In the Gongyuan Academy, in the room of the main examination, the two presidents of the undergraduate department sat opposite each other, and on the public case in front of them, more than a dozen papers were side by side. As the highest-level exam, it is necessary to seal and transcribe, but for the main examiner, it is not difficult to know who wrote certain papers and to take the papers of specific people into your own hands.

After the end of the first session, Li Songnian, the same examiner, went to each room and collected the designated papers, until the three exams were completed, and the papers of these specific candidates had been placed in front of the examiner. Of course, this kind of operation violates the imperial examination system, and once the incident occurs, it is likely to be dealt with, but by the Wanli era, the binding force of the system on people was not as good as before.

In another time and space, Han Jing, the champion of the 38th year of Wanli, and his teacher Tang Yinbin, who was the same examiner at the time, openly searched for the papers of his disciples in each room, and found them in the papers that other room examiners had already deposed. exchanged scrolls with each room, admitted his own disciples, and forcibly asked Xiao Yunju, who was the chief examiner at the time, to point Han Jing, who should have been deposed, as Huiyuan.

In fact, just as Fan Jin thought, because the examiners who will take the exam are familiar with each other, it is inevitable that there will be official or private contacts in daily life, and it is easier to collude and cheat than in the township exam. Li Songnian, as the same examiner, is not inferior to Tang Yinbin in power, and he has the support of a real bigwig behind him, so there is no pressure to do this kind of thing at all.

This list of candidates actually comes from the instructions above. In addition to Li Songnian, the officials in the examination room, such as the promotion and supervision, have all been ordered and know how to cooperate with the action. These people who are supposed to be responsible for ensuring the normal operation of the examination system personally cheat, and the so-called rules or preventive measures are like the clothes of famous tricks, which do not play much protective role.

Contrary to what most people think, these specially found papers do not necessarily mean admission, but only confirm that they are in a controllable state. There are a few names that are guaranteed to pass, but there are also a few that must be deposed. The person who gave the order was not a person in the officialdom himself, and the examiner could take what he said as an order or ignore it entirely. Moreover, the county officials are not as good as the current management, if the two people who are the examiners ignore this kind of notification and choose talents completely according to their own will, others will not have much to think.

But after all, how things are done is another matter, there are not many people who sacrifice their future for the sake of the country's selection of talents, and even if they really exist, such a person who can't distinguish between the important and the important will not be able to do it at the moment to test the president. For example, the reason why Zhang Siwei and Shen Shixing can be placed in the main examination position has a lot to do with their relatively mild temperament. Zhang Jiangling does not need a Geng Jiezhi minister to be difficult with himself in the upper position, especially for the position of president, the first standard of employment is obedience.

When Shen Shixing was young, he was locked in the house by his teacher Yuan Wei to write green words, and if he didn't agree with the writing, he had to overturn and rewrite it, and he often starved for a day without even snacks and tea. Tang Hanlin was abused like this, but he never complained, and he knew that he was a dough character who was round and round. I won't muster up the courage to fight with others, and whatever dissatisfaction I have in my heart will be digested.

Zhang Siwei is similar to Shen Shixing, he was born in a wealthy merchant family in Shanxi, and he does not have much temperament, and he is very easy-going. Because of his extremely wide belly, he was called a naturalist by his colleagues, and he had learned his own talents, but he was never proud of his talents, and he was always a good gentleman. They may have their own opinions on the above arrangement, but if they really fight, they may not have the courage to do so.

The temperament of the two is docile, and they will not disobey anyone's will, but as literati, it is inevitable to see the joy of hunting in the process of Hengwen. Shen Shixing fiddled with the article in front of him, and he couldn't put it down.

"Brother Fengpan, you see, the dictionaries and skeletons of this article are excellent, and in the volume of this section, it is actually considered to be a good grade. In my opinion, at least it is a second-class one. Just deposed like this, there is a regret of missing the pearl, you said that if you ask the first person to read it, will you have the idea of loving talents? ”

Zhang Siwei's age is nine years older than Shen Shixing, and the time of Zhongjinshi is also nine years earlier than Shen Shixing, so he is a real senior. He and Zhang Ju are on the same list as Jinshi, and they are also the right-hand men of Jiangling in the court. Not long ago, he had just been promoted to the rank of scholar of the Scholar Department of Tokaku University, and served as a group assistant to assist the government.

