This kind of porcelain bowl is not a rare object, every year when the annual examination will be fired a large number of people to make money from the candidates, the drawings on it are related to the imperial examination, in order to make money by gambling. For example, the first to dominate, even the three yuan, etc., and the pattern on Fan Jin's hand is called: Erjia Chuanyu.

According to the example, the top three in the palace examination are the first class, also known as the three tripod armor, each with a special name. The first of the second class and so on is called Chuanyi. When singing praises in the Golden Palace, he is responsible for leading the fellow Jinshi out of the class to praise the ceremony. In addition to being glorious and decent, the biggest advantage is that you can take the hall selection exam, and after passing the exam, you can also be a Kujishi, and the future is also bright.

There are a total of three places for the first class to escort Hanlin, and there is generally no such thought. The future of the top three and the jinshi is too poor, and everyone is mainly fighting for this second class. And being able to be the leader in the second class is also an extremely rare thing, at least it is not a shame compared to Huiyuan's identity.

The gold list has not been posted yet, Zhang Juzheng's gift has arrived, and he obviously knows the results of the exam for a long time. Of course, this is very inappropriate in terms of the system, but those who refer to it understand that this is the rule, don't play if you are unhappy. Even Tang Xianzu, who was very dissatisfied with the Zhang family because he failed in the imperial examination, had nothing to say about this matter, only congratulated Fan Jindao:

"Brother Fan's selection of the Academy is a sure thing, my cabinet ministers will come out of the Yutang, Brother Fan is elected as a regular this time, he can enter the cabinet one day to serve the Son of Heaven and share the worries of the people. With Brother Fan's talent, he will be a generation of virtuous ministers in the future, and the people of my Ming Dynasty will have decades of peaceful life to live. ”

Fan Jin smiled: "Brother Tang has won the award." Fan really deserves such praise for his talent, and besides, Shu Jishi does not take every subject, and it is difficult to predict whether the library will be selected this year. ”

"Now that the imperial court is compiling and revising the canon, when it is employing people, how can it not open the pavilion for selection, and Brother Fan is ready to enter the cabinet as the prime minister."

The two laughed a few words, and the atmosphere was still harmonious, after all, it was a great honor for most scholars to be able to pass the exam, and not everyone stared at Sandingjia. Tang Xianzu asked, "Brother Fan, do you want to take a look at the little gold list?" Your top two name is set, don't go and see who is the champion? ”

"We'll know who the champion is tomorrow, and there's no need to rush now. This little gold list is not an official list, or it is just a message to the lifters in advance to prepare for everyone. After all, waiting until tomorrow is the right day, and the champion has to thank Enshu, if he only knows it temporarily, where is it written in a hurry? But as soon as the little gold list came out, I couldn't sit still, I had to go to the Ministry of Rites to perform the ceremony. ”

"Well, Brother Fan, please take it, and the younger brother will also go back to the inn to prepare his bags and prepare for his return home. I will hurry up and write out the record book of the four jinshi, and look forward to asking Brother Fan to correct it one day. ”

In the afternoon, outside the left gate of Chang'an. Dozens of military attachés in brocade clothes came out surrounded by a petty official of the imperial house, hanging the gold list.

The so-called gold list naturally does not refer to its texture, but its color is made of yellow paper, which is called the gold list. At this time, the gold list that was hung out did not have the treasure of the Son of Heaven, and it was not an official list, but it was also called a small gold list and a formal big gold list to show the difference.

According to the regulations, the ranking of the palace examination is announced at the Emperor's Hall on the morning of March 17, and after the passing ceremony, the official gold list is hung out to announce to the world. Before that, the lifters didn't know their ranking. But in practice, this is not the case. You must know that after the ceremony, the champion will be thanked, and if he is in a hurry, the quality is not high. Besides, candidates don't know their ranks, and it is difficult to prepare, and when the time comes, the first class will be sluggish, and the entire imperial examination will be decent. It is because the imperial court will announce the ranking at this time, so that the candidates can prepare, and as for the official list is only for other people to see, it has nothing to do with these people.

Not every candidate has such a way as Fan Jin, who can know the results in advance, and not everyone is like him, who knows that he will definitely not be able to win the first class before the exam, and his mentality cannot be detached. Scholars have studied hard for ten years, and the moment that really determines their fate is now. The last place in the second class and the first place in the third class, the ranking is only one difference, and the fate and future are one day and one place, since they came to participate in the imperial examination, who can really not care about this?

Hundreds of people gathered outside the left gate of Chang'an, but there was no sound, everyone's breathing sound was clearly audible, if anyone dared to make noise at this time, I was afraid that they would be beaten on the spot. Everyone held their breath and listened to the palace officials who were guarded by brocade clothes read out the rankings of the gold list.

"First place, first place, Shen Maoxue, Zhejiang Xuancheng ......"

