Ten days of scientific examination passed safely, each examination room with a red pen to transcribe the volume, the original volume was sealed, sentenced to the grade, Qian Qianyi took the paper to see, saw an examination paper article is very well written, some words and sentences seem to have been heard, suddenly remembered the article that Qian Qianqiu read that day, carefully examined, the place of the transfer and inheritance is stacked in turn with the seven words "once flat step on the blue sky", which is particularly dazzling, but these seven words and the article are natural, if you don't know the joints are difficult to find. Qian Qianyi was shocked, and when he saw the above comments, he knew that Zheng Luxiang had taken it, and there was no flaw, so he took the original volume to check, and it was really written by Qian Qianqiu. He remained in fourth place quietly, and checked the exam papers again, but there were no more seven words, so he settled his mind, called the examiners of each room to review again, and then issued the list.

Zhejiang Governor Liu Yi? Seeing that the township test had been completed, and there was no chaos, the hanging heart was also put down, and that night on the island in the middle of the lake in the West Lake to celebrate Qian Qianyi and the examiners, and feasted until midnight before they dispersed. Qian Qianyi was half-drunk and fell into a very heavy sleep, and suddenly felt that someone was shouting in his ear, and he woke up suddenly, and when he opened his eyes, he saw that it was already dawn near the window, and the entourage shouted in a different tone, and his face was anxious and frightened, and he hurriedly asked, "What's the matter?" ”

"Master, something is wrong. The talents are making noise outside the gate of the Gongyuan! ”

Qian Qianyi was shocked, got up with a bone, and said while busy dressing and shoveling: "Does Lord Futai know? ”

"Troops have been sent to besiege the Tribute Courtyard. Lord Liu was so anxious that he sent a message to the master to come over and discuss! ”

Qian Qianyi said: "Hurry, hurry up and follow me to the Tribute Courtyard first!" ”

The entourage stopped: "Master, when has this been, do you dare to go over?" Those talents are violent, like the tide of Qiantang, and the master is not afraid of being eaten by them? ”

Qian Qianyi said disapprerovingly: "Xiucai rebelled mostly because of the unfairness of the scientific examination, I took the Zhejiang Qiuyu exam this time, and I was confident and determined to be public, and there was no partiality, presumably someone was bewitched, and there was no intention to mess up, these Xiucai are all people who read books and know etiquette, and the explanation is clear, what are you afraid of, they are not blue-faced and fanged monsters!" "Hurried out the door.

Not to the tribute courtyard, Qian Qianyi saw that outside the gate under the archway was full of soldiers with guns and knives, the tribute courtyard was surrounded by water, and groups of people gathered in the distance to watch, not daring to approach, many scholars crowded in front of the door and scolded. Those who spent the money hated and said: "This dog official who came to fight the autumn wind, I don't know how much silver he received, but he didn't do anything!" The poor Xiucai also said: "I thought that Qian Qianyi would have such a big literary name, and he would definitely take some talented and learned, but he was also corrupt and fraudulent, where can I find any good officials now!" ”

Qian Qianyi stubbornly went over, and saw that the four big characters of Zhejiang Gongyuan on the forehead of the door had already changed, and the word "four" was added in the middle of the word "tribute", which was changed to the word "sell", and the word "courtyard" was pasted with half a piece of straw paper to remove the side of the ear word, which became the word "finish", and the Zhejiang Gongyuan became "Zhejiang sold out". Qian Qianyi Zhengjue couldn't refute it, and saw a group of scholars watching around the door, chirping, laughing and scolding, making a mess of chaos, crouching over, pasting a blank piece of paper on the wall, and writing a poem "Huang Ying'er": "The ranking is arranged early, the poor are dethroned, and the rich are taken, and the poem Yunzi is useless." The article owes work, the money buys it out, and the family can only win it with more money. Tell the public, Fang Renzi tribute, it was originally a family style. "Take the brushwork of the Yellow Valley of the Song Dynasty, the spear and halberd, the ink is dripping, and you can imagine the depression and grief between the lines. Qian Qianyi turned around to enter the courtyard, and went to see the gold list posted on the back of the Panlong photo wall in front of the second door, when he suddenly heard someone shouting: "Isn't this the chief examiner?" On that day, on the West Lake, forgive the students for their clumsy eyes, they could not recognize you, the great man of today. At that time, you were also a righteous man and a gentleman, who knew that you had such a black heart, what kind of face did you have to lead us to worship the Holy Master on the day of the opening of the department? If he was in the world, he would have died of anger many times! ”

