Although the imperial examination was sealed, it was not transcribed, that is, there was no distinction between ink scrolls and ink scrolls. Calligraphy was very important.
The Imperial Examination in the Ming Dynasty only took one policy question, which was only one article. The number of words was not as small as that of the Four Books and the Five Classics. The article had to have a thousand words or even two thousand words.
The grading rules are based on a group of palace examination grading officials. According to the quality of an article, it is divided into five grades. The first grade is represented by "○". Whoever gets more ○ will be ranked higher.
Finally, ten excellent papers will be presented to the emperor.
The top three in the first class and the top seven in the second class are appointed by the emperor.
Zhang Zhou knew that if he could pass the selection of the examiners of the palace examination and become one of the last ten papers to be submitted to the emperor for reading, and the emperor knew his handwriting, the probability of selecting him as one of the top three, or even the number one scholar, would be very high. .
It is expected that he will have passed the Jiangnan Provincial Examination and will be able to pass the examination. It is not an exaggeration to give him the top prize and achieve a good reputation.
To do so many things for the emperor and the Ming Dynasty, is it not an exaggeration to give him the number one scholar?
What Zhu Youtang said before actually hinted to him that as long as I can find your papers, I will definitely promote you to Dingjia and send you to the Hanlin Academy.
This is actually very important.
Historically, the imperial examination in the twelfth year of Hongzhi involved the vend question, so after the imperial examination in this subject, no Shuji scholars were selected, and only three people in the first class were admitted to the Hanlin Academy as usual, like Zhu You this time Zang and the ministers of the DPRK were also prepared in this way.
That's probably why the emperor said this.
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The meeting in the inner court ended.
Zhang Zhou went to the East Palace under the guidance of Xiao Jing. This time Zhu Youtang remembered that he had a son, because the father and son were about to complete a performance about "The Divine Right of Kings". Zhang Zhou probably needed some details. Go and explain.
Zhu Youtang went to tell his son himself that if the two of us engage in fraud, it would affect his image of a tall and powerful father in his son's heart.
"...Mr. Zhang, when you talk to the prince later, please remember to be tactful. The prince is young and has an upright personality. If you speak too straightforwardly, I'm afraid he won't be able to accept it."
Xiao Jing was still reminding him on the way.
Zhang Zhou said: "Does that mean you won't tell the prince the truth?"
"It's up to you."
Xiao Jing was also helpless. This Zhang Banxian showed so much ability in dealing with matters in front of the emperor. Was he deliberately pretending to be confused at this time?
Doesn’t His Majesty just want the prince to be kept in the dark?
When he was about to arrive at the Wenhua Hall, Xiao Jingcai remembered something and said, "There will be a lecture today. Mr. Zhang may have to wait a moment."
"It's okay. I'm not in a hurry to leave the palace."
Zhang Zhou followed Xiao Jing to the small hall first, and waited for more than half an hour. When he was bored, Gao Feng came over and informed him that the official had gone to have lunch and that he could go to see the prince.
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Inside the Wenhua Hall.
Zhu Houzhao yawned again and again, but he didn't show much interest when he saw Zhang Zhou.
"Coming?" Zhu Houzhao didn't treat Zhang Zhou as a rare visitor. He acted as if we were already familiar with each other and didn't need to see anyone outside.
Zhang Zhou said: "I have something to explain to the prince, and then I will leave."
Zhu Houzhao nodded and pointed to the small bench beside him: "Sit!"
Instead of giving a chair to sit on, give a small bench...
Zhang Zhou was about to sit down, but when he thought something was wrong, he just pressed his hand and the small bench fell apart, but he was fine.
"you!"
Zhu Houzhao was obviously a naughty kid who wanted to play tricks on Zhang Zhou, but Zhang Zhou saw through it.
Zhang Zhou said coldly: "Prince, this is not fun."
"Bah!" Zhu Houzhao spat, "You are really good at pinching and calculating. You can even avoid this..."
Xiao Jing hurriedly came over and reminded: "Oh, Prince, what are you doing? Why don't you hurry up and move a chair for Mr. Zhang?"
After listening to Xiao Jing's words, Liu Jin went to bring Zhang Zhou a chair, and even reached out to support Zhang Zhou, fearing that he would not be well received.
"All of you, please step aside. Mr. Zhang has something to say to the Crown Prince. No outsiders are allowed to listen." Xiao Jing was afraid that the details of going to pray for rain would be known to outsiders, so he quickly drove away the people from the East Palace.
In this way, Zhang Zhoucai made it clear that Zhu Youtang wanted to take Zhu Houzhao to pray for rain.
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"Leave the palace? Okay, okay, which day? It will take four more days? Why should I go these three days?"
As soon as Zhu Houzhao heard that he was leaving the palace, he didn't care what he was going to do. As long as he could go out of the palace to play, he felt like he was free.
Zhang Zhou felt that.
This is letting the tiger return to the mountain.
"I am only responsible for informing you of what will happen in the next four days. Whatever the prince wants to do these three days," Zhang Zhou said coldly.
