Chapter 25: True Gold Fears No Fire

"Cover the names of the examinees first, and then review the papers?"

Despite all being high-ranking officials in the imperial court, and even though this anti-cheating method proposed by Zhao Dezhao decades ahead of its time was truly unprecedented, Zhao Guangyi, Yang Zhaojian, and Wang Yisun (a protégé of Zhao Pu) were all initially caught off guard. However, their eyes soon lit up as they grasped the brilliance of this anti-cheating measure.

This system was indeed ingenious. While it could not be said to eliminate cheating entirely, it prevented collusion between examiners and examinees to the greatest possible extent. It remained relevant from the tenth century all the way into the twenty-first, with a millennium of history proving its reliability and fairness; it became one of the most widely adopted anti-cheating measures in examinations throughout later ages.

Regrettably, although Zhao Guangyi immediately understood the brilliance of the method, he—harboring his own ulterior motives—soon realized the danger. He thought to himself, "No, we cannot use this method for the provincial examination. I have spent so much effort touting Chai Chengwu to prove my own eye for talent; if we use the blind-grading method now, what if Chai Chengwu happens to falter?"

It was not just Zhao Guangyi; Wang Yisun, tasked with causing disruption, also sensed that the situation had turned unfavorable. He mused, "We cannot cover the names! If the names are covered, how can I tamper with Chai Chengwu's paper? If I can't tamper with it, what if Chai Chengwu actually wins the top spot? Furthermore, among the candidates, there are many protégés of the Second Prince, as well as many of Chancellor Zhao's. If all names are covered, how am I supposed to help Chancellor Zhao purge dissenters and promote our own people?"

Wang Yisun, who appeared infrequently in historical records, was far inferior to Zhao Guangyi—the eventual victor—in terms of cunning and depth. Seeing that Zhao Dezhao’s proposal was disadvantageous to his faction, Wang Yisun, despite being a quasi-ally of Zhao Dezhao, lost his composure and blurted out, "Your Highness, I fear this is inappropriate. Since ancient times, has there ever been a rule to cover examinees' names before reading their papers? Is your decision not a bit too unconventional?"

"There was no such rule before, but starting from this examination, this rule should be formally established," Zhao Dezhao replied with great confidence. He added, "After this provincial examination concludes, I will petition my Imperial Father for his grace to adopt blind-grading for all future provincial and prefectural examinations, making our imperial examination system more fair and just."

Zhao Guangyi remained silent, instead signaling another examiner, Wang Hu. Wang Hu, whose son was under Zhao Guangyi's thumb, understood the cue and said with forced composure, "Your Highness, is this not too sudden? In such haste, where are we to gather enough reliable personnel to cover all these papers? Furthermore, this matter has not been approved by the Emperor."

"Do not worry about the manpower," He Huaipu, standing nearby, suddenly spoke up and said boldly, "As long as Your Highness gives the order, my lads will get to work. It will take half an hour at the fastest, and no more than an hour at the latest, to ensure every single paper has its name covered."

Forcing a smile at He Huaipu, Wang Hu persisted, "But we have not reported this to the Emperor yet. If the Emperor finds it troublesome, or even feels it is an unnecessary redundancy, how are we to answer for it?"

"If Academician Wang is worried that the Emperor will not approve, that is no matter," Zhao Dezhao replied calmly. "We shall seal the papers first and wait until tomorrow to report to the Emperor. We will decide whether to proceed with blind-grading only after obtaining his permission."

After speaking, Zhao Dezhao added with a smile, "Also, Uncle and esteemed seniors, do not be annoyed by the trouble; there is more trouble to come. While reporting this to the Emperor, I will also request his approval to implement a method of transcribing the answer sheets before grading in the next examination to prevent collusion, ensuring that examiners and examinees do not leave secret marks on the papers."

"Cover the names first, then transcribe the papers, and only then read them?"

