Rule the Ming Dynasty Alone

Shuntian Gongyuan, to the public hall.

Officials related to the joint examination are mainly divided into two groups: inner curtain officials and outer curtain officials. The inner curtain officers are naturally the ten examiners responsible for reviewing the examination papers, while the outer curtain officials include supervisors, promotions, temporary examinations, inspections and seals. , family records, readings, scrolls and other officials.

Among the many outside officials, in addition to the promotion officer who is responsible for preparing things and materials, the most important one is the supervisory officer who has overall supervision responsibilities.

In previous examinations, the supervisory officer was usually an official from the Metropolitan Procuratorate. However, the examiner this time was Wang Yue, the censor of Zuodu of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, so this task naturally fell to the Ministry of Rites.

This time, Liu Jian, the left minister of the Ministry of Rites, served as the supervisor, but anyone could see that the left minister of the Ministry of Rites was very unhappy with this arrangement.

In fact, it is no wonder that Liu Jian was already qualified to serve as the examiner of the general examination and recruited 600 disciples, but he ended up becoming a supervisor like a gatekeeper.

Now the benefits of the examination are not his turn at all. If something happens to this examination, he, the supervisor, will not be able to escape the involvement.

The outer curtain officials did not have as much thoughts as Liu Jian. When they saw there was finally movement on the other side of the stone bridge, they immediately said with joy: "Here they come! They are here!"

The weather is very good today, the wind is sunny and sunny.

There is a stone bridge connecting the Zhigongtang and Jukuitang areas. Since the courtyard was closed on the first day of the trial, an army has been guarding here day and night. Now, people inside line up directly on both sides to pass.

The leader is naturally the examiner Wang Yue, who is wearing a second-grade official uniform. Wang Yue's beard and hair are gray, but his face is rosy and his eyes are extremely determined, resolute as a commander who has just returned from the war.

The deputy examiner this time was Zhang Sheng, a bachelor of Hanlin Academy, and the other eight examiners were mostly officials from the Sixth Department, all holding high school examination papers in their hands.

For examination examiners, reviewing test papers is a very hard job.

More than 4,000 candidates took part in the examination this time, and the number of test papers in the three examinations reached 13,000. Even if eight co-examiners divide the test papers equally, each co-examiner must approve more than 1,500 copies, and they must review them within 15 days.

In fact, a fairer grading method is like that of the Imperial Examination, where all examiners rate each paper accordingly, discarding the highest and lowest scores and taking the average of the candidates with the best scores. However, in an exam of this size, it is not possible at all. Reality.

Wang Yue knew that his fellow examiners could not even read through 1,500 test papers, let alone requiring them to review more than 13,000 test papers, so he specifically emphasized the question on the Huichang Hou case in the first and second session.

Once things are arranged, the results are immediate.

Although many Qingliu officials despised Wang Yue, especially the relationship between Wang Yue and Wang Zhi, which was an indelible stain, Wang Yue had great prestige among the eight fellow examiners.

Not to mention the two major things that Wang Yue Fuqi did that benefited the country and the people, even the military achievements he made back then were enough to impress them. As for the resentment of the poems written in those days, it can only be said that it is because of the desire to inflict sins and no words?

Because of Wang Yue's "flexibility", the eight fellow examiners all paid attention to the second Huichang Hou case, and the speed of examination was obviously greatly improved.

Even if you answer the first question very well, if you fail to answer the second question very well, you will be mercilessly dismissed.

If you answer the Huichang Hou questions well in the second test, you will still have a high probability of passing even if your performance in the first test is not so good.

"I have met the President!" When the officials saw Wang Yue appear, they also saluted respectfully.

Wang Yue was a person who valued practicality over etiquette. He nodded slightly and walked towards the main hall of the court, but he was ready to start working immediately.

The Zhigong Hall was actually the office of the Outer Curtain Officer. Liu Jian was sitting on the front seat, looking at Wang Yue who came in with complicated eyes.

I had already half-stepped through the door of the cabinet, but the person in front of me was just a criminal who was exiled to Anlu, and everyone's status was as bad as a cloud.

It's just that now the other party has not only snatched away his examiner, but also has an official position two levels higher than his own. God is simply teasing him intentionally.

cough!

Wang Yue came in and saw Liu Jian's butt still pressed against the chair board of the first seat. He knew that this arrogant Ci minister looked down on him, so he coughed lightly with a straight face.

this……

The officials who followed in couldn't help but look at each other when they saw Liu Jian being so rude.

Not to mention that Wang Yue is the president of this conference, Wang Yue's official position is even higher than that of Liu Jian, and Liu Jian's current behavior is indeed very inappropriate.