Although everyone understands that Zhang Siwei's entry into the cabinet is nothing more than a trick used by Zhang Juzheng to the outside world, saying that he does not monopolize the cabinet, the cabinet is operating normally, and Zhang Siwei is only the echo worm that Zhang Juzheng's orders follow. But even so, the identity of the East Pavilion Scholar is not fake. has a relationship in the same year, as long as you follow the rules and be a good concubine and a group assistant with peace of mind, you will have a great future in the future. If Shen Shixing wants to protect people, he must first find him for advice.

Zhang Siwei closed his eyes slightly, seemed to be asleep, and did not answer Shen Shixing's question. It wasn't until Shen Shixing said it again that he opened his eyes and looked at Shen Shixing.

"Linchuan Tang Yiyi's writing is naturally excellent, Yaoquan, you Hengwen's means, I also know, this article doesn't have to be read, it's always not bad. In front of Shoufu, he will definitely support Yaoquan, thinking that among these sons, he will also praise your brother for his wisdom and knowledge. ”

Shen Shixing was overjoyed, "Brother Fengpan, what do you mean?" ”

"I mean, Your Majesty has not yet been in power, everything still has to be done by the order of Yuan Weng, especially the position of you and I as the president is determined by Yuan Weng, we can only do it seriously, do not let the pearl cast into the dark, and the right Yuan Weng created the grace. If you read Tang Yiyi's article is really good, I will accompany you to the Prime Minister's Mansion once, and make a presentation in front of Yuan Weng to protect this Tang's reputation. ”

Shen Shixing's original intention was to let Zhang Siwei come forward to protect this talented man named Tang Xianzu, after all, his literary talent is here, and the examiner with eyes can see that this person should be in the middle. brushing down such a person, although he can think of a way to explain his conscience in Shilin, he still can't help it.

But Zhang Siwei's words threw the pot back on himself. Zhang Ju is his own teacher, and he has always been strong. In front of him, he only listened but did not speak. In this section, I let myself be the president, which is to recruit a lot of useful disciples and protégés, pave the way for future officials, and have the grace of edifying myself. If you make the host angry about this...... It doesn't seem to be worth it either. And Zhang Siwei refuses to take the lead, and he is not sure whether he can convince Shoufu alone.

Just as he was weighing, Zhang Siwei said again: "Yaoquan, time waits for no one, if you delay too long on a paper, it will be unfair to other candidates." Let's take a look at a few papers for the middle school test, although there will be no people who don't understand the text when it comes to the test, but be careful to make the 10,000-year-old ship, it's better to be careful. In the Wuzong Dynasty that year, there were Jinshi who confused the four subjects and ten philosophies, and the excellent volume was the laughing stock of the world, which provoked a fallen student to write Yan Yuan's complaint to ridicule the government, and the examiner at that time lost a lot of face. Our generation should also take this as a warning, and be more cautious, so as not to disgrace Yuan Weng. ”

Shen Shixing opened his mouth, but saw that Zhang Siwei had already picked up a scroll and was reading it, so he had no choice but to put Tang Xianzu's scroll aside and fall into the part of the dethronement.

An honest person does not mean that he has no position, although Shen Shixing is almost principled, he is always a scholar, and he is very emotionally affected by such a good article, and he can't read the article for a while. After a while, he returned his attention to the exam paper in front of him, glanced at a few paragraphs and said: "This Guangdong Fan Jin's writing is not evil, and it may not lose to Tang Xianzu." However, his name Yuan Weng was never mentioned......"

"At least no one has said that Fan will not be allowed to enter the middle test." Zhang Siwei said with a smile: "As I just said, since my generation is the president, I should use my heart to weigh the text and select talents for the country." Although no one mentions Fan Jin's name, who in Beijing doesn't know about his cowpox prescription and cinchona? At present, Yuan Weng employs people, not yet talking lightly and focusing on practical work, it seems that people like Fan Huisi are of great use. If it is because of the examiner's negligence for a while, and the name falls to Sun Mountain, not only will the people not accept Yuan Weng, but it will also be difficult to explain. He said more than once that officials should always pretend to be the people in their hearts, rejoice in the joy of the people, and take the evil of the people as evil. This is not something we just say casually, but we have to think like this when we run errands. Therefore, even if no one wants us to take care of such a person, we must also control the balance in our own hearts and conform to the will of the people. Moreover, his writing is indeed good, and this is not our favoritism. ”

Shen Shixing had no opinion on Fan Jin's words, but he had his own heart, and hesitated, "Although Fan Huisi's words are good, there seems to be something to discuss in the market......

