flstandardbreds Chapter 323 Discussing the Imperial Examination Scoring Mechanism
Chapter 323 Discussing the Imperial Examination Scoring Mechanism
As time went by, new lists of applicants kept arriving in Ying Wuyou's hands. On this day, when the final tally was presented before her, Ying Wuyou's eyes were instantly drawn to the number—2365 people had registered for the first round of science fiction! This number was almost exactly what she had expected.
Ying Wuyou's slender fingers gently caressed the list of papers, its rough texture carrying the fervent expectations of countless students. Holding the list, she sat upright in her chair, a satisfied and gratified smile slowly spreading across her face. In her eyes, these students participating in the imperial examinations had already transformed into brilliant stars, illuminating the future sky of the Qin Dynasty. She knew that these young talents were about to shoulder the heavy responsibility of the nation's prosperity and leave their indelible mark on the long river of history.
After a moment of contemplation, Ying Wuyou slowly stood up. Clutching the list tightly in her hand, she walked resolutely toward Zhangtai Palace.
Upon entering the Zhangtai Palace, a delicate fragrance of incense wafted through the air, permeating the entire hall. There sat the King of Qin, his sharp, eagle-like gaze deep and majestic, seemingly capable of seeing through all things. Yet, when he caught sight of the radiant smile on his daughter's face, an indescribable sense of joy welled up within him. Despite having reigned for many years and weathered countless storms, his expression remained consistently composed and dignified.
The King of Qin gazed at Ying Wuyou before him and asked softly, "My son, what brings you here today? Judging from your joyful expression, you must have some good news to share with me."
Upon hearing this, Ying Wuyou smiled charmingly and replied, "Indeed, Father King understands me best! I have come to present you with the total number of people from various regions who have registered to participate in the imperial examinations." With that, she respectfully handed the list in her hands to the King of Qin.
The King of Qin reached out and took the list, his eyes quickly scanning the words and numbers. When he saw the specific numbers, a slight smile of satisfaction appeared on his lips, and he nodded gently. Then, the King of Qin put down the list and looked at Ying Wuyou again, asking thoughtfully, "Have you decided how many people you intend to pass this imperial examination?"
Ying Wuyou bowed respectfully, then straightened his back and said clearly, "Father, this is the first time Qin has held an imperial examination. Although the number of applicants is not large, the truly capable and talented among them may be even smaller. Therefore, my suggestion is that we set a passing score for this examination, and that future examinations should also be based on scores. In this way, we can ensure that the selected talents are genuine and that the imperial examination system is more fair and just, thus continuously attracting talented individuals to Qin."
The King of Qin nodded slightly, a thoughtful look in his eyes. He asked, "Admission based on scores is a novel method. But how should the cut-off scores be determined? Won't it be biased?"
Ying Wuyou had already given this matter considerable thought, so she appeared remarkably calm and composed. She spoke slowly, “Father, in my opinion, we might set corresponding scores for each subject. For example, the classics, history, philosophy, and literature could each be set at 100 points; mathematics could also be set at 100 points; and law could similarly be set at 100 points. However, it is important to note that in the final selection of talent, we cannot simply add up the scores of all subjects to determine the candidates. We should reasonably assign different weights to the scores of each subject based on the actual situation and needs. In this way, we can comprehensively assess the candidates' knowledge and abilities in various fields, while also highlighting key subjects, ensuring that the selected talent truly meets the court's needs. What do you think, Father?”
After listening, the King of Qin pondered for a moment and then said, "This idea is brilliant, but how should we weigh the weight of each subject?"
Ying Wuyou respectfully said, "Father, the classics, histories, philosophical works and literary collections are the foundation of governing the country, and I believe they should account for 50% of the weight; mathematics is related to people's livelihood and economy, and the law ensures the stability of Qin, so the two should each account for 25%. In this way, we can pay attention to both the foundation of knowledge and other talents."
A hint of approval flashed in the King of Qin's eyes, but he also said with concern, "But if the person making the judgment has selfish motives, wouldn't that ruin everything?"
Ying Wuyou smiled and said, "Father, rest assured. Your subject proposes to select people of high moral character and profound knowledge from all sides to form a judging panel, so that they can supervise and check each other. Moreover, the exam papers will be anonymous, so that the judges will not know the identities of the candidates."
The King of Qin frowned slightly and asked again, "Mathematics and law are easy to handle; there are clear and unambiguous standard answers, and the corresponding scores can be easily given based on them. However, how should we judge the scores of the articles in the classics, histories, philosophical works, and literary collections? After all, everyone's understanding and evaluation criteria for articles are different. If a reasonable and unified scoring standard cannot be established, it may cause many disputes and injustices!"
After a moment's thought, Ying Wuyou replied, "Father, regarding the scoring of the classics, histories, philosophical works, and literary collections, I believe we can consider the following aspects: theme, literary style, and depth of argumentation. Those with lofty themes that align with the realities of the Qin state and Confucian thought will receive high scores; those with brilliant writing, beautiful diction, and appropriate use of language will receive additional points; and those with in-depth arguments and unique insights will also receive additional points. Furthermore, after each judge gives their score, we should remove the highest and lowest scores and then take the average to ensure fairness and impartiality."
Upon hearing this, the King of Qin nodded slightly, his eyes full of appreciation. "My son's consideration is very thorough. Let's proceed with this method. However, the imperial examination is of great importance and we still need to treat it with caution."
Ying Wuyou replied, "Your Majesty's teachings are etched in my mind. I will closely monitor the progress of the imperial examinations to ensure that nothing goes wrong."
The King of Qin solemnly said, "You are fully responsible for this matter. I believe you can handle it well."
The King of Qin gave a few more instructions, which Ying Wuyou agreed to one by one. He then took his leave, leaving the King of Qin alone facing the list, filled with anticipation for the future of the Qin Dynasty.
After leaving Zhangtai Palace, Ying Wuyou did not stop. She went straight to the yamen in charge of preparing for the imperial examinations to discuss the specific procedures, examination room arrangements, and invigilation matters with the officials.