Amidst the sound of playing and playing, Secretary Lin stepped into Xichan Temple and shouted as he walked: "Congratulations to Su Sheng High School for clearing his undergraduate degree in the Fujian Provincial Examination and ranking high on the Beijing Ranking!"
The entire Xichan Temple was in a commotion, and Chen Chaoyuan and several others quickly led Secretary Lin to Su Ze's Zen room.
At this time, Su Ze had already changed into a scholar's shirt. When Secretary Lin saw Su Ze's appearance, he couldn't help but sigh that this Jie Yuanlang was really young.
The more this happened, the more he dared not neglect. Secretary Lin stepped forward and said, "Please show me your credentials, Mr. Jie Yuanlang!"
Fang Aizhu immediately took out Su Ze's pre-examination guarantee and examination registration information. After checking it, Secretary Lin immediately raised the list in his hand and said: "Congratulations to Mr. Xie Yuan! Please accept the new crown, Mr. Xie Yuan! Go to school!" Receive a gift from the Gongyuan!"
From this moment on, Su Ze's status changed from a civilian to an official, which meant that he could now enjoy all the legal benefits of an official.
The so-called "clothes and crowns" are part of the strict hierarchy of the Ming Dynasty. The crown is a hat that can only be worn by officials who accept it.
Fang Aizhu quickly took over the new crotch head and stuffed three silver coins into the hands of Secretary Lin and the government servant who were delivering the good news. The other party became even more enthusiastic.
With the help of Fang Aizhu, Su Ze put on the headband. Secretary Lin continued: "Please also ask Jie Yuanlang to move to Gongyuan."
Seeing Su Ze wearing a turban, everyone looked enviously, and the whole Xichan Temple was filled with a festive atmosphere.
Many classmates came up to congratulate Su Ze, and Su Ze returned the favor one by one. Secretary Lin did not rush him. The title of the provincial examination was also a great event in life, so naturally he could not walk in brocade at night. This grand ceremony was to highlight the glory of Jieyuan.
After everyone had finished congratulating him, Abbot Cien stepped forward and said to Su Ze:
"Congratulations to the donor!"
Su Ze also returned the greeting: "Thank you, Abbot."
There was also a young monk standing next to Abbot Ci'en. Abbot Ci'en said: "Xie Yuanlang has the ambition to control the river. This is my disciple Liao Hui. This son did not learn much Buddhism from me, but he learned a lot of carpentry." , if Duke Jie Yuang doesn’t give up, let him control the river with you.”
Su Ze was overjoyed when he heard this, and Abbot Ci'en said: "I still have thirty lay disciples in Xichan Temple who are good at carpentry. Please follow Duke Jie Yuan to regulate the river."
Su Ze quickly thanked the old monk, while Liao Hui quietly stood beside Abbot Ci'en and bowed to Su Ze.
At this time, Secretary Sun urged: "Please go to the Gongyuan to receive the gift, Mr. Xie Yuan."
Su Ze nodded, and Fang Aizhu said again: "Master, the horse is ready."
Chen Chaoyuan said to his classmates: "Brother Rulin is being honored, and we can go and watch the ceremony together!"
"Go together! Go together!"
The group of people also filed out and followed Su Ze towards Gongyuan.
There were also many scholars standing in front of the Gongyuan. The gift given by the Gongyuan was a certificate of identity for the examiner, which clarified the teacher-student relationship between the examiner and the new examiner.
Wang Daokun stood at the gate of Gongyuan, squinting at the people taking the new imperial examination in this subject.
Naturally, the people in front of the Gongyuan were beaming with joy, while Huang Shixing hid in his room and got drunk.
Ninety candidates took the exam, and Huang Shixing was the only one who failed.
Although Wang Daokun has not investigated Huang Shixing's cheating in the imperial examination so far, people with a discerning eye can already tell who failed the examination.
Rumors immediately spread among the scholars.
Several scholars who were close to Huang Shixing kept their distance from him.
Hearing the lively sounds in front of the Gongyuan at this time was even more torture for Huang Shixing.
