The imperial court prescribed two days for paper reading. On the first day, after discussing the thickest unknown paper, the paper readers read their own papers without interfering with each other.
The rest of the time passed peacefully, and then when it got dark, all the bosses left the palace and returned to the Ministry of Rites to rest.
Everyone knows that the ranking on the second day is the key.
Huo Tao, the left deputy censor, immediately got into the room of Zhang Fujing, the chief assistant, and said: "Raising tigers will lead to endless troubles!"
Although he didn't name anyone, everyone knew who he was talking about.
Zhang Fujing replied with great style: "It is difficult for us to use the tiger in the mountains and forests. It is better to let him enter the officialdom. It will be like a tiger in a cage. It will be restrained and fettered, which will be beneficial to us."
Huo Tao said impatiently: "Then don't let him enter the second class! Put him at the end of the third class and give him an eighth-grade idle official!"
Believe me, you can’t give him any chance, otherwise we will die without a burial place!”
Huo Tao's tone of teaching people how to do things makes Zhang Fujing a little unhappy. You, Huo Tao, only know how to make a fuss here, but the pressure is all on him and Zhang Fujing!
Then he responded: "I am the chief assistant and I can make my own decision!"
Huo Tao was deeply disappointed by this, "Where was your courage, Zhang Fujing, to endure the accusations of thousands of people and fight against the entire imperial court?
You took away the courage of Yang Tinghe, Jiang Mian, Mao Ji, Fei Hong, and Yang Yiqing as the five chief ministers in succession!
And now, you, Zhang Fujing, actually want to compromise with a young man who has not yet entered officialdom?"
Zhang Shoufu only feels that the best thing is to stand and talk without back pain!
I couldn't help but said something sarcastic: "If something goes wrong, the responsibility lies entirely with the first assistant. What can happen to you, Huo Tao?"
Huo Tao said angrily: "I want to go out to the west gate of the capital to visit Haidian with Ruofu and Mei Ji, how can I do that?"
Watching Huo Tao go out, Zhang Shoufu did not stay with any guests, so he could only sigh secretly. There are three hundred and twenty-five people in the palace examination, and you, Huo Tao, only focus on that one. The layout is too small.
After Huo Tao left, Wang Tingxiang, the Minister of Punishment, came, which surprised Zhang Shoufu.
Could it be that you are here to plead for someone from Qin? Do you, Wang Tingxiang, still have the nerve to come to your door? Is it because the chief minister’s fist is no longer strong and he can’t beat you to death?
However, Wang Tingxiang chatted casually and said: "I heard that Shoukui has been sick recently, so he should pay attention to health care. I have a few qi-tonifying prescriptions here, you might as well try them."
Zhang Shoufu: ""
Wang Tingxiang said nonchalantly: "If the Prime Minister cannot hold on, then Mr. Fang Ge will preside over the cabinet.
But Mr. Fang Ge is not good at doing things, and his ears are soft, so he can be easily taken advantage of, so I advise you to take care of yourself!"
Zhang Fujing sneered a few times and said sarcastically: "If you can just keep to yourself, you can let me live a few more years!"
Wang Tingxiang laughed, got up and left.
After a while, Zhang Fujingcaipin, who was holding the prescription, came up with something. What Wang Tingxiang hinted was that both Fang Xianfu and Huo Tao were from Nanhai County, Guangdong! Real fellow townsmen!
It was such a clumsy estrangement. Zhang Shoufu couldn't help but sneer at it. They had a friendship that they had built together through great courtesy. How could they separate just because of a few words?
But before falling asleep late at night, Zhang Shoufu couldn't help but wonder, did Huo Tao have that intention? If he fell, would it be more beneficial to Huo Tao if Fang Xianfu took over as the first assistant?
The next day, the fourth day of April, the ministers who read the papers came to Wenyuan Pavilion again.
Today is the day to determine the final rankings of the 325 people, and tomorrow is the grand roll-call ceremony!
All the test papers that should be read were read yesterday, and all the examiners gathered in the middle hall of Wenyuan Pavilion.
Yesterday, except Zhang Shoufu, who did not divide papers, every examiner submitted two first-class papers, a total of twenty-eight.
