In the early morning, the sun rises.
The golden sunshine fell on Xianyang City, making Xianyang seem to be covered with a layer of golden light. In Xianyang in September, the autumn air is crisp and clear. The temperature in Xianyang these two days is even more suitable for outings and is extremely comfortable.
Under the good weather, all the scholars on the list were filled with excitement.
They are going to meet the emperor.
More than two hundred and thirty scholars, led by Lu Guang, Liang Shan, and Zuo Qiu, gathered outside the imperial city.
Everyone is waiting for the emperor's order to enter.
The imperial city is so majestic and formidable that for many people, it is something they will never be able to touch or even see. This time, they were able to visit the palace in person and see the emperor, so many people came with a pilgrim mentality.
Most people kept silent and thought in their hearts.
A few people murmured to themselves and discussed in low voices. This situation is solemn and solemn, and every scholar has his own thoughts.
Lu Guang felt a little cold when he saw this scene and the people in the crowd. He was coerced yesterday. It can be foreseen that some of these scholars must be arrested and coerced. I wonder how many of them have been replaced?
The matter has been reported to Lin Feng, and Lin Feng will definitely report it to the emperor. Presumably the emperor's summons today is not a simple summons.
There will even be a bloody storm.
Under this situation, Lu Guang could even predict that the imperial examination incident would inevitably trigger turmoil in the entire Xianyang, resulting in countless heads falling to the ground.
Lu Guang showed no mercy.
Although he comes from a wealthy family, he has been working in the local area since he was a child. He knows the sufferings of the people and the difficulties of poor people.
It is normal for aristocratic families to spread throughout the court and even hold power on a large scale. However, those who are in power in the court, even if they come from ordinary and poor families, will gradually become rich and powerful over time. This is human nature and cannot be stopped.
However, the power and existence of aristocratic families should not be premised on closing upward channels, and should not block the path to study and become an official. Lu Guang was very angry because these noble families wanted to deal with the poor people.
Most of today's poor scholars are not ordinary people in essence.
How can ordinary people afford to study?
The reason why people who can read are called poor families is different from the most ordinary people, and also different from today's big families. Most of these children from poor families came from poor families, had the conditions to study, and knew the role of reading, so they started reading since they were young.
However, the family has long since lost the generosity of the ancestors, and without the resources and connections of the ancestors, it is already extremely difficult to become an official and change one's destiny. The imperial examination was like God's mercy to the poor scholars.
This is the only chance to change your destiny.
But there are people from big families who, for the sake of their own selfish interests, ruin the life-long events of others.
Can you bear it?
I can't bear it!
Can you forgive me?
No mercy!
Lu Guang's mentality was relaxed. He just wanted to watch the show today. Anyway, he stayed out of the matter and was not involved in it. While everyone was waiting, there was a sound of footsteps, and a eunuch came out of the city and ordered: "Your Majesty has summoned me. All the scholars should be silent and follow me."
Lu Guang walked out first, followed closely by Liangshan and Zuoqiu, and then followed in order of ranking on the list, and no one surpassed him.
This is a big deal.
The ranking on the list means their order.
More than two hundred people entered the imperial city and looked around with the corner of their eyes. The more they looked, the more frightened they became.
All the scholars were shocked.
The imperial city is too big.
The imperial city is so magnificent.
If these two hundred and thirty people were in the main hall and everyone arranged desks, they would not be able to accommodate these two hundred people. Ying Jiuxiao met these scholars not in the main hall of the Great Court Meeting, but in an open and spacious side hall.
This is where the emperor practiced martial arts.
In this place, let alone two hundred people, even three to five hundred people would not be a problem, and there were desks one by one in the hall. Each desk has a name posted on it to make it easier to sit down.
Everyone enters and takes a seat at the designated location.
There was silence at the scene.
Outside the imperial city, there were still scholars who dared to whisper and discuss. In this side hall, especially in the imperial city, under this situation, no one dared to speak out, and all the scholars became nervous.
Lu Guang was sitting at the front, inexplicably nervous, but more expectant.
Lu Guang waited for a while. Suddenly, there was a sound of footsteps, and everyone looked over.
But Lin Feng strode in.
Today, Lin Feng was wearing a simple black robe, with an indifferent expression and a hint of coldness. Under Lin Feng's gaze, each of the scholars was caught, their hearts skipped a beat, and they all hurriedly looked away, not daring to look at Lin Feng as they were already frightened by Lin Feng.
