In the north of the city, Cheng Mansion.
Cheng Minzheng, the examiner of the general examination, was sitting in the study drinking tea, waiting for Tang Yin's arrival.
Cheng Minzheng was fifty-three years old at the time. He was a scholar from generation to generation and was a typical civil servant family. Starting from the great-grandfather's generation, the Cheng family relied on the imperial examination to become officials for generations.
His father Cheng Xin was the Minister of the Ministry of War in Nanjing.
Cheng Minzheng has been a famous child prodigy in Beizhili since he was a child. When he was seventeen, Bingdilian bloomed in the pond in the back garden of Cheng's house, and he ranked first in the Beizhili Township Examination in high school.
When he was only twenty years old, he passed the Huiyuan examination, came second in the high school examination, and entered the Hanlin Academy as a scholar. He almost created the myth of winning three yuan in a row.
Li Xian, then the chief assistant of the cabinet, took a look: Hey, this young man is good and has a bright future.
So Li Shoufu arrested his son-in-law and married his daughter to him.
In addition to his father who is the Minister of War, Cheng Minzheng also has a father-in-law who is the chief minister of the cabinet.
It should be said that Lao Cheng had a great start.
My father is a minister and has a huge official network. He also strives for success and becomes the second best player in his weak year.
The spring breeze is proud of the horse's hooves, and I look at the flowers in Chang'an at the end of the day. He also married the daughter of the chief minister's family.
The future is bright, really bright.
However, Lao Cheng was capable of studying for the imperial examination, and his ability as an official was average and quite satisfactory. Relying on his early entry into the official position, strong connections, and hard work to qualify, he became the right minister of the Ministry of Rites.
Follow the official promotion rules. After another two or three years, he would be promoted to Minister of Rites at the age of about fifty-five.
The Minister of Rites is also the No. 1 cabinet minister in Tianzi. Not surprisingly, he will be able to join the cabinet before he is sixty years old, and he will be a highly respected minister.
This time the emperor's kindness was great, and his close friend Li Dongyang was also very helpful. Li Dongyang recommended him and the emperor appointed him as the examiner of the examination.
The chief examiner of the joint examination is a temporary appointment and is not considered a permanent official. However, among the civil servants of the Ming Dynasty who were of the third rank or above, everyone rushed to be the chief examiner.
The chief examiner of the joint examination will become the tutor for the first, second and third grade Jinshi in a whole subject. Political strength can increase dramatically.
There are hundreds of people who have won the Jinshi in one subject, and a few of them will definitely be successful in the future. Even if someone becomes the chief assistant in the future, when you see him, you must respectfully call him "Master".
Cheng Minzheng was very proud. Before the examination begins, I plan to recruit a few promised disciples who are already famous all over the world.
If a person like Tang Yin, who is known as the first of the four great talents in the south of the Yangtze River, can become his promised disciple, it will bring him face.
Look, being able to be a teacher of great talents means that my own talents and learning are also the best in the world.
Secondly, the relationship between the promised disciples is closer than that between ordinary disciples.
If a young talent like Tang Yin has a bright future, I can put him to good use. The strength of my network will increase a bit.
Let us say that Tang Yin led Xu Jing to the gate of Cheng Mansion.
Xu Jing is the son of a wealthy family, but he is by no means a stupid son. People have a reputation for success.
In the provincial examinations of the Ming Dynasty, even if you want to spend money to bribe the examiners to buy the title of candidates, you have to pass the test yourself. First of all, the handwriting must be good. Secondly, you must be proficient in stereotypes and know how to choose words and form sentences.
Otherwise, even if the test questions are leaked to you, you won’t know how to write an exam essay.
If you find someone to catch you, you won't be able to memorize the article if you write it in advance.
If your handwriting is not good, the bribed examiner will not be able to mark your paper.
Xu Jing heard that Mr. Cheng, the chief examiner of this examination, invited Tang Yin to come to the house for a talk. His mind flashed: I'll go with you and build a good relationship with Mr. Cheng. Doesn't this increase the chances of winning by a few percent?
So Xu Jing asked Tang Yin to come with him.
Tang Yin did not refuse. During this trip to take the exam, Xu Jing spent between eight hundred and five hundred taels of silver on him.
He was meticulously taken care of and extremely considerate along the way.
This bit of face should be given to Xu Jing.
The two stood in front of the gate of Cheng Mansion.
The king of hell is easy to meet, but the devil is difficult to deal with. The seventh-rank official in front of the prime minister's door.
