Shen Shangshu's memorial mainly contains two points. First, to quell the criticism, he requested that the eight-legged essay be tested in the imperial examination; second, in order to prevent missing questions, he asked his Majesty to temporarily turn over the book and write the questions in person.
Regarding these two requests, no one could make a decision for the emperor, so the memorial was sent directly to Emperor Wanli in the inner palace.
Seeing this memorial, Emperor Wanli summoned Zhang Jing, the admiral of Dongchang, for questioning.
After the results of the previous examination came out, Zhang Jing mentioned the controversy about Huiyuan to Emperor Wanli in his daily report, and then Emperor Wanli asked Dongchang to find out the "truth."
When the emperor asked about Lin Tailai of Huiyuan again, Zhang Jing reported: "Recently, spies visited many scholars in Beijing, and they all said that Lin Tailai never discussed eight-legged essays with others, and never wrote eight-part essays in public. arts.
In addition, I also specially interviewed some candidates in Suzhou. It is said that when Lin Tailai was studying in Suzhou, he never wrote eight-legged essays in Suzhou.
Every time he went to study literature in the government, Lin Tailai would deal with it with articles he had written at home. There were also rumors that a scriptwriter named Gao Changjiang was the ghostwriter."
"Just tell me the result of your judgment!" Emperor Wanli said impatiently.
Zhang Jing immediately took on a very positive tone and replied in a seemingly professional manner: "Based on dozens of pieces of information, it can be concluded that Lin Tailai's production skills are not high and he should not be able to reach the rank of Huiyuan."
Emperor Wanli asked again: "Then how did this Huiyuan come from?"
Zhang Jing once again expressed his professional judgment: "It should be the first assistant Shen Shixing who put pressure on the examiner Xu Guo. Xu Guo was so angry that he deliberately chose Lin Tai to be the Hui Yuan, causing Lin Tai to get into controversy."
Upon hearing this, Emperor Wanli personally picked up his ink pen and wrote "accurate" on the memorial.
Zhang Jing himself started his career by following others to defeat the giant eunuch Feng Bao. His political level is not high and he is only good at collecting money outside.
Whenever he encountered trouble, he would get by by sending gold and silver to Emperor Wanli.
Seeing this, Zhang Jing quickly slandered and said: "I heard that the first assistant, Shen Shixing, deliberately created auspiciousness and asked Lin Tailai to pass the civil and military exams.
If the world thinks that the emperor has gained auspiciousness, and Lin Tailai's Huiyuan is exposed again, then the emperor will become the laughing stock of the world."
Emperor Wanli said to himself: "Compared with true auspiciousness, I would rather have a fake Hui Yuan."
If Shen Shixing caused a big scandal like fake Huiyuan, wouldn't he be caught by the emperor himself?
When the courtiers come to fight for the country's foundation again, they can force Shen Shixing to help him confront the enemy.
Thinking of this, Emperor Wanli suddenly looked forward to the imperial examination.
It's either true auspiciousness or false auspiciousness. No matter how the ministers argue, the emperor will definitely not lose.
The game at the highest level of the Ming Empire is still too far away from the candidates, and they cannot feel it at all.
Now, for the candidates, it’s just that those who made the list are partying hard, and those who didn’t make the list are wiping away their tears, not knowing whether there will be a next time.
Even without Lin Tailai as a focal figure, there are still many "topics" in Wanli's 17th-year list.
For example, after careful research, it was discovered that there are two major groups on the list.
The first group is that nine Wuxi County scholars are on the list. This result is very dazzling and can be regarded as a big hit.
Of course, in the eyes of the traveler Lin Daguan, these Wuxi County scholars on the list are even more special.
There are Gu Xiancheng's close assistant Gao Panlong, Gu Xiancheng's friend Ye Maocai, and Gu Xiancheng's student An Xifan.
Coupled with Xue Fujiao from Wujin County next door (Gu Xiancheng's classmate and grandson of Gu Xiancheng's master), half of the Eight Gentlemen of Donglin in later generations were of the same age.
As for what the second group on the list is, most people will not mention it in front of Lin Daguan.
After the examination, the Etiquette Department will hold a Chinese-style banquet, which is a preview of the Qionglin Banquet for the palace examination.
This kind of official banquet attended by all Chinese-style officials is definitely still focused on communication. Everyone is keen to get to know people of the same age. From now on, these will be official connections.
Although Lin Daguanren arrived relatively late, as soon as he showed up, he immediately became a star that attracted everyone's attention.
