All candidates will enter the venue.

Someone prepared an incense case, and after Dou Yao and the candidates bowed to each other, the exam officially began.

The imperial examination has always been very simple, the first one is poetry, as long as the first test is good, it is basically safe.

The second session was a discussion of strategy.

The third scene is Fuwen.

In general, they are all the routines of the previous imperial examinations, there is nothing new, and what is tested is the cultural heritage of the students.

Dou Yao turned around and sat down, indicating that the exam had begun.

A servant lowered the curtain...... After the partition was closed, the students began their own answer sheets.

Ouyang Xiu got the topic, and according to Qin Wei's explanation before he went to Jiaozhi, he first closed his eyes, pondered the topic carefully, and then began to write the manuscript.

Later he began to answer the questions.

There were candidates all around, and although it was still cold in spring, many of them were flushed.

Tension is pervasive.

Even a very confident student like Han Qi is a little nervous at the moment, and every time he writes a pen, he has to think carefully.

……

The palace was quiet today, and the monarchs and ministers were waiting for something in silence.

Today is the first day of the provincial exam, and everyone is a little unmotivated.

“…… This year's water potential looks quite small, and sand and gravel sacks have been prepared in various places, and some sections of the river that are afraid of bursting should be desilted as early as possible......"

Zhang Zhibai finished his business as usual, and then looked at Zhao Zhen, who was a little uneasy.

The young emperor ushered in the first imperial examination under his rule, and these talents would be Zhao Zhen's staunchest supporters in the future.

How could he not be careful?

Zhang Zhibai said with a smile: "Your Majesty, students from all over the province will enter Beijing to take the exam today, but I don't know which one can come out on top, Qin Wei is not in Beijing, otherwise he will definitely shout that the students of Guozijian can be famous on the gold list." ”

Speaking of Qin Wei, there is nothing more important to care about than Wang Zhen.

After becoming Zaifu, Wang Zhen's work has been a lot more leisurely.

You don't have to do everything yourself, as you did in the Privy Council.

Now he only needs to coordinate the overall situation, and then consult with Zhang Zhibai and others, and finally come up with a decision His Majesty Cheng Bing.

The specific implementation is done by the following people.

He frowned when he heard this: "I don't know what the situation is over there, Xiao Ran's performance is still from last month, what about this month?" The minister was a little worried. ”

"Pang Ji and the others should have arrived a long time ago, if something really happened on Guangnan West Road, they should have reported it quickly, but it's been a month, what about it?"

Zhao Zhen was also a little worried.

But the person has gone to the southwest, and he can't reach it, and it's useless to worry, so he can only wait.

"That kid has never been a loser, don't worry, he's fine, besides, isn't there Pang Ji, he'll also look at that kid."

Lu Yijian intended to show favor to Wang Zhen, so he naturally wanted to say more words of relief.

Everyone knows that after Wang Zhen took the throne, he had no henchmen and no friends with powerful people, but the more he was like this, the more uncontrollable it became.

What's more, there is a rising star Qin Wei below him.

Although the two look weak, they should not be underestimated.

Then the kings and ministers dispersed.

Chen Zhongheng came in a hurry.

Zhao Zhen was drinking tea, holding a favorite book of poetry in his hand.

"Your Majesty."

"How?"

"Then Ouyang Xiu is okay, the minister gave a hint, and those people in the Gongyuan know what to do."

Zhao Zhen nodded and said, "Ouyang Xiu's test paper I have to see ...... last."

Thesis talent, Zhao Zhen may not be as superb as Han Qi and others, but it is also a masterpiece, so many contemporary Confucian professors, the emperor's literary talent will naturally not be too inferior.

If Dou Yao heard this, he would have to die here.

The last thing to see, what to see?

If Ouyang Xiu didn't take the first place, then his test paper would naturally be dethroned.

can listen to Zhao Zhen's meaning, even if it is abolished, he will have to look for it again.

Then the emperor will naturally love the house and Wu and say a lot of appreciative words...... What should Dou Yao, the chief examiner, do when the time comes? Is it to choose again, or to turn against the emperor, and not let Ouyang Xiu......

Xu Mao's eyes flickered, and he felt that he was participating in an operation that would be notorious.

……

The last test was poetry.

This is what Ouyang Xiu is good at, he wrote five poems in a sprinkled manner, and then slowly selected them.

It is not easy to be brilliant in poetry, and it is even more difficult to surprise everyone as soon as you make a move, Ouyang Xiu does not have much literary talent, but he does not dare to guarantee that he will be amazing.

When the feeding time came, someone shouted, "Stop......"

Suddenly there was a wail, and some people were begging for more time, but the people who were patrolling the field walked over, grabbed his test papers, and began to chase people.

Ouyang Xiu didn't know how he wrote, and walked out of the tribute courtyard with the crowd.

He stood outside a little dazed, his ears full of noise.

"Ouyang Xiu!"

Zhen Liang was waiting for the candidates of Guozijian.

He was like an old hen who smiled and beckoned to a student when he saw it, and then beckoned them to his side.

The students of Guozijian gradually gathered, and everyone was talking about the poems they had just made, some of them were proud, and some of them were frustrated......

"Ouyang, what poems did you make?"

A student consciously played beyond his level, so he asked with a bright face.

When people are proud, they like to find those who are inferior to themselves.

