Huai'an in late November was unusually busy.

The lifeblood of the canal, this time of year is the busiest.

According to the rules, the grain sent to the capital from the Jiangnan region must pass through Huai'an before December at the latest. Farther in Fujian, Guangdong and other places, at the latest before the first month of the new year, must pass through Huai'an.

Therefore, now the area of Qingjiangpu outside Huai'an City is full of boats, as well as civilian boats to make way for boats.

In Huai'an City, the sign of the Governor's Caoyun Department has not been changed, but there is a long queue from inside the door to outside the door.

Wang Shenzhong, who was passing by here, couldn't help but exclaim: "The prosperity of Caoyun can finally be seen today." ”

Among the group of people who were also born in Quanzhou Mansion, there was one of the most handsome and chic, and he also said at this time: "Thousands of sails outside the city are covering the sun, and they are flourishing in the next poem." When I wait until the inn to rest, I might as well drink and write poems, and learn a thing or two. ”

Departing from Fujian at the end of September, they arrived in Huai'an in late November.

Rushing to take the exam is a rare life experience, Wang Shenzhong is the first time, but that handsome guy is the second time.

"Brother Tingyi, there will be a masterpiece today." Wang Shenzhong first praised Gong Yongqing, who was already twenty-five, and then asked, "What is this doing at the entrance of Caoyun Yamen?" When Brother Gong Jiajing came for two years, was it the same? ”

"It's probably just a matter of grain."

Gong Yongqing didn't care about these at all, he prided himself on being romantic, and this time he had the highest voice among the people who were rushing to take the exam in Fujian, but now his attention was on the other young literati on Huai'an Street.

"When I wait until the eighth year of Jiajing, I don't know how to take the exam, and this year's rush to take the exam is quite a lot more than in previous years."

After Gong Yongqing said this, Wang Shen and others also noticed the many scholars on the streets of Huai'an.

The smell of the same kind is easy to catch.

With the new law and new learning, Jiajing's five-year examination ushered in a rush to the exam.

Wang Shen was a little more urgent in the center: "It's better to go to the hotel first, and find a good boat." If it is frozen over the Shandong Canal, it will delay the trip. ”

"No problem." Gong Yongqing still didn't care, "When you arrive in Huai'an, it will be much faster to go to the capital, and you can travel all the way unimpeded." I'll post to my old friends first, and that's it. ”

I went to Beijing to take the exam once, and I can always get to know many fellow subjects and high-ranking officials.

Gong Yongqing enjoys this feeling of being admired.

In this temporary hotel in Huai'an City, Gong Yongqing has already sent a scholar to make a decision.

How can such a trivial matter be done by a dignified man himself?

I made an appointment to meet at the gate of Huai'an Confucian Temple, waited left and right, and finally saw the servant running over sweating profusely and said, "Master, I really can't find the hotel." ”

Gong Yongqing was stunned for a moment: "How can this be?" ”

Even if there are more people rushing to take the exam, with a place like Huai'an, which will do a lot of work every three years to catch up with the candidates, will you still find a hotel?

"I inquired clearly, what kind of river transportation bureau was set up, from the north to the south, and I don't know how many businessmen rushed to Huai'an, so that the rooms of the Huai'an Hotel were all emptied."

"River Transport Bureau? What River Transport Bureau? ”

“…… This little one didn't ask. ”

"Brother Tingyi, why don't you ask your old friend to help you and see if you can find a place to live?" Wang Shenzhong reminded.

"That's all there is to it now." Gong Yongqing nodded suddenly, "I know where Brother Tang's family is, I visited the house on the way back to the south in the past, and I wrote a letter to go to Beijing together, and he will be at home." Walk! ”

So the people of Quanzhou Mansion walked in the other direction together.

Gong Yongqing said that he knew where it was, and it was only an approximate direction, and he asked a few more people along the way.

Fortunately, it was still easy to find a home for the local people, and when they arrived in front of a small house, Wang Shen and others looked at each other.

