Houfu Key Class

It was Shao Shilang's first time as an examiner, so he might not be so accurate in his control of the judging criteria, but that was not the case with Grand Scholar Han. He had been selecting talents for the imperial court for many years and was very experienced. Many capable senior officials were his disciples.

Academician Han replied without raising his head: "Why don't you select a bunch? Let's sift through them first and then make a choice at the end."

Shao Jiming raised his hands and praised: "It has to be you, Bachelor Han."

A few days later——

The dedicated Zuo Shilang of the Ministry of Etiquette collapsed. He howled: "Why are there so many first-class candidates? You can't choose them all, you can't choose them at all. They are all first-class A candidates!"

Academician Han also changed from calm at the beginning to serious expression. They reviewed all the answer sheets this month and finally admitted 366 students, more than 40 more than the previous year.

But that's not even the most unusual thing.

The most unusual thing is that they have screened the final version of the first-level candidates, and there are a total of fifteen.

In previous years, it was considered good to have three or five people in the imperial examination, but this year there were more than a dozen people, which is really abnormal.

Academician Han said in a deep voice: "Could it be that the test questions were leaked?"

Shao Shilang shook his head and said resolutely: "It's impossible. The person who asked the question has not been released yet, and the test paper is guarded by the army. Even if Luo Jingfeng comes, he will not take the test paper away quietly."

His heart was already beating.

The imperial examination was the top priority for the imperial court in selecting talents. He had just taken over for the first time and there must be no omissions.

Academician Han said coldly: "Check, check the names and transcripts. This matter must be investigated clearly."

The official in charge quickly brought the test papers and transcripts of these fifteen people and checked them carefully.

The two examiners looked more and more seriously.

Academician Han raised his head: "There was no mistake."

Shao Shilang noticed something unusual: "Judging from the handwriting, most of these fifteen people are from the North Academy of the Hanlin Academy, and the others may be students from various places. Hiss... the North Academy of the Hanlin Academy is so strong this year? Is it because the academy's teaching is stronger? ? Or who stimulated them?"

Academician Han said: "After checking the identities and backgrounds of these students, I think there must be something unusual among them."

Shao Shilang frowned and said: "Grand Bachelor, the purpose of anonymizing names in the scientific examination is to allow the nobles and poor families to compete fairly. If we check their backgrounds like this, it may be unfair..."

Academician Han scolded: "You don't know anything, how dare you hand over the list of these fifteen people to the emperor?"

Shao Shilang thought about Wei Yushi who had been beaten for the third time, and obeyed silently. They carefully checked the identities of these fifteen people, and found that they were all students with good grades in Qiuwei Middle School.

It can be inferred from this that there should be no fraud in the examination results.

But they discovered a more serious problem...

Shao Shilang said with trembling hands: "Among these fifteen people, there are actually six boys. The oldest is thirteen years old and the youngest is only eleven years old."

Fortunately, fortunately, they checked the identities of these people.

Otherwise, when this list is handed in, they will each be punished with a hundred sticks.

"How could Tong Zilang be admitted to Chunwei? And also be on our first-class candidate list?" The more Academician Han thought about it, the more outrageous he felt. He even picked up the rankings of these fifteen people.

I found that the top three in the test were all boys.

The two looked at each other and both thought: It's over.

The hardest job in history has come.

Academician Han said: "When we reported to the emperor, we could say that these fifteen people were all top-notch talents, but in reality, only three of them were reported to the emperor and announced to the public."

There was a very famous imperial examination in history. The candidates in that class were so good that in the end, eight people were elected as prime ministers, but only three people in the first class could be selected according to the rules, and they would not be changed due to any exceptions.

Shilang Shao said: "Then just follow what the great scholar said and report these three people to come forward."

Academician Han shook his head: "No, these three names cannot be released. It's okay if the common people can't see anyone. But if the imperial examination is presented to the emperor, he will only think that we are playing house, choosing three children to take the imperial examination is a joke. ”

Shao Shilang was silent for a long time, but couldn't help but said: "But the articles of the three of them are indeed the best among them. We shouldn't..."

Academician Han interrupted him and said: "Whether it is good or not should be left to the emperor to judge in the palace examination. A small examination will have no impact on the ranking. We cannot gamble with our wealth and future."

Shao Shilang was convinced.

He asked in a low voice: "Then among these three, who should we replace?"

Academician Han spoke calmly and calmly: "Zong Jincheng is the only legitimate son of General Zong and cannot be touched."

Shilang Shao nodded repeatedly.

Nowadays, the two most powerful people in the capital are Luo Jingfeng and Zong Zhao. Not to mention third-grade officials like them, even when the emperor comes, they have to be treated a little less favorably.

Shilang Shao continued to look down: "Zong Wenxiu is the legitimate son of the second wife of Yuanyanghou Mansion and the nephew of General Zongda. This... seems to be inconvenient to move."

The two of them focused their attention on another name.

Qin Ye.

His father was also an official in the court, but he was only a fifth-rank official. He was the number one scholar from a poor family. This status was already higher than that of most people, but it was not worth mentioning in the powerful capital.

Academician Han sighed softly: "I was able to win the title of Yuan Lang at a young age, and now I have to win the title of Yuan Lang. I am really talented... But I am too young to deal with the intrigues in the court, and Master Qin cannot protect him." He. Just give it a try and get promoted to the top level after two years of training in the Hanlin Academy."

Shao Shilang's heart skipped a beat, and he couldn't help asking, "Move the first place in the first class to the second class directly? Grand Secretary, this... this is the boy who should have been the first place winner."

Grand Secretary Han was silent for a while, and replied softly, "What else? Do you want to move the two from the Zong family? How many of us have the courage to move them?"

"But..."

"Don't say buts, pick a candidate who has reached the age of twenty from these fifteen people as soon as possible and appoint him as the first place winner."

Shao Shilang became more and more upset as he listened, and he muttered, "Since you have to move from the back, why not move the eldest son of General Zong directly? He was the second place."

Moving someone up from the bottom is unfair to all the students above.

"First, you move away an 11-year-old Huiyuanlang, and then move up another 11-year-old Huiyuanlang. Are you crazy or am I crazy?" Han Daxueshi reminded him, "Today I will teach you how to be the chief examiner. As long as the emperor, General Zong, and the Duke of Huguo don't come to explain to us, no one can affect the fairness of the imperial examination."

Shao Shilang: "..."

Fairness, where is the fairness?

Qin Ye was removed from the second class, how can this be considered fair?

Shao Shilang silently pulled out the fourth place: "Pan Hongzhi, 22 years old this year, a young man."

Han Daxueshi glanced and said: "You are born in a poor family and cannot suppress Zong Jincheng's status. The Zong family may not accept it."

Shao Shilang: "?!"

I quit! I quit! !

The job of the imperial examination invigilator is not what a good official should do!