The palace examination ended at exactly noon.
Naturally, the court officials had no reason to let their new colleagues leave the palace hungry.
The officials of the Ministry of Etiquette have already prepared the food and wine for the palace test as planned. Each table has five plates of tea and food, five plates of fruit, one portion of rice, four-color dishes, and five minutes of wine.
Each Jinshi was given two steamed buns and a bowl of soup.
The meal was relatively simple, because the Ministry of Etiquette also organized a dinner - there were all the good things at the dinner, including geese, sheep, deer, braised pork, and smoked ham. It could be said that in the auspicious words of Liaodong, you must eat this to death?
However, although the food at the Jinshi banquet is good, not all Gongsheng students will attend the banquet.
At the end of the palace examination, except for the candidates who aspired to become Shujishi, who were still nervous, the other candidates completely relaxed the moment they walked out of the Huangji Palace.
In this relaxed state of mind, what was on his mind was not a banquet for the Ministry of Etiquette.
Instead, go back to your room and cover your head for a good night's sleep, or invite a few friends to go out and recite poems.
Li Kun belongs to the former.
Citing abdominal pain as an excuse, he asked the official of the Ministry of Etiquette for leave for tonight's dinner.
Then he put the steamed buns into his arms and hurriedly left the palace.
Too tired.
From the time I passed the imperial examination at the age of twenty-six, I have been taking the Jinshi examination for thirteen years.
The clan's ardent expectations, the day and night hanging on the beam, and the dwindling energy and energy pushing behind him... He sighed tiredly in his heart, which was already very reserved and restrained.
At this moment, he just wanted to let go of everything, forget about the imperial examinations, Jinshi, and common people, and sleep soundly on the bed until the results were released five days later.
pity.
Being an official means working hard. From the moment I was in high school, I had no control over when to take a break.
As soon as Li Kunfang undressed and lay down on the couch, there was an untimely knock on the door.
Dude.
Tuk Tuk.
Li Kun lifted the quilt, and his eyes were so angry that they were staring at each other.
These people in the Henan Guild Hall are too unlucky. Can you wait until people have finished resting?
Visit every day, visit every day!
Either a member of the Communist Party of China or a fellow from Henan Province, they are already very annoyed. They promised to rest today, but they chose to disturb me at this time!
Mr. Li Kun and Mr. Li were just doing their best in high school and no longer cared about Qi-nurturing skills.
He got up, rushed to the door angrily, and opened the door forcefully.
He was about to scold him.
But instead of seeing familiar faces from the Henan Guild Hall, they saw two unfamiliar faces.
The two men were dressed in ordinary clothes, but their faces were slightly feminine, which gave Li Kun an inexplicable sense of familiarity.
Li Kun couldn't figure out where he was coming from, so he naturally swallowed the words that came to his lips: "What are you two?"
The leading man did not say any pleasantries and went straight to the point: "Mr. Li, my master has a book to give to you."
As he spoke, the person behind him opened the wooden box in his hand, took out a book, and handed it over.
Seeing that the two of them were so rude and didn't even inform them of their whereabouts, Li Kun felt even more shocked and suspicious.
By some strange coincidence, he took the book and looked down at it, "Lü Family Treaty".
Li Kun frowned, what did this mean?
After all, he is a quasi-jinshi, and he is also familiar with these "non-best-selling ancient books".
This is the "Four Lus of Lantian", that is, Lu Dazhong, Lu Dajun, Lu Dali, and Lu Dafang. In the ninth year of Xining, a book was written to restrain the villagers - they crossed the prefectural government office and made an agreement that the villagers "will encourage each other in virtue and industry." The books of "Keeping abreast of mistakes, keeping etiquette and customs together, and showing sympathy to each other in times of adversity".
During the Hongwu period, the gentry in the family had no virtue, so Emperor Taizu followed Xie Jin's suggestion and "imitated the Lu family's rural covenant in Lantian and the Zheng family's family model in Pujiang, taking the lead in setting the standard for the family." That is to say, the Lu family's rural covenant was regarded as the rule of the family. model.
In the subsequent Zhengde period, mountain people in the Southern Gansu region continued to have uprisings. When Wang Yangming was clearing up border troubles, he developed the "Southern Ganxi Township Covenant" on the basis of it to restrain Jiangxi elders who did not obey government orders.
However, whether it is a model family or a disciplined common people, what does Li Kun have to do with him?
