Chapter 425: Children and grandchildren have their own blessings
The next day, Qin Dewei called Chen Feng and Xu Gu over and said sadly: "The list of five people we have has been leaked!"
Chen Feng and Xu Gu looked at each other, both embarrassed. Qin Dewei had basically stayed at home for more than two months, but the two of them often went out to socialize.
Who doesn't have a close friend? So a situation similar to "I have a secret to tell you, you are not allowed to tell others" happens.
However, the two of them are not big bosses with sensitive identities. The scope of communication is not that wide, and the problem is not that serious, right? Which exam has not had some rumors before?
Moreover, Qin Dewei did not emphasize confidentiality at the beginning, and they were very sensible and did not explain the source.
Then I heard Qin Dewei say: "The key is that I heard that this list was known to the Jinyiwei Official School and reported to the emperor!"
Wu Cao, Chen Feng, and Xu Gu were startled. If the list was exposed to the emperor, the problem would be complicated. It is very likely that all five people would abandon it.
But Qin Dewei turned his worries into joy and said: "But after I think about it, this is actually a good thing!"
Chen Feng Xu Gu: ""
As a Nanjing scholar, I have long been accustomed to the feeling of not being able to keep up with Qin Dewei's thinking, so I don't have to think about anything and wait for Qin Dewei to explain himself.
Sure enough, I heard Qin Dewei explain: "At the beginning, we got the most likely list of eight people, and later it was reduced to the more likely five people.
If these five people are excluded, then among the remaining three people, wouldn't there definitely be an examiner?"
Chen Feng and Xu Gu were not stupid. When they heard this, they suddenly realized.
Five people became three, and the scope was further reduced, which seemed to be a good thing!
Thinking back on it, could it be that you, Qin Banqiao, did it on purpose?
No wonder after having a list of eight people, you Qin Dewei wanted to reduce it to five people. You didn't want to keep it secret. It turned out to be a further elimination method!
Qin Dewei took out another stack of notebooks from the inner room and said, "The remaining three great Hanlin officials are Dong Qi, Cai Ang, and Yao Lai.
There are only a few days until the general examination. Here are the articles and handouts of three Hanlin scholars. Let’s seize the time to ponder and analyze them together!”
Since the 11th year of Jiajing, Xu Miaoxuan has been helping Qin Dewei copy Hanyuan's internal materials by using his relationship with his neighbor Zhang Xueshi. The focus must be on the notebooks of senior Hanlin officials.
Chen Feng and Xu Gu were also overjoyed. Today, they finally see the hope of Chinese style. Qin Dewei is worthy of Qin Dewei, who has no plans left!
The famous Jinling hermit Xu Long said privately to his son Xu Gu that in fact, what Qin Dewei is best at is leading people to win, as long as he is a good tool and does not cause trouble.
The old man's wisdom is indeed correct, just go to the capital and follow Qin Dewei. There are three gangs for a good man. Even though Qin Dewei is a genius, he will still need the support of the township party in the future.
But it was said that Xu Miaojing received the task from Qin Dewei and went to Dongchang the next day.
Eunuch Qin, the boss of the factory, read the draft of the memorial in his hand and was silent. He knew at a glance that this handwriting did not look like Xu Miaojing's at all.
In Xu Miaojing's social circle, there is only one person who can do such a thing!
I thought that you, a kid, had been a turtle for two months, and you really wanted to take the exam honestly.
As a result, just a few days before the exam, something like this suddenly happened.
Although Eunuch Qin did not understand the specific ideas due to lack of information, he could vaguely see that someone must be making an article to select the candidate for the examiner.
Dongchang must not hide such sensitive information and not report it. So what Eunuch Qin was hesitant about was, while reporting it, should he help to show it off?
He also knows that this year may not be a good time for someone. The main reason is that the final ranking in the palace examination is controlled by the cabinet ministers.
At present, Zhang Fujing is still the chief minister, and Huo Tao, Wang Hong and others are still in the court. Even if someone passes the imperial examination, he will not get a good ranking in the palace examination.
Why bother? It would be useless if you were really beaten to the bottom of the top three.
When he finally thought about it, Eunuch Qin sighed, "Children and grandchildren will have their own blessings" and made up his mind.
Then he said to Xu Miaojing: "This memorial of yours does not need to go through the General Affairs Department. I will personally choose the opportunity to submit it to the emperor. You must take the credit for it."
A few days later, the date has reached February 2, the 14th year of Jiajing.
Spring has officially arrived, and the emperor's scripture feast has resumed.
The simple explanation of the so-called Jingyan is that Hanyuan Ci officials gave lectures to the emperor, which is one of the reasons why Hanlin officials have a distinguished status.
Then the important ministers of the cabinet, six ministries, and science and education will also attend and listen together. But compared to the Hanlin officials, the ministers of the cabinet can only play a supporting role in the Sutra banquet.
