In this era, or the imperial era, money alone is of little use.
Take Ma Jin, the richest man in Jiangdu, for example. As the richest man in Jiangdu, his family business can be ranked high even in the capital. Mr. Ma has worked hard for more than ten years and saved an unknown amount of gold and silver. The backstage of the Ma family It's not impossible. There are many dignitaries in the capital, and Mr. Ma can speak to them.
But once a big wave hits, Ma's high-rise building collapses immediately.
Shen Yi also knew this very well, so he only used business as an assistant to himself, and even handed over these businesses to other people, and was not prepared to do it himself.
What he wants to do is to go to school, to become an official, and to embark on the unique step of advancement in the imperial examination era, the broad road!
Both the county examination and the prefecture examination are held twice every three years. This year, the county examination in Jiangdu will be held at the end of September. Only two scholars must be guaranteed ten days in advance to be eligible for the examination.
Ordinary people who want to take the county examination have to bring something, visit the scholar at his home, and say something nice, and the scholar will agree to be a guarantee, but Ganquan Academy does not need this.
There are more than a dozen scholars and five or six academic masters who teach in Ganquan Academy, and there is even Mr. Lu, a Jinshi master. Naturally, there is no need to go everywhere to ask for help. Before the county examination begins, the gentlemen from Ganquan Academy bring The students who are candidates for this year's application went to the county government office to sign up.
Shen Yi's teacher, Mr. Qin, was a scholar, so when it came time to register, he followed Mr. Qin and went to the county government office with twenty or thirty students from Ganquan Academy to register.
Mr. Qin brought students to Jiaoyu to register almost every year. He was already acquainted with Jiaoyu from the county government. He quickly took Shen Yi and others to complete the registration procedures. Shen Yi was the first to sign up. After writing After saying his name, he followed Mr. Qin and walked out.
The master and apprentice were walking in the yard of the county government office. Mr. Qin looked back at Shen Yi and couldn't help but sigh: "In early summer, if nothing happens in the academy, Chen Qing should come here with you to register for the county examination. ."
Chen Qing and Shen Yi were both students of Mr. Qin. Among them, Chen Qing was more talented. Not only was he good at learning, he was also very good at poetry, and he was very popular with Mr. Qin.
Hearing Mr. Qin's words, Shen Yi, who was standing behind him, lowered his head slightly and said comfortingly: "Junior brother Chen Qing has gone, teacher, don't be sad."
Mr. Qin clasped his hands behind his back, still feeling a little regretful in his heart.
"Chen Qing's knowledge is already better than that of his teacher. If he were still here, he would be able to win the imperial examination. It is not impossible to become a Jinshi in a few years..."
Having said this, Mr. Qin groped in his sleeves for a while, took out a small money bag, turned around and handed it to Shen Yi, and said: "If I can't bear to go to Chen Qing's house, if you have some free time, you can take my place." I will go as a teacher, hand over the money to their family, and tell their parents..."
Mr. Qin said slowly: "No matter what, we can't give up the idea of studying. If I remember correctly, Chen Qing also has a younger brother. Let them send him to a private school to study first. In the future, if it is suitable, he will also be sent to our academy. Come here."
Chen Qing is the eldest son in the family. He has a younger brother and a younger sister. Shen Yi had met them before in the Jiangdu County Government Hall.
But at that time, they had a misunderstanding about Shen Yi, and they couldn't explain it clearly for a while.
Hearing Mr. Qin's words, Shen Yi silently took the money bag, and then said: "Sir, when I was in the county government, all the money given by Feng Zhixian to the students had been given to the Chen family. Junior Brother Chen Qing's younger brother If you have a talent for reading, your husband will not have to spend any money, and the students will support him in studying."
While the master and apprentice were talking, the students from Ganquan Academy came out one by one and gathered around Mr. Qin and the two other gentlemen from the academy. It was inconvenient to talk with so many people. Mr. Qin sighed and said : "That's all, let's talk about this later after we return to the academy."
Shen Yi lowered his head.
Although Mr. Qin is not his first teacher, he is the teacher who teaches in the academy. In the future, Shen Yi will give him things whenever he is in Jiangdu. In addition, Mr. Qin is pretty good to his students. , Shen Yi naturally wanted to listen to what this "personal teacher" said.
