Within a few days, Nanjing city ushered in the third major event.
The much-anticipated Imperial Examination is finally about to begin.
In the past three months, more than 50,000 candidates have come to Nanjing from all over the country, filling the huge Wei Guogong Mansion, Huaiyuan Marquis Mansion, Lingbi Marquis Mansion and Anyuan Marquis Mansion.
, it is true that the capital is full of Confucian scholars, and the Nanjing Provincial Examination, which is held every three years, does not have such a grand scene.
First, 270,000 soldiers were recruited and arrived in Nanjing.
Then more than 50,000 scholars took part in the imperial examination.
This combination of civil and military affairs has become the talk of Nanjing.
Early that morning, Wang Tao came to sit in front of Niuji Wonton Shop on Chaoku Street.
"Is Mr. Wang here?" Niu Ji's waiter immediately greeted him and asked with a smile, "Still the old rules, two sets of sesame seed cakes and two bowls of wontons?"
"Yes, the same old rules." Wang Tao smiled and nodded.
"Okay, Mr. Wang from table number one, two sets of sesame seed cakes and two bowls of wontons."
After a while, two pairs of crispy brown sesame cakes and two bowls of hot wontons were served. At this time, Wang Tao's old friend Sun Tinglan also arrived.
"Sun Weng." Wang Tao quickly stood up and greeted.
"Wang Gong." Sun Tinglan also bowed in greeting.
After meeting each other, the two of them had breakfast and chatted.
In the past few months or even more than half a year, the two of them have been living at this pace.
Sun Tinglan, in particular, has completely put away all the fabrics and fabrics at home, no longer engages in the physical business, and has exclusively begun to study bond trading on the stock exchange.
Wang Tao just followed Sun Tinglan.
Relying on Sun Tinglan's unique vision, Wang Tao has erased the losses.
But Sun Tinglan's net worth has also caught up. Now their net worth is about the same, both around 100,000 taels. This is actually considered a rich man.
Wang Tao asked in a low voice: "Weng Sun, today is the last trading day. After today, the Royal Exchange and the Hubu Exchange will be closed for accounting from tomorrow. So you said, will you meet before closing?"
Isn’t there going to be a big rise?”
"You are not the only one who thinks so, everyone thinks so." Sun Tinglan said with a smile, "So, there will definitely be a big surge in bond prices today."
Wang Tao immediately said: "In this case, we have to hurry up when the exchange opens, buy before the price rises, and then sell before it closes, so that we can make a steady profit."
Sun Tinglan smiled and said: "Wang Gong, I advise you not to buy it. Take advantage of this opportunity to sell out all the bonds on hand, and then spend the New Year with ease."
"Why is this?" Wang Tao looked confused.
"Intuition." Sun Tinglan said with a smile, "It's up to you to believe it or not."
"I believe it." Wang Tao said without thinking, "I will sell them all as soon as the two markets open."
While the two were talking, a group of scholars wearing robes passed through Laiyan Bridge and headed to the Grand Campus south of Shangfang Bridge and north of Fangfang Gate to take the admissions examination for the Imperial College.
Candidates' speech can be vaguely heard.
Most of them ask Brother XX how are you preparing?
My companion confidently said that I would succeed in this subject.
The person who asked the question also said that my brother might be in trouble this time.
Looking at the scholars walking by together, Wang Tao said with envy: "I really envy these scholars. They really caught up with a rare good time. How could I have such an opportunity when I was young?"
"Yes." Sun Tinglan was also deeply touched by this, because he was actually a scholar.
When he came to Nanjing to take part in the provincial examination, only a few dozen candidates could be admitted out of more than 10,000 scholars, and there was only one opportunity for the provincial examination every three years.
But now, the Imperial College recruits 1,500 students at a time, and 1,500 students are recruited every year.
Although there are more than 50,000 students taking the Imperial Examination, the opportunities for Chinese students are still far greater than they were at that time.
What makes the two of them even more envious is that after graduating from the Imperial College for three years, they can enter the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Although they are not considered to be imperial officials who came from the imperial examination, their power and status are not at all like those who came from Jinshi.
Under the ordinary officials who were born, Juren was even more incomparable to the scholars who came from the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Regarding this, you only need to look at those diligent scholars to know.
Prince Qin is really capable of walking sideways, and even the Prime Minister of the Cabinet has to stay away.
This is really in line with the old saying, you have to throw things away when comparing goods, and you will die when comparing people. You can't compare.
Looking at the backs of these scholars, Sun Tinglan said quietly: "I don't know what the questions in this exam are?"
"It is said that the exam questions will not be revealed until the exam site, and the questions will be set by the Holy Emperor himself." A gentleman at the table next to him suddenly interjected, "Besides, it is said that there will only be one exam."
"Only one test?" Wang Tao asked in astonishment, "Only four books?"
"Yes, there is only one test on the Four Books." said the gentleman, "and it only lasts one morning!"
