A few days later, the examination had passed, but the Shuntian Gongyuan was still busy.
A group of fellow examiners, including Xu Guoqi, the bachelor and president of the examination, and Gao Pangshi, rushed from the Ministry of Rites to Shuntian Gongyuan and never left this place again. They first invigilated the examination and then marked the papers.
There are three to five students taking the examination in each room of the Five Classics, and Gao Pragmatic is assigned to the "Yi" room according to the classics.
Originally, according to his qualifications, he should be a house master at the end of the crane, but in fact this is not the case. His special background and special official status made him the most authoritative house master in the "Yi" house. Others, including Chen Yubi, would come to ask Gao Pragmatic to make a decision when the two volumes were indistinguishable.
It had been going well before, but something went wrong after lunch today. Shen Ziyi, who is also a house master, found an article and thought it was very well written. He showed it to Chen Yubi, who also thought it was excellent. He made it, so he and Shen Ziyi brought it to Gao Pangshi to see.
Unexpectedly, Gao pragmatically read the papers very quickly before and gave quick evaluations, but this time he read very slowly, and the more he read, the more he frowned.
Shen Ziping was standing next to him, and he couldn't understand it after thinking about it. He felt that this article was definitely good enough, but Gao Longwen looked at it with such an expression... Could it be that there were things that should be avoided in the volume but were not avoided?
It stands to reason that at the general examination level, the candidates are all experienced veterans and are unlikely to make such low-level mistakes. But in fact, this thing is uncertain. Because the candidates for the general examination are under great pressure, sometimes they just don't make high-level mistakes. Mistakes, and low-level mistakes always occur.
Chen Yubi was also a little uneasy by Gao Pragmatic's rare caution. You must know that he had also read this article. If there are any taboo words, although the list has not been finalized yet, there will be no serious consequences. But it’s very embarrassing for me.
Who would have thought that when Gao pragmatic saw the end, he just sighed, put the copied examination paper on the desk, rubbed his eyebrows as if he had a headache, and said: "In my opinion, this article should be deposed." , but I also know what you two mean by it. It is that this article looks really good. It is written according to the law and has beautiful words..."
Shen Ziyi said in astonishment: "Did Gao Longwen think otherwise?"
Gao pragmatic shook his head: "That's not true. If I just read the articles in this volume, I would think it is at least in the top ten."
Shen Ziyi was surprised and said: "In that case, why do you say he was deposed?"
"When we select talents, we don't just select literary talents, we actually select the pillars of the country." Gao Pingshi said calmly: "Although we are just reading the five scriptures at the moment, not making policy decisions, we can still see the candidates' ambitions and temperament while writing."
Shen Ziyi was a little dissatisfied after hearing this. He pointed to the paper and said, "What Gao Longwen said is certainly reasonable, but I think the candidates in this paper have noble nature and very lofty aspirations."
Chen Yubi also nodded beside him and said, "Yes, I think so too."
Gao pragmatic also nodded and said: "Of course, noble and noble."
Chen Yubi was stunned by what he said, frowned and said: "In that case..."
"Too noble, too great." Gao pragmatically pressed the paper with his index finger and pushed it forward slightly: "It is easy to say, but difficult to do... In other words, this is just a way of saying it, but it is not practical at all. It doesn’t make sense.”
Chen Yubi frowned but said nothing.
But Shen Ziyi shook his head: "If Young Sima sees it this way, I'm afraid he won't be able to select many Jinshi."
Gao pragmatic smiled slightly and said: "You can choose a few, choose a few, it's better to have less than to waste."
Shen Ziyi raised his eyebrows slightly: "How many have Gao Longwen chosen now?"
"Three."
"Only three?"
Not only Shen Ziyi was stunned, Chen Yubi was also stunned.
There are usually about three hundred people on the gold list for one subject. If each of the eighteen room masters only chooses three, then the number of people on the gold list for this subject will really hit a record low.
Moreover, Chen Yubi knew the emperor's intention of letting Gao Pragmatic temporarily serve as the examiner of the general examination. In addition, Xu Guo was the chief examiner of the undergraduate program. Gao Pragmatic had every reason and ability to win a few more new subjects, and then naturally he would not have to worry about having no one available in the future. .
But obviously Gao Pragmatic didn't want to explain the reason. He just smiled and didn't say anything else. He just picked up the paper on the desk, handed it to Shen Zibing and said, "What I just said is just my personal opinion. Is it right?" It is up to Brother Shen to decide whether he will be promoted to the old man in Xu Ge."
Shen Ziyi took it over, hesitated for a while, and sighed: "I originally wanted to recommend this article to Mr. Xu Ge as a first-class candidate, but... forget it, let's decide on a third-class candidate."
Gao pragmatic smiled, as if he agreed, but didn't seem to express anything.
After a few days of marking by the room masters, Mr. Xu Ge had already read some recommended excellent articles, and he had also "picked up" a few more among the discarded articles. The marking work of the examination was basically completed.
