In Shen Yan's room, Zheng Fang solemnly told him, a confidant, about the matter. Pen | fun | pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 info Shen Yanben's eyes were a little chaotic because he had just drunk with his friends, and his forehead was even more slightly sweaty, but he didn't know whether he was scared or excited.

After telling the truth as it was, Zheng Fangcai looked at him and said, "An Zhi, what do you think about this?" ”

Shen Yan picked up the tea bowl on the table and poured it out, then wiped his mouth and said, "Listening to what Dong Weng said, what this person said is eighty percent true." Otherwise, he would not have been able to name Yao Boguang and Yao Shuguang like this, and in the end, he also mentioned his purpose, which was to help the one named Yang Chen. As for whether this will be a trap set by someone in the officialdom for Dong Weng, I think it is impossible. Now Dong Weng's situation can be said to be extremely poor, as long as this continues, it will be difficult to survive next year, and they really have no need to do more. ”

"I think it's exactly what you guessed. But what bothers me is not the truth of the case, but the choice I should make even if it is true. Zheng was embarrassed, and it was obvious that he still couldn't make up his mind at this time.

In my humble opinion, Dong Weng must not sit idly by and ignore this matter. Not to mention anything else, those who dare to carry out such despicable means in the country's talent promotion should not be allowed to succeed, they should be made to pay the price! In the end, Shen Yan's expression was already quite excited.

Zheng Fang looked at his appearance and said with a smile: "An Zhi, it seems that you still can't let go of what happened back then." ”

Shen Yan was stunned for a moment, and then smiled to himself: "It's a gaffe." When I participated in the township test, it was also because someone cheated and finally ...... Hey, don't mention the things of the past. However, Dong Weng, if not for this reason, but for our own sake, should make this choice. ”

"Oh, but what do you say?" Zheng Fang asked with raised eyebrows.

Shen Yan quickly sorted out his thoughts and said: "As Zai Shicai said, even if Dong Weng doesn't do anything, I'm afraid that you will be impeached for inaction next year, and you will probably be dismissed by the imperial court." In that case, why can't you just give it a go? If you can do this, of course, you will offend some officials, but you will definitely be rewarded by the imperial court, and those who still want to impeach you will have to weigh it.

"Also, if this matter is successful, nearly 1,000 candidates in Huguang will inevitably accept Dong Weng's feelings. If you want to come to the examination room, there must be more than two people cheating, and if you take the opportunity to find out a few more people, it will naturally be more popular with candidates. Nearly 1,000 candidates, that is the future pillar of my Huguang Province, if they are grateful for the virtue of Dong Weng, your current situation will inevitably change greatly, at least the government decree will no longer be as difficult to get out of the house as it is today. But there is one benefit, Dong Weng should give it a try, not to mention at least these two benefits. What does Dong Ong think? ”

"Anzhi, you're right, in fact, I also thought of something. But now it's not what I should do, it's how to do it. After all, the stakes are high, and if you miss it, you're only afraid of ...... Also, now that I have such a secret report, when should I do it? Is it before or after the township test? Zheng Fang frowned.

"In my opinion, it is most appropriate to make difficulties during the township test, so that things can really be made big, and it can also be called by the people of the world and the court to know the character of Dong Weng!"

"You mean to tell me to break into the exam room and expose this fraud?" Zheng Fang's heart jumped violently, and his expression looked quite nervous. After seeing his staff nodding, he shook his head and sighed: "This is not easy! Anzhi, don't forget, there are hundreds of soldiers guarding inside and outside the examination room, don't say it's me, even if the governor wants to break in at that time, it is impossible. ”

"It's true that the governor can't enter, but you are different." Shen Yan looked confident: "As far as I know, the soldiers guarding the door in this year's township examination room are all from Wuchangwei, led by Tongzhi Lu Yue. This Lu Yue, Dong Weng will never forget him, right? ”

"The year before last, he was investigated for deducting military salaries, and it was this official who saved him." Zheng Fang immediately recalled.

"It's him. Since he owes Dong Weng a great favor, Dong Weng asked him to help him this time, and he also has merit after the fact, I think he will not refuse. ”

"So, is this really possible?"

"At least it's worth asking us to gamble!"

The two guests of honor decided to gamble on this speech, and Yang Zhen, who was lying outside the door, heard it clearly, which also made him happy in his heart. He walked simply just now, but he was actually not at ease, so he secretly returned to see what Zheng Fang would do, so as to decide his own actions. Now it seems that he made the right bet. Not only is the bet right, but it's a big right, even if he does it himself, he can't do it so well!

Seeing that the two were still discussing the details of exposing the fraud in the room, Yang Zhen no longer planned to listen to it and left quietly. This time, he's really out of here.

Wuchang Wei military camp.

