The first game on the ninth day of February, the second game on the twelfth day, and the third game on the fifteenth.

The reason why the imperial examination is difficult is not as many people think that there are too many rules and regulations, and you have to excel under the shackles of eight strands.

The content of the test and the ability required are not low.

In the first session, there are three of the four books and texts of "Analects", "The Mean" or "University" and "Mencius", there is a poem with five words and eight rhymes, and there are four questions about the scriptures.

In the second scene, there is another scripture and righteous question, and there is an edict, a judgment, a table, and an edict, which is already the category of "official documents" writing.

The third session is a five-question question on current affairs.

As usual, the first one is the most important.

But now, the lifters and examiners all know in their hearts: I will test this round, and I am afraid that the five current affairs questions in the third session are more important.

Now the candidates are still answering questions in the compartment of the Gongyuan, and in the Gongyuan, everyone is looking at Yang Shen.

In the system of the Ming Dynasty, there were two examiners, commonly known as the president. This word has been around for a long time.

But in previous years, the identity of the examiner was usually a university scholar. A person of Yang Shen's grade will at most serve as the same examiner.

Now Yang Shen only serves as the main examiner with the official position of the right attendant of the household department, and he is the only chief examiner.

In addition, there are another fifteen same exams.

"Your Majesty is faithful and cautious. There is only one examiner, and if something goes wrong, I can't escape the blame. Yang Shen divided the printed paper, "Since the first exam is finished today, the answer sheet has been collected, and I have bothered you to read the papers one by one." The number of points for each question is filled in on this grading page, and the names of each person need to be signed. ”

There will be no more discussions, and when the papers are marked, a small room with the examiner will become a ruthless scoring machine.

And Yang Shen, the chief examiner, did not give the right to decentralize, he just supervised the main examination marking.

After the scores of the fifteen same exams have been received, it will move on to the next process: calculate the average score and rank second.

At this point, the examiner is not so fragrant: one person can't decide anything, on the contrary, it takes a lot of effort.

In the past, if anyone judged an answer sheet as inferior, others generally didn't bother to read it more. It's all old fritters, and there are very few real ones. But now the rules are dead, and everyone has to read and score every answer sheet.

Thousands of exam-takers......

Yang Shen continued to explain the details, such as the new number on the outside of the transcripted answer sheet, after the name was blurred, it was the new number. When grading, everyone should first copy the candidate's number on the printed form, and then give the score under each question, and finally collect it for a unified summary.

Before the candidates saw that string of numbers, the marking officers, who were now Jinshi, felt dizzy.

"With your talents, it's just ten numbers, it's not a problem to be familiar with them, right?" Yang Shen pointed to another room, "The little father-in-law in the inner study hall has to do all the lifting and all the grading of the same examiner. ”

“…… The president can rest assured that nothing will go wrong. ”

Yang Shen saluted: "Please, I'll go inspect the examination room again." ”

After he went out, there were some examiners who had been familiar with Yang Shen before, and at this moment he could only pick up the brush and practice Arabic numerals, muttering in his mouth: "After President Yang went to Guangdong, he judged the two of them." ”

The person who answered the call was also the old Hanlin bachelor: "There is only one person in charge of the exam, and the burden is on his shoulders." The test book is easy to go wrong, the newly sealed Nanhai County Lord, the prince's guest...... As soon as the examination is changed, there will always be people who are not angry. If there is an attack, it is difficult to guarantee that no one will make a fuss about it. Don't forget, you can also go to the Ministry of Rites to ask for a volume, and know how many points you and I have given him on which question. ”

When the words came out, everyone else looked embarrassed.

What offends men!

Among the same examiners, there is also Fei Maozhong, the sixteenth champion of Zhengde who has been transferred back to Beijing and served as Langzhong in the Ministry of Officials.

Now listening to the discussions of his colleagues, he thought about his uncle's words: The emperor only used this method, and the signs of the seat teacher and the township party were pushed down a lot. The examiner is tired, and he can't be regarded as having the merit of helping anyone, so in the future, he will take the main exam and the same exam, and I am afraid that he will slowly have to fill the position with a low-grade official, and go through a screening process.

And when it comes to the palace test, it is naturally dominated by the Son of Heaven.

Fei Maozhong thought so: thinking about the "dark day" of reading the papers in the second half of the month, he really had a headache.

……

On 15 February, when the trial continued, another issue of Ming Pao was published.

The headline on the front page of this issue is full of flavor: "Seven Essentials of Cultivation and Four Methods of Fertilizer: Implementing Heavy Agriculture".

