Traitors of the Manchu dynasty, why do you make me an emperor through the ages Chapter 178 Qin Xiang, you are the examiner appointed by me! I support you!
Chapter 178 Qin Xiang, you are the examiner appointed by me! I support you!
"Han Mulu... Han Mulu..."
Li Qian stood up and walked a few steps in the hall with his hands behind his back. He did not directly put his thoughts on Cai Jing's head, but subconsciously thought of this person.
It is difficult to replace Cai Jing's position as examiner. What Li Qian wants is to replace this person and not let Cai Jing's plan succeed.
Replace someone he thinks is suitable to serve as the deputy examiner.
Just who should I choose? And how should I change it?
Li Qian thought about it for a moment. In fact, he felt that it would be best for Wei Zheng to take on this job, but it was a pity that it was a bit incompatible.
Moreover, the imperial court has never had a tradition of letting censors serve as deputy examiners.
Li Qian had a big head. He turned his head and looked at Wang Mang. The first thing he said was: "Uncle Wang Zong, this is the first spring vacation since I came to the throne. I attach great importance to it."
Wang Mang paused for a moment, lowered his head and said, "Yes, Your Majesty."
Li Qian nodded and continued: "The Ministry of Rites has held so many spring festivals in the past years, so it must be very experienced, right?"
"Now I want to know from you how much power the censor, who serves as the supervisor, has when marking papers? Can he correct the fallacies of the examiners?"
There are two supervisors in the imperial examination, who have always been the censors. Their duty is to ensure that every behavior of the examiners during the examination is in compliance with the regulations.
But in actual actions, how much this responsibility can be fulfilled... is hard to say.
Wang Mang thought about the meaning of Li Qian's words and paused for a moment before replying: "Your Majesty, everything during the marking process is in compliance with the regulations. In the past years, the monitoring officers were just like decorations."
Li Qian frowned slightly.
Wang Mang seemed to know what Li Qian was thinking, and continued: "Your Majesty, when grading papers and selecting successful candidates, the main consideration is the examiner's wishes and preferences."
"In fact, except for a few of the most outstanding test papers that can be recommended by fellow examiners, most of the rest are above the standard. If you get the test papers, there is no problem, but if you don't, there is a certain reason."
"At this time, it depends on how the examiners choose..."
Listening to his words, Li Qian gradually fell into deep thought.
What Wang Mang said are secret matters and unspoken rules in the marking room, which outsiders have never known.
It was also the first time that Li Qian knew that the examination papers were so subjective.
But think about it, after all, this thing is not a multiple-choice question, a fill-in-the-blank question with standard answers.
After Li Qian was silent for a moment, with a heavy expression on his face, he said, "In other words, the supervisory officer cannot control the two examiners at all? Nor can he change the candidates they selected?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Wang Mang replied in a deep voice: "The supervisory officer is only responsible for supervising whether the examiner's behavior violates the rules. He cannot comment on the content and marking of the examination paper."
Li Qian secretly sighed, this plan failed.
He thought for a while, then turned around and looked at Wang Mang, and suddenly said: "Uncle Zong, I think the Minister of Rites, Sima Shilang, can take on the important task of deputy examiner."
Wang Mang said helplessly: "Your Majesty, Minister Sima has already served as deputy examiner twice before. If he serves as deputy examiner again now, I'm afraid it will make other people dissatisfied."
Li Qian pondered for a moment, but did not force it, but said: "In that case, let's leave it until later."
Wang Mang was startled and seemed to understand something. He lowered his head and said, "Yes, Your Majesty, I obey your order."
In fact, Li Qian knew from the beginning that Sima Guang could no longer serve as deputy examiner.
It's just that Wang Mang came over to tell Li Qian about this matter, and Li Qian had to express something.
The implicit meaning of this suggestion just now is that I have already remembered it and it will benefit you in the future.
Even if you are a minister, if there is no benefit, people may not work for you for free.
In the current situation, Sima Guang of the Ministry of Rites cannot do it, and needless to say, Song Qiaonian, the other minister.
The Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Punishment were not available, so there were only four departments for Li Qian to choose from: Li, Bing, Hu, and Gong. Among them, Han Mulu was still from Cai Jing, which meant that there were seven candidates for him to choose from.
Li Qian thought for a moment and shook his head gently.
Cai Jing was a minister and the top leader of the minister's province. In other words, his status inherently exerted pressure on the ministers.
