In the early morning of February 16th, five people lined up in two rows and were walking slowly north from between the palace walls on the west side of the three main halls.
Among these five people, there are actually two people wearing green robes.
You know, the fifth, sixth and seventh grades should all wear green robes, and only the eighth and ninth grades can wear green robes.
Of these two green robes, one is standing behind Tang Shun, which means that he is taking the Jingguo Martial Arts Examination.
Yes, these are the five people who actually stood out in this course after entering the papers and planning the exam. Now, they are just competing for the top spot in the two subjects.
It was only a matter of time before these two people took off their green robes.
However, for such a difficult subject to have two winners below level seven, it is truly a miracle.
When we arrived at the gate of Yangxin Hall, the leader in front of us went around to the east again.
The location of the imperial examination is in Qianqing Palace.
Enter the palace and see your majesty.
Zhu Houcong sat on the throne and looked at the five people below with a smile on his lips.
"Today we are choosing the leader. The positions of the two earls are only one step away." He encouraged, "Answer my strategy first. We will give you a banquet here at noon and give a speech in the afternoon. Jingguo Military Strategy Department, Dongnuan Pavilion .Ding Guoan Minke, Xi Nuan Pavilion. Let’s all go.”
"I accept the decree and thank you for your kindness!"
Three people went west and two people went east.
It had been a long time since the Qianqing Palace came into the court's sight. Now, after Tang Shunzhi glanced at it twice, he felt that this place was no longer like what he had imagined.
This Dongnuang Pavilion is really like a classroom, with many tables and chairs, and a dark board hanging on the wall.
Now, words have been written on the board, and a picture has even been drawn.
Lu Bing is presiding here. He just points to the blackboard: "The topic is on the board. This map is more detailed on your case. The time is three hours."
Tang Shunzhi saw the clock in the Nuan Pavilion out of the corner of his eye, but his eyes stayed on the board.
As expected, it was about border towns. The questions were very concise and did not contain as much information as the policy test questions.
"A tentative discussion of the Ming Dynasty's military and political strategy toward the North from the perspectives of history, politics, population, economy, property, geography, etc."
Big questions are only used to test the top geniuses.
In just three hours, what kind of answers they can give depends on their ability.
Now, Tang Shunzhi has figured it out: His Majesty and the court must have a comprehensive strategy for Beiyuan. This question actually already has a reference answer.
As a disciple of Yang Yiqing and Wang Shouren, and as a friend of Lu Bing, Tang Shunzhi could guess some clues even though he didn't know the whole story.
Doesn't this give him a title?
Can Zheng Xiao, who was once imprisoned for Hui Anbo's rebellion case, beat him?
At this time, Zheng Xiao only stared at the map on his desk.
The first twenty-five years of his life were smooth. In the second year of Jiajing's reign, he won the imperial examination and was appointed as the head of the Department of Military Affairs. At the beginning of the next year, the Zheng family of Pujiang was implicated in the Hui'anbo case, and he was also convicted and imprisoned.
During his two years in prison, he drew a set of "Nine Sided Illustrations" and presented them to him based on the contents of the documents he had read in his memory when he was working as a commander. Then he was released early and returned to the Ministry of War to make a An eighth-grade official.
Of Wang Shouren's two recommendation quotas, one was naturally given to Tang Shunzhi, and the other was given to him.
Now, Zheng Xiao knew how strong Tang Shunzhi was, and he did not expect to defeat him.
But I hope that after seizing this opportunity to make science, I can stand up again.
In Xinuan Pavilion, the three of them were faced with a thick volume of materials, which seemed to take half an hour.
The distribution of warehouses in the world and the data of the past 20 years, the Daming Sea, River and Land Road transportation plans that have been finalized at the national policy meeting, and the transportation enterprise development plan using Huangmingji Transportation, River Transportation Bureau, and Maritime Transportation Bureau as examples , the jurisdiction and responsibilities of the imperial treasury, the revenue and expenditure data of the past twenty years, and the existing regulations and rules of the tax collection system from the Ministry of Household Affairs to the local governments.
Title: "On the Reform of the National Treasury and Local Treasury Systems in the Ming Dynasty".
Still huge and ridiculously rare.
