidates found their seats according to the examination cards issued.
Different from the Qing Dynasty's imperial examinations which had numbered rooms, the Tang Dynasty's imperial examinations were held in a rather hasty manner, with only simple tents.
But Fu Shanxiang did not despise it, because she knew that whether she could change her fate depended on today.
Sit down at the table and wait for the imperial examination to begin. With the sound of drums, the imperial examination officially kicked off.
The relevant personnel took the test papers and began to distribute them to the candidates one by one.
Fu Shanxiang got the test paper and started reading it immediately.
The first line of text on the test paper surprised her.
[Candidates are encouraged and encouraged to answer in vernacular Chinese]
Fu Shanxiang was a little shocked, but when she thought that Li Yi had even opened a gynecological clinic, she didn't think it was a big deal.
Then she continued to look down.
first question:
It argues that the Manchu Tartars will inevitably perish and the Tang Dynasty will inevitably achieve ultimate victory, and sufficient arguments are given to prove this.
The second question:
On the practical significance and necessity of the land distribution policy.
The third question:
Discuss the impact of industry, agriculture and commerce on social development.
The fourth question:
Discusses the differences and distinctions between China and Western countries, and explains how the Tang Dynasty should take the essence and discard the dross, and learn and absorb the advanced aspects of Western countries.
Question :
Discuss the differences and advantages and disadvantages between rule by man and rule by law.
[Please choose any one of the five questions above to answer]
"..."
Looking at these questions, Fu Shanxiang was a little confused.
It's not like she hadn't seen the examination questions of the imperial examinations over the Qing Dynasty before, but she had never imagined that the imperial examinations would test these things.
However, she had no choice but to continue writing.
The only thing she was thankful for now was that the Tang Dynasty did not require the use of classical Chinese in the imperial examination this time, but encouraged them to answer in vernacular Chinese.
Otherwise, Fu Shanxiang really didn't know how to write...
……
Outside Guangzhou, shipyard!
Li Yi led the team to inspect the shipyard.
There are ships moored in several docks, and shipbuilders are working hard.
Xie Siyuan, the person in charge of the shipyard, came to Li Yi, accompanied him on the inspection, and began to introduce.
"Your Majesty, there are now more than 700 workers in my Guangzhou Shipyard, including 200 experienced shipbuilding craftsmen and 500 ordinary craftsmen."
"At present, we have the ability to independently build fast crab boats, rocket sampans, red single boats, and repair Western-style sailing battleships and galleons."
In the previous battles of Guangzhou and Hong Kong, the Tang Dynasty seized a number of Western ships, including sailing battleships and galleons.
It can be said that the harvest is quite fruitful!
But the problem is that almost all of these captured ships were damaged.
It must be repaired before it can be used!
Therefore, although the Tang Dynasty’s shipyards cannot currently build Western ships, they already have the ability to repair them.
In the process of repairing ships, they also dismantled and reassembled Western ships to exercise their own shipbuilding capabilities.
I believe it won't be long before the Tang Dynasty will have its own sailing battleship...
Li Yi heard this and nodded slightly.
"Not bad, how's the yield?"
Upon hearing this, Xie Siyuan began to report.
"Your Majesty, our shipyard can currently produce about two crab boats and thirty rocket sampans per month, and one red boat every two months..."
After a moment, Li Yi frowned.
"This is not enough!"
"The shipbuilding speed of the shipyard is far behind the expansion speed of our Tang Dynasty navy..."
"The scale of the shipyard needs to continue to expand."
Xie Siyuan said with a bitter look on his face.
"Your Majesty, we also want to expand, but the problem is that we can't recruit people."
"There are only a few shipbuilding craftsmen, and it is difficult to train them in a short period of time. This greatly limits the expansion speed of our shipyard..."
Currently, the biggest problem facing Datang in developing shipbuilding is the lack of manpower.
The Qing Dynasty's relocation of borders and ban on sea trade directly broke the backbone of China's shipping industry, and incidentally strangled China's shipbuilding industry.
Now Li Yi wants to rebuild the shipyard and restore China's shipbuilding capabilities, but he can't find anyone for the time being.
Li Yi pondered for a long time and then spoke.
"Well, since we don't have enough manpower ourselves, let's hire from outside."
"The Spanish in Manila and the Dutch in Batavia both have shipyards with no shortage of shipwrights."
"As long as we pay enough, we will definitely be able to recruit a lot of people."
Suddenly, Li Yi had an idea.
Not only can shipbuilders be recruited from outside, but ships can also be purchased directly from outside.
Let’s set up the navy’s framework first!
Both Spain and the Netherlands now have large trade deficits with China.
Li Yi just didn't believe that they could refuse the money he offered to them.
It's about making money, not shameful!
Xie Siyuan immediately clasped his fists.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty!"
Li Yi nodded slightly, then led the team to continue inspecting the shipyard.
Li Yi asked.
"By the way, where does the wood for shipbuilding come from? Is it of acceptable quality?"
Li Yi later heard a rumor that Chinese wood was not suitable for building large ships.
But Li Yi thinks this has nothing to do with the tree species, but is actually limited by the age of the tree.
Due to the sparse population and insufficient development of the area in the West, there are dense primitive forests everywhere and there is no shortage of giant trees for shipbuilding.
But mainland China is densely populated and the level of development has almost reached its limit.
After development and use by successive dynasties, most of the local large trees have been cut down and used to build palaces.
As a result, the remaining trees are all small trees, which are not large enough in diameter and are naturally not suitable for shipbuilding.
So, he asked this question.
Xie Siyuan said immediately.
"Don't worry, Your Majesty. Our wood is mainly purchased from Vietnam for dry-dried ship materials. We also have local ship materials. The quality is impeccable."
After hearing this, Li Yi nodded in agreement.
Then he continued his inspection in the shipyard and personally boarded the three-class sailing battleship that was seriously damaged and stranded on the battlefield during the Battle of Guangzhou and then captured by the Tang army.
This third-class sailing battleship has been repaired and can be handed over to the Tang Dynasty’s navy at any time and incorporated into the combat sequence.
After Li Yi personally inspected it, he nominated it as "Humen".
Used to commemorate the Humen gunpowder smoke and Humen artillery battle!
This is the beginning of modern Chinese history. Li Yi hopes to end the humiliation that China has suffered in modern history.
After finishing the inspection of the shipyard, Li Yi prepared to return to Guangzhou City.
Li Liang strode over with a happy look on his face and began to report.
"Your Majesty, good news! Our people in Hunan have captured the Zuo Zongtang you were looking for."
"We are sending people to Guangzhou!"
(End of this chapter)