Zhao Guangyi, Wang Yisun, and the others all gasped. They secretly admired Zhao Dezhao while thinking, "How diabolical must one be to conceive of such anti-cheating measures? If the Emperor truly agrees to this, being an examiner for the provincial exams will lose its appeal. Forget about lining one's pockets; even promoting one's own relatives and juniors will be as difficult as ascending to heaven."

After unveiling his even more insidious plan, Zhao Dezhao turned to his "convenient" second uncle and asked with feigned humility, "Uncle, what do you think? Should we seal the papers and wait for the Emperor's opinion before deciding how to proceed?"

In this, Zhao Dezhao had underestimated his uncle. Zhao Guangyi knew full well that his nephew’s "diabolical" method was, in fact, perfectly fair. His Imperial Brother, who was striving to elevate the status of civil officials, would certainly agree without hesitation. Thus, without batting an eyelid, Zhao Guangyi said, "No need. Blind-grading is fair and just; it has nothing but benefits for the court and the examinees. I agree. If the Emperor asks, I will take full responsibility."

Seeing Zhao Guangyi take the lead in supporting Zhao Dezhao, Wang Yisun and Yang Zhaojian dared not oppose the rare alliance of the two Zhao royals. They all signaled their agreement. Zhao Guangyi muttered to himself, "Trying to show off in front of the Emperor again? Dream on!"

Having successfully forced the deputy examiners to agree, Zhao Dezhao immediately requested his uncle He Huaipu to have the imperial guards cover the names with white paper. He Huaipu did not boast; despite there being over a thousand candidates, the guards worked together and finished within an hour. The papers, now anonymous, were placed back before Zhao Dezhao and Zhao Guangyi.

Although Emperor Zhao Kuangyin had not requested overnight grading, and Zhao Dezhao had not asked the others to work overtime, Zhao Guangyi insisted. Dozens of candles were lit in the room, turning it as bright as day. Exhausted from their duties as invigilators, Zhao Guangyi and the others nonetheless began grading without hesitation.

Because his reputation as a talent scout was at stake, and to avoid giving his treacherous nephew a chance to disrupt his plans, Zhao Guangyi forced himself to stay hyper-vigilant. He drank strong tea while meticulously reading the papers, trying to identify the one written by Chai Chengwu. However, when he accidentally glanced at his nephew, he nearly choked with rage.

Amidst the flickering candlelight, Zhao Dezhao was not sitting at the table like the others; he was sprawled out on a daybed against the wall, his face covered by his wide sleeve, snoring loudly. In his seat, Liang Zhouhan was yawning while lazily flipping through papers, showing none of the focus and diligence of Zhao Guangyi and the others.

Seeing this, Zhao Guangyi felt a mix of anger and relief. He realized that his nephew’s lack of interest meant he likely wasn't taking this seriously and probably wouldn't force a rival candidate to compete with his prized protégé, Chai Chengwu.

After some time, Wang Hu suddenly coughed and handed a paper to Zhao Guangyi, smiling wearily. "Your Highness, what do you think of this paper? I am humble, but I feel that both the essay and the poetry sections are outstanding compared to the others. It is worthy of the top three. I wonder what your opinion is?"

Wang Hu gave Zhao Guangyi a wink. Zhao Guangyi understood that Wang Hu must have found a paper he suspected was Chai Chengwu's. He took the paper and, upon one look, felt a surge of joy. The handwriting was standard, neat, and precise, as if carved—exactly like his protégé Chai Chengwu's.

Yang Zhaojian also rose to look at the paper. After examining the content, Zhao Guangyi was pleasantly surprised; the paper was indeed exceptional, standing out like a crane among chickens. He concluded, "No mistake, this must be Chai Chengwu's!"

"Your Highness, I also feel this paper is excellent and worthy of the top three. What do you think?" Yang Zhaojian asked, carefully testing Zhao Guangyi—Is this indeed your protégé Chai Chengwu's paper? If it is, I shall recommend the author as the top scholar (Zhuangyuan).

Looking at the white paper covering the name, Zhao Guangyi had a strong urge to tear it off. But seeing Liang Zhouhan yawning, Wang Yisun watching him from the corner of his eye, and the He family standing guard, he suppressed the thought and steeled himself. "Excellent. This paper is indeed superb. It is not only worthy of the top three, but should be the top scholar!"

