In the study room of the main building of Qinzheng Affairs, Li Longji looked gloomily at the Right Prime Minister Li Linfu, Left Prime Minister Zhang Shougui, Yu Shi Zhongcheng Zhang Yi, Minister of Civil Affairs Miao Jinqing and others in front of him. What he was holding in his hands was that he was included in the list this time. The test paper of "A-level" Zhang Xi.
"Are these the top three selected by me? How many others are like this?"
Brother Ji threw the test paper to the ground angrily and resisted the urge to step on it.
"The saint is a humble minister who has no way of teaching his son. I ask the court to judge impartially, and the humble minister will have no objections."
Zhang Yi put his official hat on the ground, knelt down and kowtowed to Li Longji.
Whatever happened to his son, no matter whether it had anything to do with him or not, whether it was done by Zhang Yi instructing Miao Jinqing, or whether it was done by Miao Jinqing, an examiner who was "ignorant" for the sake of flattery, he would inevitably ask for it. Lose your official position.
In fact, Brother Ji is not very clear about the specific issues involved in the imperial examination. He has never paid much attention to such details. But whether there were any routines in the imperial examination, and how deep the routines were, he, the emperor of the Tang Dynasty, knew very well.
The lid cannot be opened, and when it is opened, there are sores inside!
"That's all, get up first. This matter is not over yet. How to deal with it will be discussed after it is over."
Li Longji rubbed his temples tiredly. This imperial examination was supposed to be a "birthday" for him, but so many things went wrong. Not only was the court's reputation in disrepute, but his face also lacked brilliance.
Zhang Shi's paper was written with nonsense five-character poems, and he was actually selected as the first-class Jinshi!
It’s really the most ridiculous thing in the world!
After Li Longji saw Zhang Shi's paper, he thought the examinee was deliberately mocking him.
"Sage, the problem now is not how to deal with Zhang Shi, but to calm the storm.
Although there are some problems with the imperial examination, it would be inappropriate to abolish it hastily. "
Li Linfu crossed his hands and saluted.
"Gonu is right."
Li Longji nodded slightly in agreement and continued:
"Let's do this. Post a notice outside the imperial city. Three days later, all the Jinshi who have been selected this time will come to the Zichen Hall of the Daming Palace.
Whatever happened in the past, I will forget about it and let the results of this assessment prevail. "
Brother Ji came up with a "bad idea", that is, hearing is false and seeing is true!
Didn’t Zhang Shi write blindly?
Okay, it doesn’t matter, we’ll see in three days. If you can pass the assessment, then there will be no problem. Even if the court does not pursue the matter, it can still calm the discussions outside.
However, if you do not do well in the exam after three days and are obviously uneducated and incompetent, then I'm sorry, no matter if you are discovered before like Zhang Shi or if you are not discovered, if you are caught, all of them will be disqualified from the Jinshi!
It has to be said that Brother Ji’s plan has not solved the problem except “who will come up with the question”.
In other respects, it can be said that it has been rare and fair in the decades since Kaiyuan!
"Follow the orders of the saint!"
Li Linfu and others all saluted Li Longji with their hands crossed. Having said all that, there is nothing more to say, just follow the rules.
"I will inform the candidates in person on the day of the examination of what questions will be asked in this palace examination. All my dear friends, please step aside."
Brother Ji waved his hand impatiently and said.
After Li Linfu and others left, Li Longji asked Gao Lishi behind him: "Miao Jinqing and other examiners, what do Lishi think should be done?"
The announcement of guilt may be delayed, but the time for sentencing is set at the outset.
"Back to the saint, whoever is in this position will have something happen to him.
Just because it has not been discovered before does not mean that there is no problem. I think a small punishment but a big warning will suffice. "
Gao Lishi crossed his hands and saluted and said with a humble attitude.
As Li Longji enters his old age, his thinking and reactions are much older and slower than before.
Nowadays, many of the court's detailed government affairs, those that must be handled, are basically handed over to Gao Lishi.
"Well, let's demote him to the position of governor of Songzhou. The other officials involved in the case will also be demoted and appointed as governor of Zhongzhou."
Li Longji waved his hand gently and said.
Songzhou is one of the "Ten Wangzhous" of the Tang Dynasty. It has a population of nearly one million and is very wealthy.
Being "demoted" to the position of governor of Songzhou was actually a penalty of three drinks. In other words, Ji Ge didn't think there was any big problem with Miao Jinqing's appointment of Zhang Shi as Jinshi A.
Because Zhang Yi relied on his own power to push his son up, being born in the first place did not mean that he would have a successful official career in the future.
The powerful class of the Tang Dynasty had many ways to get into the circle, but after entering the circle, they still had to act according to the internal rules.
It is not a big problem that Zhang Shi was awarded the first grade of Jinshi. The problem is only that it was "exploded" and affected the "political correctness".
"There are questions for this palace exam, what do you think is good?"
Li Longji asked in confusion. He had been idle for a long time and felt unfamiliar with the issue of imperial examinations.
"Becoming a saint, it is better to take the examination of current affairs. After all, the Jinshi selected by the imperial examination will still be officials."