"Only half a day?" Sun Tinglan said with a serious expression, "Although there is only one test, half a day is too short. For those candidates who are not very smart, it will be difficult to solve the questions."
Wang Tao also muttered silently, wishing them good luck.
…
The exam time is not actually a morning.
To be precise, there are only two hours.
The exam started at Maozheng, and the papers were collected on time at noon, exactly two hours.
Around the beginning of the lunar month, candidates taking the Imperial College Examination began to arrive at the Grand Teaching Ground.
As the name suggests, the Great Teaching Field was the place where Emperor Hongwu used to review the capital camp. Later, after Zhu Diao moved the capital, the Great Teaching Field was abandoned together with the barracks inside Jinchuan Gate.
However, the cathedral is not located together with the barracks.
The Jingying Barracks is located at the northernmost end of the inner city of Nanjing, at the southern foot of Lion Rock.
However, the cathedral is located in the southernmost part of the outer city of Nanjing, so it can be said that it is completely opposite.
When the candidates arrived one after another, they saw that the surroundings of the cathedral were already filled with soldiers from the Beijing camp like javelins, all wearing bright red mandarin duck jackets, which looked really majestic.
The cathedral is filled with low seats.
Looking from a distance, it looks like a huge chessboard.
After getting closer, the candidates discovered that the four treasures of the study and rice paper had been placed on the short table.
"Come here and line up!" A few dozen steps away, a Qinwang scholar wearing cotton armor said loudly, "Come over and line up according to the number issued before!"
Prior to this, candidates who took the exam had already received their numbers.
Because there were too many candidates, the entire examination room was divided into 361 areas.
Yes, it is divided according to the nineteen vertical and horizontal lines of Go. There are about 150 candidates in each area, and there are two Qinwang scholars and Beijing camp soldiers in charge of the order of the examination room.
At about a quarter past midnight, all the more than 50,000 candidates arrived.
Although there were still three-quarters of an hour before the first minute, the deputy examiner Zhu Cixiang, who had already arrived, signaled the candidates that they could enter the venue early. The prince was kind and felt that the candidates were a little tired standing around.
More than 50,000 candidates entered the venue in an orderly manner under the guidance of Mr. Qin Wang and quickly found their seats.
The candidates sat upright, not even daring to cough. Only the Qin Wang Shizi who maintained order repeatedly reiterated the rules of the examination room: no whispering, no making noise, no friendship with the invigilator.
But you can polish the ink and lay out the test papers in advance.
Immediately the sound of turning test papers could be heard on the campus grounds.
However, to the disappointment of all candidates, the test paper was just a blank paper with only one sheet.
Seeing this, many candidates said bitterly in their hearts. Why is there only one test paper and not even a scratch paper? If this is written incorrectly or is stained with ink, wouldn't it mean that they will fail the exam?
While the candidates were waiting anxiously, the time came to Maozheng.
Chongzhen Shanshan arrived late. This dog emperor stayed in Wuyi Lane last night and had a ridiculous night.
Dragging slightly heavy steps, Chongzhen climbed onto the reviewing stand and stood still on the stage.
Standing at the front edge of the reading desk and looking down, he saw more than 50,000 exam tables neatly arranged, and more than 50,000 candidates sitting upright and looking at him with awe and admiration.
This is what is said about the earth being like a chess game, and the living beings being the pawns.
At that moment, Chongzhen took out a thread-bound book from his sleeve, which was a finely edited version of the Analects of Confucius.
The candidates who were closest to the reading desk suddenly brightened up when they saw it. It seemed that the question was about the Analects of Confucius!
At this moment, these candidates racked their brains and began to think about which sentence the emperor might choose. If they chose this sentence, how should they solve the question? Even if they just think about it for a moment longer than other candidates, it would be great.
However, Chongzhen just casually turned a few pages and closed the Analects again.
Then Chongzhen said loudly: "The question in this exam is the Analects of Confucius!"
"Ah?" Gao Qiqian, Lu Jiude and dozens of loud-sounding scholars standing under the review stage were stunned.
The test question is the Analects of Confucius? Your Majesty, you are violating the rules. You can only choose a certain sentence or paragraph from the Analects of Confucius, Mencius, Daxue, and the Doctrine of the Mean, but you cannot directly use the Analects of Confucius as a test question.
How can anyone take the Analects of Confucius as a test question? This is too simple.
If the Analects of Confucius is used as a test question, even if a child is asked to take the test, he can still solve the question with his eyes closed.
"Ah what?" Chongzhen's face fell and he snorted, "I'm deaf, the test question is the Analects of Confucius!"
"Yes!" Lu Jiude was shocked when he stood up and shouted in a high voice, "Long live the Lord said, the test question for the Jinke Imperial College Examination is the Analects of Confucius, the Analects of Confucius!"
Dozens of loud-sounding scholars followed and shouted: "The test question is the Analects of Confucius, the Analects of Confucius!"
Soon, the sound of chants spread throughout the teaching hall and reached the ears of every candidate.