Qian Qianyi looked back and saw that it was Ling who he met in West Lake? At the beginning, he argued: "This is all a poisonous plan set up by traitors, and it has nothing to do with me." ”

Insult? Chu sneered: "What else is irrelevant? Have you not received a thousand dollars of money? How did he go to high school? ”

"His article is excellent."

"What about my article! I don't have any money for you, so it's not good? "Ling? Chu stared straight at him. Someone next to him scolded: "Beat this dog official!" Beat this dog officer! Wu Yue's Sven was completely humiliated by him! Everyone rushed up, punching and kicking, tearing clothes, and the entourage desperately blocked with their bodies, protecting him and squeezing him out in a hurry, but there were soldiers everywhere, shouting and beating everywhere. Qian Qianyi was frightened, and he didn't know where to hide, when a team of soldiers came up and surrounded him in the middle and retreated to the governor's yamen. Qian Qianyi's hat was crooked, he was very embarrassed, he saw Liu Yi? Wu Zi was frightened, and soon after sitting down to catch his breath, someone rushed in to report Ling? Chu, Zhang Pu and others led some scholars to the Temple of Literature to cry and mourn, shouting to burn the statue of the saint, Liu Yi? , Qian Qianyi was shocked, and sent people to drive him away. It took two days for the scholars to disperse......

Chongzhen saw that Qian Qianyi was speechless, thinking that he was guilty, and said in a sullen voice: "Qian Qianyi, Wen Tiren said that it was unfair for you to preside over the scientific examination, and you shouldn't be indiscriminate, can you hear?" ”

When things started suddenly, Qian Qianyi stabilized his mind, thought about countermeasures, and flashed those past events between lightning and flint. After the talents made a big fuss in the Tribute Academy, they didn't wait for Liu Yi? Write an excerpt to report, Han Jing has already spread rumors in Beijing, Like to take care of the matter and expose it, Emperor Xizong was furious, and ordered the Criminal Department to interrogate and discuss the crime, fortunately, Ye Xianggao played the letter sent by Qian Qianyi early, and took the initiative to report the cause of the fraud in Zhejiang's scientific examination, Qian Qianyi personally escorted Xu Shimin and Jin Baoyuan back to Beijing to play, after the interrogation of the Criminal Department, Qian Qianyi and Zheng Luxiang were negligent, but they did not know the inside story, and they were fined for three months. Jin Baoyuan and the others were sentenced to be imprisoned. There were no loopholes in the front and back, and he kowtowed out of class and said: "The ministers are lowly and unlearned, and they don't have much qualifications to participate in the promotion." However, Qian Qianqiu's case is related to the name of the minister, and it must be clearly defended. In the first year of the Apocalypse, the minister was loyal and impartial, recruiting talents for the country, and for a while the government and the opposition thought that they had won people, and there was no matter of accepting bribes. "Not impatient, showing a calm and relaxed bearing.

Wen Tiren raised his head and said: "The so-called closure of the case is actually very hasty, Xu Shimin and Jin Baoyuan already had confessions when they mentioned the Criminal Department, and based on this confession, they did not investigate in detail. It's not easy to get a confession, under the five woods, the heavy punishment is asked, why can't you ask for it? Those confessions were obviously tortured, how can they be counted? What's more, the two of them died soon after they arrived in prison, saying that they were seriously ill, and it was really time to die, presumably someone tried to silence them and teach them that it was difficult to retract their confessions, which is really suspicious. ”