Gao Lishi did not directly answer what questions would be asked, but he pointed out a general direction.
"It makes sense!"
Li Longji clapped his hands and laughed. He already had an idea in his mind, but he didn't tell Gao Lishi.
…
Time passed quickly, and it was three days later.
The saint decided to hold the palace examination in person to assess the true level of the Jinshi candidates. The news quickly spread in Chang'an City through various channels.
Most people praise the emperor's sage, but only a small number of people, such as Zhang Shi, a powerful child who has no talent and knowledge but has passed the middle of the powerful, are in panic all day long, worried that they will make a fool of themselves on the day of the exam.
Early that morning, Wang Yunxiu got up and prepared herself. She also prepared Fang Chongyong's new clothes for the imperial examination and prepared breakfast. She and Anaye were busy non-stop.
On the contrary, Fang Chongyong, the person involved, was not in a hurry at all. He got up at the same time as usual, and after finishing his physical exercise, he ate porridge, biscuits and meat as usual.
Seeing his indifferent expression, Wang Yunxiu asked doubtfully: "Is Alang really ready? This time it's a real exam!"
"rest assured."
Fang Chongyong gave a simple two-word answer!
How could Wang Yunxiu be relieved? She just couldn't do anything!
"The more you say don't worry, the less worried I am. If you really have nothing to write, just write a few sentences on the paper, but don't hand in a blank paper!"
She whispered instructions and cared for Fang Chongyong like a child, wishing she could take the exam on his behalf.
"rest assured."
Fang Chongyong said it again.
"Oh, I really owe you in my previous life."
Wang Yunxiu covered her forehead and was secretly worried: Last night they had a tender and affectionate intimacy over and over again, and they didn't go to bed until midnight. Wouldn't it affect this guy's performance today?
The more she looked at Fang Chongyong, the more she felt that he had a pure Qiu Ba physique, completely inconsistent with the image of those men of letters.
Wang Yunxiu has no doubt that such people can win the battle, but taking exams is not their strong point!
"I'm going to Daming Palace."
Fang Chongyong stood up and walked out of the courtyard gate.
"After you finish the exam, help me buy some mandala flowers. Go to the Daqin Temple in Yiningfang to buy them. Don't go to the West Market. The shops there are very expensive.
The sellers in Daqin Temple were all acquaintances in Shazhou. When Alang went to buy, he was afraid that he would be able to get the goods based on his reputation. "
Anaye shouted from behind.
Fang Chongyong turned his head with a strange look on his face and asked in confusion: "Why do you want that thing?"
"This is not treating people.
Madam Wang's best friend Wei Sanniang has been having a cough recently. She probably ate too much cold food during the saint's birthday banquet, so she asked me to prescribe some medicine.
Datura flowers can cure coughs and asthma. If you don’t understand medical treatment, don’t worry about it. "
Anaye complained impatiently.
She has finished reading all the medical books at home. She is going to the Imperial Medical Office to read new medical books, and even wants to take classes, but she has never had the chance, so she has been in a bad mood recently.
In order to solve this problem, Fang Chongyong approached Li Linfu, who said that Anaye could go to the Imperial Medical Office with one of his daughters. The people attending the class there were all women from official families, and the class was also a female medical officer from the palace. There were no men present.
But this matter will have to wait until the exam is over and Brother Ji’s affairs are explained.
"I know, I know. After I finish the exam, I will just go to the Daqin Temple in Yiningfang."
Fang Chongyong waved his hand and walked directly out of the courtyard gate towards the Daming Palace.
Daming Palace is not far from Yongjiafang. You can get there by heading north after going out. When Fang Chongyong passed through the Danfeng Gate of the Daming Palace, he discovered that the Jinwu Guard team on duty at this time was led by Pei Min, the middle man of the Youjinwu Guard.
My colleagues in the same department and at the same level last month.
After checking Fang Chongyong's identity information, Pei Min said with a half-smile:
"General Fang is a very ambitious person. Well, not only is he ambitious, he is also quite capable. He can be the general of the Jinwu Guard, and he can also be the number one scholar.
He is really both civil and military, and his future is limitless. "
Being told about his unspeakable little plot in front of others, Fang Chongyong chuckled and said: "They are all doing things for the saint. If the saint says it's okay, then it's okay, or if it's not okay, it's okay. Does General Pei think this is true?"
"Hahahahaha, General Fang is right, go to Zichen Palace quickly."
Pei Min laughed loudly, and even skipped the step of searching himself. He waved his hand directly and motioned for Fang Zhongyong to go to the Zichen Hall of Daming Palace to take the exam.
Zichen Hall is the third main hall in the Daming Palace. It was originally the inner court hall, where ministers met with the emperor, which was called "entering the pavilion". Its status is second to Hanyuan Hall and Changchao Xuanzheng Hall, which are the outer court offices to the south.
However, since Kaiyuan, the political core of Chang'an has been transferred to Xingqing Palace. Only when there is a big court meeting, Brother Ji will come to the Zichen Palace to convene the ministers to discuss important matters.
However, even so, Hanyuan Hall and Xuanzheng Hall are almost abandoned. The frequency of use every year is probably during the Shangyuan Festival sacrificial ceremony, when the central ministers are summoned to participate in the ceremony.
