Bai Gui is a veteran of exams and knows what to write and what not to write.
But Lu Zhaopeng couldn't do it. The young man was full of enthusiasm. Although he knew that he couldn't write about the reform in this exam, he still couldn't resist the impulse in his heart and wrote it down.
The two people in front also noticed it and just sighed lightly.
At this point, it’s okay to stop crying.
wait.
"Let's go."
Lu Zhaopeng wiped his tears with his sleeves, regained his composure, and entered the academy with everyone else, carrying the examination basket.
The house behind the academy was lit by candlelight.
It is Mr. Zhu and his wife Bai Zhao who are waiting.
"I think you have been taking exams all day and haven't had a good meal these days. Your wife has cooked a good meal for you. Come and eat together."
Several people put down their test baskets and thanked Mr. Zhu Bai and Mr. Zhu.
Mrs. Zhu Bai walked out on her little feet, leaving only a few men at the table.
…
The next day.
County government office, back house.
County Magistrate Gu had woken up early to prepare to mark the test papers. The test papers for nearly a thousand people had been selected by the clerks in the reception room last night. Some unqualified papers were removed, and some papers that obviously did not make sense, leaving only a few.
to 800 copies.
Thick test papers piled up on the desk in the study room.
There is no name on it, only the examination number of the examination room to prevent the examiner from engaging in malpractice.
"Reform? Ha!"
The county magistrate Gu snorted coldly and casually dismissed the candidates who made fierce remarks. However, when he saw a few candidates who had something to say, he also showed a look of pity and put them aside for the time being.
Haven't given up yet.
Most of the candidates who advocate reform have nothing to say and only talk about the disadvantages of unchanged law, but when it comes to measures for improvement, not many can say it.
This is just like Bai Juyi's "The Charcoal Seller", which was written with sincerity and sincerity, and made those who heard it burst into tears, but then no improvement measures were proposed. This is the thing that most angers those in power...
But unfortunately, Bai Juyi's talent is not comparable to these people.
"This test paper is good..."
The ancient county magistrate began to appreciate it. He looked at the broken titles of these four books and couldn't help but chant softly, "The sage passed down the learning of the previous kings, sent troops to Lu, and promoted the virtues of Zhou Gong. Although Qi is great, Jinggong cannot accept it.
sleep soundly."
"Not bad, you solved the problem well..."
He looked at what he wrote next and nodded slightly, "Although it tends to be conservative, it still won my heart."
"It's just that I don't know how well the historical review is written."
The ancient county magistrate skipped the Five Classics questions and looked at the historical treatises, and his eyes suddenly lit up, "Feng Jingting (Feng Guifen) said that 'Chinese learning is for the body, and Western learning is for application.' Later, Xiang Shuai explained in "Encouragement to Learning" what middle school is for
The body, Western learning is used, and the middle school is my Confucian theory, which is the Confucian way..."
Xiangshuai refers to Zhang Zhidong. Zhang Zhidong's nickname is Xiangtao. He is also an important minister in the Military Aircraft Department, so he is called Xiangshuai.
"The answer to this human history topic is in line with Xiang Shuai's thoughts..."
The ancient county magistrate agreed.
He was a Jinshi when he presided over the Westernization Movement in the late Qing Dynasty. He held a positive attitude towards learning Western learning, but he was negative when studying Western learning in an all-round way. He both hoped for reform and was afraid of reform.
To put it simply, these officials in the Qing Dynasty used to be reformers, but they have not kept up with the times and tend to be conservative reforms or reforms, which are called conservatives.
"This volume can be the first of the case!"
The ancient county magistrate looked through the Five Classics questions again and felt that there were no mistakes, so he concluded.
He placed this examination paper elsewhere.
Just when he was halfway through grading the exam papers, the maid waiting at the side suddenly said: "Master, Master Liu is here."
"welcome."
The ancient county magistrate said.
Although Master Liu was his staff, his status was not low to him, and he also deliberately acted like a courteous and virtuous corporal.
Soon, Master Liu entered slowly.
When he was next to Magistrate Gu, he signaled with his eyes, and then Magistrate Gu came over.
"What? Were there white pheasants under the rule?"
The ancient magistrate couldn't help but exclaimed. He stood up from his wicker chair and paced back and forth with excitement on his face. Now that the Queen Mother of the West and Emperor Guangxu had recently died, the imperial court was in a state of melancholy. Without the Queen Mother of the West, the center of the court had no one.
A few people had the reputation to suppress the southern provinces, but they all felt that the Qing Dynasty was on the verge of collapse.
At this time...if a white pheasant appears under his rule...
That must be a reward plus promotion for a dragon!
"Where is it from?"
The ancient county magistrate calmed down and asked.
"County Lord, I have inquired about it. This is the white pheasant that appeared in Bailu Village. I heard that it was a wild egg picked up by a widower's son in their village. After hatching, it turned into a white pheasant. Moreover, this widower's son is currently taking the county examination in the county...
"
Master Liu rubbed his hands and was also happy.
Good thing, this is a great good thing. Once the ancient county magistrate is promoted, the status of his staff will also be improved.
""Zhou Li·Chun Guan·Da Zongbo" said: 'The lonely man holds the leather and silk, the high official holds the lamb, the doctor holds the goose, the scholar holds the pheasant, the common man holds the swan, and the businessman holds the chicken.' Now he is taking part in the imperial examination. This is
What a good thing!”
Magistrate Gu took a deep breath and immediately felt that God was helping me.
What is a scholar?
A person who has read several books cannot be called a scholar. Only a person with a good reputation can be called a scholar.
It happened that this person was taking a scientific examination.
Which one is more exciting, a common man discovering white pheasants, or a Confucian scholar raising white pheasants?
"No matter what the article is, this person must be selected!"
The ancient county magistrate immediately gave the order and asked the nearby scribe to immediately get the music score and find the person Master Liu mentioned.
"That man is Mr. Zhu's disciple, his name is Bai Gui."
"My lord, you personally spoke to him at the Confucian Temple that day."
Master Liu said again.
"It's him?"
The ancient magistrate's expression changed for a while, and he sighed softly: "I know Brother Mengzhou's idea is good, and there is room for maneuver in this matter. Now the court is no longer what it used to be. In the past, it was said that the laborers who built the mausoleum would be released.
It must be the fate of Chu Zhan, but things are different now, the court might accept Brother Mengzhou’s petition..."
"But...if these servants are pardoned, then the officials from top to bottom of Qin Province will be the ones to suffer."
"Brother Mengzhou may also ask for help!"
Although he is a small county magistrate, he is also a Bailihou, and he is very clear about the ways of the world.
Once the remonstrance was submitted to the court, in order to avoid heated discussions among the people and the humanitarian interference of foreigners, the slaves might be pardoned, but officials from Qin Province would definitely be punished. Why didn't they stop the petition? The court lost face!
Therefore, the officials from top to bottom of Qin Province colluded for the sake of their own official titles, and the matter was suppressed.
Fortunately, the court is now fighting for power and is in chaos, so no one has time to deal with it.
"Let's read his articles."
The ancient county magistrate hesitated.
Shao Qing, the trumpet score was brought over, but after searching through the examination papers that were being reviewed and those that had already been reviewed, the examination paper for "Di-Ding Chen" was not found.
"It's strange, how come there isn't?"
The ancient county magistrate wondered.
"County magistrate, there is also the test paper..."
Master Liu pointed at the test paper that had been placed aside and regarded as the head of the case by the ancient county magistrate.