Within a few days, students in restaurants and inns of all sizes in the capital were chatting among themselves, talking about nothing more than Liu Sanwu favoring southerners and Ding Maoke's unfair examination.
If it were in the past, the students who failed to pass the exam would either continue to prepare for the next subject, or simply leave the capital and go back sadly. But this time, none of the failed students left the capital, but continued to
In series, a storm is brewing under this calm.
"Unfair, unfair"
"Let's file a complaint"
Countless students who had failed the exam took action upon hearing the news and gathered outside Chengtian Gate.
Lao Zhu is working with Zhu Biao, listening to Zhu Biao's report on government affairs. Lao Zhu is getting older, and his energy is not as good as before. Although Lao Zhu still reviews memorials until late at night every day, his reaction has become sluggish, and his efficiency cannot be compared with several
Compared to years ago.
Therefore, Lao Zhu not only appointed a grand master in the palace, but also handed over most of the government affairs to Zhu Biao. Every once in a while, Lao Zhu would call Zhu Biao in front of him, personally ask him how the government affairs were handled, and point out some of them.
Inappropriateness.
This not only reduced Lao Zhu's burden, but also exercised Zhu Biao.
Mao Xiang walked in from outside the palace door with a stern expression, and immediately knelt down with his fists clasped in front of the emperor.
"I pay my respects to the Emperor."
"What happened?" Lao Zhu changed his cheerful tone when talking with Zhu Biao just now, and his face suddenly darkened.
Since a series of events happened, Mao Xiang knew that his status in the emperor's heart had declined, so he acted much more low-key and cautiously than before.
Lao Zhu was also quite satisfied with Mao Xiang's cautious words and deeds. He also knew that Mao Xiang would not have been so reckless in asking for permission if something big had not happened.
When Mao Xiang saw that only the emperor and the prince were present, he immediately said without hesitation: "I investigated and learned that the failed scholars have been colluding with each other in the past few days."
"What do they want to do?" Lao Zhu looked cold and stern. He was extremely disgusted with things like gatherings and making trouble.
Mao Xiang paused for two breaths before replying bluntly: "The unsuccessful scholars all said that the candidates who were admitted in this examination were all southerners and not a single northern scholar. They felt that Mr. Liu's admission was unfair, and they were about to go to Chengtianmen
Report to the outside world."
"What!" Hearing that the scholar was preparing to file a petition for imperial edict outside the palace, Lao Zhu suddenly stood up with his eyes widened. The anger in his heart suddenly surged one after another, like an active volcano that could erupt at any time.
At this time, a eunuch appeared from outside the palace and looked around. When the old eunuch saw it, he went to ask what was going on.
.
But Lao Zhu shouted directly: "Come in and say, what's the matter?"
The eunuch looked pale and hurriedly ran in and knelt down, "Back to the emperor, there are scholars outside Chengtian Gate, shouting that Mr. Liu's trial will be unfair, they, they want to file a lawsuit."
Although the eunuch is not old, he is able to hang around in this palace, and his knowledge is naturally extraordinary. Those who are short-sighted and do not understand the importance have long been ostracized and killed. He is well aware that the scholars unite to file a complaint against the eunuch.
He was so old that he was so scared that he was trembling all over even when he spoke. He was afraid that he would be unlucky and would be dragged out and beaten to death by the emperor.
Lao Zhu's expression kept changing. It was just as he had guessed. These scholars were really newborn calves and were not afraid of tigers. They really came to complain.
More and more failed scholars gathered outside Chengtianmen. In less than half a day, many officials in the capital got the news of such a big movement.
Naturally, the students of the Imperial College did not complain. The overall level of scholars from the south was already higher than that from the north. This was reflected in all the previous examinations. In every examination in the past, there were more scholars from the south than from high schools, but it was not as good as now.
This subject is the same, but there is not even a single northern scholar.
"Hu Jijiu, will this failed student cause any trouble if he makes such a fuss?" a student asked Hu Yuan.
Hu Yuan is the director of the Imperial College, a fourth-rank official. Ever since Li Wenzhong passed away, Lao Zhu didn't know why he hasn't arranged for anyone to serve as the memorial wine. And Hu Yuan has become the person with the highest official position in the Imperial College. Everyone thought that Hu Yuan would take over as the imperial wine minister.
It will be a matter of time, and he himself thinks so.
Therefore, within the Imperial Academy, scholars all liked to address Hu Yuan with sacrificial wine, and he also liked to be called so.
"Let's make a fuss. It might be a good thing to make a fuss." Hu Yuan looked at the worried scholars who had just passed the Jinshi examination and said meaningfully.
"Sir, our Imperial College has a lot of people who have passed the exam. If there are still these failed scholars who make trouble. If the fire comes to the Imperial College, then" the scholar is still a little worried.
Hu Yuan looked like an old god, and did not panic at all. He took a sip of tea. This tea was far inferior to what he drank in the East Palace. He frowned after taking a sip of tea, but that was the case with the tea in the Imperial College, and he also
Nothing can be done.
In a bad mood, he naturally spoke with a bit of anger, "What are you afraid of? Most of the high school students this time are from the academy. Even if
If you want to set yourself on fire, you must burn them first."