This is a big topic that took the emperor and his advisers many years to consider thoroughly, but now these three people have seen a very clear direction: the imperial court must establish a unified treasury, and the imperial court and local finances must form new rules. .
What about the internal shipping warehouse?
In the main hall of Qianqing Palace, Zhu Houcong looked at the resumes of several people.
Needless to say, Tang Shunzhi.
Zheng Xiao was a Jinshi in the second year of Jiajing. He was born in the Zheng family in Haiyan. He was from the same ancestor as the Zheng family in Pujiang involved in Zhang Wei's conspiracy case, but they had already diverged from each other. It was just to create a situation and because he was indeed guilty of dereliction of duty that he stayed in the Penal Department prison for more than two years.
After Wang Shouren returned to Beijing and served as Minister of the Ministry of War, he presented "Nine Side Maps" and was released from prison early, and he was re-employed in the Ministry of War.
In prison, he still had a clear nine-sided picture in his mind. It was just something he had accumulated in the past and had written down as the head of the Staff Division of the Ministry of War for several months.
He is a talented person, but I don’t know how much resentment I have in my heart now.
Three people passed the Dingguoan Civil Science Examination: Li Mo, Weng Wanda, and Xu Jiusi.
Li Mo, a Jinshi in the 16th year of Zhengde's reign, was appointed as the head of the Guangdong Qing Officials Department in the Ministry of Household Affairs. Such a figure officially appeared today, and the reason is very simple: from Yang Tan to Wu Tingju to the current Minister of Household Affairs, no one is willing to help him get promoted, even if he was promoted after the Beijing inspection last year.
It’s so useful. I hope he will continue to connect with Guangdong and provide more experience summaries on the implementation of the new law.
But I have been the head of the sixth rank for six years, so I should no longer put pressure on other people's official careers.
Weng Wanda was a Jinshi in the fifth year of Jiajing's reign. He was appointed as the head of the Jiangxi Qing Li Department in the Ministry of Household Affairs. He is now working as a seventh-grade secretary under Yang Shen.
Looking at his resume, he came from a poor family and was from Jieyang County, Chaozhou Prefecture, Guangdong Province. His mother died when he was five years old, and he has been poor since he was a child. He had just been selected as a Jinshi, so he would not have many connections, but he was recommended by Zhang Fuking who was far away in Shandong, Gui E who was in Sichuan, and Huang Zuo who was now transferred to the right minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs in Nanjing, because he earned his salary as an aide in Guangdong. Study and study while making money.
Those who experienced the trial implementation of the new law in Guangdong are both practical and talented.
The last person, Xu Jiusi, was thirty years old and was from Guixi, Jiangxi Province. The people who recommended him were actually Fei Hong, Wang Qiong and Yan Song. Two Jiangxi fellow villagers and one official minister, I don’t know how his reputation spread to the ears of these three people, and they just became a small county magistrate in the county during the Jiangxi government office reform last year.
Zhu Houcong looked at the reasons for their recommendation: he was extremely upright, diligent, thrifty, patient and self-reliant, and his reputation for virtue spread far and wide. He has both ability and political integrity, but the imperial examination was bumpy. He only passed the imperial examination in the fourth year of Jiajing, and he was still on the second list. Since he took office, he has made the people as his own children and his official reputation is excellent.
This made Zhu Houcong wonder: Since he was not good at taking exams, why did he stand out in the more difficult subjects this time?
He turned around and told Zhang Zuo in a low voice: "Bring them their admission papers and examination papers."
For this subject, Zhu Houxuan was promised two counts.
Today, he has nothing else planned.
Spend the morning getting to know them.
Zhu Houcong already knew the talents, learning and experience of the remaining four people very well. Zhu Houcong didn't understand why Xu Jiusi was recommended by Fei Hong, Wang Qiong, and Yan Song at the same time.
It just so happened that he passed the CE test with his background as a Juren.
Soon, the five people's entrance papers and test papers were sent over.
Zhu Houcong was the first to pick up Xu Jiusi's papers and strategies and read them one by one.
Between the lines, the chapters and strategies are a bit like the original Huang Zuo: official administration, official administration, or sweet official administration.
