After Zhao Zhen listened quietly to Lu Yijian's statement, he nodded and said: "My beloved ministers' evaluation is accurate. Later I will issue an edict to award the reward and make it known to the world. Knowing that I am rich and beloved, I will draft a commendation edict immediately after I retire from the court today."
Fu Bi came out of the queue and bowed to accept the promise.
Zhao Zhen continued: "Lu Aiqing, why are you waiting for no results from Su Jin's reward?"
Lu Yijian said: "Your Majesty, I would like to ask the Holy One to decide on Su Jin's reward. We don't know how to reward him."
Zhao Zhen said: "Why is this?"
Lu Yijian said: "When I discussed with you all, I felt that Su Jin's hard work and merits were great, and he should have been highly praised. However, there is a difficult problem in front of us, so I can't give any suggestions."
Zhao Zhen asked curiously: "Why, does Su Jin have any other major faults?"
Lu Yijian said: "That's not true. It's just that Su Jin's identity is indeed a bit embarrassing. He was born as a merchant in Luzhou. Although he studied at Yingtianfu Academy, he did not participate in the imperial examination selection. At best, he was just a civilian. Although the emperor has a keen eye for talents and is exceptional.
He was promoted to handle food affairs; but our Song Dynasty has always attached great importance to the imperial examination and becoming officials. Although there are many people who have no merit and have received the patronage of their ancestors or military merits to become officials, they are still a minority, and the unusual appointment of officials is limited to county officials.
"I originally proposed to grant Su Jin an official position of sixth rank or above, but due to his status, he cannot do so."
Zhao Zhen frowned and said, "Are there no exceptions?"
Lu Yijian said: "Your Majesty clearly knows that there are exceptions to grant favors, but if the Emperor grants favors at will, wouldn't it hurt the hearts of all the candidates in the world? They studied hard for ten years in order to participate in the imperial examination and serve the country.
"And if someone can become a high-ranking official without passing the imperial examination, it will encourage students all over the world to abandon their studies and pursue careers. It is better not to do this."
Zhao Zhen snorted and said: "There is some truth in it, but Su Jin is a meritorious person. If I don't reward him heavily, wouldn't it be possible for people in the world to accuse the imperial court of being unkind and unjust, which would also hurt the hearts of many people."
Lu Yijian said: "So I don't dare to make a decision. It would not violate the ancestral system to grant the seventh- and eighth-grade official positions to Special Envoy Su, but it seems unfair to Su Jin. It is up to the emperor to make his own decision on this matter."
An unknown fire rose in Su Jin's heart. The Yangtze and Yellow Rivers had been crossed, but they were blocked by a smelly ditch. Are you paralyzed? If you don't take part in the imperial examination, do you mean you are ignorant and incompetent? What kind of rule is this?
I worked very hard to run errands, but for this reason I was blocked from the mainstream and ended up being a seventh- and eighth-grade clerk. It was really annoying. Being a big official or a small official is a trivial matter, and I can't afford to lose face.
Zhao Zhen looked at Su Jin's unkind expression and asked Wen Yan: "Special Envoy Su, you have heard this. This matter is indeed a bit tricky. I want to hear what you think."
Su Jin breathed a sigh of relief and said: "Your Majesty, I will not make things difficult for you adults. I am doing food services because I want to do my best for the court, and I am not going to be a high-ranking official. I am doing errands."
On this occasion, I have been in danger of losing my life several times. If it were for the sake of promotion and fortune, how could a humble minister risk his life?"
Lu Yijian, Du Yan and others all smiled, thinking: "I'm afraid it will be too late if you express your feelings again."
Su Jin continued: "On Bagong Mountain, the humble ministers were imprisoned in the dungeon, dripping water turned into ice at night, and they were splashed wet all over, but they still gritted their teeth and persisted; in Yangzhou City, they faced hundreds of officials, merchants, and magistrates, many times.
The sword passed against the tip of my nose, but I never frowned; in Luzhou City, Zhu Shiyong led six to seven hundred soldiers to trap the Su family in the house. More than a dozen servants in the house died, and they would appear anytime and anywhere.