When the academy was mentioned, everyone in the Imperial College looked indignant. The behavior of the academy scholars this time really shocked everyone in the Imperial College.
It’s just that there are many people in the high school. The key is that the top three are all monopolized by the academy, which makes the scholars of the Imperial College extremely uncomfortable. Even among the top thirty, only two people are from the Imperial College, and the rest are all
He is an academician.
"Your Majesty, what you said is very true." After being reminded by Hu Yuan, everyone realized that this time was different from the past...??.
In the past, the Imperial High School had the largest number of students in each subject, but this time it has become an academy. Some people even secretly thought that they wished those failed scholars would make things worse and drag the academy down.
good.
For two consecutive days, the failed scholars gathered outside Chengtian Gate, as if they would not leave until they were given an explanation.
Seeing that things were getting worse, Lao Zhu had no choice but to find Liu Sanwu.
Liu Sanwu, a Hanlin bachelor, is now seventy-five years old. His beard and hair are all white, but he has an upright face and a magnanimous heart.
As soon as he entered the palace, he knelt down to Lao Zhu and said, "Your Majesty, Liu Sanwu, pays homage to the Emperor."
When Lao Zhu was in a rage, even though Liu Sanwu was old, he didn't let him get up without courtesy, let alone sit him down. Instead, he directly asked in a deep voice: "Liu Sanwu, now a scholar is accusing you of favoring southern scholars.
, targeting the northern scholars, so much so that in the Ding Mao Ke Examination, all the northern scholars were deposed, but if this happens, you should take it seriously."
When Liu Sanwu heard this, he did not panic or fear. Instead, he looked up at the emperor with a calm face and said: "I judge the papers based on talent and learning, and there is no partiality. As for why all the northern scholars were deposed, I only
It can be said that their talents and learning are indeed not as good as those in high school."
Liu Sanwu had an upright temperament and would never mince words about personal matters, and Lao Zhu also knew that he was open-minded.
Therefore, Lao Zhu did not think about punishing him or anything, but just called him to inquire. Seeing that Liu Sanwu said frankly that there was no partiality, Lao Zhu waved Liu Sanwu to leave.
However, the matter did not end like this, but intensified. The defeated northern scholars gathered at Chengtian Gate without leaving, and many scholars complained about their grievances in the street, and even stopped the official's sedan chair to petition for complaint.
Therefore, for a time, various rumors were flying in the streets and alleys of the capital. Some said that Liu Sanwu had received money, and some said that he engaged in "regional discrimination." Liu Sanwu couldn't explain all the theories.
Lao Zhu was very angry. He originally wanted to let the matter cool down over time so that he could expose it. However, he did not expect that at this time, more than a dozen supervisory censors would request a thorough investigation of the matter.
thing.
When the news spread, the government and the public were shocked.
Even the attendants Wen Guangfeng and others suspected that Ding Maoke seemed to have something hidden this time.
Lao Zhu was immediately angry and immediately issued an order: Wen Guangfeng and other twelve people would re-score the papers, and each of the failed test papers would read ten more papers, and additional northerners would be admitted to the official ranks.
Lao Zhu's idea was that since the northern scholars were dissatisfied, he could simply increase the number of Jinshi scholars and allocate some places to northern scholars to calm the matter down.
But I don’t know if Wen Guangfeng and others did not understand what Lao Zhu meant, or they were just being smart. After several days of review, they finally came to a conclusion and reported it to Lao Zhu, which once again left Lao Zhu speechless.
Wen Guangfeng and others actually said: After review, the examination papers submitted by northern scholars were poor in arts and sciences, and contained taboo words. Judging from the level of the candidates, the 300 people admitted were all admitted based on their talent and learning, without any
question.
When Lao Zhu heard the news, he looked at Wen Guangfeng with murderous intent in his eyes. At this time, Lao Zhu didn't know whether Wen Guangfeng really didn't know his holy will or was deliberately provoking it.
As soon as this news came out, it once again caused an uproar from all sides. The northern scholars who failed to take the exam could not accept the investigation results. Many northern officials in the DPRK even criticized them, demanding that capable officials be selected again, the examination papers be re-examined, and strict inspections were carried out.
All officials involved.
Others directly complained: Liu Sanwu secretly instructed Wen Guangfeng and others to deliberately involve themselves in the case.
Things got so out of control that Lao Zhudu could only put Liu Sanwu in jail first to calm down some of the raging criticism.
However, simply putting Liu Sanwu in jail will obviously not solve the problem. To solve the problem, multiple efforts are still needed.
On the one hand, Lao Zhu naturally knew that the matter was not what was rumored to the outside world. Liu Sanwu secretly asked Wen Guangfeng and others to submit the test papers. Lao Zhu had read all the test papers and found that the test papers of the northern scholars were indeed inferior to those of the southern scholars, and
The gap is still very big. In fact, there is no problem with the investigation conclusion of Wen Guangfeng and others. On the contrary, it has protected the face of the northern scholars to a certain extent. Unfortunately, the northern scholars are completely ungrateful, and in turn, Wen Guangfeng
Feng and others were all involved.
On the other hand, to untie the bell, one must tie the bell. As long as Liu Sanwu can stand up and admit that there are errors and omissions in the marking, and is willing to recruit some northern scholars, then Lao Zhu can smooth over the matter.