Seven days later, the sky was not beautiful, and it rained lightly intermittently.

In the academy, there are officers and soldiers guarding them, and the vigilance of this examination is comparable to that of the imperial examination.

The candidates entered the examination room one by one, and after Li Erniu took the exam card and sat down, the paper was handed out and spread on the table.

After Li Erniu sat down, he began to answer the questions.

Sima Shao stood in the examination room and looked at the candidates answering the questions below, and he was also thinking in his heart.

In the past, the policies of the imperial examination were all economic policies, current policies, and very few historical policies.

The current affairs policy tests the reader's insight and ability to hide the people in the world and the pros and cons of political affairs.

Shi Ce is to test the candidates' cultivation of history books, as well as to judge the situation.

But Sima Shao's first Shi Ce was unanimously considered too difficult by all the invigilators, and told Sima Shao that this question was not to mention these candidates, even if there were learned people, few people could answer it.

The question is how to deal with the people.

For example, Lao Tzu's "rule by inaction", many people will ask how to treat the people in Lao Tzu's thoughts?

In fact, it is good for the people, do not increase taxes, so that the people can follow nature to develop, so that the country can get the best breakthrough.

The so-called "rule by inaction" is not to do nothing, but to say not to destroy nature, to develop according to the will of heaven on the basis of the development of nature, in ancient times, it was forced to exploit nature, resulting in a lot of damage, and the direct result was that the people's lives were not as good as day by day, this is the king's decision-making mistakes, so it must be in accordance with the will of heaven, simply put, it is what the current season should do, don't think about doing things that go against the season, these will lead to nature being consumed quickly, In the end, the effect is also very poor, giving the people a better life, not increasing taxes, etc.

For most readers, this kind of popular affairs is not something they should worry about before, and they can't manage it.

People are soft-spoken, even if they understand, but how to write this article and how to write it is also very difficult.

So when everyone saw Sima Shao come up with this question, they also shook their heads, where is this selecting readers, this is doing things.

Write heavily, slander the emperor and say that he can't get a literary prison, and if he writes lightly, the people can't spare them.

In the face of such opposition from everyone, Sima Shao insisted that it is not about doing more for the country, the most important thing is to be refined, as long as one or two of the tens of thousands of students can meet his wishes, it is enough.

However, Sima Shao still considered everyone's opinions to reduce the difficulty of the second question, and even lowered the standard of the first two questions.

After the exam in one day, there are many readers who submit the papers in advance.

Sima Shao took a look at the papers he had received, and most of them were empty of the two policy questions, and of course there were many people who answered them indiscriminately.

There are very few people who can answer the two policy questions well, especially the last one.

Two days later, inside Chengcai College.

Two hundred selected academy disciples stood at the foot of the hall, they were both nervous and excited, as long as they passed this level, they would be academy disciples.

Then one by one they were called into the church.

There is a portrait of Confucius hanging in the hall, Sima Shao sits on the main seat, and Lin Feng, Xu Weiran and others are sitting on the left and right.

Immediately after that, a candidate entered the hall.

Xu Weiran said: "You wrote silently the first question of this recruitment examination 'how to treat the people', and then wrote and answered. ”

The candidate was stunned for a moment and then said, "The student doesn't remember a little. ”

Xu Weiran's face sank and said, "You don't remember if you only got two days after the exam?" Isn't it a substitute exam? ”

The examinee changed color and said, "The student remembers, remembers." ”

The candidate walked to the front of the desk, and the pen and ink were all prepared in front of the desk.

On the side, Lin Feng asked, "Where are you from?" ”

"A local in Jiankang City."

"Is there a reputation now?"

"None."

"Two generations of family history?"

"My father used to ...... business"

After asking, the other party smiled bitterly: "I remembered a little in a hurry, if you forgot something, please forgive me." ”

The guards stepped forward to collect the roll and handed it to Lin Feng, and Sima Shao and Xu Weiran looked at it.

Lin Feng took the lead after reading it: "Your volume is basically consistent with the original volume. ”

The man just showed his joy, but saw Lin Feng said: "The handwriting is also similar to the original scroll, obviously the person who wrote the original scroll deliberately imitated your handwriting, but the handwriting is easy to imitate, but the weight of the strokes is a little different." ”

The candidate immediately said: "The student is wronged......"

Sima Shao took the scroll and continued: "You just said that your father used to be a businessman, but I ordered someone to investigate your identity and background, and your father did not have a businessman, but a county official under the side of the house?" ”

The examinee suddenly sweated like rain.

Xu Weiran patted and said, "Do you still dare to lie?" ”

The candidate kowtowed like garlic and said, "Spare your life, Your Highness!" ”

Xu Weiran sneered and said: "You dare to try to get away with it in front of His Royal Highness the Prince, such a person is a traitor even if he is an official, how can the court use you?" This examiner will now remove your fame and send it back to your hometown! ”

The candidate collapsed on the ground and was dragged away by the guards.