As a teenager, Emperor Jiajing was still very diligent and studious, and had a strong interest in studying classics and history.
Otherwise, what would he use to quarrel with the ministers on the issue of ceremonial affairs?
Therefore, twenty years before Jiajing, the emperor's banquet system was still running relatively normally and was not abandoned. There were also Hanlin officials who were punished by Emperor Jiajing because of poor lecture quality.
This Sutra feast on February 2, the 14th year of Jiajing's reign, is particularly important, because the ninth day of February is the day when the examination will begin, and the examiner has not yet been decided.
Maybe at this sutra feast, the emperor chose whoever he liked to be the examiner?
Who among the Hanlins doesn’t want to be the examiner of the general examination? How many more beautiful things are there in the officialdom than accepting two to three hundred Jinshi disciples at once?
Therefore, at this sutra banquet, the Hanyuan poets in the Wenhua Hall worked particularly hard.
Whether it was those responsible for giving lectures, those responsible for answering questions, or those responsible for turning over books, they all tried their best.
Of course, all this has nothing to do with Zhang Chao and Bachelor Zhang. He is just standing in the crowd to make soy sauce. Showing his face in front of the emperor is not the turn of a cold-blooded old man like him.
The other ministers present in the Wenhua Hall looked on with cold eyes and made silent assessments in their hearts.
However, Emperor Jiajing's thoughts have always been unpredictable. No one can predict which Hanlin he will choose to be the examiner.
During the intermission an hour later, the emperor temporarily retired to rest, while the ministers chatted in twos and threes.
Huo Tao, the left deputy censor of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, approached Xia Yan, the Heavenly Official of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, and asked, "I heard that the boy from Jinling named Qin was lucky enough to pass the provincial examination. He is also here to take the exam this time. Do you think he can pass the exam again?"
?”
Xia Yan chuckled a few times and said, "You are a minister, why do you pay so much attention to a child?"
The subtext implies that Huo Tao is not broad-minded and still holds grudges.
Huo Tao also said half sarcastically, half threatening: "How different is it from you Xia Guizhou? There are too many talented people from Jiangxi, so you can't pay attention to others, right?"
The subtext is that if you, Xia Yan, want to take care of the Jiangxi fellows smoothly, then you should stop meddling in other affairs.
Xia Yan said disapprovingly: "It's not you, Huo Tao, who has the final say in the examination."
Huo Tao snorted coldly: "Then let's see again."
In fact, Huo Tao once recommended Zuo Chunfang Zuo Yude Jiang Rubi to the emperor in private, but Huo Tao didn't know what the emperor thought and was unsure.
After the intermission, Emperor Jiajing reappeared, sitting on the throne, while the lecturer Jiang Rubi stood behind the lectern opposite.
But before the lecture could begin, Shi Shiran, the eunuch of the Qin Dynasty and governor of Dongchang, entered the palace with the palm of the imperial horse supervisor's hand.
It can be said that Eunuch Qin's appearance was very sudden. Usually at the Sutra banquet, only the eunuch who is the Chief of Ceremony is present, and Eunuch Qin has not yet become the Chief of Ceremony.
But as a factory official, if he shows up suddenly, there must be something urgent, so it is not sudden.
The Qin eunuch took a memorial from his sleeve and presented it to Emperor Jiajing. Needless to say, this must be something the emperor should read immediately.
After Emperor Jiajing read it, he handed it to the eunuch accompanying him: "Read it to the gentlemen!"
This memorial was written by Xu Miaojing, the commander of Jinyiwei. After hearing this, the cabinet ministers and Hanlin officials in the palace were all stunned.
Who is so boring as to make such a list of five people and circulate it everywhere? What does this mean?
Only a bachelor named Zhang who was standing in the crowd was dumbfounded. What are these disciples who deserve to be killed by a thousand swords doing?
Someone stood up and remonstrated, saying: "These rumors are extremely vicious and are destroying the imperial ceremony. Please send your Majesty to send officials to investigate!"
Someone else refuted: "The rumors were spread among the candidates. Now that there are only a few days until the examination, and thousands of candidates are being pursued, can the examination be held normally?"
Immediately afterwards, someone stood up and told Emperor Jiajing: "In any case, the examination ceremony is the most important. Complete the examination safely first, and then do other investigation matters!
As for things like rumors, I'm afraid the more we investigate, the more we investigate. If it doesn't affect the overall situation, the best policy is to deal with it coldly at the moment."
Emperor Jiajing was very particular about his power and power. How could others guess the emperor's thoughts?
So no matter what, these five people can't be used, otherwise wouldn't they be guessed?
But now that there are not many senior Hanlin officials, who should be replaced? Emperor Jiajing's long eyes swept around the Hanlin class, thinking about the final choice.
At this time, the eunuch Qin next to him suddenly said: "I still doubt in my heart that there may be other lists."
Other lists? Emperor Jiajing remained calm, but his rebellious spirit secretly aroused, and his eyes continued to wander.