When finalizing the list, Gao Pragmatic set two records. One is the record of the fewest recommended articles - three; the second is the record of the highest success rate of recommended articles - all.
In front of a bunch of examiners, Xu Guo couldn't help but joke and joked: "Seeking truth, seeking truth, I think your hobby is breaking records, right?"
Gao pragmatically started to talk nonsense seriously: "I am a junior in the examination room. I dare not take up more places, so as not to ruin the country."
Everyone originally thought that Gao Jingshi recommended only three people as a pretentious move, but as soon as he said this, everyone felt that "this guy is not bad" - Gao Jingshi recommended less than a dozen, even if they were evenly divided At once, each person can recommend one more person. This recommendation is a guarantee for the future!
Therefore, once Gao Pragmatic's approach was fully explained, everyone felt that this kid was quite enlightened. He took good care of everyone and did not rely on the power of his holy family to dominate others.
I don’t know whether it was because Gao Jingshi gave up more than a dozen places, or because he was really discerning. When everyone finally discussed the rankings, they were stunned to place one of the three articles selected by Gao Jingshi. The first place is the Huiyuan position.
Gao Pragmatic actually didn't know who the author of the article was. Seeing this situation, he was afraid that everyone was just giving him a face, so he couldn't help but declined. Who knew that all the examiners present said that they felt that it was true after reading the article? It is a top masterpiece, and Huiyuan deserves it.
Gao Pragmatic couldn't refuse, so he had to admit it.
Moving further back, the other two articles selected by Gao Jingshi are also ranked fairly high, one is ranked twelfth in the second class, and the other is ranked 30th in the second class. Generally speaking, even if The 30th place in the second class is usually unlikely to make major mistakes in the palace examination, and in the later Shujishi Hall selection, the chance of being selected is also very high.
It seems that although there are few articles on high pragmatism, they are indeed few and precise. Even if something goes wrong with Brother Hui Yuan during the imperial examination, it doesn't matter. At least three Shujishi should not be able to escape.
The examination results were published, and the celebration outside had nothing to do with Gao Pragmatism. From Xu Ge to all the fellow examiners, they just changed places to sleep - moved from Sunchon Gongyuan back to the Ministry of Rites again, and maintained a concentrated life like "house arrest" .
After a few days of celebration, the palace examination began, and Gao Pragmatic still had an assignment: as one of the examiners, he continued to grade the examination papers.
The examination examiners are a little different from before. In addition to a group of examiners who continue to examine examination papers, the first assistant Zhang Siwei, the second assistant Shen Shixing, etc. also have to bear the name of examination examiners.
But something unexpected happened this time. Both Zhang Siwei and Shen Shixing declined this customary appointment, and the reason was the same: to avoid suspicion.
At this time, Gao Pingshi learned that Zhang Jiazheng and Shen Yongmao were also among the candidates for this subject - Zhang Jiazheng was the son of Zhang Siwei, and Shen Yongmao was the son of Shen Shixing. Therefore, the two pavilion elders avoided suspicion.
Gao Yongmao was not very clear about Shen Yongmao's situation, but he did know that Zhang Jiazheng was his cousin.
Originally, Zhang Jiazheng was going to take the examination in the eighth year of Wanli, but he fell ill temporarily and missed the Spring Festival of Gengchenke. Otherwise, he might have been like brothers Xiao Liangyou and Wang Tingzhuan last time. Brothers have Chinese style together.
In this palace examination, the adjustment to the rankings in the general examination is neither big nor small. The change in the overall ranking is very small, but there is one adjustment that is slightly unfavorable to Gao Pragmatic: the original examination test was dropped one place to second place.
However, this adjustment was made by the "Imperial Meeting". At that time, only a few cabinet elders and the Minister of Rites were in front of the emperor, and Gao Pragmatic did not know what was going on.
As soon as the palace exam gold medal list came out, it was time for the new scholars to celebrate, and there was nothing pragmatic about it. For him, it was just the end of the "jail" that had lasted for nearly a month - Huang Zhiting had been in Annan for several days, and maybe the troops had already gathered for maritime adaptability training.
Gao Pragmatic, who was finally liberated, returned to his home. He planned to see if there was any report from Liaodong, but he knew that an old acquaintance was already waiting for him.
The visitor has a high status and is known as the internal minister - Huang Mengyu, the eunuch who holds the seal of the Supervisor of Ceremonies.
"Young Master Sima, are you alright?" Huang Mengyu shouted, and came out as if he were at his own house. He raised his arms and said, "I, Lao Huang, didn't see you until today when you came back this time. I'm really sorry." Very, I will punish myself with three drinks later."
Gao Pangshi's relationship with Huang Mengyu was closer than that with Chen Ju, and he didn't talk about it at the moment. He laughed and said: "Don't talk about drinking - let me ask you first. When I just came back last time, you said you were there It’s worth leaving, isn’t this reason too far-fetched?”
Huang Mengyu looked around and said with a smile: "We'll talk about it later, we'll talk about it later."
Gao Pragmatic was a little surprised and thought to himself: Is something really wrong?
