Leave Wenyuan Pavilion.

Lin Yanchao went out of the palace from the Donghua Gate, which is still within the scope of the imperial city, and the inner carrier warehouse and Guanglu Temple are nearby, in addition to the marble room and the grate head room.

The grate head room is equipped with more than 10 attendants, who specialize in asking for hair, hair retention, bagging, and plastic surgery for the royal children. According to the rules of the palace, where a royal child is born, the moon cuts the fetal hair, and after the name of the hundred days, the hair must be cut on time and the head is bald.

Therefore, the prince's haircut is a special person, and in his later years, Emperor Jiajing was taboo about the matter of someone talking about the prince, and someone dared to say a word to die.

At that time, King Yu was still in the palace, Wanli was born, King Yu did not dare to tell Jiajing about it, and no one in the palace dared to tell Jiajing about it, so that two months after Wanli was born, he still did not cut his hair.

As for the pachinko room, it is a place to make slingshots and mud bullets for the emperor to shoot birds.

Speaking of bird hunting, the Song Dynasty emperor Zhao Kuangyin was fighting birds in the palace, and there were officials who played something, and Zhao Kuangyin was annoyed to use an axe to knock down this person's two teeth. The officer picked up the teeth. Zhao Kuangyin said, did you hide your teeth and want to accuse me? The other party said, I can't sue the emperor, but the historian will record the matter. Then Zhao Kuangyin apologized.

The eunuch took Lin Yanchao to the pachinko room, where there was a eunuch in charge and several eunuchs who made slingshots. Lin Yanchao came to the marble room and saw that the eunuch had packed all the mud bombs he had made in a yellow cloth bag for the Son of Heaven to use.

The eunuch in charge brought a chair to Lin Yanchao, this inner eunuch didn't need to buy Wenchen's account, but the other party was respectful, obviously not because of Lin Yanchao.

At this moment, Zhang Whale came to the storeroom, and the other eunuchs in the storehouse immediately knelt down and kowtowed like a mouse seeing a cat.

Zhang Whale said impatiently: "Get out!" ”

When these eunuchs heard this, they immediately shrank their heads and left.

said that Lin Yanchao and Zhang Whale hadn't seen each other for some days. The eunuch who didn't dare to breathe in front of Feng Bao back then is now an extremely civil minister, no, an extremely eunuch.

The eunuch Zhang Hong, the master of ceremonies, is old and knows how to act restrained, but Zhang Whale is flying and domineering with the favor of the Son of Heaven, and his power seems to be above Zhang Hong.

Although Zhang Whale's current status is not to the level of Wang Zhen and Liu Jin, it is not too far behind.

Lin Yanchao left his seat and saluted Zhang Whale, which was not ashamed. Zhang Juzheng also called himself a 'late life' in front of Feng Bao in the first year.

Zhang Whale sat on the chair of the eunuch with the palm print, threw his hat and pressed his sideburns and said, "Our family and Master Lin are old friends, so don't make a fuss." ”

Lin Yanchao said with a smile: "The governor is serious, if it wasn't for the governor's support back then, I don't know where I am today." ”

Zhang Whale nodded and said: "Eh, I came to you today to reminisce about the past, when Zhang Taiyue and Feng Shuanglin were still there, where did you and I put them in their eyes, but now it's only a few years, hum, the people outside have to look at me and wait for the eyes to act." If the two of them saw us like this today, they would not know how they would feel. ”

Lin Yanchao thought to himself, how can I compare Zhang Juzheng and you and Feng Bao.

Lin Yanchao said: "How can I be able to reach the Governor, the Governor is above 10,000 people today." ”

"What one person is below ten thousand people, these rootless people in our family are not as good as your ministers, and all power is given by Banzai. Long live you offended, there are still people to help, the saint doesn't like you, out of sight and out of mind, let you go out of Beijing to any of the big people, the power is not reduced, no matter how bad you go home to retire, but also return to the mountains and forests. Where is our family, if we offend Long live, the people around us will not help our family, but will fall into the well and compete for the top. So our family is looking at the scenery now, but in fact, there is no way to retreat, advance is life, retreat is death! ”

Zhang Whale said a few words, and what he said was a little bleak.

The eunuchs of the Ming Dynasty were like this, if they reached the status of Wang Zhen, Liu Jin, and Wei Zhongxian, it was really that all the officials together could not help them.

But when he lost power, it was just a sentence from the Son of Heaven.

In the past few years, Lin Yanchao has also heard a lot of things about Zhang Whale, wantonly accepting bribes, not to mention recruiting minions, interfering in the election of officials, conniving at cronies to encroach on people's land, and also collecting beauties among the people to supply the Son of Heaven, with a very bad reputation.