Gong Yongqing, an old friend, doesn't seem to have a particularly wide family background, why did he say that the matter of finding a boat to go to the capital could be wrapped up in him, and he couldn't keep the wrong itinerary.

Renting boats on the canal, people do business for a period of time, and few can transport it all the way to several provinces: too far away from home, many things are uncontrollable, and the risk increases sharply.

It's not an official ship.

knocked on the door, Gong Yongqing stood at the front, and said in a chic manner: "I'm tired of reporting, just say that Gong Yongqing from Fujian came to visit." ”

"Is it Master Gong?" The servant suddenly said, "The young master has explained, if there is a letter from Master Gong, let the little one accept it first, but I didn't expect Master Gong to come in person." It's just that the young master hasn't come back yet, everyone, ......"

When he saw the dozen or so people outside, his expression was very surprised, and then he still said, "Everyone, please come in and sit down for a while and have some tea." ”

After that, I hurriedly went back to report: No matter what, after all, it is a lifter, a friend of the young master, and you can't be rude when you come home.

When Wang Shenzhong and the others entered the courtyard, they had to sit in the hall and wait, but the scholars and servants all stayed in the courtyard.

and so on until it was dark.

A few people had nowhere to go, and even had dinner here.

When someone finally came back from outside the door, Gong Yongqing greeted him with great joy: "But middle brother, I finally look forward to you." ”

Then he was stunned and said: "But the middle brother is in the dust, where did this go?" ”

This person is Tang Shu, at this moment to say that he is a dusty servant is an elegant description, he is actually full of mud, and he is dressed like a farmer. Cloth clothes and hats, and a water hyacinth hanging from his waist.

"Brother Tingyi?" Tang Shu swept his face, and then couldn't help but be attracted by so many people in the family, and saw his parents who were a little embarrassed and relieved, "It's rude, I'll freshen up first." ”

Taking advantage of this gap, Tang Shu's parents saw that they were being arrested, so they explained: "It's a joke for the guests, this kid has been like this all these days." ”

I thought that they would say goodbye after sitting for a while, so that their son could be dressed and go to visit his friends, but he didn't think that they would not leave.

Tang Shu's parents felt that their son's recent behavior was quite embarrassing.

And Gong Yongqing is also a person with a good face, but he doesn't mention the fact that everyone can't find a place to live for the time being, after all, he only has some friendship with Tang Shu.

As for Wang Shen and others, now they are embarrassed and have committed cancer: It's dark, is there anyone who does this? In case Gong Yongqing, a friend named Tang Shu, can't help today, could it be that so many people squeeze into his house together for one night?

It is not good for them to cross Gong Yongqing and complain to strangers about any difficulties.

Tang Shu's mother now blocked the door of the room he was scrubbing, and asked through the door outside, "What's the matter with your friends?" Said that they might as well go back first, they just stayed here and didn't leave, could it be that they wanted to spend the night at our house tonight? ”

"Overnight? No, Brother Gong's family is quite good, how could he not have decided on a good place to live. I have to wait for the child to come back, but I'm afraid that there is something important to discuss, and it is probably related to the exam. ”

"Mother can't see that she is in a hurry to try! I have been running with Mr. Liu all year long, where have you been studying your homework! ”

"Mother rest assured, follow Master Liu every day, that is the best way to do homework."

Tang Shu's answer was full of laughter, and his mother could only be helpless: "If you really want to stay at home, your mother has to go and prepare first." Sad, in winter, how can there be so many beds and bedding...... Have you ever eaten? ”

"I've eaten with Master Liu, didn't you say it? The child helped Master Liu do something, and the food and accommodation were all managed by the river yamen. ”

"I don't think Lord Liu cares about your future, I just think that the things assigned by His Majesty are important, but fortunately I didn't ask you to go far this time. It's the end of winter, and you haven't set off for Beijing yet! ”

In the chattering voice, she left first.