Everyone is a little afraid.
The atmosphere was depressing for a while.
Lin Feng walked to the front and sat down. He glanced at the more than 230 scholars. There were some people who were more than 40 years old and looked very old. Of course, there are also people in their twenties and thirties. But the youngest person, Lin Feng estimated, was roughly sixteen or seventeen years old.
Such a person must come from a big family.
Lin Feng actually had no objection to the fact that scholars from big families participated in the imperial examination. On the contrary, Lin Feng welcomed it. As long as you have the ability and can pass the imperial examination, no matter what your background is, Lin Feng can definitely win Jiuxiao and be willing to use it.
However, the big family wanted to use substitution. Lin Feng did not agree with this, and neither did Ying Jiuxiao.
Lin Feng raised his voice and said directly: "His Majesty summons you to the palace and will receive you. But before His Majesty receives you, there is one more thing to do. His Majesty has ordered that all those who have entered the list should pick up a pen and write their names again. The first question on the answer sheet is how to control floods?"
"When rewritten, the words may be different, and there are certain differences allowed. This is allowed and approved by His Majesty. However, the overall idea is definitely the same. I'll give you two quarters of an hour to get started."
As soon as he finished speaking, attendants filed in.
All pens, inks, paper and inkstones are placed on the desk in front of everyone.
In the hall, many people looked surprised. What does it mean to rewrite flood control? Both the emperor and Lin Feng had read the answers and knew their general ideas. At such an important moment now, why waste time rewriting it?
Many scholars looked at Lin Feng with doubts on their faces, not understanding what this meant. Once the order is given, no one dares not to listen. Most people quickly picked up their brushes and started writing.
The answers given a few days ago were all kept in mind by the scholars who were referring to them, so it was not difficult to write them down again.
What's more, as I said, it doesn't need to be exactly the same, just the same idea.
Zhang Wu was also in the crowd, looking at the white paper in front of him, confused, his cheeks twitching, and his eyes dull. He has always been unscrupulous at home and only knows how to visit brothels and sleep. Although he was also literate, well-spoken, and good at communication, the things in these books made his eyes darken.
Especially asking him to write about flood control is completely blind and has no clue at all. Zhang Wu complained even more in his heart, "It's so good, what are the emperor and Lin Feng doing, and they ask someone to rewrite it?"
However, Zhang Wu did not dare to refuse.
After the order is issued, whoever dares to explode or oppose will probably be captured directly. In fact, there are many people who think the same as Zhang Wu. These people looked at the white paper in front of them, and then at the people around them who were immersed in writing, and felt like crying without tears.
How to do it?
Zhang Wu is somewhat clever after all.
He thought quickly and was already ready to write. It suddenly occurred to him that his handwriting did not match the content on Pang Shuangxi's test paper. They were in different fonts.
If you write now, what if you are compared?
No, not likely.
The rankings are all set, so how can we still compare them?
Zhang Wu raised his head and looked at Lin Feng. He actually wanted to ask, but when he saw Lin Feng's stern look, he immediately lowered his head.
The thoughts of questioning were completely restrained.
"That's it, let's write it. Maybe it's just a re-examination to confirm, it should be like this."
Zhang Wu comforted himself, put away all distracting thoughts, and could only write honestly. No matter what, you still need to write down some strategies, otherwise how will you explain it to the emperor?
Fortunately, Pang Shuangxi, who he replaced, was ranked very low, and his answer was just a little bit off, so it didn't have much impact.
This is where Zhang Wu reluctantly feels at ease.
Zhang Wu buried his head, thinking about measures to control the flood, but he had a dark eye on this thing and could only rely on blind speculation.
Lin Feng sat directly above, staring below. Looking down from above, at a glance, everything below is clearly reflected in the eyes. You can clearly see who is immersed in writing seriously, who is distracted, and who is looking around.
Zhang Wu's situation also fell into Lin Feng's eyes.
The same goes for the rest of the people.
Lin Feng made a careful assessment and found that about eighteen of the scholars were acting sneakily and looked hesitant. You must know that there are more than 230 people, nearly 37,000 people. Even though I was selected from among the short ones, the content of the answer sheet was pretty good.
Re-writing shouldn't be difficult.
This means that almost eighteen of the people present were coerced and replaced.
More than ten people out of more than two hundred people were replaced, accounting for nearly 10%.
This is quite appalling.
If this matter is not brought under control and the imperial examination selection is conducted next time, the consequences will be immeasurable, and more people will take desperate risks.