It's not that eunuchs can't die well, but Zhang Whale acted like this, he chose this path, it looks like the scenery in front of him, but one day it will be over, this is not to look at today's fun, be careful that he pulls the list every day.

Lin Yanchao looked at Zhang Whale and said, "Duke, I am so heart-to-heart, then I also have a few heartfelt words to tell Duke." ”

Zhang Whale's eyes flashed and asked, "What words?" ”

Under Zhang Whale's gaze, Lin Yanchao smiled secretly in his heart, what do you think I am going to say to persuade you to stop as soon as possible? You Zhang Whale did such a thing, the emperor must know, if Zhang Whale stopped, the emperor would have no value in protecting him, and then the ministers attacked him, it is hard to say whether he can save his life.

Lin Yanchao said: "As the governor said, all our power is given by the saint, as long as the saint does not decrease, then there is no choice in the world to get the governor, but there are some clear desires in the court that are not conducive to the governor, I think I have to guard against it." ”

Zhang Whale sneered and said, "You said that having a clear stream desire is not good for our family, and our family doesn't know who these clear streams are?" Is it Wang Xijue, or Zhao Yongxian, or you? ”

Zhang Jing carefully looked at Lin Yanchao's expression, but saw that he showed an 'angry' look, obviously saying, 'Governor, we are our own people, you actually wronged me'.

At this moment, Lin Yanchao thought to himself that Zhang Whale really had a lot of eyes and ears in Gongyuan. But now that he knows, things are much easier.

Lin Yanchao feigned anger and said: "Duke, how can you confuse me with those Qingliu who sell their reputation and reputation, the matter has reached this point, no one wants to see it, I and Dugong will always be in the same boat." But since the Governor asked so, then I also opened the skylight and said something bright, how big is the trouble outside now, and how many people know the inside story? ”

Zhang Whale said with a sharp voice: "No matter how big the trouble is outside, our family can suppress it." But you and Wang Xijue didn't stab our family in front of the Son of Heaven, and now it's through the sky, how can you suppress it? ”

Lin Yanchao argued: "Duke, do you think that even if I don't say it, Wang Taicang won't know about it?" The volume of the 'through joint' that was handed over in just one room is as many as seven or eight copies, not to mention how many rolls are there in the other rooms? Not to mention how many candidates outside know the news, Dugong, I thought that your explanation of this matter was extremely hidden, who knew that it would be known to the world. ”

"It's not that I don't help, at the beginning, an examiner came to my room with a paper to question, I was bent on pressing down for my father-in-law, who knew that someone actually bypassed me and told Wang Taicang about it, what do you say I should do?"

Zhang Whale said hatefully: "You don't need to mention our family to know, this person is Zhao Yongxian!" This person, our family, categorically can't spare him. ”

Lin Yanchao nodded, "Hearing you say that, I'm relieved."

Lin Yanchao said hatefully: "That's it, Duke, this matter is also my fault." This Zhao Yongxian and I were not right when I was in the Hanlin Academy. He didn't know where I intended to suppress this matter, so he deliberately told the news to Wang Taicang, when I heard the wind, I couldn't sleep all night, who is this Wang Taicang? Even Zhang Taiyue is afraid of a three-point character, the trust of the Son of Heaven in him is still above my teacher, if he wants to lift this matter, who can hold it? ”

"So on the one hand, it is the matter that the overseer explains, and on the other hand, it is my own net worth, and I am also in a dilemma. But the governor is kind to me, how can I repay it, but I think that in case of this matter, if Wang Taicang and Zhao Yongxian go to the side of the Son of Heaven, it will be a big case, and the government and the opposition will pay attention, and it will not be able to cover it up, and it will not be able to suppress it. It doesn't matter if Lin planted it, if his father-in-law is implicated because of this, it will really be difficult to atone for his sins. ”

Zhang Whale said suspiciously: "So you still wholeheartedly help our family, then you are the chief examiner, just help me change the joints." What else can Wang Xijue say at that time, but you helped me change one volume, and handed over the other volumes to Wang Xijue? ”

You say that is clearly too little?

Lin Yanchao said: "Duke, Wang Taicang already knows about the four one-word joints, and he will inevitably review the file afterwards, and the more I change, the bigger the flaws." This person is a master calligrapher, and if I change one volume, he may not be able to see it, and if there are a few more volumes, it will be difficult, and it will be difficult to guarantee that he will not suspect me. It's okay for me to be suspected by Wang Taicang, but once he knows that I am involved in the matter of the manejuan, it is very likely that he will guess my father-in-law. ”

Listening to Lin Yanchao's words, Zhang Whale showed a relieved look and said: "I see, Zong Hai rest assured, our family didn't blame you from beginning to end, they were all like their subordinates. ”

Lin Yanchao sneered in his heart, Zhang Whale knew that this matter was almost over for all the Beijing teacher candidates, and he wanted me to continue to help you. This person only thinks about himself when he does things, and he doesn't care about others at all, so how can he let others do things for you.