Behind him are Jin Shiheng, Chen Yunjian, and Shen Jue, and behind him on the right are Wang Yusheng, Zhou Yingqiu, and Dong Qichang.
This is the pattern of Suzhou Fuxue having one dragon and four tigers, plus two foreign aids, Zhou Yingqiu and Dong Qichang.
Lin Daguan has a good eye for making friends. The people in his circle of friends were all Jinshi in history. Coupled with the mysterious luck, they all passed the exam together.
Supported by six people on the left and right, Lin Daguan walked into the venue with a rhythm of his own.
Standing in the center of the most glittering venue, Lin Daguan's stern eyes wandered around and asked: "Who is Jiangyou Wu Daonan?"
A skinny man took two steps forward, but did not dare to go any further. He stuttered and said, "I, I have never met you, and I have never offended you."
Lin Daguan suddenly laughed, walked up to meet Wu Daonan, and greeted him warmly: "Ah! It turns out that you are Brother Wu! I have admired you for a long time, and today I got to know Jing!"
The six people following Lin Daguan nodded together and signaled to Wu Daonan.
Wu Daonan, who came from a remote mountain village, was a little confused when he saw this battle. Is this how scholars in big cities all meet?
Official Lin exchanged greetings with Wu Daonan for a while, and then suddenly said: "We have a lot of shady secrets on this list. There is a Gu family class, and all of them are on the list."
Wu Daonan was speechless. When Lin Huiyuan said "there are many shady things", was it a bit of a thief's cry to catch the thief?
Next to me, a friend from the same province asked subconsciously: "What is the Gu family class?"
Lin Daguan said loudly: "The so-called Gu family class are the relatives and friends of Gu Xiancheng, the official of the Ministry of official affairs!
Look at our list, Gu Xiancheng’s friends, disciples, and classmates are all on the list, so what is it if it’s not the Gu family class?"
Everyone around looked at each other and didn't dare to talk.
Official Lin raised his head again, looked around the venue, and asked loudly: "Who is Zhu Guozhen of Northern Vietnam?"
After seeing someone respond, Lin Daguan walked up to meet him again and greeted him warmly:
"Ah! It turns out that you are Brother Zhu! I have admired you for a long time, and today I got to know Jing!
You are in Huzhou and I am in Suzhou, connected by a strip of water and mountains and rivers across Taihu Lake."
The six people on the left and right who were not separated from Lin Daguan today also came over, nodded together, and signaled to Zhu Guozhen.
Zhu Guozhen was not from a wealthy family, so he was a little flattered when he was suddenly greeted warmly by a celebrity like Lin Daguan.
As the only superstar figure in Yichou Branch in the 17th year of Wanli, Lin Daguanren's every move attracted everyone's attention.
But after everyone silently studied it for a long time, they didn't see what kind of communication mode Lin Daguan had.
There was no pattern at all, just like a random roll call. Even Lin Daguanren's friends were confused.
In fact, the standard is only in the minds of Lin Daguan. Although people like Wu Daonan, Zhu Guozhen, etc. are not so famous in later generations, they have managed to get into the ranks of the elders and chief assistants.
After chatting with Zhu Guozhen for a while, Lin Daguan said without forgetting his original intention:
"Those of us who are not part of the party should stay away from the Gu family class, which likes to form cliques and fight against different parties. By the way, do you know who is in the Gu family class?"
Zhu Guozhen looked at Lin Tailai and the six people around him. You, Lin Tailai, are just a group but not a party, while others are just cliques?
Did you know that the seven people in your Lin family circle of friends are the second largest group on the list? They are not much worse than the largest group of "Nine Jinshis on the First List"?
Someone next to me couldn't stand it and said, "If others are from the Gu family, wouldn't you be from the Lin family?"
Everyone was shocked, who was so bold?
Before Lin Daguan became angry, Dong Qichang quickly whispered to Lin Daguan: "This is Wang Shiqi, the eldest son of the old alliance leader Wang."
Lin Tailai turned his anger into joy and said: "It turns out that it was my nephew in person. The last time my father and I discussed Taoism at Pingshan Hall in Yangzhou, two years have passed. I miss him very much!"
Wang Shiqi gritted his teeth and said: "I heard that you are called the master of Jinxue in Beijing. I have occasionally made some small achievements in recent years. I have studied some new editions and will discuss it with you someday."
Lin Daguan said "Haha" and said, "Brother Nian is serious!"
Once again, everyone felt baffled and didn't understand why Lin Daguan had so smoothly switched from nephew to brother Nian.
Moreover, Lin Daguan, who likes to bully others with the research results of "Jin Ping Mei", became timid in gold studies for the first time.