As the boss of Qinzhou, Shen Rong is one of the core members of this gang of corrupt officials. Whether they are dividing the spoils or discussing how to plunder the people's wealth, he is involved, and he is well aware of the affairs of Qinzhou.
From his mouth, Xiao Yuan learned that of the twenty-one counties in Qin, the magistrates of six counties were bought, and many other counties were also corrupt.
In a county, there is of course not only one official, but also county magistrates, county magistrates, and many other county officials. Shen Rong came one by one. In the end, more than thirty officials were involved.
Liu Yuzhi had already started writing notes.
After he finished speaking, Xiao Yuan couldn't help but take a deep breath and was shocked.
"Is there something to hide!?" he asked again.
"No, no, I have told you everything I know. Your Excellency has learned from you." Shen Rong said quickly.
Xiao Yuan stared at him again, then raised his head to signal to Ye Cheng.
Ye Cheng understood and stepped forward to pull Shen Rong away, but the latter was immediately frightened and screamed: "Master Taishou! You promised me..."
"When did I respond to you?" Xiao Yuan interrupted him coldly and waved to Ye Cheng again.
Yes, Xiao Yuan had not promised him before, and he was not an indecisive or soft-hearted person. How could he let such a corrupt official go.
"Sir! The murder of you was all ordered by Guo Qian, and I was also confused for a moment..."
When he was dragged out, Shen Rong was still yelling, but no one paid attention to him.
Xiao Yuan and Liu Yuzhi were the only two people left in the hall. After he finished writing, Xiao Yuan also looked at him and asked, "Have you written it all down?"
"I've written it all down."
Liu Yuzhi nodded, put down his brush and said, "I didn't expect that Qin officials would reach such a state. It's simply unbelievable. Fortunately, my lord took precautions and issued a recruitment order."
After that, he tentatively said: "I just don't know how your Excellency plans to handle this matter."
"Behead them all!" Xiao Yuan's words were concise and concise, but they shocked Liu Yuzhi into a cold sweat.
"All...all?" He couldn't help but swallowed his saliva and said in a trembling voice: "But there are too many officials involved. If they all are questioned, there will be chaos..."
"If you don't deal with it, there will be endless troubles in the future, and it will only become more chaotic. If you want to clean it up, clean it up at once!" Xiao Yuan's tone left no room for doubt.
Although he is the lord of Qinzhou and has absolute power, he has to deal with more than 30 officials at once. It is impossible to say that there is no pressure.
Next, on the one hand, he gave Ye Cheng an order to temporarily control the more than 30 officials. On the other hand, he also focused on this group of scholars who were taking the exam.
This recruitment order caused a great sensation in the Qin Dynasty because it broke the rules and ignored family background, which gave many civilians a chance to get ahead.
Who doesn't want to be an official, especially in the context of ancient times, where there was a strict hierarchy and clear distinction between superiority and inferiority. The status of officials was very different from that of civilians.
Therefore, the scholars who came to take the exam this time were like crucian carp crossing the river. Many of them wanted to seek an official position here with the prefect.
But after the first test, Liu Yuzhi had already screened out an unknown number of people.
Those who can pass the preliminary examination are more or less talented. At the very least, their articles are not bad.
Three days later, the prefect's mansion.
As the final examiner, Xiao Yuan also set the questions himself this time.
The prefect's mansion is large enough, and the place for taking the exam is not inside the house, but in the courtyard.
At this moment, there are many soldiers around. There is a table with a few tables directly above it, which is Xiao Yuan's position. On both sides below, there are also dozens of tables with a table, and there are soldiers who have prepared bamboo slips and pens one by one. lay down.
Soon, under the guidance, a large number of literati came here.
The crowd was noisy. Some people were looking around at the prefect's mansion, while others were chatting and whispering to each other...
Not long after, Xiao Yuan appeared, wearing the official uniform of the prefect. Seeing him, the scholars immediately stopped talking, their faces straightened, they bowed their hands, bowed towards him and gave a deep salute, and all said: "I've seen you before." Lord Taishou——"
"Excuse me." With a smile on his face, Xiao Yuan glanced around and said: "You are all talented people from Qin. Come to take the exam. Show your talents and tell us the best strategies for governing Qin. Your articles, I will also take a look at them one by one. Now, please take your seats."
As he spoke, he stretched out his hands to the left and right to signal everyone to sit down, then waved his sleeves slightly and sat directly above them.
"Thank you, Lord Prefect——"
When he took his seat, people saluted and shouted again, and then they all looked for their seats.
Not long after, everyone was sitting on the ground, each with a case in front of them, with pens and ink and bamboo slips that had been prepared long ago, just waiting for them to write.
At this time, naturally some scholars began to whisper to the people next to them:
"I didn't expect that this time, the prefect would actually take the exam himself..."
"Yeah, it's a bit difficult, how to write..."
"I already have an idea of how to write, how can I tell you..." someone said.
Another person said: "This examination is the first of its kind in the Qin Dynasty, and the prefect is personally in charge, which shows how important it is. If this article can be valued by the prefect, the future will be bright..."
Xiao Yuan did not stop people's whispers, but picked up the teacup and took a sip, waiting patiently.
After a small burst of noise, the crowd quickly calmed down spontaneously, because everyone understood the importance of this exam.
Someone started to write.
Some people frown and think deeply, but they still can't write.
Some people stop writing.
There are people who are moving like clouds and flowing water, writing as if they are inspired, and their faces are full of energy.
It wasn't until a while later that someone finally finished writing. After finishing writing, he immediately stood up, cupped his hands and said, "Your Excellency, the article is finished."
"Yes." Xiao Yuan nodded, and then gestured to the sergeant.
The sergeant understood, stepped forward to take the bamboo slips, and then respectfully placed them on the cases in front of Xiao Yuan.
The first one to finish will naturally become the focus, and many people's eyes will also stay on the scholar. The latter can't help but raise his head slightly when he feels the attention of everyone.
But Xiao Yuan doesn't care if you finish writing it first. What he wants is talent, and what he values is what is written in their bamboo slips.
Picking up the bamboo slip, Xiao Yuan unfolded it and read it carefully.
In fact, he has already said that the question for this examination is to govern the Qin Dynasty.
However, although the rhetoric in this scholar's article was gorgeous, it was just polished and flashy, and there was nothing that Xiao Yuan valued.
His articles were very good, but that was all. He had some talent, but no talent. What Xiao Yuan wanted was not a poet, but an official who could govern the place.
After reading it, he closed the bamboo slip and put it aside. He didn't say anything on his face, but smiled slightly and said:
"After everyone has handed over the bamboo slips, please go back to where you are staying and rest first. After I have read it, it will be announced at the south gate in two days."
