Fortunate Young Gentleman

Today's court is clearly divided into three factions.

The reform faction headed by the Ministry of Industry, the conservative faction headed by the Ministry of Rites, and the bystanders who did not participate in the opinions.

Neither of the two ministers spoke, and those who argued in court were all officials below the fourth rank.

The courtiers looked at Zhang Hao, the impassioned water doctor in front of them, and shook their heads secretly.

Although Zhang Hao's words were reasonable, he had to be extra careful every step he took to reform the imperial examination system. If the reform was so easy, the imperial examination system would have been reorganized countless times in recent years.

"Send me the test papers of the candidate you mentioned." A deep voice finally came from the top of the golden palace.

His Majesty opened his mouth, and Zhang Hao and Wang Shuo immediately closed their mouths.

A eunuch came down, holding a few test papers, and walked up respectfully, standing next to the man in imperial robes.

Chen Huang casually picked up the top exam paper. After looking at it carefully, a look of surprise appeared on his face and he murmured: "If I remember correctly, the last time someone answered 100% of the questions correctly was More than ten years ago, right?”

A rich-looking eunuch beside him nodded and said with a smile, "Your Majesty, that happened fifteen years ago."

Chen Huang nodded and said: "It is not easy to answer all the questions in this test, and it is even more difficult to answer them all correctly. This candidate's daily diligence must be different from ordinary people."

He put down the test paper and picked up another one.

This time he looked at it for a long time, a strange light flashed in his eyes, and praised: "Good, good, good!"

The officials in the palace couldn't help but be surprised when they saw the emperor say "good" three times in succession.

At this time, Chen Huang had continued to speak.

"Don't be afraid of your bones being shattered into pieces, you must leave your innocence in the world!" Emperor Chen glanced down and said, "This poem can be used as a personal admonishment for the courtiers in the palace!"

He couldn't wait to look at the next page, and this time, he looked at it longer.

The expression on his face changed from anticipation to shock to confusion, then he put it aside and murmured: "This poem is, well, not bad."

The last thing he looked at was the strategy section.

This time, Chen Huang didn't look for long before he looked down and said in a deep voice: "Fang Hong, Wang Bo, this is what you selected, Lingzhou Prefecture Trial Jieyuan?"

Seeing that the situation was not good, Wang Bo was startled, and immediately walked out with the Wat Ban in his arms and said: "Your Majesty..."

"I asked you to be the chief examiner of the Lingzhou Prefectural Examination. Is this how you select candidates for me?" Chen Huang rolled up the examination papers, threw them to the ground, stood up, and asked: "Tell me, What is written on this!"

Seeing this, Wang Shuo glanced at Fang Hong and Wang Bo, with a hint of joy on his face.

Fang Hong stood up and explained hurriedly: "Your Majesty, this test paper..."

"This test paper is nonsense!" Chen Huang interrupted him, glanced down, and said: "Where is the Lingzhou Prefectural Examination, where is the Lingzhou Prefecture Examination, and where is the Association Examination?"

Above the court, there were more than a dozen people whose expressions changed, and they could only stand up bravely.

Song Qian was not in Beijing as a prisoner on Jingdong Road. Only Zhang Hao and Ling Yihong were present at the palace today.

Chen Huang looked down and said in a deep voice: "You will know your guilt if you wait!"

Plop!

As soon as these words came out, several officials who stood up immediately fell to their knees.

Emperor Chen looked at them and angrily said: "I have given you the important task of selecting candidates for the country, and you are so perfunctory with me. Tell me, what kind of bullshit article is this about the dignified Yizhou Jieyuan?"

All the officials felt the emperor's anger, lowered their heads, held their breath, and secretly mourned for the examiners going to Lingzhou.

Wang Shuo secretly rejoiced. He took a step forward and said respectfully: "Your Majesty, I tried my best to dissuade the adults at that time. It's a pity that the adults insisted that this volume is advisable. I failed to dissuade these adults. I, I am guilty!"

Chen Huang glanced down with some disappointment and said: "Fang Hong and Wang Bo, as the chief examiner, neglected their duties and were fined for one year. The other associate examiners were also fined for half a year to set an example!"

When all the officials heard this, they already understood in their hearts that His Majesty still did not want to punish them severely. A one-year fine was not serious, and the charges against them were only neglect of duty, not malpractice for personal gain. This was already a great deal of preferential treatment for them. .

After Chen Huang finished speaking, the anger on his face did not subside. He looked at the examination paper on the ground and said angrily: "As for this paper, it is determined to be Jieyuan, which is really ridiculous..."

At this time, Zhang Hao looked sad and angry, and said loudly: "Your Majesty, it is a small thing to fine me, but it is a big thing to save the treasury!"