Xiao Jing had never seen Zhang Zhou and the prince interact face to face. After hearing this, he couldn't help but look at Zhang Zhou with a wry smile, as if to say, you still dare to speak.
Probably only when Zhang Zhou and Zhu Houzhao spoke with this attitude could Zhu Houzhao be calmed down.
Others... don't dare to say that at all.
Zhu Houzhao said: "Praying for rain, what do you mean? Is it the same as dancing to the gods? I remember that there was a water baby in the suit of gourd dolls I had earlier. Bring it with me when the time comes."
Zhang Zhou glanced at Xiao Jing beside him.
Xiao Jing is still thinking, what are you looking at me for? I don’t know what Shui Wa means either.
What Zhang Zhou actually wants to express is, fortunately you are here, otherwise I would have to... How about you, Eunuch Xiao, go out first, wait, give me a cup of tea, and see how I whip this guy!
I asked you to pray for the rain because I wanted you to show off your princely style. But if you dress up in a fancy dress, your father will probably be able to beat you until your butt blossoms.
"Prince, the matter of praying for rain involves the fate of the country. The people are still waiting for Your Majesty and the Prince to move God to send a rain to alleviate the drought around the capital. If you do anything irregular, it will bring shame on His Majesty... …”
"cut!"
Zhu Houzhao looked disdainful. Why was he embarrassed?
Young master is so old, he has never been embarrassed in other ways, so he is embarrassed and has nothing to do!
Zhang Zhou added: "Your Majesty can't bear to lose face. The prince will be in misfortune in the next one or two months!"
"You...you threaten me?" Zhu Houzhao glared.
Zhang Zhou said calmly: "There is no threat, but the prince may be hit with a board, no less than twenty times, and his hand may be hit with a ruler, no less than ten times. He may be grounded, no less than ten days, maybe I won’t be able to see His Majesty, the Queen and the Princess for some time in the future, and even some of the regular attendants in the East Palace will be removed..."
When Xiao Jing heard this, he hurriedly tried to pull Zhang Zhou's clothes off.
You, Mr. Zhang, are too courageous to threaten the prince like this. Are you afraid that one day he will suddenly ascend the throne and seek revenge from you?
Zhu Houzhao said angrily: "Do you still want to say that if my father doesn't plan to punish me like this, you will also suggest that my father punish me like this?"
Zhang Zhou said: "I don't want to say this, but if the prince insists on saying it, then let it be so. If the prince really loses his etiquette when praying for rain, it is considered a minor offense. This is exactly what I said to the prince before. , you have to be considerate, if the prince displeases your majesty, then the prince himself will not be too comfortable."
"snort!"
Zhu Houzhao looked angry.
Just when Xiao Jing thought that Zhu Houzhao was going to reprimand Zhang Zhou, or even use the prince's majesty to suppress him, Zhu Houzhao changed the topic: "Then what should I do when it's time to pray for rain?"
Zhang Zhou said: "You will do whatever His Majesty asks the Crown Prince to do. In fact, as long as you stand behind His Majesty and don't make any gestures, you will be considered as having accomplished your task well."
Zhu Houzhao asked with a smile: "After the rain prayers are over, when will it rain?"
"I don't quite understand what the prince said," Zhang Zhou said.
"Hey, who are you lying to? My father took me to pray for rain. If you can't make it rain, then why bother praying? Is it that my father and I are praying for rain in front, and you are behind?
Suddenly the wind and rain are summoned, and then the raindrops start falling?"
Zhu Houzhao's little eyes had sparkle.
These words also shocked Xiao Jing.
Without explaining any details to the naughty boy, this kid actually understood the essence?
Zhang Zhou curled his lips and said in a stiff tone: "If I ask God to rain if it rains, and if it doesn't rain, it won't rain. Then does the prince also want to say that the droughts in various places in the past were also caused by me? What is the prince saying?
Should I be the Duke of Thunder and the Mother of Lightning, or the Dragon King of the East China Sea?"
"You... you want to be whatever you want, why do you ask me to let you be? Forget it, just let me go when the time comes, but you have to tell your father that if I behave well, you must be reasonable and let me go later.
Learn some real skills from you. If you can really control the wind and rain, that would be awesome... By the way, I want to learn how to split lightning, that's awesome..."
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Zhang Zhou didn't talk too much to the naughty kid.
Zhu Houzhao had to go to class after lunch, and he also had to go back to prepare for the palace examination. After all, he didn't have a few days left.
It is said that I need to prepare for the exam, but in fact it has no direct meaning. I have passed the general exam. What results can I get from preparing for the exam in the past few days? There is no use in cramming for the exam.
Of course, Zhang Zhou knew the questions for the palace examination in the twelfth year of Hongzhi, but because of the butterfly effect of his existence, he felt that there was no need to study such humanities matters. Nine times out of ten, the questions would be different, so he hoped to be enlightened in advance.
Questions are useless, it is more important to show your true ability.
It’s better to go home and concentrate on practicing calligraphy these days.
"Mr. Zhang, do you think our family can do something on the day of praying for rain?"
