The chief examiner of the prefecture examination was the head official of the Shuntian prefectural yamen — Zhang Lingyi, Prefect Zhang.

Prefect Zhang held the rank of the senior third grade. Because he was situated in the capital region, his standing and duties differed from those of an ordinary prefect.

First: the prefects of other cities outside the capital held the regular fourth grade, and some smaller prefectures had prefects of only the subordinate fourth grade. Prefect Zhang outranked them by one or two levels, which made clear that his position was far beyond that of an ordinary prefect.

Second: many prefects posted to other regions came from the Ministry of Works, the Ministry of Personnel, the Hanlin Academy — with the court hoping they could govern local populations. Prefect Zhang, however, came from the Ministry of War. He was formerly the Left Deputy Minister of the Ministry of War, and had been transferred laterally to this post. He commanded several thousand prefectural yamen soldiers, and jointly administered the capital’s public order together with the twenty-six guards and five city constabularies of the capital — as one of the Emperor’s trusted intimates.

In short, this was a man capable in both civil and military affairs.

……

Pei Shaohuai naturally knew all of this — Master Duan had told the three of them. He sat in his seat and looked up. On the raised platform, Prefect Zhang was clad in a cloud-and-wild-goose official’s robe, black gauze hat atop his head, feet in black satin official boots, surveying the entire hall. His authority needed no anger to assert itself.

He was not a tall or imposing figure — quite lean, in fact. And yet he made one feel the pressure of his presence.

Pei Shaohuai thought to himself: indeed, bearing does not arise from physical form — it arises from within. He withdrew his gaze, calmed his mind, and waited for the assistant examiners to distribute the papers and announce the questions.

The prefecture examination still fell under the category of the basic civil examinations. The content of the main sitting was broadly similar to the county examination: two essays on the Four Books, and one regulated verse poem. However, the demands on the candidates’ literary skill and the depth of meaning in their essays were considerably higher.

A clap of the gong rang out. Assistant examiners carried placards and circulated through the hall, announcing the first set of questions —

First question: “He who protects the people and rules as a king — none can withstand him.”

Second question: “The extension of knowledge lies in the investigation of things.”

Upon seeing the questions, Pei Shaohuai felt a sinking in his chest. He thought: the imperial examinations are truly no easy matter. Only at the second hurdle — the prefecture examination — and one already encounters a pit deliberately set by the chief examiner. Who knew how many candidates this first question would ensnare. It was common knowledge that the sage Mencius advocated benevolent governance and pursued the ideal of “human harmony,” and rarely touched on the affairs of the military — let alone advocating for the principles of the military strategist.

Prefect Zhang had come from the Ministry of War and was thoroughly versed in military philosophy. He had deliberately selected this line from Mencius — “He who protects the people and rules as a king — none can withstand him” — to test the candidates’ understanding.

Pei Shaohuai was grateful. It was a good thing that Master Duan had specifically reminded the three of them before the examination: when establishing the opening argument, be sure to seek common ground while setting aside differences, and write with great care.

After deliberating for some time, Pei Shaohuai set his brush to paper and opened his argument: “The practice of benevolence is for the people; the repulsion of enemies is to protect the people. Standing in unity of heart and strength with the people — none can withstand such a force.” With elegant skill, he united benevolent governance and the defense against enemies under a single point of origin: the people.

To practice benevolence and govern wisely was for the sake of the people of the realm. To guard the frontiers and repel foreign invaders was also to protect the people of the realm. These two things did not conflict with each other. As long as one stood in unified heart and strength with all the people under Heaven — what force on earth could withstand them?

In his private estimation, the argument was passable.

The second question was equally demanding. It came from The Great Learning. The “investigation of things” and the “extension of knowledge” — exploring all things under Heaven and comprehending the principles of the world — had been annotated by Zhu Xi as placing emphasis on the word “investigate,” on the unceasing pursuit of inquiry and learning, for the things in this world are inexhaustible. To write clearly, within three hundred characters, the idea of why one investigates things — returning to the original text: first, to extend knowledge; second, to make the will sincere; third, to rectify the mind; fourth, to cultivate the self; fifth, to regulate the family; sixth, to govern the state — step by step, each link connected to the last — was no easy task, and demanded very strong literary technique.

And this was precisely where Pei Shaohuai was lacking. After all, he had only been learning to write examination essays under his tutor for a few years — how could every word be a gem so readily?

For that reason, he spent considerably more time on the second essay.

Then the supplementary question for the whole hall was released — a regulated verse poem to be composed on the theme of “snow at the frontier pass.” Pei Shaohuai thought to himself: this Prefect Zhang was truly a man obsessed with military matters.