Zhao Tingsong, the "accompanying reporter", vividly recorded the emperor's deeds of personally paying attention to the farmer's farming experience and manure making experience with the respect of the Son of Heaven, and condescending to summon the old farmers and dung merchants to understand the situation.

Then, it is from the Huangming University College of Agriculture, the old farmers and fertilizer bosses of the professional advice, at the same time, the end of the article points to the publication of tens of thousands of copies of the county to send to the counties, I wish this year to vigorously promote the popularization of farm iron farming tools and preach these valuable experience, Jiajing five years will usher in a bumper year.

The movers who have already entered the examination room to start the third exam have not had time to read this article, otherwise, seeing that the emperor cares about practice to such an extent, many candidates who only know how to study hard and do not know practice are afraid that their legs will tremble.

But more people paid attention to the news of the second edition: the joint announcement of the Military Council, the five governments, and the Ministry of War, and the promulgation of the new "Military Exercise Law".

Martial arts have long been in place. Since the founding of the Tang Dynasty, Wuju has never withdrawn from the stage of history. The Tang Dynasty martial arts examination was more focused on "martial arts", while the Song Dynasty martial arts examination had more "Cheng Wen".

The martial arts of the Ming Dynasty were not settled until the eighth year of Tianshun after the change of Tumubao. In the beginning, it was irregular and often discontinued. Hongzhi was seven years old, and it was only then that the six-year exam was set. In the seventeenth year of Hongzhi, it was changed to a three-year exam.

The Ming Dynasty also had a martial arts examination, and the time was set in the following month after the Wenju examination. However, there has been no palace test in the Ming Dynasty.

And the "Wu Jinshi" have a maximum of three stone of grain per month, which is far less than the treatment of the Wen Jinshi. In the seventeenth year of Hongzhi, a total of thirty-five people were admitted. During the Zhengde years, there were more, and there were fifty or sixty people each time. However, the exam is more strategic than martial arts, and the probability of the martial artists appearing is very low.

Now, the Wenju people's examination is still going on, and the news about the martial arts has been announced.

First of all, the military council and the five governments have come to the fore in the martial arts, and it is no longer just the military department that presides over the martial arts examination.

Secondly, this year's martial arts examination will be postponed to September, and the provinces will also hold the martial arts township examination Enke from March to May, and another group of martial artists will be selected.

The time is postponed, and the most important aspect is another blockbuster news: the martial arts will be opened.

Wuju finally had a palace test, and the treatment of martial champions and martial artists was greatly improved.

The first is the test method: the martial arts examination emphasizes martial arts and light literature, strategy, and further study at the military academy. Since then, it has been customary to hold the general examination in September and the palace examination in October every three years.

The second is the conferment: as a general of the Beijing battalion, he studied and trained in the Military Academy of Huangming University for three years, and then he could be appointed from the fifth rank of thousands of households to the fourth rank of commander.

Finally, there is the treatment: not to mention the improvement of Yulu, the banquet given by the military department in the past was changed to a banquet given by the Son of Heaven in the Wuying Palace.

In response to the big topics given by the emperor, the first answer sheet handed over by the military council was to reserve generals.

But more people in the know also understand that this measure is also intended to deal with the hidden dangers of the reform of local health centers.

In the Wuying Palace, Gu Shilong was imparting experience: "The local health center, everyone knows what the situation is. This year's move, the first priority is to supervise the five prefectures and supervise the health offices of each capital, and divide the generals. Take the martial arts as the criterion to pave the way for the restructuring. ”

With this new rule, soldiers from ordinary military households are welcome. Only talk about martial arts, and the chances of getting ahead will naturally increase.

But the follow-up to this new rule has not yet been announced, and is only known as a secret at military meetings.

That is: the middle and upper-level officers of all armies must at least have the status of martial artists in the future. If the hereditary military general does not have the status of a martial artist, the official position will be demoted to a hereditary rank.

Those who were born as middle-level officers are afraid that most of them will not be happy with the new rules. If they want to change the local guard to recruit soldiers, their interests will be touched. In the future, how can the hereditary official position also be linked to the status of the martial arts, which forces them to be worthy of the name, but how many are really worthy of the name?

In addition, what about the lords who now occupy a large number of high-ranking officer positions in the military general system?

