Chapter 5: Ascending Feilai Peak on an Examination Paper

When Zhou Bin saw Zhang Heng approach, he smiled.

“Your Highness, this is a routine inspection. Please forgive the intrusion.”

There was plainly something wrong with this man. His smile was far too sly.

Zhang Heng smiled too and spread his arms. “Go ahead, Lord Zhou.”

Zhou Bin searched him meticulously, from his collar to his shoes, even checking the hidden layers of his belt. Clearly, he was looking for the questions and answers he had given Zhang Heng.

He found nothing.

Zhang Heng knew perfectly well that if Zhou Bin discovered those papers on him, even if they were false, all he had to do was expose them on the spot. The heir of Yan would stand accused of cheating in the civil service examinations.

“Looking for those questions and answers, Lord Zhou?” Zhang Heng asked quietly. “The answers were so dreadful that I threw them away. I’ll be taking this examination on my own merits.”

Zhou Bin said nothing. His puzzled look seemed to say: Don’t you know the limits of your own abilities? Pass on your own merits? Spare me the joke.

“Have you finished, Lord Zhou?” Zhang Heng prompted.

Zhou Bin nodded, rubbing his head. He could make neither head nor tail of it.

Zhang Heng turned and entered the examination compound.

Watching him go, Zhou Bin frowned deeply.

Had the heir found some new way to cheat? Was someone inside helping him?

He would have to watch him closely.

……

Zhang Heng’s examination cell was number thirty-seven in the Heaven section.

Numerous officials and members of the Embroidered Robe Guard patrolled the compound to prevent cheating.

Before long, the papers were handed out.

One look confirmed that Zhou Bin’s questions and answers had been false.

That made sense. The man clearly wanted to protect himself. He would never dare leak the real papers; that would cost a great many people their heads.

Great Jing’s metropolitan examination lasted three days, during which the candidates had to remain in the compound.

On the first day: three questions interpreting the Four Books, four interpreting the Five Classics, and one poetry-and-rhapsody question.

On the second: one discursive essay, five judicial rulings, and one imperial proclamation.

On the third: a policy question.

Zhang Heng scanned his paper.

His brush flew through the earlier questions as though guided by a spirit.

Only when he reached the final poetry-and-rhapsody section did he pause.

The prompt was to use “Mighty Qin fell through extravagance; let later generations take warning” as the rhyme cues.

Zhang Heng served up Rhapsody on Efang Palace.[1]

Plagiarism? What plagiarism? We men of letters called it drawing inspiration.

Did Rhapsody on Efang Palace exist in this world?

No!

Then His Highness had written it.

His brush swept across the page.

The six kings fell; the Four Seas were one. The mountains of Shu were stripped bare, and Efang Palace rose…

…

The people of Qin had no time to mourn themselves; later generations mourned them. Yet if those who mourn them fail to learn their lesson, still later generations will have cause to mourn them in turn.

When he finished the rhapsody, Zhang Heng nodded in satisfaction.

It had the musical beauty of a rhapsody and the fluency and force of prose. Substance and style in perfect balance.

Perfect.

Then came the poem.

Composing one was not the problem.

Choosing one was.

He had too many answers.

The prompt read: “Compose a poem on your reflections upon ascending a tower or mountain in spring.”

Thinking of his predecessor’s brief experience of life and the realities of this age, Zhang Heng finally put brush to paper.

Ascending Feilai Peak

On Feilai Peak, a tower a thousand fathoms high;
They say at cockcrow one can see the sun arise.
I do not fear the drifting clouds will block my view:
I stand upon the highest tier beneath the skies.

Zhang Heng looked over the poem and could not help admiring its power.

Each of its four lines advanced upon the last. Not a word was wasted. Its imagery did more than describe the scenery; it carried a cultural vision and a statement of character.

He remembered that Wang Anshi had been a young man full of reforming ideals when he wrote it. There was no grumbling about unrecognized talent in these lines. Only confidence in change, and the courage to face those who resisted it.