Zhu Houcong couldn't help but laugh when he saw an article in the paper: Just open up wasteland, grow vegetables, raise chickens and ducks to reduce the showdown between the government and the government. After the new law, local officials are asked to do this by themselves. Why bother?
He gradually understood why Xu Jiusi always failed in the imperial examination: he was too practical and explained many things in too small a detail. In the past, the imperial examinations, even those involving current affairs policies, were relatively large-scale.
It's just that between the lines, the image of a workaholic, very frugal, and very able to endure hardship, but who can also demand righteousness from his colleagues gradually becomes clear.
"...Go to the Internal Affairs Department and the Staff Department to see if there is any evaluation of Xu Jiusi's performance."
After a long time, another excerpt of the memorial was placed on Zhu Houcong's desk.
After Zhu Houcong looked at it, he could only grin: Sure enough, he was a county magistrate for less than half a year, but he forced a magistrate to leave, and impeached and convicted three old officials in the county where he served.
But even though he was such a scoundrel, there was no record of his superiors or colleagues impeaching him.
You just didn’t leave any clue or reason to others?
"... Could it be that your surname is also Hai..."
Zhang Zuo only heard the emperor mumble, but he didn't know why.
What Zhu Houcong didn't know was that Xu Jiusi was really a bit like Hai Rui, but not as famous as Hai Rui.
But now, looking only at talent and ability, Xu Jiusi should not be able to pass the examination.
After thinking about it for a while, he understood that Fei Hong, Wang Qiong, and Yan Song recommended this person because they wanted to set a benchmark.
The number of officials in the Ming Dynasty is expanding rapidly. The court needs to recruit a large number of people to serve as officials. At the same time, it needs to do a good job in governing the officials. It is even necessary to make greater efforts to punish those slick old officials.
A candidate who passed the examination and soared into the sky, which is an encouragement to the candidate not to waste his time in vain.
A guy who was extremely honest and honest and showed no mercy to corrupt officials was promoted. This was also the direction of the court.
As for Fei Hong, Wang Qiong, and Yan Song, Fei Hong, the leader of the civil service, was pretentiously stating that the new law would give the world's gentry more opportunities to advance, while Wang Qiong wanted to express more specifically what he respected as the Minister of Civil Affairs. As for the standard of official administration, as for Yan Song... If you want to accumulate more power as a low-level official, you can kill two birds with one stone by recommending Xu Jiusi.
Compatriots, capable ministers, low-born... not only showed the emperor his principle of paying more attention to virtue and talent in recommending officials, but also showed others that he was eclectic in recommending talents-Xu Jiusi could do it, who else couldn't?
Xu Jiusi is an extreme, Zhu Houcong confirmed.
There is no problem, at least he is a good official who is upright, honest, diligent and frugal.
Even if it is erected as a benchmark, it does have meaning in the big game of the court.
No wonder only two people passed the Jingguo Martial Arts Examination, but three people passed the Dingguoan Civil Examination.
In fact, they are both upright and accompanying each other in PK.
When the banquet was given at noon, Xu Jiusi added another element of drama and bowed before leaving the banquet: "Your Majesty, the food is enough to satisfy the hunger! Your Majesty has the ambition to feed the people of the world, and I am filled with admiration. Now the number of officials in the world has increased dramatically, and border troubles are endless. It is difficult for the imperial court to finance its expenses, and even the questions for the imperial examinations are based on financial calculations. I believe that the emperor and his ministers should set an example for themselves and be diligent and thrifty. This royal banquet is too luxurious, and I can't swallow it because I think of the suffering of the people."
The other four people looked at Xu Jiusi blankly, and then looked at the emperor together.
Zhu Houcong's expression was complicated.
You probably really should be named Hai.
"...What you said makes sense, but today is a ceremony to control the subject, and it has its own etiquette." Zhu Houcong did not want to pretend, "I know that you have always encouraged yourself with diligence, frugality, and patience. Since you are giving a banquet, all the dishes have been cooked. Okay, wouldn't it be a waste to change it? Eat more, and treat it as a reward from me on behalf of the people for loving the people like a son."
Xu Jiusi was silent for a while, and then said: "If you are brave, I would like to ask you for a plate of steamed buns and pickled vegetables. Once you get used to delicious food, I may not be able to control your appetite."