The old concierge Cheng Wang stopped the two of them.
Tang Yin took out the invitation card: "Yingtian Juren Tang Yin came to pay homage to Mr. Cheng."
Cheng Wang took the name card: "Ah, it's Tang Juren. Our master has been waiting for you for a long time."
Turning around, he shouted to a young servant: "Brother Rui, take Mr. Tang to the master's study."
Xu Jing followed Tang Yin and wanted to enter the mansion, but Cheng Wang stopped him: "Who are you?"
Xu Jing replied: "Xu Jing, a man from Jiangyin, came to pay homage to Mr. Cheng."
Cheng Wang's old face drooped, as if Xu Jing owed him two taels of silver and had not paid back: "What kind of cat and dog can enter the residence of the Minister of Rites at that time?"
"Go! Go! Go!"
Tang Yin explained: "Old man, this Xu Juren came with me. He is my best friend."
Cheng Wang's attitude towards Tang Yin was different from that towards Xu Jing. His son Cheng Zhong is Cheng Minzheng's personal servant and is well-informed.
Cheng Wang knew that Tang Yin was a great talent that the master valued.
Cheng Wang softened his tone and said to Tang Yin: "Tang Juren. Our master only said to see you, not your good friend."
"We don't dare to bring people into the house casually."
With quick eyesight and quick hands, Xu Jing stuffed a banknote into Cheng Wang's sleeve.
But something happened unexpectedly. His banknotes were folded upside down and Cheng Wang couldn't see the amount.
Cheng Wang believes that the denominations of ten taels and eighty taels are enough to survive.
However, because of his shortcomings, he put away his arrogant and unruly expression: "Ah, Tang Juren has been in the countryside for a long time, so he may not know that there are many rules in the imperial palace."
"The master didn't tell me to see you, so I can't let you into the house."
"But since you came with Tang Juren, I can't let you stand at the door and wait."
"Well, you go sit in the concierge for a while, drink a cup of tea, and wait for Tang Juren."
After all, Xu Jing belongs to a wealthy family in Jiangyin. Jiangyin is also a prosperous and prosperous place in the south of the Yangtze River. Cheng Wang said that he "has been in the countryside for a long time."
There is no way, in the eyes of these old Beijingers, outside the Forty-Nine Cities, everything is in the countryside. When outsiders come to Beijing, they are all stinky country folk from other places who come to the capital to beg for food.
If Xu Jing hadn't given Cheng Wang a banknote, he wouldn't have even let the concierge in.
Tang Yin strode into the house. Xu Jingze entered the concierge.
Cheng Wang gave Xu Jing a small Mazha: "Xu Juren, please just sit down for a while! Usually when the local officials of the fourth and fifth grades come to see the master, they can't even get into the Mazha."
Xu Jing was very understanding of human nature: "Ah, thank you very much, old man."
Cheng Wang added: "If you are a sixth- or seventh-grade official, I won't even let the concierge in. You will have to stand at the gate and wait."
"Come on, let me make you a pot of tea. Although it is high-quality tea, the water in the capital is good, so the high-quality tea brewed is better than the tea in the countryside that only costs a few taels of silver per pound!"
Xu Jing expressed his gratitude again.
Cheng Wang left the concierge and came to the tea room. He said to the old man in the teahouse: "Here comes a country beggar! Make a pot and break it."
The old man in the teahouse turned around to make tea.
Cheng Wang took the opportunity to take out the banknote Xu Jing gave him from his sleeve to see if there were ten taels.
When he opened it, it didn't matter. Cheng Wang stumbled and almost fell down!
I saw a big inscription on the banknote: "With the ticket, I can take 200 taels of silver from the Treasury."
Cheng Wang was stunned. That country beggar is too generous! One shot is two hundred taels?
You know, when those magistrates and county magistrates from other places came to visit Cheng Minzheng at his house, they would only reward Cheng Wang with a maximum of 18 to 80 taels of silver.
Cheng Wang put away the banknotes and hurriedly patted the old man in the tea shop on the back: "I make the best rain tea, and that's a distinguished guest! I'm from Fugui Township in the south of the Yangtze River, and I can't get used to drinking high tea."
Cheng Wang carried the teapot and returned to the concierge. His attitude changed: "Ah, Xu Juren, this is the best tea before the rain. Please use it, please use it."
Xu Jing took a sip and said, "It is indeed good tea. The old man has taken the trouble."
