After sending Zhu Yunwen away, Jiang Huan wanted to anger Zhang Shixing for some reason, although he knew that it was not Zhang Shixing's fault, but it was really a tricky case to investigate Liu Sanwu.

Liu Sanwu is a great Confucian in the sea, famous, protégés all over the world, this scientific examination fraud, and the national attention, now the emperor's grandson came to say hello again, if there is a bad pool, the emperor blames it, not only the black yarn is not guaranteed, the head of Xiang Shang is afraid to move. They Jinyiwei is quite good at handling a big case of rebellion, and it is really the first time that a big girl has been in a sedan chair to handle this kind of scientific research case, this damn Zhan Hui is really cunning, find an opportunity in the future, and teach him a good lesson.

After pondering for a long time, Jiang Huan ordered someone to go to the celebrant to discuss a certain decree first, in case the emperor turned his face and did not admit it, or Zhang Shixing falsely passed on the holy decree, although he knew that this possibility was very small. Sure enough, the captain of Jinyi, who went to ask for the order, was scolded back by the celebrant supervisor, saying that Jinyiwei is doing things now, how can he be a mother-in-law and mother, like a girl, and he doesn't hurry up, let the prisoner run away, be careful of your head.

Jiang Huan finally believed that this was true, so he ordered Zhang Shixing to lead the team to arrest someone, and if something happened, he would take this kid first.

Liu Sanwu's house is in Dongjing Lane in the south of the city, a quiet courtyard with two entrances. Under the window of Xiaoxuan, the flowers are thick and the wind is quiet.

Bai Xindao said to Liu Sanwu with a bitter face: "Liu Gong, as soon as the list was released this morning, a large number of northern scholars went to the Ministry of Rites to beat drums and voice grievances, saying that we were favoritism and favoritism to the southerners, so all the people admitted to this section were from the south, and none of the people from the north were admitted. ”

Liu Sanwu touched his gray and sparse beard, and said with a straight face: "No matter what others say, I will deal with it calmly." There is nothing in my life that cannot be said to others, nothing that cannot be checked, as long as we have a clear conscience, what are you afraid of? If it is said that I favor the southerners, then there is only one person in Kehu Guanggongshi, how can I say this, so I am not afraid of shadows, as long as you do not cheat for personal gain, we are not afraid of investigation. Let them check the whole thing. ”

Bai Xindao hurriedly shook his head and said: "Absolutely not, the national talent ceremony, how dare I risk the world's condemnation and do such a thing." But what people say can be said to be ah, everyone is full of gold, and they accumulate and destroy their bones. Liu Gong, only fifty-two people were taken in this subject, are you and I too strict in judging the papers? ”

Liu Sanwu said: "For the country, how can you not be strict, let some people who have no real talent and real learning enter the court, wouldn't it be indiscriminate to fill the number, at that time, you and I are the most sinful, and I Liu Sanwu will not be at peace even if I am underground." After this subject, the northern scholars should be indignant and strive to be strong and specialize in learning, otherwise it will be difficult to compete with the southern scholars for a long time in the future. ”

While the two were talking, suddenly the courtyard door was slammed open, and the Liu family hurriedly ran out to check what was going on, only to see dozens of Jinyi captains pouring into the courtyard, the first one, tall and heroic, it was Zhang Shixing, a hundred households in Jinyi.

Zhang Shixing instructed his subordinates: "You keep an eye on the people, search carefully to see if there is any illegal incident, but don't disturb the female dependents." ”

After that, he stepped into the house, saw Liu Sanwu and Bai Xindao, and said with a smile: "What a coincidence, don't bother the two masters, the two main exams are here, Zhang Shixing, a hundred households of the lowly Jinyi Guard, respectfully invites Liu Gong and Bai Gong to go to the Jinyi Wei Yamen, and explain the situation to the branch today, and go back." ”

When Bai Xindao heard this, he immediately sat down on the ground. Zhang Shixing waved his hand, and two lieutenants came in and carried him out.

Liu Sanwu was not afraid, strode out, walked out of the courtyard gate, and saw a carriage parked at the mouth of the alley, Zhang Shixing stepped forward and said: "This place is a little far away from the Jinyi Wei Yamen. ”

Liu Sanwu waved his hand and said, "No need, the kindness of hundreds of households, I understand it." It's only a dozen miles away, and I'll walk there. The old lady has been born for 80 years, does she still care about these ten miles? With that, he walked forward proudly.