The verse question in the basic examinations usually was not too demanding, and tended to test the four seasons, flowers, the wind, the moon — things of that nature. Prefect Zhang had indeed chosen “snow” — but had added two more characters: “frontier pass.” With those two words, the imagery instantly grew far more complex.

Pei Shaohuai had never once seen the snows of the frontier pass. He could only piece together a verse from the poetic lines stored in memory from his previous life, managing to produce something:

Last night the west wind roared and tightened its grip, The evening snow dimmed the cold of bow and blade. The vast desert stretches on, and horns blend into the dusk, The far edge of the sky — all eyes strain toward the east.

He gave it the title: Snow at the Frontier Pass.

He sought nothing like poetic brilliance — only that it fit the subject and did not fall to the bottom of the field in this session. Pei Shaohuai’s aim had never been to be some rare and exceptional talent, or to write poems that would pass down through the ages. He only wanted to sit the examinations steadily and do the best he could.

By the time he had completed draft answers to all three questions, Pei Shaohuai glanced at the sundial and found that it was nearly the shen hour. During the county examination, he had already finished his final copy and was preparing to submit by this time. In this prefecture examination, he had only just barely finished his rough draft.

Such a comparison made the difference in difficulty between the two abundantly clear.

Pei Shaohuai looked toward the north gate and noticed that more than ten candidates were already waiting for the first release pass to be called — judging by their ages, most appeared to be over twenty.

He steadied his mind and began to copy his answers onto the examination paper carefully — neither hurrying nor dawdling. He wrote through the whole paper and made no errors.

After going through it one more time to check, he found the sun had already tilted toward the west. Not much time remained. Pei Shaohuai raised his hand to signal that he was submitting his paper. By the time he had gathered his belongings, the examination had concluded, and the four gates — north, south, east, and west — were opened for the candidates to exit.

……

Pei Shaohuai met up with his younger brother Jin and Xu Yancheng. All three of them had a look of exhaustion on their faces, nothing like the ease of the last examination.

Xu Yancheng said: “The tutor did not deceive me — this prefecture examination is harder than the county examination by far more than a little. Those two Four Books essays — I revised them again and again before I dared to copy them onto the paper. The way Prefect Zhang set the questions and framed the themes is far too cunning.”

“That you can feel this way shows you are already halfway there.” Pei Shaohuai said encouragingly. “In my view, the greatest difficulty in this examination lay in the opening argument. Those who went wrong in framing the opening — however brilliantly polished the rest of their essay might be — would have no way to recover.”

The three of them then discussed each other’s opening arguments at some length. There was common ground among all three of them — all had acknowledged the importance of military capability. But each had his own distinct emphasis: Pei Shaojin had a remarkable memory, and was skilled at drawing on examples — he had framed his opening by tracing great events across the dynasties. Xu Yancheng was keen in his observations, and had taken the perspective of ordinary commoners to frame his opening.

When their discussion was done, Pei Shaohuai said: “The hour is already late today — Jin Ge’er and I won’t go and trouble the tutor. Please relay our greetings to him in advance, Yancheng.”

“Of course.”

Half a month later, all five sessions of the prefecture examination were completed. All that remained was to wait for Prefect Zhang to lead the co-examiners in marking the papers — a matter of several days — before the results would be posted.

……

In the examination marking room of the prefectural yamen, Prefect Zhang occupied the seat of honor. Below him, the two county magistrates of Wanping and Daxing counties, along with several learned scholars, were marking papers. When they encountered an essay that was well-written or particularly fine, they would present it to Prefect Zhang for his perusal.

Though it was only the basic examination, the procedures for sealing, covering names, blind folding, and numbering the papers could not be dispensed with. Only when the final list was filled in would the sealed papers be opened one by one.

Upon unsealing them, Prefect Zhang checked the candidates’ registers and made a surprised discovery: among the top ten he had selected, there was a ten-year-old boy — none other than Pei Shaohuai.

Although the prefecture examination was a foundational test, achieving a high ranking was by no means easy. After all, a strong finish in the prefecture examination meant receiving the examiner’s favorable attention during the academy examination, making it easier to pass. There were many older candidates who sat the prefecture examination repeatedly — doing so precisely in order to secure a good ranking.

Prefect Zhang looked at Pei Shaohuai’s household registration, then summoned the Wanping county magistrate, Shen Zhixian, and asked: “This young student by the name of Pei Shaohuai — do you have any impression of him?”

Shen Zhixian was skilled at observing and gauging his superiors’ minds. He noticed that Prefect Zhang’s expression held a look of approval, so he added to the favorable impression: “Replying to Prefect Zhang: Pei Shaohuai was the top candidate in this year’s Wanping county examination.” He then retrieved the essays Pei Shaohuai had written for the county examination and presented them to Prefect Zhang.