When Tang Shu got dressed and went to the front hall, his father immediately said goodbye and slipped away.

The farmer just now became a beautiful son, and everyone first greeted him one by one and passed on his name.

Tang Shu then asked: "Brother Tingyi, is it true that you are not looking for a place to live?" Even though the hotels inside and outside the city were crowded with people, Quanzhou merchants also had guild halls in Huai'an. ”

To say that to my mother is to reassure her heart.

But with Tang Shu's style of doing things that travel thousands of miles, his cleverness in being able to lift people, and the amount of information that can be learned by staying by Liu Tianhe's side, how could they not guess the situation when they saw Gong Yongqing and they had not left.

He and Gong Yongqing only met when they took the exam together three years ago, and their friendship can't be said to be very deep. Knowing that the other party's family is quite good, where would they worry about these things for the other party?

Gong Yongqing is no longer as high-spirited as he was during the day, and said with some embarrassment: "The Pu clan is in turmoil, the Zhao'an Wu clan is assassinating in Linqing, how can Fujian businessmen dare to make a big splash?" I knew before I set off that it would be inconvenient for the Zhudi Guild Hall to entertain me this year and next year. When I arrived in Huai'an, I heard that there was going to be a river transport bureau, and the hotels inside and outside the city were crowded with merchants from the north and south, what was going on? But the middle brother uses his life under the command of Zonghe, there should be a way, right? ”

Only then did Wang Shen and others know that Gong Yongqing, a friend, was actually doing things beside the governor of the river, no wonder he said that the matter was easy to solve.

Tang Shu was stunned for a moment, and then said, "...... That's true. This matter is a long story, I also set off on the first day of the lunar month, and Liu Shi said that he would not miss me to catch the exam, and he had found a boat to send me to Beijing. It's just that if I want to wait for a few people to join us, I'm afraid I'll have to change the big ship. ”

Gong Yongqing was overjoyed: "But the middle brother really has a way!" ”

Tang Shu smiled: "This can be regarded as a reward, I have been working hard for several months this year." It's getting late, and it's no longer convenient to look for a place to live. In this way, I have some face in the neighborhood, which makes people knock on the door and ask, let's stay here today, and make plans tomorrow. I also have to go to Qingjiangpu, and when I go home today, I also have to pack my bags and leave a book to meet me at the pier over there. ”

Although they have made an appointment to go together, who can guarantee that each other's itinerary is completely matched? Anyway, Gong Yongqing wrote a long time ago, saying that he would leave in September after the autumn festival and would arrive in Huai'an in November.

“…… That's a lot of work, it's really a nuisance. "Gong Yongqing has no other good way now, just stay overnight.

He couldn't help asking: "But what is the middle brother doing in Liu Zonghe?" The younger brother thought that only the middle brother was a staff member. ”

"Your Majesty is worried about the Huanghuai flood, and when he was on the southern tour, he was appointed as the chief of the river, how could Liu Shi not go all out? In the past year, I have almost always dealt with river workers, and I have walked through the section of the intersection of Huanghuai and Huai with Liu Shi. ”

“…… In the past, I heard that when Brother Wei stepped on the famous mountains, he longed for it, and now Brother Wei has studied river affairs. Gong Yongqing asked tentatively in his eyes, "But the middle brother is Liu Zonghe's high-footed, and he still has such leisure at the time of the big test, I really admire it." I wonder if you can recommend me to pay a visit to Mr. Zonghe? ”

This is a high-ranking official in Huai'an.

The most important thing is that Gong Yongqing thinks that Tang Shu has not reviewed his homework before the year of the big test, but he is afraid that he can get a lot of useful information from Liu Tianhe, and he is very sure in his heart.

Tang Shu was very embarrassed: "I'm just afraid of inconvenience." Tomorrow I will go early in the morning, just to take advantage of these days to go to Gaojiayan with Liu Shi again. Liu Shi is busy with official business......"