"...In that case, I will ask you to do so."
The other four people felt uncomfortable eating in the presence of the moral pacesetter.
Zhu Houcong felt that the example set by Fei Hong was too outrageous. How many people could be like him?
He, Zhu Houcong, couldn't do it, and he didn't agree with doing it to such an extreme.
Then before playing the duel in the afternoon, Zhu Houcong first looked at everyone's strategies.
In fact, all important ministers participated in the discussion of many issues, and Zhu Houcong just looked at their patterns and thinking.
Among these five people, Tang Shunzhi and Li Mo have obvious advantages. Although Weng Wanda is quite capable, after all, he was only admitted as a Jinshi last year and his experience in court practice is still relatively poor.
As for Xu Jiusi, there is a slight gap in ability between him and the other four.
The result will not be announced today. Zhu Houcong called Fei Hong and Wang Qiong over after "interviewing" them.
"Then Xu Jiusi, if you let him pass the policy test, what are your plans for the future?"
Fei Hong asked: "But where did he offend Tianwei?"
Zhu Houcong laughed: "That's not the case, I can only live upright. I'm just a little curious. I'm afraid you have some arrangements for recommending this person, right?"
Wang Qiong nodded: "He is upright and unkind. When used properly, it is a precious sword. I have already discussed that Yanggetai is in Yingtian, and there is still a lack of someone brave enough to move forward. This Xu Jiusi, I intend to make a career in the system. Later he was recommended as Yingtianxunjian Censor."
"...Then Yingtian Mansion isn't going crazy?" Zhu Houcong had a hard time imagining that Xu Jiusi went to that luxurious place and went to that extravagant place to go crazy and impeach all the officials in Nanjing. "Nanzhili can only simmer slowly. Xu Jiusi... let him be assigned to the Ministry of Industry."
"Ministry of Industry?" Wang Qiong was stunned for a moment.
"If the water is clear, there will be no fish. Official administration always needs a little oil and water to lubricate it. He can be used as a role model, but he cannot be seriously allowed to be an official, or even a leader. He is too accepting of death." Zhu Houhuang gave his own opinion , "The Ministry of Industry will soon have many large projects. Let him be responsible for supervising construction quality, procurement expenditures, and labor reimbursement. He will be able to abide by the rules."
Wang Qiong couldn't help but look at Fei Hong.
However, many of those who have the ability to be purchased by the Ministry of Industry are from wealthy families. By the time we realize the truth, will we really not let these things lack "lubrication" and delay the construction schedule?
Zhu Houcong only said: "In the future to manage the Huanghuai River and build Chidao, there must be someone who cares for the workers and craftsmen. Qin built the Great Wall and Sui opened the canal. What happened to the suffering of labor? These projects that will benefit the future are not planned. The good thing is the suffering of this generation. The money that the court has prepared for these things cannot let the people suffer without getting the rewards they deserve."
"...Your Majesty is very worried."
"The person who broke the situation in Nanjing, let Gui E go." Zhu Houcong said, "He has principles, is willing to punish people, and is measured, not to mention temperamental. It's just right for Sichuan Inspector to be promoted to Yingtian Prefecture Yin."
The interlude of the subject preparation was over, and the results were announced the next day.
Tang Shunzhi, the leader of the military strategy department of Jingguo, and Li Mo, the leader of the Dingguoan and civil affairs department.
The Ministry of Rites has already prepared the two earl positions promised by the emperor: Uncle Jingbian and Uncle Changping.
For this time, the Ministry of Rites also prepared a ceremony to let the world know the emperor's eagerness for talents.
The rest of the etiquette is normal, but there is the added honor of being paraded on horseback in a top-notch robe given by an earl.
They were both young, and they were awarded the title of earl even at such a young age. The gentry and common people in the capital looked at them with envy.
Li Mo kept a straight face as always. Although Tang Shunzhi was smiling, he felt a lot of pressure.
Because regarding the appointment of the two of them after becoming uncles, they had already heard it from the emperor in his audience on the day the results were announced.
The formal official positions jumped from the sixth rank to the fourth rank. Li Mo went to the Director-General of Taxation, while Tang Shunzhi's new position will be: governor of Xuanfu and Datong, responsible for military affairs, and supervising grain and wages and Huailai Ordnance Park.