"Discussions? Since I entered the thorny area, I have been isolated from internal and external news, and I have never heard of any rumors in the market. Brother Yaoquan doesn't know where to hear the discussion in the market? You are an old gentleman, don't listen to those bad people talk nonsense, they are the villains who are the best at chasing the wind and reversing black and white, we must have a fixed opinion, not to be bewitched by outsiders. In the essay paper, I read Fan Jin's writing enough to test. ”

The Gongyuan is not a paradise, even if the chief examiner can't go out by himself, there are always soldiers to supply food and officials to procure supplies. These people come from the people, and they know a lot about the market. The servants of both would ask these soldiers about the situation on behalf of their masters, and they could actually hear those rumors outside. Zhang Siwei's statement is tantamount to a clear lie. He was born in a wealthy background, so he naturally would not be shaken by the bribes of money, and he had never heard that he had a personal relationship with Fan Jin, and the two of them were one in Shanxi and one in Guangdong, and there was no hometown friendship. Several possibilities were denied, and Shen Shixing was even more suspicious: whose way is this Fan Jin, and it is better to be careful if Zhang Siwei can use such strength to protect him.

Shen Shixing has no opinion on Fan Jin, and he will not deliberately embarrass his fame, but he is a little worried:

"Those people don't have good intentions, they have the intention to make things difficult for Fan Jin. If you let it take the test, I'm afraid that these people will make trouble......"

"Let them make trouble! We are not greedy, we are not bribes, and we are worthy of heaven and earth, so what are we afraid of? This meeting will try to lift thousands of children, everyone's talent and learning are almost the same, who is in the test book has no rules. As long as the text we record is not bad, who can say that ours is not. Yaoquan and look at it, Fan Sheng's scriptures are not bad, and even more difficult, even the words of the second and third scenes are also extremely attentive. Nowadays, the style of study is impetuous, and the first three articles are only important, and the rest don't care at all. Fan Shengken's dedication to the text of the last two shows that the system is solid and can be practiced. At present, many students are still talking empty and not practical, and it is time to push a few people like Fan Jin out, and they are learning in style. I think Yuan Weng will also agree with my opinion. Of course, this is just my own opinion, if Yaoquan thinks that there is indeed anything wrong with his words, you can also circle it out, and we will discuss it again. ”

is different from Zhang Juzheng's domineering, Zhang Siwei always speaks and does things like an honest man who is a little timid, his voice is not loud, and his tone is relatively easy-going, mostly with a consultative attitude. When he said this matter now, he was not coerced or ordered, but discussed with Shen Shixing.

When two honest people meet in one place, there will be no conflict. After Zhang Siwei's words, Shen Shixing did not fight back, but was silent for a moment and said: "Brother Feng Pan is high, and the younger brother is ashamed, so let's record Fan Jin." ”

"Okay, since Yaoquan also agrees, then this volume will be recorded." Zhang Siwei smiled and wrote Chinese characters on Fan Jin's scroll. Shen Shixing also figured it out at this time, even if he recorded Tang Xianzu by himself, and Zhang Juzheng stopped him when he went to the palace test, his ranking would not be much better, maybe it would be the best outcome for him to let him fall in this subject. As for Fan Jin......

The text is not bad, and it is enough to be tested. But there are rumors in the market that Fan Jin had an affair with Zhang Juzheng's daughter, what should such a person do if he is put in the palace test, and whether he chooses it to be love or harm, but it is difficult to draw a conclusion.

No matter what Zhang Siwei thinks, he has already looked at other volumes, and he doesn't look at the deposed volumes, but only looks at those relationship volumes that must be hit, looking for any flaws. Seeing him act like this, Shen Shixing admired it in his heart: Brother Feng Pan is old and serious, and he doesn't leak, but he looks like a minister.

Time disappeared little by little in the long river of life, and when the night of February 27 finally came, in the Tribute Academy, the examiners were neatly dressed and ready to write the list. The hall was brightly lit, and the servants had smiles on their faces. These people have already received a lot of bounties from different channels, and the work to do is to report the news of whether someone has won or not when the list is written.