Liu Jian, the left minister of the Ministry of Rites, was extremely reluctant, but knew that some rules could not be broken, so he had no choice but to stand up and salute: "I have seen the president!"

"Liu Shilang, since we are working together, there should be order from top to bottom. Now I must respect my official position!" Although Wang Yue did not pay attention to etiquette, he still used his own principles to warn.

On weekdays, Liu Jian would be disrespectful or even roll his eyes, but he didn't bother to pay attention. It's just that dealing with things together now is like marching to war, but it requires all generals to work together.

As for Liu Jian's attempt to challenge Shangguan's authority, if it were placed in the military, he would directly pick up Shang Fang's sword and kill him.

Liu Jian, the left minister of the Ministry of Etiquette, his face darkened, but he still endured the anger in his heart and explained: "My butt is sick, please ask President Haihan!"

"Since you are sick, please sit less!" Wang Yue knew that this was actually a lie, but he was too lazy to care about it. He turned around and faced the officials and said: "The six hundred test papers are here, and the rankings have been arranged. Let's start. Bar!"

Deputy examiner Zhang Sheng led eight fellow examiners to put the high school test papers on the table. This was considered the fruit of their recent labor.

As early as the beginning of the first examination, the ten examiners were "under house arrest" in the Jukuitang area by the officers and soldiers on the bridge. Now they have successfully completed the task of reviewing the examination papers.

The promotion officer, Shuntianfu Cheng Liu Hai, realized Wang Yue's vigorous and resolute character, and immediately said to the dumbfounded reading officer and writing officer: "What are you still doing? Find the ink scroll quickly!"

Both the ink scrolls and the ink scrolls have corresponding numbers. As long as you press the numbers on the six hundred ink scrolls, you can go to the palm scroll office one by one to find the ink scroll with the corresponding number.

Six hundred ink rolls are not a small amount, so it takes a lot of time to find them, and then arrange the ink rolls in a fixed order.

Wang Yue was not an official who liked to take matters into his own hands. He was sitting in the front seat, drinking tea slowly, watching the officials bring ink rolls one by one.

"Sir President, the six hundred ink scrolls have been verified and are all here!" Liu Hai, the promotion officer of Shuntian Prefecture, seemed very active in his work and pointed to the found ink scroll.

Wang Yue was quite satisfied with their work efficiency. After seeing that Zhang Sheng and other examiners coded the verification code correctly, he held a tea cup and said calmly: "Then let's start to open the seal!"

Since the development of the imperial examination, the methods to prevent cheating have been very advanced.

Not only did the inner curtain officer get a copy of the ink scroll, but the ink scroll guarded by the outer curtain officer was also sealed in advance. Until now, no one knows who the high school is.

"Wait!"

It was at this moment that a voice suddenly stopped him.

All the officials turned their heads and looked over, with a flash of surprise on their faces, but they did not expect that it was Liu Jian, the left minister of the Ministry of Rites.

Wang Yue glanced at Liu Jian indifferently and asked very calmly: "Liu Shilang, what are you doing?"

"Wang Zongxian, I heard that you are reviewing the Huichang Hou case, which is the second most important case this time. Does this matter?" Liu Jian, the left minister of the Ministry of Rites, had a flash of pride in his eyes and asked directly.

This title of General Constitution immediately cut off the subordinate relationship this time and turned it into a relationship of colleagues who are officials in the same dynasty.

Wang Yue discovered that the enemy was actually inside. He looked at Liu Jiandian with majestic eyes and said, "Liu Shilang, how did you find out?"

"You don't need to worry about this matter, right?" Liu Jian asked as someone who was not afraid of a lonely minister like Wang Yue, but who did not intend to inform him publicly.

Wang Yue's face straightened, but he used offense as defense and said: "Don't worry about it? The inner curtain is not allowed to communicate with the outside world. Now you actually peeked into the inner curtain. What crime should you do?"

Huh?

Shuntian Prefecture Yin Liu Hai and other officials realized that something was wrong. Jukui Hall had been isolated from the outside world. How did Liu Jian know the situation inside? There is really reason to investigate further.

If Liu Jian really sends someone to spy, then the black gauze hat on Liu Jian's head can be taken off.

"Wang Zongxian, don't spit on anyone with your blood in your eyes. I didn't peek behind the curtain!" Liu Jian didn't expect Wang Yue to hit the target, so he immediately denied it.

Wang Yue put down the tea cup and asked with a straight face: "How did you know about the inner curtain? Today you must make it clear!"

this……

Officials such as Yin Liu Hai of Shuntian Prefecture turned to look at Liu Jian. It was clearly Liu Jian, the left minister of the Ministry of Rites, who was looking for trouble, but now he was beheaded by the king and had his pigtails grabbed.