Yang Yiqing opened his mouth: "In the past few years in the border town, I have seen it more and more clearly. Regardless of His Majesty's ambition to pass through the South Seas, between ten or twenty years, there will definitely be a time for the northern captives to invade the south. Nowadays, there are many generals in border towns, let alone local generals. Now that the Minister of State has been established, civil affairs are no longer a major problem, and in the next three years, military and political affairs will be even more important! Now there are eighteen enterprises, and the military can be negotiated after the lords. Yasukuni Gong, Cui Zuojun, Xiangcheng Bo, this matter still needs to be set by the ministers! ”

“…… As it should be. ”

Yang Yiqing saluted in the direction of the Heart Cultivation Hall in the northeast: "Your Majesty's will, I have promised grace." The country's in-service military generals with more than five grades will be the first to compete in June! The winners submitted by each province are all awarded county knights, and the rest are awarded township knights, and they are not tested with other martial arts students. Next year, the Yasukuni military strategy system will be opened, and the one who will be awarded the title! Under such a blessing, if there are still people who do not know how to forge ahead and stubbornly resist the new system, they should do it! ”

This was not published in the news, but only for the ministers and the generals in service.

However, the news of the Yasukuni Military Strategy System and the Dingguo Security and Civil System Section will be announced after the Wen Zhuangyuan is also selected.

The subject system is a more difficult exam that is different from the ordinary exam. Jinshi depreciated, but this irregular system will be repeated.

And this time, at least two earls and a group of county lords and township lords were thrown out, and the steps of the future career were also very clear, and it was the turn of the gentry to consider the warriors for their official positions and their descendants, and the world should also reconsider the importance of using martial arts to advance their careers.

First buy a batch with great grace, and then use the new rules to require the in-service generals and lords in the future, and all generations must have skills.

Zhang Jing, who was the new military department and was able to attend the military affairs meeting, looked at them solemnly: There will be a day when the picture will be exhausted! Under the pressure of the hereditary lineage, what would happen if there was another rebellion or even a lord?

……

"Don't even think about it! That's a king! Crowned king! ”

After the military council, it was the ministers of the five prefectures who discussed how to control the overall situation.

Li Quanli's eyes were terrifyingly bright, his title was still only an uncle, but after all, he led a mansion and held the Shenji Battalion.

"General Staff Yang is right!" "This rule is not for hereditary lords!" If the family of the lord did not want to join the army, he went to eighteen enterprises to do his best to do his job. If you want to join the army, if you are not skilled in martial arts and do not know martial arts, how can you serve the public? How to make a contribution? Now the governors of the five prefectures and the ministers who attend military affairs are almost in charge of the world's elite soldiers. If anyone has two hearts, you have forgotten that Your Majesty had intended and suppressed the training? In my opinion, how to stabilize the situation in the world is also a test for Your Majesty to us! ”

Among his own people, Li Quanli still announced the temptation of "sealing the king" after all.

The cakes given to the middle and lower class generals are earls, county lords, and township lords. The cake for these lords who are most loyal to the emperor and still have military merits is the king!

For this cake, people like Li Quanli need elite soldiers who can fight like their arms and fingers.

For this reason, the local guard station, which is already rotten and difficult to use. It is not in their interest.

Cui Yuan looked at them: "When discussing this matter, although Wang Bo'an of the military department has no objections, the rest of the staff have quite concerns!" The strategy of martial arts is to try to read and be polite. Although Your Majesty has opened the Department of National Security and Civil Security, everyone will know that Your Majesty is going to be heavy-handed! When the news is announced, the world is worried about the future military generals who will support their own troops, and I don't know how many! ”

"So what? There is already a prime minister among the ministers! Li Quanli, who has enjoyed the dividends of the new monarch since the commander of Caojiang "suppressed bandits" and stood in line accurately, said loudly, "The military affairs meeting also has the prestige of Wenchen as the general staff!" The military council is in charge of military orders, the five governments are in charge of the troops, and the military department is in charge of food and salary, who can support the army and respect itself? ”

Cui Yuan shook his head: "I just want to say, how to set an example for the lords, you all have to be attentive this time." In his eyes, he can't only have future military exploits, but also the danger of removing the seal! If there is another mess in this restructuring, Wenchen will not agree! On Mr. Fei's shoulders, there is also the weight of the new law. ”

"Let's start with this year's big competition! Your Majesty's heroic spirit is fully displayed, and those who do not seek change will be relieved to teach their children and grandchildren how to do business, and do not stretch out their hands to the army! ”

What is placed in front of the military ministers of the five prefectures is the temptation that each prefecture actually has tens of thousands of elite soldiers in their hands after the recruitment.

These are the biggest foundations for them to seek the military exploits of the north and the south that Yang Yiqing said in the future.

Li Quanli does not ask for any extravagance to be crowned king, but under his achievements, he has changed from an earl to a marquis or even a duke, which is the future that is clearly in front of him.

