"I have already written the exam questions this time."

"The exam questions are not difficult, as long as the candidates have read the Four Books and the Five Classics, and are not nerds, it is not difficult to pass the Jinshi exam."

As he spoke, Li Mao also took out the exam papers that had been prepared long ago from the wide sleeve.

Seeing this, Yang Shenjin hurriedly lowered his head.

He didn't have the intention of stealing the exam questions, so he naturally tried his best to avoid being idle in the melon fields.

"Aiqing doesn't have to be like this, I can still trust you." Li Mao smiled and handed over the test paper, which was all handwritten.

"The minister thanked His Majesty, but the minister, as the chief examiner of this imperial examination, should avoid suspicion. After the ministers brought the test papers back to Chang'an, they handed them over directly to the cabinet and immediately arranged for them to be printed. ”

After Yang Shenjin took it, he hurriedly folded it in half, put it in a bamboo tube, and sealed it with fire paint.

He didn't even look at the questions on it, as if he didn't care about it at all.

Li Mao was very satisfied with his performance.

"After this imperial examination is completed, I will arrange for you to enter the cabinet."

The cabinet position is already equivalent to the former prime minister.

Yang Shenjin is not yet forty years old, if he can become a cabinet minister this year, after Xiao Song is boiled to death, he can go further and become a second assistant.

"Thank you for your grace, all matters in the imperial examination are arranged and decided by Your Majesty, and the ministers just do things according to the rules, and they really can't afford such a heavy responsibility."

Although Yang Shenjin wanted to go further in his heart, the unspoken rules of officialdom made him unable to agree directly.

It's just that Li Mao can still hear the joy in his heart from his slightly trembling voice.

"As long as you can do a good job in the imperial examination, I believe that no one in the DPRK will dare to say that you are not qualified or capable enough."

Li Mao smiled slightly and gave Yang Shenjin a reassurance.

He wanted to make it a system for the Ministry of Rites to preside over the imperial examinations.

In the future, every time it is held, the Ministry of Rites will serve as the chief examiner, and then arrange to enter the cabinet and be trained as the first assistant.

Great men once said that there are no factions in the party, and there are all kinds of strange things.

Almost all of the jinshi admitted to the imperial examination were assigned to the grassroots level in various localities to do things.

When the minister has been working for a few years from the Ministry of Rites, he has enough qualifications to serve as the first assistant.

Almost all of the outstanding jinshi of his year became the chief officials of the counties, and those who were prosperous in official fortune could even dominate the land of a government.

It is precisely with the support of these grassroots officials that the policies formulated by the first assistant will be implemented.

Changan.

It is rumored that there is a hall shaped like a glaive in Li Linfu's mansion, called the Moon Hall.

Every time he wanted to frame the minister, he had to think hard in the hall about the way to slander him.

If he walks out happily, it means that the framed person will have his family ruined.

If he walks out with a gloomy face, it means that he has not yet thought of a way to deal with his political opponents.

The new Kyung Zhao Yin Ji Win has been waiting in the meeting room for more than an hour.

He was originally just a county magistrate of Xinfeng County.

According to the system, it is difficult to be directly promoted to Jing Zhaoyin.

But it just so happened that Wei Jian was promoted to the head of the household, and Emperor Li Mao never appointed a new Jing Zhaoyin.

So after the New Year, Li Linfu recommended this person as soon as he returned to power.

At that time, Li Mao did not have a suitable candidate in his hands, and the investigation report of Dongchang said that this person was a cool official, so he agreed to Li Linfu's recommendation and made Ji Wen Jing Zhaoyin.

Finally, in the dead of night, Li Linfu walked out of the moon hall with a chill on his face.

At this time, Ji Wen's heart was furious, but he still had the courage to come forward and salute.

"Humble Jingzhao Yin Jiwen knocks to see Xiangguo!"

When Li Linfu saw that it was his cronies, he immediately asked with a gentle smile on his face, "Jiwen, why are you in such a hurry to find your true appearance?" ”

Gynwin looked at the maids around him, but didn't speak.

Li Linfu immediately understood that there was a confidential matter, so he immediately waved back left and right, "Let's go down first." ”

After Ji Wen saw that there were no more outsiders in the hall, he said softly, "I received a letter from Xiao Jiong, the envoy of Hexi Jiedu, today. ”

"Take it and see!" Li Mao's face suddenly bloomed with joy.

He also guessed in his heart the meaning of Xiao Jiong's message at this time.

Most of them really want to surrender.

After all, the messenger did not directly find his house, but first found a less noticeable old man to deliver the message.

Ji Wen carefully took out the letter with good fire paint, on which were written the four big characters "Li Xiangqi Qi".

Li Linfu tore open the envelope, opened the letter paper and carefully read it word by word.

"Your old boss has a bit of a big appetite!"

After Li Linfu sighed, he immediately put away the letter, and shouted outside the door at the same time, "Go to Gonggong Wei in Dongchang, just say that Benxiang has something important to look for him, let him come to see him immediately." ”

After finishing speaking, Li Linfu picked up the teacup.

"If Xiangguo has nothing else to do, then the humble post will go first!" Seeing this, Jiwen had no choice but to put away the curiosity in his heart.

Li Linfu smiled lightly and said, "Pay attention to secrecy, go back and stabilize the messenger, and wait for the good news!" ”

"Then the humble post will be retired first!"

Geven's face instantly turned ecstatic, and he bowed and exited the hall.

At the same time, his heart was more curious about the contents of the letter.

It's just that he didn't dare to ask in front of Li Linfu.

Half an hour later.

The celebrant and the eunuch, Wei Zhongxian, the governor of Dongchang, came to Li Linfu's mansion with hundreds of people.

And Li Linfu himself greeted him at the door of the living room.

Even if he only walked a few steps, it meant that he gave Wei Zhongxian a lot of face.

After all, Li Linfu is the first assistant to the cabinet and the first person among the officials of the Tang Dynasty.

Wei Zhongxian saw that Li Linfu was extremely face-saving, so he didn't take everyone into his mansion with a big grin.

"You're all waiting here for us."

After finishing speaking, Wei Zhongxian walked into Li Linfu's mansion alone.

"What is Li Xiang looking for our family late at night?"

"Grandpa Wei, let's take a look at what this is first?"

Li Linfu saw that the people were far away, and immediately took out the letter that had just been sent by Xiao Jiong, the envoy of Hexi Jiedu.

After reading it, Wei Zhongxian couldn't help but sigh: "Xiao Jiong's appetite is so big, he can't be satisfied with the position of the cabinet assistant, but he still wants the title." ”

"However, what do you mean by showing me this letter, Li Xiang? Can we still take the place of His Majesty? ”

At this point, Wei Zhongxian's heart was vigilant.

But his face didn't change in the slightest, and he still smiled.

Li Linfu explained: "The old man does not want to discuss with you, but wants to trouble you to send this letter to Your Majesty and hand it over to Your Majesty for decision. ”

"After all, in the current Chang'an City, except for Dongchang, no one can guarantee that the letter will be sent to Tongguan safely, and the slightest news will not be leaked."

In the face of Li Linfu's praise, Wei Zhongxian's face rose with pride, "Of course, this letter is too important, so our family will personally escort it to Tongguan overnight." ”