"Please give me your Majesty's permission," Ruan Yuan replied.

"Isn't this, in a few days, it will be... this year's examination?" Daoguang said to Ruan Yuan: "The year before last was my fiftieth birthday, so I added an examination and it was scheduled for this year. So.

I’m thinking that you will be the examiner for this year’s exam, what do you think?”

"Your Majesty, I have heard that in all the previous examinations, the examiners were selected by Beijing officials, but now I am a foreign official. This... The imperial examination has been conducted in this country for hundreds of years, and the subjects have been held 79 times. I have never heard of a foreign official serving as the examiner.

What's the matter?" Ruan Yuan was surprised when he heard Daoguang suddenly asked him to serve as the examiner. (In fact, in the late Qing Dynasty, the only person who served as the examiner for the joint examination was Ruan Yuan, who was in the 13th year of Daoguang's reign.

.)

"But I remember that there is no rule in the country, saying that foreign officials cannot be used as the chief examiner? What's more, you are now the co-organizer of the bachelor's degree, and you can be regarded as half a Beijing official. I don't think there is anything wrong." Daoguang said this,

He also sighed and said: "Actually, I want you to be the examiner. I know that when you were the examiner for the first time, you selected many talents. Tang Jinzhao, Wang Yinzhi, Cheng Zuluo, Lu Kun, all of them

Science, right? But now, instead of talking about the Chinese and foreign ministers and governors, we only talk about the academic administration at the lower level, which is actually getting worse day by day. I learned a few days ago that Shandong academic administration is very thoughtful, and no one is doing anything when he is in office.

When taking exams, they are often only asked to write a few lines, and then they are forced to stop writing. They do not take charge of the examination seriously at all! There is also Jiangxi academic administrator Zheng Ruiyu, who actually smoked opium while invigilating the exam! This is true for academic administrators.

If you keep your integrity, how can you set an example for the students below and select real talents? So I also thought that if you serve as the examiner again, you may be able to select many people with real talents and learning, so that the court will be able to do so in the future.

The employment of people is guaranteed. I will keep you for one more month and trouble you to take care of the imperial examination. What do you think? In the next few days, you can prepare it first. I will draft the imperial edict here.

After it is issued to you, you will come to the palace to preside over the examination, how about it?" At this time, due to the death of Sun Erzhun, the governor of Fujian and Zhejiang, Cheng Zuluo, a student selected by Ruan Yuan in the fourth year of Jiaqing, took over as the governor of Fujian and Zhejiang. For a time, Ruan Yuan, teachers and students, all took over the job.

Yunnan, Guangxi, Guangxi, Fujian and Zhejiang were the three governors in the south. After hearing Daoguang's words, Ruan Yuan still valued himself very much, so he was ready to accept this matter.

"Your Majesty, since you are so kind to me, I am willing to serve as the examiner for this examination." Soon, Ruan Yuan replied to Daoguang.

"You will have an audience two days after entering the capital. You don't have time to rest, so go back and rest first. In addition to you, I have also appointed Cao Zhenyong to be the chief examiner for this examination. Shangshu Na Qing'an, and Minister Enming as deputy

Examiner, when the time comes, you must work together to select the real talents?" Daoguang encouraged Ruan Yuan again.

"Is this...Cao Zhenyong..." Unexpectedly, Daoguang used two examiners, and according to the order of officials, Cao Zhenyong could only be above Ruan Yuan. So listening to Daoguang's words, Ruan Yuan was a little more uneasy at this time.

No matter Lu Yinpu, Na Yancheng, or all the students he had met, no one recognized Cao Zhenyong. Especially this time when they went north, Lu Yinpu and Na Yancheng repeatedly advised themselves to be more careful with Cao Zhenyong. But Daoguang allowed himself and Na Yancheng to be more careful.

Cao Zhenyong will also preside over the examination. Can such an arrangement really allow his own people to make the best use of them?

