After the Minister of Rites resigned, Zhang Yan was no longer as calm as before, and immediately sent an urgent message of 800 miles to remind Emperor Xiao Zhu to quickly send the examination questions for the college examination so that they could be printed in advance.
Zhang Yan couldn't help but not be in a hurry. It didn't take much thinking to print four million copies of the test papers. She knew that it would not be printed in a short time. If it was not printed in advance, it would not be possible in time.
But obviously, Zhang Yan's worries were unnecessary. Zhu Cixiang paid more attention to the new imperial examination than anyone else. If the red lady hadn't given birth soon, he would have committed suicide in Nanjing.
So after learning that the registration process had begun in the south, they came up with the test questions and sent 500 Imperial Guard troops to escort them to Nanjing.
Zhang Yan also didn't expect that as soon as her 800-mile expedited order was sent out, Xun'er's test questions would arrive.
At this moment, in the study room, Zhang Yan sent almost all the maids away, took the sealed cylinder where the examination papers were stored, and opened them herself.
Because on the seal above, it not only clearly states that the Empress Dowager Zhang Yan has personally signed the seal, and those of the Yi tribe who dare to open the seal without authorization are also stamped with the emperor's seal. It can be seen that Emperor Xiao Zhu attaches no less importance to the examination paper than to the passing of the throne.
edict.
So not to mention others, even Zhang Yan herself was a little nervous at this time. She struggled for a long time before finally taking it apart, and her palms were sweating.
In addition to the two test papers, there was also a secret letter in the cylinder. Zhang Yan ignored the secret letter and picked up the test paper first and read it.
Obviously, they are also very curious about what kind of test questions Zhu Cihong will ask, so they can't wait.
But he was stunned immediately. The size of the examination paper was about the same as that of a royal newspaper. It was filled with simple numerical symbols and a small number of Chinese characters.
Zhang Yan also recognized the ten simple numbers and symbols. She immediately knew that it was an arithmetic test paper. Looking at the rough handwriting, she couldn't help but reveal a wry smile.
Obviously, he recognized that it was handwritten by Zhu Cixiang himself.
"This is too simple!"
After Zhang Yan read it carefully, she said to herself, because she found that there was no question above that she could not master. According to the explanations on the test paper, she could definitely get a perfect score.
Then he picked up another test paper and read it. This one was full of Chinese characters, which was much more normal.
"It's true that as long as you can learn to count, you can be admitted as a scholar!"
After reading both test papers, Zhang Yan couldn't help but sigh with emotion, it's just a matter of studying the test paper, but with this one in her hand, most children who have completed elementary school will pass.
At this moment, Princess Kunxing walked in hurriedly.
"Auntie, I heard that the imperial brother sent the college examination papers?"
"Ah! You damn girl, you are becoming more and more unruly. Why did you break in without notifying me?"
Zhang Yan trembled with fright and cursed angrily.
"Auntie, please calm down. The child was also in a hurry and forgot to inform her." Seeing that she had been frightened like this, Princess Kunxing also hurriedly apologized.
"You can't read this test paper. Since you are going to take the imperial examination, you must avoid suspicion!" Zhang Yan waved her hand and subconsciously hid the test paper.
"Well, the kid is just a little curious. Now that I have seen the test questions, I am indeed suspected of cheating."
Princess Kunxing thought about it and said, then she really resigned and left the study.
After Princess Kunxing left, Zhang Yan picked up the secret letter and read it. After reading it, her nervousness relaxed a lot, and she admired Emperor Xiao Zhu's arrangements from the bottom of her heart.
Then he ordered people to summon Dong Xiaowan and Li Xiangjun.
"I publicize that Dong Wan, the supervisor on the left, and Li Jun, the supervisor on the right, pay their respects to the Queen Mother. May the Queen Mother be blessed!"
Half an hour later, the two women came to the study with nervous and apprehensive looks. This was the first time that the Queen Mother summoned them. In the past, even if something happened, she would just have someone come to the Propaganda Supervisor to give orders.
"Get flat."
Zhang Yan's tone was calm, and she obviously didn't have much affection for the two women.
"Thank you, Queen Mother."
The two women quickly thanked them.
They also knew that the Queen Mother did not want to see women like them who were born in brothels, so they were full of doubts about the Queen Mother's personal summons this time.
"Dong Wan, Li Jun, if the propaganda supervisors go all out, how many newspapers can be printed in a month?"
Zhang Yan didn't say much to the two of them and asked directly.