Xu Jing smiled secretly in his heart: Dad is right, there is no one who spends money in the world.
This old man must have gone out to look at the bank note I gave him and knew the amount. Otherwise, why would your attitude change?
Cheng Wang started chatting with Xu Jing: "Don't think I'm just a janitor of the minister's house. Let me tell you, my son has a lot of potential!"
"My son is our master's personal servant! He is also illiterate and waits for pen and ink in the master's study every day."
After hearing this, Xu Jing's eyes lit up: "Ah, your young master is so promising! He is actually a person close to Mr. Cheng."
Cheng Wang stroked his beard proudly: "That's natural. Have you ever heard that an ant next to Tathagata Buddha can become an immortal?"
"One of us will guard the door for the master, and the other will wait on him personally. Officials in the capital will treat us a little less favorably when they see us."
At this point, Cheng Wang realized that he had exaggerated his boast. He quickly looked back and said, "Ah, I'm talking about those fifth- and sixth-grade officials."
Xu Jing smiled secretly in his heart: The fifth- and sixth-grade imperial officials gave you face? what are you? Just an old guard dog.
But Xu Jing was very interested in Cheng Wang's son. In other words, he was very interested in the test questions for this year's general examination.
Xu Jing smiled and said: "I am from a rural area in the south. I don't have much knowledge. You deigned to talk to me for a few words today, which gave me a lot of knowledge. Thank you very much."
After speaking, Xu Jing took out another banknote and handed it to Cheng Wang.
Cheng Wang looked at the denomination and saw that it was another two hundred taels of silver note!
He said: "How can this be so embarrassing", but his hand was honest, he took it and put it into his sleeve, with a frightened expression on his face.
Xu Jing smiled and said: "You were right just now. The ants around Tathagata Buddha can become immortals!"
"I also want to follow you to experience the immortality. Please let me know when your son is free. I will hold a big banquet for you and the young master at Wanfu Tower in the capital."
Wanfu Restaurant is the most expensive restaurant in Beijing.
When Xu Jing, a wealthy man from the south of the Yangtze River, came to Beijing, his consumption principle was not to eat the best, but only the most expensive.
Cheng Wang was flattered and couldn't help rubbing his hands: "Ah, Xu Juren, oh no, Mr. Xu is too polite."
Juren of the Ming Dynasty can be called "Master". A change in title is a change in attitude.
Xu Jing started to draw cakes for Cheng Wang again: "I am a person who is easy to make friends. As long as we are of the same mind, a gift of one or two thousand silver will be like entering a treasure game and losing a few more dice."
The rebellious old concierge, Cheng Wang of the old capital, was completely conquered by Xu Jing, a wealthy local man.
Cheng Wang praised repeatedly: "If my son can make a generous and heroic friend like Mr. Xu, it will be a blessing that he has cultivated for three lifetimes!"
Let’s talk about Tang Yin’s side.
Tang Yin entered Cheng Minzheng's study and saluted him.
Cheng Minzheng saw that Tang Yin was not only good at writing, but also looked more dignified and a standard official. He likes this junior even more.
Cheng Minzheng was a great Confucian, a man of great talent and learning. Naturally, he and Tang Yin have a lot in common.
The two chatted about poetry and the art of eight-legged writing for an entire hour. It's just a shame that we met at such a late age.
Cheng Minzheng took a sip of tea and finally got down to business: "Actually, being able to take a test depends not only on talent but also on luck."
"Wang Shouren, the son of the Wang Hua family, is famous in Beijing, but he still failed in two subjects."
Successive examination masters have agreed to accept students, and only those who are talented but not from a very high background are accepted.
Wang Shouren's father, Wang Hua, is now a bachelor of the Hanlin Academy, and his status is too sensitive. No examiner dared to make an agreement with Wang Shouren.
Tang Yin didn't know why Cheng Minzheng brought the topic to luck.
Cheng Minzheng finally made his intention clear: "I plan to accept you as my disciple, what do you think?"
Although Tang Yin is wild and unruly, he is not stupid, nor is he indifferent to the four limbs and five grains. He knows what a promised disciple is.
As an examiner, he naturally knew what the examiner meant.
Tang Yin remained silent.
Cheng Minzheng said again: "You have such a great talent. It shouldn't be difficult to answer the questions with mediocre control, right? Show me your handwriting again."
Accepting promised disciples does not mean giving away the problem. Just let the students mark their answers.
