Gongyuan is about to release the results.
Xu Qiong ordered the papers to be sealed, and the deputy examiner immediately ordered someone to copy the answers. The marking officers copied the answers one by one overnight. All the answer papers for the three sessions were read. Naturally, it cannot be completed in a day or two. The results will be released in a few days. .
The answer sheets they were looking forward to once again appeared in the first-class category. Apart from the numbers, the names could only be seen when the results were released. Moreover, there were quite a few answer sheets with good answers this time.
Remember, Zhu Houzhao told us that those who are closest to answering the questions will be selected in order, and the rest will be ignored.
In the 18th year of Hongzhi's reign, it was August 11th, the eve of Enke's release of the results.
Xu Qiong and several deputy examiners, marking officers, and circulation officers opened the paste one by one. The first place in the Enke examination was Zhu Shou. The vermilion pen marked the first place, the second place, Liu Zizhang, and the third place, Yan Song.
The order is No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, Jinshi and No. 1.
The next one on the list is Tong Jinshi.
If it weren't for Zhu Houzhao's intervention, Liu Zizhang would have been the number one scholar in this subject instead of the second place. This test question was completely prepared for him. If he knew it, he didn't know whether to thank the emperor for his kindness or secretly lament.
The top three on the list will finally go to the palace, and the emperor will personally select them for the palace examination.
If the three of them compared the essays, none of them could compete with Yan Song. His handwriting alone made the examiner Xu Qiong amazed and praised him repeatedly.
"Zhu Shou?" An examiner whispered to himself. This name was so familiar, as if he had heard it somewhere before.
Someone whispered in his ear, "Your Majesty, isn't this what Mr. Wang Qiong told him to keep under observation?"
Wang Qiong? Yes, when I think about it, it seems like it happened just the day before the exam started. However, the move that Wang Qiong was asked about now actually won the top prize. What should I do? No, now this matter is no longer something that I and others can deal with. Even though it is Enke who will take the exam, it is not something that anyone can mess with. The worst case for messing up is to lose one's official position and go to jail, and the worst case is to lose one's head. Just follow the rules.
After some discussion, a few people chose the rankings one by one, and then reported it to the sub-examination. Then, Zhu Shou's name surprised them again. Zhu Bi was hesitant, not sure whether he should click or not, so they clicked. After the selection, the examiner will wear the red dress himself, and then go to the emperor.
The two deputy examiners remembered that their son mentioned this book vaguely, but they forgot what made them unhappy. Now, it is a bit tricky. If the Zhubi is really changed, it is not difficult. They just need to secretly pull out this volume. , although the marking officer made a copy, it doesn’t matter. As long as it has not been submitted to the Gongyuan library, it can be obtained, but it will be fine if it is not discovered. If it is discovered, haha, I am afraid that it will be in the Tianzi No. 1 prison. , they are about to leave. Whether they can come out depends on His Majesty's mood.
"This article is of great value and the top spot is well deserved. I have been appointed by His Majesty as the deputy examiner for the joint examination. How can I engage in favoritism and cheat and ruin his future for my own selfishness? Please report it." "Zhu Shou's name caused a ripple, and then disappeared. The two deputy examiners also escaped. Maybe there is really God's will in the dark, and he is the emperor in the first place. This kind of luck is really speechless. ah.
When Xu Qiong saw Zhu Shou's answer sheet, he looked like he had seen a ghost. Wang Qiong came to look for him that day and specifically mentioned Zhu Shou's name. Xu Qiong was also familiar with this name. The two had become good friends, and he knew it well. Because of Wang Qiong's personality, he still remembered this name until now. He secretly paid attention to how unpleasant this person was.
When he thought about it, it was naturally impossible for someone with such a bad personality to be listed on the list. He never expected that the answer he had been looking forward to for so many days was actually done by this person, and Pihong was the first one he personally selected. , I ordered it wrong.
How could a person with a bad personality, no manners, and arrogance get such a good answer? Is this possible?
Xu Qiong was shocked for a while and looked at his two colleagues, only to see a look of depression on their faces.
"You two, please report to the Emperor. The results will be released tomorrow. Let's release the results accordingly." Xu Qiong is the Minister of Rites, and his magnanimity is naturally not comparable to that of ordinary people. Zhu Shou gave him a bad impression before, but now this almost perfect answer shocked him. I remembered His Majesty's instructions and did not dare to neglect them.
"I will order you to go down now."