After arriving in Tianbao, the government affairs of the Tang Dynasty did not even use the Zichen Palace. Major matters were discussed by the emperor and his ministers in the Qinzheng Building of Xingqing Palace; minor matters were discussed by the prime minister in the political hall of the imperial city. If it were not for holding the palace examination, I am afraid that the Zichen Palace would have remained empty.
There are many tables in the Zichen Hall, but there are no chairs in front of the tables! There are no stools either!
Every candidate must stand, bend down, and bow in order to write the test paper!
But Du Fu, who was in a wheelchair, could sit down and write.
And sitting on the dragon chair in the main hall was an old man wearing a dragon robe, who was undoubtedly Brother Ji. In addition to Gao Lishi, there were several officials in red official robes around him, and Fang Chongyong did not recognize any of them.
He guessed that these people were the examiners of this imperial examination.
After a while, people were standing in front of all the desks here. In other words, all the candidates taking the palace examination were here.
"The questions for this palace examination will be set by the saint himself."
Gao Lishi shouted.
Everyone in Zichen Hall pricked up their ears to listen.
Li Longji whispered a few words in Gao Lishi's ear, and the latter nodded and shouted at the top of his voice:
"Today's topic is policy theory, the format is not limited, the content is: how the Tang Dynasty planned to manage the Western Regions.
This is the question. Candidates, you can start. You can hand in the paper at any time after finishing it. "
After finishing speaking, Gao Lishi patrolled the Zichen Hall, passing each candidate again and again.
Traveling through the Western Regions?
Fang Chongyong thought he heard wrongly.
If it comes to reciting poems and writing poems, he is a layman among laymen. If it comes to talking about how to manage the Western Regions, he, who has been the governor of Shazhou for four years, is a dedicated professional!
The kind without quotation marks!
In the entire Tang Dynasty, there are not many people who are more professional than him in this field!
Wouldn't it be too bullying for a professional like him to compete on the same stage with these lay candidates in the hall?
In the past four years as the governor of Shazhou, Fang Chongyong not only participated in military operations to maintain the trade routes in the Western Regions, but also planned a series of new policies, such as the promotion and commercialization of Gaochang straw cotton. Many policies have been promoted locally.
If we talk about knowledge in this area, it’s almost the same if Brother Ji is a student and he is a teacher giving exam questions!
After thinking about it, Fang Chongyong wrote on the paper:
“If the Tang Dynasty wanted to govern the Western Regions, it must consolidate Hexi; if it wanted to consolidate Hexi, it must contain Tubo; if it wanted to contain Tubo, it must build a defense line with Shibao City as the core and prepare heavy troops for attack.
Hexi is the hilt of the sword, and the two major military governors of Anxi and Beiting are the sword's edge, which can sweep away the injustice in the Western Region. If you want long-term peace and stability in the Western Region, you must unite all the small countries to resist Tibet, lure them with benefits, threaten them with troops, and rule them with officials..."
Fang Chongyong got into a good mood as soon as he wrote, as if he had returned to the old days of the government office in Shazhou, crossing his legs while instructing Yan Zhuang to write government orders.
After a while, he filled up the big paper on the desk with writing, and he just started.
When he looked up, he found that Gao Lishi was already standing in front of him, as if he had been standing for a long time.
"Hey, write well. If you can't finish it, the saint can wait."
Gao Lishi said with a smile, took away the paper full of words on the desk and put a new piece of paper on it. Then he handed the piece of paper full of words to Brother Ji who was bored in the distance to check.
This kind of question is extremely open-ended and has no standard answer at all.
People who understand can write tens of thousands of words eloquently, but it is not enough; people who don’t understand feel like they have nothing to say even after writing hundreds of words. Fang Chongyong concentrated on writing and didn't care about others. However, in the current situation, he stands out from the crowd, and he cannot hide it just because he wants to.
Soon after, only Fang Chongyong was still writing in the entire hall. The other candidates had already handed in their papers and looked at him like a monster.
After writing eight large pieces of paper, Fang Chongyong felt that he had bragged to such an extent that he should be able to deliver.
So he put down his pen and stretched.
Looking around, he found that dozens of candidates were watching him, with various expressions on their faces, including shock, confusion, admiration, jealousy, etc.
Fang Chongyong seemed to see all kinds of things in the world on their faces.
"Okay! Okay! Fang Chongyong really deserves the title of Number One Scholar! Being the governor of Shangzhou is more than enough!
I want to grant you an official position right now! "
Brother Ji's excited cheers could be heard in the distance.
Hearing this, Fang Chongyong felt relieved and secretly rejoiced.
Sure enough, it is human nature to be a troll, and Brother Ji is no exception.
If you write about the policies that were actually promulgated, Ji Ge may not appreciate it. However, clear and coherent speeches are what these political trolls are keen on.
This was a really good bet.
"The sage is full of praise."
Fang Zhongyong crossed his hands and saluted in the direction of Brother Ji.
"But except for Fang Chongyong, there are many people here who make me very disappointed!"
Brother Ji's cold scolding could be heard in the distance.
(End of chapter)