Who sent this book?
When Li Kun thought of this, he closed the book and wanted to return it: "I wonder who your master is?"
The feminine man looked businesslike, shook his head and backed away: "What my master means is that I hope Mr. Li will study well."
After that, he turned around and left without waiting for Li Kun to reply.
Li Kun watched the two people leave, his face full of sorrow.
After a long while, he closed the door.
Li Kun casually threw the book on the table.
He lay back on the bed with his back stretched out, his eyes covered by the quilt.
Guess! Children still guess!
Mr. Li hates people who like to make people guess riddles the most in his life!
Debt collection is debt collection. If you explain it clearly, does that mean you lose character or something?
If you don't study well all day long, you will be like the Emperor Jiajing!
As he cursed in his heart, Li Kun's vision became hazy again.
Obviously, the interlude was not enough to curb Mr. Li's sleepiness.
Not long after, snoring sounded in the room.
…
Three days later.
Li Kun put "Lu's Township Agreement" and "Nangan Township Agreement" back on the table, and only took a copy of "Pujiang Zheng Family Model" and went downstairs to eat.
He randomly found an empty seat and sat down, ordered a few of his favorite dishes, and started reading with gusto again.
He definitely didn't want to guess, but since an elder asked him to study a certain book carefully, he did not refuse to listen.
Just listen to people's advice and eat enough.
It's just that the surroundings are a bit noisy, so reading is not very efficient.
"The dust should have settled today, right?"
"To be precise, the dust settled yesterday. It was customized by the imperial court. Two days after the palace examination, the emperor went to the Wenhua Palace, where the scroll reader unfolded the scroll and read it aloud. Then, the emperor approved the first three people, and the rest were received by the cabinet officials. So the dust has settled yesterday, and the next two days are just copying the yellow list."
“I don’t know whose family the Three Cauldron Flowers will belong to.”
"You will know whose family the flowers will fall into in the future, and maybe you and I will be among them."
"Hahaha, just because of Brother Qian's auspicious words, I'm going to treat you to this meal today."
Li Kun was reading a book, so he couldn't help but be amused when he heard this - although the Henan Guild Hall was very picky and fussy, it was still very generous to these prospective Jinshi. Before the results were released, they were allowed to eat and drink as they pleased without asking for invitations from others.
"It may not be known until later. Only those below the second grade will be taken back to the Yamen by the record readers to open the papers and fill in the yellow list. There are already rumors about the first and third graders since the emperor's decision yesterday."
"There's a rumor!?"
"That's for sure. There are more than a dozen record readers, plus the Zhongshushe people and female eunuchs on the spot. It's strange that there was no news about it."
"Let's talk about it! Let's talk about it!"
"What are you talking about? I just heard some rumors last night, saying that there is a Jinshi named Sun. He has lofty aspirations, gorgeous rhetoric, concise language, and powerful arguments. He was directly selected as the number one scholar."
"Is that the grandson of Sun Jigao? I've also heard that this guy tried to figure out the tendencies of the emperor and the cabinet and forced the topic of 'reform'. He's a complete villain."
"Hey, you can't say that, there are still outsiders."
"Outsiders? This guy would say the same thing to me!"
"Okay, okay, let's wait until the yellow list is released. It may not be accurate. Yes, what about the second place and the third best? What's the rumor?"
"The second place pick and the top pick are still not as popular as the top pick. Not much news has come out. I only heard that the top pick's surname is Li."
"Don't be that second-generation dog official Li Sancai, right?"
"..."
Li Kun was eating and drinking at the next table and couldn't help but shake his head when he heard this.
As expected of someone who likes to form associations, when his surname was mentioned, everyone guessed Li Sancai.
Why don't you guess yourself?
Who doesn’t have the last name Li?
Of course, this was just a remark in his heart. Based on his understanding of himself, it would be more practical to think about how to become a Shujishi.
"Indeed, let's think about how to get the Shujishi exam."
"Do you still need to tell me? A certain person has prepared the fifteen ancient essays a long time ago. I will go to the Ministry of Etiquette to submit them when the results are released."
"Well, my father told me that it would be easy if he passed the imperial examination, but he didn't expect it. Now that he has passed the imperial examination, he began to think about the selection test for Shujishi. In the future, the monthly examination, annual examination, and three
In the years to come, the distinction between the Hanlin Academy and the Imperial Academy is like living till you are old and taking exams."
