Who didn't want to reach the top in a single step? There were many students who wanted to enter the mathematics school. Even if the Directorate of Directorate went through layers of screening, there were still a total of 1,000 people who participated in the final examination.
With so many people, the examination venue naturally couldn't be the palace. However, the security of the examination venue was not inferior to that of the palace at all.
Even a proper imperial examination was not as strict as this.
There were 1,000 candidates, and there were 10 different sets of questions. There were 100 people in each examination venue, and each candidate would be given a different set of questions. This made the possibility of cheating extremely low.
Chang De had once questioned the fairness of this method to Li Yi, and the answer he received was that luck was also a form of strength. Among the 10 sets of questions, there were indeed some that were extremely difficult, but in general, the difficulty level was quite high.
Chang De didn't know what the difficulty level was, but he understood what Li Yi meant.
If he got a difficult question under such circumstances, it could only mean that he was unlucky. It was better for unlucky people not to enter the imperial court …
He just didn't know who the unlucky ones would be.
However, this wasn't something he should worry about. What he needed to do was to follow Li Yi's arrangements step by step.
There were still two hours before the official start of the examination. Many people had already gathered under the high wall outside the examination venue.
Many of the examinees pointed at the red paper pasted on the high wall.
"I was assigned to the tenth examination venue, number 35."
"Look for me, look for me …"
"There are so many names. My eyes are getting dizzy from looking at them."
…
…
The examination rules were written very clearly. Everyone had to find their examination venue and seat before the examination. Many people stuck their heads out to look at the wall.
"I found it too, the fifth examination venue, number 1."
"It's actually number 1. I'm impressed. I'm also in the fifth examination venue, but I'm number 2. I'm only one number away from you."
"Thank you, thank you! You're actually very impressive too. "
Seeing the two young people complimenting each other, a supervisor from the Ministry of Rites walked over and glanced at the crowd. He said, "The examination venue and seat numbers are randomly assigned. What are you guys impressed about?"
The two of them blushed after failing to show off and went elsewhere. In the same examination venue, they would probably have a lot in common in the next two hours.
"May I ask, sir, why aren't there the first and second examination venues?" a plainly dressed young man asked curiously.
The supervisor looked at him and said, "Why isn't your name on there?"
The supervisor shook his head. "I've already found it, it's in the tenth examination venue."
"Then don't ask so many questions." The head of the Ministry of Rites said coldly and left.
While the young man was still in a daze, someone sighed and said, "Brother, there's no need to ask just now. Isn't it obvious? The first and second examination halls are all filled with the children of officials. It has nothing to do with us."
Everyone present was from a poor family and did not have any powerful background. Therefore, they especially cherished this opportunity. They arrived at the entrance of the examination hall early. Many people in the crowd shook their heads and sighed.
Every single one of those people's fathers were influential officials of the dynasty. How could they compare to them?
Moreover, many of them were well aware that the majority of the spots for the academy's recruitment this time would probably be given to these people. As for them, it was still unknown how many of them would be able to enter.
"Since the allocation is arbitrary, why are the first two examination halls filled with the descendants of officials?" A student said indignantly, "This time, I'm afraid it's their one-man show again!"
"That's impossible. I heard that His Majesty has won a lot of places for us poor students this time. County Uncle Li has only given 200 places for the children of officials in today's examination. No matter how I look at it, we have more chances …"
The people that the students from poor families were most grateful to were His Majesty and County Supervisor Li of the School of Mathematics.
His Majesty had been very kind to the students from poor families in recent years. His various decrees and measures had given hope to many scholars from poor families. Although County Uncle Li was about the same age as them, what he had done had earned him absolute respect from the hearts of these people. Especially this time, it was obvious that County Uncle Li intended to support the students from poor families in the enrollment of the Arithmetic College, which made people's respect for him turn into gratitude.
Everyone remained silent in response to the young student's question.
How could this matter be so simple? The influential officials obviously wouldn't give these important spots to others. If they couldn't even fight for it themselves, how could these people from poor families have a chance?
It couldn't be any easier for them to get the spots.
There was still a quarter of an hour before the examination started, and the candidates were allowed to enter.
At this moment, a sedan chair finally appeared in the distance. Some young people with extraordinary temperament walked over in groups of three to five, talking and laughing.
"Brother Qin, why are you here?"
"I have no choice. No one from my family wants to come, so the old man directly appointed me … Do you also want to enter the School of Mathematics?"
"Alas, me too. Second Uncle said that talents in mathematics are scarce, and the School of Mathematics will definitely soar in the future. No matter what, I have to get in."
…
…
Someone came from afar and brought these people to the examination room. They were arranged to sit down according to the order that had been arranged in advance.
"Don't make noise in the examination room!" More than ten palace guards stood in the examination room with cold expressions. No matter how arrogant and despotic these children of officials were, they could only obediently shut their mouths at this moment.
Even the palace guards were sent here, which showed that His Majesty attached great importance to this recruitment.
However, they were not worried about the results. Those who were sent here by their families were naturally not idiots. In terms of educational resources, they were much richer than those from poor families. Under the premise of fair competition, even if they did not use their power to suppress others, they would still be able to win easily.
After a gong sounded, an official from the Ministry of Rites took out the unopened examination papers. The palace guards checked them and distributed them to everyone according to the numbers on them.
Among the students from poor families, there were some who were happy when they opened the test papers, but there were even more who were frowning. The questions weren't the new mathematics that they were worried about, but they were much more difficult than the ones they had seen in the past. After glancing at it, they felt that they wouldn't be able to solve many problems in two hours.
Faced with similar questions, the children of officials in the first two examination halls performed slightly better than the students from poor families. Many people had already begun to answer confidently. However, there were also some people whose expressions were not the same as everyone else's.
The second son of the Chen family, Chen Lisen, looked at his examination paper and suddenly felt dizzy. He didn't have the courage to take a second look.
What exactly were these scribbles that looked like talismans?
He couldn't understand a single question in the entire examination paper!
Limit, double integral, derivative … He could understand these words, but what did they mean when they were put together?
The expression on Chen's face was extremely blank.
There were many people who had the same expression. The fourth son of the Qin family, Qin Feng, the second son of the Cui family, Cui Xixin, the son of the Assistant Minister of Works, Li Jianren …
They picked up their pens but couldn't write. They looked around and saw the people around them writing. After a short moment of shock, they began to doubt their lives.
Are they all so good?
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