Including the thickest test paper ordered first and another one selected by the first assistant, the total is thirty first-class papers.
The cabinet will select the top three candidates from these thirty first-class papers to be submitted to the emperor.
If the imperial examination is compared to climbing a pyramid, this is the final pinnacle.
During the three-year imperial examination cycle, millions of people in the Ming Dynasty took part in the boy examination, hundreds of thousands of people took part in the Taoist examination, and tens of thousands of people took part in the provincial examination.
In the end, 4,000 people participated in the Jinke Examination, and 325 of them participated in the Imperial Examination.
Among the three hundred and twenty-five people, only thirty people entered the first level. Today, the final Three Tripod Armor will be decided.
After the chief assistant Zhang Fujing, bachelors Fang Xianfu, Li Shi, and Zhai Luan symbolically turned over the first-class examination papers, the powerful first assistant selected three test papers, tentatively designated as the top three, and the other three bachelors habitually acted as decorations
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Then the three test papers were circulated among the other readers, and no one raised any objections under Zhang Shoufu's eager eyes.
Even Xia Yan, the official of the Ministry of Civil Affairs and the biggest political enemy of the chief minister, did not speak.
Among the top three test papers, one is from a relative of Master Xia’s only son-in-law!
The three test papers submitted to the emperor have been settled, but these three test papers are not ranked now.
After the emperor has read the three examination papers, he will use his official pen to determine the rankings of first, first and third, which symbolizes the emperor's selection of scholars.
Then ten more backup papers were scheduled. If the emperor was not satisfied with any of the first three papers, he could change them from the backup paper.
Under normal circumstances, these ten backup papers are basically the first place in the second class to the tenth place in the second class, the most eye-catching rankings except the third class.
The 10,000-word test paper that attracted everyone's attention was listed tenth in the preparation paper.
This ranking is very good and subtle, and fully reflects the political wisdom of all parties and the Zaifu's consideration of the situation.
It's not that low, it's really not low. The tenth place in the second class is eye-catching enough, and it's also included in the third class, so it won't be said to exclude talented people!
It's not too high to say that it's high. After all, it's not as high as the top five in Sanding A and Second A, and it can barely maintain the dignity and dignity of the chief assistant.
And no one is sure whether the emperor likes this kind of publicity or not.
Anyway, this ranking is neither high nor low. Even if the emperor pays attention to it, it is enough to explain!
good for everyone!
The remaining test papers are generally divided into second-class and third-class papers, and the readers take turns filling in the rankings one by one according to the order of official position.
Until this time, all the test papers will still not be opened to read the names.
Near noon, after the rankings outside the Three Tripods were finished, fifteen examiners held the first three test papers and came to the Wenhua Hall north of Wenyuan Pavilion to meet the emperor and let the emperor decide the final ranking of the top three.
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At this stage, Gu Dingchen, the Minister of Rites, as the official responsible for the imperial examination, had to report the overall situation of the imperial examination to Emperor Jiajing. This was also very procedural.
Just listen to Gu Dingchen's business-like speech on his knees: "At that time, there were 4,000 people who were tested by the imperial corporal. They were selected in three rounds, and the ones with their foreheads were put to death, and 325 people were selected."
The other bosses had been highly nervous for two days, and they all felt drowsy after listening to such long stories.
But there's nothing we can do about it, officialdom is like this, and formalities always have to go.
"Among them is the young Qin Dewei, who was listed on the list at the age of seventeen, which is unique since the Jiajing Dynasty!"
Wucao! From the chief assistant Zhang Fuking to Master Tianguan Xia, and then to the soy sauce minister of the Ministry of Industry, everyone is not sleepy anymore!
We are all old bureaucrats. It has never happened before that a certain candidate is mentioned alone at this time!
Everyone looked at Gu Dingchen who was still making a report in astonishment. Are you trying to cause trouble? You are a weak minister who has always been inconspicuous. What are you trying to do? The relationship between you and Qin Dewei is beyond the reach of even one!
What's even more confusing is, what on earth do you, Gu Dingchen, want to do?