For the first time, he felt that living so close to Gongyuan was really a torture.
At this time, Huang Shixing heard another powerful shout: "In the Fujian Provincial Examination in the Year of Yi Mao, Xie Yuanlang Su Ze led all the new imperial examination candidates to pay homage to the president!"
Huang Shixing jumped up angrily, smashed the white porcelain pen holder on the table, and shouted: "Su Ze ruined my literary name, you and I are irreconcilable!"
After this farce ended, Huang Shixing found that the only person he could blame was Su Ze.
It's easier to blame someone else's fault than to admit your own problem.
As Jieyuan, Su Ze led all the people to salute Wang Daokun. Wang Daokun first avoided it and praised the court's grace.
Finally, under the persuasion of other examiners, Wang Daokun turned sideways to receive the ceremony, saying that he was only recruiting scholars for the country and that everyone was a disciple of the emperor.
Everyone bowed again, and Wang Daokun received half of his body, which was regarded as confirming the title of room master.
After receiving the title and receiving the clothes, from then on, all the candidates had an "official status", that is, they had a "fame".
Unless the emperor is deprived of his official status, the juren can enjoy all the basic privileges of officials, such as going to court without being punished, being exempted from serving as handymen for two people, etc.
Wang Daokun recited an article of encouragement to study again and asked everyone to continue studying and study. The ceremony was completed.
Immediately after everyone bowed to Su Ze, four more people besides Su Ze came forward and said:
"Mr. Xie Yuan, I would like to ask you to organize the deer-crowing banquet in three days."
The Luming Banquet is a celebration banquet after the provincial examination. It is also the first collective activity for this new imperial examination candidate. Su Ze nodded and said: "Su is unable to support himself alone, so please help me."
These four people are the second to fifth candidates in this provincial examination. The four people raised their hands and said, "You should obey your orders."
Su Ze saw that the four of them were not very young, and couldn't help but sigh that it was really important to become famous as early as possible.
The four of them handed over their hands and introduced themselves to Su Ze:
"I am second in the undergraduate ranking, Huang Maochong of Xinghua Prefecture."
"Third on the list today is Zhao Bingzhong of Jianning Mansion."
"Fourth on the list today is Huang Zhiqing from Fuzhou Prefecture."
"Fifth on the list today is Lin Donghai from Quanzhou Prefecture."
Then Huang Maochong said: "When compiling the records of the same year, I also asked Jie Yuanlang to take the trouble."
Su Ze's head couldn't help but feel heavy. He covered his forehead and said, "Four brothers, can you help me? I'm asking for your help with this matter that was recorded in the same year."
The four of them looked at Su Ze in confusion. Those who were admitted in the same year were those who took the imperial examination. This matter has always been Jieyuan's privilege.
Registering in the same year is equivalent to controlling the network resources of the 89 people in Fujian. There is no reason to do this kind of thing by pretending to others.
Su Ze smiled bitterly and said, "I'm busy with everything, and I really don't have the energy to write the same year record."
Zhao Bingzhong said doubtfully: "The provincial examination is over. It's time for us to relax. Why is Mr. Xie Yuan so busy?"
Su Ze could only say: "Control the water."
"Water control?!"
Everyone exclaimed.
They looked at Su Ze in confusion. Could it be that Jie Yuanlang's parents were in trouble?
They had also seen elders in the family take charge of managing the river, but they thought it was Su Ze who wanted to control the river at the door of his house.
As a scholar, it is right to give back to parents. However, the four of them were puzzled that Su Ze could be so generous.
Compiling the records of the same year is not simply about enthroning the name, but also compiling a long list of things.
After writing the words, you have to find someone to engrave and print them, then publish them into booklets, and send these booklets to everyone in the same year.
It would definitely not be done within half a month. Su Ze was anxious to return to Nanping to control the flood, so he entrusted four people to help.
Su Ze said: "Su was entrusted by someone to cure floods in his hometown, so he will return to Nanping County after attending the Luming Banquet. I will trouble you all about the matters recorded in the same year."
