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Xu Jingzong read it from beginning to end twice more, carefully considering every word, making sure that every word was accurate and the language was gorgeous and exquisite, and that the meaning expressed was accurate and correct, making sure that there were no typos or omissions.
No taboos were committed.
After a long time, the newly replaced candle was half burned again, and the second-shift drum was beating outside. Xu Jingzong handed the paper to the clerk waiting in front of him, and said proudly: "I
The papers are worth tens of thousands of gold, if you lose them or make mistakes, be careful with your heads!"
"Don't dare, don't dare." The clerk came up and carefully put away Xu Jingzong's test paper. One of them hurriedly sent the paper out. But what Xu Jingzong didn't notice was that the clerk turned around with a sneer on his face.
and sarcasm.
When Xu Jingzong walked out of the examination hall, the moon was already in the sky. The stars in the sky were obscured by the moonlight and became much dim.
Xu Jingzong was probably the last few candidates to hand in their papers. When Xu Jingzong came out, the surroundings were already silent, with no one around. Lanterns were hung under the eaves, illuminating the lights inside and outside the examination hall. Stepping on the lights on the road, Xu Jingzong
Jingzong walked slowly in the examination hall. He was absolutely confident in his examination results. He passed by the patrolling soldiers in front and turned a blind eye to the surprised looks they cast. At this time, he was dreaming about the day when the examination results were announced.
, the honor and fame he had gained. He believed that by then he would no longer be a staff member of the East Palace, and he would never become an official of the East Palace. Like Yang Su, he would become a big shot that His Highness the Crown Prince would try to win over.
Xu Jingzong walked out of the gate of the examination hall step by step. There was a carriage and two guards waiting for him in front of the door. This was the treatment he received after being a top staff member of the East Palace. On weekdays, he was quite polite to the two guards and treated them very well.
If you salute him, he will smile and nod in return, but at this time, he will ignore it with an arrogant look and directly get into the carriage.
According to Xu Jingzong's speculation, today, in order to make the first imperial examination deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, the first-ranked person will not only have a high official position, but also a title and a land reward. In this way, he will immediately enter the ranks of the top nobles of the Sui Dynasty. As long as he
To win the first place, among the younger generation, perhaps only the Marquis of Qin An, who had great military exploits, could compare with him.
After Xu Jingzong boarded the carriage and left, two figures followed quietly in the darkness, one on the left and one on the right. The Nighthawk envoy was on the left and Shen Guang was on the right.
Xu Jingzong will be the most critical link in Wang Junlin's plan. The two people will keep an eye on Xu Jingzong in the next few days, and there must be no omissions or mistakes.
…
…
Suddenly, a gong sounded in the examination hall. The sound of the gong was clear and crisp, as if to wake up the night that shrouded Kyoto.
"When the time is up, all candidates should stop writing and hand in their test papers immediately."
With a shout, the officials from the Ministry of Rites and the Yushitai began to clear the place, and rushed the few candidates who were still holding on to their brushes outside the examination room. There was one candidate who looked to be in his fifties, with gray hair.
However, the policy discussion was not finished yet. He was crying and refusing to leave his desk. As a result, he was picked up and thrown out by several officials at the Yushitai.
After a long time, everyone seemed to still be able to hear the examinee's wailing and unpleasant voice, like a ghost crying, echoing inside and outside the examination hall.
Wang Junlin sighed, but there was no sympathy in his heart - there must be rules for everything, let alone a major event related to the national destiny such as the imperial examination.
He remembered that during the college entrance examination in later generations, a candidate failed to pass the examination because he was wearing a metal ring. He was unable to enter the examination room for a long time, but the ring could not be taken off. A group of parents and enthusiasts gathered around and tried their best to find a way.
Parents even knelt down to the staff responsible for checking entrance to the examination room, but in the end the candidates were still not allowed in. It was not until the rings were removed half an hour later that the candidates were allowed in.
Not to mention that the time was half an hour short at this time. With the mental quality of an eighteen-year-old boy, it would be good to be able to perform at half of his level under this situation. Some people said that the staff was too rigid and unreasonable.
, but the people who say these things don’t know how many various cheating devices are found in the college entrance examination every year, including Bluetooth headsets made into earrings and information screens with myopia glasses. If we don’t strictly check and follow the rules, we will be punished.
Wouldn't it be unfair to have more people? I can only blame the student wearing the metal ring and his parents for not thinking carefully.
…
…
For Wang Junlin, the exams for these students were over, but his own... had just begun.
On the night after the exam ended, the papers had to be sealed immediately. This was Wang Junlin's duty, and Gao Ying and Zhou Chengyan were sitting in the back hall, not daring to leave, waiting for Wang Junlin to lead the people to complete the two tasks of naming and copying.
After completing the formalities, the book can be sealed and stamped.
The candles were bright, and the entire examination hall was a busy scene. Outside, dozens of palace servants and senior officials from the Ministry of Etiquette were dividing and sorting the test papers. In another small room, Wang Junlin was leading an official from the Ministry of Etiquette.