"Then wait for the first day of the lunar month to set off, and then talk about the old friendship with Brother Wei. But does the middle brother know what kind of yamen the River Transport Bureau is? Why did merchants from the north and south gather in Huai'an, so that the hotel was full? ”

"That's right, Brother Tingyi and others came from Fujian, but I'm afraid I haven't seen the "Ming Pao" yet."

“…… Ming Pao? ”

"Brother Tingyi, wait a minute, I copied a copy from Master Liu."

Tang Shu quickly took a booklet from the study.

What he saw at that time was also the first issue that the official sent to Zonghe Yamen through the Interpretation Bureau.

The reason why I want to copy it is because Liu Tianhe doesn't know how to take the test next year, in short, let Tang Shu copy the simplified characters in front of the "Jiajing Dictionary" and this newspaper first, and familiarize himself with the new style.

Will you try to find one in the bag? Even if you don't take the test next year, there will definitely be one in the future, so the sooner Tang Shu does his homework in this area, the better.

Tang Shu has confidence in himself, and at the same time, he has also listened to Liu Tianhe a lot about the rules of the future.

It is naturally good to have a Jinshi background, but in the eyes of His Majesty, I am afraid that it does not matter whether there is a Jinshi background or not. On the contrary, if you make a contribution to the matter of river control, it will of course be easier to Jane in the emperor's heart.

Now Gong Yongqing opened the booklet and couldn't help but be stunned after seeing the text and style on it: "...... What is it? ”

Tang Shu explained a few sentences, and then said: "I won't use this simple word next year, and I will be familiar with it first." There is no way, Your Majesty has decreed that the official documents of the government should be gradually replaced by all written in this simple character and new style within a year. Liu Shi threw a lot of chores to me, and said that no matter whether he could win or not, he would ask His Majesty to use me to work in the river yamen, so I had to practice first. ”

Gong Yongqing's mouth was dry, and Wang Shenzhong was also hit hard.

Rank, honor, merit, title...... The most relevant to them is, of course, this simple character and new style.

Even if you don't ask for these to answer the exam next year, the official documents have set the rules, and this thing will inevitably be learned regardless of whether you are in the middle school or not.

What's more, even if it is not mandatory to take the exam next year, if there are candidates who use this abbreviated character and new style to answer the paper, will the marking officer and His Majesty look at it differently?

At the moment of the future, Gong Yongqing asked in a bitter voice: "But middle brother, I don't think I need to trouble my neighbors." If you don't give up, how about a fireside talk tonight? ”

Fuck, I'm glad I didn't find a place to live today!

Tang Shu looked at his faint eyes, and couldn't help but feel a little numb: "Brother Tingyi...... Don't you plan to talk all night with candles? I came back from a tired day. ”

"But the middle brother's body bones are wading through mountains and rivers!" Gong Yongqing couldn't care about face.

Tang Shu turned his head to look, and saw that all these people from Quanzhou Mansion in Fujian Province showed the kind of eyes that wanted to swallow him alive, and couldn't help but smile bitterly: "It's really not ...... like this."

How is it possible that the abbreviated character that has just been promulgated will require the use of this new rule next year?

Of course, he also knows that if he still only looks at the level of learning, but in the later rankings, some people with intentions are ranked a little higher, who knows if the imperial court will do this in order to promote simplified characters?

Rankings are also very important - for many people who are still closed off from information.

Tang Shu just wanted to get a good night's sleep: "Everyone, look at the back of this: Wang Qiong, the secretary of the ministry, talks about the promotion of officials. ”

The first issue of Ming Pao was not only the "four titles" article and the advertisements of many companies, in fact, all six of them appeared on it.

And Wang Qiong talked about the promotion of officials, and the point conveyed was very simple: after the examination of the merit method, the imperial court will have a clear practical evaluation of the promotion of officials.

In other words, Qingliu will not be popular in the future, if you want to rise to high quality.

