Xu Mochen's decree to temporarily increase various consumption taxes in the capital has unexpectedly received a lot of praise.
Especially the merchants, inns, entertainment venues, etc. in the capital, it is tantamount to saying that the emperor ordered them to make money.
And the students didn't have much objection.
On the one hand, these students are either immortal cultivators or nobles, and they don't care about money.
They are willing to spend more money than to get the opportunity to enter the official career.
As a result, Xu Mochen's national fortune actually increased a lot.
After all, this time it affects scholars all over the world.
In particular, a large number of children from poor families are now actively preparing to take state and county examinations.
In the imperial study room, Xu Mochen was reading the secret report from the embroidery envoy.
Mi Luo was eating snacks, and while eating, he was still commenting: "You are a fool, you are so stupid, so you are lucky, otherwise, most of the people would have rebelled long ago."
Xu Mochen was too lazy to talk to her.
Tang Derun came in and brought a new memorial.
Xu Mochen was a little surprised: "Ai Qing, why didn't this memorial come through the court?"
Tang Derun presented it: "It is a memorial jointly signed by two adults from the Ministry of Rites. The content is quite special, so I gave it to Wei Chen."
Xu Mochen took it and took a look: "Ji Wenhe and Wen Guanxian?
That's right, they are responsible for the imperial examination after all, and they need to report to me individually. "
Although the Prime Minister and others support this decision on the surface, there are always people who want to hinder it, and it is also a good thing to avoid them.
After reading the content, Xu Mochen handed the memorial to Tang Derun without saying a word.
"Your Majesty," Tang Derun opened it and read it, then returned the memorial after thinking for a while, "These two adults want to get close to Your Majesty."
"Walking this way for no reason," Xu Mochen smiled, "it means that some things may have changed secretly.
They couldn't refuse directly and thought of ways to use me as a shield.
Dear, tell me, who will be involved? "
Tang Derun pondered for a while: "Wei Chen believes that the most directly related thing is the personnel department."
The Ministry of Personnel is in overall charge of officials, and the sudden addition of new officials will have an impact on the original officials.
Therefore, in terms of resistance, it must be this group of people who started it.
Xu Mochen agreed: "So you see, I am actually doing a thankless job, and it is the officials in the world who have offended me."
Any reform will encounter opposition.
"The Ministry of Rites must have received the news," he followed his own train of thought, "and the messenger of the news has something to do with the Ministry of Rites. The Ministry of Personnel is indeed the most suspect."
Tang Derun nodded: "Your Majesty, will you step forward?"
"The memorial mentioned the students placed around the capital," Xu Mochen said with a half-smile, "What do you think, Ai Qing?"
Tang Derun chose his words cautiously: "Wei Chen believes that when they mention this matter, it will not be without purpose.
As far as Wei Chen knows, most of the students settled in this area are children of the gentry. "
"Although the children of the noble clan are not as good as the immortal cultivators, they actually have advantages in the arts." Xu Mochen stood up and knocked on the table. "It is easier to deal with the weak ones than the students of the immortal cultivators."
In other words, some people want to eliminate some competitors.
"If this is the purpose," Tang Derun frowned, "Wenfa Sect is also suspected."
"That's right," Xu Mochen sighed, "This is what I can't understand.
If the officials and the Wenfa Sect objected, they would argue with them in court. "
But in fact, so far, no one from the civil service or Wenfa sect has come forward to express different opinions.
Even officials from across the country did not see any reports or local riots.
It gives the impression that everyone is working together to do this.
"Could it be that he actually had an opinion," Tang Derun pondered, "but was suppressed by someone with greater power.
. "
"It doesn't make sense," Xu Mochen shook his head, "If I wanted to stop the imperial examination, I wouldn't let it start smoothly."
Tang Derun also fell silent after saying this.
Mi Luo, who was eating cakes behind him, smiled: "What's so hard to imagine? Maybe the launch of the imperial examination is the progress the other party wants?"
Xu Mochen and Tang Derun looked over together.
"It's like I want to achieve a certain goal, but I need to complete a certain condition first." Mi Luo swallowed the pastry and clapped her hands, "Of course, I want others to complete the condition first.
If our dragon clan wants to make opponents, we use this method. "
Tang Derun's head felt hot: "Your Majesty, why is she here?"
"They said they would follow me around the clock to see if I am a fool." Xu Mochen rubbed his brows.
Although the two of them were talking about something off-topic, they were actually thinking the whole time.
The conditions for finding Luo.
Tang Derun's eyes lit up: "Let's not talk about the results of the imperial examination. The biggest change in this process is..."
"The elite among Daqian students will all gather in the capital!" Xu Mochen also made a judgment.
Yes, it can be said to be the largest gathering of talents from across the country in history.
After thinking about it, Xu Mochen's face suddenly became solemn: "Let's not talk about the other party's ultimate purpose, but with so many students gathered to prepare for trouble, and it also involves the cultivators of the Wenfa Sect, I'm afraid..."
Things are more complicated than imagined.
Are the officials in the Ministry of Personnel or the Ministry of Rites capable of doing this?
Or is it a collective calculation by the current officials of Daqian?
"Your Majesty," Tang Derun felt a chill, "If this is the case..."
"They should take action during the imperial examination," Xu Mochen picked up the memorial again, "These places mentioned by the Ministry of Rites are probably just triggers."
"Then what your Majesty means..." Tang Derun asked for instructions.
"Let's make some arrangements," Xu Mochen decided immediately, "I will pay you a private visit incognito."
Tang Derun took the order.
Mi Luo ran over and said, "Hunjun, if you want to pay a private visit incognito, I will follow you."
Xu Mochen disagreed: "This is dangerous. Children should just stay at home."
"I'm not a child anymore, I'm over a hundred years old," Mi Luo pleaded, "Besides, I'm bored when you're not in the palace.
I don’t understand what research you two concubines in the harem do every day.
You won't lose money if you take me with you. I'm also from the Grammar Sect, and my literary level is pretty good. "
Xu Mochen looked at Tang Derun.
Tang Derun smiled: "Your Majesty, if the little princess wants to go, it's okay. As the little princess said, having someone from the Wenfa Sect here can somewhat deceive others."
Xu Mochen asked: "What do you mean?"
Tang Derun explained with a smile: "When you are a member of the Wenfa Sect or a Daqian student, sometimes you will inevitably have a literary fight.
Their unique literary spirit is different from those of immortal cultivators in other worlds. "
Xu Mochen continued to ask: "So what Aiqing means..."
"It's very simple," Mi Luo waved her little hand, "I will pretend to be a student going to Beijing to take the exam, and you two will just be my slaves."