Can you find an examiner from somewhere else? Find an examiner who is worthy of Cai Jing?
A few wisps of cold wind came in through the cracks in the window, keeping the air circulating in the small study and giving Li Qian a sense of clarity.
He picked up the tea cup on the table, took a sip carefully, and then turned to look at Wang Mang: "Uncle Wang Zong, I remember that the deputy examiner can only be selected from among the ministers, right?"
Wang Mang hesitated for a moment, then said: "Your Majesty, yes and no."
Before Li Qian could ask, he continued to explain: "Your Majesty, in the past, most of the candidates for deputy examiners were selected from the Hanlin Academy. However, later on, the Hanlin Academy declined day by day and could not bear this important task. The candidates for deputy examiners were gradually transferred to the Sixth Department. .”
Li Qian nodded, whoever forced him to do it, in that case...
Wang Mang seemed to know what Li Qian was thinking, and reminded him: "It's just that in recent years, the assistant minister has been elected as the deputy examiner. I'm afraid it has been regarded as a routine by some people."
Li Qian was stunned and suddenly understood what he meant.
The Hanlin Academy was in decline and the Six Departments were strong, which resulted in the transfer of candidates for deputy examiners.
But now that the Sixth Department is still strong, it will be very difficult to strip them of the privilege of the deputy examiner talent base...
Li Qian thought about it carefully for a while and still felt that he could not give up and at least give it a try.
It's impossible to just watch the situation deteriorate and still be timid and afraid to sit down, right?
After thinking for a moment, Li Qian sat back at the table and said to Wang Mang: "Uncle Wang Zong, I think it's good to ask the assistant minister to serve as the deputy examiner."
Wang Mang was startled. It seemed that Li Qian's reaction was very different from what he thought.
Li Qian took a sip of tea and continued: "It's just that since we have to select deputy examiners from among the ministers, we have to be more fair. The minister of Zhongshu is also a minister, and the minister of the sect is also a minister. We can't let them all every time Just watch it?"
Wang Mang was stunned for a moment, but he didn't expect that His Majesty the Emperor would bring out four more ministers?
In this way, wouldn't it involve Zhongshu Province and Menxia Province at the same time?
Li Qian continued to think about the matter.
In Zhongshu, there are two ministers under his sect, and they are also of the third rank. They are at the same level as the twelve ministers in Shangshu Province. Such competition can be justified.
But among these four ministers, who should be chosen specifically?
Li Qian's favorites are actually the two assistant ministers, but now that Yan Song is not in the capital, no one will support these two guys, so the probability of them being selected is actually not high.
Then the only ones left are the two ministers from Zhongshu Province.
Moreover, Qin Hui and Cai Jing had conflicts before. Can you help them add fuel to the fire now?
"What do Wang Zongbo think?" Li Qian looked at Wang Mang below, waiting for his reaction.
"Your Majesty is Holy Ming."
Although Wang Mang was not very optimistic about this idea, he still handed it over and said: "This is the most fair strategy, and should be acceptable to both the Minister of Internal Affairs and the Minister of Internal Affairs."
But in the Six Books of Shangshu, those ministers who are expected to serve as examiners are quite reluctant to accept it.
"good."
Li Qian smiled softly: "I will discuss this matter with Prime Minister Qin when I get back. I believe Prime Minister Qin will also be willing to see this matter."
Wang Mang nodded: "Yes, Your Majesty, please leave."
"Um."
Li Qian nodded. When Wang Mang just stood up, he seemed to suddenly think of something and said, "By the way, Wang Zongbo, when I was in the capital before, I saw many barbarians and other barbarians joining me."
"This is a good thing, but the barbarians are cunning, ignorant of etiquette, and do not understand my Daqian writing. If the court wants to communicate with them, there is nothing they can do."
Wang Mang froze.
Li Qian continued: "I have been thinking about it these days and feel that this chaos must be corrected."
"So I want to set up a Sibari Pavilion to be responsible for receiving some of the barbarians who have surrendered. At the same time, I will recruit Hanlin from the Hanlin Academy to join it and be responsible for translating the languages of those barbarians."
He paused and said with emotion: "After I master the language of those barbarians, I will have to let them take responsibility for any envoys or receptions in the future. At least it will save a lot of trouble."
"I think this Siyi Pavilion can be handed over to the Ministry of Rites to supervise it. It will be convenient to do things together with the host and guest."
