Taishoufu Hall.

Liu Yuzhi respectfully handed a roll of bamboo slips to Xiao Yuan: "My lord, please take a look." ”

"What is this?" Xiao Yuan put down the teacup and took it.

"This is the result of scholars from all over the world who have come to take the exam in recent days, and they have been selected for this list after preliminary deliberation and screening."

As Liu Yuzhi spoke, he took out another roll of bamboo slips and handed it to Xiao Yuan: "In addition, this is one of the people's articles, after reading it, I was amazed. ”

"Oh?" Hearing this, Xiao Yuan couldn't help but put down the bamboo slip on the list first, took the second volume, and unfolded it to read it carefully.

Because the first volume is only the list of those who passed the preliminary examination, but the second volume is an article by one of them, whose article can make Liu Yuzhi say such a thing and submit it separately, Xiao Yuan is naturally interested.

He looked at it very seriously, didn't let go of a word, and when he read it, he couldn't help but nod secretly, closed the bamboo slip and said: "Well, this article is magnificent, magnificent, and talented, which is enough to be called a big pen, and in the text, it points out the current shortcomings of Qindi, and points out the governance strategy......"

Xiao Yuan's admiration, Liu Yuzhi deeply agreed, he also had the same opinion on this matter, and then said: "The person who wrote this article is named Wen Ruo, and in his opinion, he should be the first scholar. ”

Xiao Yuan nodded and agreed, and said, "This person doesn't have to take the test anymore, just go through it." ”

"Yes." Liu Yuzhi responded, and said: "But this person's name reminds me of an old friend." ”

"Oh?" Xiao Yuan glanced at him with interest, waiting for him to continue.

Liu Yuzhi explained: "My old friend, named Shangguan Wenruo, traveled the world in his early years, was talented, full of economy, and had the talent to assist the country. ”

"Wen Ruo, Shangguan Wen Ruo, the name is indeed quite similar." Xiao Yuan smiled slightly, and didn't pay much attention to it, so he half-jokingly said: "The talent of the auxiliary country, Lord Liu is a little exaggerated, right?" ”

"No, no, no." How do you know that Liu Yuzhi waved his hand again and again, and said: "To tell you the truth, it is by no means an exaggeration, but he likes to travel around the world, and he doesn't know where he is now, otherwise, if you find him, if you get the help of this person, great things will be done." ”

Without waiting for Xiao Yuan to answer, Liu Yuzhi said again: "If adults want to dominate the industry, they must be Shangguan Wenruo!" ”

The more he talked, the more exaggerated he became, but his face was straight, Xiao Yuan knew more about Liu Yuzhi's character, and knew that he was not an exaggerated person, so he couldn't help asking: "This person's talent, how is it better than you?" ”

"Several times, if not dozens of times, better than me." Liu Yuzhi said.

"How is this possible!" Xiao Yuan smiled and said with a smile: "Lord Liu is too humble. ”

Liu Yuzhi's talent, after coming to Qinzhou, actually didn't show much, but Xiao Yuan knew very well in his heart that when he governed Liucheng, he turned one of the poorest small counties into the largest county in Anyang, dealt with people's livelihood and taxes, and was the first person in Anyang, and engaged in logistics work, Xiao Yuan's subordinates were unmatched.

If someone is ten times more talented than him, how can Xiao Yuan believe it, it can only be said that a literati like Liu Yuzhi is too modest.

But Liu Yuzhi said urgently: "My lord! It's not a lie! ”

Hearing this, seeing his expression again, Xiao Yuan couldn't help but feel a shock in his heart, and after a pause, he said: "Even so, but that Shangguan Wenruo, I don't know where it is, let's not mention it for the time being, let's talk about the current matter." ”

"Well, I don't know where Shangguan is now, if he has the opportunity to meet in the future, he must be introduced to the adult, and at that time, the adult must keep him."

Liu Yuzhi sighed, then turned to the topic, and said, "Regarding the final examination of this group of scholars, what are your plans?" ”

"En......" Xiao Yuan pondered for a moment and said: "Three days later, in the Taishou Mansion, the official will take the exam, and read their articles in person, how about it?" ”

Liu Yuzhi nodded: "Okay, then the next official will arrange it later." ”

While the two were talking, a guard in the palace came to report, clasped his fists and saluted: "My lord, General Ye Cheng is here." ”

"Let him in." Xiao Yuan said casually.

"No." The guard answered, and after a while, Ye Cheng walked in quickly.

After entering the hall, he first saluted Xiao Yuan, then nodded to Liu Yuzhi, and then said: "My lord, Shen Rong has been arrested, but during the trial, he said that there is evidence of the crimes of many officials in Qindi, and he wants to see your lordship. ”

"Oh?" Hearing this, Xiao Yuan couldn't help but be shocked, he was now lacking a reason to punish those officials!

"What about others? Hurry up and bring it here. ”

"It's already here, my lord waits." As he spoke, Ye Cheng turned around and walked out of the hall, and after a short time, he escorted Shen Rong up.

His hands were tied behind his back, and as soon as he entered the hall, he knelt on the ground with a pop, faced Xiao Yuan, and kept kowtowing and said, "My lord, spare your life!" Your Excellency spares my life—"

His appearance is a villain who is greedy for life and afraid of death, vividly interpreted, Xiao Yuan saw this, and also frowned, and immediately shouted: "Don't talk nonsense!" Shen Rong, this official asks you, you said that there is evidence of the crimes of various officials in Qindi, but it is true! ”

"Yes...... Yes. Shen Rong hurriedly said: "But I ask the lord to spare my life, and the lower officials know everything." ”

Xiao Yuan didn't answer him, but said coldly: "Then recruit it truthfully!" Otherwise, the head falls to the ground! ”

"Yes, yes." Life is at stake, how dare Shen Rong hesitate, and immediately began to narrate:

"Changshi Guo Qian is the biggest corrupt official in Qinzhou, he not only preys on the people, but also buys and sells officials before Lord Taishou arrives, and the price is clearly marked......"

"Fengyang County Order, this is a large family, no talent, let alone do not know how to govern, but but send 30,000 taels of silver, in the hands of Guo Qian, directly bought this official do, after taking office, it is even more clever name, all kinds of tax increases, just one year, not only from the people, snatched back the 30,000 taels of silver he spent to buy officials, there is more surplus, in the next few years, rampant expropriation, hundreds of thousands of ......taels of silver in Tibet."

After Xiao Yuan heard this, he was shocked, he only knew that the officials of Qin Di were corrupt, but he didn't expect that it would be such an evil deed!

No wonder the people of Qindi are suffering, it is conceivable that those people spend money to buy officials, what are they for, naturally to make money!

These people, who buy officials in order to make money, can they not exploit the people after they take office!

Otherwise, how can I get my money back?

How can they take care of the people's livelihood and care about the life and death of the people!

After glancing at Liu Yuzhi, Xiao Yuan pointed at Shen Rong, who was kneeling below, and shouted, "Go on!" ”

"Yes, yes......" Shen Rong wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and said truthfully:

"Ganshan County order, send 50,000 taels of silver, only to buy this official ......"