Xu Qian looked at Wang Jiaoyu as if he were a fool.

He's not stupid.

A teaching edict is only eight or nine grades, and he can't make the decision even in the county examination. He dares to guarantee Xu Qian in the government examination. If he is not a fool, then Xu Qian is a fool.

Xu Qian was even thinking in his heart: "Does Wang Jiayu think that I am young and think I am easy to fool?"

Seeing that Xu Qian didn't believe it, Wang Jiaoyu smiled faintly and said, "Why, you don't believe it?"

You are a fool if you believe it.

Xu Qian said sternly: "My lord, the student is a descendant of Zhongliang. He reads the books of the sages and writes books and compositions. He is the last scholar to enter the sage and set forth his words. His pen is of great weight, how can he be opportunistic?"

Anyway, this old guy was cheating. Xu Qian wondered if the man named Wang wanted to cheat him out of his money, so he simply used high-sounding words to shut up the old guy's mouth.

Wang Jiaoyu chuckled and said: "You guys, if you say these words to others, there may be people who don't know the inside story and are deceived by you. But how dare you play such a trick in front of me? Come on, let me tell you the truth. , after the results of the county examination were released, I went to the government school to enter the roster of newly admitted children this year. I accidentally found out a piece of news. This news was extremely confidential. If it weren’t for the friendship between Master Xuezheng and me from the same hometown, I’m afraid. I won’t reveal it to me either.”

Xu Qian had a smile on his face, but it was just a superficial smile but not a real smile. He looked respectful on the surface, but he still didn't think so in his heart.

Wang Jiaoyu said again: "Do you know what the news is? Now that I am in the same boat as Magistrate Su, we can be regarded as grasshoppers tied together with you, so I will simply tell you that the magistrate is ill."

"I'm sick..." At this time, Xu Qian no longer dared to take it lightly. This news would not be unusual in normal times. People all get sick, and the prefect is also a human being, so it is not news at all.

However, the government examination is about to begin, and the prefect is ill. This is huge news for Xu Qian. Now that the government has released the news, it means that the government examination will definitely continue. Since the government examination will continue, who will come? Examiner?

Wang Jiaoyu gave Xu Qian a deep look and said: "The magistrate is lying on the sick bed looking for medical advice. I am afraid that he will not recover in a month. But now that Enke is around the corner, if the magistrate falls ill, he will not be able to recover." It was really not the right time, so the prefect concealed his illness from outsiders and only said that he was slightly unwell, but he did not hope that something would go wrong with Enke. You are a smart person, you must know what I mean, right?"

Xu Qian couldn't help but ask: "Since the magistrate is ill, who will preside over the examination?"

This is the issue that Xu Qian is most concerned about. Even if the magistrate dies, it has nothing to do with him. He has been a magistrate for so many years and has enjoyed all the blessings he deserves. But Xu Qian is different. Xu Qian has not yet become a magistrate. , the only thing he cares about is his own imperial examination career.

Wang Jiao said: "When the time comes, I will naturally choose from among the subordinate officials."

Xu Qian said: "There are not many subordinate officials in this mansion who can take on this matter. The ranks of the recommenders, experienced officers, governors, ministers, and school inspectors are too low, so I'm afraid they won't be able to take on big responsibilities. As for Lord Tongpan, he is also one of the chief officials in the mansion. , but after all, it is subordinate to the punishment officer, and it is a bit inappropriate for the punishment officer to take charge of the examination. After much deliberation, it is only the Tongzhi of this mansion who is both noble and an assistant official. There is a magistrate who cannot take care of the matter and temporarily take over. Due to the rules of his job, I guess the person taking the exam this time is Mr. Tongzhi."

Wang Jiaoyu pinched the beard under his chin and smiled enigmatically: "If it is not the prefect but Magistrate Su who is sick this time, will Magistrate Su let the county magistrate preside over the county examination?"

This rhetorical question was like a wake-up call, which made Xu Qian suddenly realize and said hurriedly: "Of course not, the chief officer and the assistant officer have always been suspicious of each other. Yes, if the prefect chooses to take the exam this time, Tongzhi, wouldn't it mean that the Tongzhi will do it for him?"

Taking advantage of the situation to establish authority? If I were the magistrate, I would never let Tongzhi have this opportunity. I would rather let Tongzhi take charge of the examination than delegate power to Tongzhi."

