Two days later, the three ministers of the Criminal Department, the Inspectorate and the Dali Temple reported the results of the investigation to Emperor Jingfeng.

“…… After investigation, in the whole process of the examination, from the preparation of questions, invigilation to the marking and determination of the admission list, all compliance and co-system, and no illegal fraud was found. While the cabinet personally reviewed the results proposed by some of the unsuccessful candidates, the relevant marking officers also gave detailed reasons for the dismissal, which is indeed based on evidence, and is not maliciously rejected ......"

With a faint pain in his head, Emperor Jingfeng stroked his temples, suppressed the restlessness in his heart, and waited for Gu Yuanhui to finish finishing the long list of investigation results, and then asked casually: "According to the meaning of the three Aiqing, behind the incredible result that the three hundred tribute scholars in the south account for two hundred and sixty-one, and the north only accounts for thirty-nine, is there no fraud?" ”

Beads of sweat rolled down from his sideburns, Gu Yuanhui endured the itch, and said with difficulty: "...... Judging by the results so far, this is indeed the case. ”

It's ridiculous, it's hard to believe, but it's the truth, the truth that no one can change.

Gu Yuanhui himself couldn't say why it became like this, why after the locust plague, after three years of recuperation, the gap between the northern scholars and the southern scholars became wider and wider.

Is it because the level of the northern scholars in this session is extremely poor, and the level of the southern scholars is excellent? Or is it because the literary style of the north is not as good as that of the south for many years, forming a vicious circle, which has led to the decline of culture and education in the north? Or maybe it's because of something else, Gu Yuanhui doesn't know.

Sometimes things are like this, and among the many possibilities of tracing the cause of a thing, it is precisely the most absurd and outrageous that is the truth.

It's a pity that at the moment, such a truth is not the result that the majority of scholars, especially the vast number of northern scholars who have fallen off the list, hope to see.

"I forgive you and don't dare to cheat."

After a long silence, Emperor Jingfeng briefly made such an evaluation of the investigation results, and then he sighed leisurely and asked, "The result is out, but the three Aiqing, do you think the scholars of the world can accept such a result?" ”

"'There is no violation of rules and regulations in the process', which is equivalent to telling everyone that the scholars in the north just can't pass the scholars in the south, and the so-called fraud is a rumor made up in anger after they fall off the list.

Speaking of this, Emperor Jingfeng's eyes gradually became cold, and his voice became cold: "What's more, what they said is not unreasonable, such a large gap in the admission ratio, if this goes on like this, are there still northerners in this court?" Isn't my Great Xia only half of the country in the south? ”

The three of them were startled, and hurriedly trembled and knelt down, not daring to come out.

Emperor Jingfeng calmly gathered his eyes, raised his hand and said: "That's it, I don't want to scare you, for today's plan, I have to quickly come up with a solution, get up." ”

The three of them stood up, a faint chill in their hearts, and they didn't dare to speak for a while. After a while, seeing that the impatience between Emperor Jingfeng's eyebrows was becoming more and more obvious, the right capital of the Inspectorate, Yu Shi Xijin, had no choice, and stood up and said:

The minister felt that the northern scholars would definitely not be satisfied with the announcement of the results in this way. Why don't we use the locust plague as an excuse to say that the people's livelihood in the north has withered and culture and education have not yet recovered, and the imperial court is benevolent and lenient, so that we will hold another examination for the northern scholars and admit 300 tributes alone, so that the northerners can be satisfied and retain the original tribute quota, which should be the best of both worlds. ”

Huang Zongheng, the secretary of Dali Temple, frowned when he heard this, and said, "Lord Xi thinks about the scholars, have you ever thought about the court?" 600 tributes, after the palace test, that is 600 jinshi, can there be so many vacancies in the court for them to be awarded? If you pass the Jinshi examination, you will have to wait to fill the vacancy like a lifter, but I am afraid that they will make more trouble in the future! ”

Seeing that Xi Jin had nothing to say, Huang Zongheng turned around and arched his hand towards Emperor Jingfeng, and said calmly: "According to what the minister sees, it is still necessary to keep the admission quota of a total of three hundred tributes, simply cancel the result this time, re-test, and re-admit." ”

Gu Yuanhui said disapprovingly: "There is a certain element of luck in the admission of the examination, not that only the examination can prove the strength. For those scholars who have already passed the exam, they may not be able to pass the exam again, and now they will be disqualified from admission, do you think they can agree? When the time comes, it's just another group of people to make trouble. ”

"What's more, judging from our investigation results, there is no fraud in this examination, which shows that the more than 200 southern scholars were admitted by their own ability. What if I take the exam again and there are more places in the Southern Scholar Examination? How will we account for that? ”

Huang Zongheng was so angry that he flicked his sleeves unhappily, and said in a stiff tone: "Then ask Gu Shangshu, what do you think!" ”

Gu Yuanhui said: "In my opinion, it is better to keep some of the tribute places in the current examination, and then conduct another exam for the northern scholars, and allocate the remaining places to them, so that the southern scholars can also be satisfied." ”

Huang Zongheng disagreed: "How much to keep?" How much is allocated? Please explain it clearly. The difference of one of these places may lead to different results, but I am afraid that when the time comes, it will not satisfy the two groups of people, but will make both groups of people dissatisfied! ”

Gu Yuanhui tried his best to speak to him in a good voice: "How to distribute it can naturally be agreed in detail, and at present, it is necessary to quickly stabilize the mood of the scholars, otherwise they will not be able to get the charter, so they will drag it on, but I am afraid that it will become more and more serious." ”

While the two were arguing, Xi Jin interjected again: "In my opinion, it is better to admit three hundred northern tributes alone, even if there is not enough official position allocation, you can let them stay in the Hanlin Academy first......

……

Listening to the quarrel between the three of them, Emperor Jingfeng's headache and faint signs of a violent attack, he clapped his palms impatiently, making the three of them quiet: "Once the imperial court issues a proclamation, it cannot be changed." Rather than us weighing how to satisfy the scholars here, it is better to release some news first, test their tone, and if there is anything wrong, the court can adjust it at any time. ”

"According to Gu Qing's method, keep the top 150 tributes admitted this time, dethrone the 150 behind, and hold another examination for the northern scholars half a month later, and admit the remaining 150 tributes."

Speaking of this, Emperor Jingfeng added: "Also, since the results of the investigation have come out and proved that there is no fraud in the imperial examination, in addition to Cai Zhichuan and other chief examiners and deputy examiners, some low-level innocent officials can be released first, so as not to panic in the DPRK and China." ”

"All right, that's it for today, you go down."

Emperor Jingfeng spoke, and the three of them naturally didn't dare to refute, so they responded: "The ministers will retire." ”

After the three of them left, a flying fish guard quietly showed his figure, Emperor Jingfeng's face turned cold, and he ordered: "Take advantage of the two days when all parties have relaxed their vigilance, check what is going on with that test question set, and be sure to find out the main messenger behind the scenes." ”

"Yes, my subordinates understand."