After reading them, Prefect Zhang gave a slight nod and said: “A fine seedling. Though his years are few, his insight surpasses that of many adults.”

He then asked Shen Zhixian: “In your view, what do you make of his essays?”

If Prefect Zhang had truly found Pei Shaohuai’s essays flawless, he would not have asked such a question. Shen Zhixian replied: “In this subordinate’s view, the opening argument and the central thesis are both commendable. However, the literary technique is insufficient — the style is somewhat immature. Compared with older, more experienced candidates, it falls to the lower tier.”

For such an essay to have taken first place in the county examination — it was still not entirely persuasive.

“Well said.”

Prefect Zhang set his brush to paper and, in the sixth position, wrote down the name of Pei Shaohuai.

In Shen Zhixian’s eyes, this was no ordinary sixth place. After learning that Pei Shaohuai was only ten years old, Prefect Zhang had not removed him from the top ten at all — that alone was sufficient to demonstrate his regard for this boy.

Shen Zhixian quietly committed the name of Pei Shaohuai to memory.

……

On the twenty-ninth day of the fourth month, the Shuntian prefectural yamen posted its results.

The squads of yamen runners dispatched to deliver congratulations set off in different directions. Before the long announcement board, some were overjoyed — though more were pounding their feet and weeping. One out of ten was admitted: one laughed while nine wept.

In the end, Pei Shaohuai achieved sixth place; Pei Shaojin achieved nineteenth place; and Xu Yancheng achieved thirty-seventh place. All three had successfully passed the prefecture examination and obtained their qualifications for the academy examination.

The academy examination was scheduled for the sixth month. Students who had made the list and intended to continue should begin preparing immediately.

Master Duan did not advise the three boys to continue sitting the examination just yet. He said: “The reason I had you participate in the county examination and prefecture examination early was to give you a taste of the pressure, and to spur yourselves forward. In this prefecture examination, you must have already come to feel that natural talent, while important for the examinations, is also not so important. There is no shortage of those with talent equal to yours. Those with less talent than you, as long as they are diligent and build steadily upon solid foundations, can still catch up. In particular, those young men from poor families — who pierce walls to borrow a neighbor’s light, who prick their thighs with an awl to stay awake, who burn their lamps through three watches of the night and do not sleep in the cold — you must learn from their tenacity. Do not underestimate it.”

“Yes, Tutor.”

Master Duan then pointed to Xu Yancheng and said: “Your grandfather made his way in exactly this manner.”

“Student understands.”

That evening, Senior Official Xu came home from the imperial palace and was met at the door by Xu Yancheng.

Xu Yancheng asked: “Grandfather, is the awl you used for your awl-pricking-the-thigh still around? Could you lend it to your grandson? He only achieved thirty-seventh place in the prefecture examination.”

This left Senior Official Xu both amused and exasperated. He said: “You don’t actually want to prick your thigh with an awl — you clearly just want me to say one word of praise.”

“Then, Grandfather — does Grandfather think your grandson did well?”

“Yancheng has naturally made progress.” Senior Official Xu praised him, then went on to encourage Xu Yancheng to keep up the effort without slacking, and to learn from his two fellow students and strive to catch up.

“Yes yes, Grandfather. Grandson understands.”

Senior Official Xu then found his second son Xu Zhan and had an important matter to discuss with him. They talked late into the night.

……

……

The Jingchuan Earl’s manor.

Last time, because the two brothers Huai and Jin had been busy reviewing their lessons, there had been no celebration. This time, having both passed the prefecture examination, it was natural for the family to hold a small celebration at home.

It happened that Lord Situ — the second one — had returned to the capital from the training grounds, and that day, he and Lan Jie’er brought their daughter along to come to the Earl’s manor to offer congratulations.

Xu Zhan and Lian Jie’er, bringing their son and daughter Xu Yan Gui and Xu Xing’er, came back as well.

The great hall of the Pei family was lively and cheerful, full of warmth and joy — the only one missing was Pei Bingyuan, who was still away on his official posting.

After the banquet.

Xu Zhan brought up what he and his father had discussed the previous evening, and said: “Father went back to the Imperial Academy these past few days to catch up with old colleagues. He happened to hear the Chancellor mention that the list of Imperial Academy students assigned to practical training has been finalized this year, and they are busy distributing the placements. By a fortunate coincidence, Father heard it at just the right time, and casually put in a few words — saying that Yuchong County in the Dongyang Prefecture had suffered a flood disaster two years ago and is currently in the midst of restoring all its industries, making it an ideal place for students to complete their practical training and be thoroughly tested. The Chancellor found this quite reasonable and agreed, saying he would certainly assign students there to assist the local county yamen in handling its affairs.”