Tell him that as long as you keep trying, you will definitely succeed.

Ouyang Xiu shook his head modestly, "I don't know if a certain poem is good or not......

However, his modesty has been exchanged for everyone's mouth, and most of them think that he is not sure, so he will say this and make excuses for himself.

……

Subsequently, Ouyang Xiu's test paper was sent to the palace.

If he is not interested, Zhao Zhen will only look at the rankings.

But this time he was looking at the test paper seriously.

When did Your Majesty get so serious?

Most of the emperors of the Zhao family have some talent as artists.

Zhao Zhen's calligraphy is a must, and his white body is superb.

Although it has not reached everyone's level, it is only because of the youth, and in a few years you will be able to get the essence.

"Haha!"

Xu Mao was napping, and suddenly heard a loud laugh, and the whole person shuddered, and instantly regained his consciousness.

Your Majesty, what's the matter?

He glanced at the test paper in Zhao Zhen's hand.

Xu Mao didn't understand such things as poetry and articles, but looking at the test paper so neatly, it should be good to think that Ouyang Xiu's writing should be good.

"Well, these five poems are written separately, meeting, parting, starting a family, starting a career, and ambition...... Each of them is remarkable, and if I were to do it, it wouldn't necessarily be better than him. ”

Zhao Zhen commented on Ouyang Xiu's article very pertinently.

His writing is also good, but compared with this test paper, he feels that there is still a bit of a gap.

However, he is the emperor, so naturally he can't use ordinary test questions to test the school.

He only needs to be able to distinguish the good from the bad, and then choose the best students to enter the office, which is the greatest blessing for the imperial court.

Xu Mao didn't understand poetry, but he also smiled: "If Your Majesty's comment is heard by Dou Yao, I'm afraid I will nag it." ”

Dou Yao is a contemporary Confucian, and he has also served as a servant with Emperor Zhenzong before, needless to say.

He was able to put Ouyang Xiu's test papers in the top ten.

This represents Dou Yao's recognition of this test paper.

Zhao Zhen nodded and said, "Then let him come, if there is no problem with these test papers, you can put up a list." ”

Later, Dou Yao was brought into the palace.

He calmly approached the main hall, first saluted, and then said: "Your Majesty, these are the top ten test papers selected by the Gongyuan this year, if you don't have any meaning, Weichen will let them make a list, and those examiners will be able to go home." ”

The strictness of the imperial examination in these years was even stricter than that of the college entrance examination in later generations.

The examiner in charge of the review is absolutely not allowed to leave the Tribute Academy before there is no list, this is the rule.

Prevent these examiners from leaking their rankings in advance, thus swaying the judgment of the emperor and the chief examiner.

"Ouyang Xiu ......"

Zhao Zhen nodded first, and then hesitated: "Whether this sixth place can still be discussed." ”

The young emperor had a very high spirit.

He always wants to sit everything perfectly, and the students he likes must also be perfect.

Therefore, he felt that Ouyang Xiu's ranking could be further released, so that after he joined the ranks, Zhao Zhen could directly find an important department to arrange.

However, if the grades are too low, even if you are hired, you cannot be hired directly.

Otherwise, it would be unfair to the top few.

Dou Yao had heard a few gossip in the Gongyuan, and heard that His Majesty valued Ouyang Xiu very much.

But this does not mean that he agrees with the emperor to play favoritism in front of him......

"I think that Ouyang Xiu's literary brilliance, the sixth place is good, if the strength is put forward, this is an injustice to other students!"

Zhao Zhen was stunned for a moment, then nodded with a smile, and then reorganized the test paper, "That's it." ”

Belch......

Dou Yao felt that something was wrong.

Didn't you say that you had to adjust Ouyang Xiu's noun forward, why did you suddenly be happy?

He was confused, but Zhao Zhen smiled proudly.

"Let's go to the list."

He got up and said, "Don't bother me if there is nothing important today." ”

Dou Yao thought that he had refuted the emperor's face, and Zhao Zhen was angry.

But the emperor is the emperor after all, Dou Yao eased his tone and said: "Your Majesty, after the provincial test, you will be an official, and the country will be a talent ceremony...... The ministers rely on public hearts, and they dare not have the slightest selfishness, if there is, heaven and man will be punished. ”

What this means is that it is not that the old minister does not give His Majesty face, it is really the country's selection of materials, and fairness is the most important, otherwise what status will this imperial examination have in the future.

Zhao Zhen raised his eyes slightly to look at him, and said with a smile: "Wang Qing, I know." ”

Dou Yao was depressed and returned all the way back to the Tribute Courtyard.

At this moment, there was already a sea of people outside the Gongyuan, and those candidates were looking forward to it.

Later, the little official came out with the list and pasted it on the wall of the tribute courtyard one by one.

The further you go, the fewer names there are, and when you get to the bottom ten, there is only one name on each piece of paper.

Generally, the rankings are placed from the back to the front, which is to reflect the difference between those with excellent results.

It's also a commendation.

The teachers and students of Guozijian came, as well as students from all over the country who participated in the imperial examination, were also waiting in front of the Gongyuan at the moment, looking at the lists nervously.

Then I heard an exclamation.

"Hit! Somebody hit! ”

This kind of player is probably the last player, even if he wins, it's a fluke, but his career is stable, and he can be a small official at the worst.

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