Just when the officials of the Wenhua Hall were discussing the file.

Zhang Jing wrote Sun Chengzong's affairs in a volume and presented it to the Son of Heaven.

In the middle hall, the Son of Heaven looked at Sun Chengzong's life and smiled from time to time.

When the Son of Heaven saw that Sun Chengzong's original curtain money was actually one or two a month, and the other staff members were several times that of Sun Chengzong, the Son of Heaven couldn't help laughing and said to Zhang Whale: "This Lin Qing is really too picky, and if I change it, Sun Chengzong will quit immediately." ”

Zhang Whale said with a smile: "Mr. Lin has just become an official, and he is incorruptible, of course he doesn't have much money, but giving one or two pieces of silver is indeed enough, and Damingmen can earn three or five taels of donkey meat in a month." ”

The Son of Heaven laughed when he heard this: "I didn't expect Lin Qing to have this side. ”

The Son of Heaven read the dossier again that when Lin Yanchao was demoted to Germany at the beginning, Sun Chengzong raised people in the party and followed Lin Yanchao to return to Germany, and couldn't help but think to himself, I let Lin Yanchao go to Guide is not only an experience, but also to avoid the Queen Mother, but the government and the opposition think that he has lost power, this Sun Chengzong is not afraid to be a relation, this person is really a loyal and righteous person.

When he saw Lin Yanchao carving a monument for Chen Ju in order to repair the Jialu River, Sun Chengzong came forward to oppose being driven out of the curtain by Lin Yanchao, and the Son of Heaven couldn't help asking: "I know about Lin Yanchao's inscription for Chen Ju." But Sun Chengzong actually opposed the shogun, is this true? ”

Zhang Whale said: "This matter was heard by the slave from the people in Bachelor Lin's mansion, and many of Bachelor Lin's protégés also know about it, as for the slave on Guide's side, he hasn't sent anyone to investigate." ”

"However, the slave thought that Master Lin was impeached by those imperial historians for this matter later, which shows that Sun Chengzong still had foresight."

When the Son of Heaven heard this, he couldn't help but sigh with emotion: "Lin Qing's temperament, I know it too well. Chen Ju said that he never thought about his reputation for a while, and he only had Jiangshan Sheji in his heart, which was not false at all. ”

In order to repair the Jialu River for the people, he befriended Chen Ju, but after the Jialu River was built, his achievements in Guide were obvious to all, but he was repeatedly impeached by the imperial history and the eunuchs. And Sun Chengzong opposed Lin Qing for this matter, and it can be seen that he is loyal, but because of this, he was kicked out of the curtain by Lin Qing, but it was Lin Qing's fault. ”

Zhang Jing also said: "What Your Majesty said is extremely true, and the servants also think that Master Lin is not good, and sometimes the six relatives don't recognize it. ”

The Son of Heaven nodded and said: "Then Sun Chengzong repaired the embankment in Zhexian County, and was used by the officials to make a mistake in the deficit, but he went to the embankment to supervise the work for several days in order to repair the embankment, and finally completed the repair of the embankment. The river workers of Zhe County are the best in the counties for the river yamen, and it seems that it is also because of Sun Chengzong that Lin Qing was sponsored by the ministry as the first, rare, rare......"

"And this person has been on an errand for Lin Qing for so many years, and in the end, he didn't have any money to take the exam in Beijing, and he lived in a firewood house, you said it was ridiculous."

Zhang Whale said: "The minister heard that he didn't have no money? ”

"Oh?"

Zhang Whale said: "After Sun Chengzong returned to his hometown from Zhe County, he took five hundred taels of silver to the clan to subsidize the children of poor families in the clan to study. The five hundred taels of silver, I heard that it was given by Master Lin, and Sun Chengzong filled in his own family funds in order to repair the embankment because the money was not enough. But in this way, Master Lin will be unhappy. ”

When the Son of Heaven heard this, he couldn't help but say: "There is affection and righteousness, but so, I can be relieved, Sun Chengzong is not taken by Lin Qing for personal gain,"

Zhang Jing said tentatively: "If Your Majesty appreciates Sun Chengzong, it is better to give him a good future, and it is also a good story to call him the champion." ”

The Son of Heaven smiled and said, "You are speaking for Sun Chengzong like this, are you accepting a favor from others?" ”

Zhang Jing hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, how can a slave be a person who sees money, and how can a poor man like Sun Chengzong ......?"