Even though the whole family was wiped out, Wei Chen never regretted it. Wei Chen just thought about one thing. Since the emperor trusted Wei Chen so much, and a man died for his confidant, Wei Chen would risk his life and give up his food.
When the affairs are done well, we must also bring officials, officials, and merchants to justice. I have been taught by Mr. Bao of Yingtianfu, and I always remember what he said to me, "I will live up to the emperor's grace, and I will live up to the people below."
That’s why I can persevere and complete my mission.”
Su Jin's words made all the officials in the palace tremble and move. The officials only knew that Su Jin had accomplished a few major things, but they didn't know the details. This was the first time for everyone to hear about the several life-threatening dangers that Su Jin had experienced.
Even Yan Shu heard it for the first time.
Most people attribute Su Jin's success to good luck and a little cleverness; they don't have much respect for Su Jin deep down, but at the moment, many people are in awe of Su Jin; not to mention Su Jin's slogans
Whether it comes from the heart or not, just these few experiences of risking one's life are enough to make people sigh that this person is extremely courageous; even at the time of Yingtian, this person dared to challenge Teng Wang Zhao Zongdan, which is not even close.
Losing his life shows that this person is indeed not simple.
Zhao Zhen was incited by Su Jin several times today, but he quickly calmed down. Everything today was under his control. The current situation was exactly what Zhao Zhen had single-handedly controlled; today
In the main hall, Zhao Zhen is a smart director and an actor worthy of winning an Oscar. At the critical moment of this scene, how could he let Su Jin steal too much of the scene?
"Special Envoy Su, I know that you have suffered a lot of grievances, but the ancestral system is like this, and I am really in trouble. In this way, I plan to grant you an official status, and grant you the title of Jinshi. If you are willing to stay in the capital, you will be in the two prefectures and three divisions."
You can choose among the seven official positions. If you don't want to stay in the capital, you can choose from the large or small counties under the jurisdiction of each state. You can become a county magistrate. As long as you have political achievements, I will promote you in the future, and no one else will.
That’s enough to say.”
Su Jin shook his head and said: "Your Majesty, don't be fooled by this. I have already decided not to serve as an official. I just want the Emperor to honor the terms he promised me. If I want to do my business and be a common man, what am I going to do?"
I no longer want the official position."
All the officials were stunned. It was obvious that this kid was angry, but what's the use of being angry? If you don't want a reward, who can blame you? You think your official position is low, who said you were born in a wild family and didn't pass the imperial examination to become an official?
That can only be like this; the emperor's conditions are already generous enough, and there are many shortages among the two governments and three departments. It is better to just pick one to make a fortune quietly than to become a common man out of anger.
Yan Shu stamped his feet anxiously. He had told him well last night, but this boy had changed his mind again. He had the ability, but he was too impulsive and didn't understand the importance. What if the emperor said: That's right! Wouldn't all the previous efforts be nothing?
All in vain; alas! What a wild horse, there is no way to predict his behavior.
Zhao Zhen looked at Su Jin and studied the credibility of Su Jin's words. Is it from the heart or an expression of dissatisfaction out of anger? Zhao Zhen didn't want Su Jin to gain nothing, nor did he want him to gain too much.
Su Jin had no idea that last night when he was still drunk in Yan Shu's house, Ouyang Xiu secretly entered the palace to meet Zhao Zhen. Ouyang Xiu had his own plan and concealed such a big thing for Su Jin.
There was a bloody sharp blade hanging on his head; no one knew when the sharp blade fell off and hit his head.
After much thought, Ouyang Xiu decided to take the initiative to confess the matter to Zhao Zhen; now that the food crisis was over, Zhao Zhen was in a good mood, and the chance of asking for forgiveness would be much greater at this time.
So Ouyang Xiu made careful arrangements, changed into ordinary clothes and hats, folded the official uniforms and hats neatly, and entered the palace. When he saw Zhao Zhen's face, he knelt down and cried loudly, confessing that he had
I was disgraced by the emperor, and my forehead was bleeding.