Qian Qianyi saw that the emperor's face was depressed, his heart tightened, and he replied: "The punishment of the case is also to deter the traitors. Mr. Wen was not involved in the case, and his speculation was biased. Whether the case file is now in the Criminal Department can be found out if it is true. Since Lord Wen is suspicious, the chief priest is here, so he can ask on the spot to understand. ”

Qiao Yunsheng, the secretary of the Criminal Department, saw that the fire was burning to himself, and he couldn't avoid it, but he didn't want to get involved in the dispute, so he said lightly: "The case of Qian Qianqiu only arrived in the Criminal Department for three years after the Apocalypse, and the file is now filed in the Ministry of Justice. Whether Qian Qianyi and Zheng Luxiang colluded inside and outside to conspire to solicit bribes has no substantiated evidence, and it is said that Han Jing and others designed a false accusation, and only the confessions of Xu Shimin and Jin Baoyuan are also unsubstantiated. At that time, Qian Qianyi, the ministry council, was fined for three months for negligence, and submitted it to the emperor for approval, but the conclusion of the case cannot be said to be hasty. "Be honest and impartial.

Wen Tiren shook his head and said: "Although Qian Qianqiu said that he lost his fame and sent it to Dongsheng Right Guard, he got the news in advance, absconded in fear of crime, and only after the case was closed did he arrest Jingshi, and after a little questioning, he drew a charge on the confessions of Xu and Jin, how can this case be considered solid?" ”

"Qian Qianqiu confessed that Xu and Jin were guilty of defrauding money, and their confessions were matched, how many people saw the interrogation with their own eyes, and Lord Wen did not participate in it, how could he insist that his confession could not be trusted?" Qiao Yunsheng couldn't help but be a little annoyed when he heard his absurd words.

Qian Qianyi also said: "Qian Qianqiu has indeed recruited, how dare you deceive the emperor." The scientific research and trial involve many people, and if according to what Lord Wen said, all of these people are cheating, and you are the only one who is loyal. Lord Wen's words and deeds are too strong and deceitful! Wang Yongguang and Zhang Yunru also came out to testify, saying that the case was closed.

Wen Tiren listened to Qian Qianyi's sharp words, and was thinking about how to refute it, seeing that they all echoed Qian Qianyi's words, he suddenly felt isolated and helpless, knowing that Fang had just said too much, and he was afraid that it would be disadvantageous to argue again, so he hurriedly changed the topic and said: "Whether this case is concluded or not, there are always joints, but at that time, the Donglin Party was in power and the opposition, and it was impossible to investigate it deeply. Today, it seems inevitable that there are many confusing places, and the truth is afraid that it is impossible to check, but at that time, Xu and Jin personally confessed to the mastermind behind Qian Qianyi, but the Criminal Department did not take it as a basis, so it can be seen that there are joints in the trial. ”

Qian Qianyi faintly felt angry, and argued urgently: "The judgment should be based on the truth and right or wrong of the words, how can you listen to anything?" Xu and Jin were obviously framed by Han Jing and others, so how could they have joints when they closed the case? ”

Wen Tiren sneered: "How can there be such a truth in the world? The words of Qian Qianyi are false, but the words of others are true. Haha, it is naturally much easier to exonerate the offender from the confession of the offender in this way. If it weren't for the formation of a party to control the case, how could they only trust one side so much? ”

Qiao Yunsheng said hesitantly: "According to the meaning of your words, everyone else is a party, and you are the only one who is chaste?" In this way, haven't all those one-man thieves of all dynasties become great loyal ministers? It's ridiculous! ”

Wen Tiren was speechless, but he didn't refute it directly, kowtowed and wept and said: "Your Majesty, the ministers are not among them this time, they should avoid suspicion and retire, and they shouldn't be troublesome, but the ministers are lonely and upright, and they can't bear to see the emperor being deceived by others, and they don't care about offending any powerful people. ”

Chongzhen became suspicious and said: "The more the reasoning becomes, the clearer it becomes, since there is a file from the Ministry of Etiquette and a draft from the Criminal Department, this matter will eventually be checked and understood." Wen Tiren, you have played a huge traitor and formed a party, saying that someone has deceived my hearing and hearing, who are the traitors you are referring to? ”

