The procedure for reviewing the examination papers of the imperial examination is also very strict, and any examination paper must be cross-examined by two examiners and reach an agreement.

And the reason for the elimination should be written on the test paper, and two people should sign at the same time.

If the two examiners disagree, they can be handed over to another group of examiners for review, and if there is still a disagreement, it should be handed over to the two deputy examiners for review.

"Lao Zuo, you come to take a look at this volume, it's a little interesting!"

A reviewer beckoned to his companions, both of whom were veteran professors of Taixue, who were rigorous and upright, and who were responsible for reviewing some of the examination papers for the children's examination.

Another examiner sat down, took the paper from his companion's hand, looked at it carefully, and said in surprise: "This countermeasure article is well written!" It is very rigorous and well-organized, and the key is that the law is used very well, and even the original text of "Song Criminal Rule" is used. ”

"It's not just "Song Penal Rule", but also this one!"

The inquisitor pointed to one of them, "Look at this one, I'm afraid even we didn't expect it." ”

The examiner surnamed Zuo took a closer look and couldn't help but take a breath of cold air, this article actually quoted a decree promulgated in the second year of Qingli.

The meaning of the decree is that in order to encourage the peasants to open up land, all land that has been cultivated for more than ten years can be sold, regardless of whether the title deed has been obtained or not, and the government may not obstruct it on the grounds that there is no land deed.

With this will, the jurisprudence of this essay is even stronger and irrefutable.

In addition, the words and sentences of this countermeasure essay are concise and the literary color is flying, making it a rare countermeasure essay masterpiece.

"I can't believe it! This is actually a countermeasure for the children's examination, and I think that this countermeasure essay alone can enter the top ten of the adult imperial examination. ”

"Even in the top ten, there may not be such a good article."

The two of them looked at the argumentative essays, the meditation scriptures, and the poems, all of which were masterpieces, and the copyist also specially marked that there was not a single typo in the whole volume, and there was no alteration at all.

They did not hesitate to give the top grade on this paper, which is the highest score in recent children's exams, and even if it is the first trial, they have no scruples to give a high score.

The news of the appearance of the upper grade score quickly spread throughout the examination court, and immediately caused a sensation in the examination court, it was actually the joint scoring of Jiang Wei and Zuo Yunshan, who participated in the five imperial examination papers, which was even more interesting, and the examiners gathered one after another, scrambling to see the true face of this paper.

The examiners who read the essays in this paper were all amazed, and it was actually written by a child test candidate, which attracted the attention of many examiners.

The examiner, Ouyang Correction, sat in the room to mark the test papers, and the first batch of 100 test papers had already arrived in his hands and needed his final approval.

This batch of test papers has gone through the preliminary examination, re-examination, and the third examination of the deputy chief examination before reaching his hands, and they are all extremely excellent test papers.

At this time, Ouyang Xiu heard an inquisitor exclaiming outside, so he put down his pen, opened the door and walked out.

I saw dozens of examiners gathering together, as if they were discussing something enthusiastically?

Ouyang Xiu asked, "Why is there a commotion over there?" ”

Shen Kuan, the deputy chief examiner, said with a smile: "There was an exam paper with a score of the top in the preliminary examination over there, which caused a sensation among everyone. ”

actually scored on the top score, Ouyang Xiu frowned, this score has not appeared for more than ten years, and it actually appeared in the preliminary trial, is it too imprudent?

He was a little displeased and asked, "Who reviewed the test papers?" ”

"It's Professor Jiang Wei and Professor Zuo Yunshan."

Is it the two of them? Ouyang Xiu was a little surprised, these two people were veteran examiners, they were well-educated, strict and upright, they actually rated the top score, and Ouyang Xiu suddenly became interested.

"Have you ever read the paper and it will be so good?" Ouyang Xiu asked Shen Kuandao.

Shen Kuan smiled and said, "I've only read the countermeasures, let's put it this way!" The countermeasures of this test paper are better and more accurate than our reference answers, and after reading his article, I found that our reference answers still have loopholes.

"Is it really that powerful?"

Ouyang Xiu couldn't hold back the curiosity in his heart, you must know that the reference answer to the question was that he and the two deputy examiners spent three days to make it, including Ouyang Xiu's own experience when he was a local governor, he already thought it was impeccable, but there were still loopholes.

Although Ouyang Xiu was anxious, he did not lose his identity, he slowly walked to the group of inquisitors with his hands, coughed lightly, and the group of inquisitors suddenly quieted down.

"Give me the roll!"

Ouyang Xiu asked for the file in his hand, and said to everyone: "There are only three days left, everyone hurry up and review the file, don't delay any longer." ”

Everyone left one after another, Ouyang Xiu found a seat to sit down, and carefully looked at the paper in his hand, which was actually the paper of the boy's test.

