"What's your name?" Chen Ke asked coldly in the hut.
"Qin Qi."
"Who ordered you?"
"I don't know." Qin Qi shook his head and said: "They found me and asked me to put a book in your test box." After a pause, he said: "I didn't ask them who they were. They said that knowing too much would kill you.
Gotta be early…”
"There are eight bathhouses in total. How did you know that I would appear under the name 'Xin'?"
"This..." Qin Qi muttered, not daring to answer this question.
"Idiot." Chen Ke sneered: "Now you and your relatives have only one way to survive, which is to cooperate with me unconditionally. I can swear to God that as long as I get out of trouble, I will send you out of Bianjing to a place
An absolutely safe place for you to live a prosperous and safe life." After a pause, he said every word like a knife: "Otherwise, in two days at most, they will completely disappear from this world!"
Chen Ke's threat was as domineering as the poisonous sun in the dog days, melting away Qin Qi's last bit of persistence. He just heard him say dejectedly: "The bathhouses are arranged one by one in order. As long as you know your test card
, I knew you would appear in the 'Xin' font." Qin Qi replied: "I changed classes with my brother one day in advance..."
"..." Chen Ke didn't expect that the seemingly rigorous imperial examination would have such a big loophole. After thinking about it, he asked again: "Aren't you allocating it on site? How could you arrange it one day in advance?
"
"It's supposed to be like this, but the officials have never bothered to deal with us. They always let the commanders do the distribution." Qin Qi said in a low voice: "Our commanders will take advantage of this loophole and let us put some cheat sheets into some passed ones."
In the examination box of the joint examination... regardless of whether the brothers participate or not, they will all have money to keep their mouths shut. Of course, only those who do it themselves will get the big prize. There are also those who do not want to get involved in right and wrong, so they will give this opportunity to make a fortune to other brothers."
"How long have you been doing this?"
"It has been for many years, at least in every term since I joined the army." Qin Qi poured beans out of the bamboo tube and said: "In addition to helping bring in the cheat sheets, I also took advantage of the opportunity to move around freely to help the candidates pass the questions to the outside.
Then people outside the venue will be responsible for writing the essays and passing them back to the candidates."
"You can't have contact with the outside world, right?"
"The method was thought up by people. There were carrier pigeons to deliver it, and questions were tied to stones or bricks. When people weren't paying attention, they were thrown out of the examination room wall. There were people outside the venue waiting to respond." Qin Qi revealed: "
After the answers to the passed test paper are given, people outside the venue will pass them in according to the pre-agreed method. For example, flying a Kongming lantern at night. Or setting off three firecrackers, we know that we have to prepare to receive the answers. Of course, using homing pigeons
It’s more convenient, just put the pigeon back. After we receive the answer, we will use the opportunity of Jizi to go to the hut in the morning to hand over the answer to them.”
Chen Ke was stunned when he heard this. It turns out that cheating is an industry that has been around for thousands of years.
"However, it has become more and more strict in recent years. The risk of doing this is too high, so not many people do it." Qin Qidao: "In addition to helping bring in cheat sheets, we mainly turn a blind eye and close a blind eye."
"Open one eye or close one eye?"
"The first is to let people take the exam. The second is to provide convenience for the 'gentlemen of Liang Shang'." Qin Qidao: "Every time there is a big competition, the business of those thieves in Bianjing City is particularly hot. They will take on several candidates at the same time.
Please help them transport the answer sheet."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Master examiner, this is not only related to the innocence of a certain candidate. It is also related to the sanctity of the national talent promotion ceremony." Zhang Dun was tall, with a majestic appearance and a voice as loud as a bell. He loudly told the old man what happened to Chen Ke.
Ouyang listened, and then said sadly: "If this matter is not thoroughly investigated, how can this exam be convincing? Students believe that such rat droppings are definitely a minority, but if the rat droppings are not removed, the whole pot of porridge will be ruined. If
Knowing that there are loopholes in the inspection process, but still insisting on starting the exam, all candidates who are admitted in this subject will bear an indelible shame!"
"The teachings of the saints are to be an official and a human being. You must be upright. If you cannot stand firmly and cannot even serve as a human being, how can you be an official for the people?" After a pause, he bowed deeply to Ouyang Xiu and said: "Ouyang Gong is the conscience of the Song Dynasty.
We will definitely not sit back and watch this scandal happen!”
Ouyang Xiu felt that his head was going to explode... The official's earnest instructions were still ringing in his ears, but such a big thing happened in the examination room. He pursed his lips tightly and thought quickly about the consequences of this matter. For a moment, the square was extremely quiet.
, only the cold wind blew through the dead branches, making a "click" sound.
"Bring over the criminals and soldiers involved in the case." After a long time, he finally made up his mind, raised his head and ordered.
After a while, Chen Ke and Qin Qi were brought up. The former was still naked from the waist up, with shocking stick marks on his back.
"In front of Saint Kong and everyone", when he saw his student being beaten like this, Ouyang Xiu immediately became angry. He suppressed his anger and said: "You two are telling the truth, who is lying!"