In the Qianqing Palace, Zhu Yuanzhang leaned on the dragon chair, closed his eyes slightly, and listened to Zhang Xinzuo, the last champion and a bachelor of the Hanlin Academy, report the results of the review. ”

Zhang Xindao: "Back to Your Majesty, it is true, the minister will review all the test papers of this imperial examination, and the fifty-two people taken by Liu Gong are indeed good in literature and science, and they are the best choice." As for why all the northern lifters fell off the list, the minister thought it should be a coincidence. ”

Zhu Yuanzhang asked: "Have you read the scroll of Shanxi Xie Yuan Huang Zhan?" ”

Zhang Xindao: "The minister has read it carefully, he answered the first and second papers well, and he should have been admitted, but the problem was in the third question, he had taboo words, so Liu Gong deposed him." ”

After that, Zhang Xin presented Huang Zhan's volume, and after Zhu Yuanzhang picked it up and read it, he couldn't help but nod and said: "To the point, good writing, good writing, such talents, you don't admit them, and you say that there is no dereliction of duty." ”

Zhang Xin was a little puzzled: "Your Majesty, he said that the current urgent task is to cut the domain, isn't this a big taboo?" His Majesty was furious because of this, and Ye Boju was also imprisoned and died, this Huang Zhan court did not investigate his crimes, it is already a grace, and he can still be admitted as a tribute? ”

Zhu Yuanzhang reprimanded: "What do you know, this time, that time." I see that he is sincere and will be a vassal of the kingdom in the future. What about others? ”

Zhang Xindao: "The rest of the test papers of the northerners who failed to make the list are all incomprehensible in literature and science, and there are many words, which is really unsightly. Your Majesty, please see. ”

After that, he submitted more than a dozen test papers.

After reading it, Zhu Yuanzhang said: "I look good, the sentences are smooth, the words are also written well, individual typos, and it has nothing to do with the overall situation." ”

Zhang Xin was unconvinced and said: "Your Majesty, if you take a scholar according to this standard, I am afraid that most of the ministers will be able to be selected for this science and technology, and there will be many people who do not learn and have no skills." ”

Zhu Yuanzhang slapped the table and shouted: "Alarmist! A corrupt Confucian, mess with my court, and beat me out. ”

Hearing the order, the captain of the brocade clothes outside the hall immediately rushed forward and beat Zhang Xin with a stick.

Zhu Yuanzhang's anger did not subside, and he ordered someone to summon the six Shangshu to the Qianqing Palace to come to discuss the matter.

After everyone came, Zhu Yuanzhang briefly said the results of Zhang Xin's review, and handed over the test papers submitted by Zhang Xin to everyone to see, and asked the ministers for their opinions. The ministers looked at each other, the matter was too involved, and they didn't dare to speak.

Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at everyone, his eyes fell on Zhang Hao, and said, "Zhang Shangshu, you are from the north, how do you think this matter should be handled?" ”

Zhang Hao groaned slightly, stroked his goatehood and said: "If this matter is not given a satisfactory explanation to the northern scholars, I am afraid that the hearts of the northern scholars will be cold, so that the discussion will boil and the world will be turbulent." The imperial court lost more than it gained because of small losses. ”

Zhu Yuanzhang snorted, noncommittal.

Chen Di, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, snorted, his white and pure face was full of disdain, and said: "The affairs of the world can't be lifted by a single word, if everything is troubled, it will be extrajudicial and gracious, and what kind of system does the court have." The minister thought that since Liu Gong did not engage in favoritism, it was not appropriate to change this term. The reason for the failure of all the northern scholars this time is that the learning of the northern scholars is too far from the southern scholars, and the next scientific examination can be divided into two lists, the north and the south, and the difficulty of the test questions is different. ”

Zhu Yuanzhang snorted heavily and reprimanded: "It's not urgent." He set his sights on Xia Yuanji, the secretary of the household department, Qi Tai, the secretary of the military department, and Yang Jing, the secretary of the criminal department.

Qi Tai, the secretary of the military department, shook his huge head and said: "It is a national policy to cut down the feudal domain, and it is the right solution to depose it if you raise people to talk about it." If it is admitted and spread out, the clans will think that it is the intention of the imperial court, and the people will be panicked. ”

Zhu Yuanzhang didn't answer, just looked at the rest of the people.