As he was about to arrive at the palace gate, Xiao Jing couldn't help but ask respectfully.
Zhang Zhou glanced at him: "Eunuch Xiao, why are you making noise too?"
Xiao Jing said: "Our family has never done anything like this. We don't know what to do. I need your guidance. We can't let our family be like the prince and just stand there doing nothing, right?"
Zhang Zhou could see that Xiao Jing was also very concerned about praying for rain this time.
"Since Eunuch Xiao asked, let me analyze it for you. You see, the most important thing about this matter is not whether the rain can fall, but that the people know why the rain comes."
"Yep."
"But there are always many people who don't know such a thing. Then someone needs to publicize it in advance and tell the people that in order to alleviate the drought, His Majesty and the Prince personally went out of the city to pray for rain. If the rain really comes, they will have to
Find someone to spread the word as an ordinary person and let others know that this rain is caused by the fact that Your Majesty and the Crown Prince are the destined emperors, and they are blessed by God."
"normal people?"
"Eunuch Xiao, I need childcare when I go shopping. Do you know what's going on?"
No matter how stupid Xiao Jing is, he will understand after hearing this.
This is to find someone to hide among the people, act as a "big speaker" as a common person, arouse the emotions of ordinary people, and let them know that all this is the credit of the emperor and the prince.
The mission of this group of shills is to stir up emotions.
"I understand." Xiao Jing's expression was earnest.
I feel educated again.
Ordinary civil servants would not suggest such an idea to him. This is simply inciting public opinion and building momentum for the emperor and the prince. Today, it is used in the right place. Who knows if there is someone behind the scenes to create rumors?
"Qianjian, I hope Eunuch Xiao won't mind my nonsense. I've been really busy recently, so I won't bother you too much."
"I know, you have to prepare for the imperial examination."
"No, no, I'm still researching some new things recently to see if I can make more money in business. Besides, I have to take care of the mining business. I'm tired."
Xiao Jing was speechless at first, then said with a smile: "You are a capable person who works hard."
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The next day there was a meeting at Meridian Gate.
When the emperor said that he wanted to pray for rain in person, all the ministers present were puzzled. It was just a matter of praying for rain. Did the emperor really need to appear in person?
Xu Qiong, the Minister of Rites, came out and said: "Your Majesty, if you want to pray for rain, you can ask your ministers to pray on behalf of the emperor in heaven, earth, land, mountains and rivers, or you can ask your ministers to worship in Yue Zhen Haidu, and your Majesty only needs to fast and take a bath.
, there is really no need to go there in person.”
Xu Qiong, as the highest official in charge of Ming Dynasty etiquette, did not want the emperor to go there in person.
Zhu Youtang said: "I personally pray for rain for the people, why not? I will also take the prince there to let him learn how to benefit the people, so that he can be open-minded and help the world."
Use big ideas to bluff people.
At the same time, I told the minister that I have another purpose in doing this, which is to educate my son.
Let me ask you, is this a noble reason?
Hurry up and make arrangements. Where does all this nonsense come from?
Xu Qiong said again: "Even if you pray for rain, you should choose a good and auspicious day and perform sacrifices in a hurry. I am afraid that you will not be prepared enough. Your Majesty, please wait until the palace examination is over before making arrangements."
Zhu Youtang felt very unhappy when he saw that he was opposed by civil servants even when he went out to participate in a sacrificial event.
He probably also understands that everything must be done in accordance with the standards of civil servants and must be done in a orderly manner.
He didn't think anything of it before, but now that Zhang Zhou was giving him secret guidance, and after the comparison, he felt that being controlled by civil servants was not enough to be an emperor.
"On the early morning of March 12th, all the ministers and their families will follow me to pray for rain. The Ministry of Rites and Taichang Temple will make all arrangements and arrangements. The Jinyi Guards and the Jinwu Guards will coordinate the patrol. If you and your ministers' families can do anything that benefits the country and the people,
If you object, doesn't it mean that I can't make the decision in everything?"
Zhu Youtang was too lazy to discuss with the ministers.
I'm so excited. I was so excited that I didn't even sleep well yesterday. How can I be hindered by you ministers in my plan to show off?
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The court meeting has just ended.
The main ministers didn't have much opinion. The emperor wanted to pray for rain in person. He could only say that he loved his people as his own son, so there was nothing wrong with him.
Xu Qiong felt that the emperor seemed to have taken the wrong medicine.
He hurriedly went to the three cabinet members to inquire about the situation. He even felt that the emperor's move was probably suggested by the three cabinet members. Otherwise, why didn't the cabinet voice any objection to this today?
Xie Qian said: "Praying in the morning and praying in the evening, praying in person and on behalf of others are all prayers. Why should we care about the situation?"
Xu Qiong frowned and said: "In the past, sacrificial ceremonies had to wait for the Ministry of Rites to report the timing and rules."
Xie Qian smiled and said: "Maybe your Majesty feels that it is urgent to pray for rain this time... If you don't pray and wait for the rain to come, but the court does nothing, won't you be slandered by the world? So... praying earlier is better than praying later.
