Today's court is clearly divided into three factions.
The reformist faction headed by the Ministry of Industry, the conservative faction headed by the Ministry of Rites, and the bystanders who did not participate in opinions.
Neither of the two ministers spoke, and those who argued in court were officials below the fourth rank.
The courtiers looked at Zhang Hao, the impassioned water doctor in front of them, and shook their heads secretly.
Although Zhang Hao's words are reasonable, every step in the reform of the imperial examination system must be taken with extreme caution. If the reform were so easy, the imperial examination system would have been reformed countless times in recent years.
"Send me the test papers of the candidate you mentioned." A deep voice finally came from the top of the Golden Palace.
His Majesty opened his mouth, and Zhang Hao and Wang Shuo immediately closed their mouths.
A eunuch came down, holding a few test papers, and walked up respectfully, standing next to the man in imperial robes.
Chen Huang casually picked up the top exam paper, looked at it carefully, a look of surprise appeared on his face, and murmured: "If I remember correctly, the last time someone answered 100% of the questions correctly was
It was more than ten years ago, right?”
A rich-looking eunuch beside him nodded and said with a smile, "Your Majesty, that happened fifteen years ago."
Chen Huang nodded and said: "It is not easy to answer all the questions in this exam, and it is even more difficult to answer them all correctly. This candidate's daily diligence must be different from ordinary people."
He put down the test paper and picked up another one.
This time he looked at it for a long time, a strange light flashed in his eyes, and praised: "Good, good, good!"
The officials in the palace couldn't help but be surprised when they saw that the emperor said "good" three times in succession.
At this time, Chen Huang had continued to speak.
"Don't be afraid of your bones being shattered into pieces, you must remain innocent in the world!" Emperor Chen glanced down and said, "This poem can be used as a personal admonishment for all the courtiers in the palace!"
He couldn't wait to look at the next page, and this time, he looked at it longer.
The expression on his face changed from expectation to shock to confusion, then he put it aside and murmured: "This poem is, well, not bad."
The last thing he looked at was the strategy section.
This time, Chen Huang didn't look for long before he looked down and said in a deep voice: "Fang Hong, Wang Bo, this is what you selected, Lingzhou Prefecture Trial Jieyuan?"
Seeing that the situation was not good, Wang Bo was startled, and immediately walked out with the Wat Ban in his arms and said: "Your Majesty..."
"I asked you to be the chief examiner of the Lingzhou Prefectural Examination. Is this how you select candidates for me?" Chen Huang rolled up the examination papers, threw them to the ground, stood up, and asked: "Tell me,
What is written on this!"
Seeing this, Wang Shuo glanced at Fang Hong and Wang Bo, with a hint of joy on his face.
Fang Hong stood up and explained hurriedly: "Your Majesty, this test paper..."
"This test paper is nonsense!" Chen Huang interrupted him, glanced down and said: "Where is the Lingzhou State Examination, where is the joint examination, and where is the joint examination?"
Above the court, there were more than a dozen people whose expressions changed, and they could only stand up bravely.
Song Qian, who was serving as the prisoner on Jingdong Road, was not in Beijing at this time. Only Zhang Hao and Ling Yihong were present at the palace today to attend the examination.
Chen Huang looked down and said in a deep voice: "You will know your guilt if you wait!"
Plop!
As soon as these words came out, several officials who stood up immediately fell to their knees.
Emperor Chen looked at them and angrily said: "I have entrusted you with the important task of selecting candidates for the country, and you are so perfunctory with me. Tell me, what kind of bullshit article is this about the dignified Yizhou Jieyuan?"
All the officials felt the emperor's anger, lowered their heads, held their breath, and secretly mourned for the examiners going to Lingzhou.
Wang Shuo secretly rejoiced. He took a step forward and said respectfully: "Your Majesty, I tried my best to dissuade several adults at that time. It's a pity that you insisted on believing that this volume is advisable. I failed to dissuade these adults. I, I am guilty!"
Chen Huang glanced down with some disappointment and said: "Fang Hong and Wang Bo, as the chief examiner, neglected their duties and were fined for one year. The rest of the co-examiners were fined for half a year, as a warning to others!"
After all the officials heard this, they already understood in their hearts that His Majesty still did not want to punish them severely. A year's salary penalty was not serious, and the crime they were charged with was only neglect of duty, not malpractice for personal gain. This was already a great preferential treatment for them.
.
After Chen Huang finished speaking, the anger on his face did not subside. He looked at the examination paper on the ground and said angrily: "As for this paper, it is determined to be Jieyuan, which is really ridiculous..."
At this time, Zhang Hao looked sad and angry, and said loudly: "Your Majesty, it is a small thing to fine me, but it is a big thing to save the treasury!"