At this time, the county examination was approaching, and outside the door of the teaching office, there were not only students from Ganquan Academy, but also students from other places in Jiangdu County. These students gathered in groups of twos and threes, and soon the backyard of the county government office became lively. While the students were chattering, a somewhat rough voice sounded among the crowd.
"The county gentleman is here!"
After this rough voice, the scene immediately fell silent, and then, a young man wearing the uniform of a county magistrate, surrounded by officials, walked in from the main entrance.
At this time, the county magistrate Zhang Jian had been in Jiangdu for several months. The people of Jiangdu also knew that the new county magistrate was very young. Everyone had no doubts about Zhang Jian's identity, so they stepped forward one after another and faced him. Magistrate Zhang bowed his hands in salute.
"I've met the county magistrate."
Originally, there was no meritorious service, and one had to kneel down when meeting officials in formal occasions. However, at this time, the backyard of the county government office was not considered a formal occasion. The guarantors did not kneel down, and neither did the students.
Zhang Xianzun waved his hand, indicating to everyone that there was no need to be polite.
At this time, Jiangdu's teacher also walked out of his office, came to the front of the county magistrate, and bowed to the leader.
Magistrate Zhang smiled at Jiaoyu and said: "Wang Jiaoyu, the county examination is approaching and you are the busiest in the county government. You don't need to pay attention to me at this time. You are busy."
Jiayu, surnamed Wang, repeatedly bowed his hands to the leader and returned to his office to go to work.
Immediately afterwards, the county magistrate walked up to the crowd, glanced at them, and said with a smile: "Meeting you reminds me of the time I took the exam when I was young. Thinking about it now, I feel a little nostalgic."
His voice is clear.
"Everyone who can come to take the county examination is the future pillar of our Dachen and the essence of our Jiangdu. The county here wishes you all the best in your examination. Of course, after passing the county examination, you must also perform well in the government examination. Mo It will ruin our Jiangdu’s reputation!”
The reputation of Jiangdu mentioned by Zhang Xianzun is actually the reputation of "Jiangdu County".
Jiangdu County is affiliated with Guo, but there is more than one Jiangdu County in Jiangdu Prefecture. In addition to Jiangdu County, there are many counties under its jurisdiction. After taking the county examination, students admitted by these counties will have to come to Jiangdu to take the prefecture examination. of.
Zhang Xianzun's words are a "warm-up" for the subsequent government examination.
Because he himself is the examiner of the county examination, it is not easy to mention too much about the county examination.
What follows is nothing more than going through the motions and saying some stage words.
After the "encouragement" session was over, Zhang Xianzun waved his hand to signal everyone to move freely, and then the young county Zun in official uniform walked up to Shen Yi with his hands behind his back and a smile.
He glanced at Shen Yi, then at Mr. Qin next to Shen Yi, and said with a smile: "Qi Lang, is this the gentleman from the academy?"
In front of so many people, it was impossible for him to directly address Junior Brother Shen Yiye. If he did, it would be that the county magistrate deliberately wanted to target Shen Yi.
After all, if the examiner is too close to the candidates before the exam, they will definitely be gossiped about in secret.
Shen Yi nodded, lowered his head slightly and said, "Back to the county, this is our master, Mr. Qin."
Mr. Qin bowed his hands to Magistrate Zhang and saluted: "I have met the magistrate."
"You're welcome, sir."
Magistrate Zhang didn't have any airs about the county magistrate at all. After chatting for a few words, he smiled at Mr. Qin and said, "I have something to do today and I have to go to the academy to meet Uncle Lu. Do you want to take my car and go back to the academy together?" "
Mr. Qin looked back at Shen Yi, then at the other students, then shook his head repeatedly and said, "Thank you, Lord County, for your kindness, but...it's not appropriate."
Mr. Qin sighed and said, "To be honest, it is no longer appropriate for you, County Lord, to talk to us now."
The county examination will be held in seven or eight days. At this time, the county examiner takes the initiative to talk to them. Of course it is inappropriate!
Zhang Xianzun also reacted quickly, looking a little embarrassed.
"It's my first time as a county magistrate. I didn't think about it carefully. Don't blame me."
He smiled sheepishly.
"In this case, you two stay here while I go to the academy first."
After saying this, Magistrate Zhang waved his hands to the two people, turned around and left.
It was obvious that the county gentleman was in a good mood.
Moreover, when he went to the academy to see Lu Anshi during "working hours", it was probably because something happened in the court...