Nowadays, the number of Hanlin officials is relatively small, and there are really not many candidates who are qualified to take the examination. If we exclude those who may be guessed, there will be few candidates.
Finally, Emperor Jiajing saw a certain bachelor named Zhang, who was indeed a senior Hanlin scholar.
However, this person participated in the Zuo Shunmen incident and made a major political mistake. He has been left out in the cold for more than ten years and is silent in the court.
In the eyes of others, if this person can be sent out to host the provincial examination, it is already a stroke of luck during the exam season when manpower is scarce. How can he continue to host the national examination?
Emperor Jiajing suddenly said: "Zhang Chao!"
At this moment, Academician Zhang was cursing in his heart, and by the way, he had already made up his mind that there was nothing he could do in this Hanlin and he would resign and return to his hometown tomorrow!
Hearing the voice suddenly, he just subconsciously stepped out and knelt down in front of the throne.
Then Academician Zhang woke up. His face turned pale and he was trembling with panic. Something big was going to happen to this horse rider!
I didn’t expect that the emperor was so wise and powerful, and I could tell at a glance that he had drawn up the list!
The emperor is a mean and ungrateful person and is harsh to others, and now he is in danger of dying!
Will he go to Yunnan and look for Yang Shen of the same year to take care of him for retirement? Or will he go to Guangdong and Guangxi to eat lychees?
If I had known this, I would have retired after the Nanzhili Township Examination!
When Emperor Jiajing saw Zhang Xueshi's appearance, he thought it was because he was trembling with excitement.
This kind of strong feedback of life and death really made Emperor Jiajing feel a sense of accomplishment, so he decisively issued an edict: "If you are used as an examiner, you will be locked up in the Gongyuan Academy immediately!"
There was an uproar in the Wenhua Hall. Unexpectedly, in the end, the examiner fell on the most unlikely candidate, Zhang Chao!
Emperor Jiajing snorted coldly, who can guess it right this time?
Everyone's eyes turned to Zhang Chao. Is this Lao Pou Street a bachelor's student or a bachelor's lecturer?
He usually seems to be indifferent to the world, but he turns out to be a ruthless character. After ten years of silently enduring, have you finally started to show off your strength?
The two guards in imperial robes who accompanied him came forward, picked up Bachelor Zhang, and dragged him out.
They are responsible for immediately sending the newly-minted examiners to Gongyuan for isolation, and cutting off all contact between the examiners and outsiders.
Emperor Jiajing issued another decree: "The rumors will be investigated after the examination is over!"
As the saying goes, the test is the biggest, and stability trumps everything else. Rumors are probably nothing that can be found out, so let's just go through the motions.
Eunuch Qin quietly exited the Wenhua Palace, hiding his merit and fame.
Children and grandchildren will have their own blessings. If you can do this in the exam, then just leave it to fate. If you really end up at the bottom of the top three, that is your fate.
Zhang Xueshi's legs and feet were weak for some reason, so the Jinyiwei Official School could only continue to carry Xue Shi Zhang out of the palace.
The guard at the palace gate saw him and thought he was going to be dragged out to beat him with the imperial staff.
After leaving the left gate of Chang'an, the imperial city, and then going all the way to the East City, and sending Academician Zhang to the Gongyuan, the news spread immediately.
No one is stupid. A few days before the exam, a bachelor was suddenly sent to the Gongyuan and locked up. Who could he be if he wasn't the examiner?
Following Qin Dewei's order, Ma Er had been wandering around Gongyuan to watch the limelight. At this time, he immediately turned around and ran home.
Qin Dewei, together with two top students Chen Feng and Xu Gu, were studying the books of Dong Qi, Cai Ang and Yao Lai.
They didn't dare to slack off and had been going on for several days. They ascended to the sky and landed on the ground in one fell swoop!
Ma Er ran into the yard and shouted at the top of his voice: "Sir! Your rural examination master Zhang Xueshi has been locked up in the Gongyuan!"
The three people in the room were all shocked when they heard the news.
Qin Dewei was a little confused. What happened? Teacher Zhang cheated? How did he become the examiner?
Chen Feng, Xu Gu and others looked at Qin Dewei, and then at the notebooks of the three major Hanlins in their hands. Could it be that all their hard work these past few days to sharpen their guns in battle was in vain?
Moreover, the myth of Qin Dewei’s inexhaustible strategy was shattered just like this!
"Don't doubt it, everything was as expected!" Qin Dewei shouted, never allowing his authority to be questioned!
He realized later and racked his brains to compile: "After the emperor saw the list of five people, how could he not have imagined that because the number of imperial officials is small, the popular candidates may be guessed?
Therefore, it is reasonable for the emperor to throw away all the popular candidates and appoint a person who seems to be the least likely, and it is also not beyond my expectations!"
Chen Feng vaguely remembered something and said in awe: "Did you say that you would kill all the eight people on the list? That's what you meant?"
