Zhang Jingxian's reputation is really not good, ever since Xu He and others went to the government office to report.
The two gangs from Yangzhou Guard and Hailing County escorted Xu He and the others back to the commander's office.
As soon as he entered, Sun Qianshi had someone come in carrying five boxes and cages.
"Master Sun? This is it?" Xu He asked doubtfully.
Sun Qianshi smiled: "This is what the commander ordered before he left. He said that the young masters are all scholars taking the exam. They should have taken the exam in person. However, the army sect was recruited at the last minute and we couldn't meet each other, so I prepared some Each person packed a test box with pens, ink, paper, inkstones, snacks and food for the exam, and several of them took it with them during the exam.”
Chu Yuan and others were flattered and quickly bowed and thanked him.
Xu He said: "Master Chen is favored, Master Qianshi is troublesome, Xu Heming is deeply moved!"
After returning to the room, Xu He put the box on the table and examined it carefully.
I saw that the box was very heavy, with five drawers up and down, and a strap on the back.
This is usually carried by the scholar's boy, and is carried in by the examinee when he arrives at the examination room.
Xu He opened the top layer and saw six fine Hu brushes carefully placed inside. The inkstones and ink blocks were the best on the market.
The lower floors are filled with various snacks served in small plates.
Xu He laughed when he saw this.
The prefecture examination in the Wei Dynasty was similar to the county examination. There was only one test, so the most important first test was completed in one day, and there was no need or permission to carry so many snacks.
It is estimated that the people working under Sun Qianshi thought that the examinations were just like the provincial examinations and professional examinations. The examination lasted for several days, and the candidates had to bring quilts and other things.
Sure enough, when I opened the largest drawer on the bottom floor, a small quilt appeared in front of me.
Xu He closed the drawer of the test box, put it back on the cabinet on the east wall, and stopped caring about it.
But after a while, Sun Qianshi hurriedly walked in from outside. As soon as he arrived in front of Xu He's door, he shouted in a low voice: "Mr. Xu, Mr. Xu, come out!"
Xu He thought something bad had happened and hurried out, but Sun Qianshi said with joy on his face: "The imperial envoy has arrived at Yangzhou Mansion. It is said that he is going to reward the meritorious people for resisting the thieves in Hailing County last time! The Imperial Envoy is resting in the Yangzhou Post House, and all the officials, big and small, have gone to pay homage to the Imperial Envoy!"
Xu He hurriedly asked: "Is there any news about the content of the imperial edict?"
Sun Qianshi nodded: "It is said that the prefect Zhou Yi, Haidao Zhang Bingxian, Yunsi Yamen Ge Yunpan, and Hailing County Magistrate Mr. Li all received rewards!"
"By the way!" Sun Qianshi added, "I heard that you are also on the list of rewards, sir! Get ready. If the Imperial Envoy knows that you are in Yangzhou Mansion, he might summon you in advance for questioning!"
Xu He nodded. This news was not good or bad for him, and it was even more bad.
As a commoner with no fame, even if he is awarded a reward, it is just a vain thing.
But even if serving officials such as Zhou Yi and Ge Youli are named and praised, it will have many benefits for their future career.
However, the only gratifying thing is that the teacher and Zhang Bingxian are also included in this imperial edict of award.
Sure enough, after a while, a small flag officer of Jin Yiwei quickly notified Yangzhou Guard and asked if there was a schoolboy named Xu He inside, saying that he was invited by the Imperial Envoy.
Sun Qianshi quickly called Xu He out and followed the visitor.
On the way there, Xu He took some scattered silver from his bag and handed it to the little flag officer, asking him about the imperial envoy.
The little flag got the money and his eyes widened with a smile: "I want the young master to know that the imperial envoy this time is Zeng Dayou, Zeng Dayou, the general envoy and the right minister of the Ministry of Rites. I just heard at the door that there is an adult from Yangzhou Wei who happened to be there. In the team welcoming the imperial envoy, I heard Mr. Zeng mention the young master’s name, so he said that the young master was temporarily staying in Yangzhou Guard to prepare for the exam, so the imperial envoy asked me to come and ask the young master for questioning!”