Even Ji Weimin, a guerrilla general under his Shenji battalion, was made an earl for Huguang's efforts to quell the rebellion, and now he has the same title as him.

Among the governors of the five prefectures, Li Quanli has the lowest title.

Who stands in his way?

Just when the news of the martial arts examination and the palace examination was being discussed in the capital, the examination of the Ministry of Rites was finally completed on February 17.

As you walk out of the exam room, you will have to wait for ten days.

Before the list is released, day and night are times of gain and loss.

In the Gongyuan, the 15th Tongkou Examination has been tormented for six days in the huge workload of marking papers. Now, 100 papers for each group, along with the marking form for that group, are sent to each person's room, and when they have completed their marking, they are then taken away. The exam papers are sent to the next person along with the new forms, and the marked forms are sent to the hall where the group is located.

There, the crackling sound of the abacus beads never stopped.

First add and then divide, Yang Shen has been staring here, and his eyes are already a little bloodshot.

Ten days later, who will become a tribute and who will be on the sub-list will be determined, and each candidate will probably go to the Ministry of Rites to ask for the final score notice to be transcribed, and there are many things.

And Gong Yongqing finally met Lin Xiyuan - after the exam was finally over.

"What does Maozhen mean to avoid suspicion here?"

Lin Xiyuan took off his hat: "You don't see, how much hair I have lost!" ”

The new publication of Ming Pao is full of problems, and this is indeed a good reason.

But in addition to being busy, Lin Xiyuan is indeed avoiding suspicion, although the examination system has been changed, it makes little sense for him to avoid it.

After being amused, he asked: "With Mingzhi and Taoist talents, why worry?" Jinke is on the list of five hundred, you must be among the best! ”

Gong Yongqing sighed: "Then who can say accurately." Moreover, although the syllabus of the examination has not been changed, it has not been said how the palace examination will be conducted before. ”

As he spoke, he looked at Lin Xiyuan expectantly.

The meaning of the words is that he has already studied the temple test.

Don't blame Gong Yongqing for being confident, in history, he was the champion of this subject.

But by coincidence, now that the emperor has changed, the times have changed.

Lin Xiyuan was serious: "I have taken up my post in the Ming Pao Bank, and I can't ask about the rest of the things." I invite you to come over today, just to ask for a good fortune for you, and to talk about my views on your future career. It's not really important if it's not in the first class. ”

Gong Yongqing was not disappointed, but said with a straight face: "Thank you Maozhen for your advice, and listen to Yongqing!" ”

This situation in Lin Xiyuan's family is not uncommon.

Now that the examination has been completed, the candidates for the examination have all been invited by many people - the sensitive period has passed, and the next thing is to wait for the release of the list.

Zhang Zilin, who said in Tang Shunzhi's mouth, "Why did he appreciate me so much", but invited him to the mansion, and when Tang Shunzhi came to the flower hall, he saw two other important ministers.

"The students meet General Staff Officer Yang and Sima Wang."

Yang Yiqing and Wang Shouren looked at Tang Shunzhi together, and Zhang Zilin pointed at him: "This son is quite extraordinary and has a wide range of knowledge. Knowledge, strategy, practice, martial arts, and arithmetic can all be cultivated. ”

“…… Zhang Guo is pragmatic and praises, and the students are terrified. ”

Yang Yiqing's eyes lit up: "The old man will test you first." ”

Tang Shunzhi didn't know what the intention of these three people came to see him together, but the status difference was huge, so he could only obediently "continue to take the test".

As a well-known character among the inmates who has "wide interests" and "loves to learn miscellaneous", Tang Shunzhi has shown amazing intelligence and talent - all kinds of things, he learns really fast.

Even if it is martial arts, he has also fought with Zhang Zilin's family's nursing home.

Yang Yiqing was a little confused: "You want to learn the martial arts from Guozijian, who did you learn martial arts from?" ”

“…… The students got to know a person from the Military Academy of Huangming University, whose name was Lu Bing. He was introduced by him, and he was taught by Yang Song, a member of the Zhongyue Martial Arts Academy, and practiced marksmanship......"

"Lu Bing?" Yang Yiqing lost his voice and spoke, and then looked at Zhang Zilin with a complicated expression.

Tang Shun's heart moved, although his eyes didn't look at them, he understood something in his heart: General Staff Yang knew about Lu Bing? Isn't that guy, simple?