This is due to interests.
If your disposal is not strong and within the tolerance of the big family, then someone will take the risk.
This is never allowed.
Lin Feng's expression became increasingly cold.
Lu Guang was also answering questions, and he noticed the change in Lin Feng's expression. Lin Feng today is very majestic, and one look at you will make you breathless. This oppression makes people feel fearful.
Lu Guang was actually happy about this situation. The impostor should be killed, and he should be killed and shed blood.
Lu Guang continued to answer questions as time passed by. Two quarters of an hour later, Lin Feng asked someone to collect the test papers. Each set of test papers has names written on them, which is evidence of comparison.
Lin Feng looked around at all the scholars present and said, "Everyone is waiting here until His Majesty has read all the test papers."
After the words fell, Lin Feng left directly.
The eunuch on the side followed with all the case files.
Wow! !
In the huge side hall, many people started talking.
Most people couldn't figure out what the emperor and Lin Feng were going to do. Only Zhang Wu and others were uneasy and always felt uneasy.
Unfortunately, there is no other way.
Lin Feng came to the main hall with the test papers, bowed to Ying Jiuxiao, and said solemnly: "Your Majesty, all the test papers of the scholars have been collected again. The simplest comparison of these people's test papers is to compare them with the previous handwriting. .”
Ying Jiuxiao ordered: "Zhang Yi, Wang Tang, all six of you ministers will come together to compare these two hundred test papers."
"Here!"
Zhang Yi, Wang Tang, Bai Zheng, Yan Du and other six ministers, as well as Xu Yifu, the prince of the country, were all present.
Everyone was surprised.
They didn't know the situation, so after listening to Ying Jiuxiao's words, they could only do as they were told. They each came forward and looked through and compared more than two hundred test papers according to their respective lists.
The standard for comparison is to check whether each person's handwriting on the two test papers is the same.
This is the rubric for checking.
People from various major families believe that this is the first exam and it is full of loopholes, so many people are very confident and do not think they will fail. Just like that, just by checking the handwriting, we can already check out some details.
Of course, I will also briefly browse the general situation of the answer sheet. If the content is nonsense, I can tell it at a glance. This kind of screening is fast, and the screening of answer sheets is completed in a short period of time.
The time before and after was only about a quarter of an hour.
At this moment, Zhang Yi, Wang Tang, Xu Yifu and others were all shocked.
Did they finally figure out what was going on?
replace!
Someone replaced the original scholar.
The expressions on all their faces were cold and solemn. They knew better what the imperial examination meant to the Qin State and the emperor. Now, someone is actually taking risks on this matter. Such a move is impossible to let go.
Zhang Yi bowed and said: "Your Majesty, there is someone who pretended to be someone else. I recommend severe punishment. Otherwise, how can I explain to the world's scholars?"
Wang Tang said: "I agree that you must be severely punished to set the record straight. Otherwise, the prestige of our Great Qin will definitely be affected."
Xu Yifu said: "I have different opinions and severe punishment is necessary. But should this severe punishment be carried out in public? Once this is done, will it affect the imperial examination?"
Lin Feng stood up and said sharply: "Xu Jijiu, you are too worried. The fact that someone is impersonating someone needs to be announced. Only by being honest can we show the determination and magnanimity of our Great Qin. Otherwise, how can we convince others? "
Ying Jiuxiao's eyes were even sharper and his face was cold and solemn. He looked at the case files collected in front of him and found that there were a total of eighteen answer sheets with questions.
A total of eighteen people mingled among them.
Even including those who failed to kidnap Lu Guang, there were nineteen people causing trouble.
Ying Jiuxiao was already angry in his heart. When he heard Xu Yifu's words, he leaned forward and said forcefully: "Xu Yifu, you are so defensive. Could it be that you are also involved?"
thump!
Xu Yifu knelt down directly and said loudly: "Your Majesty, I swear on my life that I have absolutely no involvement. If I have, I will leave it to your Majesty's disposal."
"Get up."
Ying Jiuxiao flicked his sleeves and said indifferently: "You must have a concept of what you should say and what you shouldn't say. Don't pretend to understand, and don't talk nonsense. If you don't speak, no one will treat you as a mute."
brush!
Xu Yifu's cheek twitched.
The emperor's words were a direct slap in the face.
