Chapter 221 All parties react, suppress the rumors!
After passing the room where Zhuge Liang was, Wang Mang walked through another row of rooms before heading back in the direction he came from.
"It's almost done today, let's go back."
Wang Mang smiled and said to the outside officials: "You all have a good rest in the middle of the night, and we will come over early tomorrow."
"Uncle Uncle Zong is very considerate."
Song Qiaonian flattered him lightly, and then smiled and said to the officials outside: "The examination is the country's talent promotion ceremony, and it is of great importance."
"My lords, you have just worked hard these past few days. We all come in shifts. There will always be someone watching in the examination room. Any problems will be solved at any time."
He looked solemn and emphasized: "If you know how to test, nothing will go wrong!"
The outer curtain officers all nodded in agreement, and they all said that even if they go to the mountains of knives, the sea of fire, or the oil pan, they must overcome all difficulties to ensure that this test will be held smoothly.
I don’t know how difficult it is to hold an examination...
The group of people walked through the rows of examination rooms, lowering their voices, chatting and laughing as they walked towards where they came from.
As they walked, Song Qiaonian suddenly felt an inexplicable movement in his heart. He turned his head and looked to the side, but he didn't expect that this look would meet Zheng Guan's eyes when he raised his head.
Song Qiaonian was stunned, and Zheng Guan was also stunned suddenly.
Both of them were silent for a moment, and then Zheng Guan lowered his head and continued to do the questions. Song Qiaonian went over to call his uncle without even getting on the pole. Everyone pretended not to know each other, and they just passed by.
Wang Mang also noticed Song Qiaonian's strange behavior, but he didn't say anything. He just glanced in the direction of Zheng Guan, seeming to remember his appearance, and then turned around and continued walking...
After entering the examination hall, the candidates must stay inside for three days and three nights without being able to come out.
Even if you finish the questions in advance, you still have to wait until the last day before you can go out when you are released.
The candidates are working hard in the Gongyuan, and in the capital, some rumors about this examination are gradually spreading under the control of an invisible hand...
Ziwei Hall, Dongnuan Pavilion.
Li Qian was half lying on the couch, holding a letter from the Generalissimo's Mansion in his hand and looking at it thoughtfully.
"I heard that the Nancheng Army and Horse Division has always been very close to Zhao Kuangyin?"
Lu Bu, who was below, replied without thinking: "There are indeed many people down there who are very close to the Marshal's Mansion, and the deputy commander of the Nancheng Army and Horses Division is from the Marshal's Mansion."
"These people are all moving closer to the Marshal's Mansion, so in the past two years, Commander Li Guangbi has also become closer and closer to the Grand Marshal."
Li Qian closed his eyes and thought for a while, then nodded slightly after a while.
He picked up the pen and wrote a few lines on the paper and handed it to Lu Bu.
"Send someone from the Yulin Guards to take this to the deputy commander of the Nancheng Bingma Division."
The Nancheng Army and Horses Division will invigilate the examination in the Gongyuan, and the commander Li Guangbi will also be locked in to direct the corresponding matters.
But such a large army cannot be shut down just because of the trial, right?
Therefore, their deputy commander stayed outside and was responsible for maintaining stability in Nancheng during the trial period.
"Yes, foster father."
Lu Bu took the letter and nodded.
Li Qian paused for a moment and then asked: "How is the situation in the capital now?"
"Everything is fine."
A touch of excitement appeared on Lu Bu's face. Now he has gradually fallen in love with this kind of job that makes others unhappy but cannot catch him.
"Now the common people in the capital and the officials of the imperial court have basically heard the news."
Lu Bu already had experience in spreading rumors. From the time the candidates entered the venue to the present, in just two days, the news had spread throughout the capital.
"good."
Li Qian nodded and breathed a sigh of relief.
From the beginning to now, everything is in his plan, and the whole thing is developing in the direction Li Qian wants...
Lu Bu's affairs were handled very quickly. At this moment, both the officials in the palace and the imperial city were gradually paying attention to this matter.
Zhongshu Provincial Yamen.
Qin Huigang watched the two ministers of Zhongshu bid farewell. At this moment, he was standing alone in front of the window, looking at the sunset in the distance, and fell into deep thought.
After Qin Xi sent Wang Ciweng and Wan Qixi out of the house, he returned to the duty room and closed the door, carefully looking at Qin Hui in front of the window.
"Father, is what you just said true?"
Qin Hui did not look back, but said calmly: "It's just a guess. I don't know whether it is true or not."
Qin Xi hesitated for a moment, then said: "Father, is your Majesty really as scheming as you say?"