When the Son of Heaven heard this, he looked up to the sky and laughed: "Yes, what you said is reasonable. As for making Sun Chengzong the champion, I may not. ”

Zhang Whale asked, "The slave is stupid and doesn't know what it means?" ”

The Son of Heaven glanced at Zhang Whale and said: "Sun Chengzong has such a great talent at a young age, and he suddenly named him the champion, which seems good at first glance, but it is not a long-term way to advance and retreat and employ people." In this regard, I have learned from the past. Besides, there will be such a dual element as the Yuan champion, how can I give it lightly, and future generations will read the history books and know that it is enough for the Wanli Dynasty to have a three-yuan, so let's do it. ”

At this moment, the controversy over the Mandarin Hall continues.

For Gu Qiyuan and Shu Hongzhi, the officials had a controversy.

Gu Qiyuan opposed the emperor, but he represented the Qing Dynasty.

Shu Hongzhi supported the emperor, but he stood on the opposite side of the majority of public opinion.

And the officials present are all high-ranking officials, and they are in power today. Regardless of which side they fall towards, they will immediately be attacked by the other.

Without the trust of the Son of Heaven, the black yarn is not guaranteed, and without the support of hundreds of officials, the position is not stable.

All the officials expressed their opinions, but they were all ambiguous words, and they almost slapped fifty boards each, and the papers of the two were dismissed.

Wang Xijue spoke: "Gu Qiyuan's article, when I was taking the exam, I had read it and I did have his talent, it would be a pity if it was implemented, it would be better to take it low, and it was also an explanation." ”

After talking for a long time, someone finally made a statement.

The officials are waiting for your words, and a tall person is on top. Shen Shixing clapped: "According to Wang Ge's opinion, this volume is listed at the end of the list." ”

Gu Qiyuan's volume has a conclusion, and it is a pity that the officials are a little sorry, so the article can be in the top ten without leaving its position.

Now it's Shu Hongzhi's turn.

In all fairness, as far as the article is concerned, this article is not excellent, and if you don't consider the position, it is the bottom of the top three.

But now everyone didn't dare to draw conclusions, Shen Shixing and Lin Yanchao said: "Master Lin, you read this volume, what do you think?" ”

Lin Yanchao was reluctant to answer this question, but since Shen Shixing was named, he thought that he couldn't avoid it, so he said: "Qi Yu Yuanfu, according to the opinion of the lower officials, this volume is extremely controversial, it is better not to pre-rank, and set up another place to present the Son of Heaven." ”

The officials nodded, Lin Yanchao is an old man who has a serious opinion, and he must not offend people left and right.

Shen Shixing nodded: "Good, that's it." ”

In the end, the officials who read the papers arranged the papers, discussed and decided on the top ten, and then went to the Middle Pole Hall to read the papers.

One of the officials reading the scroll was holding a scroll, and the Golden Palace reading scroll had already been dismantled.

Lin Yanchao stood beside him, and several scroll readers read the scrolls to the Son of Heaven on the throne one by one.

After reading the three volumes, the Son of Heaven couldn't help but say, "This volume is very good, whose article is it?" ”

Yang Wei, who was reading the volume, said: "Your Majesty, this volume is an article by Yang Daobin, a tribute of Jinyang. ”

The Son of Heaven nodded and said, "Good." ”

Yang Wei finished reading, and Xu Guo read the volume.

The Son of Heaven frowned when he heard Xu Guo reading the scroll: "Mr. Xu's hometown accent is very strong, who is this volume?" ”

Xu Guo's reading of the scroll was interrupted by the Son of Heaven and replied: "It is the second person to take the exam, Yuan Zongdao, the public security tribute, and the ministers and others have discussed the preparation of this volume as the second." ”

The Son of Heaven waved his hand and said: "No, this volume still owes Wencai, it is ranked second, don't read it again." ”

When Xu Guo heard this, his eyes were a little gloomy and he stepped aside.

Lin Yanchao on the side listened to it but it was a pity, Yuan Zongdao's article was really well written, and the Son of Heaven was disgusted by Xu Guo's accent, and he was not the first to be listed. But after thinking about it, maybe it wasn't because of the accent, maybe the Son of Heaven remembered that Yuan Zongdao was a native of Huguang and Zhang Juzheng's countryman because of Xu Guo's accent, which was similar to Chu Yin.