If His Majesty hadn't told him otherwise, in fact, both the marking officer and the two deputy examiners would have been interested in Yan Song's answer sheet. His beautiful words and good calligraphy made him the candidate for the top prize in their minds.
royal palace.
"Your Majesty, the results will be released tomorrow. My slave, I wish your Majesty to defeat all the others and win the first prize in one fell swoop." Liu Jin said flatteringly from the side.
Zhang Zhong turned his head to the side in disdain. He was His Majesty's shadow. He didn't need to talk to please him, and no one cared about his existence. Except for Liu Jin, who often provoked him, but he was very disdainful. Liu Jin couldn't beat him. .
Hearing this, Zhu Houzhao smiled proudly and said, "You are the only one who can speak well, bitch, but what you say makes sense. Let's see if Xu Aiqing follows my instructions."
Although he was proud of his face, he was also looking forward to it. Even though he had cheated, who could blame him? He had the memory of eight lives and was a professor in his previous life. If he still couldn't get the top prize, it would be in vain. Take advantage of this day.
Fan Ting and Mou Bin, who had not entered the palace for a long time, entered the palace at the same time. It seems that the investigation has come to fruition.
"Slave, Fan Ting, Admiral of Dongchang, comes to see Your Majesty."
"Weak minister, Mou Bin, commander of the Jinyi Guards, is here to see your majesty."
Zhu Houzhao said lightly: "Get up, is there any result?"
Mou Bin looked at Fan Ting and motioned for him to speak first. After all, Dongchang was still nominally above Jinyiwei.
Fan Ting knew that His Majesty still valued Jin Yiwei, but since Mou Bin was humble, we would not be polite to him.
"Back to Your Majesty, there are results. This is the collection of Dongchang these days. Please take a look at it." Fan Ting bowed and held up a copy of the memorial.
Liu Jin took it and gave it to Zhu Houzhao.
Zhu Houzhao opened it and looked at it. The names and the strings of numbers gave him a headache, but he became short of breath. There were millions of taels in and out in one day, and this was just for merchants in the capital. , if there are many in the entire Ming Dynasty, the store with the highest daily profit can earn tens of thousands of taels in a day, which is simply a gold-eating beast.
Look, look, who said that the people of Ming Dynasty are poor? Who said, I am the poor one. In this information, what surprised him even more was that there were as many as ten wealthy businessmen with a wealth of over one million. , and those worth more than 100,000 taels are even more than 100.
There were eight restaurants opened by the royal family, and as many as fifteen civilian businesses, including royal merchants, grain merchants, salt merchants, restaurants, antique shops, brothels and teahouses, all of which were involved. The names behind them were There are no ministers, ministers, relatives of the emperor, or military generals who are usually looked down upon by literati.
Zhu Houzhao said coldly: "My good ministers, one after another, are clamoring to petition for the people, prevent the court from collecting commercial taxes, and compete with the people for profits? Okay, I want you to take a closer look, who are the people? Who is the court competing for profits with? ?”
When the late emperor was still alive, he was very frugal. Even his mother and queen set up looms to weave cloth in the palace to reduce the pressure in the palace. Look at the records above. One day, a certain Lord fell in love with an ancient artifact from a famous official of the former Song Dynasty. Spend a fortune on it.
Also, a certain person entertained friends at home. He killed ten donkeys and three hundred finches, and used donkey lips and bird tongues to make soups. He spent a thousand taels of silver, and there were more than a dozen cooks just to make them.
Look, even I have never had such luxury. Bird's tongue, donkey lips, good guy, he really knows how to eat. It's such a luxury. Can I try it that day?
Zhu Houzhao's face was gloomy and he said in a deep voice, "Mo Bin, what's your result?"
Mou Bin bowed and held up the memorial: "I have prepared it, please see it." He knew his identity very well. He was the emperor's sword. He would deal with whoever the emperor asked him to deal with, so Zhu Houzhao was angry. , he became angry, and as soon as His Majesty issued an order, he ordered people to be imprisoned and their homes raided.
Zhu Houzhao saw the memorial handed over by Liu Jin. His eyes became colder as he looked at it, and his face gradually turned as frosty. His memorial was roughly the same as Dongchang's, but more detailed. From the entry and handling of accounts to the handling of accounts and who was involved , how much money flows in the capital every day, and how much money each family spends is very detailed, which also proves Mou Bin's intentions.
His Majesty was caught in the act a few days ago, and His Majesty took advantage of it to make a big fuss over the world. The entire Ming Dynasty was a ruffian who disappeared because of it. The people even praised the Emperor Mingjun Holy Lord, and the Imperial Guards' Tiqi once again shocked the world. These Whoever brought it was naturally His Majesty. Mou Bin admired it from the bottom of his heart.