When the names were pronounced, some people were smiling, some were dejected, and everyone had different expressions. Shen Maoxue and Zeng Chaojie were all in the list of people, both of them were considered to be from some cities, but when they learned their respective rankings, they couldn't hide their joy, and they were eager to pull people to say a few words and share their success. No matter what Ping Su thinks of the Zhang family, at the moment, Sanding Jia is like a brand, and it has to be tied together. looked around, but couldn't find Zhang Sixiu, and I didn't know where the list had gone.

I only heard someone in the crowd whispering: "Although there is no champion in this department in Guangdong, there is a rumor." It's really weird there, the culture and education are not prosperous, and the ghost is a single talent, and it's almost a good place. ”

"What kind of Lun Gang, it's clearly Zhang Junrui." Someone snorted coldly, but then someone covered his mouth and dragged him out, saying as he walked: "You don't want to die, others still want it, don't you see a rider there?" Don't think that if you are on the gold list, you can sit back and relax, the small gold list is not the big gold list, and there are still variables. In case Zhang Xiang hears it, you will be careful that your reputation will not be guaranteed. ”

After all, such reckless scholars are a minority, and most of them pretend not to remember the name Fan Jin and the rumors related to it, and they do not show the slightest dissatisfaction with his success, just as they have no objection to Zhang Sixiu's success.

The previous identity was to raise a son, and the purpose of making trouble was to get more for himself. Since the moment their names appeared on the gold list, the identities of these people have changed to those of the imperial court. With the change of identity, their positions and thoughts will naturally change, and now they will not only not question the fairness and fairness of this imperial examination, but will also do everything possible to appease their friends and fellow villagers, so that they will not make trouble, and go home to study and prepare for the next department. After all, only by maintaining the purity of this list can his reputation be above board, and as a pillar of the imperial court, he should have this awareness.

Inside the Qianqing Palace.

Due to the relationship between the palace examination, the originally fixed course was temporarily suspended, and Wanli also got a rare little leisure time. It's just that this kind of leisure is actually not idle, the students have to go to the Ministry of Rites to prepare for tomorrow's ride, and the emperor also has to remember the entire ritual process and cope with the completion of this sacred ceremony. Although this kind of ceremony has been held once, it has not been used for several years in the middle, and there are still many places that are unfamiliar and require a little practice.

Wanli, who basically didn't sleep last night, made up for sleep in the morning, and his spirit was not bad. Under the guidance of Sun Xiu and Keyong, the two henchmen and little eunuchs, they repeated what they should say tomorrow over and over again, imagining the scene when they officially passed on tomorrow in their minds, and unconsciously raised their hands and feet, with a smug smile on their faces.

Sun Xiu said: "Long live last night was really majestic, and with one sentence, Fan Jin's name was raised to the first place in the second class." From the top ten excellent papers, giving has become fourth. Those old men are usually the head of the head and the head of the horse, but as soon as Long Live speaks, they still don't obediently follow the holy decree, which one dares to say more? ”、

The guest said, "Yes." This is the majesty of the heavenly family, and whoever dares to resist the decree is a capital crime! No matter what kind of official he is, no matter how big the official is, he is also in the hands of His Majesty, and they can do whatever they want, otherwise they can be dismissed from their official positions and ask for their heads. ”

Wanli snorted, "You two don't talk nonsense, beware of being listened to by Feng Daban, and ask for your head first." Although Fan Jin's ranking was set by me, it could only be passed with Mr. Zhang's consent, otherwise even if it was me, I couldn't give anyone a future casually. Wouldn't he who insists on doing his own thing and not accepting advice become a faint king? Do you think that I am an arbitrary person who cannot be admonished? Fan Jin's ranking, although his roll is ranked second-class, but a second-class jinshi can't run away. This time it was nothing more than a change in ranking, and Mr. was my mentor, and he was sympathetic to my thoughts, so he was willing to agree to change his position. You are not allowed to talk nonsense outside, otherwise you will also be driven to the Imperial Horse Prison and Zhang Cheng's slave to practice internal exercises! ”

"The slave understands. Xiangye and His Majesty have a deep relationship between teachers and students, one is Mingjun and the other is virtuous, it should complement each other as the surface, what Your Majesty thinks, Xiangye will definitely let you do it. Sun Xiu said compliments with a smile on his face, but said in his heart: It seems that His Majesty still remembers Zhang Cheng in his heart, and his name has not been forgotten for a while.

Although Wanli reprimanded the two eunuchs, he was also happy in his heart. Governing the country requires talents, and if you want to be able to speak and count, you must have a group of ministers who can listen to orders. This kind of person will not fall out of thin air, and the outstanding officials recruited and selected in this form of imperial examination are the only source of talent. And Fan Jin is a talented man he is optimistic about. If he promoted him like this time, he would definitely miss his kindness and be loyal to him, just like Yue Pengju in Yue Fei's biography.