As Ouyang Xiu expected, Zhao Zhen pardoned him, because Ouyang Xiu knew better than anyone else that as long as his handle was in Zhao Zhen's hands, Zhao Zhen could better control himself as his eyes and ears among the courtiers. This pair
Zhao Zhen has a hundred benefits and no harm.
As for what Su Jin had done, Zhao Zhen did not get furious as expected. He just sat there and thought about it, then comforted himself with a few words and let himself leave the palace.
The power of heaven is unpredictable, and Ouyang Xiu guessed that Shangyi was very capable, but this time he could not guess Zhao Zhen's thoughts. So today in the court, Ouyang Xiu became very honest and did not say a single unnecessary word.
At this moment, Zhao Zhen was thinking about whether to tell the treacherous things Su Jin had done in order to scare this trickster boy; but he soon rejected the idea. After speaking out, Su Jin was dead.
There is no way he can be saved, including Yan Shu.
Su Jin's murder was just a trivial matter, but the trouble was that it would put Yan Shu into an embarrassing situation. What Zhao Zhen wanted was a balance of strength between the two sides, not a dominance of one. This is exactly what he understood as an emperor's steward.
If Yan Shu is suppressed, Lu Yijian and others will be even more difficult to control, which will definitely be an unfavorable situation for him; many of his previous proposals were jointly blocked by the ministers, and these old guys even
He has already begun to criticize his family members in the harem. If they are allowed to become more powerful, it will be even more difficult for him to be the emperor.
"Special Envoy Su, please don't say angry words. You are asking the people of the world to scold me behind my back for unclear rewards and punishments. It is a fact that you have made great achievements, but it is also a fact that you have not passed the imperial examination. I am also in a dilemma. You also have to
Be considerate and considerate of me.”
Su Jin said: "Can you blame me for failing to take the imperial examination? Last year, the imperial court suspended the tribute examination. I wanted to take the imperial examination, but I had no chance. This year's imperial examination will not be until the autumn, and it is too late to take the test."
When the day is over, you can take the scientific examination. Once you win, I will reconsider your official position, which is always fair."
"Fuck!" Su Jin was dumbfounded. This was a prevarication, but he didn't expect to get angry. Although he studied at Yingtian Academy for a few months, he spent the remaining few months running errands and didn't even touch the edge of the book.
Come on, isn’t the exam going to cost people’s lives right now?
"Special Envoy Su, your Majesty has shown you the utmost benevolence and righteousness, but this may be a bit difficult for you. If you are not sure, you can find another way. In fact, it is not bad to be a county magistrate. I was serving in Jiande back then.
He has been fooled by the county magistrate for three years." Lu Yijian lost no time in provoking Su Jin. He could see that Su Jin was dumbfounded and couldn't wait to see the joke about Su Jin losing his reputation.
"Yes, yes, with Su's talent, he will definitely be named on the gold list. We also hope to have a wedding banquet." Some people saw the clues and hurriedly followed suit.
Su Jin scratched his head and cursed endlessly in his mind. Looking at the gloating expressions in the hall and the sympathetic eyes of Yan Shu, Fu Bi and others, suddenly his blood surged upwards, and he said with a heartbeat: "Just take the exam, I'm not afraid of death.
Are you still afraid of the exam?"
Yan Shu sighed secretly and thought to himself: "It's over. You've been fooled. Do you think it's so easy to pass the imperial examination? Every year, hundreds of thousands of candidates take the examination, but only a few hundred succeed. Do you think you are really a versatile person in both civil and military affairs?"
"
Now that the matter has come to this, it is useless to say more. I hope Su Jin is really full of knowledge.
"Okay!" Zhao Zhen chuckled and said, "The decree has been passed on, and Su Jin is temporarily given the position of chief minister of the History Museum. This will give him time to review his books, and he will take part in the imperial examination as a student of Yingtian Academy in a month's time."
The ministers chirped and laughed and congratulated Su Jin one after another. Su Jin knew clearly that these guys were laughing at him, so he could only stand in the hall with a grimace, dumbfounded.dd