The Lord will be in the account. Commander Tongzhi Lu Yue sat in front of the desk, turning the half-cut arrow in his hand, speechless for a long time. On his dark face, there were three points of hesitation and three points of apprehension: "Is this really what Lord Zheng meant?" ”

"Exactly, I hope the general can help him in terms of love back then!" Shen Yan said.

Lu Yue stood up abruptly, walked back and forth a few more times, and then stood in front of Shen Yan, stared at him and said, "Do you know, this is taking risks, no, this is playing with fire!" ”

"I know, but now Master Zheng only has such a chance!" Shen Yan seemed very calm, not suppressed by the other party's momentum at all.

After gasping for breath for a while, Lu Yue waved his hand and said, "Send off!" ”

Shen Yan didn't delay, just glanced at him, got up and followed the soldiers who came in and walked out of the big tent. Although Lu Yue did not give him a clear answer, he was sure that the matter could be expected, because the broken arrow was left by him.

August 11 is the day when the trial in Huguang Township begins. The Ming Dynasty's township test was much stricter than before, and candidates were not allowed to leave until they had completed all the test questions three days later.

Therefore, around the fourth watch of this day, thousands of people had gathered in front of the Gongyuan Temple, the examination room for the township examination. These people included the reference scholars, the relatives and servants who sent them to the exam, and some nimble Wuchang vendors, constantly wandering through the crowd, trying their best to sell their own goods—food and the necessities of the candidates. However, their business was not very good, and the attention of everyone present was in front of the gate of the Tribute Courtyard.

Soon, there were public officials from various prefectures and counties who came to organize the entry of local scholars appeared in front of everyone's eyes, these people held signs in their hands, and played lanterns with the names of places written on them, so that the scholars from different prefectures and counties lined up, just waiting for the door to open and enter one after another.

If Yang Zhen saw such a situation here, he would inevitably think of the scene of airport pick-up in later generations. However, now he is no longer in Wuchang. Just after he was sure that Zheng Fang would have a hard time during the exam, he set off again to rush back. He is seventy or eighty percent sure that Zheng Fang can succeed, so that his brother may be able to get the opportunity to take the township exam when he retakes the exam, of course, there is also a condition, that is, he must arrive in Wuchang in time.

Because of this, Yang Zhen didn't even look at this fraud case caused by himself and went to Jiangling, and only handed over everything here to Zheng Fang.

As soon as the fifth watch arrived, I only heard a few cannons in the Gongyuan, and then someone shouted: "Open the dragon gate!" In this majestic shout, the gate of the Tribute Courtyard, which had been closed for half a month, finally slowly opened. In the commotion of the crowd, hundreds of soldiers armed with spears and swords streamed out from inside the door, lined up on the left and right. Then, a prison officer in a cyan official uniform strode out and began to list the rules of the exam to everyone in front of him.

“…… All in all, in a word, if you want to cheat in this township test with the luck of just in case, the official still advises you to go home. Otherwise, not only will you take this township test, but you will also be deprived of your talent status, and you will also be assigned to the army! This official is all he says, Wang'er and others will do it for themselves! After saying this, the prison officer ordered the people of all prefectures and counties to go forward and search their bodies.

The two Yao brothers were in the team in Jiangling County, and they all showed a trace of disdain when they heard this. No matter how harsh these officials are, in the eyes of some people, they are just a show, just to restrain those ordinary people, but they are by no means unusual. Wasn't this always the way things in this world?

At this time, the search of candidates was extremely strict, even to the point of being severe. Because the people who searched them were all big-headed soldiers, it was rare to have such a talented man who was high in the past and was more likely to obtain a higher status in the future It is enough to make them not slack off, not to mention that every time they find a reward, there will be five dollars of silver, which makes the soldiers' eyes shine even more, and they can't wait to rip off everyone's clothes and pants and check carefully.

In this way, these reference scholars will suffer old sins. Their clothes were rudely pulled open, the examination baskets in their hands were forcibly taken away, and the food, pen, ink, paper, and inkstone inside were turned into a mess, and even the square scarves representing the identity of Confucian scholars were also removed by the soldiers to check if there was anything hidden in their hair.

Under such a strict search, the soldiers who entered the examination room from outside the dragon gate were all disheveled, so they were not embarrassed. But at this time, they could only swallow their anger, because just before and after them, many soldiers who were really carrying were found out, and they were taken down on the spot, put on heavy wooden shackles to show the public, and waited for the later disposal.

In this hustle and bustle, it was not until the third day of the day that all the hundreds of reference scholars entered the examination room, and then the gate of the Gongyuan was closed again, only to wait for three days later, and then open again. In front of the original lively Gongyuan, everyone else had also retreated, and it was the first time that it had become so quiet.

On August 12, Zheng Fang, dressed in an official suit and accompanied by about 20 political envoys and yamen, came to the street in front of the Gongyuan. After taking a deep breath, he jerked forward: "My future is a bet on this!" ”