He is about the same age as himself, the kind of courtier who can grow up and grow old with him, enough to be a monarch for decades. Since even his teacher and queen mother said that he was very powerful, he must be talented. Being able to envelop such a cadre under his command shows that it is a means of the king.

The young emperor was happy for his first private success, thinking that Fan Jin's mood should be as happy as his own, and the next thing was to find a suitable time to tell Fan Jin everything, so that he knew that he was able to win the middle of the throne all thanks to the emperor's grace, and he was not afraid that he would not serve himself in the future. In this huge Qianqing Palace, there is finally a candle that completely belongs to itself, and before it burns out, there will definitely be more candles belonging to themselves, and at that time, the whole palace will become bright, and that lone lamp is no longer indispensable.

Thinking of the future room full of candles, and those candles scrambling to burn up their bodies to dispel the darkness, Wanli's face showed a hint of pride, and he no longer felt bored in this tedious and complicated performance.

Shamao Hutong, in Zhang's mansion, the general envoy Si Chu Jiangchuan was full of anxiety, and his expression was anxious and nervous.

In the Great Nine Secretaries, the presence of the General Political Envoy is the lowest, but in fact, the power in his hands is not small. In addition to the secret music of the brocade clothes and the eunuchs guarding the town, the music of various places must first pass through the Department of General Administration and then be transferred to the cabinet. He can grasp a lot of information in advance, in other words, whoever has mastered the general political envoy will have the first opportunity in information.

Chu Jiangchuan and Zhang Juzheng are Datong Township, both from Huguang, and Zhang Juzheng arranged this position single-handedly, so they are naturally the Jiangling Party, and they came to report the news at this time. As one of the pillars of the temple, he usually has the demeanor of not moving in the eight winds, but at this time, he can't stop sweating, and can only wipe it repeatedly with a handkerchief.

"This ...... I'm afraid that this news can't be suppressed, and I will soon know on the road, and I don't know what kind of turmoil will be caused when the time comes. Yuan Weng still had to prepare early, so as not to be caught off guard. ”

Zhang Juzheng did not move in the eight winds, the clouds were light and the wind was light, and he didn't go to his heart at all. On the contrary, he comforted Chu Jiangchuan and said: "Hengbo, you are also an important minister of the imperial court, and the dignity of the government always has to be talked about, don't be so unbreathable." It's just the death of a county order, how many county orders died in office in the Ming Dynasty? Death, death, suicide...... Everything, it's not a big deal. ”

"But...... But Lai Yangshan was because he couldn't finish the class, and Yuan Weng passed the test, and the officials were obedient on the surface, but they were not without criticism in their hearts. In private, I have heard people complain more than once, thinking that the test is only about money and food, not on morality, and it is a matter of quick success. Now Yangshan left a suicide note on his deathbed, saying that he could not finish the class and committed suicide, but he was afraid that he would find trouble on the road. ”

"Whatever they want. The examination law is related to the lifeblood of the imperial court and cannot be shaken. They just want to cultivate virtue and don't want to do things, so I will take off their black yarn, which is not an easy thing to do. Lai Yangshan, as the county commander of Shangyuan, lives in the southeast of the country, and he can't even complete the entrance examination, so he can only say that he is useless, how can he blame others. The old man wants to see, who dares to cry out for him on the road? If anyone stands up for Lai Yangshan, the prime minister will send him to pick up Lai Yangshan's seal and chase back the arrears, and if he can't do it, he will also give him a rope! ”

The majesty of being the ruler of the court is beyond the reach of other ministers. In Chu Jiangchuan's opinion, Zhang Juzheng understated a few words, and it has disappeared into invisibility. Chu Jiangchuan admired it in his heart, and his hanging heart was put down, Zhang Juzheng also knew that he was loyal, and immediately said some words of encouragement to him.

People are inherently dead, or heavier than Mount Tai, or lighter than Hongmao, as Zhang Juzheng said, the death of a county magistrate can not affect the overall situation. After the palace examination, the newly retained cabinet members were only Zhang Zhang's head and bowed his head to listen to orders, five of the six Shangshu could be held in his hands, and the Great Nine Qing could also be sure that except for Yan Qing, they were willing to obey their commands. And the little emperor cooperated with himself tacitly, not only sent his son to the Hanlin Academy, but also came to a good show of the royal pen Fan Jin, and the hidden worries after the prince's pro-government have also been eliminated.

Although this kind of good situation is not easy to come by, it is actually difficult to destroy it. Zhang Juzheng does not think that in the face of this general trend, there is anything that can stop his steps and realize his ambition to reorganize the world.

However, he naturally would not have imagined that thousands of miles away in Huguang, Zhang Juzheng's eldest son, Zhang Jingxiu, was sending a letter to the Jingshi Zhang Mansion through the 800-mile expedited system that non-governors and Jiangchen had no right to use. The letter was sent urgently, and the content was only eight words: The eldest father is seriously ill, and the medicine stone is useless!