Wang Tang glanced at Xu Yifu and shook his head in his heart. The imperial examination was the emperor's reverse. Now Xu Yifu seems to be thinking about the emperor, but the emperor doesn't care about it at all and doesn't deal with it. How can it appease people's hearts?
Ying Jiuxiao said: "Stand aside, don't be an eyesore."
Xu Yifu stood up and stood aside respectfully, not daring to speak anymore.
Ying Jiuxiao said: "No one is allowed to reach out when it comes to the imperial examination. Anyone who reaches out will be killed by me. This time, my treatment is very simple. All the families involved in the case will be killed as a family, leaving no one alive."
"When Lin Feng reported to me yesterday, he said that the people involved in the case were killed and the family members involved in the case were exiled."
"I think he is too soft-hearted."
"The important event of the imperial examination must teach everyone an unforgettable lesson. Therefore, it must be killed, and a thorough one must be killed. All family members involved in the case are arrested and quickly interrogated. As long as it is confirmed that someone in the family is involved, the entire family members are implicated, and they are publicly executed. "
Zhang Yi said: "Your Majesty is wise."
Wang Tang also said: "Your Majesty is wise."
None of the others stood up to object, they all supported it. Under the current circumstances, anyone who dares to oppose is seeking death.
This offends Long Yan.
Ying Jiuxiao said directly: "Win three."
"exist!"
Ying San bowed and entered.
Ying Jiuxiao ordered: "Have you found the person behind the person who targeted Lu Guang yesterday?"
"Already found."
Ying San looked with a hint of coldness and said: "Reporting to your majesty, we carefully compared the appearance of the dead people and found that the person who took the lead yesterday was named Dong Wugui. This Dong Wugui appeared to be a rogue from Xianyang. In fact, he secretly He is a killer who specializes in killing people to make money."
"From Dong Wugui, we followed the clues little by little and finally found Su Li from the Su family in Xianyang."
"However, after we found out about the Su family, this alone was not enough to prove that it was Su Li's arrangement. After all, there were not enough witnesses and physical evidence. Therefore, we further investigated other people in the Su family and found that Su Li's son Su Cheng is related to Zhang Wu, the son of Mrs. Zhang, a businessman in Xianyang."
"The two of them had been drinking in Lehefang, and they said privately that Su Li and Mrs. Zhang had their own arrangements to coerce the scholars to withdraw so that Su Cheng and Zhang Wu could take their place."
"Since then, Su Li's suspicion has been confirmed."
"Mrs. Zhang's son, Zhang Wu, replaced Pang Shuangxi and came to the palace today to see His Majesty. Su Cheng did not come to attend because Dong Wugui failed to deal with Lu Guang."
Kuro Hyota, who wins three, has already penetrated the place. Here in Xianyang, this is the base camp of Heibingtai.
To investigate, it's relatively easy.
It took one day to find out everything, and everything was revealed.
Ying Jiuxiao ordered: "Now that we have verified it, we can take action. Lin Feng, you are responsible for this matter. You and the people from Heibingtai will come out with eighteen people one by one to understand the situation of each major family. Then, Then some of the forbidden troops will be deployed to cooperate and capture all the members of the Eighteenth Family. In addition, the Su Family will also be captured."
"Here!"
Lin Feng and Ying San answered in unison.
Ying Jiuxiao continued: "Lin Feng, the arrest and interrogation of everyone is over, you are responsible for the disposal this time. Send all the family members involved in the case to the outside of Nancheng for execution. In order to give the people and the aristocratic families some time to react, the time is set at This afternoon, there will be a public trial outside the city."
"When you take someone, inform the news first and make sure more people know about it. I also know that you are always good at giving speeches. This time when you kill people, you have to further express your stance. Anyone who wants to intervene in the imperial examination will be killed without mercy. I am waiting for your news. .”
Lin Feng said: "I obey the order."
After a pause, Lin Feng said: "Your Majesty, I have a suggestion."
Ying Jiuxiao said: "Say!"
Lin Feng said: "All the scholars who have entered the list will be kept in the side hall of the palace for the time being. I have arrested Zhang Wu and other eighteen people. Can you let them out first and let them watch the execution of the test takers this afternoon? people."
"I suggest that in the afternoon and evening, His Majesty summons them again and holds a banquet to celebrate them. In this way, all of these two hundred or so scholars will surely return home and serve His Majesty and the Qin Dynasty."
Ying Jiuxiao nodded and said, "I'm sure."
"Your Majesty is holy."
Lin Feng bowed and took Ying San to the side hall where the assessment was held.
