Chapter 72

Yangzhou Prefecture had been very busy lately, as preparations for the Prefectural Examination were underway. The Prefectural Examination was the second hurdle of the Licentiate examinations. The first was, of course, the County Examinations held successively across various prefectures and counties some time ago, while the third was the Provincial Examination uniformly organized by the Provincial Education Bureau. Only those who passed all three hurdles could become official licentiates and qualify to take the Provincial Examination for the imperial degree. Candidates who ranked first in all three hurdles of the Licentiate examinations were known at the time as the "Little Three Top Scholars." Those who ranked first in the Provincial Examination, the Metropolitan Examination, and the Palace Examination were the "Grand Three Top Scholars."