Assuming Zhao Guangyi had confirmed the paper was Chai Chengwu's, Yang Zhaojian and Wang Hu immediately raised their hands in agreement. Wang Yisun took the paper and looked at it with the yawning Liang Zhouhan.

Gold fears no fire. After a close look, Liang Zhouhan, who had nearly become the Emperor’s secretary, nodded vigorously, agreeing that the author was worthy of the top spot. Wang Yisun, trembling with anxiety, finally bit the bullet and asked, "What is your intention, Your Highness?"

"I am asking him."

Zhao Guangyi took the paper back and brought it to his nephew, shaking him awake. "Dezhao, wake up. We have all looked at this paper and believe the candidate deserves to be the top scholar. What do you think?"

Rubbing his sleepy eyes, Zhao Dezhao glanced at the paper and turned to Liang Zhouhan, who had come to act as his accomplice. "Brother Yuanbao, what do you think?"

"Reporting to Your Highness, I believe this year's top scholar must be him!" Liang Zhouhan pointed at the paper solemnly.

"Then let it be him. Let this examinee be the top scholar."

The nephew's casual response put Zhao Guangyi completely at ease; he finally believed that his nephew was not deliberately sabotaging him. Wang Yisun, having no other choice, could only agree with a forced smile.

Wang Yisun then suggested, "Your Highness, since we all agree, why not tear off the paper covering the name? Let us see which brilliant talent of our time wrote such a magnificent article."

Hearing this, Zhao Guangyi reached out to touch the white paper. Yet, as his fingers grazed it, he changed his mind. "I cannot be the one to tear this off. My nephew came up with this blind-grading idea, and the Emperor will surely be pleased. I must leave the honor of revealing the top scholar's name to the Emperor. Otherwise, wouldn't the Emperor think I am less thoughtful than his own troublesome son?"

Deciding in a flash, Zhao Guangyi withdrew his hand and smiled, "Forget it. Since this is the first time our Song court has used blind-grading, let the Emperor personally announce the name of the top scholar. It is not for us to overstep our bounds."

Wang Yisun nodded with a strained smile, thinking to himself, "Oh no, with such talent, this must be the Second Prince's protégé, Chai Chengwu. If he successfully elevates his protégé to the top spot, it will be even easier for the Second Prince to win over the scholars in the future."

With his wish fulfilled, Zhao Guangyi was energized. He led the other examiners to continue working through the night, finishing the grading by the next morning. They selected the candidates for the Jinshi degree and, exhausted and hungry, finally stopped to rest and eat, planning to discuss the second and third-place winners later.

It was only then that Zhao Dezhao, who had snored through the night, woke up to eat. Zhao Guangyi, his eyes bloodshot with fatigue, felt a simmering rage but could do nothing about it.

After finishing breakfast, before he could rest, Chen Congxin appeared at the door, signaling for a private word. Zhao Guangyi knew something significant had occurred and stepped out to a secluded spot.

"Your Highness, Song Qi, whom you drove out of Kaifeng, has returned," Chen Congxin reported in a low voice. "He arrived in the capital last night and went straight to the Censorate. Upon meeting Liu Wensou, he submitted a memorial impeaching Zhang Tingtong, the Military Supervisor of Xichuan, for embezzlement and bribery."

Though he knew Song Qi would trouble him upon his return, Zhao Guangyi was furious to hear that Song Qi had stabbed his own confidant in the back on his way back to the capital. "It seems he has willingly become a dog for my nephew. Whoever my nephew tells him to bite, he bites immediately!"

"Your Highness is wise. I also believe this is Song Qi’s way of pledging loyalty to the Prince," Chen Congxin agreed. "There is also good news. Because you did not intervene in the investigation of the cheating candidates, our men followed the clues and caught several of Chancellor Zhao’s people. We have obtained confessions that they instigated their families to smuggle cheat sheets in."