Anonymous with a supervisory censor from the censorship station.
All test papers must be sent to Wang Junlin before being named. Wang Junlin did not dare to neglect. He carefully looked at the names on the papers and matched them with the names on the four slips of paper. After a while,
He had already selected dozens of papers from it and placed them on his right hand inconspicuously.
The two officials beside him lowered their heads and looked at each other. Knowing that the dozens of papers were greeted by various big shots or forces, they secretly breathed a sigh of relief. They thought that no matter how powerful this person was,
After all, I don’t dare to go against everyone, I can only join in the same trend as everyone else, and I never dare to be exempt from vulgarity.
After selecting a full 200 papers, Wang Junlin ordered two officials to start anonymizing their names. The two officials did not dare to neglect and quickly began to cover the candidates' names and borrowed names on the test paper with paper. Although it was
It was the first imperial examination, but these two officials had clearly studied carefully and done enough homework on how to get their names.
Wang Junlin observed carefully for a while, and then he realized that the reason why these two people had done enough homework beforehand was to mark the two hundred papers he picked out in a different way - the paper strips used were different than those of other candidates.
The note is slightly too short, and you can't even notice it if you don't look carefully.
Seeing the two officials solemnly and seriously pasting short notes on the test paper he chose, Wang Junlin couldn't help laughing, thinking that if Yang Guang, Yang Yong, Gao Ying, Zhou Chengyan and others knew about it in the future,
, these test papers are not all the names of the people arranged after the carving up by the various forces, but a dozen of them are the papers of the really talented and humble scholars that Wang Junlin likes, such as the guy named Fang Qiao - I don't know what they will do.
Thoughts.
If you look at the piece of paper with a very small difference in the length of the name, you will definitely not see anything weird, but if the official who copied the name knows it well, he will definitely be able to distinguish it. Wang Junlin watched Fang Qiao's paper being papered.
After reading the paper, I felt very good for no reason. I smiled and shook my head. I couldn't help but ask: "Even if I picked it out, how do I mark it when I copy it?"
The official from the Ministry of Rites next to him did not expect Wang Junlin to clarify what he said directly. He smiled a little awkwardly and replied in a low voice: "Don't worry, Lord Marquis, in order not to ruin the matters entrusted by you, we have carefully studied it beforehand."
After that, as long as you pay attention to the size or strokes of certain characters when copying, the adults who batch the papers will naturally understand."
Wang Junlin suddenly realized it and praised: "This way, even if they don't know who the Duke Gao and Lord Zhou are who are reviewing the papers, as long as they know they are the correct people."
"Yes, sir." The official of the Ministry of Rites replied politely, but in his heart he felt that this notorious poisonous general was after all a vulgar military commander.
Little did he know that Wang Junlin was also sighing in his stomach at this time. The first imperial examination was full of loopholes even if it involved cheating for personal gain. As a result, he easily took advantage of the loopholes and achieved his goal.
Of course, Wang Junlin also understands that the reason why these people relax their vigilance and are not rigorous enough in doing things is not only because they are not experienced enough in doing this kind of thing for the first time, but also because the entire bureaucracy and powerful institutions have already acquiesced in this method of dividing the cake.
It seems that even Wang Junlin does not dare to cause trouble.
After a busy night, the first autumn imperial examination, which could determine the lives of more than 3,000 scholars, finally entered the most critical stage of marking. Many officials responsible for the preliminary work rubbed their sleepy eyes. They gathered in the main hall and listened to the results of this autumn examination.
Gao Ying, the general person in charge of the test, gave a lecture.
After some righteous words, sacred and solemn speeches, and lies about serving the country, Gao Ying waved his hands to the lower-level officials to disperse. Then he looked at Wang Junlin kindly and said, "Qin Anhou has worked hard these days."
"I don't dare." Wang Junlin said with a smile: "Gao Gong didn't dare to express his sorrow, let alone a lower-ranking official."
Zhou Chengyan smiled at the right time and said: "Everyone has worked hard."
In fact, several high-ranking officials present at this time knew what was going on in the imperial examination. While Gao Ying guaranteed high school for a group of his staff, he also reached various deals with various forces and took the opportunity to win over many nobles.
While Zhou Chengyan secretly ensured that the people in the East Palace Department could go to high school, he benefited greatly from it. Of course, other officials would also benefit from it. Even Wang Junlin already knew that the day before the exam started
Here, someone had already sent his share of silver to the Marquis of Qin'an Mansion. That amount was actually more than his Wufu Tea House's income in half a year, and Wang Junlin accepted it without politeness.
After several consecutive days of examinations, the entire examination hall was filled with the rancid smell of yellow and white things. Wang Junlin stood on the stone steps. He held his breath and took one last look at the dark examination hall, thinking to himself.
After finishing this matter, he would have enough reasons to leave Kyoto and return to his own territory in Gaotai City, Yongzhou. If Yang Jian still didn't let him go, he would have to think of some drastic measures.