Yang Jing, the secretary of the Criminal Department, said with a dark face: "Raising a son to make trouble and disturbing the lobby of the Ministry of Rites should have been convicted, but due to public opinion, the Criminal Department did not dare to take action, how to deal with it, please make it clear to Your Majesty." ”

Xia Yuanji, the head of the household department, had a round face and round eyes, and anyone looked like a Maitreya Buddha, and said: "The minister thought that he might as well select dozens of people from the northern scholars who had fallen off the list, and specially promoted them to be tributes, and the previous list was combined into one, and the palace test was conducted, and His Majesty personally ordered the top three." ”

Chen Di said: "If the name is not right, it is not good, in what name did Your Majesty order to be promoted, and where did you put Liu Gong, Zhang Xin, etc.?" ”

When Zhu Yuanzhang heard this, he nodded, thoughtful. Finally, he waved his hand and said, "You guys stand down for the time being, Zhan Qing stays right." ”

The ministers saluted again and retreated, leaving only Zhan Hui and Zhu Yuanzhang in the hall.

Zhu Yuanzhang asked: "Each has its own reason, what does Zhan Qing think to deal with?" ”

Zhan Hui said: "What Zhang Shangshu said is extremely true, if I don't give an explanation to the northern scholars this time, I am afraid that it will shake the country's foundation." ”

Zhu Yuanzhang sighed, narrowed his eyes, and motioned for him to continue.

Zhan Hui continued: "Since the founding of the country, most of the high-ranking officials and dignitaries have been Jianghuai people. Although after the Hu case, in addition to a lot of meritorious heroes and honors, Qi Jian has been promoted a lot on the right path of scientific research, but looking at it, there are ten times more southerners than northerners, and northerners must be resentful.

Although the remnants of the Yuan are extinguished, the Mongols are still there, in case there are people who sneak into Mongolia to collude with them, the Mongols will be like a tiger with wings, and there will be no peace in the northern Xinjiang of the Ming Dynasty. The Northern Song Dynasty has a lesson from the past, and it is necessary to guard against it. ”

Zhu Yuanzhang sighed and said: "What are the lessons from the past, you can come and listen." ”

Zhan Hui said: "During the reign of Renzong of the Northern Song Dynasty, Zhang Yuan and Wu Hao, scholars from Huazhou, failed the palace test, held a grudge, and defected to Western Xia, and the Xia people took the two of them as their masterminds. For example, the scale of the establishment of the country and the strategy of entering the Kou were mostly guided by the two of them, and the end of the Song Dynasty and the Western Xia was a great trouble. From then on, the palace of the Song Dynasty did not dethrone the scholars, but only the rankings. ”

Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly realized: "I see, the palace test does not dethrone the scholars, I thought it has been the same since ancient times, who knows that there is such a story." ”

Zhan Hui said solemnly: "Therefore, the scientific examination is related to the fortune of the country and the hearts of the people, so we must not be careless." ”

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and said, "What Qing said is extremely true. Then I specially promoted fifty or sixty northern scholars to be tributes, and the hearts of the people have been reassured. However, as Chen Shangshu said, it is not unreasonable, in this way, the teacher is unknown, and where is Liu Sanwu and others? ”

Zhan Huiyi gritted his teeth and said: "In the thirteenth year of Hongwu, Hu Weiyong's case was discovered, and Liu Sanwu once wrote a letter to avenge his grievances, and Liu Sanwu was actually Hu Dang. I heard that Liu Sanwu had secretly instructed Zhang Xin to present it to His Majesty on an ugly scroll, so he should be punished as a whole. ”

Zhu Yuanzhang pretended to be surprised and said: "Oh, there is such a thing. Liu Sanwu and Zhang Xin should be damned. However, more than ten years have passed since Liu Sanwu wrote the book, and I have forgiven him at that time. Even if it is called a party and has a bad plot, there must be accomplices, find out the same party, and catch them all in one net, so that people can be convinced. ”

Zhan Hui thought for a while and said: "Jingning Hou Ye Sheng is arrogant and lawless, and he should be the Hu Party." ”

Zhu Yuanzhang closed his eyes and waved his hand: "I'm tired, let's do it, you go and investigate it quickly, and be sure to sit on this case." ”

Zhan Hui said: "Obey." Wechen retired. Then he bowed his head and thanked him.