The candidates in the hall didn't know when it happened in the hall, but as soon as the door opened, the candidates who were still full of ambition were pulled out like dead dogs, and they were all startled.

In the hall, a candidate handed in the papers, Sima Shao, Lin Feng, and Xu Weiran looked at the original papers of this person and discussed them in a low voice.

Then Sima Shao said: "Your name is Xu Nan?" ”

The candidate below said, "The student is exactly. ”

Sima Shao said: "How many years have you been studying? ”

Xu Nandao: "The student has been studying literature for ten years. ”

Sima Shao said: "What is the fame now? ”

"The students are ashamed, this is the second time they have failed in the imperial examination before."

Sima Shao and Xu Weiran exchanged glances, then nodded and said, "There is no smooth sailing in the examination room, and you are not afraid that there will be no chance with your article." ”

Xu Nan showed a look of surprise, and Sima Shao smiled: "You should study in this academy first, tentatively as an auditor, I don't know what everyone thinks?" ”

Xu Weiran stroked his beard and said, "Everything depends on His Highness." ”

Xu Nan couldn't help crying with joy when he heard this, and after wiping away his tears, he said calmly: "Students, thank you His Royal Highness the Prince, thank you adults." ”

Sima Shao smiled and said, "Although you are taken as an auditor, the academy will take two exams at the beginning and end of each month to determine the ranking. If you don't want to be motivated, you can also be kicked out of the academy from the auditor quota, you have to work hard and don't let down your article. ”

"Yes, the students will definitely keep in mind the words of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and live up to the appreciation of all the adults."

After Xu Nan retreated, Xu Weiran smiled and said to Sima Shao: "This person's article has everyone's atmosphere, but for some reason there is no Bole appreciation, congratulations to His Highness for gaining this talent!" ”

Lin Feng said: "Yes, this person is good at humanities and science, but the strategy is a little weaker, but the auditor is competent enough." ”

Sima Shao was also very happy, but said lightly: "If you say that, it depends on what happens to him in the future." ”

The candidates had screened about one-half, and it was already past noon, and the examiners stopped the interview and ate in the classroom.

Everyone had lunch and then continued to interview candidates.

At this point, half of the quota has been used, and in the end there are only 150 places left.

The academy provided tea to these candidates, but did not give them food, and Li Erniu stood there, hungry and dizzy.

It stands to reason that it would not be so if you don't eat a lunch.

But because his family is poor, he can't afford to live in the capital, so the previous registration, recruitment, and today's interview all set off from his hometown early in the morning to the Chengcai Academy in the city.

Before dawn today, he drank two large bowls of rice porridge with clear soup and little water at home, and then set off.

When I walked for nearly a morning to Chengcai Academy, the rice porridge in my stomach had already been digested to the fullest, and now I had been waiting in the academy for most of the day, so I was so hungry that I had to ask for tea to drink to satisfy my hunger, and the result was that the more I drank, the more hungry I became.

"Li Erniu!"

But seeing his name called in the hall, Li Erniu walked into the lecture hall with a strong spirit.

But seeing the two examiners sitting facing him in the lecture hall, one of them was His Royal Highness the Prince, he had seen it, and he didn't know the other two, but he expected to be able to sit with Sima Shao, and his status must not be low.

Except for Sima Shao, the other two looked majestic, and the examiners on the left and right also looked themselves up and down.

Li Erniu felt that there was a bit of solemnity in the atmosphere.

At this time, an examiner asked him to sit down and write silently the first question of the policy, 'How to treat the people'.

Li Erniu answered this question two days ago, so he wrote it down without hesitation.

But he didn't eat, and his hands were shaking when he put pen to paper.

The examiner above didn't allow him to think about it, and immediately asked him about his resume.

Li Erniu mentioned that he was from Mi County, seemed embarrassed, and lowered his head again.

After a while, the kung fu article was written and handed in.

At this time, an examiner looked at his paper for a while and said, "What is the reason why your traces are twisted and crooked, and the original paper is the same as two days ago?" Do you take the test as a substitute? ”

The other party's expression was fierce, and Li Erniu said, "Student...... The student was hungry all day and his hands were shaking, so he was weak to write. ”

"Oh? Hungry for a day? A few candidates were also hungry for a long time, why didn't they tremble, just you? Who believes your words? ”

Li Erniu didn't know where to start for a while, do you want to talk about the rice porridge he drank in the morning? .

His own family was poor and inferior, so it was difficult to speak, so he hung his head.

"You don't have to worry, maybe there is something else." At this time, Sima Shao spoke.