At this time, Zhang Zilin's eyes looking at Yang Yiqing released some information: You understand, right? It's not wrong to cultivate this kid. Without His Majesty's permission, Lu Song would casually ask Lu Bing to introduce him to what martial arts academy Zhongyue as a teacher? When this guy was in the Guozijian article, the emperor looked at this kid differently, not because I praised him.

Just like that Quanzhou Yu Dayou, some of Jane's names in the emperor's heart, I don't even know why!

After a period of silence, Wang Shouren opened his mouth: "Yingde, with your talent, can you spend more time in my house to learn and prepare for the next year?" ”

Tang Shun's heart was shocked.

Needless to say, he already understood what it would be.

I've finished the exam this year, what else will I take?

Daming wants to open a department!

Although I don't understand why these three important ministers look at him differently, Tang Shunzhi is not a person who wants others to help, but the system is just a stage that makes him feel that he can prove himself the most!

In the Song Dynasty, it was as strong as Su Dongpo, and the system was only in the third class.

It's easy to take the top prize, but it's difficult to take the exam!

“…… Students can't ask for it. ”

Tang Shunzhi was grateful that they didn't want to "operate" something specifically for the palace test, and deliberately promoted him - Tang Shunzhi didn't need it.

But now, he still asked: "Since Mr. Yang is willing to teach students in Wang Sima, should students study more scriptures and martial arts next?" ”

Yang Yiqing's eyes were even more appreciative: "Have you read the new issue of "Ming Pao"? ”

Tang Shunzhi nodded, and then his expression was a little strange: "Don't you want the kid to take the martial artist?" In this way, the kid has to go to the Wuju Township to try Enke......"

"Not necessarily." Yang Yiqing shook his head, "Now that you know it in your heart, you are ready for the next year." If you don't think it's beautiful, we'll be relieved. ”

“…… The students are just quite interested, and they really don't think about making achievements with martial arts. ”

The communication between smart people is so efficient, Tang Shunzhi has already understood that these three people saw him together for the sake of the collective of Wenchen in the future when the emperor has already shown the intention of heavy force, and wants to have someone who can continue to hold the reins of the general.

Such a figure must have sufficient strength and prestige in military affairs.

Yang Yiqing, Wang Shouren...... These older generation of "Confucian generals" will eventually grow old. Among the next generation, will this position of General Staff of Military Affairs gradually be held only by the military future?

Zhang Zilin awe-inspiring admonished him: "Today, we will not avoid suspicion for the sake of you, so I invite you to come." Yingde, the future will be turbulent, and the world's achievements can be found everywhere. Your Majesty is eloquent and strategic, with Ying Ninggong as the general staff, you should think carefully about it. Yu Zhongwugong, it was His Majesty's initiative that he entered the Taimiao first. ”

Tang Shunzhi received an amazing new message, it turned out that Yu Qian was worthy of enjoying the Taimiao, which was originally the emperor's own intention, not Yan Song's credit.

Familiar with the annals of history, he naturally understands why the previous dynasties used literature to control the military. His Majesty not only has the ambition to expand the territory, but also needs to worry about the military generals becoming bigger in this process. Now that there is a prime minister among the ministers, we can't passively wait for the emperor to use military power to restrain the ministers.

All parties need a person to act as a conciliator. This person, preferably from a civil servant, can convince the generals and speak for them, and at the same time perfectly fulfills the mission of helping the civil servants restrain the military generals and helping the emperor restrain the prime minister who may be powerful in the future.

Tang Shunzhi didn't understand: why him?

Now above the court, is there no one who is more recognized by them.

“…… Students are brave and may not be able to take on great responsibilities. ”

Listening to Tang Shunzhi's words, Zhang Zilin just smiled meaningfully: "Yingde doesn't have to be arrogant. Do you know that Your Majesty will take a roll call today, and let the Ministry of Rites read your answer sheet first and submit it to the palace as soon as possible? At that time, the policy was about suppressing the rebellion in Huguang, and Your Majesty wanted to see your opinion. ”

“…… Student...... It's scary. Tang Shunzhi, who was still a "new tender", was a little frightened.

He understood the meaning, because he was the person the emperor paid attention to, so he had already met the conditions that he would be appreciated and respected by the emperor, and he could become a powerful candidate for this person in the future.

But he felt that he was not worthy, after all, he was so young and had no achievements.

Wang Shouren also sighed: "Although you shouldn't say that...... But His Majesty's people who look at him differently are indeed extraordinary. Yingde, think about Zhang Dutai and Yan Dutai. ”

Zhang Fujing and Yan Song soared into the sky as soon as they met Xinjun, and then showed extraordinary talents.

Tang Shun was stunned for a while: Am I so good?

(End of chapter)