"Speaking of Shujishi, I have heard that Shujishi in this department may not be admitted to the Hanlin Academy."
"What do you mean? What does it mean not to be admitted to the Hanlin Academy?"
"Well, Yuan Fu said it at the court meeting yesterday. He said that since the law was passed, many officials have been appointed, dismissed, and demoted. The gaps everywhere are getting bigger and bigger. The central government still has reserves to make up for it, but local vacancies have begun to fill it.
He has become an official in the state government. Therefore, it is very likely that the common people in Jinke will be sent to other places."
"Ah? It can't be possible? How can the country treat the common people so harshly?"
"Shujishi? I'm afraid even one of them may not be able to stay in the Hanlin Academy."
The sound gradually stopped.
The people at the table talked for a long time, and finally dispersed after having enough wine and food.
Only Li Kun was left chewing slowly at the next table.
Mr. Li looked at the rural contract in his hand and fell into deep thought.
…
March 20th, in the Longevity Palace.
Zhu Yijun handed the approved memorial to Zhang Hong.
Then he took out a separate book and asked Wu Zhongxing, a member of Zhongshushe, to send it to the Ministry of Rites: "You went to the Ministry of Rites to tell me what I wanted, saying that whether Wang Shouren can enter the Confucius Temple depends not only on his attainments in Confucian classics, but also on his
of orthodoxy.”
"In the past, is it inherited from Confucius and Saints; in the future, is it possible to create something new and is it in line with the pursuit of truth, goodness and beauty by the people of our dynasty?"
"It just so happens that the Confucius family and Wang Shouren's direct disciples are both in the capital now. Let the Ministry of Rites inquire about it and tell me about accompanying the Confucius Temple."
Wu Zhongxing didn’t ask too many questions.
After receiving the oral instruction, he responded and went out with the memorial in his arms.
After Zhu Yijun finished his instructions, he stretched and leaned back.
He casually asked Zheng Zongxue, who had just arrived to take over, "Has the yellow list been posted?"
Early this morning, the ceremony was held. Zhu Yijun sat in the Huangji Palace for a while and listened to the announcer shouting two sentences: "God has opened the destiny of the people, and the virtuous and handsome have ascended to the mediocre, and the ceremony should be celebrated." After completing the etiquette,
Then we went directly back to Xiyuan.
I didn't have time to wait until the results were released.
Zheng Zongxue replied softly: "Your Majesty, when I entered the palace for duty, there were people watching Huang Bang outside the Donghua Gate."
"Sun Jigao, the top pick, Yu Menglin, the second pick, and Li Kun, the top pick, should have started parading through the streets by now."
Zhu Yijun sighed inexplicably: "They are all good men who are called out outside Donghua Gate."
Zheng Zongxue reminded: "Your Majesty, Yushi Hai is still waiting in Chengguang Hall."
Only then did Zhu Yijun come back to his senses.
He nodded: "Let's go, Yushi Hai is also a good man now. We don't want to keep a good man waiting for too long."
Hai Rui has been recuperating for a while since he returned to Beijing from Huguang last year.
It's not right to say it's cultivation, it should be said to be preparation for the exam.
For this reason, Zhu Yijun did not assign any big work to anyone.
Now that the exam is over, if we don't let people do practical things anymore, it's hard to say that Hai Rui is more anxious than Zhu Yijun.
As an emperor, he is the most considerate of his subjects.
After saying this, Zhu Yijun set off to Chengguang Hall.
Of course, lessons on the road are inevitable.
He called the head of Dongchang to his side and asked Hai Rui about his daily life: "What has Yushi Hai been doing lately?"
Li Jin almost blurted out: "Your Majesty, since Hai Yushi was promoted to right deputy imperial envoy at the beginning of this year, he has been assigned the task of serving as the associate director of the imperial procuratorate."
"At the end of January, Gedu Censor will again inspect Guanglu and Cangchang, and will hand over the inspection to Hai Censor for supervision."
"There will be a general examination in February. The Metropolitan Procuratorate did not send too many tasks to Yushi Hai. It only sent the case file of the customs inspection to Yushi Hai for review."
"This month, I also received a mission to inspect the inner treasury, the imperial city, and the five-city military and horse department."
Zhu Yijun listened quietly.
Ge Shouli didn't know if he was trying to figure out the holy will or if he was planning to become an official.