For the Ming Dynasty, examinations were always a top priority, and they were also a means for officials to claim credit. If a few talents could be selected from the middle, it would become a legend among scholars. In addition, examinations have always covered a wide range of issues, requiring the cooperation of all government agencies.

, whoever takes charge of this matter will inevitably have to give orders. Who is the fool who can sit in the post of Hangzhou magistrate? Of course, he will not take advantage of the assistant officer in vain.

Wang Jiaoyu said: "Children can be taught, but there is still a candidate to take the exam in Hangzhou Mansion, Master Zhengcang of the Mansion School. Master Cang is the academic officer of the Mansion. He has a noble status and is related to the school.

The prefect has no stake, and although the prefect has no intention of delegating power now, I predict that this appointment will only happen sooner or later."

As he spoke, he took out an article from his sleeve and said in a calm tone: "This is an article written by Master Zhengcang, my master. Take it and take a look. If you can taste it, this time

You will definitely shine in the government examination."

Xu Qian couldn't help but his eyes lit up, he hurriedly took the article, put it away carefully, and then saluted Wang Jiaoyu and said: "Your kindness will be remembered by the students."

Wang Jiaoyu looked at him mockingly and said, "Didn't you just say that you wanted to speak for the saint?"

Xu Qian said in a serious tone: "Did the student say that? I'm afraid you heard it wrong. How could a student be so virtuous and capable, how dare he speak for a saint? Being able to speak for a master is a student's long-cherished wish."

When he said this, Xu Qian couldn't help but despise himself. Even before he became an official, his face was already three feet thicker than that of an official. How could it continue like this? He couldn't help but sigh in his heart: "It really is.

Once you enter the official career, your career is as deep as the sea, and from then on your integrity is like that of a passerby."

Wang Jiaoyu cheered up and said seriously: "I have done what I should do. I believe you understand what Magistrate Su and me mean. You should work hard and don't waste the good intentions of Magistrate Su and me.

Otherwise, I will never divorce you. In addition, this information is a secret of our government, and you must not leak it to anyone."

Xu Qian hurriedly agreed, feeling filled with joy but also extremely complicated. Of course he knew what this secret meant. Every examiner has his or her own preferences. Some examiners like steady articles, while others like spiritual articles.

There are even those who like dullness. In addition, they also have their own opinions on various kinds of running script. To put it bluntly, there is never a standard for judging whether the article is good or not. If the level is about the same, the examiner will often prefer those who are more correct.

Articles about my own spleen and stomach.

This is Xu Qian's current advantage. While others are still thinking about the preferences and appetites of the prefect, Xu Qian knows that the person who is taking the exam and marking the papers this time is his own school. More importantly, Wang Jiaoyu also sent

I wrote an article written by Mr. Xuezheng. Many things can be understood from this article. As long as you think about it carefully, you will definitely win the favor of Xuezheng in the answer sheet of the government examination. As long as your level is in the middle among other children.

If you are above the level, you are very likely to be among the best.

Xu Qian came out of the county school and hurried back home. He was in a good mood. He bought a bottle of wine along the way and went back. After eating the wine and having a sleep, he began to think about the article he had learned from Zheng Zheng.

Zhao Mengting has long been accustomed to Xu Qian's various mood changes. Anyway, this guy is talking about Taohua Temple in Taohuawu today, and he will have his master's dream again tomorrow. Zhao Mengting even feels that she is old and rotten, and can no longer keep up with Mr. Xu's thinking.

Only sometimes, Zhao Mengting would accidentally see Xu Qian studying in the room through the door curtain, sometimes annoyed, sometimes excited, sometimes serious. She could not help but be attracted by Xu Qian's interesting expression. When she looked back, she was surprised.

I couldn't figure out what I was thinking for a while.

"Haha... It turns out that this Xuezheng is also from the Lingyin sect. I really didn't expect it..."

"From what he read between the lines, it seems that he admires Cai Jing's calligraphy very much, and his writing is full of flattery. This old guy is definitely not a good guy, and he will definitely become a corrupt official in the future."

"On the contrary, his couplets follow the orthodox Neo-Confucianism, and he has the style of Lingyin School in breaking the topic, but he inherits the topic but is more solemn. This person is quite interesting. Could it be that he has schizophrenia? This old guy is quite boring.

It’s tight.”
Chapter completed!