After speaking, Su Ze took out the silver from his sleeve and said: "It is my responsibility to compile the records of the same year. Now I entrust it to the brothers. I will bear the cost of the printing plate."
The four of them looked at each other and finally accepted Su Ze's money.
Since the matter was done by himself, the publicity money was paid by Su Ze, which can be regarded as helping him become famous.
Although the title of the provincial examination is not the gold medal title, it is also a happy event in the world. Su Ze first took his classmates from the county school to have a few meals in Fuzhou Prefecture.
After hearing the news, Second Young Master Yu also appeared quickly, generously helped Su Ze pay the bill, and took Su Ze on a sightseeing tour.
Second Young Master Yu will have his martial arts exam in a month, but seeing his growing body weight, Su Ze estimates that the Yu family has already taken care of things.
The Deer Ming Banquet was held in the Gongyuan. The Deer Ming Qionglin Second Banquet was originally a banquet after the palace examinations in the Tang and Song Dynasties.
The Ming Dynasty divided the two banquets, Lu Ming was assigned to the provincial examination, and Qiong Lin was assigned to the palace examination.
However, unlike the banquets held by new scholars in the Tang and Song Dynasties, the Deer Ming Banquet in the Ming Dynasty was a ceremonial banquet with prescribed procedures. Wang Daokun, the room master, also had to attend.
Su Ze, with a red flower on his hat, completed the banquet in a meticulous manner, and composed a decent response poem on the spot. Then he dragged his tired body back to Xizen Temple.
"Uncle, Madam sent a message asking me to return to Nanping with you."
Su Ze looked at Fang Aizhu and had to say that the Fang family was a family of officials after all, but the servants were different.
This Fang Aizhu can read and write, and is well behaved. If he hadn't helped take care of things these days, Su Ze would really be too busy with many things.
However, as a modern time traveler, Su Ze still didn't like someone serving him like this.
At this time, he was half drunk and half awake and asked: "Why do you want to be a slave?"
Fang Aizhu lowered his head and said sadly: "Who would be willing to be a slave or a maid unless they had no choice? But if it hadn't been for my wife's rescue back then, Fang would have died of hunger long ago."
Although Fang Wanghai can be regarded as a heirloom of poetry and calligraphy, there has been no Jinshi for several generations, and there is no so-called family-born son in the family. These servants were all selected and trained by Mrs. Li when she became prosperous.
Fang Aizhu was originally an orphan who escaped from famine. He was bought by Mrs. Li and educated from an early age. He was considered a trustworthy person in the Fang Mansion, so he was sent to serve Su Ze.
Fang Aizhu said: "Actually, Madam once said that if I want to leave the mansion, she will immediately return the body deed to me. But what can I do if I leave the Fang mansion?"
Su Ze was stunned for a moment. For Fang Aizhu, staying in Fang Mansion was the best choice.
Sure enough, it is impossible to talk about "liberation" without breaking away from the limitations of the times, but what kind of world is it like to live in a world where people can only survive as slaves?
He patted Fang Aizhu on the shoulder and said:
"I'm not used to being served by maids. You find someone to take them back to Quanzhou Mansion. You stay with me to help. If you want to leave the mansion in the future, I will help you ask Madam to return your body deed."
Fang Aizhu was overjoyed and said, "Thank you very much, uncle!"
After the Luming Banquet, Su Ze did not continue to stay in Fuzhou Prefecture, but returned to Nanping County with thirty carpenters from Xichan Temple and Nanping classmates.
At the same time, the work of printing the rolls was completed, and Zhang Sijing, the official of Yanping Prefecture, also returned to Nanping City.
In the carriage, Huang Shixing said angrily: "Master Zhang! Su Ze must have got through to Inspector Wang! Otherwise, how could he be admitted to Jieyuan with his ability!"
Zhang Sijing said nothing. He was also very dissatisfied with Huang Shixing at this time.
I've given you the test paper, but you were flunked in the final retest. Zhang Sijing is also a second-class Jinshi, so naturally he looks down on Huang Shixing.
But by helping him cheat, he was actually bound to Huang Shixing, so Zhang Sijing could only patiently persuade him.