Qin Hui didn't look back, but said calmly: "Are you saying that you are worrying about the future for your father?"
Qin Xi was startled and hurriedly waved his hand and explained: "Of course not!"
"Father, I just feel that His Majesty is so young and may not have such sophisticated means..."
He can't forget what Qin Hui and the two central ministers said just now, what made him discover his long-term plan, and what possible fatal blow...
Just thinking of these words made Qin Xi feel numb.
He couldn't believe it, or he still didn't want to believe it, that the emperor in the palace who was younger than himself actually had such a long-term vision, such superhuman endurance, and such a strong ability to control the situation...
His method even deceived his father, whom he always thought was so wise and almost a demon, deceived the entire Zhongshu Province, and possibly even deceived all the officials of the imperial court.
In this case, regardless of status or position, Qin Xi subconsciously began to doubt. This was doubt about common sense.
Is it possible that there really is a genius in this world? Can he achieve this level at such a young age?
Is the gap between people really bigger than that between humans and dogs?
Qin Hui was silent for a moment when he heard this, then turned his head. Outside the window was the fiery red sunset, casting a shadow on his face.
"Whether you are overthinking it or not, no one can be sure now. Everything will be known by the time the trial is over."
~~
South of the palace city, the imperial city.
It was almost time for the next shift, and the atmosphere in each yamen became more and more lively.
Everyone's focus on work has become dull. At this moment, they are either busy bragging with the people around them, or chatting for a while about where to go to have a good time after work.
But just when this person was distracted, suddenly several ministers in scarlet robes met on the street and bumped into each other.
"Shilang Guan, long time no see."
Gao Xun looked at Guan Peng in front of him with a smile, while Deng Xunwu on the side also looked unkind.
In the past few days, gossip about the appointment of deputy examiner for the general examination has gradually spread. Not only the ministers know about it, but also the officials below have heard the news.
After many inquiries, Cai Jing's accomplices discovered that the original source of the news was actually Guan Peng, so naturally they didn't have a good impression of him when they met again at this time.
"haven't seen you for a long time."
Guan Peng just said a polite polite word and continued to walk forward.
The two sides were not the same people, and they couldn't pee in the same pot. Guan Peng's original plan was to be an internal agent in the Sixth Department, so now he naturally doesn't feel any guilt when meeting these people.
Deng Xunwu looked at Guan Peng and saw that he was not going south to go on duty, but to the west, so he asked coldly: "Where does Guan Shilang want to go now?"
Guan Peng originally wanted to make a haha and deal with it casually, but when he saw the direction of Deng Xunwu and Gao Xin, his heart was moved.
"Go to the Ministry of Industry."
He stopped and looked at the two people with a smile: "Where are you two brothers going?"
Deng Xunwu paused for a moment, then said: "Let's go to the Ministry of Rites."
Then, the two of them had no intention of talking to Guan Peng in detail. After replying in a hurry, they hurried towards the direction of the Ministry of Rites.
Guan Peng looked at the backs of these two people, thought for a moment, and then turned around and left...
The examination has begun, everything is proceeding in an orderly manner, and everything must be done according to the rules, so the burden on the Ministry of Rites is now much lighter.
Many officials from the Ministry of Rites who had finished their business walked out of the Yamen chatting and laughing, preparing to take a short break in advance.
But at this moment, two officials in scarlet robes came hand in hand. When they saw them, the officials of the Ministry of Rites lowered their heads and greeted respectfully: "I have met Mr. Shao Sikou!"
"No gift!"
Deng Xunwu, who was walking in front, waved his hand: "Where is your department?"
A young official who was stopped in front was stunned for a moment, then turned back and pointed in the direction of the second floor and said: "Master Bu Tang should still be in the duty room."
Now Wang Mang and Song Qiaonian are both in the Gongyuan, and only Sima Guang, the left minister, is sitting in the Ministry of Rites to handle various matters.
The one these two ministers from the Ministry of Justice are looking for must be him.
After the clerk answered what they had said, he did not leave directly, but bowed and said: "Master Shao Sikou, I will lead the way for you two."
Without waiting for Deng Xunwu and Gao Xun to speak, he turned around and led them to the second floor.
Gao Xun frowned slightly. He was walking so fast. How could he be leading the way? It was more like he was going to report a message.
But this was their territory after all, so the two of them had no choice but to follow behind.
After stepping onto the second floor and walking a few steps forward, the junior official came back from the front, bowed with a smile and said: "The Lord of the Ministry is already waiting for the two young commanders."
Deng Xunwu didn't care and nodded noncommittally.
Sima Guang from the front also came out with a smile: "Brothers, we have to wait to meet you from afar."