Although the two women were not sure why the Queen Mother suddenly became concerned about newspapers, Dong Xiaowan immediately replied: "Reporting to the Queen Mother, if we go all out, the Publishing and Printing Department can print half a million newspapers in just three days."
"What? Five hundred thousand newspapers can be printed in three days? This..." Zhang Yan's jaw almost dropped.
"Yes, Queen Mother, the royal newspaper comes out every three days, and the latest issue has reached 400,000 copies." Dong Xiaowan explained, but seeing the Queen Mother's gaffe, she felt a little proud.
Because if we go all out, no matter the cost, printing not only 500,000 copies in three days, but also one million copies will not be a problem.
"I have seen your newspaper occasionally. How can you print half a million copies in three days? There are so many newspapers, and each copy only costs three cents. I'm afraid you will lose a lot of money in one month, right?"
Zhang Yan calmed down, looked at the two women and asked, she didn't read the newspaper occasionally, but read it every issue, so she really couldn't figure out how the two women managed to print half a million copies of the newspaper in three days.
Where did the funding come from? He didn't allocate a penny to them.
"Back to the Empress Dowager, the Publication and Printing Department under the Propaganda Supervisor currently has 2,000 skilled engravers. They can carve out a complete block of wood in three days. A block of wood can be printed all day and night. A thousand newspapers can be printed. Two thousand blocks of stone can be printed.
It's 200,000 copies. As for the required funds, they are all allocated by Fengyue Division. Queen Mother, this is a detailed account book..."
After Dong Xiaowan finished explaining, he took out a thick account book, obviously prepared for it.
"You can submit the account books to His Majesty yourself in the future, and the Ai family will not read them." Zhang Yan waved her hand.
Obviously, he doesn't intend to get involved in the Propaganda Supervisor's accounts, lest she be asked to allocate funds later. The Propaganda Supervisor looks like a bottomless pit, and I'm afraid he will lose millions of taels of silver in a year.
However, I finally understood that the propaganda department could print half a million copies of the newspaper in three days, and I also understood why Xinger was not in a hurry at all.
Secretly, these two famous prostitutes, relying on Xun'er's favor, were so bold that they recruited two thousand carvers to carve and engrave the boards day and night. If you also count some carpenters and printing masters such as typesetting, it is estimated that the entire propaganda supervisor
The number of people must exceed 10,000 or 20,000.
Although she felt that the two women were a little lawless and it was unworthy to pay such a huge price to print the newspaper, or even nonsense, Zhang Yan still did not intend to interfere.
After all, the appearance of the two women was there, and she would not believe it if there was no dragon bed for Shang Xun'er. Otherwise, the two women would never dare to be so bold and make the Propaganda Supervisor so powerful that they were said to be the number one yamen in the inner court.
It’s not an exaggeration either.
The two women were relieved to see that the Queen Mother had no intention of pursuing the Propaganda Supervisor. They naturally understood that the Queen Mother had misunderstood their relationship with His Majesty, but they did not intend to explain.
"Have you two signed up for next year's college examination?"
"Go back, Queen Mother, I and the right supervisor Li Jun have all signed up."
Dong Xiaowan was startled and replied somewhat uneasily. Li Xiangjun's expression also changed. Apparently, they all thought that the Queen Mother had called them here for this matter, and they felt most uneasy for a moment.
Zhang Yan ignored the two girls' nervousness. She didn't care about their affairs. She waved her hands and said: "You don't want to participate next year. You can take part the year after that. These are the questions for next year's college exam. You guys first
Let's see!"
"ah!"
The two girls suddenly looked stupid and a little at a loss, but Zhang Yan snorted softly, which frightened the two of them and quickly stepped forward, carefully picked up the test paper, and started reading with pale faces.
Zhang Yan saw that the two women were reading with their hands trembling, so she did not explain. It was not until the two of them finished reading that she said solemnly: "According to the contents of these two test papers, four million copies of each will be printed.
How long will the prison sentence take?”
"Back to the Queen Mother, if we stop the newspaper, it will only take one month to complete."
Dong Xiaowan thought for a while and replied. The two women finally understood the purpose of the Queen Mother calling them here.
Zhang Yan heard that after just one month, her senses towards the two women were finally not that bad, and the look on her face softened a bit.
Li Xiangjun hesitated for a while, and finally said boldly: "To the Queen Mother, the royal newspaper has a great influence now. If the sale is suddenly stopped, I am worried..."