Zhang Sijing added: "There is news from Nanping that Eunuch Tao really wants to control the river."
"River management?"
Zhang Sijing said: "I heard that Eunuch Tao wants to control floods in the whole province and distribute new coins to those mud-legged people as wages."
Huang Shixing was shocked and said: "It's not a forced payment?"
Zhang Sijing nodded and said: "This eunuch wants to win people's hearts in Fujian, we and Qingliu can't let him succeed!"
In Zhang Sijing's view, eunuchs are eunuchs. It would be fine if eunuch Tao just exploited Fujian, but if he were to win people's hearts, wouldn't it mean that he, the elite scholar-bureaucrats like him, were just freeloaders?
Qingliu and eunuchs have always been in opposition, and opposing eunuchs is also the political correctness of scholar-bureaucrats.
Zhang Sijing looked at Huang Shixing and said, "If you want to control the river, you must clean up the paddy fields by the river. I heard that your Huang family has many high-quality paddy fields?"
Huang Shixing was immediately shocked. Land was the lifeblood of the squire and landlords like them. The Huang family was a wealthy family in Nanping and had been occupying the high-quality paddy fields by the river.
Huang Shixing immediately said: "This castrated dog actually wants to compete with the people for profit by controlling floods?"
Zhang Sijing nodded and said: "That's it. I have written a letter to my friends in the imperial censor about the eunuch's movements. They will definitely write a letter of impeachment, but in Nanping Mansion we also need to make some noise to cooperate. .”
Huang Shixing immediately understood what Zhang Sijing meant. Since they wanted to control the water and clear the fields, it was natural for them, the landowners, to cause trouble so that they could cooperate with Zhang Sijing's actions.
The new coins have not yet been issued. If Eunuch Tao can be impeached at this time, these large-scale private coins can become even more rampant.
Thinking of this, Huang Shixing mustered up his fighting spirit again. He was filled with a sense of justice and wanted to fight Quan Yi.
Su Ze returned to Nanping and went to Eunuch Tao's mint before entering the city.
"Congratulations to Rulin High School for passing the Yuan Dynasty!"
Eunuch Tao was naturally well-informed. When he saw Su Ze, he was stunned for a moment, and then congratulated him.
"Rulin isn't in Fuzhou Prefecture compiling the records of the same year?"
Su Ze said: "We cannot delay flood control. We need to start work immediately while there is little rain during this period. If we wait until the typhoon comes, we will not be able to start work this year."
Eunuch Tao felt warm in his heart. Unexpectedly, Su Ze rushed back to control the water. He immediately said: "The personnel and materials are all ready. We only need to give the order to control the river!"
“Where are the new coins?”
Eunuch Tao even said proudly: "The first batch of new coins has been minted and will be released just waiting for an order."
However, Eunuch Tao still said worriedly: "Mr. Xie Yuangong, can this really be done?"
Putting the new coins into the market as wages and forcing them to exchange the copper coins in the hands of the big family was Su Ze's plan for Eunuch Tao.
The most important thing about this plan is to let those powerful families who have accumulated a large amount of Song coins sell their old coins.
Su Ze said confidently: "Don't worry, father-in-law, let's take a look at my plan to control the river."
After speaking, Su Ze asked the carpenter from Xichan Temple to bring in the sand table. He pointed at the Minjiang River and said:
"To govern Fujian, we must first govern the Minjiang River. Please see, Eunuch Tao, the reason why the Minjiang River has flooded in recent years is because these dams have been eroded by the large clans clearing land."
Su Ze pointed to Jiufeng Mountain and said: "If the Min River is to be safe during the flood season, I plan to build a reservoir near here. There are several villages from the Nanping clan here. However, the information I found from the county government treasury, The registered area of these fields is far less than the actual area of the farm, and my father-in-law can redeem them according to the acres of land on the shelf, and it doesn't cost much."
Eunuch Tao's eyes lit up. He was also a smart man, and he immediately understood Su Ze's operation.
Eunuch Tao applauded and said, "What a great relief!"
(End of chapter)