"Young uncle, you're welcome."
After a few words of greeting, the host and guest entered the room and sat down, served tea, and then Gao Xun got straight to the point.
"I wonder if Uncle Zongzong has heard the rumors?"
Sima Guang raised his eyebrows: "Rumors? The eldest uncle and Song Shilang are not at the Yamen recently. I am busy with matters in the Ministry of Etiquette every day and have no time to pay attention to any rumors."
Gao Xun felt depressed for a while. He didn't believe that Sima Guang hadn't heard about the leak of the test questions, so he was still pretending to be stupid?
"Of course it's because the exam questions were leaked."
Deng Xunwu added on the side: "Recently, there have been some inexplicable remarks in the capital and the imperial court, claiming that the examination questions have been leaked long ago, and were also openly purchased and circulated among the candidates, making this examination unfair."
Sima Guang was startled at first when he heard this, and then he laughed out loud and said: "It turns out that this is such a rumor. To be honest, I have heard a lot of such rumors recently, and even someone in the Ministry of Rites said so."
He shook his head slightly and said nonchalantly: "But rumors stop at the wise. Just listen to this kind of nonsense."
"Every time there is an audition, some unscrupulous people spread these messages, but when the truth is revealed, there will naturally be no place for these rumors."
Deng Xunwu and Gao Xun looked at each other and said that they were afraid that when the truth was revealed, there would be no room for them in the court.
"Young Uncle, although these rumors are groundless and not worth mentioning, if they are spread too much outside, some foolish men and women may believe them, which will lose the prestige of the imperial court."
Gao Xun said: "In my opinion, why not let the Ministry of Rites take action to suppress the rumors outside."
Deng Xunwu also sang Shuanghuang with him: "Of course, where justice lies, our Ministry of Punishment will not sit idly by."
"As soon as the Ministry of Rites posts a notice, the Ministry of Punishment will work with the Jingzhao Mansion to warn those with evil intentions who are still spreading rumors."
"To put the rumors to rest?"
Sima Guang looked at the two men in confusion: "You two ministers, why do you care about these rumors?"
"As soon as the trial is over, all the rumors will be self-defeating. It is unwise to waste energy on this matter."
Gao Xun and Deng Xunwu both sighed in their hearts. This was what the imperial court had done in previous years.
But not this year. If this rumor is allowed to continue to develop and gradually gain momentum, something will happen even if nothing happens.
The top priority is to cover up the leak. We must cover up this leaked incident tightly, cover it up tightly! Don’t let any news leak out!
"Young Master, what you said is wrong. It affects the reputation of the imperial court, so you must not be careless."
Gao Xun advised: "If you let the rumors spread this time, someone will be more unscrupulous next time."
Deng Xunwu also said kindly: "After all, the examination is hosted by the Ministry of Rites. Such a message is also detrimental to the Ministry of Rites. If Uncle Zong knew about it, he would not sit back and watch this rumor spread."
The implication behind the words is that this is your etiquette department's fault. We came to help you out of kindness, so why don't you agree quickly...
When Sima Guang heard Wang Mang's name, he hesitated a little: "It's the same..."
"But I can't be the boss of the great uncle. I can only wait until the first trial is over and consult with the great uncle before making a final decision."
Still waiting for the first exam to be over? By then it will be too late!
The original intention of Deng Xunwu and Gao Xun was to reduce the popularity of the leaked questions after the first exam. Now if you wait until the exam is over and then lower the temperature, isn't this taking off your pants and farting?
But before the two could continue to persuade, Sima Guang continued: "And after the first exam is over, all the candidates will come out. By then, they will naturally know what the exam questions are, and it will be easier to clarify the rumors."
"But……"
"Besides, since the rumors need to be clarified, the Ministry of Rites will also need some time to prepare."
Sima Guang did not give them a chance to continue talking: "The first scene will be over tomorrow, and then the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Punishment will work together to quell the rumors."
Deng Xunwu opened his mouth, but Sima Guang blocked all the words at once. He couldn't think of any reason to refute for a while, and the same was true for Gao Xun.
While the two were stunned, Sima Guang had already stood up and cleared away the documents on the table.
"Since we want to quell the rumors outside, I have to discuss with my colleagues in the Ministry of Etiquette how to issue this notice and how to handle the regulations. I won't leave two more people today."
Gao Xun hesitated to speak, but at this moment Sima Guang had already walked out of the duty room and was looking at the two of them with a smile.
At this time, everyone knew that they were about to send guests off and lock the door.
"Oh~ In that case, let's see you tomorrow."
The two of them had no choice but to compromise. It was too late and it was better than nothing.