Chapter 41 - 40 Qi Sensing
In the following few days, several events occurred within Yizhou City.
First and foremost was the most important provincial examination.
After the exams at the State School, all the scholars in Yizhou City for this year had been determined.
After eliminating those who did not possess Spiritual Vein Talent and those over the age of eighteen, a list of ten individuals qualified to travel to Chang’an and partake in the Academic Palace’s entrance examination was produced.
Among these ten, Zhai Yiming from the State School ranked first, with Song Shaoyuan following closely in second. Those ranking third to sixth were other classmates from the State School, and there were four more students from outside the local area.
Following custom, selected scholars like Zhai Yiming and Song Shaoyuan held tail-end feasts at their homes to celebrate. In the following days, they continuously hosted different banquets, expressing gratitude to their teachers and parents and celebrating with classmates and friends. They also took the opportunity to get acquainted with fellow locals who would be taking the exams with them in Chang’an, thereby laying the groundwork for good relations.
Li Ang did not attend any of the banquets. In fact, he even declined the invitation from the Governor’s House, even though Governor Ji Chi’s daughter had also received a recommendation letter for the Academic Palace Patrol this year, making her a recommended student just like him.
"This time in Chang’an, you should listen more, observe more, and think more."
In the courtyard of Security Hall, Pu Liuxuan spoke with a smile to Li Ang, "When I was there, the developments at the Academic Palace were already changing with each passing day. Fifteen years have gone by; who knows what new ideas or technologies have emerged there. Have your senior brother take you to the Academic Palace Book Tower on the open day; perhaps you will find new insights."
Yu Country’s public libraries used to be called the Secretary Province.
Since Emperor Shihuang burned books, most of the tomes were destroyed. Furthermore, with the old methods of handwritten transcription and bamboo and silk script, it was difficult to preserve and disseminate books. Only officials could collect them on a large scale and store them in secret vaults within the palace, making them out of reach for the common folk. Therefore, the agency specifically managing the national collection of books was named the "Secretary Province," and those responsible for editing and proofreading the books were known as editors.
However, with the emergence of the Academic Palace and improvements in printing and papermaking techniques, the difficulty of compiling books dropped dramatically. A mass collection of books was no longer a privilege exclusive to the state or wealthy nobles. Instead, some comparatively well-off State Mansions also established local libraries, collecting books and periodicals from the market with public funds each year for the public to borrow.