Outside Prince Wu's Mansion.
Crowds of people gathered here.
A large number of scholars gathered, and at first glance they were filled with black heads, at least three to four hundred people.
These are all here to take part in the assessment.
The vast majority of people are from Yangzhou's big families, a few are descendants of poor families, and some scholars who live in Wu County. Everyone had heard that Zhao Shan was selecting scholars in Prince Wu's Mansion and came specially to take part in the assessment.
These people gathered together in twos and threes, forming many small groups, each talking quietly.
Among the crowd, there was a young man in his mid-twenties with a Chinese character face, a mustache, and an ordinary appearance. He was wearing an ordinary gray-black robe, but his hair was meticulously combed.
The young man's eyes were not lively, but rather dull. At first glance, he gives the impression of being clumsy and simple, unlike other scholars who have lively eyes and appear to be very clever.
The young man's name is Yan Zhuo, the son of Yan Xuanqing.
Yan Zhuo has always been studying in Wuxian County and has not been an official.
Now Zhao Shan publicly selects talents, and Yan Zhuocai comes to participate in the assessment.
Yan Zhuo waited quietly, and suddenly the door of the palace opened, allowing the participating scholars to enter one after another.
Countless scholars became restless and crowded forward. After these people had walked for a while and were already crowding in at the gate, Yan Zhuo seemed to have recovered from his thoughts and slowly followed him into the palace.
Unlike countless other scholars who were excited and anxious, Yan Zhuo showed no emotion and seemed very calm.
Yan Zhuo entered the palace and followed everyone into the school grounds.
Desks are placed on the school grounds.
There is pen, ink, paper and inkstone on the desk.
All those who entered were seated one after another under the guidance of the soldiers.
After Yan Zhuo sat down, he was very calm, without any impatience, and his mind was empty.
At the same time, Yu Song has come to the stage to personally preside over today's assessment. He glanced over and immediately arranged for someone to announce the three questions for the assessment.
After the title was recited, someone specially wrote it on a wooden board and placed it among the rows of desks to ensure that everyone could see it.
After Yu Song made all arrangements, he continued: "The time to answer the question is one and a half hours. If you have not finished it in one and a half hours, you are not allowed to continue answering. If you are quick and smart, you are allowed to submit your answer sheet in advance. Those who have handed in their answer sheet can leave on their own. Tomorrow In the morning, the selected candidates will be announced.”
After saying a few simple words, Yu Song announced the start.
Everyone is thinking independently.
Yu Song walked around in the crowd. He knew many of them, but after walking around, he saw Yan Zhuo.
Yu Song was a little surprised.
Unexpectedly, Yan Zhuo came.
The son of his teacher is not bad at talent, but his reaction is a bit slow. He hopes that Yan Zhuo can shine.
Yu Song observed around, returned to the front and sat down on the stage. About half an hour later, his eyes lit up and he saw Zhao Shan coming in private for a private visit. He quickly stood up and went to greet him, saluting: "Your Majesty!"
Zhao Shandao: "No need to be polite."
He changed the topic and asked: "There are so many people here today, do you know any young heroes?"
Yu Song replied: "I know some people, but I don't know them well. The details will depend on the results on the final answer sheet."
Zhao Shan ordered: "You don't have to follow, I will see for myself."
Yu Song nodded and stopped following.
Zhao Shan walked into the school. Some scholars looked up and saw Zhao Shan. They were a little agitated and quickly lowered their heads to continue answering questions. Zhao Shan frowned slightly as he walked and looked, because many scholars could not even distinguish between rice, wheat and soybeans, and did not know the specific situation.
What a waste.
So disappointing.
This is the kind of scholar who is raised at home and does not work hard on his body or grain, and only knows how to open his mouth and keep his mouth shut.
In fact, this is Zhao Shan's purpose, to prohibit and prevent these people who do not know the sufferings of the people and the grains and grains from entering the officialdom.
How can a person who doesn't understand the sufferings of the people and doesn't even know the grains and cereals manage the place well?
Do you decide by patting your forehead?
Zhao Shan walked and came to Yan Zhuo's side, and his eyes lit up in an instant.
Read the words first before reading the paper.
This is an iron rule in taking exams, especially when it comes to strategy. For large articles, the quality of the font is particularly important.
Yan Zhuo's calligraphy is not sharp or wanton in the slightest, but it is rigorous and majestic, with each stroke penetrating the back of the paper. The words are as simple as the person he is, as simple as the person he is.
The overall look is impressive.
Zhao Shan carefully read Yan Zhuo's answer. In the previous question about rice, wheat and soybeans, Yan Zhuo had no problem at all. He clearly wrote the characteristics of wheat, rice and soybeans, including the planting season, environment, and planting conditions. , harvesting and storage methods are all clear.
Zhao Shan continued to look down and saw Yan Zhuo's direction in governing the aristocratic family.
Yan Zhuo believed that the aristocratic family could not be wiped out until they were all killed.
When someone becomes an official and takes power, a big family will be born, which will cause the family's power to expand. Even if the current aristocratic family is wiped out, a new aristocratic family will appear if someone takes power.
The key is not to destroy, but to contain.
Yan Zhuo believes that there are three ways to contain it.
