In the Champion Hou Mansion, Xiao Rui is playing and enjoying himself with his wives and children, waiting for the release of the imperial examination. On this day, the old man Gao came to the door to invite, saying that the emperor had named the champion of tomorrow's court meeting, and Hou was going to be there.

"Lao Gao, is the list out? Is there any of my wife's? ”

Yes?

Ahem......

The waiter Lao Gao hurriedly waved his hand and said, "Master Hou said that he was laughing, where is the old slave qualified to see the list in advance?" His Majesty invited the Hou Ye to go to court because the imperial examination was over, but it was difficult to agree on who would be the champion, so a list was presented to His Majesty. His Majesty decided that tomorrow the court will come to the Taiji Hall to discuss and decide the champion, and give a ranking. ”

Xiao Rui was surprised: "You said that you will have a palace exam tomorrow?" ”

Temple exam?

Lao Gao was stunned for a moment, then nodded with a smile: "That's right, it's the palace test!" Hou Ye is the person who asked the question for this imperial examination, but he must be present. ”

Xiao Rui shook his head and said, "No! As the questioner, I have to avoid suspicion. I don't participate in judging the papers, and I ask the six departments and yamen to judge the papers, just to show fairness. This time, the imperial examination Benhou bet on the contract, and I can't let people find fault with it, otherwise they won't accept it. ”

This......

Lao Gao lowered his voice and reminded: "Master Hou, it's not okay if you don't go to be afraid." According to the people in the Ministry of Rites, the top ten this time seem to be all your disciples. ”

What???

Xiao Rui slapped his forehead, "Isn't this impossible to wash away by jumping into the Yellow River?" ”

Lao Gao smiled, "Master Hou, you are frank and open, who doesn't know?" If the opponent is not convinced, although suspicion is. But we should not distort the facts for fear of their suspicion. ”

Xiao Rui smiled bitterly: "Okay, you can still speak." These stinky boys, I don't know how to restrain them, I don't know, I thought I leaked the exam questions to them in advance......"

In the afternoon, the Ministry of Rites sent someone to inform the champion Hou and his wife Wei Yanran to enter the palace tomorrow to participate in the palace examination.

The Xiao family is festive, doesn't this show that Wei Yanran is in the top ten.

1, Li Jingren2, Di Renjie3, Huang Yaoshi4, Li Chengqian5, Li Lizhi6, Wei Yanran7, Li Tai (Wei)8, Cui Ninger9, Xia Huairen10, Pei Donglai11, Wu Zhao

Early the next morning, Xiao Rui took his wife into the palace in a carriage. Let the lady wait outside the Taiji Palace, and Xiao Rui will enter the court first.

Many people greeted and congratulated: "Congratulations to Master Hou, it is said that in this imperial examination, Lord Hou's protégé shined and almost won the ranking in front of the imperial examination." ”

"Yes, Master Hou is known as the number one teacher in the world, and he really deserves his reputation!"

……

"Ahem, everyone, everyone, Xiao Rui thanks you for your support. But don't say that, Xiao Rui, as the person who made the question in the imperial examination, should have avoided suspicion. Now that something like this has happened, I'm afraid I will summon suspicion and say that I, Xiao Rui, have given the students the question in advance. Xiao Rui hurriedly dissuaded.

However, these people are too enthusiastic, and they pat their chests one by one to promise that whoever dares to pour dirty water on Hou Ye will give you a stand.

As he was talking, the officials from the family began to ridicule, "The Hou Ye proposed the competition at the beginning, because he suspected us of controlling the imperial examination, saying that we were biased in favor of our own children in the questions and judgments. ”

"I thought that Master Hou, you are selfless, you will come up with the question, the two sides will have a fair fight, and if you see a real chapter, you can also wash away our dirty water."

"But now it seems that you are not the same, Master Hou? Why do your students get good grades when you ask questions? ”

"How do you explain that?"

Feed! What nonsense are you talking about?

Some generals were not angry, and they pointed at each other and scolded.