At this point, Zhang Whale really wants to learn from Shen Shixing, who is also in the same position.

Lin Yanchao said: "Your Majesty already knows about this matter, what is the countermeasure of the Governor?" ”

Zhang Whale said proudly: "What countermeasures?" Your Majesty has already asked our family to investigate the case, just arrest a few people, and under the three trees of the Fusi of Beizhen, the stone can also speak. ”

Lin Yanchao thought that he was really worried about Zhang Whale in vain, but he also expressed his 'concern'. However, such a person is still far away from him.

Lin Yanchao said: "It turns out that the Holy Admiral entrusted this matter to my father-in-law, so I was worried in vain. ”

Zhang Whale looked at Lin Yanchao and said with a smile: "Zong Hai, you are a smart person, what you gave advice to you at the beginning, our family was willing to protect you, but it was not just for the sake of the 10,000 taels of silver." So you're right, we're grasshoppers on a rope, and there will be a day when our family will be rich, and there will be a day when you'll be rich. ”

Lin Yanchao laughed at the moment and said, "Of course, this matter is not easy to publicize." ”

Zhang Whale nodded and said, "Yes, our family should be the secret." Another day, Zong Hai will come to our house, and the good things here in our house will not be seen in the palace, so please invite Zong Hai to come to our house to open his eyes. ”

Lin Yanchao said with a smile: "I will definitely see the treasures on the Governor's Mansion then." ”

Then Lin Yanchao said goodbye to Zhang Whale.

And the case of fraud will be tried, and in the end, I don't know how Zhang Whale passed in front of the Son of Heaven, so he was suppressed silently.

But at least the final result of the examination was relatively fair, and many people recognized by the government and the opposition were selected. As for Lin Yanchao's two protégés, Tao Wangling, Yuan Keli fell off the list, so although Sun Chengzong was named Huiyuan, no one in the government and the opposition thought that Lin Yanchao was the main exam, and there was the slightest favoritism.

And Lin Yanchao took the initiative to expose 16 fraudulent files, which also made many people aware of this matter, and even made him famous.

The following is the palace examination, the examination of three hundred and fifty-one tributes entering the palace.

This final examination does not dethrone, but determines the final ranking of the candidates. The palace examination is also the examination of the Son of Heaven, and the top three in the palace examination are the first armor, and they are appointed to the Hanlin Academy to confer officials, so the importance of the palace examination is self-evident.

The day of the temple examination is March 15.

As the deputy chief examiner of the general examination, Lin Yanchao, who lectured on the bachelor's degree, was not surprisingly named the official of the palace examination on the same day.

The supervision of the palace examination is far less than that of the examination, and it has become a common practice to select the candidates for the examination of the papers, and the cabinet scholars and officials at the bachelor's level of the Hanlin Academy are usually required to serve as the officials of the reading papers, and the rest are filled by the six Shangshu Shilang, all of whom are in the imperial history.

Because the examiner is decided, it is easy to get through the joint.

Although the Son of Heaven marks the papers in the palace examination, in fact, the Son of Heaven only looks at the top papers, and the ranking of the candidates is largely determined by the examiners. Moreover, the palace examination only obscures the name, but does not transcrib, so when the tribute who will be selected in the examination will know that a certain official will definitely send a reading paper, he will first submit his own article and use his own font for the other party to identify.

After the palace examination is completed, the person writes the first four sentences of the palace examination and submits it to the request, which is called 'sending a poem piece'.

March 16.

Lin Yanchao and the public readers went to the East Pavilion.

But see that in the middle of the East Pavilion hangs Yan Liben's "Tang Eighteen Bachelors", the authenticity of this picture has long been gone, and this picture is imitated by later generations of famous craftsmen.

The picture of the eighteen bachelors of the Tang Dynasty is that Taizong of the Tang Dynasty set up a literature museum in that year, and in order to emphasize literature, eighteen people such as Fang Du were selected as bachelors, and the people who were selected for the bachelors were called 'Dengyingzhou'.

Hanging this picture in the East Pavilion is, of course, also a sign of the court's 'emphasis on propriety and virtue'.

Under the picture of the eighteen scholars, there is a mahogany box, the box is locked, and it is the scroll written by the palace test tribute priest yesterday.

In the East Cabinet, Shen Shixing, Xu Guo, Wang Xijue, and Wang Jiaping sat down in several cabinet scholars, and then Yang Wei, Bi Qiang, Shen Yiyi, Zhu Geng, Zhang Wei, Lin Yanchao, Yu Shenxing and other officials sat down.

Soon, the officer in charge of the paper enters and opens the box, and then takes the paper and sends it to each reader to mark the volume.