First, you must be an official in another place. Officials above the county magistrate cannot be held locally to prevent the family from becoming powerful.
Second, official positions are appointed by the court. From county magistrate, county lieutenant, to county magistrate, and above, all official positions must be directly arranged by the court, and local officials cannot be directly appointed by governors and prefects.
Third, we need to cultivate scholars extensively so that more people can read and write and cultivate more talents. With the basic base of scholars, the imperial court can select more talents, so that it will not be constrained by talents from aristocratic families.
Zhao Shan looked at it with a smile in his eyes.
Yan Zhuo is very good.
have a thought.
Especially the third point is the basis for containing the powerful families in the future.
Universal education is fundamental.
When scholars no longer just come from aristocratic families, there are scholars all over the world, and the court can select more people, so it can suppress the once aristocratic families.
The official positions granted by the imperial court were only a few. In the past, the imperial court was filled with aristocratic families, and these people were very powerful. Nowadays, more and more people are not from aristocratic families, but they are filling the court, and they will seize the power of the aristocratic families, making the aristocratic families no longer dominant.
In short, there is a steady stream of scholars who are getting ahead, and the path of advancement has never been solidified, so aristocratic families have little influence.
The aristocratic family is gone, but the big family will always be there.
Those who serve as officials are from large families.
When one person occupies a high position, even if he does nothing, the family members can use this to have countless means of making money.
Zhao Shan wrote down Yan Zhuo's name, turned around and left, and continued reading.
There are also some other talented people with good insights.
Zhao Shan walked around and left, going straight back to the study to wait.
Towards evening, Yu Song came back with his exhausted body. Moreover, he had read all the test papers and held a stack of marked test papers in his hand.
Yu Song saluted and said: "Your Majesty, all the test papers have been marked. In order to finish marking the test papers, I asked the teacher to assist, and several other teachers' old friends participated. Forty-eight qualified people were selected. In addition to the other test papers, That’s too bad.”
Zhao Shan ordered: "Hand it over."
Yu Song immediately handed over a stack of test papers.
Zhao Shan took it and looked at the person ranked first, named Wu Jingsheng.
Zhao Shan glanced at Wu Jingsheng's test paper. The content was quite satisfactory, which was pretty good.
The first was Wu Jingsheng, the second was Xue Cong, the third was Zhou Qin, and those from each family followed in order. Zhao Shan only saw Yan Zhuo's test paper when he was in the tenth place.
Zhao Shan took a look at some of the subsequent papers and found that there were generally no problems.
After looking at it, Zhao Shan asked: "I generally have no objection to the ranking of these personnel. Only Yan Zhuo, why is he ranked tenth?"
Yu Song explained: "It was arranged by the teacher, and he said that tenth is already good."
Zhao Shan asked: "Yan Zhuo's test paper is obviously better than others, why does Yan Xuanqing target him?"
Yu Song said: "Yan Zhuo is the teacher's son."
Zhao Shan suddenly realized it and said with a smile: "You don't have to avoid relatives when promoting talents, but you don't need to avoid suspicion."
"Change it!"
"Yan Zhuo takes the first place and stays with me to work. Wu Jingsheng takes the second place and stays in Yangzhou to serve. The people behind him will be arranged in sequence."
"Those who pass the assessment will be assigned to serve in local areas, and most of them will be appointed as county magistrates. They will first be tested with the official position of county magistrate. If they are capable, they will be further promoted, and if they are not, they will be removed."
Zhao Shan has always believed that most talents must have local experience.
The bad things happening in the local area are the most difficult thing to do.
Yu recited: "I accept the order."
The conversation changed and Yu Song said, "Your Majesty, I will arrange to kill the people from each family tomorrow. Will Your Majesty come in person?"
Zhao Shan thought for a while and said, "I will personally come forward to lecture you."
Yu Song said: "With His Majesty's instruction, only the selected scholars can be truly educated and the Yangzhou family can be intimidated. The Yangzhou of the future will no longer be a chaotic Yangzhou, or a Yangzhou controlled by the big families, but a disciplined one under the governance of the imperial court." Law-abiding Yangzhou.”
Zhao Shan waved his hand and said: "It's been a hard day, let's go and rest."
"I resign!"
Yu Song bowed and then left.
When Zhao Shan was thinking about the murder and execution tomorrow, a soldier came in and saluted: "Your Majesty, Empress Zhang is here to see you."
Zhao Shandao: "Let her come in."
The soldier turned and left to inform.
After a while, Zhang Yingxue opened the door and walked in.
Today, Zhang Yingxue is wearing a purple dress, her posture is enchanting and lazy, but there is a trace of sadness between her eyebrows, which makes people feel pity for her.
Zhao Shan dealt with the Zhang family and allowed Zhang Yingxue to reflect on himself, but did not send Zhang Yingxue into the cold palace.
Just teach her a lesson.
Zhang Yingxue was unwilling to fall out of favor like this, so she took the initiative to ask for an audience. The belt of her belt was tightened, outlining the bulging breasts of her upper body. She walked up to Zhao Shan and said softly: "Your Majesty, I know that I have made a mistake. Please give me a chance to repent." .”
While talking, Zhang Yingxue leaned next to Zhao Shan, and her white, soft, slender and slender hands reached out and landed under the desk.