But Huang Mengyu is a rough man with finesse, and Gao Pragmatic has no doubt about him, so he pulls him in.
The mansion had long known that Gao Pingshi was coming back, and also knew that Huang Mengyu had arrived, so the banquet had already been prepared and was just waiting for them to be served.
When he was seated at the table, Gao pragmatic waved his hand to ask everyone around him to leave first, and then looked at Huang Mengyu.
Huang Mengyu put down his wine glass, scratched his head and said, "I guess the part-time job at Lao Chen's place will have to be handed over soon."
Gao Pingshi asked: "The Royal Horse Supervisor?"
Huang Mengyu nodded.
"To whom?" Gao Pingshi frowned and said, "It can't be Li Wenjin, right?"
"That's not the case, that's not the case." Huang Mengyu waved his hand quickly: "After the Empress Dowager Cisheng stopped asking about political affairs, Lao Chen and I originally thought that the emperor might reuse his uncle, but it later proved that the emperor had no such intention. .”
Gao Pinggong said sincerely, "Of course I don't mean this. Li Wenjin certainly made great contributions to Empress Dowager Li, and he also protected Zhu Yijun when he was a child. But now that Zhu Yijun has finally obtained power from the two palaces, how can he push Li Wenjin forward again?" To the stage?
Not to mention whether the foreign court would ignore this report and worry that Li Wenjin would become a powerful eunuch who would bring disaster to the country and the people. Let's just say that Zhu Yijun himself would not do such a stupid thing - is there much difference between Li Wenjin being in power and the Empress Dowager Li being in power?
"What does the emperor want to use?" Gao pragmatically asked.
Huang Mengyu's eyes narrowed and he said in a deep voice: "Zhang Jing."
Gao pragmatic frowned immediately and asked: "He is a member of Zhang Hong's family. Why does the emperor not use Zhang Hong, but instead use him instead of Zhang Hong? What's wrong with Zhang Hong?"
Huang Mengyu sighed: "Zhang Hong is not bad, but he has a tough temper. The last time the emperor's eldest son was born, the emperor... was not very happy. Zhang Hong gave some advice, but was scolded by the emperor. He couldn't think of it and went on a hunger strike. died."
Gao Pingshi was stunned, then frowned and said, "The emperor scolded him? Did he say it in a harsh way?"
Huang Mengyu became stern when he heard Gao's pragmatic tone. He was a little scared for some reason, and hurriedly said: "Actually, I didn't scold him. I just said, 'This is my family matter, it has nothing to do with you, stand down!' But you also You know, Zhang Hong is an upright person. He asked for good intentions, but was shouted back by the emperor, so it was inevitable that he couldn't think about it for a while."
Gao Pangshi's face softened slightly, but was still a little stern, and asked: "Then what will the emperor say after his death?"
Huang Mengyu said: "The emperor felt very sorry for him and ordered Zhang Hong to be buried beside Yingxiang Temple outside the gate of Fucheng. He sent people to regularly offer incense, melons, fruits and other objects as sacrifices."
Gao Pingshi managed to calm down and said: "The emperor is the supreme king in the world. He should be cautious about his words and deeds. I will talk to the emperor about this next time. How can I treat a loyal minister so slowly?"
Eunuchs in the Ming Dynasty could be called ministers, but in fact nowadays, even the great eunuchs rarely dare to regard themselves as "ministers", so Huang Mengyu was quite moved by Gao Pingshi's words, and sighed: "Once Zhang Hong dies, Zhang Jing will be gone." He was suppressed, he was not Lao Chen and I's subordinate, and it was not appropriate for the two of us to attack Zhang Hong's adopted son while his body was still cold.
This guy coaxes the emperor, and when it comes to means, it's just that, everything goes as planned, but the emperor is only of this age after all, and words of advice are never as good as words that go well... Plus, you are going again After leaving Liaodong, no one can warn the emperor..."
Gao pragmatic subconsciously turned the small cup of Yu porcelain in his hand and said thoughtfully: "It wouldn't matter if Zhang Jing only takes down the Royal Horse Prison, but I always feel that this guy won't be so honest..."
"Young Sima has a sharp eye." Huang Mengyu patted the table lightly and lowered his voice: "Lao Chen and I discovered that Zhang Jing was already in contact with Liu Shou - within a month, the two had a secret meeting Four times.”
Gao Pragmatic slowly narrowed his eyes.
Zhang Jing, who was about to be appointed as the Grand Eunuch of the Royal Horse Guards, had such frequent secret meetings with Liu Shouyou, the Commander-in-Chief of the Jinyiwei, and even skipped the Dongchang set up to supervise the Jinyiwei. It must not be just for small talk, right?
No wonder Huang Mengyu was so cautious today that even the eunuchs around him couldn't trust him.
It seems that when I go to Liaodong, the demons and ghosts around the emperor can't help but come out to make some sense of presence.
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Originally, I thought it would be just one chapter from writing the test papers until the results were released, but this time I over-refined it and made it two-in-one.
