Wang Xiangmeng used his poorest acting skills and said the most heartbreaking words: "I am really saying this for the sake of Uncle Zong!
The ritual and music systems of the imperial court are all the responsibility of the Ministry of Rites, and the imperial examination system is no exception. The grand master cannot shirk his responsibility."
Shen Li said calmly: "The Military Academy examination is mainly conducted by the Ministry of War, and our Ministry of Rites is just the counselor."
However, Wang Yushi seemed to start rambling: "In previous years, the number one in the civilian martial arts test was awarded to the fifth rank, but this year the number one will be higher, not lower.
Didn’t the eldest uncle ever think about what would happen if Zheng Guotai got the top prize in martial arts?"
What Wang Yushi said is correct. According to the system, Wu Zhuangyuan must be awarded an official position, and the salary is much higher than that of other Wu Jinshi.
Shen Li responded disapprovingly: "What can I do if I am trying to make things mysterious and give him a military position?"
It's not that Shen Shangshu is arrogant, but under the current system of the Ming Dynasty, a military position cannot make much waves.
However, as usual, the number one in the martial arts test is very different from the others.
If they are civilian candidates, those who rank first in the martial arts test can directly have the opportunity to be independent. Other martial arts scholars can only start from the hundred-level military positions, staff praise paintings, and camp instructors.
Wang Yushi suddenly took out a piece of paper, looked at it for a few times, and replied: "It also depends on the position. What if Zheng Guotai, who won the first prize, is placed in the imperial ban?"
The capital's official and military system is very complex, but it is generally divided into three parts.
The first part is the Beijing Camp, which consists of the three major battalions, the twelfth regiment camp, and then back to the three major battalions. The main task is to defend the capital.
The second part is the emperor's personal army, which is the twenty-two guards directly under the emperor's command, including the special imperial guards.
The third part is the Imperial Guards, which are commanded by Royal Horse Eunuchs and Admirals. They are responsible for guarding various palace gates in the palace. They are the most elite.
Wang Yushi continued: "For example, if Zheng Guotai wins the first prize and has to be given a real job, and the emperor lets Zheng Guotai be in charge of Donghua Gate, can the great uncle dare to imagine the consequences?"
Hearing this idea, Shen Li suddenly trembled!
Donghua Gate is the east gate of the Imperial Palace. Inside Donghua Gate is the Wenhua Palace, and to the north is the Prince's East Palace. They are all very close.
In the future, if the emperor's eldest son is appointed as the prince, and a person like Zheng Guotai, who is not kind to the emperor's eldest son, is in charge of Donghua Gate, the consequences will definitely be disastrous.
It's not that Shen Li is overthinking, it's mainly that there is a precedent for the Donghua Gate incident in the Ming Dynasty Palace.
More than a hundred years ago, during the restoration of Ying Zong, Donghua Gate was won! This is a lesson learned from the past.
In fact, time travelers can add one more case. One of the three most mysterious court cases in the late Ming Dynasty was the Fence Attack Case, in which someone entered the palace from the Donghua Gate with a wooden stick, and then rushed to the Prince's East Palace to beat people.
All I can say is that fortunately this person was not Lin Tailai, otherwise the prince might have been beaten to death.
Wang Yushi asked back: "Does Uncle Zong still think that the martial arts examination has little to do with the Ministry of Rites? Does the national issue have much to do with the Ministry of Rites?"
Shen Shangshu frowned and said nothing. Even if Zheng Guotai was not allowed to take charge of Donghua Gate, it might be troublesome for such an uncle of the third prince to take charge of any part of the palace.
As for whether the emperor would do this? Shen Shangshu is sure that as long as there is a chance and a reason, the emperor will definitely do this!
Even if the emperor didn't think of it for a moment, someone would definitely remind him!
After all, the emperor's third son's intention to become the prince is already known to everyone in the court! If there is an opportunity to support the Zheng family, the emperor has no reason not to do it.
Wang Yushi struck the iron while the iron was hot and said with added jealousy: "Uncle Zong! You must know that history is as iron as iron. You don't want it to be recorded in the history books of future generations. Because you did nothing in the position of Minister of Rites, your relative Zheng Guotai became powerful and affected the country, right?"
In addition to his official position, Shen Li, the Minister of Rites, also has an important political identity as the leader of Qingliu. This is a political force based on orthodox ethics and advocating morality.
If Zheng Guotai wins the first prize, it will cause endless troubles and affect the country's opinions. If no one says it, then that's it. Shen Shangshu can still pretend to be confused.
But today someone has clearly told what will happen to Zheng Guotai's first prize. If Shen Shangshu still deliberately ignores it, then it will be a huge moral stain for a clear figure who is the Minister of Rites.
You are a minister of the Ministry of Etiquette and you are a clean figure, and you don't even take part in major ethical matters involving the country, so what use does Shilin need from you?
Looking at the Minister of Rites who fell silent for a long time and stopped speaking, Wang Yushi suddenly felt that politics was really fun.
And Wang Xiangmeng finally understood why Lin Tailai had been unwilling to expose Zheng Guotai for taking the exam.
Keeping Zheng Guotai, a foreign relative with excellent academic performance, can kidnap Qingliu, who was originally on the opposite side of Lin Tailai.
Chapter completed!