After Ruan Yuan bid farewell to Daoguang, he also returned to Yanshenggong's mansion for a temporary stay. Thinking that he was likely to enter the palace in a few days, he did not go to the Yangzhou Guild Hall in advance to meet with the students this time. However, the other officials had a lot of contacts.

Especially this year, many disciples came to visit Ruan Yuan on his 70th birthday. In the past few days, Ruan Yuan also met many old friends. On this day, Wang Yinzhi and Tang Jinzhao also came to Yanshenggong Mansion again.

Ruan Yuan could not go directly to see the postgraduate students, but the two of them could always tell a thing or two about what happened in the outer city by meeting with Ruan Yuan.

Just seeing Wang Yinzhi, Ruan Yuan also remembered that just in the previous year, Wang Yinzhi's father, Wang Niansun, died of illness at the age of eighty-eight due to old age. As a result, Wang Yinzhi naturally had to return home to guard the system.

Thinking of this, Ruan Yuan couldn't help but comfort Wang Yinzhi and said: "Boshen, I know that although Mr. Huaizu enjoys a long life, he is still your father. With his departure, the Confucian scholar who has been deeply involved in Sinology has lost his power."

One is missing. After you return to Gaoyou, you should take good care of yourself and recuperate. Don't get hurt because of this matter?"

"Teacher, student...student knows. In fact, the student is also sixty-eight this year. Now, if his health is really bad, he may have to become an official. The student has only experienced the second department of etiquette in his life. Although he is admitted as a student

As a member of the Communist Party of China, the students are consciously doing their best to organize the affairs of the ministry, but they are always unable to participate much in the important matters of the court. The teacher can only assist and cannot go further. Is it a pity to live like this in the end?" Wang Yinzhi also asked.

Ruan Yuan sighed.

"Boshen, when officials perform their duties, the imperial court can prosper and the world can be at peace. How many times have you presided over the imperial examinations, selected many famous people, strictly enforced laws in the Ministry of Works, and cut down on redundant expenses. Are these all achievements?

Does it mean that if you serve as an official for a lifetime, you have to serve as a governor outside and serve in the Privy Council in order to be considered as making a difference?" Ruan Yuan knew that Wang Yinzhi had always been interested in supporting the government. He had served in various ministries and achieved a lot, but he

His reputation as a scholar was so great that his political expertise was not known to outsiders, so he was comforted in this way.

"Teacher, if the person who is in charge of the imperial court now is a teacher, Bo Shen will naturally not have such thoughts, but for these thirteen consecutive years, hasn't Cao Zhenyong been the chief minister of the imperial court?" Tang Jinzhao thought of the changes in personnel over the years and asked him

Ruan Yuan sighed: "Students over the years have also seen that among officials and censors, there are not many people who dare to speak out, who are determined to correct long-standing shortcomings, and who show their ambitions in the court.

, but what about Cao Zhenyong? The more such a person is, the less he needs it! The teacher should know about Ding'an? He has been secretary of the cabinet for many years. He originally thought that as long as he had the title of Jinshi, he would be a member of the Imperial Academy.

, joined the Sixth Ministry, and no longer did things like writing documents like Zhongshu. Unexpectedly, after three years, Ding'an was still the Zhongshu of the Cabinet. For ten years, he was not allowed to move at all. This was not done deliberately by Cao Zhenyong, what else could he do?

What's the explanation? Don't talk about others, teacher, do you still remember Hu Zhucun where you came to the capital to talk about etiquette with you? Three years ago, the fake photo case occurred. Zhucun obviously did not take any bribes, but he was implicated by them and added

He was dismissed from office due to oversight. I heard that the emperor recently exempted Takecun from his fault and wanted him to come back. However, after all this trouble, Takecun is not willing to serve as an official in the capital anymore..."

"Really, Zhucun, what a pity..." Ruan Yuan thought of Hu Peihui, who had denounced the chronic shortcomings of the Ministry of Household Affairs, and knew that he had his own strengths in studying government affairs, but he could no longer make a difference in government affairs, and he felt sorry for him.