Then there is Shu Hongzhi's volume, which was read by Lin Yanchao, who 'selected' him.

After Lin Yanchao finished reading this volume, when he heard the words criticizing the official in the volume, the Son of Heaven is Longyan Dayue!

"Good! Good! Good! It's really a splendid article, every word is beautiful, unparalleled in the world, and it is really wonderful! It's not an exaggeration to point to such an article as the champion, whose article is this? ”

The officials in the hall vomited badly in their hearts, and Yuan Zongdao was stable in the article, but because Xu Guo's accent was wrong, he was thrown out of the top two.

Shu Hongzhi's article on the corner of the table was praised as the champion volume.

The dignified emperor advocates this, anyway, it's good that you're happy.

The Son of Heaven asked, "How many of you Aiqing are in the first place?" ”

All the officials looked at each other, but none of them spoke, even Shen Shixing and Wang Xijue were all looking at their noses and noses, as if they were wandering outside the world.

Lin Yanchao replied: "The ministers dare not make a decision, so I implore Your Majesty to make a holy judgment!" ”

The Son of Heaven nodded when he heard Lin Yanchao say this: "Okay, let's read the don't scroll." ”

Next, Shen Shixing picked up Sun Chengzong's scroll and read it.

After listening to this, the Son of Heaven approvingly said: "This person is really a genius, I don't know who wrote the article?" ”

Shen Shixing said: "This volume was made by Sun Chengzong, a Gaoyang Gongshi of Huiyuan, and the ministers unanimously discussed it, and they all guaranteed that this volume could be the first volume. ”

"Get the roll!"

Shen Shixing presented it, and the Son of Heaven looked at the scroll and praised it repeatedly: "Good, good, good, don't talk about articles, just this calligraphy, I don't have a few people to see." ”

Lin Yanchao had mixed feelings in his heart when he heard this, and he was even more happy for Sun Chengzong.

Some officials discussed: "The champion has not been allowed to the northerners for many years. ”

"This time it's going to be a precedent."

Shen Shixing saw the intention of the Son of Heaven and said: "The ministers implore Your Majesty to set the first three volumes." ”

The Son of Heaven nodded, and immediately picked up the red pen from the imperial case, and was about to land on Sun Chengzong's scroll.

At this time, the Son of Heaven suddenly stopped writing, as if he thought of something.

The Son of Heaven looked at Wang Xijue and said, "Mr. Wang, what is Sun Chengzong's appearance, you can describe one or two." ”

Wang Xijue had seen Sun Chengzong and said: "The minister remembers that his face is very dark, and his beard is as hard as a halberd, and it is difficult to describe the other ministers." ”

The Son of Heaven hesitated for a moment and said: "In this way, Sun Chengzong's appearance is mediocre, and the champion is the face of the court, so he must be handsome." ”

When all the officials in the hall heard this, they all looked at Shen Shixing and Lin Yanchao.

Lin Yanchao felt this gaze and couldn't help touching his face.

From ancient times to the present, many times because of the appearance between the first and second places in the palace examination, the ownership of the champion list has been determined.

For example, when Yingzong of the Ming Dynasty tried to be Zhang He, a native of Kunshan, he was the first, but the Son of Heaven was not worried about his appearance, so he secretly sent a small yellow door to Zhang He's apartment to investigate, and found that Zhang He was sick, so he changed the handsome Shi Pan to the first place.

Judging from Shen Shixing's subject, Shen Shixing's appearance, whether he is young or now, is a talent. As for your own subject, do you need to say more about it?

In today's words, appearance is justice.

Wang Xijue said: "Your Majesty is embarrassed, it is better for Your Majesty to announce Sun Chengzong and see it!" ”

The Son of Heaven also felt troublesome, and when he saw Lin Yanchao, he asked: "In Mr. Sense, how does Sun Chengzong look better than Lin Qing?" ”

Lin Yanchao: "??? ”

Wang Xijue felt that this question was not easy to answer, glanced at Lin Yanchao, thought for a while, and said, "The minister thinks that Master Lin is slightly better looking." ”

When the Son of Heaven heard this, he said: "Then I will point Sun Chengzong as the eye!" ”