Sima Shao held the other party's paper and said: "I have read your article, your answers to the Five Classics questions are very average, to be honest, it is far from outstanding, not to mention that among the hundreds of people who have been selected, even among the unsuccessful people, there are many people who answer better than you." I ask you how many years have you been studying? ”

Li Erniu listened to Sima Shao's words, and his heart sank a little, and finally replied: "The student has been studying for more than two years. ”

Sima Shao said: "No wonder I read the article very unfamiliarly, I think it is because of the short reading days. There are no subtle sentences in your article, empty words, and if you can do hard work in the future, you may not be able to succeed. ”

Speaking of this, everyone in the hall admired Sima Shao's vision.

In fact, most people think that Li Erniu can't be selected for this volume, but Sima Shao thinks that because of the short time of the other party's writing, his future achievements will definitely be stronger than those candidates who have been carefully polished and their potential has been tapped, so he was included in the interview list.

"But," suddenly one of the examiners suddenly said.

Li Erniu's heart tightened, but he saw that the person who did not speak in the examiner said: "The admission to this academy is based on the policy question, and your Five Classics questions are barely answered, but Your Highness is also looking at what you can do in the future, but there are some problems with your policy questions." ”

"This examiner asks you, since you have only been reading for two years, and you have not figured out the four books and five classics thoroughly, how can Shi Celi answer this theory of treating the people so wonderfully, and you can enter our eyes in less than dozens of volumes, and you are one of them, with your kung fu of the Five Classics, I have to suspect that your policy question was written by someone else!"

Hearing what the other party said, Li Erniu hurriedly said: "The student doesn't, the student will never ask someone to take the exam on his behalf!" How can students have the money to hire someone to take the exam on their behalf? ”

"So what's going on with this argument about treating the people?"

Li Erniu said: "Back to the examiners, the student happened to have read this similar article, which is not very similar to the books and periodicals written by Wang Xiang. The student had borrowed a book to read. ”

As soon as these words came out, everyone shook their heads, but when they saw Xu Weiran, they said: "You said that I believe in your poor family, and I believe it when you are forced to study, but Wang Xiang's books and periodicals, how can you have such connections to read?" ”

"It's not difficult to check the questions thoroughly after the exam, but if you want to say that you happened to read it before the exam, you won't believe it.

The examiner is very suspicious that you are taking the exam as a substitute, because you are a first-time offender and you are young, as long as you admit that you have cheated, Ben Tixue can not take you to the government! ”

Li Erniu's face was flushed with anxiety at the moment, and the book happened to be borrowed by him from Xiucai in the next village.

Naxiu knew that Li Erniu liked to read, so he lent him his books and periodicals to read.

But how do others know what's going on?

At this time, one of them shouted: "If you don't tell the truth again, go to the official!" ”

Li Erniu lowered his head and said: "The student really has no substitute for the exam, and the student borrowed books and periodicals from a Xiucai in the next village to read." ”

The other party shook his head and said, "I'm still lying!" What is the basis for this? ”

Li Erniu clenched his hands tightly and was silent.

At this moment, in the face of the other party's persecution, the embarrassment of asking others at that time, all kinds of bitterness only I know, how to deal with humanity.

At this moment, all kinds of emotions came to his heart, blocking his chest and making it difficult to vent.

But when Li Erniu raised his head, all the grievances came to his mouth, but he took a deep breath: "I was eager to learn when I was young. The family is poor, there is no way to read the book, every time he borrows it in the house of the book collection, he writes it by hand, and he returns it every day. ”

"It's cold, the inkstone is hard, the fingers can't be bent and stretched, and the Buddha is sluggish. After the recording, I sent it away, and I didn't dare to exceed the appointment. Because there are many people who leave books, they have to read all the books. ”

The young man's voice echoed in the Chongzheng lecture hall, and the other party wept on the other side, but the voice did not stop.

Of course, everyone knows that this young man is not an export chapter, and what the young man is carrying is Song Lian's experience of studying when he was young.

Speaking of this, Li Erniu couldn't cry anymore, and the people in the hall were silent.

And Sima Shao got up from the table and walked in front of Li Erniu, took a handkerchief from his sleeve and handed it to him.

Li Erniu waved to Sima Shao, took the handkerchief and choked up: "The student is clumsy, so he has to use the mouth of the sages to defend himself, and I also ask Your Highness and your lords to understand." ”

Sima Shao nodded and said, "You stay away for the time being." ”

After Li Erniu withdrew, the examiner said: "I still insist on my opinion, after all, he still has shortcomings in terms of the Four Books and Five Classics, and no matter how good the question is, he can't break the rules." ”

Sima Shao looked at others, if others objected together, he would not be able to take Li Erniu again, so he could only give him another chance.

But I saw Lin Feng said: "There are often humane, in recent years, it has become more and more difficult for people from poor backgrounds to get ahead. But the rich family was born with fine clothes and food, and there were famous teachers to guide them. Poor and lowly produce good talents, and since ancient times, heroes have come from poor families! I think the college might as well give some opportunities to poor students. ”

Sima Shao said happily when he heard this: "I see the same thing as you. ”