Emperor Chen was about to personally judge the volume as a failure. He frowned and asked, "What does this have to do with the treasury?"

Zhang Hao hugged the wat board and said loudly: "Because this test paper can not only control floods and ensure smooth water transportation, but also save the national treasury at least five hundred thousand taels of silver every year!"

As soon as these words came out, among the hundreds of officials, one official, who was holding a wat board and taking a nap with his eyes closed, opened his eyes suddenly, his eyes shining brightly.

A person next to him turned to look at him and asked, "Master Qian, what's wrong?"

Qian Shuo, the Minister of Household Affairs, did not answer him and looked directly at Zhang Hao in front of him.

Because of water control and water transportation, the state treasury allocates a huge sum of money to the Ministry of Industry every year. Every time he thinks about it, his heart bleeds. If the Ministry of Industry can ask less than 500,000 taels of silver from the Ministry of Revenue every year, how much less pressure will the Ministry of Revenue have?

Chen Huang was stunned for a moment, thought for a moment, looked at Zhang Hao and asked, "What did Zhang Aiqing just say?"

Zhang Hao stood up and said, "Your Majesty, Tang Jieyuan's policy on water control in the third state examination was discussed by the Ministry of Water Resources and was found to be feasible. It can save at least 500,000 taels of silver for the national treasury every year. At the same time, it can also speed up the canal transportation and ensure the smooth flow of canal transportation for at least ten years."

Emperor Chen thought for a moment, then bowed and picked up the test paper that he had thrown on the ground.

He looked at the test paper, then looked at Zhang Hao and asked, "Are you serious, Mr. Zhang?"

Zhang Hao stood up straight and said, "I guarantee it with my life!"

Ling Yihong also walked out and said, "Your Majesty, Tang Jieyuan's policy on epidemic prevention can also be used as a standard and promoted by the court to local areas. Once an epidemic occurs in a certain place, it can minimize casualties and impacts."

Emperor Chen looked at the test paper again, thinking.

At this time, Qian Shuo, the Minister of Revenue, stood up and said, "Your Majesty, although Lord Fang, Lord Wang, and the other examiners have made mistakes, they are all for the sake of the court and Your Majesty. They can save so much for the national treasury, and their merits can offset their mistakes."

The Ministry of Revenue is in charge of the country's money and grain, and its position is very important among the six ministries. The words of the Minister of Revenue are naturally very important.

All officials know that the national treasury has been tight for a long time, and it has always been a concern for Your Majesty.

Now that the Ministry of Works has saved hundreds of thousands of taels of silver for the national treasury, Your Majesty is naturally happy, but he has just punished those examiners. The king is not joking, so naturally he can't take it back easily. Qian Shangshu's words gave His Majesty a way out.

Emperor Chen looked at the Minister of Revenue with satisfaction and said, "Qian Aiqing's words make sense. Fang and Wang Aiqing have made meritorious contributions to the policy. They will be rewarded with 1,000 taels of silver and 300 pieces of silk. The rest of you who participated in the examination will be rewarded with 100 pieces of silk each..."

The imperial edict of salary deduction has been issued and cannot be taken back, but these rewards have made up for the salary deduction, and there is still more.

After Emperor Chen finished the reward, he did not mention the examination papers again. He thought for a moment, looked down, and said, "For the policy essay, we still need to pay attention to the article, but in addition, we should also make appropriate considerations. The Ministry of Rites will discuss this matter first..."

The word "consider" is very spiritual. The officials have been immersed in the officialdom for many years, so how could they not understand it.

Your Majesty issued a hidden imperial edict for this examination paper alone...

Wang Shuo's face turned pale and he looked in a certain direction, which was the position of the Minister of Rites.

A middle-aged man glanced at him indifferently, and Wang Shuo understood, lowered his head, and said nothing more.

After a moment, Emperor Chen looked down and said, "If there is nothing else, let's leave the court."

Today's morning court lasted for a long time, and the process was full of twists and turns.

The Lingzhou provincial examination examiners, including Fang Hong, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Personnel, were punished by His Majesty first and then rewarded. Although the Ministry of Works' imperial examination reform plan was still not adopted, His Majesty's secret order to the Ministry of Shangshu still showed that the Ministry of Works was better in this confrontation between the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Rites.

Being able to use a provincial examination paper to stir up such a big wave in the court, the officials also had a first impression of Tang Jieyuan from Lingzhou.

"Lord Fang, stay." When Fang Hong was about to walk out of the palace gate, a voice suddenly came from behind him.

Fang Hong turned around and saw the Minister of Rites coming over, and asked in confusion: "What's the matter, Lord Tang?"