Then the paper readers moved to the Wenhua Hall to mark the papers, and finally reviewed the top ten papers, and the next day all the paper readers went to the Zhongji Hall to read the test papers to the Son of Heaven.

When the Wenhua Hall was marking the papers, something happened.

At that time, Lin Yanchao was grading the papers, but he saw He Yuan, the left waiter of the Criminal Department of the Judge Reading the Papers, who was sitting next to him, found an article in the papers, and then his face changed drastically.

He Yuan gave the scroll to Shen Shixing, and Wang Xijue looked at it, but it didn't come out for a long time.

Lin Yanchao continued to read the file, and this time it was his turn to shoot the case. Lin Yanchao didn't dare to make his own claim, so he immediately asked Shen Shixing and Wang Xijue instructed.

Now He Yuan's face is solemn, Shen Shixing, Wang Xijue read the scroll in Lin Yanchao's hand again, and his face is solemn.

Wang Xijue pinched things and said: "These two volumes are very important, and they need to be discussed by all the paper readers. ”

Shen Shixing also said: "Yes, the servants don't dare to specialize in this matter, so let's discuss it together." ”

Then the readers stopped their heads and read the papers of the two together. After reading the papers, all the paper readers felt that one head and two were big.

The scroll in He Yuan's hand directly criticized the Son of Heaven for making Concubine Zheng the imperial concubine, and he was hesitant to make a decision on the matter of establishing a prince.

However, the volume in Lin Yanchao's hand is just the opposite, criticizing the speaker in the article, talking nonsense when there is nothing to do, and selling his name.

One volume pointed at the face of the Son of Heaven and scolded, and the other volume was clearly a criticism of the official, but in fact?

This time, the Son of Heaven did not establish a reserve, and as a result, all the officials rose up to write a book. Therefore, the attack on the speech official is to cater to the Son of Heaven and sing praises for the third son of the emperor.

This kind of volume, all the readers are shocked, I just want to read a volume, but it turns out to be so big.

The meaning of the public reading officials is to dismiss these two volumes, don't think that if you are admitted to the Gongshi, you can speak indiscriminately in the palace examination. You young people are not afraid of throwing black yarn hats and dare to spray everywhere, but a few of us old men are so old, and we have experienced strong winds and waves, and it has become a joke to lose your official position after reading the papers.

After the officials deliberated, they decided to open the name and look at the file to see who wrote it.

So everyone pried a little from the seal and saw the name.

The first candidate to write a scolding paper for the emperor was Gu Yuncheng, the younger brother of Gu Xiancheng, the head of the ministry.

In the examination, Gu Yuncheng was ranked in the top ten, but in the palace examination, he took the initiative to 'die'.

At that time, many fellow examiners had praised his articles and talents, but now I don't know which tendon in my head is wrong.

The second volume is called Scolding the Official, secretly currying favor with the emperor, such an undisciplined volume, the officials looked at the name, and found that this volume was written by Shu Hongzhi, a Gongshi of Quanzhou.

Who is this Shu Hongzhi? His father was Shu Yinglong, the current governor of Guizhou, and his father-in-law was Jiang Zunzhen, a fellow villager who had served as the secretary of the Ministry of Officials.

Jiang Zunzhen is not ordinary, Wenxuan Shilang has great power, and Zheng Luo, the right attendant of the military department, asked Jiang Zunzhen to help him for the position of governor of Datong. Jiang Zunzhen heard that Zheng Luo had a daughter who was very beautiful, so he told Zheng Luo that if you marry me, you will definitely get it. Then Zheng Luo married his daughter and became the governor of Datong as he wished.

This Jiang Zunzhen is Zhang Juzheng's cronies, and at that time, this marriage was still the matchmaker of Zhang Juzheng and Wang Zhen. The people of the time ridiculed Jiang Zunzhen for being five years old, and he was embarrassed to marry someone else's daughter.

This incident was quite a sensation later, and the officials of the Ming Dynasty generally wrote to scold the officials of the Ministry for secretly operating in the dark, and in the recital, they had to mention the old matter of Jiang Zunzhen marrying a wife, by the way, and whip the corpse a few times.

At that time, after the fall of Zhang Juzheng, Jiang Zunzhen, who served as the Shaoqing of Taichang Temple, was impeached and stepped down, but after all, the other party had served as Wenxuan Shilang for six years, and he had great energy in the DPRK, and no one dared to underestimate him.

Then again, Shu Hongzhi took this exam paper at this time, and he definitely didn't mean it alone, and there was a lot of fame behind it.

And Lin Yanchao's head was even bigger, because he found out that Shu Hongzhi was the candidate who helped him pass the 'joint' in the examination before, and this son was 'his own person'.

Lin Yanchao remembered that the ranking he set for him in the examination was extremely low!