The whole examination room was in an uproar. The Analects of Confucius? This is too easy, right? It’s a free gift! I passed, I am sure to pass this subject, I am going to the Imperial College, hahaha!
Immediately, the candidates splashed ink and began to write.
That's right, such a test question requires no preparation at all.
Although they have never seen a model essay using the Analects of Confucius as a question, it is not difficult for them at all. The youngest among them has studied Cheng Wen for more than five years, how can he still write this?
…
At the same time, in the cabinet room, four cabinet elders and two ministers were discussing state affairs.
In the court recommendation a month ago, Wang Duo, the former Minister of Rites, was ultimately defeated. Zhang Shenyan, Meng Zhaoxiang, and Qian Qianyi were able to join the cabinet and became the second assistant, third assistant, and fourth assistant respectively.
Last month, in addition to the recommendation of the cabinet ministers, the recommendation of the six ministers was also carried out.
In the end, Fan Zhongjie was promoted to Minister of the Ministry of Personnel again in less than half a year after being promoted to Zuo Shilang of the Ministry of Personnel. Wang Duo was restored to his original position and still served as the Minister of Rites.
Wu Linzheng, one of the nine ministers who went to disaster, was promoted to a new level. After being promoted to Zhan Shifu of Zhan Shifu not long ago, he was once again promoted to Secretary of the Ministry of Household Affairs.
Participating in the cabinet meeting this time were Wu Linzheng, the Minister of Household Affairs, and Lu Daqi, the Minister of War. The matter discussed was how to deal with the 10,000 war horses obtained from the Puppet Shun trade.
Speaking of these 10,000 war horses, we have to talk about the party struggle last month.
Shi Kefa has been executed, but Xie Xuelong also made a mistake and fell into a well. In the end, Lu Zhenfei, the third assistant, picked up a fallen peach, and suddenly became the first assistant of the cabinet from the third assistant of the cabinet.
After Lu Zhenfei became the chief minister, he immediately promoted trade with the Pseudo-Shun.
After some haggling, the final result was that the Ming Dynasty offered 1 million shi of grain in exchange for 10,000 good horses, 20,000 cattle and 100,000 sheep.
Daming must have taken advantage of this price.
Because during the Chongzhen Dynasty, a good horse was worth nearly one hundred taels of silver.
Therefore, just 10,000 good horses are worth one million stones of grain, and the other 20,000 cattle and 100,000 sheep are equivalent to free gifts to the Ming Dynasty.
The hypocritical envoy was angry, but there was nothing he could do.
Because this transaction is what they want from Daming.
Then late last night, the governor of Huguang, He Tengjiao, sent a two-hundred-mile rush, saying that Pseudo-Shun had delivered 10,000 good horses, 20,000 cattle and 100,000 sheep to the Ming Dynasty.
inside the meeting hall, road
Zhenfei sat comfortably on the Taishi chair in the middle.
The second assistant Zhang Shenyan, the third assistant Meng Zhaoxiang and the fourth assistant Qian Qianyi sat on the left and right respectively. As for the Minister of War, Lu Daqi and the Minister of Hubu, Wu Linzheng, they had no seats and could only stand.
Lu Zhenfei said: "The annual holiday will be in half a month. It seems that this batch of muttons by Pseudo-Shun will not be able to make it in time to distribute New Year's gifts to the officials in Beijing. Originally, I was thinking of giving out a few to everyone before the annual holiday.
Sheep, I would like to reward everyone for their hard work in the past year, and also give you a boost of energy for next year’s errands. This time it’s all in vain.”
"Shou Kui is a man of justice." Qian Qianyi said with a flattering look, "But even if you distribute mutton after the festival, the effect will be the same. Officials of all sizes in the capital will still be grateful to you."
Lu Zhenfei waved his hand and said, "Let's get down to business first. What are we going to do with these 10,000 war horses?"
Zhang Shenyan, Meng Zhaoxiang and Wu Linzheng are all looking at the nose with their eyes, and their minds with their noses. This matter is a bit sensitive, so it's better not to rush to be the one who stands out.
The reason why it is difficult to manage these 10,000 horses is that one thing's power has not been clearly divided between the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Specifically, the powers of the Ministry of War highly overlap with those of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Now, the power of the Ministry of War has basically been lost. Whether it is recruiting troops or conducting foreign campaigns, it is the Ministry of Internal Affairs that has the sole discretion to decide.
In other words, it is decided by the emperor.
So, as valuable military supplies, should these 10,000 war horses be handled by the Ministry of War or by the Ministry of Internal Affairs?
Lu Zhenfei actually had an answer already, but he still wanted to hear the opinions of other ministers in charge of internal affairs and the officials of the Ministry of Household and Military Affairs, lest the imperial censor Yan Guan scolded him again for talking about making a speech.
Seeing that several people were unwilling to speak, Lu Zhenfei directly called them by name.
Lu Zhenfei turned to Lu Daqi and asked, "Da Sima, what's your opinion?"
"I will only follow the direction of the cabinet." Lu Daqi responded without thinking.