In his opinion, every move of His Majesty has a profound meaning, which is difficult to figure out, and often has incredible effects. This is how King Ning and his party were killed by Your Majesty. This time His Majesty is going to impose commercial taxes. It seemed that he took action only when he was confident, so naturally he had to do his best.
"Mo Bin, you did a good job on this matter." Zhu Houzhao praised, but his expression was not very good.
Fan Ting sighed in his heart, our family is still not in His Majesty's eyes. It seems that our family has to work harder.
Liu Jin hated to see His Majesty like this the most. This appearance made him want to kill people. He didn't know when he started to be truly impressed by Zhu Houzhao and devoted himself to being a loyal dog eunuch.
"Why does your Majesty need to be angry with those ministers? How difficult is it to collect business taxes? I am willing to share your worries for your Majesty. No one can say anything wrong about the custody." Liu Jin bowed.
Others looked at him. Liu Jin, who was so flattering, had another bad idea. Is it so easy to collect business taxes? I'll see if you come up with a good solution and then I'll explain it.
Zhu Houzhao said "Oh" and looked at him curiously. In fact, he also had an immature idea. He was the one who blocked the mouth of the civil and military ministers with the thing in his hand. Now that there are no military ministers to deal with, it will be much easier to handle. Since There is no need for him to come forward. Liu Jin is willing to take the blame, so come on. I will not get involved. I am determined to be a wise and holy king. For these offending things, you, Liu Jin, are more suitable. Come on, you are bold. Just do it, I support you mentally.
Liu Jin glanced at Fan Ting and Mou Bin proudly, and then at Zhang Zhong, who had no sense of presence, before turning around to please him and said, "Your Majesty, all the needs in the palace are provided by the imperial merchants, can he be the one to do it?" Set an example by first paying the commercial tax, and then proceed step by step. First, let them pay the capital in the capital, and then spread it to all the chief envoys in the northern cities. This policy will be implemented from top to bottom. Dongchang will cooperate with Jinyiwei and then If we apply pressure, this can be done."
After Zhu Houzhao heard this, he couldn't help but take a good look at Liu Jin, the dead eunuch. He was really talented. Starting from Huang Shang, he also thought of it, but Liu Jin's method was more trouble-free. Based on his previous thoughts, it was He plans to use the imperial merchants first, and then quietly join in, and then spend some time to gain a firm foothold, and then take the initiative to pay business taxes and drive the entire merchant by himself, but it may take a little longer. What he lacks most is time. Historically, , Zhu Houzhao died at the age of only thirty-one, so he had no time to waste.
This was a worry for him, so Zhu Houzhao wanted to use one day as two days, thinking about making trouble all day long.
As soon as Liu Jin opened his mouth, Fan Ting and others couldn't help but look at him, dumbfounded. Thinking about it carefully, it was really possible for him to succeed. The imperial merchant was not something that ordinary people could become. Not only did they need to have connections in the court, but also It requires strong strength and a good record of accumulating supplies to the imperial palace, but even the eighteenth generation of ancestors must be thoroughly investigated. Only such people can enjoy the convenience and privileges of imperial merchants.
In fact, being an imperial merchant is not only a thankless business, but also subject to the pressure of purchasing from the palace. However, there is no businessman who does not want to become an imperial merchant. The benefits are not the least bit. Being an imperial merchant means having Privileges, unobstructed access to passes, no checks going south or north. Royal merchants, smuggling must have a gold-lettered signboard.
Liu Jin's method is good. If you don't want to be an imperial merchant, you can do it. There are a lot of people who want to come in. Isn't it just business tax? As long as you pay some money and go out, you can get this gold-lettered signboard, ensuring that wealthy businessmen all over the world will rush for it.
Zhu Houzhao just thought about it for a moment and understood the key. Liu Jin was indeed a fighter among the eunuchs who left their names in the history of previous lives.
"Okay, let's do it this way. I'll leave this matter to you. I'll take care of it. No matter what happens, I'll take care of it for you." Zhu Houzhao promised with satisfaction.
Then, he looked at Fan Ting and Mou Bin and said, "You two have cooperated so well. This matter has been handled very well. I am very satisfied. Before there is any clue about the business tax matter, if anyone leaks it, I will Who did you scratch, do you understand?"
"My slave obeys the order."
"I obey the order."