Chen Ke looked at Qin Qi. In front of so many people, Qin Qi didn't dare to say anything.
"Master Examiner, I didn't lie." Chen Ke ignored him and kept to himself, cupping his fists.
"How do you prove it?" Ouyang Xiu twirled his beard and looked at him expressionlessly.
"The student has no other merits, only a good memory that can be recited by memory. The student has been familiar with the "Complete Commentary on the Five Classics" for eight years since he was twelve years old."
Chen Ke was shocked and said: "Excuse me, why should I bring any towels and notebooks in?"
"How do you prove that you are familiar with it?" Ouyang Xiu asked.
"The examiner is free to take the exam at will." Chen Ke said calmly.
As soon as this statement came out, the whole place was in an uproar. That's a hundred thousand words! Only a fool would bring a cheat sheet with him if he really had such a memory.
But Ouyang Xiu didn't say anything. He just looked at Chen Ke with some relief and said: "This is not something I can decide..."
"Shangguan, the auspicious time is coming." At this time, the hourglass was empty. Deputy Examiner Wang Gui reminded him.
"What auspicious time?" Ouyang Xiu lowered his voice and said: "Where is the auspicious time today?" He looked at the deputy examiners and said: "That chapter is right about selecting people. When fairness and justice cannot be guaranteed, the examination cannot be carried out.
We should seal off the examination room immediately, report to the officials immediately, and wait for the Holy Judgment."
The deputy examiners did not have the courage like him... In the much-anticipated talent promotion ceremony, there was an unexpected event. It was such a huge event that if you were not careful in your decision, your career would be ruined. Therefore, everyone
He said nothing.
However, the supervisor, Wang Langzhong, bravely said: "Master examiner, as a rule, once the door of the examination room is closed, no one is allowed to leave. You are not following the rules!"
"How can there be so many rules?" Ouyang Xiu looked at him coldly and said: "Now that there is a problem within the invigilation, do you still want to start the exam as usual? Let's clear your suspicions first!" After that, he ordered in a deep voice:
"Open the door!"
"The examiner has no right to ask for the door to be opened." Wang Langzhong has lost his sense of proportion. Regardless of whether it is Shi Tian's responsibility, he actually wants to use his power to supervise the gate of the tribute courtyard to confront Ouyang Xiu: "I'm sorry to obey!"
"That's nonsense. According to the regulations of the examination, the examiner has the right to help anyone out of the Gongyuan!"
"That's eviction."
"Okay, I'll kick myself out now!" Ouyang Xiu waved his sleeves heavily and said, "Open the door!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ouyang Xiu left Imperial College and went straight to the palace.
When he heard that Ouyang Xiu, the powerful magistrate, had asked for an audience, Zhao Zhen knew that something big had happened. He didn't even bother to change into court clothes, so he put on his shoes and asked him to see him.
Seeing Zhao Zhen, Ouyang Xiu reported the incident that happened in the examination room and sighed: "This incident seems to be very small, but in fact it is very serious. I sincerely request that the examination be postponed and the loopholes be closed before the examination can be held again."
"Ai Qing's concern is very true, but it seems that it is not necessary to go through all the trouble." Zhao Zhen is a proficient in nourishing qi. At this time, he can still calmly say: "Aren't everyone waiting in the examination room? I don't think so anymore.
Send soldiers from the Imperial City Department over to check for the culprits and examine the candidates to ensure that every candidate can start the exam with a clean conscience."
"Then the time to answer the questions will be tight."
"Can we postpone it for half a day?" Zhao Zhen said with a smile: "Okay, go back quickly. The examiner left the examination room. What's going on?"
"Wei Chen can't go back." Ouyang Xiu shook his head and said solemnly: "Firstly, the suspect is my student, and I should avoid suspicion; secondly, I have kicked myself out of the examination room, so I can't go back."
"Hmm..." Zhao Zhen thought about it and it made sense, so he asked: "Who does Aiqing think can succeed you?"
"This is not what a minister should say..." Ouyang Xiu sighed and said, "It's just that the Taixue style style must be stopped."
"Then you have to take the test!" Zhao Zhen frowned and thought: "No one else can do this." His understanding of the ministers was far beyond ordinary people's imagination, and he slowly thought: "Of course you can calm down
It's a scene, but he will never offend so many scholars. Bao Zheng can also guarantee fairness, but he has never been very careful about articles. If he is the examiner, he lacks some knowledge.'
"The officials have said it." Ouyang Xiu still recommended someone: "Wei Chen has a candidate. With his words, he can not only convince the world, but also ensure the absolute fairness of the exam, and also play the role of devaluing the Taixue style.
.”
"Who is so good?" Zhao Zhen asked, "Why don't you tell me quickly?"
"Judge Wang Anshi of the Qunmu Department." Ouyang Xiu said word by word.
"Wang Anshi?" Zhao Zhen frowned slightly and said, "This person is not qualified enough..."
"Officials can make exceptions." Ouyang Xiu said: "This kind of mess that no one wants to take over is a good opportunity to make exceptions."