The mood of several examiners was also mostly joyful and excited, the night was about to pass, and the dawn was just around the corner. No matter how hard the examination process is, as long as you can make big mistakes in the test, it is an important part of the performance appraisal. Besides, if you can accept so many protégés and disciples in one breath, the filial piety of the New Year alone is a lot of silver taels, and this benefit is also implemented.

Just like the township test, the meeting test is also written first for the sixth place, and then written one by one, and the top five are left for the end to be written from back to front, called the backward five kui.

One by one, the names of the candidates were sung, and then the annunciation people ran to the apartment where the people were to report the good news and ask for rewards, from this moment on, these people who were called by their names have stepped into the Ming officialdom with one foot and become one of the members of the entire imperial shepherd. But regardless of their future fate, at least at the moment of their gold list title, they are one of the happiest people in the world.

Zhang Siwei's face was neither happy nor angry, and his expression was unfathomable, making it impossible to guess his thoughts. His mind was actually not in the Gongyuan, nor was it in the unveiling of the list, but fell on Fan Jin:

Where is the relationship between this scholar? Judging from Xi Shetu's matter, Zhang Juzheng must still be looking at him in his heart, but it is not very similar to favoritism in the meeting, and You Qi did not mention this person when he ordered the name. But he had Fan Yu at every meal, and before the exam, a palace eunuch came to deliver a message to him. The most surprising thing is that the eunuchs who came to deliver the message actually belonged to two different systems, one was Feng Bao's subordinates, and the other was from the emperor's side, and they were the emperor's cronies.

These two people take care of one person, this is the first time this kind of thing has happened, and this kind of favor is something that I can't help but do. It is necessary not only to sell face to Feng Bao, but also to sell face to the emperor. This time not only recorded Fan Jin, but also gave him such a ranking......

Although the Son of Heaven has not been in charge of the government at present, and everyone in the world is looking forward to Zhang Juzheng, the emperor will grow up one day, and by that time...... He will surely remember who respected him and who did not take him seriously.

In addition to this layer, what interests Zhang Siwei even more is Fan Jin. Guangdong Yakui or cowpox, in his eyes, is actually nothing. On the stage of Yu Jingshi, it can't be called any great brilliance. Just such a small move, it can actually alarm the Son of Heaven and Feng Bao, which shows that it is not simple, when will such a protégé not accept it himself?

Countless thoughts swirled around in my mind, and finally ended up in Zhang Zhai in Shamao Hutong. Judging from the Xishe arrangement, Zhang Juzheng did not hate this rumor son-in-law, but his arrangement this time was not only not offended to him, but also greatly beneficial to him, according to his understanding of Zhang Juzheng, he must be very satisfied with this arrangement in his heart, and he would not be angry. After thinking about it for a long time, Zhang Siwei found that this arrangement was indeed exquisite, and he must not offend any party, so he was completely relieved in his heart, and he just waited to make a scene.

At this time, it was already time to make a fuss, and the people replaced the new candles, and surrounded the examiners to prepare for a big fuss, and the names were revealed one by one. Write the five kui upside down, the first to read the last rank, the last to read first. The last of the five kui is Zhang Sixiu, the second son of Zhang, and when he saw this name, several examiners smiled and knew each other. With this second son, it is logical that his children want to take the test in the future, and it is because of Zhang Juzheng's behavior of letting his son take the test this time, many officials are resentful on the surface, but they are secretly cool in their hearts.

Outside the Gongyuan, a group of dukes who were about to go to the good news were all waiting for the name of Huiyuan. Every time a candidate passes the test, his name will be written on a piece of paper and handed out through the crack in the door, and if he or she reports the good news with this name, there will be a bounty to be awarded. According to the different rankings, the prize money is different, and the bounty of Huiyuan is undoubtedly the most generous, and there are many people outside the door.

Waiting for the last small note to be handed out, a few poor people fought for me and almost started to move, among which the most burly poor person had practiced Shaolin Gong, and his skills were particularly neat, pushing and shoving, several colleagues were opened one after another, he grabbed the note and unfolded it, and then shouted:

"Grab what! Lao Tzu doesn't eat alone, I'll just tell you. ”

The dukes stopped fighting, and they all looked at him, only to see the duke tearing open his throat and shouting with all his strength: "Ben Huiyuan, Guangdong Nanhai Fan Jin!" ”