Listening to Li Jin's words, the speed with which he relieved Hai Rui of his burden was too fast.
It's a pity that if you think too much, Hai Rui is just a brick. He can be moved wherever needed. It's not time for him to sit in the Metropolitan Procuratorate for retirement.
Furthermore, if Ge Shouli, the censor of Zuodu, becomes an official, no one in the Imperial Procuratorate will be able to suppress Huo Ji. Then he will not be able to get through the political envoy Ni Guangjian in court meetings every day from now on?
Xiaoge is only seventy this year, so delaying retirement for five years is not too much.
Thinking of this, Zhu Yijun couldn't help but laugh.
He coughed lightly and asked casually: "What about life?"
Li Jin thought for a moment before replying: "Your Majesty, Hai Yushi has always been the same."
"Serving my mother, doing housework diligently, helping neighbors, and often helping people draft complaints, which gives Shuntian Mansion some headaches."
Zhu Yijun asked: "Where is the concubine I gave to Yushi Hai the year before last?"
When Li Jin heard this, he couldn't help but think carefully and said: "There is no movement yet."
Zhu Yijun sighed, feeling a little regretful.
"However, the maids who often go to visit relatives said that although Yushi Hai's family tradition is not romantic, the two of them work together to help each other, and the popularity of the family has increased a lot as usual."
After all, the concubine was the emperor's. In order to prevent the emperor from thinking that his efforts were in vain, Li Jin emphasized the positive meaning.
Zhu Yijun was really comforted.
He nodded: "I often go to the palace to see people and help with anything."
This is very necessary.
It is one thing to discipline the people Zhu Yijun selects from the palace, but it is another thing to take care of them so that they are not bullied. After all, loyal ministers will be loyal ministers, and the family atmosphere may not be that good.
While the emperor was talking to the leader of Dongchang, the group arrived at Chengguang Hall.
Zhu Yijun turned his head inadvertently and saw a figure standing upright outside the palace door.
As if hearing the movement, the figure started to salute from a distance.
"His Majesty."
Zhu Yijun quickened his pace, walked closer and grabbed Hai Rui's hand.
After he helped the person up, he took his hand and dragged him straight into the palace: "You are a Jinshi today, but do you feel any different?"
Hai Rui's hand was held by the emperor, his expression was calm, and he didn't feel anything was wrong at all: "Your Majesty's words make me feel ashamed. How can I be shamelessly called a Jinshi after receiving a special imperial examination?"
"Third Grade Scholars and Jinshi are the most outstanding talents and learning of the ministers."
"Now in front of the Grandmaster, I am already ashamed of myself."
Zhu Yijun glanced at Hai Rui in surprise. Don't tell me, it's quite the same for a stereotypical person to make a joke.
He nodded happily: "Your mood has become more and more lively these days. As a master, I feel very relieved."
Hai Rui smiled with the emperor, but did not answer.
He was not sensitive to whether his mood was lively or not, but when he saw that the emperor was now working hard and the country's situation was stabilizing, he felt endlessly relaxed when this kind of scene that only existed in dreams appeared in reality.
Nowadays, Hai Rui no longer even refuses the warm and tonic gifts from the palace, and just looks forward to living a few more years.
Zhu Yijun let go of Hai Rui's hand, walked to the imperial desk and sat down: "Giving you a background is to help you better serve the country. You can only learn if you can't learn. You have been an official for many years, and no one in the world can see it."
clear."
In the second half of the imperial dynasty, Hai Rui was able to reach his current position as a mere official with no backing. It would be too self-effacing to claim that he had no talent or learning.
Hai Rui understood that the emperor's call to Xiyuan was not just for family reasons, so he took the initiative to invite him: "If the country has something to do, I will die even if I die."
Zhu Yijun waved his hand: "Don't risk death at every turn, it's unlucky."
He paused and said slowly: "We will start farming in two or three years. I want you to lead this class of Jinshi."
Hai Rui raised his head in confusion.
Du Tianhao said that he has been preparing all the time since he came back in the sixth year of Longqing to now in the second year of Wanli.
But what does the emperor mean by bringing in Jinshi?
Zhu Yijun didn't give in, and kept the story short: "Those who were previously assigned to you were all temporary assignments to investigate and handle major and important cases."
"Now I intend to let you oversee the place and stay in charge for many years."
"By the way, I'll bring the Jinshi in this subject...well, that is, Qing's seniors, to teach you a thing or two about specific political affairs."
