Shao An stepped forward, slowly swept over everyone present, and began to explain: "Zixia said: 'If you are excellent, you will learn, and if you are excellent, you will learn. If the candidate explains: If you are excellent in study, you will become an official. Such answers should be discarded. ”

Everyone nodded, because of this explanation, the symmetrical 'excellent and excellent', should be understood as: If you are an official, you will learn?

Seeing that everyone had no objections, Shao An continued: "If 'excellent' is interpreted as 'there is spare power in action', it will be rated as inferior, and if it is interpreted as 'many', it will be rated as medium. ”

This time, there was a faint buzz below, and some people were puzzled by this, and finally a young official stood up and asked, "Shao Xiang, the lower official is puzzled." Ma Rong annotated the "Analects", and the training of "excellent" is "there is spare power in action". Why is it inferior? ”

"There are clouds in "Sayings": excellent, rao. He also said: Rao, full. "Xiao Erya" cloud: excellent, more. Shao An unceremoniously cited a counterexample.

The questioner was speechless, blushing and arching his hand: "The lower official is taught." ”

"Interpret 'shi' as 'learning', inferior, and 'do', medium." Shao An paused for a moment and looked around, "Do you have any questions?" ”

The second person stood up, and his attitude was much more humble than the first, "The lower official is stupid, dare to ask Shao Xiang, where does this explanation come from?" ”

Shao An explained: "Zhu Xi said: 'Scholars and learning, the same reason but different things. However, this official thinks that the "Paragraph Note" should be referred to here: Shi, Shi also. 'Shi' and 'Shi' are both things to say. ”

"Thank you, Prime Minister, for being taught."

Shao An finally commented: "Interpret 'learning' as 'learning', inferior, and 'enlightenment', medium. "Shuowen" has clouds: learning, enlightenment. ”

To sum up, it means that those who translate this sentence as "become an official if you are excellent in learning" will directly fall off the list. Translated as, "If you have the energy to be an official, you will study, and if you have the energy to study, you will become an official." "Obviously, the second half of the sentence doesn't make sense, being an official is not something you can do if you have spare time to study, and you can be a person if you want to. Therefore, the best score of these papers is equivalent to a top three ranking.

If it is understood as "you can do things if you have spare energy to study" or "you can do things if you read more", the logic is appropriate, and you may end up in a ranking equivalent to the top two.

Finally, the correct answer is announced, and this sentence should be understood like this: "If you do more things, you can understand the truth, and if you do more things, you can do things better." (1) "If you understand correctly, coupled with outstanding ideas and exquisite writing, then it is very promising to squeeze into the top three."

Shao An announced the requirements for taking the papers, and the examiners began to mark the papers. After the examiner's comments, the paper will be handed over to Peng Yuanping, the deputy chief examiner. Peng Yuanping read it and felt that this article was acceptable, so he wrote the word "take" and handed it over to the examiner. After Shao An saw it, he felt that he liked it, so he wrote the word "medium", so congratulations to this candidate, he finally passed the first.

Therefore, Shao An's marking work is not cumbersome, but he knows that it is far from easy time at this moment. Because in the process of grading, the opportunity for fraud is the most. With so many fellow examiners, how can you guarantee that none of them have taken bribes? What is the joint and the roll change...... The number of means and the strange methods are simply unguardable.

※※※※※

The marking work of the Gongyuan is in full swing, and it is said that outside the Gongyuan, the Dali Temple is turned up in turbulent waves.

The one who disturbed the spring water was Liu Ruqing, who was kicked out of the examination room by Shao An. He followed Shao An's instructions and went to Dali Temple to express his grievances. After the promotion was finished, he found out that the person he wanted to sue was the person who was the presiding judge-Feng Che.

The judge is the accused, which is unprecedented.

Speaking of the situation that day, after Liu Ruqing beat the drum, the errand case was taken and handed over to Feng Che, the secretary of Dali Temple. After Feng Che finished reading it, he found out that this was actually a case against himself, so he immediately became interested and immediately opened an interrogation.

Liu Ruqing was taken to the bottom of the hall and looked up at the presiding judge, without the slightest surprise on his face. Because he had never met Feng Che at all, and he had never even heard of Feng Che who he was.