In the side hall where the previous assessment was held, more than two hundred people were talking about it. At another time, Zhang Wu had already used his sharp tongue and even wanted to show off. It's just that after going through the previous assessment, he felt a little uneasy in his heart.
Zhang Wu felt something was wrong, and he met the emperor in a good manner, which should not be the case.
Did you discover something?
Exactly like this, Zhang Wu became more and more worried, but there was nothing Zhang Wu could do in the imperial city. When Zhang Wu was in confusion, there was a sound of footsteps, and Lin Feng entered with Ying San and the people from Heibingtai.
Lin Feng stood at the front and said in a deep voice: "Pang Shuangxi!"
"exist!"
Zhang Wu stood up immediately.
The person he replaced was Pang Shuangxi. Zhang Wu remembered this clearly.
"Take it!"
Lin Feng flicked his sleeves.
The people from Heibingtai stepped forward and quickly captured the person. Zhang Wu was completely confused at this time. He knew something had happened and it must have been exposed. Otherwise, Lin Feng would not have directly brought people to get him.
"Lind!"
Lin Feng shouted again.
"exist!"
Someone stood up again.
This is the person who replaced Linde. His name is Zhou Yuan, and he is also very worried.
"Take it!"
Lin Feng ordered again.
Zhou Yuan did not dare to resist and allowed the people of Black Ice Platform to take over.
Lin Feng called the names one by one, and all eighteen people were taken down. Everyone looked panicked. From beginning to end, no one resisted or argued, and one person even directly begged for mercy.
Lin Feng nodded towards Ying San, who escorted the people away first. Next, Ying San must first conduct a quick and simple interrogation to find out their respective families, and then they can mobilize the Black Ice Platform and the Forbidden Army to arrest everyone.
Wow! !
There was an uproar in the hall.
Many scholars were confused. What was the situation? Why were people suddenly arrested after an assessment?
These people were shocked.
Lu Guang was not much shocked because he knew the situation. But what surprised him was that a total of eighteen people were arrested. This means that these wealthy gentry people kidnapped and coerced eighteen scholars. They were so audacious that they were all tired of living.
"quiet!"
Lin Feng scolded.
All the scholars fell silent.
Lin Feng said slowly: "You should be happy, because you are lucky and have never been replaced or threatened by kidnapping. The eighteen people who were arrested just now were all replaced by people from big families. The families behind them, arrested After receiving the scholars on the list, arrange for someone to replace them."
At this moment, there was an uproar, and everyone finally understood.
There was actually a kidnapping and substitution.
too scary!
Every scholar is afraid in his heart.
Among the scholars present, some were children of common people from large families, some were children of merchants, many were children of poor families, and of course some came from Jin and Qi. No matter what their identity is, it is certain that each of them has little influence and power, and is easily kidnapped.
Now they are all chilling in their hearts, secretly glad that they were not captured.
Otherwise, I'm afraid he would also be poisoned.
Lin Feng said: "You guys have all passed the inspection. Because everyone has not arrived yet, for the time being, you will follow the eunuch out of the palace and take a look inside the city. This morning, I will hear the substitution case."
"At around noon in the afternoon, these imposters and those involved in the plot will be publicly executed outside the south city of Xianyang. You can go and watch outside the south city on your own."
"In the evening, His Majesty will summon you again, as well as the other captured scholars, to cleanse you and celebrate you."
"Now the eunuch will guide you, you can leave on your own."
After Lin Feng finished speaking, he left directly.
The remaining scholars were completely devastated without Lin Feng.
Liang Shan was also very close to Lu Guang. He patted his chest with a frightened look on his face and said: "Master Lu, it's so dangerous, so dangerous. I went back to the camp alone yesterday. Fortunately, I'm safe. Think about this. I thought, it’s really scary. People from these big families are so pervasive, it’s really damning.”
Lu Guang said with a smile: "With the Duke and His Majesty here, we will be able to clear up our roots. None of these imposters and the powerful gentry who threaten the scholars will be able to escape, and they will all be dealt with."
"Yep."
Liang Shan nodded hurriedly.
He smiled and said: "The Duke said that there will be a public trial outside Nancheng. Do we want to go and have a look?"
"Of course I want to go."
Lu Guang did not refuse and agreed directly.
Liang Shan smiled and said: "Okay, okay, let's go together then."
The other scholars also discussed, and then they all left the side hall and followed out of the imperial city.