"Good!" Zhao Guangyi was overjoyed. "We must investigate thoroughly and expose as many of Zhao Pu's people as possible, so that Zhao Pu will hate that little brat for his refusal to help!"

Chen Congxin agreed. Just then, the cry "The Emperor has arrived!" rang out. Zhao Guangyi dared not delay and rushed to greet his brother. Zhao Dezhao and Wang Yisun followed suit.

Zhao Kuangyin appeared before them in his imperial robes, laughing, "The morning court ended early, so I came to check on the grading. How is it going? Have you started?"

"Reporting to Imperial Father, the grading is finished. The qualified papers have been selected, and we are just waiting to discuss the rankings before reporting to you."

Zhao Dezhao, having slept comfortably all night, spoke righteously. Zhao Kuangyin, unaware of the truth, was delighted. "Excellent! This provincial examination has satisfied me not only with its discipline but also with the speed of your grading. You have worked hard."

"Thank you, Imperial Father. This is all the credit of my Uncle and the other officials in charge. I have had no part in it."

"No need for such modesty; I know what you have done these past few days."

The pleasantries between father and son were ordinary, yet to Zhao Guangyi, they were grating. Still, he had to keep a smile on his face and serve the Emperor as they entered the Qisheng Institute.

Once inside, Zhao Kuangyin went straight to the examination room and asked, "Has the top scholar's paper been decided?"

Zhao Dezhao did not blush as he turned to Zhao Guangyi. "Uncle, where is the top scholar's paper you selected last night? Please present it for the Imperial Father’s inspection."

"I don't need your orders!" Zhao Guangyi roared internally, though he kept a forced smile. He produced the paper he had set aside. It was only then that Zhao Kuangyin noticed the papers were covered. "What is this? Why are the names covered?"

Destined to be Zhao Dezhao's achievement, the latter explained the reasoning behind the blind-grading and his future suggestion for transcribing papers. Zhao Kuangyin, a man who recognized true value, slapped the table in approval. "A brilliant strategy! Blind-grading already makes it difficult for examiners to show favoritism, and with transcription, future examinations will be fair and just!"

Zhao Kuangyin then ordered his eunuch, Wang Ji'en, "Have the historian record this. State clearly that it was my son who initiated this strategy to maintain fairness, so that history may record this great contribution of his!"

Zhao Dezhao feigned humility, while Zhao Guangyi was consumed with jealousy, thinking, "Just say it already! Why don't you just abdicate and give the throne to this little brat right now?"

Fortunately, Zhao Kuangyin turned his attention back to the paper. After reading it, he was mesmerized. He slapped his thigh and shouted, "Good! I am satisfied! Since the founding of the dynasty, no paper has ever satisfied me so much! This is the one! This year's top scholar must be him!"

"Reporting to Imperial Father, my Uncle and I think the same."

Zhao Dezhao chimed in shamelessly. Zhao Kuangyin turned to Zhao Guangyi and smiled, "Guangyi, such literary talent and solid foundation—this must be the work of your protégé, Chai Chengwu, right?"

"Brother, you have heard of Chai Chengwu?" Zhao Guangyi asked, surprised.

"Of course. He was the top of the Kaifeng prefectural examination last year," Zhao Kuangyin said casually. "I also know that rumors have it that this talented young man was already the consensus choice for top scholar. Though there are many candidates, none can match his reputation."

Seeing the Emperor had raised the issue, Zhao Guangyi no longer demurred. "To be honest, I also believe the top scholar must be Chai Chengwu. So, before even looking at the name, we had all concluded this paper must be his."

"Is that so? Let me see if this Chai Chengwu is truly as talented as they say."

Zhao Kuangyin laughed and peeled off the white paper covering the name. His expression turned to one of utter astonishment as he read, "An Shouliang? Who is An Shouliang? Why have I never heard that name before?"

"An Shouliang?!"

Zhao Dezhao and his uncle Zhao Guangyi exchanged a look of pure shock, both thinking, "Why isn't it Chai Chengwu? Who is An Shouliang? I've never heard of him!"