Xiao Rui stepped forward to stop him, and said calmly: "It is very unfair to those who are poor and do not have enough books to read. Although he does not directly test the meaning of the scriptures, he can use the scriptures to solve the problem. ”

"Whether it is the question or the final judgment paper, it is participated by the competent people and ministers of the three provinces and six departments of the imperial court, and the selection of talents in the imperial examination is for the country, not to test who is more likely to endorse."

"If you question the level of Benhou's question, then why didn't the Confucianism who participated in the proposition of the imperial court object?"

The man said angrily: "We admit the level of Hou Ye's questions, but who knows if you have revealed the questions to your students behind your back?" If we want to win the competition in this way, Master Hou, don't blame us for not being convinced. ”

Cheng Zhijie shouted: "Hey! I am willing to gamble and lose, but I find so many excuses to pour dirty water on Hou Ye...... Do you want dough? If you can't afford to lose, don't gamble! This is the kind of person that I look down on the most. ”

You......

"This is our Wenchen's business, what does it have to do with your generals?" These people are really not afraid of the Demon King of the Mixed World.

Xiao Rui smiled and interrupted the two sides of the scolding, "That's it." My students are all taught by me personally, and now the results are here, if Ben Hou says that he did not give the students a thorough question, you will definitely not believe it. But in fact, Ben Hou said unceremoniously that Ben Hou's students have both ability and political integrity, whether you make the question or Ben Hou makes the question, it will not affect them to stand out in the imperial examination room. ”

You......

The other party wanted to refute, but Xiao Rui didn't give them a chance, and then said: "As for the gambling contract? It's better to do this, let's remove the students of Benhou to compare. ”

"You suspect me of getting through the question, that's easy to do, all my Xiao Rui's subordinates will not participate in the gambling contract. The remaining children are divided into poor families and nobles, how about comparing the number of people on the list on both sides? ”

"Can't you doubt that Ben Hou can give all the poor scholars in the world a thorough question, right?"

The other party, you look at me, I look at you, and I was speechless for a while.

The military general helped Xiao Rui open his mouth and urged: "Hey, are you cowardly?" Hou Ye has removed dozens of people here, if you still don't dare to compare, it is better to go home and nurse the child. ”

……

"Good! According to what Hou Ye said. ”

After a while, the emperor slowly walked into the Taiji Palace, and the old man beside him was holding a long box, and the irrepressible joy on the emperor's face could be seen from his expression.

"Ladies and gentlemen, since the imperial court has implemented national literacy, it has finally achieved results. This imperial examination breaks the old practice of the past, does not examine the scriptures, and is subject to the application of the world. The purpose of the imperial examination is to select talents to assist in governing the country, if you can only die studying, and cannot solve difficulties for the country and the people, then what is the use of studying? ”

"Therefore, the champion Hou Xiaorui's proposal should be credited."

Xiao Rui stood up and said modestly: "Your Majesty has won the award, thanks to Your Majesty's Sacred Heart, Xiao Rui does not dare to take credit." ”

Li Er smiled and waved his hand: "You have worked hard for a year of studying, everyone sees it, and there is no need to be modest." ”

"In the past, I thought that all the talents in the world would be in my world. But today I know that I really underestimated the heroes of the world. As everyone knows, I am an outstanding Tang Dynasty person, and there are many talents, far beyond our imagination. ”

"Someone, proclaim!"

The old man next to him put down the long box he was holding, and then picked up a holy decree on the imperial case and read it out, "Today's examination has created a miracle that has never been seen in previous years, and there are as many as 5,000 candidates who have come to participate in the examination, and it is under the condition that the imperial court has not reduced the difficulty of the township examination." ”

Hiss......

Many people expressed their shock that 5,000 people participated in the examination? In previous years, it was only two or three thousand......

I only listened to Lao Gao continue to read: "Therefore, the imperial court has decided to expand the number of talents to be hired, and approve them based on the merits of the examination questions, and the first 513 people who will be recruited in the current examination will be the current imperial examination." The first twenty of them were given the rank of jinshi. ”

Hiss...... As soon as these words came out, they shocked the government and the opposition.

Hire more than 500 people at once? This means that Datang has more than 500 new officials at once.

Of course, more people are not concerned about this, but among the more than 500 people, are there many nobles? Or is it too cold?

Who is the emperor helping this time to expand admission?