As the magistrate of Tang County, Tian Ruzhen was also a nominee on the gold list that year, and was the most awesome first-year list.
Why do I say this? Because the list in the first year was the biggest event in the imperial examination. It brought together talented people from all over the world and there were too many celebrities. Needless to say, the talents of people like Wang Yuanju, Zhang Jie, and Ren Qitang.
People such as Tang Jie, Meng Gongnan, Wang Ling, etc., who became famous all over the world for their poetry, are also on this list.
Many of the other people on the list also have representative articles in literature.
It can be said that if those at the bottom of the first year list were thrown into the second imperial examination of the founding of the People's Republic of China, they would probably be at the top.
It is not an exaggeration to say that the world's talented people are as good as one stone, and the first year ranking has already accounted for eight buckets.
Therefore, he is called the number one in the world.
Tian Ruzhen was twenty-nine years old when she took the entrance examination. She had served as county clerk and clerk, and at the age of thirty-four, she was transferred to Tang County Magistrate.
He was born in the imperial examination, so he would naturally dislike those who practice favoritism in the examination room.
The scene was a little awkward.
In order to lighten the atmosphere, the wealthy businessman held the cup in both hands and said: "It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter. This is all to honor the county magistrate. I will rely on your care for many things in the future."
Tian Ruzhen waved her hand: "There are still political matters to deal with in the afternoon, so it is inconvenient to drink."
He sat there motionless.
The wealthy businessman felt embarrassed again. He paused with the hand holding the cup and smiled again: "Then let's eat vegetables. Let's eat vegetables. It's up to you. Since it's inconvenient for the county magistrate, I'll just have tea instead of wine."
In this case, the wealthy businessman already wanted to leave, but the meal had to be finished and he had to find a reason.
Just when his thoughts were changing, the door of the elegant room was opened from the outside, and two officers and soldiers stepped in, clasping their fists and bending towards Tian Ruzhen: "Sir."
The latter did not speak, but tapped the brocade box on the table with his finger.
The officers and soldiers understood and stepped forward to open it. The brocade box was extremely beautifully packaged, with red silk inside and an exquisite and clear jade unicorn inside.
This thing was priceless at first sight, and the officers and soldiers couldn't help but shrink their eyes and asked tentatively: "Sir, this."
Tian Ruzhen spoke: "According to the laws of the Great Qin Dynasty, those who bribe officials with large sums of money to obtain improper benefits will be sentenced to three years in prison. If the matter is serious and endangers the justice of the law, the punishment will be increased depending on the circumstances."
The wealthy businessman's expression had already changed, and he said in a trembling voice: "Your Majesty."
Tian Ruzhen ignored him and continued: "And this person actually used this jade unicorn to bribe me, hoping that I would practice favoritism and malpractice in the imperial examination, opening the door for him."
"Such evil businessmen corrupt the imperial officials and attempt to shake the foundation of the country's recruitment of scholars. This is intolerable!"
"Take it away! Let us examine it carefully later!"
"No!" The officers and soldiers also understood the whole story at this time and responded immediately.
The wealthy businessman panicked and shouted: "My lord, I just want to treat you to a meal, I have no other intention, no other intention -"
"Do you think that the official uniform of this county is for nothing? How dare you ignore the national law!" Tian Ruzhen said seriously: "It is precisely because of evil businessmen like you that people are so embarrassed and unjust, and now they dare to humiliate It’s totally unreasonable for me to clear my name! Take it away!”
"Yes!" The officers and soldiers no longer hesitated and began to restrain him from left to right.
"Take away the stolen goods and record them in the record." Tian Ruzhen clicked on the brocade box again.
"Understood!" the officers and soldiers responded.
The wealthy businessman was taken away. No matter how much he begged, it was useless. He did not expect that he would hit the knife edge, nor did he expect that the imperial examination was so strict.
The matter was handled quickly, and in the afternoon of the same day, the wealthy businessman was jailed for bribery.
In the back hall of the county house, Tian Ruzhen was checking the files and said at the same time: "Is it still impossible to confiscate the property?"
A subordinate stood below and said: "According to the law, this case does not reach that level. After all, the matter has not happened yet. We can only convict him of bribery, but if it involves the imperial examination, we can be strict."
Tian Ruzhen glanced at him and said calmly: "What if there are still problems in business? For example, the Zhu family industry has many illegal activities, including illegal gains and tax evasion."
The subordinate's eyes lit up: "If this is the case, plus the matter of the imperial examination, I should apply for confiscation of the family property."
"Go and check." Tian Ruzhen said directly: "Go through the Zhu family's property, from inside to outside, from beginning to end, and carefully go through all the accounting books and taxes."
"Yes, I'll do my humble job now." The subordinate followed the order and left.
A businessman who engages in bribery will never withstand investigation.
Tian Ruzhen knew this well.
Shopkeeper Zhu suffered a huge setback this time. The county magistrate wanted not only to deal with him, but also to gain fame and fortune.
This matter is not a political achievement, but it can allow Tian Ruzhen to gain some official reputation. This is its ultimate goal.
The next day, the day before the exam starts.
An announcement was posted on the notice board. The content was exactly about shopkeeper Zhu's bribery. He also emphasized the importance of the imperial examination and that no fraud would be tolerated.
This announcement fully reflected Tian Ruzhen's selflessness and received a round of applause.
Especially for the candidates who gathered in the county town, the examination is related to the future of each of them. If the quota is occupied by profiteers with gold and silver bribes in ten years, it is conceivable that all the students will not accept it.
Now that something like this has happened, the county magistrate refused to pay a large sum of money and sentenced him severely in accordance with the law. He is really honest and upright.
Before the announcement, many candidates were still discussing:
"This profiteer has gone too far! He actually wants to use gold and silver to get a quota and taint the scientific examination."
"Isn't this trying to buy fame with money? If this is true, the world will be in chaos."
"In my opinion, this is just an attempt to buy an official position. This punishment is still too light! It should be sentenced harshly!"
"Fortunately, the county magistrate understands the great righteousness and the importance of recruiting scholars for the country, so he never let the villain succeed."
"I heard that the honorable person of this county is the one who won the gold medal in the imperial examination in the first year of Wude."
"Really? This is truly a model for scholar-bureaucrats."
There was a lot of discussion among the people about this matter. Tian Ruzhen achieved the official reputation she wanted. At the same time, she also gained a lot from the in-depth investigation of the Zhu family's property. Not only were she found out various illegal behaviors in the past, but also many other things. Fewer business tax issues.
At this point, he immediately confiscated his family property in accordance with the law and used it to fill the county treasury.
After the county learned about this incident, they also praised it greatly and used it as an example to warn everyone about the imperial examination.
Tian Ruzhen was very satisfied with the result. In the study, the former subordinate also bowed respectfully and said sincerely: "Your Excellency is really brilliant, and I admire you even though you humble your position."
"What kind of cleverness?" Tian Ruzhen glanced at him, frowned and said: "As a parent of Tang County, I dare not say that I can always ask for the people's orders, but how can I condone the evildoers! This matter is just handled in accordance with the law. That’s all.”
"Yes, what your Excellency said is absolutely true. He is humble and clumsy." The subordinate said quickly.
Tian Ruzhen waved her hand: "Okay, that's it for now. The autumn examination is the most important. During these three days, the food and accommodation for the candidates in each county must be properly arranged."
Is Tian Ruzhen a good official or a bad official?
If he dares to arrest shopkeeper Zhu, it shows that he is not greedy.