After figuring out the ins and outs of the matter, Xu He felt a lot more at ease.
As soon as I arrived at the door of the inn, I saw an eight-carry sedan with green rims and red curtains parked outside the courtyard. There were also some sword-wielding ceremonial guards and soldiers carrying the imperial envoys' ceremonial guards resting against the wall. The queue went out and the old man said, Xu He could imagine how majestic it would be if Zeng Dayou was sitting in an eight-carriage sedan with a long imperial guard of honor lining up behind him.
After entering the door and passing the small flag, Xu He walked into the resting place of the imperial envoy.
As soon as I entered the door, I saw all the officials of Yangzhou City, big and small, standing by.
But Xu He noticed that among these people there was no salt inspector Kong Yiyuan.
He has been living in seclusion recently and does not know the news in this regard, but Kong Yiyuan is not here at this time. Based on what the teacher and uncle said that day, it is estimated that he has been suspended from his job because he stayed overnight at the boat.
At this time, Xu He looked at the hall and saw a man with a white face and long beard sitting there, presumably the imperial envoy Zeng Dade.
Xu He, a white man, walked into a group of [animals] and instantly attracted the attention of all the officials present.
Seeing this, Zeng Dayou smiled and said, "You must be Xu He!"
As soon as he said this, Xu He suddenly felt a look from the front row directed at him.
He looked up slightly and saw Zhou Yizheng, the prefect of Yangzhou whom he had seen outside Hailing City that day, smiling at him.
Xu He had no time to look further, so he leaned over and cupped his hands and said, "I have met the imperial envoy."
Zeng Dayou said with a smile: "I was in the capital and heard someone reciting a poem called "Ode of Lime". It is said that you wrote it? Is this possible?"
Xu He nodded: "Exactly!"
Zeng Dayou looked to the left and right with a smile: "I didn't expect that the Wei Dynasty would also produce outstanding poetic talents. It's so rare!"
The surrounding officials immediately laughed in agreement upon hearing this.
Zeng Dayou said to Xu He: "One of my imperial edicts is sent to Yangzhou Prefecture for the Yangzhou Magistrate and the Salt Division, and there is another one that is going to Hailing County to Haidao, the county magistrate and you. You can rest assured that the official will test it." When I return home after taking the exam in two days, I will announce the decree, double happiness!"
Xu He quickly bowed his head and made a gesture of gratitude, thanking Zeng Dayou.
After seeing him, Zeng Dayou asked Xu He to go back.
When Xu He left the room, he heard Master Zeng's tone inside became colder: "What's going on with Xue E? The Holy Emperor and the cabinet guards arrested him and brought him back to Beijing for trial. Did you tell me that he hanged himself?"
Xu He had already walked into the courtyard and could not hear the reply in the room, but he vaguely heard that it was Ge Youli who was answering.
When he walked to the door, he suddenly found that the annoying Mr. Zhou was riding a horse and seemed to be waiting for someone.
When he saw Xu He, he was not surprised at all. The smile on his face covered with acne marks was particularly disgusting: "Hey, Xu He, the imperial court's reward has come down? I heard that you are involved in this? What a pity, you are not Serving officials, otherwise it would not be difficult to mention it through this matter."
Xu He smiled and said, "You don't have to worry about Mr. Zhou, but Mr. Zhou, are you also summoned by the Imperial Envoy?"
He pretended to be suddenly enlightened and jokingly said: "Oh! I think about it, this matter seems to have nothing to do with Mr. Zhou? It's better not to block the door of the post house with irrelevant people, disturbing the rest of the imperial envoy. Oh no!"
Mr. Zhou was furious when he heard this. Xu He was really hurt. What he said was nothing more than a mockery of himself as a playboy who relied on his father's influence to make a living.
He smiled coldly and said to Xu He: "You, if you haven't been protected by someone, who are you? I'm just letting you be proud for two days. By the way, don't leave yet. I heard that your guard Wu Decao is around He’s looking for you, I’ll ask someone to help you find him!”