Wang Mang was startled and hurriedly bowed and said: "Yes, Your Majesty, I obey your order."
"Of course, we can't do it now." Li Gan smiled and stretched out his hand to signal Wang Mang to get up: "At least I have to finish my work for a while first."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Wang Mang responded.
Even if Li Qian didn't say anything, he wouldn't go back and do this now.
If he entered the palace today and turned around and set up a Seyi Pavilion, then even a fool like Cai Jing would be able to detect that something was wrong.
This matter needs to be slowed down.
But even so, Wang Mang was still happy when he left.
Not only did he get rid of the troublesome things ordered by Cai Jing, but he also gave the Ministry of Rites an errand for nothing.
Your Majesty is a good man and can handle things well.
You must know that the struggle for diplomatic power between Honglu Temple and the Ministry of Rites has always been an eternal topic.
Now if the Ministry of Rites has such a Siyi Pavilion, it will definitely have the upper hand in this dispute.
Wang Mang left happily, but Li Qian fell into deep thought in the small study.
What Cai Jing is saying is not simple, and must be dealt with properly...
The next day, in the small study, Qin Hui, dressed in a bright red official robe and wearing a hat, was sitting on a chair, smiling and discussing the memorials of recent days with Li Qian.
"Your Majesty, this is no longer just an ordinary bandit. This person calls himself the 'King of Hunshan'. He has proclaimed himself king and has raised an army to rebel. We must mobilize our troops as soon as possible to wipe him out."
Qin Hui looked at the memorial in front of him and said helplessly: "We must not continue to recruit tigers. Raising tigers will cause trouble."
Li Qian was silent for a moment, then sighed quietly and said: "If you are not forced to have no way out, and you can't even survive, who would be willing to put your head in the waistband of your pants to rebel?"
Qin Hui seemed to agree very much and nodded with emotion: "What your Majesty said is absolutely true. As long as they can have enough to eat, which common person is willing to do such a thing?"
Then his voice changed: "It's just that in addition to ordinary people who can't survive, there are many ambitious people in this world. These people instigate and coerce the people to satisfy their selfish desires."
"This 'Hunshan King' is such a person."
He said sternly: "The Xing'an County government has issued a notice to the people on the mountain before. As long as they come down from the mountain and return to their fields, they will no longer be held accountable for the past, and next year's taxes will be exempted and exempted."
"There was news over there a few days ago that some people had sneaked down the mountain and went home on their own."
"But the thief who calls himself the King of Hun Mountain still closes the gate of the village and does not allow any rebels... The people come down from the mountain, but they dominate the village by themselves."
"If this kind of thief is not eliminated quickly, the innocent people he oppressed will ultimately suffer."
Li Qian was silent for a moment and nodded: "In that case, let's suppress it, but the magistrate of Xing'an County needs to be changed."
He said calmly: "This kind of county magistrate who can force the people to rebel may take revenge again after they come down from the mountain."
"If you move him elsewhere, the gangsters on this mountain may disappear without being suppressed."
Qin Hui was startled, and then he praised: "Your Majesty is thoughtful and considerate, which is beyond the reach of my ministers."
He then took out the next memorial and said with a smile: "Your Majesty, please read this memorial again..."
It wasn't until he finished speaking the last letter that Qin Hui smiled and said with emotion: "Your Majesty is truly a genius."
"In recent days, His Majesty has become more and more skilled in memorial matters. Even people like me, who have been dealing with memorials for more than ten years, have to be impressed."
When Li Qian heard this, he secretly became wary.
It's not a good thing to be praised by Qin Hui. Is it possible that you have discussed memorials with him too many times recently and that you have been influenced by him and become more and more similar to his style?
Li Qian was secretly alert in his heart, but said with a smile on his face: "I am just a middle-aged man, Prime Minister Qin is the mainstay of Da Qian." Although he said this, a look of pride flashed across his face.
Seeing this scene, Qin Hui chuckled and said: "The memorials that your Majesty reviewed a few days ago are all very appropriate in my opinion."
"I have nothing to do today. Please excuse me."
He was about to stand up as he spoke, but Li Qian stretched out his hand to stop him: "Mr. Qin, wait a moment."
Li Qian laughed and said: "Actually, I also feel that I have become more and more proficient in handling memorials these days. When I read the memorials a few days ago, I even had a good idea. Today I have to ask Qin Xiang to help me give some advice. .”
