But they still have a chance. After all, first-come-first-served, and get some first-hand information, they can at least win at the starting line.
"My lord, what exactly is the test you are talking about?"
"Although when selecting a retainer, one should take an examination to select the best and discard the dross. But if you want to be a retainer in the palace, you have to prepare your own food. So how should this examination be formulated?"
"Sixty taels of silver per year. Those who are not wealthy gentry cannot afford this money at all. The common people have been screened out from the beginning."
"At the same time, we have to have both talents and screen out a large number of people. How many people will pass the exam in the end?"
Of course Zhao Huan has considered these things. What he lacks most at this stage is money, so he cannot recruit wise men from all over the world for the time being.
But you can't just focus on money. Otherwise, if you recruit a group of wealthy children and rely on Zhao Huan's support to bully men and women and do evil, Zhao Huan's reputation in this life will be completely ruined.
The threshold is a bit high, but there is nothing we can do about it.
"The exam is divided into three levels: preliminary selection, written test, and interview."
"The primary election is about virtue. As long as you have done good deeds and someone can prove it, you will be qualified for the primary election. At that time, the Changfu Association will arrange for manpower to set up twelve small booths in various places in Bianjing and send people to inspect them.
Those who pass can come to the city and take the written test."
"The written test naturally tests talent. Please note that it is talent, not literary talent."
"Anyone who passes the written examination will be qualified as a retainer from outside the government, and will then undergo a unified interview."
"I will personally host the interview. As long as you pass the interview, you can become a retainer in the palace."
"The deadline is one month, no waiting after the deadline."
After learning about the content of the exam, the Zhu family immediately became excited. Although they had participated in party struggles, they still treated the people well in private. After all, everything was to maintain the reputation of Queen Xiangong.
In their opinion, the children of the Zhu family can just take the written examination directly, and a large number of them will become outsiders.
The news that Zhao Huan was recruiting customers spread quickly.
Originally, the people of Bianjing were all excited because of the battle in Yizhou. Now they learned that Prince Ding's Mansion was going to recruit customers, so they were naturally very excited.
Since the deadline is only one month, only Bianjing and surrounding areas will participate in the selection.
But even so, there is still an endless stream of people going to Bianjing to take the exam.
The Hongyan Restaurant, which has already opened, usually has a lot of customers, but now it is even more popular due to attracting diners.
Countless young people from wealthy families gathered in Hongyan Pavilion, all of them were full of joy and lofty ideals.
"If the palace recruits servants, I have to think about it. After all, servants are too restricted. I am used to being rich and noble, and I can't do the work of serving others."
"It's much better to be a retainer. Not only can you enter the palace, but you can also live freely and freely on weekdays. This is a piece of cake in the sky."
"Hahaha, the prince's feat in Yizhou is simply incredible. It is comparable to the reincarnation of a civil and military star. He will definitely inherit the throne in the future. If you can become the prince's disciple, it will be equivalent to being a disciple of the late emperor!"
"That's right. If you only hand over five taels of silver in a month, you will most likely get the title of a potential guest. How can there be such a good thing in the world?"
"Don't be too happy too early. Whether you can become a retainer of the palace or not, you have to pass the exam before you can make a final decision."
"I've always been charitable. I've already passed the primary election, and it's up to the written test and interview. My requirements are not high. As long as I can pass the written test, everything will be fine."
"I don't know what will be tested in the written examination. The prince seems to have said that if literary talent is not tested, what else is worth testing besides literary talent?"
"Could it be...the way of merchants, formation of troops, skills and crafts, Qimen Dunjia, etc.?"
"It's really possible! Although the prince is very talented and talented in literature, and even His Majesty once lost to him in calligraphy and painting, it seems that the prince doesn't like to see literati very much."
Li Shishi, who was standing on the second floor, couldn't help but smile gently when he looked at the people who were having a heated discussion.
Li Yulan and Xiao Yan'er stood beside Li Shishi, one on the left and one on the right, with the same smiles on their faces.
Compared to Li Shishi and Li Yulan who were calm and composed, Xiao Yaner was as arrogant as ever.
She folded her arms across her chest, leaned against the railing, laughed and taunted: "They all say that sex workers are despicable, but if you ask me, these rich young men are not that noble at all."
"How can any servant in the world give money to the owner of the house? Spend money to do work for others? How can you be so arrogant? You are really a bitch."
Li Yulan shook her head and said with a helpless smile: "I want you to accumulate more knowledge and horizons, but you spend all day studying how to seduce men. Naturally, you don't understand the reason."
"Don't say five taels. Even if it is fifty taels, it is only six hundred taels a year. There are many people who are willing to prepare their own dry food."
"There is no other reason. Just the word "Ding Wang" is enough."
Although Xiao Yan'er despises these candidates, when she mentions Zhao Huan, her head becomes confused. After all, she is from the Jiaofang Department, and she is Zhao Huan's personal steward here, so she is naturally very angry.
"That's right, our prince, just by his name, is enough to shock the world."
Li Yulan frowned: "When did the prince become your family? How shameless!"
Xiao Yan'er snorted and responded with the same contemptuous gaze: "You are not much better. Last night, you had an erotic dream and you called the prince to pursue your slave. Do you think I didn't hear you?"
"I pretend to be noble all day long, but in fact I am a slut at heart."
Li Yulan didn't know that she could talk in her sleep, and her face turned red with embarrassment, and she even became angry with embarrassment.
"Who are you calling a slut?"
"Believe it or not, I tore you apart!"
Naturally, Xiao Yan'er was not willing to be outdone: "I'm talking about you, don't scare me, my aunt is not scared."
Seeing that Li Yulan and Xiao Yan'er were quarreling again, Master Li didn't care and just asked casually: "The literary club has been open for a while, have you ever found out any valuable information?"
Li Yulan rolled her eyes at Xiao Yan'er, was too lazy to pay attention to her, and turned to look at Master Li.
"What I said back to my sister is nothing more than some news about dispatching troops and generals, and it has nothing to do with the prince."
"If there is any connection, Li Gang, who came to Hongyan Pavilion to cause trouble before, seems to have been transferred to the Dianqian Department recently, and is quite at odds with several senior officials in the Dianqian Department."
Li Shishi naturally knew the relationship between Li Gang and Zhao Huan. He knew without thinking that Li Gang must have gone to seize power.
"Is there any news about Taiyuan Mansion?"
"The prince seems to be very interested in Taiyuan Mansion, especially Li Chen."
Li Yulan thought thoughtfully: "Not really. Since Cai Jing's death, there has been little movement in Taiyuan Mansion."
"Furthermore, the affairs of Taiyuan Mansion are of great importance, and it is impossible for Your Majesty to allow the prince to have any contact with Li Chen."
Hearing this, Master Li raised the corners of his mouth and chuckled: "Whether the prince can contact Li Chen naturally depends on our ability."