Jinling, intersection of Ningrong Street
Everyone followed the sound and saw that the young man in brocade clothes, surrounded by Tiqi, came very close. He turned over and dismounted, threw the reins to Li Shu, the bodyguard in brocade clothes aside, and faced Shen Fang with the slightest surprise. Looking at him, he said in a deep voice: "Master Shen, what is going on?"
Shen Fang stepped forward to greet them and said: "Jia Hou, these supervisors of the Imperial College have gathered at the gate of the Imperial College to discuss the central and national policies. I am here to persuade the supervisors."
At this time, Fang Yaochun also strode forward, cupped his hands and said, "Jia Hou."
Jia Heng looked at Fang Yaochun and asked coldly: "What is Mr. Fang doing here?"
Without waiting for Fang Yaochun to answer, Shen Fang said: "When the official came here, Lord Fang was with the scholars, and seemed to be looking for an explanation from Marquis Jia."
Fang Yaochun hurriedly defended: "Jia Hou, Mr. Tai Tai has misunderstood. The lower official is just persuading the supervisors of the Imperial College and explaining the imperial policy."
Jia Heng frowned and said in a deep voice: "Master Fang, supervisors are not familiar with world affairs, don't you know that too? You, a dismissed official, are actually getting together with the scholars here, trying to smear the imperial government's national policy. Why? Intentions?"
Fang Yaochun was stunned when he heard this accusation.
Shen Fang and Xiao'er were bitten to death in a nest of snakes and rats, saying that he incited the scholars to cause trouble, right?
Jia Heng said, pressing the sword on his waist, his black cloak rustling in the wind, staring at the scholars not far away, and said softly: "I, Marquis Yongning, do you have any opinions on the imperial examination? , you can bring the general over."
As soon as he said this, everyone looked at the tall and tall young man, with fear on his face.
With Jia Heng's current reputation, especially his outstanding achievements in several battles in Jinling in the south of the Yangtze River, it is inevitable that people will feel fear.
Shao Xiangxian said in a deep voice: "Jia Hou, we are not making trouble, we just want an explanation. After the provinces are divided, how will the imperial examinations be decided? Will we be reduced in the number of scholars?"
"In addition to territorial division, the matter of dividing provinces also involves various systems such as criminal names, money and food, imperial examinations, etc. These cannot be explained clearly in a few words." Jia Heng said solemnly.
"On the subject of the imperial examination that everyone here is concerned about, the principle remains unchanged and the selection of scholars is still based on the Southern Volume. However, I have been thinking about whether to transfer the quota of Anhui province to the north in the past two days, but I am also worried that the quota for scholars from Jiangnan will be changed. With the flourishing literary spirit, will it deprive the former northern scholars of their opportunity to pass the imperial examination? I am still hesitating whether to report this matter to the emperor."
When the people present heard this, their expressions changed slightly, and they couldn't help but start to murmur in their hearts.
It is said that there is a difference of 10% between the four in the south and the five in the north. There does not seem to be much difference in the quota.
But this is not the case. Due to successive years of drought and natural disasters in the north, the number of scholars supported by small and medium-sized landowners has decreased. Therefore, the overall number of scholars is far less than that of scholars in the south of the Yangtze River. Therefore, comparing the two, it is less difficult to choose the right one.
In addition, the southern scholars boasted that the southern culture was magnificent and had more advantages than the northern scholars in the academic field. If they were moved to the north, it would undoubtedly be easier to win the imperial examination.
If zoned Northern...
Some of the older supervisors, who had gone to Beijing several times to take the exam, were already starting to get excited.
Jia Heng said: "But whether the principle remains unchanged, or whether it is divided into the north, this matter needs to be proved, but even if it is not divided, they will be admitted equally as usual in the southern province. Where did you hear the rumors? ?”
The leader Shao Xiang's expression changed first, he looked at the expressions on the left and right, and when he saw that the accompanying supervisors all wanted to retreat, he secretly thought something was wrong.
Shao Xiang said first: "There have been such rumors in the prison these days. I don't know who was the first person to mention this."
Shao Xiangxian asked reluctantly: "How should the money and food be collected?"
Jia Heng said: "The changes in the collection of money and grain cannot be explained clearly in a few words. As scholars, you are worshiped by students and do not work in farming. How can you know how much money and grain will be produced?"
The supervisors present paused slightly, not knowing how to answer.
Jia Heng said: "Of course, there is nothing wrong with not knowing these things. Many officials from the court and the vassal office are responsible for the planning. If you want to ask, you can ask your elders at home or go to the vassal office to ask the officials. Keeping in mind the hardships faced by the people, I took the imperial examination to high school, and after becoming an official, don’t forget today’s questions.”
By the way, it's been so long, why hasn't Li Shouzhong, who came to comfort the supervisor, come yet?
Shao Xiangxian looked calm and silent for a moment.
Jia Heng said: "Since you have no doubts anymore, I would like to ask you, what is your purpose of waiting until Ningrong Street to besiege me? Do you know what the crime of besieging the imperial envoy's residence is?"