Wen Tiren was thinking of a way out, and when he saw the emperor asking, he raised his head and said loudly: "The great evil that the minister said is Qian Qianyi." He has a large number of henchmen, all over the government and the opposition, and it is difficult for the ministers to speak. This time, the emperor must seek true talent, but in fact, he will be controlled by Qian Qianyi's party. Wen Tiren peeked at Qian Qianyi's face a little pale, and felt that he was even more critical, and then said: "A few days ago, he conspired with a few dead friends in a small hotel for a long time. Qian Qianyi, are you or no? Qian Qianyi was horrified, he acted extremely carefully that day, and he didn't want to be discovered, so he stammered for a while, not knowing how to justify.

Zhang Yunru hurriedly said: "The authority of the Great Divination is not in one person, it is pushed by the courtiers together, who dares to secretly act in vain?" The so-called Qian Qianyi will push, but Wen Tiren can't be listed among them, and he is resentful, so he says that he will push it unfairly, in fact, Wen Tiren thinks too highly of himself, thinking that Huai Cai will not meet, everyone is so easy to deceive? There are not a few courtiers who have elected you, is it possible that the civil and military forces of the Manchu Dynasty are all in Qian Qianyi's party? ”

Wen Tiren said: "Zhang Yunru is all inferences, it can be seen that he is in the same party as Qian Qianyi, and the minister and Qian Qianyi have no grudges, and he is also loyal to him." The cabinet ministers have a high position, it is the emperor's humerus, and they must not be cautious, and the ministers hope that the emperor can get Gaotao, Yiyin-like virtuous appearance, and open a prosperous era in my Ming Dynasty. When it comes to the last sentence, it is a righteous face.

Zhang Yunru saw that he was pretending to be fake, very arrogant, and mocked: "Since the Shenzong Dynasty, villains have framed gentlemen to form a party. When the eunuch party wanted to exclude Donglin, Wei Zhongxian added a party character to those courtiers who were not attached to him at will and deposed them. Now Wen Tiren's character is despicable, and it is not tolerated by public opinion, so he imitates Wei Zhongxian and refers to those who hold public opinion as the party. ”

Who knew that Wen Tiren was unusually witty, sneered, and said provocatively: "The emperor and the Wei thief are incompatible, and the Qiangang was revitalized not long after ascending to the pole, and he was designed to get rid of him, which is very happy." You compare me to a villain and Wei Zhongxian, but you just compare me like this, where do you put the emperor? Is the emperor a dumb lord? ”

Zhang Yunru didn't think of this section, and suddenly felt that his words were not thoughtful, and his face was colorless for a while, and he said: "This ...... That's not what the minister meant...... The minister only said that he was gentle and benevolent, where was there a piece of talk about the emperor? ”

Chongzhen said angrily: "Nonsense! How can you be involved in such a prelude? Take! Everyone was shocked, and when they saw that Jinyiwei came up and escorted Zhang Yunru out, no one dared to come forward to admonish.

Wen Tiren saw Chongzhen's anger, and secretly rejoiced in his heart, and took the opportunity to say again: "Before the divination, the tomb minister Wang Yongguang successively had a few begging excerpts, and the emperor repeatedly warmed his orders to stay, Qian Qianyi first ordered his protégé Qu Shishang to ask him to postpone the meeting after presiding over the meeting, and he was worried that the emperor would not allow it, so he instructed Liang Zi? Shangshu recommended Zhang Fengxiang, the waiter of the Ministry of Officials, to push on his behalf, wanting to meet the source left and right, and his intentions can be described as good. ”

Chongzhen closed his eyes and sighed: "I passed on the decree to carry out the divination ceremony again, and repeatedly applied for the meeting to push the public, why did I form a party and bully the king like this?" ”

When Wang Yongguang heard Wen Tiren mention Qu Shiyun's name, he was already panicked, and said: "Your Majesty, keep in mind the holy precepts, these listed courtiers are all promoted from the guild. If it is said that there is a party, the minister does not know at all. ”

