A total of 300 tributes were admitted, of which 261 were from the south and only 39 from the north. The gap is so big that if Cai Zhichuan himself is the chief examiner, he would have wondered if all the marking officials had joined forces to cheat in the imperial examination.

The southern part is more prosperous than the northern one, which is obvious to all, but after all, the Shuntian Mansion where the Jingshi is located is located in the north, and even if there is a gap between the north and the south, it is not so big. Among the 300 tributes admitted in the past, the northern scholars can almost occupy about 100 places, and the proportion does not fluctuate much.

Five years ago, the north suffered a great locust plague, the economy was hit hard, and the style of writing withered, but in contrast, the south was not affected much, so the northern scholars in the last session of the examination only accounted for 63 places. Unexpectedly, after three years of recuperation, this number has not increased but decreased, and has shrunk significantly to thirty-nine.

Among the 261 places of scholars in the south, the proportion of scholars in the Jiangnan region is particularly large, and there are more than 160 people from Jiangsu and Zhejiang alone. Nine of the top ten are from Jiangsu and Zhejiang, and only one of the eighth is from the Shuntianfu people's clan, barely grabbing a seat for the northern scholars in the top ten.

What's even worse is that most of the officials who participated in the marking of the papers this time were born in the south, and it is difficult for people not to be suspicious of such a proportion of officials and such an admission ratio.

Everyone looked at this admission list, and sweat broke out in their heads, and a deputy examiner stammered: "This, this is too much...... Why don't we adjust it? ”

"How?" Cai Zhichuan swept over with a knife in his eyes, his face was ugly, "This admission list is the result of our busy seven days of hard work, fair and just, and there is no favoritism, why should we adjust?" ”

"What's more, now that the examiners and Flying Fish are gone, isn't it just that we have a ghost in our hearts to transfer the list without telling them at this time? In the future, something goes wrong, and we are justified or unreasonable, who can testify for you and me? ”

The deputy examiner was at a loss and was a little flustered: "But, but if we just follow this list, those northern scholars will definitely make trouble, and the scene will not be easy to clean up, how should the imperial court give an explanation?" ”

Cai Zhichuan took a deep breath and said in a deep voice: "In this way, let's not send this list to the cabinet for signature, but first present it to His Majesty and tell him the truth." Whether to release the list like this or readjust the list is up to His Majesty to decide. ”

Everyone hurriedly agreed: "Okay, then that's it, it's hard for Lord Cai to run." ”

Cai Zhichuan nodded, said no more, and took the list to see Emperor Jingfeng.

Half an hour later, Cai Zhichuan came back, without saying a word, and his expression was a little solemn.

The crowd hurried up to them and asked, "How is it?" What did Your Majesty say? ”

Cai Zhichuan still didn't speak, and only showed the list to themselves. Everyone took the list and saw that the jade seal of Emperor Jingfeng fell on it, but there was no annotation.

"Your Majesty, what do you mean by this? Just follow this list? ”

Cai Zhichuan shook his head and sighed: "I didn't see Your Majesty." ”

"What about this chapter?"

Cai Zhichuan said: "Your Majesty has had a head attack, and although it has improved recently, he still doesn't want to see the courtiers. When I went outside the palace to ask for a meeting, His Majesty probably thought that he was simply letting him look at the list, so he only asked Gonggong Ning to bring the list in, and then took it out after stamping. The time was so short that I suspect that he didn't take it seriously at all, and I am afraid that he does not know about the big gap between the admission ratio of scholars from the north and the south. ”

Everyone was at a loss for a moment: "Then what should I do?" Do we want us to take such a risk to make the list? Why don't you go and see Your Majesty again and explain the situation clearly? ”

Cai Zhichuan said helplessly: "It is said that some time ago, the commander of the Flying Fish Guard made Lord Qin not see His Majesty, do you think I can succeed?" I'm afraid that if I pestered for a while, I would be driven out by the guards. For the sake of today's plan, the list can only be sent to the Cabinet, which will decide whether to issue the list accordingly. ”

Soon after, the cabinet minister's office in the Wenyuan Pavilion.

Fang Shu, who didn't know why, walked in the door, looked at the cabinet ministers who had rarely gathered in the room, and said with a smile: "This is the time to be on duty, and you guys are still here so together." ”

No one answered, Fang Shu didn't care, his eyes fell on the admission list on the table, he picked it up and flipped through it, and said unexpectedly: "Before the list is released, I asked for the signatures of all the cabinet officials, why don't you sign it?" ”

Gu Yuanhui's expression was a little unnatural, and he smiled dryly: "Isn't it that you haven't arrived yet, we want to wait for you to sign first." ”

The rest of the people echoed: "Yes, yes, Lord Fang is the head of the cabinet, we should take Lord Fang first, Lord Fang will sign first, and we will sign later." ”

"It's just a sequence, is it so important? Although I am the first assistant of the cabinet, we are all auxiliary ministers who share the worries of His Majesty, and it is not the same who signs first...... No, why are you looking at me like that? Fang Shu smiled indifferently, and was about to pick up the pen to sign it, but when he saw everyone's strange faces, he suddenly became alert.

After carefully reading the list, Fang Shu realized that something was wrong, and suddenly raised his head to look at everyone: "Why are there so few northern scholars admitted here?" ”

Gu Yuanhui looked embarrassed: "That's why we don't dare to sign first." Of the 300 tributes, only 39 are from the north, and there are hidden dangers in this list, and whoever signs will be held responsible. Lord Fang, you are the first assistant of the cabinet, so naturally I want you to start this first, and we dare to sign it if you sign it. ”

Cai Zhichuan stood up and told Fang everything about the matter, and added at the end: "I, Cai Zhichuan, can guarantee that in the entire process of marking the papers, there will be absolutely no favoritism and fraud, and I don't believe that anyone can admit so many southern scholars in Haiti under the noses of me and Feiyuwei." No matter how outrageous this list is, it's true, and no one has ever tampered with it. ”

Gu Yuanhui sighed sadly, and continued: "But this is the joint, we know that this list is true, do the majority of northern scholars know?" The proportion gap is so big, let alone them, I can't believe it. At that time, if they make a fuss, Your Majesty will be held accountable, and a few of us will bear the brunt. ”

Another person said: "But the list will be released in two days, and during this period, the list will be filled in and registered...... Wait, the affairs are complicated, and the list must be handed over to the relevant yamen by tonight at the latest, otherwise it will be too late. If it is time to release the list but the list is not released, I am afraid that the trouble will be greater. ”

There are hidden dangers in the list, and there may be problems if you sign it, and even more problems if you don't sign it. The emperor did not take care of the government for the time being, and the decision-making power of the matter fell to the cabinet, and it was really difficult to choose whether to advance or retreat.

Fang Shu's face was gloomy, and he paced several laps without saying a word, but finally made up his mind, and said conclusively: "Sign!" Something happened, and we will take it first! ”