Emperor Chen was about to personally judge the book as a failure. He frowned and asked, "What does this have to do with the treasury?"
Zhang Hao hugged the wat board and said loudly: "Because this test paper can not only control floods and ensure smooth water transportation, but also save the national treasury at least five hundred thousand taels of silver every year!"
As soon as these words came out, among the hundreds of officials, one official, who was holding a wat board and taking a nap with his eyes closed, opened his eyes suddenly, and his eyes were shining brightly.
A person next to him turned to look at him and asked: "Master Qian, what's wrong?"
Qian Shuo, the Minister of Household Affairs, did not answer him and looked directly at Zhang Hao in front of him.
Because of water control and water transportation, the state treasury allocates a huge sum of money to the Ministry of Industry every year. Every time he thinks about it, his heart bleeds. If the Ministry of Industry could ask less than 500,000 taels of silver from the Ministry of Household Affairs every year, how much less pressure would the Ministry of Household Affairs have?
Chen Huang was stunned for a moment, thought for a moment, looked at Zhang Hao and asked, "What did Zhang Aiqing just say?"
Zhang Hao stood up straight and said: "Back to Your Majesty, Tang Jieyuan is in the third session of the state examination. After discussion by the Ministry of Water Resources, the strategy for water control is feasible and can save the national treasury at least five hundred thousand taels of silver every year. At the same time, it can also speed up
Water transportation must be kept smooth for at least ten years."
Emperor Chen thought for a moment, then personally bowed and picked up the examination paper that he had thrown on the ground.
He looked at the test paper, then looked at Zhang Hao, and asked, "Is Zhang Aiqing serious about what he said?"
Zhang Hao stood tall and straight and said: "I guarantee it with my life!"
Ling Yihong also came out and said: "Your Majesty, Tang Jieyuan's policies on epidemic prevention can also be regarded as norms and promoted by the court in local areas. Once an epidemic occurs in a certain place, casualties and impacts can be reduced to the greatest extent.
"
Chen Huang looked at the examination paper again, thoughtfully.
At this time, Qian Shuo, the Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue, stood up and said: "Your Majesty, although Master Fang, Master Wang, and all the examiners have done it, they are all thinking about the court and your Majesty. They can save so much money for the national treasury.
It’s worth it.”
The Ministry of Hubu is in charge of the country's money and food, and has a very important position among the six ministries. The words of the Minister of Hubu are naturally very weighty.
All officials know that the national treasury has been tight for a long time, and it has always been a worry for His Majesty.
Now that the Ministry of Industry has saved hundreds of thousands of taels of silver for the national treasury, His Majesty is naturally happy, but he has already fined those examiners just now. Jun Wu said it, so naturally it cannot be taken back easily. With these words of Qian Shangshu, he gave it to Your Majesty.
Down a flight of stairs.
Emperor Chen looked at the Minister of the Ministry of Finance with satisfaction and said: "Qian Aiqing's words are reasonable. Fang, the two Aiqing kings have made great contributions in admonishing the ministers. They will be rewarded with a thousand taels of silver and three hundred pieces of silk. The rest of you will also take the exam together.
Reward a hundred pieces of silk..."
The edict of fines has been issued and cannot be taken back, but these rewards have made up for the lost salaries, and there is still more.
After Chen Huang finished awarding the award, he didn't mention the examination papers again. He thought for a moment, looked down and said: "When planning and appointing officials, we still need to pay attention to articles, but in addition, we should also use appropriate discretion. In this matter, Shangshu
The province will discuss it first..."
The word "discretion" is used very spiritually. Officials who have been immersed in officialdom for many years would not understand it.
Your Majesty has issued a mysterious edict for this exam paper alone...
Wang Shuo's face turned pale and he glanced in a certain direction. That was where the Minister of Rites was.
A middle-aged man glanced at him indifferently. Wang Shuo already understood, lowered his head, and said no more.
After a while, Emperor Chen looked down and said, "If there is nothing else to do, just retreat from the court."
Today's morning morning lasted for a long time, and the process was full of twists and turns.
The examiners of Lingzhou Prefecture, including Fang Hong, the Minister of Civil Affairs, were first punished and then rewarded by His Majesty. Although the Ministry of Works' policy of reforming the imperial examination was still not adopted, His Majesty's secret decree to the Minister still showed that
, in this confrontation between the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of Works was even better.
Being able to create such a big stir in the court with just one state examination paper gave all the officials their first impression of Tang Jieyuan from Lingzhou.
"Lord Fang, stay." When Fang Hong was about to walk out of the palace gate, a voice suddenly came from behind him.
Fang Hong turned around and saw the Minister of Rites approaching, and asked in confusion: "What's the matter, Mr. Tang?"