"Come on, the names of the leaders, active participants and masterminds of the trouble will be recorded and submitted to the Ministry of Gifts. They will be banned from taking one subject and will not be allowed to participate in the Spring Festival next year." Before everyone present could say anything else, Jia Heng gave a deep shout and said: said the voice.
As soon as these words came out, all the Imperial College students present were frightened. They were banned from taking one exam, which would be a huge price.
Then the next exam will have to wait three years, and this punishment is not light.
Just when all the supervisors were trembling in fear, a carriage came from the end of the street, and a middle-aged scholar with fine eyebrows and deep eyes and an elegant demeanor stepped out from the carriage.
It was Li Shouzhong.
It has to be said that Li Shouzhong, who can give birth to a daughter like Li Wan who has a beautiful heart and a beautiful appearance, has a good image and temperament.
Scholar-officials at that time regarded beards as beautiful, such as Zhang Taiyue. Although Li Shouzhong did not have such a long beard, it was still a hand long.
Compared with Fang Yaochun who still has some bureaucratic atmosphere, Li Shouzhong's elegance is a scholar's temperament formed spontaneously after reading thoroughly.
"Wait a minute!" a clear voice sounded.
Jia Heng glanced at the familiar carriage, his face was calm, and he stared at the visitor.
He secretly thought that it was finally here, and now it was him who came out to play the white face, and Li Shouzhong came out to play the red face.
Everyone looked at Li Shouzhong again, and some older supervisors recognized him and called out, "It's Li Jijiu."
"It's Li Jijiu."
In fact, it had only been three or five years since Li Shouzhong left the Imperial College to offer wine, and his filial and virtuous act of insisting on marrying Lu Peng to his mother for three years was even more praised by scholars in Jiangnan Shilin.
After all, although the book of sages instructs you to observe mourning for three years when your mother is deceased, how many officials can really do it?
This alone makes many people admire him.
Jia Heng slightly arched his hands and asked, "What's the matter with Li Jijiu?"
Because of the world's tradition of respecting teachers and respecting morality, even the former Imperial Academy's Jijiu is called Li Jijiu. Of course, the main reason is that Li Shouzhong has a better reputation.
Li Shouzhong pondered for a moment and asked: "Jiahou, what are these scholars making trouble?"
Jia Heng briefly recounted the whole process and said, "I have already responded. I am about to register the names of some scholars and send them to the Ministry of Rites. I am banning one subject from taking the exam. This is a small punishment but a big warning!"
When the scholars present heard this, most of them had a look of fear on their faces.
But as Jia Heng and Liangjiang Governor Shen Fang said, it is a serious crime for the supervisors to gather a crowd to attack the imperial mission.
Ordinarily, if the older officials wanted to gain a good reputation, they might forgive the offenses of these scholars on the grounds that they were young and ignorant.
Then, people at that time might say that the prime minister was responsible for his character and loved his descendants.
But Jia Heng is obviously not such an official who advocates false fame. He succeeds at a young age and uses his authority for his own purposes. Moreover, even the magistrate's demeanor is not necessarily reflected by these moderates, as there are also iron-blooded prime ministers.
Now even if these scholars are tried to be honest, there is nothing they can do.
Of course, this is just a pretense, letting Li Shouzhong show off.
Shen Fang watched from the side with his brows furrowed. Ever since Xiao'er came here, he had a vague feeling that something was wrong. Now when he saw Li Shouzhong appear, a light suddenly flashed in his heart, and he was about to plead for these young scholars.
This is to fear power first and then embrace morality.
But Li Shouzhong had already spoken first, looking at Jia Heng sincerely, and said loudly: "Jia Hou, these scholars are just instigated by others, why are they banned from taking one subject? They studied hard for more than ten years just to take a test in Beijing. Isn’t it unkind to prohibit them from testing their skills now?”
As soon as Li Shouzhong finished speaking, the supervisors who had been causing trouble began to cry out.
"Jia Hou, we have also been deceived by others, saying that Anhui New Province will fall into the middle of the list."
"It was Yang Zhou and Shao Xiang who said it first. The imperial court was going to suppress and divide the southern scholars. I was confused for a moment and was deceived by him."
Such cries of injustice and injustice are endless.
Jia Heng said coldly: "That's nonsense! If the imperial court wants to suppress the southern scholars, nearly half of the ministers in the cabinet, as well as the officials selected in recent years, who are not southerners first? And I, the Han Dynasty, are both from the north and the south, and the scholars People have north and south, but can mountains and rivers be divided into north and south? Where did you hear such deceptive words?"
At this moment, Shen Fang's face was gloomy, and he had probably tasted something. He glanced at Li Shouzhong and sneered in his heart.
This kid is clearly setting up a stage for Li Shouzhong to show his face.
And Fang Yaochun must have also learned that the Imperial College had gathered people to cause trouble, so he came to appease the prison students and delay the admission of people.
This was obviously his plan, but the two of them got there first and came from behind. It was simply...
And Fang Yaochun is especially hateful!
If he hadn't been entangled with him for too long, by now he would have suppressed the troublemaking supervisor with thunderous means, and then sent a letter explaining the whole reason, and the matter would have already come to an end.