"I just got the news, so I didn't peek behind the scenes!" Liu Jian still wanted to abide by the agreement with the person who leaked the news, so he deliberately revealed a little bit.

Huh?

Shuntian Prefecture Yin Liu Hai and other officials realized that Liu Jian's information came from the inner curtain officer, but they couldn't help but look at the nine examiners, but they didn't know who leaked the secret to Liu Jian.

Wang Yue glanced at the eight fellow examiners, but he did not intend to give up and said: "How long has it been out now? If Liu Shilang can't explain the reason, then I will report the matter to His Majesty and ask the court to conduct a strict investigation!"

A gangster?

Shuntian Prefecture Yin Liu Hai and other officials seemed to be getting to know Wang Yue again, but they swallowed secretly and looked at the aggressive old man with complicated eyes.

When things got to this point, it was definitely not Liu Jian who was peeking inside.

Not to mention whether Liu Jian has the ability or the courage to do so, this crime is not light.

Judging from various signs, a fellow examiner or deputy examiner must have made a small report to Liu Jian just now when no one was paying attention.

But now Wang Yue is obsessed with this matter. If Liu Jian does not reveal his source of information, Liu Jian may really be charged with peeking behind the curtain.

At this moment, among the eight fellow examiners, there was a middle-aged fat man who wanted to find a crack in the ground to drill into.

"This matter was just revealed to the lower official by Ye Qian, a member of the Ministry of Etiquette!" Liu Jian knew that he had been manipulated by Wang Yue, so he directly confessed.

When the officials heard this, they all turned to look at the examiner with a look of contempt in their eyes.

Traitors are not welcome in any era.

Ye Qian, the minister of etiquette, had a burning face, but he knew that he had nowhere to hide, and silently greeted Liu Jian's eighteenth generation of ancestors in his heart.

Wang Yue hated this kind of traitor the most. If he had to behead him in the army, he would simply ask for confirmation: "Ye Qian, was it you who told Liu Shilang just now?"

"I'm... I'm an official..." Ye Qian originally just wanted to make a small report, but now he was asked to disclose the small report in person, and he suddenly became hesitant.

Wang Yue knew what was going on as soon as he saw it, and scolded him with a straight face: "If you have it, you have it, if you don't have it, you don't have it, don't be like a concubine!"

This comparison is simply a curse, but no one thinks that Wang Yue is going too far. There is really no need to be too polite when dealing with such a villain.

"Yes! After the second exam, you took out a copy of the second exam paper and asked us and the examiner to focus on the Huichang Hou case!" Ye Qian was also angry and decided to testify against Wang Yue.

After this incident spread, his reputation was ruined, but he did not intend to let Wang Yu live in trouble. In this review, Wang Yue obviously made a big mistake.

When Liu Jian saw Ye Qian standing up to testify against Wang Yue, he immediately turned to look at Wang Yue with gloating.

So what if we have more military exploits? What if he is reused by the emperor? As long as a slight flaw is revealed, he can be killed on his side.

Wang Yue realized that this court was indeed a battlefield, but he was not a rookie after all, so he asked calmly: "Ye Qian, do you still remember my original words?"

"You...you said: This year's examination has a quota of 600, so there are more candidates than in previous years. The review can be flexible, and the subject of the Huichang Hou case should be the top priority!" Ye Qian tried to think back and said truthfully.

Wang Yue knew that some things could not be denied, so he asked proudly: "I did say so, and also emphasized that it was Enke this time, but what is the problem with these words?"

this……

Ye Qian was suddenly speechless, but turned to look at Liu Jian for help.

The officials present knew that these were all superficial excuses, and now the fight between gods was about to begin.

"The first test has always been focused on the Four Books and Five Classics, and the first question on the Four Books is the first question in the exam!" Liu Jian raised the corners of his mouth slightly and launched an attack.

Wang Yue glanced at Liu Jian and asked calmly: "Who made this rule?"

"This has always been the case in the examinations!" Liu Jian looked down upon Wang Yue, who was not a Ci official, and said confidently.

Wang Yue asked calmly: "Is there any clear text?"

"No!" Liu Jian shook his head gently.

Wang Yue then continued to ask: "Is there any holy will?"

"No!" Liu Jian frowned slightly and continued to shake his head.

Wang Yue finally asked: "Are you the examiner this time or am I the examiner?"

"Of course it's you!" Liu Jian secretly hated him.

Wang Yue's face straightened, and he said seriously: "There is no clear text, and there is no holy will. Now I am the examiner of the examination. What topics are the most important in the examination? Why do you need to make irresponsible remarks?"