Yuchong County was precisely the place where Pei Bingyuan was posted. To assist the local county yamen meant, plainly speaking, to assist Pei Bingyuan.

The practical training assignments for Imperial Academy students fell into two categories: one portion remained in the capital to handle miscellaneous official tasks, primarily running brushwork, writing documents, and checking through archives and registers; the other portion was sent out on assignment to military and administrative yamens across the country, handling all manner of tasks — clearing and surveying farmland, checking household registers, supervising waterworks, inspecting the Yellow Registers, and so on. All these fell within the scope.

The duration ranged from half a year to one year.

These were precisely the tasks for which Pei Bingyuan was short of manpower.

The Pei family was delighted upon hearing this.

The Old Madam, who missed her son very much, was the most moved. She asked: “Son-in-law, how certain are we of this?”

Xu Zhan smiled and replied: “Responding to Grandmother: since Father told me about it, it has largely already been arranged — it is only waiting for the Ministry of Personnel to stamp and issue the order.”

“That is wonderful, that is wonderful.”

Xu Zhan continued: “Father also said that for me to sit the spring metropolitan examination next year, the polish I lack is not in my essays but in practical understanding and experiential thinking. Master Duan agrees with this assessment as well. So Father is having me go along too, to gain some real-world experience.”

This was akin to study travel, but with a far more purposeful intent than mere study travel.

Standing nearby, Pei Shaohuai listened and was pleased — but inwardly he thought to himself: when Senior Official Xu went back to the “old workplace” of the Imperial Academy, it was surely not merely to catch up with old friends. He had gone with a deliberate purpose, knowing it was time for the student training placements to be assigned, and had put in just the right word at just the right moment.

Word had it that last month Senior Official Xu had held his ground convincingly in a verbal exchange with the Eastern Ocean envoys, and afterward had received praise from the Emperor. His momentum at court was at its height, and taking over as Minister of Rites in his next step seemed quite likely. For a matter as relatively minor as assigning students to Yuchong County, the Chancellor would certainly grant Senior Official Xu the favor.

Pei Shaohuai came to understand another truth: perhaps studying for the examinations was a solitary endeavor, but entering officialdom and bringing prosperity to a family clan — that was something no single person’s effort could accomplish.

The thousand threads and ten thousand strands of connection that wove through it all, each pulling on the others — that was a subject far deeper and more complex than the Four Books and Five Classics.

He, his father, and his younger brother Jin — all of them would one day become strands in that web.

……

Pei Shaohuai returned to his own study, and Lord Situ — the second one — walked in right behind him, cradling his daughter in his arms.

“Come, daughter — give him a bit of face and call him Little Uncle.”

The little baby, held up in Lord Situ’s arms, blinked her large eyes and looked at the unfamiliar Pei Shaohuai, appearing somewhat bewildered.

“She’s barely nine months old — how could she speak so quickly?” Pei Shaohuai said drily. “Besides, she hasn’t even called you ‘father’ yet — and you’re willing to be so generous as to let her call me ‘little uncle’ first?”

“Didn’t I say I was giving you some face? Flattering you a little.” Lord Situ said dismissively. “I hear you’re outstanding at your studies. I’m getting a head start on claiming the advantage — so remember to help my daughter find herself a good scholar in the future.”

“Brother-in-law, really — she’s this small, and you’re already thinking about this…” Pei Shaohuai was genuinely amused by Lord Situ. Knowing that there was no need to be overly careful when talking with Lord Situ, he added: “You never bothered to study properly yourself, and now you’re saying your own daughter must find someone who can — what kind of logic is that?”

“What do you know — her matters are her matters, mine are mine.”

With those words, Lord Situ pulled out several sheets of crinkled writing from his breast pocket and said: “Swords, spears, horses, and archery — I’ve more or less got all of that covered. The only hurdle left is military strategy and policy essays. Take a look at this piece for me and give me your thoughts.”

Pei Shaohuai was rather surprised. Was this really the same Lord Situ he knew?

He took the paper, opened it, and looked. The handwriting was somewhat rough, but at the very least he had managed to write a fair number of words. The biggest problem was that the sentences made no sense. Pei Shaohuai said with some difficulty: “I’m afraid, Brother-in-law, you still need to keep working hard.”

“Even you say so — it must be quite terrible then. Ah well, never mind.” Lord Situ said. “I’m going. Don’t forget what I said about the scholar.”

“Brother-in-law, are you serious?”

“Of course I am. Otherwise, did you think hearing my daughter call you ‘little uncle’ is such an easy thing to earn?”