Jinshi students in the same subject do not talk about their years, but only rank them. It is appropriate to call them seniors.
Hai Rui was stunned.
He expressed his position without any ambiguity: "Please give me your Majesty's instructions."
Zhu Yijun nodded: "There is no need to go to the fields immediately. I just hope that you will sort it out and have preparations in your heart and hands. Let me wait for the opportunity to issue orders."
"Nowadays, acres of land are hidden in the world, especially in Huguang, Sichuan and Shandong."
"Liang Menglong, a protégé of Yuanfu in Huguang, took office not long ago, and in Shandong, I want to sell Governor Yin a piece of noodles. So, would you like to go to Sichuan?"
Sichuan...
Hai Rui hesitated for a moment and then asked, "May I ask, Your Majesty, when will I leave?"
He skipped the question of whether the emperor was willing or not and directly asked the time.
Seeing Hai Rui hesitate for a moment, Zhu Yijun naturally understood the reason.
His mother had been seriously ill and should have passed away last year.
But now, perhaps because the palace gave me too many tonics, I am still hanging on.
Hai Rui is probably thinking of his mother now, and there is a war between heaven and man in his heart.
Zhu Yijun smiled and said comfortingly: "Don't worry, we will wait until the concubines are selected and study intensively in the Hanlin Academy. I will inform you in advance then."
"Now that I am rushing you to join the palace, I think it is to give you the responsibility first. As for taking up the post, you can wait for now."
Hai Rui breathed a sigh of relief when he heard this.
His mother was lingering on the sickbed, and if she passed away while he was traveling far away, it would probably be a lifelong regret for him.
He calmed down and asked about business: "Duty?"
Zhu Yijun snorted: "I will patrol Sichuan with the right deputy censor of the capital, oversee Sichuan's government affairs and lead the pacification of the barbaric affairs in the capital."
Hai Rui was stunned: "Your Majesty, I don't know how to do military affairs."
That's all about government affairs, he really doesn't know much about military matters.
Zhu Yijun shook his head: "Most of the barbarians have been pacified. Lingxiao City and Dudusai have been brought under the rule of our dynasty. Now there are only a small number of barbarians running around. After you leave, the only thing you can do is appease the people and clean up the rogue bandits."
After hearing the emperor's explanation, Hai Rui nodded slowly.
He didn't think much about why he was given the task of cleaning up the rogue bandits.
Zhu Yijun didn't want to explain too much - Hai Rui's old mother didn't have long to live, and he was afraid that Hai Rui would lose her temper and have to observe mourning for three years.
He changed the subject: "Sun Jigao, Yu Menglin, Li Kun, who are in the first class of Jinke, Li Sancai, who is in the second class, Gu Xiancheng, who is in the third class, etc. Please focus on discipline one or two."
"Among them, Sun Jigao Li Chen Weixin, you can take him to the governor's office and let him have a good look at what it means to be restrained by superior officials, backlash by subordinate officials, and rebel by gentry."
"Yu Menglin was born in the Imperial Academy. He has a pure personality and little experience. Let him be released to take charge of his own affairs."
"Li Kun, I have arrangements for him alone and let him explore the grassroots governance of the countryside."
"As for the latter two... they are not bad in ability, but they like to talk the most. Hai Qing will train me hard!"
Hai Rui listened to the emperor's detailed list and felt inexplicably absent-minded.
How busy does the emperor have to be on this day, so that he can not only comprehensively study the Confucian classics of all ages, but also pay attention to political affairs in detail, down to the specific character and personality of a certain person who is a Jinshi?
Just thinking about it.
The eunuch in charge of the ceremonial department suddenly stepped quickly into the Chengguang Hall.
Zhang Hong ignored Hai Rui, walked straight to the emperor, and handed over a memorial with the Ji Liao fire seal on it.
The emperor put the memorial into his sleeve and nodded calmly: "Hai Qing, the edict will arrive later. Please go read and organize the Sichuan case files first."
Hai Rui followed the good example and bowed out solemnly.
But I was sighing in my heart, how busy the emperor is now. He has been passing the imperial examination all morning, and arranging for Jinshi. Now he is summoning his subordinates, and the border military is taking advantage of every opportunity.
Looking at the fire seal pattern, it must be urgent news of a war involving more than ten thousand people.
The country is troubled.
Chapter completed!