Don't look at the paper as the name is unclear. The examiner has made an agreement with the candidate and it is easy to make a secret note. For example, what is the pronunciation of the word in each line when solving the question? Use Ping and Qi as secret notes.
Check the candidate's handwriting before taking the exam to be sure.
Unexpectedly, Tang Yin actually said to Cheng Minzheng: "Master. The student prides himself on being knowledgeable. He is confident that he can stand out in the examination and take the imperial examination."
"Even without the help of teachers, students can still be nominated on the apricot list and even get on the gold list."
"A thousand-mile horse often exists, but a Bole does not always exist. Students dare not compare themselves to a thousand-mile horse, but you are a Bole."
Tang Yin's words contained deep meaning. First of all, he did not call Cheng Minzheng "Master Cheng" or "Cheng Butang", but directly addressed him as his master.
It means that Tang Yin has agreed to attach himself to Cheng Minzheng and be his good student.
Secondly, Tang Yin clearly rejected Cheng Minzheng's help.
The translation of this sentence is: Teacher, without your help, I can become a tribute scholar and go to the palace examination to get the title of Jinshi.
You don't have to worry.
But not letting you help does not mean that I am not dependent on you.
You are still my teacher, like a real father.
When I become an official in the future, I will also remember your kindness. You ask me to go east, but I will never go west.
Cheng Minzheng was not only not angry but overjoyed when his good intentions were rejected. He is a talent lover. What's more, a great talent like Tang Yin who is one of the best in the world?
Moreover, Cheng Minzheng saw the shadow of his own youth in Tang Yin.
When our old Cheng was young, he was as confident as him. When I was in high school, I was in high school, I was in high school, and I was in the middle of the rankings. I told my father that I didn’t need to ask someone to help me, I could still go to high school.
Cheng Minzheng praised Tang Yin: "You are indeed a great talent in the world, and you have everything you need to know! I'm waiting for you to be named on the apricot list and get on the gold list!"
"At that time, I will hold a banquet for you in my house to celebrate for you!"
During this visit, Tang Yin did not become Cheng Minzheng's promised disciple. The two of them just admired each other and became friends all year round.
Cheng Minzheng did not reveal the problem to Tang Yin. Although Lao Cheng is not very capable, he still has a bottom line.
But Xu Jing fell in love with Cheng Minzheng's servant.
There is only half a month left before the exam. On the fifth day before the exam, the test questions must be determined.
Cheng Minzheng spends every night in his study studying the exam questions.
The Ming Dynasty's examinations were definitely not like those made up by some TV dramas in later generations. The examiner gave a question of a dozen words, and the candidates wrote an essay and that was it.
The examination consists of three sessions, nine days, and twenty-two questions.
In the first three days, there are three tests on the meaning of the book and four tests on the meaning of the classics.
Two sessions and three days, one examination and discussion, five policies, one each for imperial edict, imperial edict, external examination, and internal medicine.
In the last three days, five subjects including classics, history, time, affairs, and strategy were examined.
The paper is divided into two parts: southern and northern. Some questions for candidates from the South are different from those from the North.
The most important among them are the book meaning and classic meaning questions in the first chapter, which account for a large proportion of the "circle".
Whether it is the ancient imperial examination or the modern college entrance examination, the principles of setting questions are the same.
There are basic questions to test basic skills, and there are also score questions to distinguish personal abilities.
Although Cheng Minzheng was the examiner, he did not answer all twenty-two questions.
He is only responsible for the classics and meanings.
In the classic question, he deliberately made a weird and tricky question. It is similar to the most difficult score-breaking question in mathematics in the college entrance examination.
He was very satisfied with this question. It all depends on whether the candidate can answer this question whether he is an extremely smart person, a mediocre person, or a mediocre person.
What Cheng Minzheng didn't know was that while he was busy writing exam questions, Cheng Zhong, his personal servant who was grinding beside him, had been glancing at the paper with the corner of his eye.
On the ninth day of the second lunar month, Gongyuan opened its doors, and students came to the Dragon Gate with their examination supplies.
Chang Feng, Wang Shouren and Zhang Cong walked together and came to the dragon gate.
Chang Feng glanced at the word "Gongyuan". This is the ideal and pursuit of generations of scholars.
The three of them entered the dragon gate.
Not long after, Tang Yin and Xu Jing also entered Longmen together.
As the head of the Ministry of Rites rang the opening gong, the 12th year of Hongzhi examination officially began.
(End of chapter)