Soon, very soon, this appointment will be announced and he will be the target of public criticism.
After the Civil War, due to the deterioration of the border defense situation, Datong and Xuanfu originally had a joint governor of Xuanda instead of one each in order to improve efficiency.
If the castle is not repaired and the food is not provided, the fault lies with the ministers; if there is an invasion of the enemy, the fault lies with the general soldiers.
Now, Governor Xuanda has reappeared, and he is a young man only twenty years old. He later had more powers, including counselor of military affairs, governor of the two towns, and supervision of the construction of the Huailai Ordnance Park.
Bingxu Ke's top civil and military scholars gathered at Xuanda University, and Tang Shunzhi, who had high hopes from the emperor, had already been informed of some things.
If something goes wrong, he, Tang Shunzhi, becomes one of the decoys.
Now when I go to supervise the construction of the Huailai Ordnance Park, things become very serious: this ordnance park is not fake, the emperor's newly appointed twenty-year-old earl is in charge.
But he is responsible for too many things, and he still has to governor Xuanda?
In Datong, Zhang Wenjin had heard Wang Xian tell the news, so he asked in shock: "What is this for?"
"When he comes, you just go back to Beijing to report on your duties." Wang Xian didn't say much, "You have been governor of Datong for several years. If I hadn't suppressed you, you and Zhu Zhen would have fought early. Now you have other appointments, Datong generals You can also feel more at ease. A few days ago, you had to wait for Marquis Wu Ding to come before paying out wages and rewards, which almost caused another mutiny!"
"Why do they want the money in a hurry? Don't the governors know? Now that the money has been paid, what will be done to subdue these warriors when Wu Dinghou comes again? Are they going to report disaster to the court again and ask for pay?" Zhang Wenjin was very angry: "It's just a mere incident. With Shuozhou's small victory, can Bianzhen feel at ease? Then Tang Shunzhi has never been to Bianzhen, how can he make the powerful generals of Bianzhen fear him? With so many missions, can he take care of them? "
"Wen Jin!" Wang Xian said in a deep voice, "Don't you obey His Majesty's decree?"
"How many times have I told you that the Tatars will not give up this year! Do your majesty and the princes in the court think that a small victory can make the Tatars settle down?" Zhang Wenjin looked up to the sky and sighed, "That's it, wait until I get back. Jing, let’s meet Chen Shijian again!”
Wang Xian frowned.
Given Zhang Wenjin's temper, staying in Datong would ruin the strategy.
At the end of February, when Zhang Wenjin went out of the city to welcome Guo Xun and others into the city, he saw his naughty appearance and lamented in his heart: Is this someone asking for sin to guard the border? This is just to take credit, and they talk shamelessly about building the Xuening Five Forts, advancing on Fengzhou Beach, and re-implementing the strategy of searching for traps in the past.
At this time, young Uncle Jingbian had just chosen three hundred pacesetters and arrived in front of Juyong Pass. The governors of Datong and Xuanfu towns originally had role models, but if he gets promoted a little bit, he will have a force under his command that cannot be underestimated.
In the capital city behind him, the Ministry of Industry and the Construction Bureau were still recruiting craftsmen for the Huailai Ordnance Park and the Guanting Reservoir.
At this time, the good news spread back to Wujin County, Changzhou Prefecture, and the Tang Mansion was once again decorated with lanterns and decorations.
"Winning three yuan in a row, he is the leader in the system of subjects, he has twenty titles, he is the first person in the history!"
Tang Shunzhi's parents are stupid, and this son is simply a machine to honor his ancestors, but now he is excited and worried at the same time.
Isn’t he a good scholar? Why did he pass the Jingguo Martial Arts Examination and now he has to go to a border town?
By mid-March, Shi Tianjue also brought news back from the private markets in various accounts.
"Khan, I'm so happy!" Shi Tianjue beamed with joy, "Then Emperor Zhu Ming used his favored ministers and favored ministers arbitrarily. A nerd who only knew how to take exams was made an earl at the age of twenty, and even came to Xuanda to be the governor of two towns! Xiao If we win one victory, we will think that Xuan Da has nothing to worry about, and we have to build an ordnance park in Huailai, cast weapons, and plan for the Northern Expedition! They simply treat our heroic soldiers on the grassland as if they are nothing!"
