The imperial court's victory over Jiannu was celebrated with great joy, and the market was greatly discounted, causing a craze.
While the common people were buying things that were cheaper than usual, they prayed to God and worshiped Buddha, thanking God for his blessing.
As the spring of April approaches, candidates from various southern provinces have arrived in Nanjing one after another to prepare for the Enke ceremony in the first year of Shaowu.
No matter how terrible the military disaster was, it could not stop everyone's enthusiasm to become Jinshi.
Not to mention anything else, even if you surrender and become a slave in the future, the treatment of Jinshi will be more than a little bit better than that of Juren.
The inns in Nanjing are full, and the temples are also crowded with people staying in them. The poor people who are in a tight situation will try their best to spare a room at this time, and they can make a lot of money by renting it.
A poor scholar and a rich man who came all the way to Nanjing are not poor.
Even the people in Yunnan, despite Sun Kewang's obstruction in every possible way, still tried their best to leave their hometown and take the Jinshi examination for several years.
There is no way, this is the power of orthodoxy.
And these people are the core of the power of the civilian gentry. Winning them over can be said to be twice the result with half the effort.
Since the Jinshi Examination in the 16th Chongzhen Period, there has been no imperial examination in the world for four years. Scholars all over the world are extremely eager for this.
Along the Qinhuai River, taking this opportunity, abnormal prosperity also began.
People would have banquets by the river from time to time to discuss national affairs.
"Master, I heard that even Juren from Yunnan, Shanxi, Shandong and other places have come here. The number of Juren participating in Enke this time is probably over 10,000!"
Zheng Sen was riding a horse, wearing a robe, and the book boy was holding the horse while muttering.
"more than!"
Zheng Sen looked at the brightly lit Qinhuai River. There were many restaurants, flags fluttering, and pedestrians in full swing. The boats were squeezing the entire Qinhuai River, and the smell of rouge and gouache had washed up on the shore.
Looking at the graceful singing and dancing geishas on the painting boat, Zheng Sen couldn't help but feel a little dazed and shook his head vigorously:
"The most difficult thing in the world is the beauty pass. Even my mentor is like this. It should not be underestimated."
After saying this, he continued to answer: "The imperial court was so victorious that the world was shocked, and those who were sitting and watching were also moved."
After walking a few more steps, we arrived at Longmen Restaurant.
For example, Zhuangyuan Tower, Longmen Tower and other lucky names should be numerous along the Qinhuai River.
But the key to the business of merchants lies in their background. After a lot of competition among the people behind them and everyone showing their talents, the restaurant can enjoy its own name.
Just like the Longmen Tower in front of him, its backer used to be the Duke of Wei, but now it is rumored to be Xuanhou Zhu Meng.
"Master, I heard that in this restaurant, you can earn ten thousand taels a year. This is much easier than our hard-earned money."
"It's not easy to make this kind of money."
Zheng Sen waved his sleeves, jumped up, and made a beautiful dismount, causing the passers-by to cheer.
"Damu, you are worthy of being a disciple of Duke Mu Zhai (Qian Qianyi's nickname), he is both civil and military!"
At this time, a handsome scholar came from the side, dressed in fine clothes and with a look of wealth on his face.
"It's just a little trick!" Zheng Sen also smiled and handed over his hand, getting used to it.
The Zheng family's wealth, coupled with Qian Qianyi's political resources, made him highly popular in the Imperial College.
"Brother Wei, you are here too."
"Yes!" Wei Zhongning shook his head and said, "The Imperial College is like a bird. If you don't go out for a walk, you will be suffocated to death."
"Let's go up together."
Went to the restaurant and as soon as we reached the private room, we heard a commotion.
"Don't the northerners also have imperial examinations? Why do they have the nerve to compete with us?"
"Humph, you gave up all the great rivers and mountains, but you still have the nerve to come to Nanjing? Shameless!"
"Northerners are all weaklings..."
Zheng and Wei looked at each other and opened the box.
"Brother Zheng, Brother Wei, you are here, please take a seat!"
Gu Lao
The person coming quickly waved.
In the huge private room, three tables were arranged in the shape of a Chinese character, but as expected, the two of them sat at the innermost seat.
"By the way, why did you talk about Beiren so well?"
Wei Zhongning put down his folding fan and said doubtfully.
"This is not the second year of Hongguang. Jiannu held rural examinations in Shanxi, Shandong, Beizhili, Henan and other places. There is also spring this year, which happens to coincide with us."
The person in charge, a thin man, said with a smart look.
"You said they are already in the prime of life, how can they still rob us?"
At this time, another person rushed to speak: "I heard that more than 10,000 people entered Beijing this time, which is amazing."
Hearing this, Zheng Sen suddenly realized that he was afraid that the people from the north would steal the quota.
"Don't think blindly."
At this time, Zheng Sen shook his head and said: "Although many northern provinces have fallen, Shaanxi and Henan are still there. The northern and southern divisions cannot be cancelled, and neither will the imperial court."
As he spoke, he said with some profound meaning: "It is related to the great cause of the Northern Expedition!"
"Ah, what a pity, what a pity——"
"Why is that-"
Many people wailed and looked sad.
Since the North-South Ranking Case, the imperial court has divided the general examination quota into three parts, namely, South, North, and Middle.
That is, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Fujian, Huguang, Guangdong, and Nanzhili (except Fengyang, Anqing, and Luzhou) are on the southern list, accounting for 55% of the quota.
The northern volume covers Shandong, Shanxi, Henan, Shanxi, Beizhili, Liaodong, Daning, and Wanquan, with a quota of 35%.
The mid-term candidates include Sichuan, Guangxi, Yunnan, Guizhou, Luzhou, Fengyang, and Anqing in South Zhili and Xu, Chu, and Hezhou, with a quota of 10%.
Therefore, many scholars imagine that if the North falls, the quota will naturally be reduced or even cancelled, and they, the southerners, will have higher opportunities.
Unfortunately, no matter how reluctant it is, anyone who knows a little bit about politics knows that this is impossible.
As a result, many people began to envy the fallen northern provinces.
When Zheng Sen saw such a scene, he sneered in his heart, even if there were no northerners, you would have no chance.
"Everyone, the imperial court has won a great victory in this battle. The Northern Expedition is not far away. When the officials are vacant, we people will surely have the opportunity to fill the vacancies..."
"That's right, during the Hongwu period, Taizu still liked to use Jiansheng instead of Jinshi..."
After comforting themselves, many people began to drink freely again.
As a result, everyone took advantage of the drunkenness to strategize and make clever plans, reducing Jiannu to nothing, as if he had become Zhuge Liang.
Zheng Sen shook his head and left with an excuse.
And here, Gouzi was reading a book, nodding from time to time, with sleepy eyes.
"Jia Daihua, don't sleep!"
At this time, the gentleman's roar woke him up from his sleep.
"Hand out!"
When Gouzi saw the ruler getting closer and closer, he couldn't help but beg for mercy: "Sir, I know I was wrong."
"Hmph, if a young man doesn't work hard, the old man will be miserable!"
The teacher sneered and said: "Your father fought on the battlefield so that you could go to school, but you slept in class. Have you ever been ashamed?"
The dog couldn't help but close his eyes.
At this time, an exclamation came from outside the door: "Great joy, great joy, the imperial court has won a great victory, and Jiannu has been defeated——"
"Really?" The gentleman was overjoyed and hurried away.