"I'm afraid there is no one in the world who is stupid enough to admit that he has done evil!" Wang Yongguang heard this very harsh, angrily glanced at the man, but he didn't pay attention to it, and continued: "This time the emperor has made a clear decree, and he has already told Jiuqing Kedao, thinking that it must be extremely fair, and the emperor will regard everyone as loyal ministers, who knows that some courtiers are difficult to change, and take personal right and wrong as the standard for recommendation, the party is the same and different, it is the public opinion of many people but is controlled by one or two people, and it is difficult for others to speak, even if they say something, they can't do anything, and they often call for trouble, how can they be fair?" ”

Chongzhen opened his eyes and nodded, "Zhou Yanru, it seems that what you said today is mostly true. If it is unfair to push, it is better not to push. Some courtiers are thinking very dirty, and their heads are full of promotions and fortunes, where would they think about contributing to the country? ”

Wen Tiren's face was sad, and he said with tears in his eyes: "What Yanru said, the ministers have relatives. Qian Qianyi controlled the promotion of this meeting, and it can be seen that the Manchu Dynasty is all his henchmen, and the ministers were originally isolated and helpless, but they saw that the emperor was anxious and worried, and some courtiers did not take state affairs as the priority, regardless of personal interests and impeachment. But according to the situation, Qian Qianyi must resent the minister, and his henchmen will also be afraid that they will not be able to put the ministers to death, and the ministers alone can hardly afford the wrath of the public, so please ask the emperor's ministers to return to their hometowns and stay away from them to avoid the fierce edge. ”

Chongzhen looked at Wen Tiren, who was difficult to get up, and soothed: "I have my own opinions on right and wrong in my heart, how can I allow loyalty and treachery to live together in the court?" You impeach traitors for the country, you don't have to ask to go, you can do things with peace of mind, I won't lose you. Then he glanced at Qian Qianyi, who was kneeling on the ground, and sneered, "Qian Qianyi, Wen Tiren impeached you for plotting in the hotel, but is it true?" ”

"This ......"

"You can't get out of the palace gate, don't you know your whereabouts? This is the secret music given to me by Wang Yongzuo of Dongchang, you can see it! Chongzhen threw down a piece of paper, turned around and left the throne to rest. Qian Qianyi watched the piece of paper fall flutteringly, crawled forward, and took it in his hand, and the names of five people were written on it. He only saw the words Qian Qianyi and Qu Shiyun, and his body fell crooked and fainted.

After a lot of tea, Chongzhen re-ascended to the throne and ordered the cabinet ministers to discuss with the civil and military courtiers how to deal with Qian Qianyi's case. Li Biaozuo said that he would take Qian Qianyiguan to stay idle, return to his hometown to listen to the investigation, and Qian Qianqiu would ask again at the Law Division. Chongzhen looked at the recital, pondered for a long time, changed the pen to dismissal and returned home, glanced at the ministers, and said sharply: "I am not unsympathetic to the use of people, Qian Qianyi's literary name is early, although I am in the forbidden middle school, I also know a little. However, the way of employing people is the first thing to be loyal, only their loyalty, and their hearts for the country and the people as the king, will their knowledge and talents be used in the right place, and they will not slack off for a long time, and they will be able to achieve a career. If you have a despicable moral character, no matter how high your knowledge is, you will only use the wrong way to disrupt the government and bring disaster to the society and the people. Today, I do not hesitate to give up a Qian Qianyi, so that I will use him to warn hundreds of officials, not to form a party for personal gain, and set up a door in vain. He paused slightly, his tone turned lower, and he became a little gentle, and his expression seemed to be a little helpless: "It is a good thing to be able to push, and it should be better to lack than to overuse, and not to use anyone to fill the number at will." At present, although there are only two cabinet ministers, but Han? will arrive in Beijing in the near future, and the three ministers are enough to do things, so they will stop for the time being. ”

Li Biao said: "Qian Qianyi has been punished, and the other ten people listed should not be implicated by him." If you stop pushing, you will inevitably lose some food due to choking, after all, these courtiers are quite hopeful, and if you give them up, who will the emperor choose? ”