Fang Yaochun also had a confused look on his face at this moment. After a while, there was a hint of realization in his old eyes.
No wonder...the guards of the Jinyi Mansion are waiting in strict formation. This is clearly a pocket formation.
Li Shouzhong said: "Jia Hou, these scholars do not know what is going on, and they do not understand the general situation of the DPRK, so they can be forgiven for making such arrogant remarks."
Jia Heng said: "You are a scholar who makes trouble. I may not be guilty, but if everyone follows suit, where are the laws and regulations of the country? The mastermind must be punished and banned from taking one subject to serve as a warning. They will go back to prison and be tortured." Examine your character, otherwise, even if you become an official through the imperial examination and choose a place, you will be easily instigated by others and bring disaster to the whole party."
The scholars around them had many interesting expressions on their faces.
Anyway, as long as this kind of bad luck doesn't fall on you, as for others, who asked you to lead everyone to make trouble without knowing the truth, now you can be regarded as benevolent.
This is the evil of the human heart.
Fang Yaochun's worried eyes glanced at the many supervisory students whose eyes were often evasive, and he sighed in his heart.
Secretly, this is the real art of differentiation and win-over.
Li Shouzhong's eyes flashed under his brows, and he quickly looked at the young man. No wonder he was able to hold the position of Prime Minister and Privy Council with a body that was not as good as a weak one. This method was indeed beyond the reach of ordinary people.
Li Shouzhong looked hesitant and said: "This punishment... is still a bit severe, isn't it? The mastermind made an unintentional mistake and was banned from taking the exam for three years..."
Jia Heng said loudly: "Li Jijiu, the scholar who coerces the scholars to cause trouble, has an impetuous temperament. If he does not grind hard and becomes an official, wouldn't it be a great harm to the country and the common people?"
When Li Shouzhong heard this, his expression paused, and he seemed to be persuaded by Jia Heng, and said: "Now, this is the only way."
Jia Heng pressed the sword on his waist, looked at the scholars not far away with cold eyes, and said in a deep voice: "Write down your names first and store them at Li Jijiu. If you commit the crime again, you will be punished for both crimes."
The imperial examination was the weakness of these scholars.
After Jia Heng finished speaking, he turned to look at Shen Fang, who was watching coldly, and asked: "Master Shen, is there nothing wrong with this treatment?"
Shen Fang showed no expression on his face and said: "Jiahou's treatment is both lenient and severe, mild and severe. There is nothing inappropriate."
Jia Heng turned to look at Fang Yaochun, his face a little gloomy, and asked: "Master Fang, please come to Jinyi Mansion."
Fang Yaochun looked ugly and said, "Jiahou, what did your subordinate do?"
Going to Jinyi Mansion again? The last time I went to Jinyi Mansion, the Imperial Academy’s sacrificial wine was gone. After this time, what else will there be?
Jia Heng winked at Li Shu, the guard of the Jinyi Mansion on the side.
Li Shu said: "According to the report from Jinyi Mansion, your son Fang Kuang secretly instigated the Imperial College Supervisors to cause trouble. Mr. Fang, please follow us to Jinyi Mansion."
When Fang Yaochun heard this, his expression changed slightly and he said, "Has Ziye ever done this before?"
But before Fang Yaochun could open his mouth to defend himself, two Jinyi Palace guards stepped forward and lifted Fang Yaochun up. Li Shu said coldly: "Master Fang, please stop."
When Fang Yaochun was escorted away by the guards of Jinyi Mansion, Shen Fang's eyes were as gloomy as iron. At this moment, he already knew that Jia Heng was paving the way for Li Shouzhong.
As Li Shouzhong comforted the mourning inmates, he went to the Jinyi Mansion to register their names with the guards. However, all the inmates were pale but worried, fearing that Jia Heng's words would not be true.
Jia Heng stared at Shen Fang and said, "Master Shen, the supervisor did not know the truth and was deceived by rumors, which almost led to disaster. Thanks to Master Shen for his timely reconciliation."
Shen Fang replied in a neutral tone, "It's a good trick by Marquis Jia."
With that said, he bowed his hands towards Jia Heng and left.
Jia Heng watched Shen Fang board the sedan with a cold look in his eyes.
He still didn't know what means Zhang Yongchuan, the governor of Jiangnan, would use to bring down Shen Fang.
When the scholar left his name anxiously, Li Shouzhong comforted him and said: "Don't worry, students, the imperial court knows that it is not easy for you to study hard in prison, and it will not ban you from taking exams unless it is absolutely necessary. The exam period will be around the corner next spring. You will go back to your prison cell." After that, you still have to prepare for the exam with peace of mind for the coming year.”
All the supervisors expressed their thanks one after another.
They continued to work like this until the evening, when all the Imperial College students dispersed one after another.
Jia Heng looked at Li Shouzhong, smiled, and said, "Uncle, let's go to the house to talk first."
Because this is Ningrong Street, which is just a few steps away from Ningguo Mansion.
Li Shouzhong didn't say much, nodded, and then followed Jia Heng to Ningguo Mansion.
(End of chapter)