It's a pity. Later, Hu Peihui made great achievements in the study of rituals and wrote "Ritual Justice", which can be regarded as the pinnacle of ritual research in the Qing Dynasty.

"Teacher, do you remember Yu Lichu?" Wang Yinzhi asked Ruan Yuan again: "Students know that Li Chu failed the exam last year. It stands to reason that he failed four times and went to take the college entrance examination, but he failed.

It's okay, but I heard Li Chu say that he still wants to take the exam again. But now it is Cao Zhenyong who is taking the exam. His method of hiring people is completely different from Li Chu's idea. I am afraid that this time, Li Chu's paper will still be...

…They still don’t like it?”

"Li Chu? Didn't you pass the Li Chu exam last year?" Ruan Yuan couldn't help but feel sorry for Yu Zhengxie when he heard what Wang Yinzhi said. However, this time, it was not only Cao Zhenyong who was taking the exam, but he also had the opportunity to see Yu Zhengxie's test papers.

Thinking of this, Ruan Yuan also secretly made up his mind. This time, as long as there is someone with similar examination papers as Yu Zhengxie, he will be highly recommended among the examiners and he will ensure that Yu Zhengxie passes the examination.

Sure enough, Tang Jinzhao also thought of this and immediately said to Wang Yinzhi: "Brother Boshen, don't forget that this time not only Cao Zhenyong is in charge of the exam, but the teacher is also the one in charge? Teacher, we all know that Li Chu

His knowledge and talents are among the best in the country, and Lichu is not just a rotten scholar who only knows how to study hard. He has always paid close attention to the affairs of the four descendants in the border areas. Nowadays, the disaster of opium is getting worse. In the past two years,

There are many changes in Lingnan and Taiwan. It is a time when the imperial court is short of talents? If Li Chu can do Chinese style and can fully display his talents in the future, perhaps with his talent and knowledge, he will find a way to make advantages and eliminate disadvantages. But if he still fails this time,

Not only did the imperial court lose a talented person, Lichu himself was afraid that he would not be able to take the exam again. However, the chief examiner this time was..."

Ruan Yuan naturally knew what Tang Jinzhao meant. Although he was particularly valued by Daoguang this time and was specially ordered to participate in the examination, there were four chief and deputy examiners, and Cao Zhenyong was the first examiner. Both status and examination qualifications were above him.

Qing'an and Enming were also Jinshi, but he was no longer in the capital when they were admitted, and he was never familiar with them. Once a conflict broke out between him and Cao Zhenyong, Qing'an and Enming might not be able to support him.

However, to be admitted as a tribute scholar, four examiners must jointly recommend him, so even if he sees Yu Zhengxie's test paper, he may not be able to successfully help him with Chinese style.

But Ruan Yuan also thought that since he had this opportunity, it would be better than not being the examiner and letting Yu Zhengxie be deposed again, so he also said to Tang and Wang: "Dunfu, Boshen, since I have hope.

As the chief examiner, I will naturally help him with Li Chu's affairs. Being able to study Li Chu is enough to get the Jinshi, so I don't think this is favoritism. Even if I don't know which Li Chu paper is, based on

From my understanding of Li Chu, I think it shouldn’t be difficult to find his paper in the examination room. If he did a good job in the three essays, I will definitely recommend his Chinese style. If you two can still meet

Li Chu, just let him rest assured that he will take the exam as he wants, and I will take care of the rest."

"Students, thank you very much, teacher." Tang Jinzhao and Wang Yinzhi heard that Ruan Yuan had promised that as long as Yu Zhengxie performed normally and found Yu Zhengxie's test papers, they would definitely recommend him to pass the exam, and they immediately thanked Ruan Yuan.

Three days later, the edict appointing Ruan Yuan as the second examiner was immediately sent to Yan Shenggong's Mansion, and Ruan Yuan also went to the examination room to prepare for the examination. At least at this time, Ruan Yuan still believed that he had not been appointed as the second examiner thirty-four years ago.
Chapter completed!