Another point is that there are too few officials and too many officials in the Ming Dynasty now. Everything is left to the officials to do, and the officials are idle, and things are often done out of shape.

Guangdong and Shandong have more Enke and township examinations every year, all of which are just to point in one direction: there will be more officials with quality in the future, but there will be more specific practical responsibilities. There will still be officials who have not entered the product, but it will not be the current situation.

Since there are more officials, the imperial examination will naturally take more scholars.

"Therefore, I am afraid that the Ministry of Rites will make arrangements for next year's examination, and it will also be published in the Ming Pao in the future." Tang Shu said to them, "It is said that there are far more people to take the exam this year than in previous years, but just in terms of the situation, I am afraid that next year we will change the old system of only taking more than 300 tributes." Your Majesty is thirsty for talent, Brother Ting, you really don't have to be so anxious......"

"Is this Mr. Liu's assertion?"

“…… I guess. ”

Gong Yongqing didn't believe it, and they all looked at Tang Shu with their hearts racing.

He dared not to review his homework, he must know something!

Of course, Tang Shu couldn't tell the truth, even if it was only Liu Tianhe's guess.

But last year, so many officials and gentry were arrested in a major case of rebellion, and the new law is about to be implemented throughout the country, won't the imperial court buy people's hearts and dispel the gentry's resistance?

Guangdong Province has nearly 10,000 officials!

Tang Shu didn't dare to tell them, and Liu Tianhe's guess was even bolder.

In previous years, about three or four thousand children were raised to enter Beijing to take the exam, and one out of ten was taken.

This year, I am afraid that only five or six thousand people will enter Beijing, and most of them will be retained - in various forms.

Only those who are still desperate to take the Jinshi exam before they are willing to give up will miss this opportunity.

On the "Ming Pao" transcribed by Tang Shu, there is too much information.

He was really pestered by Gong Yongqing and them all night.

These companions are all young, and the oldest is the twenty-eight-year-old Tang Shu.

Young people can boil.

After the sun rose, the national policy meeting in the second half of the year really discussed an issue related to the imperial examination today.

"Prime Minister and State Affairs, the next three years will be the key three years of the new law, and the court and the local government need a lot of officials who can do things and are willing to make contributions. It is a long-term strategy to make the world's scholars study simplified characters, new learning, and new styles within three years. As a matter of urgency, the ministers asked His Majesty to discuss whether next year's Ministry of Rites examination should also be like the Guangdong and Shandong township examinations, and set up a positive and secondary list. The deputy list is also given to the same jinshi, which can be used as seven products, and the main list can be tested. The distinction between the first, second, and third grades in the palace test remains unchanged, but can the first class take 24 people to show the prestige of the 24 counselors and spur them to forge ahead? ”

The first class has always been three people: champion, Bangyan, and Tanhua.

Now, after several days of discussion and performance at the national policy meeting, Fei Hong has become more and more ambitious.

Although Zhu Houxi agreed or not, why did the first class be set at twenty-four?

This is to enhance the prestige of the national policy meeting, the prestige of the counselor, and the importance of the courtiers in the Ming Dynasty.

The rest of the people couldn't help but hold their breath and look at the emperor.

If the emperor agrees, it will be passed out in the future, and it will still be a bigger step for Fei Hong, the first prime minister, to win for the world's scholars.

There are 24 people in the first class of the palace examination, led by champions, tanhua, and bangyan, and everyone can be among the national policy meetings in the future.

And will the emperor be willing to see the opinions of his courtiers in the Council of State becoming more and more important, and the influence of the Prime Minister and the State Council increasing?

Now the Ming Dynasty does need more officials, and it needs to rein in the hearts of the gentry who have been terrified in the past few years. The prime minister is newly appointed, will the emperor refute his proposal?

Does this count as Fei Hong's coercion to invite and consolidate his power?

Zhu Houxi nodded very dryly: "I think it's okay." ”

(End of chapter)