"Don't take advice seriously."
Qin Hui's face still looked a little frightened, and he said: "I am only making some trivial, hypothetical and speculative thoughts on His Majesty's far-sighted thoughts one-sidedly and narrowly..."
"Ahem." Li Qian put his fist to his mouth and coughed twice, interrupting Qin Hui's incantation: "Prime Minister Qin, I have an idea about the candidates for the examination, and I want to discuss it with you."
"Examiner?" Qin Hui was a little confused and reminded carefully: "Your Majesty, in order to prevent the news from leaking, the examiners for the general examination are always selected after the year."
"good."
Li Qian nodded and said solemnly: "But everything should be done sooner rather than later. It is better to make a decision as soon as possible before the New Year than to rush after the New Year."
Without giving Qin Hui a chance to speak, Li Qian continued: "Prime Minister Qin, actually there is a reason why I came to you today."
"I think you are the most suitable person to serve as the examiner."
"Chen..." Qin Hui's eyes widened a bit.
"That's you."
Li Qian looked solemnly and looked directly at Qin Hui: "Prime Minister Qin, you are knowledgeable and highly respected. You are very popular among the scholars and you are also the person I trust most."
"I want to appoint you as the examiner of this examination."
"this……"
Qin Hui was not dazzled by this huge surprise and temptation. He paused for a moment and then said awkwardly: "To share your Majesty's worries, I will go through fire and water, even if I die."
"It's just that I was the examiner of the last subject. If I serve as the examiner of this subject again, I will be re-elected as the examiner of the examination. I'm afraid..."
"It doesn't matter."
Li Qian smiled and shook his head, and walked out from behind the table with his hands behind his hands: "Prime Minister Qin, it doesn't matter if you are re-elected as the examiner. You are the examiner appointed by me, and I will definitely support you."
"His Majesty……"
Although Qin Hui was very moved, he still declined politely: "This year, one of my nephews who is in the fifth service will take part in the examination. Even if I want to avoid it, I cannot be the examiner of this examination."
"Prime Minister Qin's nephew..."
Li Qian pondered for a moment, then his eyes lit up: "Prime Minister Qin has worked hard and made great achievements, and he has worked conscientiously to help me handle the government affairs."
"How about I choose this nephew of Prime Minister Qin to be the top scholar in this subject?"
The corner of Qin Hui's mouth trembled, and he hurriedly raised his hands and replied: "Your Majesty, absolutely not. Your Majesty treats me so kindly, and I am so heartbroken that I can't repay you!"
"It's just that my nephew is just a decent person. He may not even be able to pass the examination, let alone the palace examination?"
"I know that he is definitely not a top scholar, so I ask your Majesty to take back his orders. You must not show any favoritism for my sake!"
"What Mr. Qin said is too modest. How unfair is it to your nephew?"
Li Qian sighed helplessly: "When people become prime ministers, they work hard to promote their relatives. How about you? What does it look like?"
He walked closer and patted Qin Hui on the shoulder: "Prime Minister Qin, if the officials in the imperial court don't even care about their closest family members, how can they be asked to care about the people of the world? "
Qin Hui's body trembled as he was slapped by Li Gan. Although he didn't understand that His Majesty the Emperor seemed a little abnormal today, the more so, the more cautious he became...
The more you have to express your true thoughts in reverse.
"Your Majesty, please let me say something. This is wrong."
He raised his head and said seriously: "If every official in the imperial court takes promotion and indulges in personal affairs as a matter of course, what should other people do?"
"Should those people who don't have officials at home deserve to be trampled under their feet?"
Li Qian looked at him in surprise, he didn't expect this guy to have such understanding?
Qin Hui said with emotion: "No matter what others do, I don't dare to do this. As for the descendants of the clan, when I am around, I will restrict them. When I am gone, they just want to violate the laws of the court." , and can’t do it anymore.”
Li Qian smiled and shook his head and said, "With a fair and strict elder like you, your family members may have many complaints."
"As long as the people of the world have no complaints, it doesn't matter no matter how many complaints they have." Qin Hui said lightly, as if this was really a trivial matter.
A flash of emotion flashed in Li Qian's eyes, and he couldn't tell whether it was real or fake.
But after such a long time, whether Qin Hui was pretending or acting, he probably wasn't as sober as before.
In this case, it's time to show your true purpose.