Ouyang Xiu is also a professor at Hongwenguan, and several of his outstanding students participated in this year's children's examination, including several young men he knows.

However, he couldn't see the handwriting from the paper, this is a test paper that has been copied again, not the original test paper, there is no name and place of origin on it, and there is no test number, there is only one volume number, with which the original test paper can be found.

He first looked at the reviews of the two professors, and said, "The writing is rigorous, the legal principles are sufficient, the words and sentences are concise, and the writing is elegant, which can be called a masterpiece of countermeasures." ’

The comments of the two professors are similar, and the two eye-catching upper grade scores appear in the preliminary review column at the same time.

Ouyang Xiu flipped to the countermeasure article, and looked at the highly regarded article here, he was also stunned, in the second year of Qingli, there was actually a will about the reclamation and sale of wasteland, and he didn't think of this at all.

He read the whole article again, and sighed in his heart that it was indeed more accurate and valuable than the reference text prepared by himself and the two deputy examiners, and even the quoted "Song Criminal Union" was an excerpt from the original sentence, which is absolutely impossible for ordinary candidates, unless they have thoroughly recited "Song Criminal Union".

Ouyang Xiu simply copied down this countermeasure and handed it to his assistant: "Let each examiner copy a copy as a reference for the new countermeasure." ”

Ouyang Xiu not only appreciates the accuracy of this test paper, but also appreciates its concise and simple style, without flowery rhetoric, which is very in line with the style of the new prose he advocates.

Ouyang Xiu was a little suspicious that this test paper was his own student, otherwise, how could he be so deep in the essence of his prose style?

He also wanted to give a high score to the top class, but if it was really his own student, wouldn't it be criticized, Ouyang Xiu pondered for a moment, and then handed back the test paper to Jiang Wei and Zuo Yunshan.

"Let's follow the rules! Next is the review, then the deputy chief examiner, and finally it is sent to me. ”

........

With the approach of the provincial trial list, the scholars who went out to travel have returned to the capital, and the originally deserted capital has become lively again.

This morning, Fan Ning was just about to go out to take a look at the shop on Shuyuan Street, when he heard the voice of a maid and cuckoo from the courtyard, "May I ask who the official is looking for?" ”

"I'm coming to Fanning, he lives here!"

The voice was a little old, but Fanning felt very familiar, he suddenly thought of something, and hurriedly ran out, only to see an old man standing in the courtyard, wearing a gauze hat, a cyan shirt, a leather belt around his waist, his hair was gray, and the long beard under his chin had also become snow-white.

The person who came was Fan Zhongyan, who he hadn't seen for many years.

Fan Ning saw that his beard was white and his face was very old, and his heart was sour, so he knelt down and bowed, "Grandson Fan Ning, meet grandfather!" ”

"Good boy, get up quickly!"

Fan Zhongyan hurriedly helped Fan Ning up, he was also very guilty in his heart, he almost didn't help Fan Ning these days, Fan Ning relied on his own efforts little by little to get to where he is today.

Of course, Fan Zhongyan also knew that he had too many opponents in the court, and he was worried that he would affect Fan Ning, so he had to forbear.

However, Fan Ning's performance did make him very pleased, and he actually won the first place in the Pingjiang Mansion Boys' Examination, Bao Zheng wrote a letter to himself, praising this child to the sky, which made Fan Zhongyan overjoyed.

Fan Zhongyan stroked his beard and smiled: "A-Ning, do you want to go out?" ”

"It's okay to go out for a walk, it doesn't matter, grandfather, please come into the house."

Fan Ning hurriedly invited his grandfather into the house, and at this time, he found that there was a young man standing at the door, who looked very familiar, so he laughed, "You are Xiaofu!" ”

It was Xiaofu, the little tea boy who was arguing with Fan Ning on the boat, Xiaofu scratched the back of his neck and said a little embarrassed: "Little official, I haven't seen you for a long time." ”

"Come in and sit down!"

Since Li Dashou followed Fan Tiege back to Pingjiang Mansion in advance, Mingren lived in Li Dashou's room, Su Liang also moved back to his room, and Fan Ning's study was restored.

He invited his cousin Fan Zhongyan into the study and sat down, and Xiaofu also sat at the door.

Fanning took out his fine tea set, took out his eight-petal pumpkin pot and a pair of tea cups, and ordered tea for his cousin.

"Not bad! It is actually the official kiln Ru porcelain. ”

Fan Zhongyan picked up the teapot and looked at it for a moment, and said in surprise: "A Ning, I didn't expect you to have an official kiln tea set?" ”