An Da frowned: "Based on what I knew before, the Han Emperor is also a man of means. This is probably a trap."
Shi Tianjue was extremely confident: "A new fortress is being built in Datong, and a large-scale construction project is going to be carried out in Huai Lai. Needless to say, both soldiers and civilians are recruited to do hard labor. And the food and salary of Xuan Da are all in the hands of the young Uncle Jingbian. There will definitely be a quarrel between the two towns. For so many years, Datong and Xuanfu have their own people in charge of food and salary. With sudden changes, how can there be no chaos? Khan, there will definitely be chaos in Xuanda!"
Ida shook his head: "Bodi is still waiting for news from other ministries. No matter what, we must first see if it is a trap."
He stared at Shi Tianjue and solemnly ordered: "Go and explore again! If this is really the case, there is no need to worry. If Huailai really wants to build some ordnance park to cast weapons, then a lot of good iron will definitely be shipped, right? When they finish building it and all the skilled craftsmen are here, this is not a lie, and Bodie will definitely be moved."
At this moment, Tang Shunzhi had just slowly arrived in Datong and met Wang Xian, Guo Xun and Zhang Wenjin.
"Uncle Jingbian, take care of yourself!"
Zhang Wenjin was quite rude and prepared many handover materials such as the customs seal. After the meeting, he was extremely rude and walked out with a straight face, saying: "Let's go back to Beijing!"
"...Wang Dutai, what does this mean?" Tang Shunzhi looked confused.
Wang Xian replied calmly: "I rushed back to Beijing to remonstrate, because I'm afraid you will ruin the overall situation of the border town."
"..." Tang Shunzhi could only smile bitterly when he heard this, "Does everyone in Datong think that I will do bad things when I come here?"
Guo Xun looked at him expectantly, but Wang Xian just sat there calmly.
Tang Shunzhi looked at the two people, then at the Governor's Office of the Governor's Office in Datong, where there was no one else there, and finally at the door.
He slowly walked over and closed the door, then walked steadily back to the two of them.
"A fierce cold wind is blowing." He spoke.
Guo Xun suddenly grinned: "It's so miserable! Brother, you really shoulder a heavy responsibility!"
Your Majesty, he is real, Guo Xun cried to death.
He sent both a martial arts champion and a literary champion.
Guo Xun naturally knew that neither of them had been officials for long, but he already knew Yu Dayou's abilities. When Yu Dayou talked about Tang Shunzhi, his expression was touching.
Guo Xun is now extremely convinced by His Majesty's eyes.
Wang Xian, however, still looked at Tang Shunzhi calmly: "Uncle Jingbian is so talented, I am rude, so I have to test him first."
He has the capital to say this. After all, he was appointed as the Governor of Xuanda as Minister of the Ministry of War. Later, Tang Shunzhi, the governor of Xuanda, had to be controlled by Wang Xian.
Tang Shunzhi saluted humbly: "This should be done, please give me advice!"
Wang Xian's expression finally relaxed a little, and he nodded slightly: At least he's not arrogant.
Tang Shunzhi was always being tested, and he was never afraid of being tested.
After nightfall, Guo Xun and Wang Xian left here.
"Supervisor?" Guo Xun watched with amusement as Wang Xian walked to his horse in a daze.
Wang Xian came to his senses and glanced at the "heartless" Guo Xun.
Are you laughing so hard?
Then he could only shake his head, walk towards the horse led by his own soldiers, and leave a message: "Guo Hou, you are the general soldier of Datong, and you have a heavy responsibility on your shoulders. No matter how good the temple is, it cannot do without Guo Hou."
Guo Xun's expression froze: You don't have to use curse words when swearing, right? Warn me not to hold back?
But after being immersed in the joy of the emperor feeding cakes for so long, Guo Xun still looked back at the governor's office in the wind of the spring night.
His eyes were full of complex admiration, and he felt deeply that he had a good ancestor.
Now, it's his turn to strive to be praised by his descendants as a good ancestor, not an unworthy ancestor.
(End of chapter)