Yes. That breadth of spirit gave the poem a weight far beyond ordinary landscape verse. It suited his own state of mind.

Soon, Zhang Heng had finished the paper. Though it was still very early, he raised his hand.

“I’d like to hand in my paper!”

He was not worried about someone switching it. Great Jing had a well-developed examination system, with proper procedures for concealing candidates’ names and transcribing their papers. Any irregularity would leave numerous officials accountable. Even those who had attached themselves to particular princes would not dare tamper with his paper openly here.

He still could not leave after handing it in, so he went back to catching up on his sleep.

On the second day, he again submitted his paper early.

On the third came the policy essay.

The question concerned the people’s livelihood: how should the state handle refugees in a year of disaster?

Zhang Heng developed his answer step by step.

Settle people locally. Help them support themselves through productive work. Close the gaps in the system.

He also proposed work relief to meet their basic need for grain. Give everyone something to do and food to eat, and unrest would naturally subside.

His approach was practical throughout, with some insights into the larger picture that went beyond the thinking of this age.

At last, he set down his brush.

The metropolitan examination was over!

He raised his hand.

Another early submission.

Under the startled gazes of the other candidates, Zhang Heng straightened his clothes and headwear and walked out of the examination compound.

For three days running, he had been the first to hand in his paper. Quite a few candidates found it astonishing.

Those who knew him, however, sat in their cells and treated the whole thing as a joke.

“The heir of Yan really is a good-for-nothing. He can’t even stick it out.”

“His papers are probably blank.”

“How did a hero like the Prince of Yan produce a son like that?”

“Hmph. An ignoramus through and through.”

Zhang Heng paid their doubts no mind. Brimming with confidence, he needed only to wait for the list.

The metropolitan examination results would take about half a month, though. He would have to keep rebuilding his image in the meantime.

……

In the study at the Prince of Yan’s residence.

“My prince, I found a suspicious man watching the heir outside the examination compound. I sent someone to follow him. He eventually entered the crown prince’s residence.”

Zhao Da had returned ahead of Zhang Heng to report.

“The handwriting on the questions and answers appears to belong to someone in the Ministry of Rites,” Xiahou Liang added from beside him.

“Also, a servant saw a man in black pass by the heir’s carriage.”

Zhang Yuanzhe snorted coldly.

“The crown prince and the Ministry of Rites, is it? Let us see what game they mean to play.”

“My prince, the evidence in this attempt to frame the heir points far too neatly toward the crown prince’s residence and the Ministry of Rites. I fear a deception. We must be on our guard,” Xiahou Liang cautioned.

“Everyone knows that the crown prince’s household and ours are at odds. Could someone be exploiting that? Deliberately steering us into conflict?

“Whatever the truth, their aim is to frame the heir through the metropolitan examination. As long as he does not cheat, there should be no trouble. We can turn this opportunity to our advantage and find the person behind it.”

“Mm. Keep investigating.”

Zhang Heng’s promise before the examination that he would not cheat had given Zhang Yuanzhe confidence. Now he held the initiative.

Xiahou Liang and Zhao Da cupped their hands.

“Yes, my prince.”

Before long, Zhang Heng returned to the residence. His father and mother were waiting in the reception hall.

“How did you do?” Zhang Yuanzhe asked.

“The makings of a top scholar,” Zhang Heng said confidently.

His father gave a scornful smile. “You? A top scholar? What nonsense.”

He clearly still did not trust Zhang Heng. To him, this was a child’s boasting.

Zhang Heng put on a look of profound anguish.

“Father, you don’t understand me. It breaks my heart.”

“Hmph. Enough of your theatrics. Tell me: did you cheat in this examination?”

His old man still did not believe him. Changing that opinion was going to be a long haul.

Zhang Heng shook his head. “Of course not.”

Then he grinned. “Father, what if I happen to make the list?”

“Not a chance. I expect nothing of the sort.”

“But what if? Just suppose.”

Still dismissive, Zhang Yuanzhe replied, “Then you may take as many wives and secondary consorts as you please, and I shall have nothing to say about it.”