Feng Che first asked about his name and place of origin according to the rules, and then asked the main question: "Who is the court suing?" ”

According to the testimony written by Shao An, Liu Ruqing said according to the script: "Zuo Shilang of the original Criminal Department, Feng Che and Feng Zhiyuan. ”

As soon as these words came out, the officials showed strange expressions one by one, looking at Liu Ruqing's expression as if they were looking at a dead person.

Feng Che still said quietly: "What are you complaining about?" ”

"Feng Che wronged his father Liu Yongzhou for collaborating with the enemy, and when there was no conclusive evidence, he wantonly imprisoned his father, causing his father to be killed in prison."

"You're going to overturn the case!" Feng Che saw through Liu Ruqing's intentions at a glance, "In that case, what evidence do you have to prove that he was wronged?" ”

"Dong Ji, the mastermind of the collaborator case, is a witness. Before his death, he revealed that his father did not know about the enemy, and that his father did not commit suicide in prison, but was killed by others. ”

Feng Che was deeply incredulous, "How can a dead man testify for you?" And Dong Ji was imprisoned in the prison of the Criminal Department before his death, how can you be a mere civilian? ”

Naturally, the grass people could not be imprisoned, so it is only now that I learned that my father died in vain. A few days ago, the grass people entered Beijing and met the prime minister, and they learned about these things. With that, he took out Shao An's handbook and handed it to Feng Che.

Feng Che read it carefully and saw that Shao An mainly wrote two things: one was that he had tried Dong Ji again before his execution, and Dong Ji said that he had killed Liu Yongzhou and learned that Liu Yongzhou was wronged. Second, he had indicated during the trial that there were other collaborators, but Feng Che did not listen to the advice and insisted on going to Beijing to arrest Liu Yongzhou and put him in prison, resulting in an unjust case.

Feng Che couldn't come back to his senses for a long time after reading it, and every word written by Shao An was absolutely true, making him unable to refute it. He put down his testimony in frustration and said to Liu Ruqing: "This official is Feng Che, and the word is far-reaching." ”

"......" Liu Ruqing finally understood why Shao An emphasized that he came to Dali Temple to complain.

※※※※※

In late spring and March, the spring cold is coming to an end, and the weather is gradually getting hotter. More than a dozen examiners sat in the Gongyuan, all of them bowed their heads and quickly browsed the papers, and occasionally a few people raised their heads slightly to stretch their muscles, or whispered a few words to their colleagues when they encountered difficult points.

Shao An sat in the main seat in the center, and on the way to read the papers, he would look up slightly, and glance at the examiners below, as if he wanted to see some suspicion from their marking actions. However, everything is calm, and no one seems to have a tendency to cheat.

But the calm is superficial, just as on the eve of the waves on the shore, on the eve of the storm, dead and silent.

When it was time to hold the lamp, Shao An saw that everyone was a little tired, so he accommodated: "After reading the paper today, everyone should rest." ”

After everyone sealed the test papers and packed up the pen and ink, they got up one after another and said goodbye to the prime minister. After the examiners dispersed, Shao An checked again before locking the doors and windows, and the last one left.

Shao An strolled in the back garden of the Gongyuan, replaying the whole process from the beginning of the examination to the marking in his mind. Under his strict supervision, those fraudulent ideas were stifled in the seedlings, but he was well aware that corruption and fraud were endless, and they would emerge one after another if he was not taken off guard. What's more, with Yu Chengping's temperament, even if there is no fraud, he will create a disguise, and he will never give up.

It seems that passive waiting is not possible, and everything has to be done first.

The next day's marking, as in the previous days, was carried out in a stable and orderly atmosphere. But halfway through, Ah Rui, the housekeeper of Shao Mansion, suddenly came to the Tribute Courtyard.

At first, the soldiers guarding the courtyard did not let Ah Rui enter, but Ah Rui said that he was the butler of the Prime Minister's Mansion and made a special trip to deliver medicine to Shao Xiang. When the soldiers heard this, they looked at each other, not knowing whether it was true or not, so they could only report it.

