Illustrious one, I would like to reiterate that we have already spent too much time on the subject of reforming the examination system. Nonetheless, I respectfully submit measures to improve the examination system and give closure on the topic. The master expresses my displeasure with our inability to make a decision on an overly discussed topic when “Chi Wen Tzu always thought three times before taking action. When the master was told of this, he commented, ‘twice is quite enough’” (5.20). Although there are those in this council that have their doubts, in my humble opinion, the examination system necessitates reform. However, I feel that any fears for such reformation have little basis. To improve the examination system, we must improve each level of the exam without using excess resources and without facing any new issues with the system. Moreover, the purpose of this memorial is to establish the practical application for the examination system.

Why must the exam be reformed? Son of the Most High, you have not received appropriate, practical advice. Clearly, lack of proper and qualified advising is due to an ineffective examination system. Even the Metropolitan Examination fails to weed out individuals who do not possess the capacity to properly assess issues of your empire and provide viable solutions. The Sui Emperor created the examination system in order to disallow men from holding an official position by virtue of family status (Miyazaki, 112). The Wanli Emperor must disallow men to become high-ranking officials by virtue of philosophical knowledge alone.

Why do we not create an entirely new examination system? In my stupid opinion, it is not the entire examination system that fails you; the system effectively filters through thousands upon thousands for the most intelligent. "The people of Lu were rebuilding the treasury. Min Tzu Chi’en said, ‘why not simply restore it? Why must it be totally rebuilt?’ the Master said, ‘either this man does not speak or he says something to that point’” (11.14). The Master means that the appropriate action is not always to start from nothing. Sometimes it is necessary to build from the existing foundation. Past Emperors have established more radical reformations to the education and examination systems. Over 500 years ago, Emperor Shen-tsung instituted a first-rate national university; at the time, Emperor Shen-tsung’s actions were extremely radical (Miyazaki, 116). Replacing one philosophical question with a practical question is much less radical. I believe, through past discourse, we have come to the conclusion that the necessary and proper route regarding the examination system is to replace one philosophical question with one question testing the comprehension of Confucius for each individual on a practical level.

Each level of the examination system will have a question in proportion to the level. Only during the triennial metropolitan examinations in Beijing would we pose the most pertinent, problematic issues facing this empire. A licentiate does not need to be concerned with the same matters you, Son of the Most High, ask of your counsel. As the master said, “you can tell those who are above average about the best, but not those who are below average” (10.21). The master means that only those most qualified can be told, and be concerned with, those matters most important to you, Worthy Emperor. A licentiate, or even a provincial graduate, does not need to be concerned with barbarians knocking on the border of the other end of your middle country. Therefore, the practical examination question for the two lower examinations would be a generic and historical question. For example, the provincial examination question could be regarding the piracy issue in 1369 to 1372 and would replace the broad critique of certain past or present government policies (Miyazaki, 51). The question would be formatted as follows:
From 1369 to 1372, Hung-wu was faced with Japanese piracy. He sent three missions to Japan using various captured pirates, Chinese monks as envoys, and threatening scripts from himself. Nevertheless, the piracy continued. What should Hung-wu have done after his failed attempts to reason with the lawless Japanese?
A model answer is difficult to determine, for there are many. Thus, it is easier to define those answers that would not be appropriate. Such answers would include complete lack of solution, a solution devoid of benevolence and virtue, or one where the solution exceeds the resources available.

The metropolitan exam would have a single contemporary problem in lieu of one of the five final essay questions submitted to you, Worthy Emperor, for approval. For this year’s practical examination question, if it were to be instituted, an appropriate question would be as follows:
In recent years state revenue has been falling. Is the government monopoly on salt a legitimate way to raise revenue? What are the advantages and disadvantages of government monopolies? What other methods might be employed to raise government revenue? Propose means by which the government could strengthen its fiscal conditions.
Various commendable answers exist. Another memorial should be written to establish the various appropriate answers. Nevertheless, an inappropriate answer would be one lacking solution or a solution devoid of Confucian virtues (Miyazaki, 67).

Addressing the issue of the lack of resources, I ask, what resources does developing three to four practical examination questions require? Unlike the previously mentioned Emperor Shen-tsung’s addition, reassigning such tasks would be at no cost to you, Worthy Emperor. This council is comprised of thousands of members; surely there are several that would be honored to take the time to write memorials posing a practical examination question and illustrating the model answer. Not to mention, we already use the same resources to develop examination questions for the current system. The only resource required would be using the same secretary that would have written a memorial regarding a philosophical confusion question. We would not be required to send out any additional examination officials. How can one say we do not have the resources? In addition, would it not be appropriate to propose problems facing you, Son of the Most High, as examination questions? We would, in effect, properly gauge the applicant’s mastery of Confucius through comparing the applicant’s answer to the proposed model and our own solutions.

The only obstacle facing such a reformation is grading the examination question. Many acceptable solutions exist; however, many individuals do not possess the capacity to apply Confucian knowledge to practical problems. Therefore, those grading the examinations must have a virtuous, open mind. They must be given several examples of exemplary answers. Nevertheless, they must realize that appropriate answers exist outside of the recommended list. However, regardless of these requirements, do we not already require the utmost anonymity? Also, do we not already require those grading the examinations to be virtuous? The examination system is set up to be nothing but honorable. We can see the trust in the system’s fairness because of our unique grading methods such as examiners only having access to the seat number on an answer paper. Another example is the fact that during the Metropolitan examination, examiners read only copies. No extraordinary method would be instituted. Again, excess resources would not be required (Miyazaki, 119).

In summation, each level of the examination system will have one practical question that can be answered regardless of which province the examination is given. No extra resources will be necessary, because we will simply utilize the current resources. Illustrious one, we must be decisive. We have spoken of this subject so often that if we were carving meat, there would be nothing left to carve. As the Master said, “Before he could put into practice something he had heard, the only thing Tzu-lu feared was that he should be told something further” (5.14). Before we continue any other reiteration, Worthy Emperor, you should decide.