Finally reported to Shao An, Shao An smiled and said: "It was the official who asked him to come, and the Japanese official was unwell and needed medicine to recuperate, so he sent a decoction." ”

The man didn't seem to be suspicious, and said with a smile on his face: "Since that's the case, the lower official will let him go." If the medicine is delivered in the future, the prime minister only needs to give an order, and the people below will not stop him again. ”

Not long after, Ari entered the room in full view of everyone, carrying a bamboo basket on his arm. Shao An took the basket, took out the bowl and drank it slowly. After drinking, two more notes were taken out of the basket.

Some of the same examiners looked at Shao An in surprise, and when they were touched by their colleagues, they immediately looked at their noses and noses, and lowered their heads and pretended to be reading the papers. And Peng Yuanping, who was closest to Shao An, only didn't care about it and continued to do his own thing.

At the end of the day's marking, two fellow examiners slowly paced in the corridor of the Gongyuan with the dispersed flow of people, and gradually drifted away, intentionally or unintentionally breaking away from the crowd.

When there was no one around, one of the young officials asked in a low voice, "What is the situation about the delivery of medicine?" ”

Another middle-aged man who was a little older and slightly blessed smiled: "This still doesn't understand? In the name of delivering medicine, he committed fraud. What is written on that note must be the question or the first sentence of the test paper that bribed the candidate. ”

"This kind of method is much more ingenious than the joint."

"It's ingenious, but not for you and me." The middle-aged man said jealously, "Unless someone like the prime minister is powerful in the world, who can communicate with the outside of the Gongyuan at will?" ”

The young man still didn't believe it, "Is Cheng Quite really cheating?" Why did he put on a righteous posture a few days ago? In order to prevent joints, all the rolls that used strange tone words were all beaten back by him. ”

"Do you really think that he is as incorruptible as water, and his sleeves are clean? Who can be an official without being greedy, pretending to be strict a few days ago, not for everyone to see. Now is the moment to collect the money. ”

The young man sighed slightly, "But what should we do, the volume was beaten back, and things can't be done, Shao Xiangzhen really doesn't leave us half of his wealth." ”

The middle-aged man gritted his teeth and stomped his feet, and said hatefully: "It seems that it is not easy to get money these days." Give half to Shao Xiang first, and after the matter is completed, then find the candidate. ”

"That's ...... Is it done? ”

"Why not? Shao Xiang, why did he openly let people send medicine, that's what he meant. He doesn't count the wealth he collects from the candidates, he has to scrape off a layer from us. High, ruthless! ”

A few days later, as Shao An expected, officials came one after another, sending silver tickets and asking for accommodation. Shao An did not refuse, but after accepting the money, he did not say that he agreed, nor did he refuse, but just asked them to write the candidate's name and hometown.

Afterwards, Shao An counted and found that the Ministry of Rites had the most corrupt officials, and the Ministry of Officials and Dali Temple had the least. It seems that the officials of the Ministry of Rites should rectify the corruption. And the officials of Dali Temple did not cheat, they should know Yu Chengping's plan, and even the key person in this plan. As for the officials, thanks to the management of the former Shangshu Sun Yi, they are relatively honest.

At this moment, the marking of the papers has also reached the last moment - dismantling the name and the gold list. But before you get rid of the name, you have to look at the rankings. The principal and deputy examiners, and the eighteen same examiners will read the rankings in turn, and if there is no objection, they will enter the next link.

Generally speaking, there are at most a few occasional sorting problems, and a slight adjustment is sufficient, and there is no change in general.

Once the rankings are agreed, it's time for the most exciting moments. In front of everyone's eyes, the same examiner unraveled the name and read it out loud, while the other person wrote the person's name on the gold list.

Among the examiners, the officials who belonged to the Ministry of Rites were the most nervous, and they did not relax slightly until they heard the name of the person they were entrusted.

The gold list is written, and it is submitted to the chief examiner with the examiner, and after Shao An confirms that it is correct, he can open the public list of the Tribute Academy.

Traditionally, this has been just a formality, but this time it has delayed a lot of effort, making the fellow examiners wait under the sun for a long time, and they are all anxious.

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(1) The explanation of "learning and excellence" is excerpted from: "The correct interpretation of "learning and excellence"